Mormon Movie Review: ****Star Child

 Star Child is a recording of a dramatic performance (1999). It  is the sequel to Saturday's Warrior.  Doug Stewart wrote the book and lyrics.  Gaye Beeson wrote the music.  There are things to not like with this movie, but also things to cherish.  As I watched several times I was moved to tears.  At times the lyrics are very moving.  (lyrics from my memory as I could not find them on internet.)

I promise, I promise, I promise to bring,
On the day that we marry, hands that are clean
That angels may help us achieve every dream
Of endless forever, with you are my queen.
I promise I promise, of this I am sure
I promise to bring you a heart that is pure
That angels may help us achieve every dream
Of endless forever with you as my king.

Oh if there's a person, who can give my life meaning
Then please reach out, take my hand

Follow the light that's in you
Don't be afraid it will guide you
Follow and you'll know
The safest way to go,
If you follow, follow the light.

For the most part it is well presented.  Elder Green however was painful to listen to.  He was off key too often.

I must admit, looking at the college dating scene was not fun, and caused me to have nightmares.  It was a hard time for me.  I don't think people are so focused on finding a mate, even if they are at BYU.  It was a shallow cliche for everyone's character.

This movie does not end all happy like Saturday's Warrior.  Chuck and Marie don't marry, as they promised each other in the preexistence.  But Chuck does find Larry, and he is converted to the gospel.

I saw a stage production in college.  My date didn't like the ending.  I was OK with it.  It is more important to remember we are Heavenly Father's children, than whose child we are on Earth. 

Movie Night: ***^Man in the Iron Mask

This movie is very enjoyable.  It stars Lenonardo DiCaprio in a dual role as King Louis and his twin brother, Prince Phillip.  The pretest of this movie, is that Prince Phillip has been hidden since birth, as there can only be on heir.  When King Louis is crowned  , he has his brother imprisoned, with an iron mask over his face, so no one can see his face and see that he looks like the king.  He is never told why he is imprisoned.  He does not know he is the king's brother.

And there enter the musketeers.  They have been given a much smaller role, and in fact are mostly on the outside looking in, except for D'artagnan who is captain of the guard.  He is also a secret lover of the queen.  King Louis betrays the son of Athos, (John Malkovich) sending him to the front lines where he will be sure to die in war.  He does this, so he can have his fiance, as he uses many women.  Porthos, who needs adventure, and Aramis, who leads the rebellion determine to bring down the king.  Aranis is privy to information about Prince  Phillip, and the steal him from jail.  They hope to replace the king  with the prince.  However, can they teach him to be regal in just a few weeks, the time they have before a masquerade ball, when they hope to make the switch.

This movie is suspenseful and intriguing.  Malkovich is always good, and as the father who loses his son does a good job.  There is some sexual inuendo, and the King seems to be often in bed with different women.  I would recommend this movie, and will probably view it again.

Life in Manteca 64: Reataurant Review, Strange Weather

Man was our weather strange this weekend.  Friday night we had long periods of thunder.  Miranda and Caleb spent time at the window looking at the lightening storm.  Saturday was pretty nice, but Sunday afternoon it let loose again.  Thunder, lightening, rain and hail.  Anthony brought some hail in and it was probably quarter inch size.   Our back year could not drain quickly enough and we had a big puddle.

Sheri and I tried a new restaurant, ****Forum Dynasty at Union and Lathrup.  It is a Chinese oriented restaurant and was very enjoyable.  He had the menu for two that included sweet and sour pork, our favorite, also included fried rice, with lots of shrimp which I like but Sheri not so much, and hot and sour soup.  I could handle the hot, but not the sour, and mostly went uneaten.  But we were game to try something new.  Their sweet and sour was very good.  hey were not skimping on vegetables as is sometimes the case.  We also had almond chicken.  It was also very good, and a good contrast to the sweet.  It had zucchini which I pushed to the side.  A good experience, very friendly service.  This restaurant is worthy of a repeat.

Easter 2013: A Few Pictures

I did not do a very good job of documenting our Easter weekend with pictures.  We started Saturday with going to help my daughter move.  They found a place, larger and cheaper a couple blocks away.  We all went to help, along with a few people from their ward in Turlock.  Charity and Anthony had barbeque after the moving, and they did an Easter egg hunt hunt for Tony.  They have a pretty large yard behind their four-plex.  Tony then hid everything and Miranda and Charity were the finders.

Tony brought the plastic eggs and did a couple Easter egg hunts in the back yard for the neighbors.  They then hid the eggs for him and they had a good time. 

Caleb and I finished our home teaching, and went Easter shopping.  I was tired and lazy and we didn't get Easter baskets out until Sunday morning. 

Sheri and Toni tried something new: tie/dye eggs.  I had to sacrifice some ties.

I sang with the choir for Easter.  We had rehearsal before church.  Chris Papworth is the choir director, Ruth Christensen played and Caleb is the president.  We sang one of my favorites from Handel's Messiah, "Surely."

(24) Surely He hath borne our griefs Isaiah 53:4,5 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . . 5. . . He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him,

This was the prelude, but in many respects the high light of my day. 

Mark and Dianna and family, including Nicole, came over for Easter Dinner.  Charity and Anthony came as well.  Sheri prepared ham dinner. 

Movie Review: Michael Ballam: *****The Power of Music to Lift and Teach

http://www.byutv.org/watch/8bf61cd8-434b-4c8a-a458-47999cb684b1/byu-education-week-michael-ballam-1998
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BYU Education Week 1998
I love Michael Ballam's talks on BYUtv.  They are recorded education week presentations, and he mixes music with his lecture.   His presentations motivate and uplift me.  He is also very insightful on the power of music, and has many tremendous experiences in sharing music with others.  He takes about the great composers, and how they often said they were inspired by God in their music.  He also tells of his teachers, and experiences in which music has helped people think more clearly and touch their imagination, like Albert Einstein.