4 - Green Mountain Outlook
Opinion
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From the Editor
Stories worth telling I
n recent years, we’ve seen a spate of cartoon superhero movies coming out of Hollywood—”Batman”, “Superman” “Ironman”, “Spiderman”, etc. Even Greek and Roman superheroes, such as Jason, Achilles and Spartacus have been given new life on the big screen. Americans seem to like larger-than-life characters, whether they are imaginative (Batman) or based on real, historical figures (Sparatcus). And despite what you read and hear from relativistic news reporters these days, most of us—that is, we who are neither eggheads nor elitists—still like the good guys; we still like them to triumph in the end. Personally, I have always been fond of historical “sword and sandal” (S&S) epics; sure, call them my guilty pleasures—classics such as “Quo Vadis”, the marvelous, nearly forgotten Charlton Heston 1972 classic, “Antony and Cleopatra”, “The 300 Spartans” (the 1964 Richard Egan version, that is, not “The 300” remake which I thought was bloody awful—literally), and the like. I will also admit to companion S&S guilty pleasures—the 1960 George Pal fantasy, “Atlantis, the Lost Continent”, and the Italian-made Steve Reeves “Hercules” films. With that said, I was thrilled to learn last week that Hollywood is rediscovering the Bible. Who would have thought? With all its negative portrayals of religious people—from murderous popes to vampirish nuns, I was somewhat skeptical of Hollywood’s coming wave of bigbudget Biblical movies. Will they be genuine in their story telling or will they be vehicles to belittle monotheistic values and the people who believe? A number of these biblical epics—with 21st century CGI special effects—are planned, according to various reports. The first blockbuster, “Noah”, is due out in late 2013. Watch for actor Russell Crowe playing the Old Testament ark builder and zoo keeper. While many of us may not take these stories literally (did a Great Flood really cover the entire Earth in human memory?), you must admit that they are timeless in the telling of their spiritual and moral truths. Like the stone tablet-Mt. Sinai scene in DeMille’s classic “The Ten Commandants”—”Thou shalt not kill!” Who ever hears a dissenting voice in the audience? We know deep truth when we hear it. These Middle Eastern stories deserve to be told, again and again. Stephen Speilberg is said to direct “Gods and Kings”, an epic about Moses. Will Smith will play Cain—versus his brother Able (yet to be cast)—in a 2015 movie. “Mary, Mother of Christ” is scheduled for next year, with Ben Kingsley playing nasty King Herod, and “Pontius Pilate” may even star George Clooney (go figure). These won’t be chessy PTL productions, but old-fashioned Hollywood blockbusters. They are an indication that Hollywood is rediscovering (at least for the moment) that religious-themed films have an audience—a big audience. And that means—cha-ching!—box office revenue. While regular church attendance may have fallen off in recent years in the United States, there are still millions of Americans who crave something bigger, deeper and richer than mere material existence. They want to know what’s beyond this life. It all comes down to a quest for the spirit, however you conceive it to be. And when it comes to the Bible, Hollywood can either succeed or fail at the effort. But I hope it succeeds. According to an interview with “Gods and Kings” screenwriter Stuart Hazeldine on TCM-TV last year, “If you get it wrong, you end up with protesters outside the movie theater, a la ‘Last Temptation of Christ’. If you get it right, they go back and back and back, and they're bussing from out of state.” Lou Varricchio
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www.gmoutlook.com PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER MANAGING EDITOR OFFICE MANAGER PRODUCTION DESIGN EDITORIAL WRITERS
November 21, 2012
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Edward Coats Mark Brady Lou Varricchio Tami Smith Denton Publications Production Team Martin Harris John McClaughry Lou Varricchio
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Viewpoint
Let’s count our many blessings
O
n behalf of everyone here at New Market Press, let me wish you a happy Thanksgiving. In these rapidly changing times, our culture is undergoing a massive transformation when it is easy to find so many things about which to complain. Look around, pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio or TV, or log onto the Internet and you’ll find tons of material from which you can sing the blues. Complaining seems to be our most popular pastime these days. We can’t take lightly the challenging economic times we find ourselves in at this point in time. But this weekend, as much as any other time, we need to realize and reflect on all we have to be thankful for as we sit here in 2012. This country is still full of promise and opportunity. Hopefully your Thanksgiving was highlighted by a wonderful meal in the company of friends and family. Some of you may have lost those dear to you since last year and while it may be painful without them, be thankful for the good times you enjoyed with them while they were here and treasure those previous Thanksgiving meals when you were all together. Not too many years ago, if you were unable to connect in person with all your love ones, as cross-country travel was very expensive, what a task it was to just to try a make a phone call. We had stationary, hard wired, rotary phones with very expensive long distances charges. Many times the phones lines were so busy over a major holiday weekend that calls couldn’t get through. We didn’t have speed dial, answering machines or voicemail, so you might have to try many times. Today with our smart phones, computers, tablets and social media, we can send instant pictures and minute-by-minute details of events to distant family and friends. Plus, we can call them at will from almost anyplace or even Skype them in real time and carry on faceto-face conversations through the computer screen across the world. Go back even farther and think about the life-and-death dangers faced by the early settlers of our country. Today we complain about luggage fees and TSA lines while we stand in line to take a jet across the country that will have us to our final destination in just few hours. Our forefathers traveled in
wooden boats or wagons facing untold dangers at every turn. Loved ones on either side of a trip may have Dan Alexander never known the Thoughts from outcome of a visit Behind the Pressline gone bad. Nor could they communicate any life-changing events easily. Complaining will always be a part of our lives regardless of what age we live in, but when put into the context of time, challenges and frustrations will be seen as hurdles to some and opportunities to others. We can look back to the past and we look ahead into the future, but each of us was given only one lifetime to live and this is the time and place we find ourselves. While some may long for the past and others can’t wait for the future, make sure to take full advantage of the present. The opportunities you have today with family and friends may be very different by next year. The regrets of yesterday can only be fulfilled today. On this Thanksgiving, count your blessings and cherish those you’ve been able to share it with. Regardless of your situation, hope and opportunity are out there. You may have to open yourself up to find them, but a truly thankful heart can always see things more clearly. Let’s all hope the unrest, wars, pessimism and doubt concerning our future can be replaced with peace and optimism when we realize and give thanks for the many wonderful blessing we enjoy at this time and in this place. Let’s hope that as a society we take greater stock in what we have to be thankful for rather than fighting and stressing over the things we don’t or won’t have. Life is so short and regrets can build up over the years. Don’t wait until it’s too late to appreciate our many blessings. Let me also take this time to thank all of you who read this column and our publications. We are thankful for your support and the many emails and letters you’ve sent over the past year. We intend to work hard to continue earning your support. Happy Thanksgiving. Dan Alexander is associate publisher of New Market Press. He may be reached at dan@newmarketpressvt.com.