Spectre - can we have some normal villains please

This is my take on the film Spectre - it is not so much a review more a comment on my feelings and thoughts on the end of what is effectively a four-part story arc in the James Bond films.
** Please be aware there some potential spoilers **

Spectre picks up where Skyfall left off with M and his organisation under review and the 'double 0' program under threat of being closed down. James Bond is on the trail of the people behind Quantum and the other bad guys that came to light in the previous three films. So Spectre is essentially unveiled as the organisation behind all of the activity In Casino Royale Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. So the film brings to the end the story running through those four films.

The film itself Is too long partly because it's got so much story to get in. There are all of the normal elements of a Bond film in there just not as good as previous films and I think the obligatory car chase is possibly the dullest ever in movie history. Both of the baddies - the muscle and the mastermind - are very average. Christoph Waltz is a great character actor but this character suffers from repeating the whole Quantum role and there isn't any real menace.

So whilst it was enjoyable it is not as good as Skyfall, Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace. But it does bring all the stories together and you could very much watch all four films back-to-back.

Having watched it my request and plea is - Can we now have our regular James Bond back please!

James Bond films should be very much standalone with a big bad villain with evil plans that need to be thwarted and then it's all done and dusted. In this series of four films we've effectively had the same villain behind all four films being slowly revealed not just as a single baddie but a shadowy business organisation but the it is actually a global criminal organisation which actually is the mastermind of a boy who grew up with James Bond!

So enough with the running theme of bad guys that were behind everything in the last movie, let just have some baddies to kill and save the world eh James, for England!

Book Review - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell is an incredible book. The characters in its pages are described in great depth, despite the relative brevity of each of their stories and the narrative keeps your attention like the best page turning thriller.

Cloud Atlas is made up of six separate stories which are connected by a variety of threads which show how power and control continue to dog man throughout time. I enjoy stories that are told through interlinking lives, I immediately think of great films like Crash, Short Cuts and Magnolia. Cloud Atlas is easily as absorbing as those films and I eagerly await the release of Cloud Atlas the film this year (it will either be a tragic effort or a masterpiece).

The big difference with this story as opposed to the films I mentioned is the way it is spread over a timespan from nineteenth century to sometime in the distant future. The authors ability to write in such differing but truly authentic styles is brilliant. It is no wonder it was a finalist for the Booker Prize in 2004.

It is certainly a 5 star book and one of the best works of fiction I have ever read.

Have you read Cloud Atlas? What do you think?

Book Reading Update

At the start of the year I listed the 19 books I wanted to read. I thought I would post an update, give you some thoughts and most importantly I would love get some your comments on these books if you have read them or let me know what you are reading.

So far this year I have read:

Teams of Rivals - the story of Abraham Licoln's remarkable life and presidency. I reviewed this book back on Feb 12th mine and Abe's birthday!

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - This is a fascinating book which looks at why and how some fashions, messages, education, adverts, methods of working, even crime waves and crime fighting can be stunningly successful almost overnight. How they go from ordinary to tipping into epidemics.

Frank Skinner by Frank Skinner - a refreshingly honest and entertaining autobiography

Gridlock by Ben Elton - I normally like Ben Elton books but  I didn't enjoy this one.  The first half of the book was both turgid & hyperactive in it's changes of subject. The last quarter of the book suddenly became full of life and then it was suddenly finished. Not his best.

The Shack by William P. Young - A worldwide bestseller that has been criticised by several well know Christian leaders notably Mark Driscoll*. I found this work of FICTION to be moving and challenging and made me want to open my eyes to see more of God and His work in my life. A beautiful story.

And currently I am reading The World Needs More Elders by PJ Smyth which is a booklet on the role, character and key areas of development of Christian leaders and specifically church leaders (elders). It is excellent material that is really refreshing and challenging so far.

So do you have any comments on any of these books? What are you reading?

* just for the record I think Mark Driscoll is a great bible teacher and has built a great church I just don't agree with him on all issues and certainly I think he has gone way over the top on The Shack, he is just a little too black and white on certain things for me. But I must say he has got a great tag line on his Twitter feed "A nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody"

Rob Bell - the definitive take on Love Wins by someone who hasn't read it

I've been tracking some of the debate and furore that has surrounded the launch of Rob Bell's latest book Love Wins.

Now I have to say I haven't read the book but in the vein of many of the articles I have read that somehow doesn't seem to matter! However for upfront disclosure I have to say I am a fan of his work, especially his preaching. I would say he is the best communicator I have ever listened to, only C.J. Mahaney comes close in my opinion.

But back to the issue at hand "Love Wins" - or does everyone get to heaven anyway? The best reviews of the book and the central issue I have seen are Derek Tidball from EA which is a brief summary of the book, Steven Harmon who covers the issue of universalism and Derek Ouellette who brings an interesting question - is it the sub-title that has caused all the problems?

Having watched the video (see below) that introduces the book, my view is that I think the questions raised in the book are ones that real people, especially non-christians, struggle with. There is a tension even a bit of a paradox in the general love of God to want all men to be saved and yet we have  the option to choose God.


LOVE WINS. - Available March 15th from Rob Bell on Vimeo.

The best summary of the issue of who gets into Heaven I have seen and I fully agree with is from Steven Harmon who writes, "a settled doctrine of the ultimate salvation of all persons seems difficult to reconcile with the clear teaching of many passages of Scripture. Theologically, a necessarily universal salvation seems to contravene both the freedom of God and the freedom of humanity. I will not be surprised if I discover in heaven that the God revealed in Jesus Christ has indeed in the end reconciled all people to God, but I cannot presume that."

Ultimately God's love will win and I hope as we consider these important questions we remember 1 Cor 13:13 "three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love". Let's pursue love with God, one another and the lost above all else - especially above telling people they are wrong and we are am right.

"New" Music #2

Continuing my expansion of my music collection and hopefully an increase in my musical knowledge, appreciation and maturity - see previous post.

So the latest selection I have purchased and been listening are listed below, as ever let me know what you think.

Beautiful South - Quench and Blue is the Colour (1998 and 2001) - 50p each - 2 stars

Wonderfully crafted lyrics and with interesting melodies and rhythms BUT I just didn't get into these songs. I just didn't get caught up on any of the hooks.

Lily Allen - Alright, Still (2007) - 50p - 2 stars

Lily's voice is catchy and the tunes are very rhythmic but the topic of the songs seem to be all the same and worst of all I think Kate Nash does the same type of songs but twic as good.

The Proclaimers - The Best Of... (87-02) - 50p - 3 stars

All their great hits - Letter to America, 500 Miles, Sunshine on Leith - but also quite a few other excellent tunes and covers. OK a few duff tunes but with 20 tracks you definitely get 12 tracks that are really good.

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me (2002) - 99p - 3 stars

Norah's wonderful voice and the relaxing mix of guitar, soft drums and piano is lovely.  Music to sit and listen to, walk along on with it on a summers day or just in the background as you potter around the house.

"New" Music #1

I have decided to expand my music collection by browsing the second hand stores to pick up albums and artists I have heard of but never really had the chance to listen to their music.  I will occasionally post my thoughts and even commit myself to an 'out of 5 stars' rating.  Let me know what you think.

The Zutons - Who killed the Zutons (2004) - 99p - 2½ stars
OK album, their debut album and the main hits came off their second album.  May occasionally listen again

Dido - Life for Rent (2003) - £1.99 - 3 stars
Very enjoyable album, lovely voice and relaxing slightly melancholic tunes.  I remember this artist being regularly lampooned on Never Mind the Buzzcocks but I quite like it.

Razorlight - Up all night (2004) - 99p - 2½ stars
Intense guitar rock, not dissimilar to The Editors. Not sing along but solidly good tunes.

Texas - White on Blonde (1997) - 99p - 4 stars
Really love this album, it seems contemporary, cool and such a good mix of soft rock and fantastic lyrics.  This is one that will get many spins on turntable

Will Young - Friday's Child (2003) - 50p - 3½ stars
That very rare thing a reality pop star with talent and originality. Soulful pop ballads, very toe tapping!

Book Review: Team of Rivals

Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, so it seems fitting to post my review of the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

The book tells the story of Abraham Lincoln and the three rivals he beat for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860. Lincoln appointed all three men to his cabinet, soothed their egos, drew upon their talents, political skills and experience to help him in leading the country through the most difficult period of its history. The book spans the decades running to the Civil War, the war’s big battles, and ends with the assassination of Lincoln.

Through the book you get an idea of Lincoln’s leadership: his superhuman empathy, superlative sense of political timing, and patience. But what really set him apart was his ability to strike compromise and control his own emotions - whether he was under attack by colleagues, critics or public opinion.

He would not be rushed but carefully thought through issues from all sides. He took counsel from those with more experience or clear gifting, always sort to take others with him. Slow to react to critiscism, fast to forgive, never afraid to apologise, generous with his time and always looked for the good in people. The statesmanship of Lincoln is immense and it is easy to see how he is so revered, indeed the story related by Tolstoy and mentioned in the book sums him up well. Tolstoy was the guest of a tribal chief in Russia 40 years after Lincoln's death and had entertained them with of tales of Alexander, Caesar and Napoleon.  The Chief then stood and said, "But you have not told us about the greatest general and ruler of the world. We want to know something about him. He was a hero. He spoke with a voice of thunder; he laughed like the sunrise and his deeds were strong as the rock... His name was Lincoln and the country in which he lived is called America"

In my opinion Abraham Lincoln stands alongside Henry V as one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen. Great because of the skill, leadership and humanity they show.

Through this book I had grown to care and respect Lincoln so much and see the love in which he was held that reading the last chapter which chronicles his assassination was quite an emotional experience.

I thoroughly recommend this book.

I would be glad to have a tenth of the qualities old Abe had.  The one thing I do share with him is my birthday, so Happy Birthday to the both of us!