Reviews by ccampbell

ccampbell says "The best album of all time" about U2 - Rattle and Hum

ccampbell — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:40:37 GMT

For the last 17 years, Rattle and Hum has remained my favorite album. When I saw U2 live for the first time eight years ago, I totally got why this album was the best--they are best LIVE! I can listen to The Joshua Tree and it's good, but nothing compares to the live renditions. When I saw them perform Where the Streets Have No Name in person, well it was a high I lived on for two months. And this period in their music was by far the best. Sandwiched between the semi-pop vs. angst-ridden Irish protester early years and the mass confusion, trying to make too much of a statement, drug riddled Zoo TV period, this was U@ in their prime. It's a classic that cannot be outdated....

ccampbell says "Beautiful but lacking in story" about Atonement

ccampbell — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:13:44 GMT

Atonement is the story of a rich family and what happens (and follows) one night with a house full of guests when an imaginative young girl sees a series of events and jumps to conclusions, unaware of the havoc that will result from her error in judgement.

I had high hopes for this movie. Major elements are there. The cinematography and the sound is excellent. Something as simple as incorporating the tapping of an old typwriter's keys, the clickiing of shoe heels down the hall, the sound of a fan's blades into the tempo of the music makes it incredibly unique and interesting. The casting and even most of the acting was very good. The first half plants the story in so much rich soil, but it fails to grow from there. All it's potential falls flat when the story is left up to the premise of a passionate love story with only the foundation of a few minutes in a library that, without any background information, seems to be entirely about lust and cannot seem to have the roots to withstand...

...

ccampbell says "Truely God-centered film!" about FIREPROOF

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:28:13 GMT

Fireproof was fantastic.

I am a Christian and have led a Christian movie night at our church for about a year. In the process I have found how few good choices there are available to us that are actually faith based and not just stamped suitable because it lacks cursing and nudity, or it's about doing a good thing. Without the glory being given to God and the display of a faith based life, to me it's not worth backing it and telling other Christians that it's worth the time. One of the very few acceptions were the productions by Sherwood Films - Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and now Fireproof. They have gotten better and better with each production. This one far acceeds the previous two efforts (that were both quite good). And to see that the film is having such a widespread showing, receiving acclaim, affecting relationships, and bringing people to the Lord is beyond wonderful! This is truely a blessed production.

The acting in this film is much better than the previous movies produced...

...

ccampbell says "LOVED IT! Jane Austen alone could write it better!" about Becoming Jane

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:12:59 GMT

I'm a huge Jane Austen fan and this really was nearly perfection for me. The characters were well played, and though the reality of the story is a bit questionable, the styling of the plot twists and characters in corrilation with Austen's writing was very well done. Of course, it's said that the stories she wrote and characters in them are based on her life and her family and friends so maybe it comes full circle here after all. The stretch is likely in the romance, for I fear real romance is precisely what the real Jane lacked in life and wrote about mostly out of longing.

The acting is fairly good--my one complaint would be having cast an American to play an English icon, which wouldn't have been so bad if Ann Hathaway's accent hadn't been so hit-and-miss. The drama is perfectly balanced with humor and wit, as was Miss Austen's style. The scenery is beautiful, and the period detail spot on. The best romance I've seen in quite some time.

...

ccampbell says "The BEST they've done - the reality of the Christian life!" about Casting Crowns

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:58:13 GMT

Casting Crowns was the first Christian band I was able to really get into and I think it's for two reasons: 1) They are GOOD at the actual music (instruments, singing, etc.) and not churchy sounding or manufactured like a lot of Christian musicians come across, and 2) They are realistic about living as a Christians. They don't just sing about the upswing of living on the high of absolute faith, but they also express frustration over the hypocrasy that is so often present in churches and the struggle of staying with it when the world makes it difficult to stay on the righteous road.

'East to West' and 'Somewhere in the Middle' are great examples of the lulls we hit in our walks and the reminder we need to get out of the rut and keep on walking in faith. My favorite is 'The Word Is Alive'. The music is powerful and never fails to give me goosebumps and the lyrics are so incredibly moving. It truely gives me the impression of the living Word rising up in my spirit.

This is one of my favorite...

...

ccampbell says "Great reality TV with a heart!" about The Biggest Loser

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:40:45 GMT

The Biggest Loser is a great motivator to work off weight, and a good way to make those not so hendered by weight issues aware of what a struggle it can be for the obese population ever growing in today's society. You really get to know the contestants and begin rooting for them all, even when they're up against your favorites.

On the downside, the show really should be about an hour. The commercial breaks are rediculous, especially around the weigh-ins and the voting and the end. When coming back from a commercial, they NEVER pick-up at the point where they left off buy roll back the footage to the point of absolute annoyance. A good 20 minutes of useless replay footage could be cut. And the shameless product promotion plugs are rediculous. It's not Texaco Television in the 50's already. Make it an hour, loose the impromptu promos, and cut out the 'suspense' replays and the show would be perfect.

...

ccampbell says "My Top 5 Romance Picks" about Top 10 Movies of All Time

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:20:44 GMT

BECOMING JANE - I'm a HUGE Jane Austen fan so this movie was not only fun, romantic, heart wrenching and entertaining, but filmed beautifully and right up my alley. LOVED it. If you're familier with her work, the story line goes along the same format as much of her writing, but the ending is not quite the same as her standard 'happily ever after' wrap up. Unfortunately, this much is true of her actual life, though there's no telling how much more of the story is set in reality. True to her life or not, it's true to the fashion of her books and brings back the romantic quotiant that's been missing from most films for years.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW - Okay, I love period films, and romance, and visually stunning cinematography set in other countries. And fun plot twists, witty dialog, drama-drama-drama, quirky characters... And this has it all. Merchant & Ivory were fantstic film makers, weaving every elemant of story telling, visionary splendor, music, and period-perfect meticulous detail into...

...

ccampbell says "An alright movie that fell short in the spiritual aspect." about Amazing Grace

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:01:55 GMT

I am a Christian who eagerly awited the release of Amazing Grace and went to the theater to watch it with my best friend. She fell asleep and I ended up feeling irritated and empty. The movie itself wasn't bad but it lacked God, to be blunt. There are few movies released in theaters these days that are even suitable for Christians but what can be even more irritating is when there is so much potential to glorify the work of the Lord in so many lives, on our history and on the legacy of nations and God is mentioned often as an after-thought. It's like throwing the Christians a token by-line in order to get the backing of 'Christian', 'Family Friendly' stamps of aproval. I find it insulting and aggrevating that we have sold ourselves so short when the story had so much potential....

ccampbell says "Still love it after all these years." about Golden Girls

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:52:38 GMT

I didn't watch The Golden Girls when it originally ran but I've picked it up in syndication in the last few years and have to say that, at the age of 31, I now find it great. When looking back at many sit-coms from that era, not much humor stands the test of time but this show is still funny and entertaining....

ccampbell says "Better than most talent television contests." about So You Think You Can Dance

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:46:07 GMT

Led by the british co-creator of American Idol, Nigal Lithgoe, this dance show contest is much more entertaining than the singing version. The first few weeks of 'So You Think You Can Dance' (which airs twice a week) consists of auditions and is often the most interesting portion of the season. And not usually because of the freaks that try-out, as is the attraction for its sister show.

I've gotten so attached to the cast at times that each season it is more difficult to get involved for missing the ones I loved the previous year. The judges are usually on point and rarely cruel, although Mary Murphy's rediculous screams and laughter can be way too much. And Mia Michaels, an interesting an inspiring free-style choreographer in the first season, has seemed to progressively loose her marbles over the last few seasons, both as a judge stating complete nonsence and as a choreographer--though she sometimes still manages to produce a fantastic routine.

The talent of the dancers really carries...

...

ccampbell says "Fabulous, I can't stand to miss it" about Project Runway

ccampbell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:18:20 GMT

Project Runway is probably my favorite show. The contestants are usually interesting, the challenges are typically out there enough to keep me involved, celebraties are always popping up, and the diversity of styles keeps things stirred up. I sometimes wonder if the judges see what I see, particularly when it comes to choosing a winner, but otherwise, they "Make it work"! And Tim Gunn is fabulous....