Here's Johnny...

No, not Jack Nicholson from the Shining...Depp! I am FINALLY going to see Public Enemies tonight. Depp with guns as a bad boy...why didn't they think of doing this movie before?!

In honor of this, I am going to give you guys a rundown of my other favorite Depp flicks...in no particular order...

Edward Scissorhands - This was really his breakout role from 21 Jump Street guy to Tim Burton crazy film guy. He is wonderful and pulls off innocence with sweetness. It is also very funny to see this "outcast" dropped into the burbs! Depp's acting is great and you totally buy into the character. That "totally making the audience buy into the character" had just begun with this one...that is why I like this one so much! Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFa8zfWfeA.

From Hell - In case you didn't see this one, Depp plays a detective investigating the Jack the Ripper murders in London. He is intense and tortured all at the same time because he himself has a bit of a drug problem along side a talent to see the future. The title comes from how "The Ripper" signed his daunting letters to the police...I guess it was like the guy's address! Anyway, he falls for one of the prostitutes that he is protecting...isn't that always the way of it?! I like this one because I think he shows someone dealing with inner demons in a very subtle way...good acting. Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw8US3gS37w.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - This remake of the 70s classic was great in my opinion. Depp pulls out the innocence of childhood again and plays a very bizzare Willie Wonka. I loved his costume in this one. I am fairly certain I could pull off that look for Halloween. In fact, the 5 year old daughter of one of my coworkers said, when she saw the movie, that Wonka reminded her of "aunt Beth from the airport" (my title to her) when she wears her sunglasses. It is true! Slap a top hat on me and my big sunglasses and I can pull off Willie Wonka...or at least Depp's version of Wonka! This movie is pure whimsy so who doesn't love it?! Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyB4s9eox2o.

Finding Neverland - Depp plays the playwrite James Barrie who is stuggling with his work. Then he meets and falls in love with this family. Yes, I do like a good love story even though not all turn out that way in life. One of the boys is named Peter and he is a sad little boy. The boy's father has died recently and the mother (played by Kate Winslet) is also sick. Depp's character entertains the boys and their mother with crazy stories of all types. One favorite is about a boy who doesn't want to grow up and a pirate. I love when Depp plays the pirate because you can close your eyes and his voice is Captain Jack! As you might imagine, the story of the boy and the pirate becomes Peter Pan. The movie is wonderful and it is some of Depp's best acting. He is great at being subtle...especially in the realm of emotion. This movie is just good in too many ways to pick just one! Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqXYTSYHFKI.

Sleepy Hollow - Depp steps into the role of Ichabob Crane and becomes the wide-eyed man who gets in over his head. Over his head...get it! OK...moving on! I love all his gadgets in this movie as he plays a detective trying to solve the crimes of the Headless Horseman. I have always loved this story...even the Disney cartoon version...so I loved Johnny bringing it to life so well! Here is the trailer...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kOK5HMdo_E&feature=related

Pirates of the Caribbean (all of them) - Here is where I think Johnny Depp brings his best character to life...Captain Jack Sparrow! When I was watching the first movie I really couldn't decide if he was drunk, gay, crazy or all of the above. I also had trouble following his lines because of his crazy accent. BUT...I loved him from the moment he staggered onto the screen! Captain Jack is classic...heck, my boys have a Captain Jack Fathead on their wall. (Yes, it is really for me!) These movies are great because they are pure fantasy adventure with a great character leading the crazy march! Bring on Pirates 4 Mr. Depp!! (I didn't include the trailer because who hasn't seen these movies?! OK...there may be one of you! If you have never seen these...find the trailers on YouTube!)

Don Juan DeMarco - This one is probably not one of Depp's better known roles but it has to be one of my favorites. He plays, well, Don Juan. Problem is he is playing him in present day. He is committed to the nut house where he begins to tell his life story to a shrink who is about to retire. The shrink is played by Marlon Brando. These two are excellent. Depp's Don Juan tells of his great love for women...lots of women....hey, he was the world's greatest lover! (The opening sequence is proof of that one!) The great bit about this movie is that Brando is suppose to "cure" Depp's character but instead gets pulled into his story and ends up reconnecting with his wife who he has neglected for far too long. In the end, Brando says that his last patient was incurable...but contagious! Good stuff from both these great actors....and a smoking hot Johnny Depp! Here is the trailer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymyo4e_sjwY. If you want the opening sequence just find it on YouTube...it will probably be called the "restaurant scene". I am not quite brazen enough to put up the link for it even though the movie is just PG-13!

So, there are my Johnny Depp favorites. I will let you all know if Public Enemies joins the ranks! Just for the heck of it, here is the trailer for it...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjTlcTztp2A.

See you at the movies...

It May Look Like North Carolina...

This blog is about movies...right? Well, I try but I sidetrack myself with real life on occasion. Since I have still not seen Public Enemies...sorry Johnny, I keep trying...then I shall blog about a movie, a mission trip and my fear of travel. Yes, I know you can hardly wait.

The title of this blog entry is "It May Look Like North Carolina". If you have seen the movie Cold Mountain then you know that it is the story of a place called Cold Mountain in North Carolina. The storyline revolves around a very proper girl who falls for a mountain man of sorts. The Civil War breaks out and the couple share one kiss...it is a good kiss...before he marches off to war. The girl's father dies and she is left to attempt to run the farm all alone. Fortunately for her, a woman shows up to help. This woman, Ruby, is a tough as nails country girl who shows the proper city girl the ropes and they develop a friendship. Meanwhile, the mountain man is injured in battle and then decides to go AWOL and return to Cold Mountain to be with the girl. In case you have not seen the movie, I will only tell you that they do see each other at the end of the movie but things do not end on a happily ever after note. Also, because I know more than I should about movies, I will tell you that Renee Zellweger, who plays Ruby, snagged an Oscar...she was great!

So...what does any of this have to do with anything? Well, the Cold Mountain protrayed in the film may look like North Carolina and the rural Appalachians, but is was actually filmed in Romania. Imagine that! Now, this is where I tie this all together...keep reading...

I taught that Sunday School class today and had three people. Not a huge class and they didn't talk much but it went well...I think. During our prayer request time two of the three asked for prayer because they are heading on a mission trip to, you guessed it, Romania. Neither one of these ladies have ever been on an airplane before so they are nervous. I would be too! If my first flight had been half way around the world I would need heavy meds. I really still would...we will get to that part. Anyway, these two began to share with me about what they are going to be doing and one of them in particular really lit up about it. She may be nervous about traveling, but she is excited to have the opportunity to go teach others about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! She also admited to being nervous about working with the translators. I told her it would worry me too but they know what they are doing. (I sure hope I am right about that!)

The team from my church are heading for what apparently looks a lot like North Carolina. (OK...I am not sure they are going where Cold Mountain was shot but Romania is not that big people...is it? I am not sure since I don't really know geography!) I didn't count them, but there are probably 20 to 30 going to fulfill the Great Commission on this mission trip. Based on my discussion with the ladies in the Sunday School class, they will divide into two teams. One of our ministers will lead a team into the rural part where it is mostly gypsys and they do not know English and the other minister will lead a team in the "town" where English is more common. Neither one of these guys knows Romanian but minister #1 has been there before and minister #2 hasn't...but he can probably do the accent...he sure has heard it yelled at him from me often enough that I am sure it is like "countless terrors" to him by now! (For those of you that haven't read all my posts, I am attempting to play a gypsy in a movie at church and my accent comes off kinda Romanian/German/Russian depending on the line I am delivering! To his great misfortune, minister #2 has been on the receiving end of my "acting ability".)

Anyway, these two teams will carry out Vacation Bible Schools for the children of the two areas. All of this to me is nothing short of amazing. For two weeks, these people will give themselves over to whatever the Lord's will is for their lives. What a testament of faith! If you are reading this, please join with me in praying for their safety, boldness, health and peace. Pray also for the Romanians whose lives they will touch!

Remember that part about me needing heavy meds to make a trip half way around the world? Well, it is true. I would love to journey along with these fine folks but I actually have a fear of travel...by plane, car, bus...you name it. Have I traveled? Yes. I do work for an airport. However, the thoughts of going with a group of people I don't know that well and traveling for something like 24 hours straight scares me to death. I really hate that about myself. One voice in my head says to grab my Passport and join the next team while the other voice screams at me to stop! No...I don't really hear voices in my head...often. Would God take care of me? Yes...I have absolute faith that He would. Would he remove the fear? Maybe...maybe not. So, in the event that voice number one wins out one of these days, and I feel called to go to Romania or somewhere else, I would not want to be the one sitting next to me on those flights!

I can't wait to hear about the wonderful things that God is going to do in and through the Romanian team. I also want to know if Romania looks like North Carolina...

Pals...

The 80s movie Young Guns ends with this...

"William H. Bonney, also known as 'Billy the Kid' continued to ride, never leaving New Mexico. He was caught in Fort Sumner by Sheriff Pat Garret and killed. Sources report that he was unarmed, and shot in the dark. He was buried with Charley Bowdre at Old Fort Sumner. Advices report that sometime later, an unidentified person snuck into the graveyard and chiseled an inscription. The epitaph read only one word... 'Pals'."

I saw the end of that movie again just the other day and that "Pals" at the end hit a cord with me. OK...one of those cords was the fact that they totally blew off this cool ending of Doc's voiceover as Billy rides off into the sunset with the next movie. The next movie has Billy living to be an old man having never been shot by Pat Garret so the "Pals" part is lost. So goes cinema! The good reason it struck a cord was because not everyone has Pals...or friends that they can count on for anything. That is what was being talked about and I loved that part.

In the catagory of friends, I have some good ones and then I have a close handful of absolutely great ones. For that fact I feel blessed above many.

Women have different friendships than men I think. My thought is that men talk to each other but it is about "things"...sports, cars, comic books, movies, etc. When women talk to each other...close women friends...we talk about how emotions impact us. I know right now that I could call up those friends of mine that I am closest to and they would listen as I cried or laughed...and they would cry or laugh with me. These friends also would not pass judgement on me but rather be there...the act of just being there is momumental.

Of late, I have, to borrow an old Southern phrase, talked the ear off of two of my friends. They have listened and listened and listened. They have called or emailed just to check in on me. Bottom line...they have been there (and still are) and I know it. Having that type of friendship is special and I appreciate them more than they will ever know. If you guys are reading this...you know who you are...thanks! I owe you for what shread of sanity I have left.

I saw this quote (not from a movie...I know...imagine that!) about friendship and thought it was a great way to wrap this post up...

"A friend is someone who can see the truth and

pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else. "

Thanks...Pals...

Forgiveness...

I have been tasked with teaching a Sunday School class this week. I haven't taught a Sunday School class in like a dozen years and then it was 4 year olds. This time it is College and Career....they might actually be listening! So, equipped with my "special talents" that got me this job...yes, only a few of you will get that....I opened my borrowed book to see what important knowledge I am suppose to impart. It is forgiveness. No problem...at least that is what I thought...

So, I am reading this lesson and it lays out how God forgives. You know, I really hadn't sat down to ponder that one in a while. The lesson discusses how we, as humans, decide how WE forgive and then assign that same level of forgiving "power" to God. I can tell you, there was a light went on above my head when I read that. I do exactly that...and have struggled with it for a long time. God's simple concept of love and forgiveness became tangled up in the mess that is my head and I couldn't allow Him to forgive me (of course He had no trouble doing the forgiving...all the mess was on my end) for certain things because it didn't fit into MY "forgiveness plan". Some things were OK to forgive because they were on the "small scale" in my head. Other things had ranked higher (and I am talking about for years here folks) and I had decided that they had to stay locked away because they were just too bad. Sounds silly...doesn't it. Wonder how many Christians are doing the exact same thing. Obviously enough that someone wrote this Sunday School lesson!

The lesson lays out that Adam and Eve sinned so bad that they pretty much ruined everything for all humans and animals to follow. WOW! That's a big one. Did God forgive them? Yes. Did some less than great things happen to them...well, yes. Before they had free reign over paradise and after their sin it was time to work and experience some pain...OK, a lot of pain. God still loved them the same as before because when He forgave them, He forgot about it. That is the sticker, isn't it...forgetting about it. Maybe some of you are not like me and you allow God to forgive you and you move on. Good for you. Frankly, I needed this lesson I am about to teach far more than probably most that I will be teaching it to. Isn't it odd how God worked that one out?

Another thing...while I am on a roll...we, as Christians, seem to have a really easy time handing out judgement to others and a hard time forgiving others. Let me just say that I am overwhelmingly thankful that I serve a God that does not share those traits. May I work to become more like Him...

Happy 4th of July!

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

That, my friends, is the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. Those that penned and signed that document on July 4, 1776 were committing treason against England. For that treason, they could be hung. They signed it anyway. The language they used no longer resonates with us as it did to them, but the idea is the same....freedom.

On this 233rd Anniversary of the signing of that all-important document in our country's history, reflect for a moment on what America means to you. What does it mean to me? It means freedom of religion, the ability to become anything you want if you want it bad enough, the sacrifice of so many to ensure my freedom and so many other things that lean toward the mundane...American flags waving on porches, kid's eating watermelon on the ground, the smell of fresh cut grass in a suburban neighborhood and families praying over dinner...

Enjoy the day. God has granted us a beautiful one!

Happy 4th of July!

Finally...The Media Offers Good News!

Every year, Regal Cinamas brings a movie to the Pinnacle in a "premier" type event. The stars of the movie attend and it is a fundraiser for The Children's Charity of East Tennessee. So far, some of the movies and stars they have brought include Journey to the Center of the Earth with Brendan Fraser, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Will Ferrell, Walking Tall with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Radio with Cuba Gooding, Jr. To my delight, the front page of the Knoxville News Sentinel today announced the latest in the fundraising premier event series. It is going to be...wait for it...New Moon! No...they don't say who is coming but it better not be Kristen Stewart! For those of you who know me, you know who I would like to show up. Yep...Robert Pattinson.

Just thought I would pass this information along in case you have lives and didn't see the paper today. I had pondered a midnight showing of New Moon but now I may have to sell some blood (of course I wouldn't do that...but it works with the Vampire theme) and go to this fundraiser!

Anyone who wants to join me better start saving their money now. I am betting this thing will not be cheap. So, who will go with me?! I already know of one person who I am sure will not miss this event...yes, Ramsey, I am talking to you! :)

Now, if I can just plot to get them to bring Johnny Depp for the next movie premier...

Fourth of July Movie Suggestions...

Don't want to hit the megaplex this holiday weekend? Well, I have a couple of movie suggestions that you probably already own or could rent for like .99 cents at Blockbuster. Let's just call this my Top Ten Independence Day Movie List! (Yes...you can imagine me throwing the movie titles on cards like Letterman...that is what I am thinking!)

10. Pearl Harbor - I know I am going to catch grief for this one but I like it! Did you folks know that the original title was "The Tennessean"? True story. I like this one because it has some great battle sequences and that scene in the parachute hangar where Evelyn grabs Danny's dog tags and pulls him to her is...well...hot.

9. The Patriot - Mel Gibson and Health Ledger are good in this Revolutionary War epic. Also, the bad guy, Jason Isaacs, is one of the best movie bad guys ever. He makes you want to crawl into the movie and rip his heart out.

8. Rocky - I know...you guys are thinking...what?! If you remember, the big fight occurs on the 4th of July. Also, Rocky makes for the best underdog ever and Americans always love pulling for the underdog!

7. National Treasure (1&2) - Not the best pieces of cinema ever but I love Nicholas Cage's turn as Benjamin Gates. He has a love for history and all the historical landmarks that are visited in the movies are worth watching.

6. Forrest Gump - What a great movie! Tom Hanks best work...hands down in my book. We get a look at America from the eyes of someone who sees the world just a little differently. Also, it gives you great recipe ideas for shrimp dishes!

5. The Last of the Mohicans - The Brits, the French, Indian tribes a plenty and a love story...what more could you want? This one takes place during the French and Indian War and follows Hawkeye (adopted son of an Indian) and Cora (proper British girl). The two weave a love story amidst the backdrop of war and it is excellent. The scene in the fort and the waterfall scene are enough to watch this one.

4. A Few Good Men - Jack Nicholson was on screen for just 15 minutes in this movie and won an Oscar! He was that good as Col. Nathan R. Jessup! The cast is great and the storyline intriguing. Will Cruise as Lt. Kaffee get Nicholson as Col. Jessup to own up to the Code Red...yes and it is great acting from both these guys!

3. Apollo 13 - We all know how this one ends but it doesn't matter. I am always on the edge of my seat during that time when they lose contact with the astronauts and they think they have lost them upon reentry! This movie shows America at its very best...by saying that "failure is NOT an option"! Now, I should warn you. I love all things to do with NASA. If ever you guys take my Facebook quiz about me, I will give you a hint...the place I would most like to work is not the airport, not even Disney...it is NASA! I remember when I was a freshman in high school, my cheerleading coach (yes, I was a cheerleader...imagine that!) asked all the girls what they wanted to be when they grew up. Most said a teacher or a nurse...then she got to me. I said I wanted to be on the ground control team at NASA for the shuttle launches. I wish I had a picture of all their faces. High school was no picnic for me as you might imagine. Why don't I work for NASA? Can't do high level math...end of that story!

2. Top Gun - I feel the need, the need for speed! Bottom line...you can't beat hot guys in fighter jets. I also always wanted to look like Kelly McGillis in that bomber jacket and have a cool call sign...hers was "Charlie". If any of you can come up with a cool call sign for me, just let me know...

1. Independence Day - Is this the best movie on this list? Heavens no! BUT...if you want tons of action centered around July 4, this is the movie for you! Will Smith is good in his breakout movie role as Capt. Steven Hiller. He is funny and you can buy that he is a fighter pilot out to get ET! Yes, it has some cheesy moments but that scene of the White House blowing up is still a classic!

So, there you go. That should be enough to keep you guys busy for a while. Enjoy your holiday weekend. Good night...and God Bless America!