Reimagining Consistency

Like Kelly McGillis from the 80's movie Top Gun, we apparently "can't fight that lovin' feeling" either. We are creatures of habit and Hollywood is banking on that with the slate of movies they have lined up over the next couple of years. The key words in Hollywood right now: remake, sequel, and reimagining.

The following movies are but a few reincarnations of classic films, toys or TV Shows from generations past that have recently or will soon make their way into movie theaters:

GI JOE
Star Trek
Fame (reimagined)
The A-Team
Transformers
Alvin and the Chipmunks (The Squeekwel)
Robin Hood (with Russell Crowe)
Scream (possibly another Trilogy)
Terminator
Three Stooges
Land of the Lost
Indiana Jones (4 and now a rumored #5)
Red Dawn
Mission Impossible (a fourth movie)
Comic Book Movies (Green Lantern, Captain America, Iron Man 2, Thor, Spider-Man 4)
Clash of the Titans (reimagined)
Bride of Frankenstein
Ghostbusters (old GB's will train a new class)
The Karate Kid (with Will Smith's son as the Kid)
Friday the 13th (reimagined)
Halloween (reimagined)
Wall Street (sequel)
Predator (reimagined)
Conan the Barbarian (reimagined)
He-Man (if it can make it past pre-production) (reimagined)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (reimagined)
The Hobbit (Prequel to Lord of the Rings)
Heathcliffe

New stories, new characters, younger/newer/"hipper" new actors, new effects, CGI, better stories... pick your "new" spin; however, it's not the "new" that studios bank on, but the old - the familiar. There is comfort for fans in stepping into familiar characters and story arcs. It's not that people fear change (though that could be the case for some), it is that we are people who want something consistent. That's why when Star Wars released its prequel trilogy and the famous John Williams' theme song started fans lept to their feet in uproarious applause or why they got goosebumps and smiled ear-to-ear when the silhouette of Indiana Jones donned his famous Fedora.

People cling to consistency because it is how we were created. God created us in His image... as a reflection of His divine attributes and character. No matter how life changes or adjusts, hurts or hinders, crumbles or collapses there is great comfort in the God who (1) never changes, (2) never abandons, (3) never sells us out for newer or better, and (4) always loves.

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Spider-Man the Family Man

A solid example of real life fatherhood came from the most unlikely of places… Hollywood! In the midst of the land of make believe and false beliefs one man stood against the “machine” and won. Tobey Maguire (the 33 yr old actor known for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man) signed an unprecedented deal this week to return as the comic book hero Spider-Man in the fourth and fifth installments of the franchised movie. As a part of his insanely lucrative payment ($50 million) for his acting services (I know actors, athletes, musicians, etc. work hard, but it still amazes me that they make MILLIONS to do what they do) he demanded time off every morning and evening to “play with his daughter.” AWESOME!

What a stellar standard to set. Sony at first was reluctant to meet that demand for fear of setting a precedent (showing, again, Hollywood’s true colors – money over family and what really matters), but they backed down when they realized Toby wouldn’t. So props to you, Spider-Man, for being "the Man" in your daughter’s life and demonstrating to her what ought to be more valuable than any thing (money included): family.

See the article here: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4749016.ece

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