The Meaning of a Good Conversation
Who do you think is happier? People who spend more time talking about the state of the world? Or people who prefer discussing the weather? Given the current state of the world, one might assume the weather would be a…
Reality Revisited: a review of Inception
“Pardon him, Theodotus: he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.” George Bernard Shaw in Caesar and Cleopatra Shaw has had lots of fans in recent years. “Constructivists”, as…
Discussion questions for Inception
What were you thinking about as this film ended? What images from the film linger most vividly in your mind? Why do you think you were struck by them so forcefully? In one of Inception’s central scenes 19th century opium…
Discussion Questions for Avatar
Seen the movie? Read the review. Consider the following: What did watching "Avatar" leave you thinking about? Discuss your first impressions here, not your considered conclusions about the film. On one hand "Avatar" is an other-wordly fantasy. On the other…
Discussion questions for A Serious Man
If the review of "A Serious Man" below piqued your interest in watching the movie, here are some questions you might consider for your own, personal reflection; or, better yet, for discussion with friends. What were you thinking about as…
Why, perhaps, you should see Avatar
I know all the good reasons not to. Yes, the story’s been told before—and better—in "Dances with Wolves." Lonely American serviceman meets beautiful native girl who opens his eyes to a new way of looking at the world and in…
Growth in Grace
Ukrainian-born composer Dimitri Tiomkin won 4 Oscars in the 1950s for his film scores and songs. In 1955 upon receiving the award for “The High and The Mighty” he thanked his collaborators “Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Richard Strauss.” At first…