Currently Listening Not Too Late By Norah Jones see related

Recently I went back to good ole Tinseltown

to check out a picture that hasn’t set any box office records, but nonetheless has received serious attention from the film critics. In fact, I knew little about it, having seen only one trailer for Sweeney Todd in theatres. I figured though that a 19^th century musical set in London with an all-star cast always has potential, doesn’t it? I wasn’t sure what to expect, but knowing that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp had joined forces again, I had anticipated something dark and sinister.

Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed in that regard. Now, Burton has made some pretty dark films to date(Edward Scissorhands, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Planet of the Apes come to mind), but let me tell you right now: this is his darkest. In fact, I don’t foresee him ever making anything darker or more disturbing than this movie.

The premise is rather reminiscent of the “Count of Monte Cristo”: a young barber, with a beautiful wife and lovely baby, was framed by a public official and sent off to prison to rot while the official stole his family. The difference between Sweeney Todd and Edmond Dantes though, is how they dealt with the betrayal. Dantes simply became hardened toward the men who wronged him, but Sweeney turned his hatred toward all mankind. That’s what separates this revenge story apart from all others, in that Sweeney exacts his violent mission of payback against…well, whoever happened to walk into his barber shop. Countless people, who had nothing to do with him or his past, die senseless deaths. That, I believe, is the film’s entire point though: the dangerous thing about vengeance is that it promises justice and redemption for its host, but only results in destroying its host. Vengeance is a lie.

Perhaps the biggest heartache of all, was that even when Sweeney received news that his daughter was still alive and needed rescue, he did not drop his scheme of retribution to save her. It would’ve been so easy to salvage a life with her and find redemption in her love, but Sweeney had been so deformed by a hateful act, that he could no longer embrace anything good. This tragic blindness not only ensured he could never recapture happiness, but it almost destroyed every remaining person he ever cared for.

Tim Burton has a real love for the “redemptive misfit”, as a friend of mine once observed. It quickly became apparent in this story though, that this time there would be no redemption. When the songs are sung, the slicing is over with, and the story is spent, we are shown a man who got what he wanted. The results of which are so ugly, so horrific, and so wasteful that viewers cannot help but take the closing frame with them as a timeless warning.

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I chose not to speak to the nuts and bolts of the film this time, but I’ll just briefly say that as a spectacle, the movie was a total success. Sweeney Todd was always engrossing. I don’t remember thinking to myself even once, “man, I wish this scene was over”, as every scene was interesting to watch.

The music was good, but not great, as musicals go. There was no “defining song”, nothing that stood out as something you’d wanna sing along with your friends if you listened to the score at home. For what the music was though, it was executed well. Even the musical’s original composer said that it was the single best recording of his songs ever done. As many of you know, Sweeney Todd has received several Academy nods, one of them being yet another nomination for Mr. Depp. Even though he ultimately didn't win the award though, he deserved the attention: it was a convincing performance. Here I’ll cautiously say that if you can stomach a dark, cruel world full of bloody carnage without remorse, this film is worth your time.

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Next time, per reader requests, I'll try to post some pictures of my new nephew Tristan.  I've finally gotten some, so I'll see if I can make this thing work.  Ok, as much as I love writing, this chocolate stout I'm currently drinking is calling my name.  So for now, adieu.

Currently Listening Mozart: Symphony Nos.25, 26, 27, 29 & 32 see related

A wondrous thing has happened

Within my family. Two days ago Clint and Allison Blevins finally had their baby. My folks had eagerly waited at the hospital through what must have been almost two hours of heavy pushing for Ally, she’d been through alot that night. I looked at my watch between exchanges and prayers, it was getting late, and soon I’d have to go. When would the baby come? And then, the doctor appeared. “The baby’s here, he and the mother are doing fine,” he said.

“He”? A baby boy, could it be? My brother has a son! Amazing! The peaceful delight was then interrupted through the door, by a very distinctive sound: punctuated, rapid-fire bursts of high-pitched shrieks. I smiled. Another child of the covenant had been born. Yup, Satan, that’s right, get used to losing your grip on humanity, one sanctified child at a time.

The following night, Courtney and I went to visit them, for neither of us had gotten to see the spry young Tristan Rowntree yet. As we went in behind the dividing curtain, we saw the proud new parents next to a hairy little bundle, wrapped tightly inside his tiny, plastic kingdom. “Do you wanna hold him?” Clint asked. I was not keen on the idea only because I’d been cleaning, and was probably pretty dirty. At last I relented(I really wanted to hold him). At first the little guy started as if he was going to start crying in my arms, but he stopped short of it. He then looked up into my eyes with his deep baby blues, closed them, and gave a big yawn as he drifted into a serene sleep. At that point, between him and me, one of us indeed did cry. I’ll leave you to guess which one. The perfect little meeting was capped off by Clint showing my wife embarrassing pictures of me at the age of 3. Then we were off.

“He’s a pretty baby,” my wife said as we left the hospital. “Yes, yes he is,” I replied. God and His promises are remarkable, aren’t they?

Currently Listening The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (with Bonus EP) By Josh Ritter see related

Life is so unpredictable.

I suppose that's much of the reason it captures our imagination so well.  About 6 weeks ago, I wrote some plans about honeymoons and other things surrounding my up and coming marriage.  As God would have it, some of the things I wrote about didn't occur.  Japan, for instance.  That was a trip that both my wife and I were really looking forward to.  As the date neared ever closer, I began finding out new and amazing things we'd see.  I had printed off information on no less than 10 temple sites(including their times open to site-seeing, and prices of entry) in Kyoto alone.  I was stoked.  All that changed the eve of August 9th with a small stomach cramp.

At first I thought it was merely hunger pains.  So, that night at Cock of the Walk, one of Jackson, MS's best known restaurants for deep south cooking, I made sure I ate plenty.  Five pieces of catfish, and 4 helpings of greens later, it only became worse.  This concerned me somewhat, but I was not yet alarmed, after all, people get stomach aches.  Later that night, the pain was still steady and kept growing worse.  I tossed and turned until 6 am.  It was now the day of my rehearsal, and yet I'd only gotten 2 hours of broken sleep.  The pain was still no better, and I was finally ready to do something about it.  "Let's go to the ER," I said, "I want to check on this while I still have time to."

2 hours later, at St. Dominic's hospital in Jackson, the doctor came in after my CAT scan.  "Well, your colon is fine, and your gallbladder is doing quite nicely."  "Whew", I thought, "that's a relief, there must not be anything wrong."  But, then the doctor continued, "but your appendix, it's enflamed, it's gonna have to come out."

My heart sank.  An appendectomy, now, of all times.  A mere 24 hours before my wedding, and I was going into emergency surgery.  At first I was a little angry, but soon I realized God's timing was gracious.  Not only did this happen with time still to spare before the wedding, but it hadn't happened in Japan.  Within hours, I was just ready to get it done with.  When the staff heard that I was supposed to get married the next day, they all worked feverishly to try get things done, each staff member was determined to get me out and on my way to Natchez by the next day.  They were fantastic.  I woke up that afternoon with 3 small incisions, and a feeling of relief.

The following morning, I was checked out by 11 am.  After a quick bite to eat, we were leaving Jackson at 2 pm for Natchez.  It was a two hour drive, and the wedding was at 6 o'clock.  With 2 hours to spare, I arrived in Natchez, changed into my tux, and went to the house we were married at.  With no rehearsal, or even much advice, I walked out in front of all my friends and family...with a chair nearby in case I had to sit down.  Then I saw Courtney for the first time in 3 weeks, all aglow in her lovely wedding gown.  The wedding ceremony went flawlessly.  It was just God, I couldn't believe it, and couldn't explain the peace I had throughout the entire ordeal.  My wife and I both just had to trust God's will at that moment.  Though the honeymoon trip had to be cancelled, we weren't too saddened(Lord willing, we'll be taking it later).  At the reception's end, as she and I walked between two lines of cheering loved ones and friends, all ringing their farewell bells, I was overcome with the satisfaction of knowing that we'd just leaned on Christ, and He'd brought us through.  But as she helped me get into our car and we drove away, I saw the love in her face and knew that from here on out, thanks to God's infinite mercies, we would also be leaning, quite literally, upon one another.

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Congrats to Jeannie and Gray today on the safe delivery of Lucy, their new covenant bundle of joy.

Currently Listening King Vs Queen By Brighten see related

Yes, it's true

My xanga days still have a pulse, despite the allures of apathy that other online personal sites bring. *coughfacebookcough*  I hope this entry puts all certainties to rest.  Errm, wait a minute... ;)  Only three weeks left til I'm a married man, and I gotta say, it feels...pretty nifty.  I know it's coming around the bend, but it's kinda difficult to actually guess what the changes will even be like for us.  I've never been in this position before, so I have no point of reference.  God is both very good and very sovereign though, and trusting Him even more than yourself is what it's all about. 

Btw, for those who haven't heard, my fiance and I will be going to Japan for our honeymoon.  Yeah, I figured that a sweet little hike up Mt. Fuji, as we're dressed as a reenacting samurai and geisha for kicks, and tumbling through an open window in an all you can eat sushi bar in Tokyo, while riding a boat under a towering Shinto torii, and singing songs with anime characters(they're all living, breathing creatures with real PO Box addresses in Japan, ya know) is just the kind of thing a late summer adventure needs; besides the whole sex thing that honeymoons already include that is. ;)  Honestly, it's a place of mutual fascination for Courtney and myself, so this will be a wonderful time.

I've also recently completed two summer classes to officially finish my accounting degree.  Meanwhile, job searching, moving our stuff into an apartment within 2 weeks, gift showers and final wedding preparations are indeed enough to make one's head swim.  God has been so good through it all though.  This has been a completely different summer than last year, but just as memorable.  I only wish I was more prepared in the Lord for the duties and joys yet to come.  Btw, for those of you who survived CWSC yet again...y'all should get medals.  I'm not even joking about that.

Currently Listening Until June By Until June see related

*Edit*

Johnny has given me excellent phone advice, which I intend on taking.  So hopefully that will take care of the phone number list issues.  Thanks bro!

*Edit*

My phone stopped working on me yesterday.  It stopped charging altogether.  After a brief period with the cingular folks, we figured out that it was the charging port itself, and not the battery.  So, with a 90 minute phone call, I got them to send me a new phone.  Here's the rub though:  the old pictures and videos I took on it aren't easily transferable, and it seems I must give them up.  Oh well, you can't have it all, can you?

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Funny story here.  My brother Clint, many of you know him, was doing his assistant youth pastor duties at Celebration Church(which has about 3,000 members) last week.  He was up on stage in front of about 250 kids, jumping up and down, playing the guitar etc, and just havin a good time.

He then asked for volunteers from the children to go up on stage with a flashlight, which they were to shine at the ceiling to make it look like a starlit evening.  The little kids went up, grabbed their flashlights and started pointing them around.  Clint noticed one little guy quite a bit nervous about being up there(I mean really nervous).  He was visibly shaking as his feeble arms tried to jerk the flashlight around.  Turning to him, my brother said, "come on, faster, you gotta shake the flashlight faster."  The poor little 4 year-old started shaking his flashlight a bit faster, but then stopped, looked up at him blankly, and said, "Clint, you're...too...crazy!"