Caveat: I, like my family before me, am not a Crazy Rich Asian, although we are indeed Crazy Asians.
A short, unspoilery review of Crazy Rich Asians -- I LOVED it. Went to see it in the theaters on opening day. And I go to the movies about once a year, usually waiting for the DVD not only to come out, but to come available at the library.
I loved the glimpse into how the 1% wishes it could live. I loved seeing the family dynamics. I think Awkwafina's character might be me, but with vastly better shoes. And I simply adore Constance Wu, and here I love her in ways I never could in Fresh off the Boat because that character is meant to be tiger mom instead of a strong, independent woman. Even if she is a banana. Like me.
Most importantly, having the entire cast and crew be Asians... wow. You simply can't understand how powerful representation is and how under-represented Asians are until the entire screen is filled with people who LOOK LIKE YOU. Not too long ago I saw a book that put in the caveat that although it was printed in color, the characters were left uncolored so people of all backgrounds could see themselves in the story. I tell you what, that means they show up in white.
Big Frog's colleague, with whom Big Frog travels to Mexico on occasion, knows that when we go away for the weekend we leave the girls alone (in their 120 sq ft runaround space) with enough boxes of hay (multiple Kleenex boxes full) and a BIG CARROT. Nilla & Mocha know that when a big carrot comes out they get some alone time without us around. We like to think they don't like that we’re leaving them alone, but we know they like BIG CARROT.
The most recent time Big Frog traveled, his colleague inquired after the girls and their big carrot, which unfortunately they didn't get because I was staying home. But the colleague's new idea is a full-length film called BIG CARROT, which is about ANYthing and nothing, a drama, a romance, a comedy, but the scene cuts are carrots (like how Law & Order has that bum-bum & suddenly you're somewhere else and some when else) and the final scene is the girls, working away on their bonus nibbles. It's the next Love Actually. Or Henson's Timepiece. I know one thing for sure, the girls would love every minute of filming and all the veggies they can get their teeth on.
Well there's only one Divine Miss M.
But I gotta admit I loved Idina's version too. More than I expected to. And I feel like she and all the everyone involved loved it and wanted to remind us of all the best parts not necessarily by doing them just the same (Otto Titsling, of which I know every word, was entirely missing), but by telling the story and throwing themselves into the characters and sometimes doing all their acting just with their eyes because the story runs deep enough that eyes are all you need.
Twice I said "ooh, I'm adopting that":
the toast after CC's off-Broadway premiere: To the right group of people At just the right time.
& Hillary's bedtime affirmation with her daughter, a call-and-response: Dream big & broad... ...& wide & beautiful!
And I love-love-loved Idina singing Wind Beneath My Wings and I'll Stand By You and The Glory of Love. If this whole movie was a great big advert for Idina's latest album, it worked on me.
Lowe's doesn't carry it any longer.
Even the furniture consignment shop gave me specific directions to goodwill.
Really.
In all honesty, they would have taken it for consignment if it was in perfect condition. But it was hung so low that even I walked into it, and I never have to duck for ANYthing. It was inevitable that something break on it, and indeed it had a single cracked globe.
Opening weekend. Make time. THIS Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I can count on ONE FINGER how many movies I've seen in theaters since last Thanksgiving. And that movie is Les Mis, which I've since seen at Toby's, twice, live theater. (Read about that here and here.) So when I tell you to go see The Christmas Candle right away, you need to understand the urgency I'm putting behind it. Coming from a girl who waits for movies to come to dvd, and then further waits in the "library netflix" (holds) queue to see things months, even years after they were at peak popularity, this is a really big deal.
Our church, New Covenant Fellowship (PCA), was honored to host an advance screening of The Christmas Candle, followed by a Q&A session with the CEO of the production company, former Senator Rick Santorum. The Christmas Candle will open in approximately 400 theaters in the US and UK on Friday. In Central PA, it will be playing in three locations, the Regal Cinemas in Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York. (Harrisburgers, that's the theater at Harrisburg (East) Mall.) A complete list of theaters is available online. Let's fill the movie theaters. Request the film come to more locations as well! I am dismayed that there is not one single theater in the whole state of Maryland that is playing it opening weekend.EDIT: In Maryland, it opens Friday at the Regal in Silver Spring, although the movie website does not list it. I also recognize that there is a higher-budget, better-advertised, post-apocalyptic, dystopian-society movie also releasing on Friday. That is all the more reason why we need to rally behind The Christmas Candle. Dollars talk in changing how Hollywood sees faith and culture. On a frigid Wednesday evening, our sanctuary was packed. I talked with people who traveled 90 minutes just to see this film. Think about how our communities would be different if our church pews were filled like this every Sunday, and then we went out to love and serve the least and the lost. (Thinking is a start. Then we all have to DO something about it!)
All worship services should be SRO: Standing Room Only. photo: Lisa Yee Swope
photo: PennLive
photo: Jeff Coleman
What if the movie theaters were packed to Standing Room Only for a movie that celebrates miracles?
What if people stopped cursing the darkness and started lighting candles?
What does faith look like, lived out?
How does love show up on your hands and feet to serve others?
In The Christmas Candle, a priest leaves his work with the London poor when he is called to serve in a tiny town. The villagers expect him to preach all through Advent about the expected miracle: that as has happened once every 25 years for the past two centuries, a single candle will be touched by an angel and will grant a Christmas miracle, a direct answer to the prayer of the bearer. But in a modern, 1890's world, an electrical and steam-powered world, the progressive new minister wants to end this fairy tale and see instead the miracle to take on human form, acts of kindness and good deeds. Then God steps in. And God's ways are indeed exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all we ask or imagine.
source: The Christmas Candle Facebook page
There is so much symbolism to candles. A few near and dear to my heart include:
My childhood advent calendar. I used the same one for advent scriptures every year growing up, and the very first day was Isaiah 9:2. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
The opening of the gospel of John. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This also was the first of Mrs Who's quotation in A Wrinkle in Time that I could identify the source.
Hanukkah. A single night's oil burned for eight nights, long enough for more oil to be pressed for use at the temple. Don't let the Light go out (Peter, Paul & Mary).
In a similar Jewish vein, the Sabbath Prayer song from Fiddler on the Roof. "May the Lord protect and defend you..."
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Who else might enjoy The Christmas Candle?
Max Lucado readers -- he wrote the book upon which the movie is based.
Les Mis fans -- Samantha Barks, who played Eponine in the movie version, plays the antagonist-slash-love-interest. In fact, the night after she sang at the Oscars, she was in the Cotswolds to start filming.
Susan Boyle fans -- not only is this her acting debut, she also sings the theme song, which is also featured on her newest CD.
Downton Abbey viewers -- as I understand it, all the costumes are not replicas but are original to the time period. They are gorgeous1.
Christmas movie lovers!
1 Except for some of the vestments, which within the movie one of the parishoners lovingly crafted with more enthusiasm than...taste. Our pastor remarked that he was glad that we didn't didn't use vestments in our congregation. So really, all I need is ONE Lutheran or Episcopalian congregation or priest who's got ONE extra... outfit? robe and stole? I don't even know the words! for THIS Sunday. Any takers?
What if people stopped cursing the darkness and started lighting candles?
Go see The Christmas Candle. And please, tell others. Let's change the way Hollywood sees faith and families.
Hey, it's the Reagans!
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What do you mean, it's not the Reagans?
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Wait, what? It's Alan Rickman and Jane Fonda!
(tweeted photo by Oprah)
And Robin Williams and Dwight D Eisenhower? And John Cusack as Nixon? And Cuba Gooding Jr? And Terrence Howard? And Oprah?
Yeah. I definitely want to see Lee Daniel's The Butler.
All worship services should be SRO: Standing Room Only. photo: Lisa Yee Swope
photo: PennLive
photo: Jeff Coleman
source: The Christmas Candle Facebook page
