A look at four movies that show the plights and triumphs of female leads.

Calendar Girls

Based on a true story, this 2003 film starring Helen Mirren is about a group of middle aged Yorkshire women who decide to raise funds to buy a sofa for the local hospital by posing nude for a calendar. Despite initial opposition from others, the calendar turns out to be a huge success, even receiving attention from Hollywood.

On one level, this movie addresses the social stereotype of what is commonly perceived to be acceptable. While many people expressed admiration for these women’s daring actions, it is telling how the movie portrays the way Hollywood reacts to them. Instead of lauding the women’s motives, Hollywood chooses to focus on the fact that they are willing to shed their clothes, thus debasing them. On another level, this motion picture tries to explore how such a venture brings out the tensions in their families. Unfortunately, not much time is devoted to this aspect. In my opinion, it would have been more satisfying if the movie had chosen to focus on the latter rather than the former.

The Blind Side

The Blind Side tells the real life story of how neglected teen Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) finds the ability to fulfill his potential after being given a helping hand by a kind family. Michael is befriended by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), who takes him under her wing and eventually adopts him. She encourages him to hone his talent in American football, spurring him on to receive a football scholarship from the University of Mississippi.

Bullock’s character is a strong, vocal woman unafraid of doing what is right. No doubt there is something from her that the movie wants us to learn. However, what really struck me about this movie is something my husband pointed out: the parallel between what the Tuohys do for Michael and what God does for us. Like Michael, there is nothing intrinsically deserving in us, but God takes us in, provides unconditional love, adopts us, and asks nothing in return. Somehow, when seen in this perspective, every other theme in the movie is dwarfed.

Julie and Julia

Based on two memoirs, this movie is about two women – chef Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and blogger Julie Powell (Amy Adams) – from two different generations bound by the same love for cooking. Julie is a young office worker unhappy with her job. She sets herself the task of cooking through <em>Mastering the Art of French Cooking</em>, written by Julia Child, and blogging about her culinary attempts. Meanwhile, the movie shows glimpses of Julia Child’s life between the late 1940s and 1950s: her journey in learning French cooking and finally publishing her cookbook.

Streep’s Julia Child is full of grit and a cheerful can do spirit. She wins approval from her male course mates in a culinary class for professional chefs and eventually becomes a “celebrity chef” in her own right (and generation). Adam’s Julie, however, is all saccharine cuteness. She tries her best but gives in to teary “meltdowns” when things get rough. I think the real Julie Powell is actually less sweet and a little rough around the edges, but that is beside the point. Perhaps what the movie tries to draw our attention to is how ultimately, both Julia and Julie are able to find themselves, one as a cook and the other as a writer, rewards for taking on the seemingly impossible.

200 Pounds Beauty

This is a Korean comedy about an overweight vocalist (Hanna, starring Kim Ah-jung) who undergoes full body plastic surgery in the pursuit of love and self confidence. Her life changes dramatically after her surgery but she ultimately realizes that beauty alone cannot bring fulfillment.

The premise of this movie is what makes it predictable, for from the moment Hanna seeks to change her looks, we can already guess at the moral the movie tries to impart and thus know how the story will turn out. An entertaining watch, as long as you do not expect any epiphanies.

Angeline Chew is formerly a civil servant and volunteer coordinator in a local hospice. She worships at Covenant Evangelical Free Church with her husband, Eric.

reviewed by Samantha Lee

Clear, honest, no holds barred – that is the kind of writer Elisabeth Elliot is. This book is a collection of 49 short notes, which Elliot wrote to her daughter in anticipation of her impending wedding. Here, she gives her (very strong) thoughts on the meaning of womanhood.

Much of the book revolves around the identity and special purpose of women, and clearly defines the role of women in society and marriage.

Whilst some of her opinions might be deemed as “old-fashioned” or “archaic” by a few critics (it was written in 1976 after all!), Elliot has provided much insight that is currently lost in our generation. “You marry a man, not a woman. Strange how easy it seems to be for some women to expect their husbands to be women, to act like women, to do what is expected of women. Instead of that they are men, they act like men, they do what is expected of men, and thus they do the unexpected. They surprise their wives by being men and some wives wake up to the awful truth that it was not, in fact, a man that they wanted after all. It was marriage, or some vague idea of marriage…”

How refreshing to read a book for women by a woman who refuses to coddle the weaknesses of her gender! These perspectives are rarely found in the more contemporary books on womanhood, which makes the book a precious gem indeed!

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs

reviewed by Jezreel Pillai

If there is anything one should feel as they read this devotional, it should be discomfort as there is much to be learned about ourselves from the Bad Girls of the Bible. Written humbly (not religiously arrogant) and simply (easily understood) yet with much thought (surprisingly deep), I was left laughing, crying, and ashamed at the many similarities shared with the likes of Rahab, Delilah, Jezebel, and Michal, to name a few. ??Bordering on a novelistic twist with fictional characters for the modern day woman before the ten real biblical characters are expounded, you will find Bible narratives springing to life.

Author Liz Curtis Higgs writes of Jezebel as one who had “a finely tuned mind, boldness and courage, strong leadership abilities, assertive personality and royal lineage,” which describes any woman today who is smart, educated, charismatic, has a colorful career and stable Christian family and yet, by golly, the flaws… they are there too. But God, the creator, alone “understands, forgives, and loves” each one of us so truly that we cannot but be transformed as we render God the worship He deserves – “passionate, personal, and with humble abandon.”

With “What Lessons Can We Learn” which are reflective and challenging points culled from each character and “Good Girl Thoughts Worth Considering” where succinct questions unmask our thoughts, this is a study that will make one consider the motives of the heart – with the sole purpose to refine it

Why Not Women? by Loren Cunningham, David Joel Hamilton, with Janice Rogers

reviewed by Sheryl Han

Thankfully, I faced minimal obstacles in ministry solely based on the fact that I am a Christian woman. However, I know that the freedom, education, and privilege I enjoy is not without the labor of many women before me. This book did a great job in presenting many historical, antagonistic mindsets that befell upon the fairer sex, and I acquired a newfound appreciation of the sacrifices, courage, and resilience those women endured to pave the way for the rest of us to carry out God’s Kingdom work.

For instance, I learned more about the attack against the Gospel workforce when women, who make up two thirds of all Bible believing Christians, were excluded from the work of evangelizing. The enemy attacked men as well, when it appealed to their pride by suggesting that women were not only inferior but vile, subhuman or deformed, as suggested by influential ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. The injustice women suffered were heart wrenching but yet, they were at the forefront of revival movements, and women missionaries often take on the hardest jobs.

Questions of submission, women in public ministry including leadership, praying, and prophesying, as well as God’s absolutes regarding gender were addressed in length, with much reference to historical events and the Bible.

I loved the way the authors described how Jesus’ ministry revolutionized the lives of women, propagating no exclusion, no double standards, and no limits on our God given destiny. In fact, women were in the spotlight in Jesus’ life, birth, death, and resurrection. Read this book to be inspired and encouraged!

The story of how an archer in King Richard of England’s Crusade comes back home, is condemned by the authorities and eventually becomes Robin of the Hood – bane of the corruptly rich and hero to the poor. An entertaining fictitious account intertwined with bits of European history. Guys will enjoy this film for the theme of heroic justice. Robin Hood aims to correct many wrongs in his land, and is unafraid to put his neck on the line for what is right. Something many men should aspire to become!

Iron Man 2

Loud, brash, and egotistical Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr) is back as the iron clad hero – the only super hero who loves that the whole world knows his “secret identity.” He has all the qualities that guys aspire to have: smart (hey, he invented the iron suit!), witty, excellent fighter, rich, and has a charm that sways the ladies to his side. He may not be the best role model on the planet, but the movie does depict his more human side, as well as Stark coming to terms with his limits. Don Cheadle also does a praiseworthy job as the superhero War Machine.

Up

Why include a cartoon in a man’s movie review? Simple: this family friendly film has some very deep themes, one of which is very close to every guy’s heart: the father-son relationship. Up is essentially the story of how a childless old man rediscovers life during an adventure with a young boy, Russell, whose real father is an absentee dad. The touching final scenes of the film will bring a smile to the face of even the most stoic gentleman. Pixar never fails to astound me with their unique storylines, and this movie is no different. Who else can create a full length feature film based on the concept of a flying house?

Casino Royale

This is the reboot of the James Bond series that tries to make Agent 007 more of a 21st century action hero. Now he is muscular, bleeds, and is vulnerable, but fear not, he is still a killing machine. Many of the males in the crowd will love Bond for being cool, smart, and having his way with the women. Ironically, the film neglects to mention the risk of venereal diseases that Bond may have experienced due to his numerous flings. Definitely not an idol parents would want their young boys to follow. Morals aside, after more than forty years, Bond still has those qualities that resonate with the inner alpha male in guys worldwide.

Band of Brothers

When Band of Brothers was first shown, it captured the imagination of numerous young men reminiscing about their national service days. With its heart wrenching realism and special effects, audiences found themselves in World War Two at Normandy, the Battle of Bastogne, and deep in the heart of Nazi Germany. What appealed most to the men were the loyalty among the soldiers, tales of leadership and courage under fire, and of course the amazingly real battle scenes. For those who think this show is too old, look for the new series by the same producers titled The Pacific, this time about the American war against the Empire of Japan on the Pacific front.

You cannot see yourself unless you look into a mirror. But then again, looking at yourself in the mirror is not about checking out how your face looks. Rather, it is how you face the road of life. Pat Morley has done men a favor in helping us discover ourselves as well as finding meaning and purpose of being men in this readable classic book. The Man in the Mirror contains many nuggets of truth that will help any man in their struggles no matter what stage in life they are at:

“The subtle sin of pride beguiles every Christian man. The most invisible of sins, pride seeps into the Christian life like water oozes into the moat around a sand castle on the beach. It requires no effort on our part to get, but all of our strength to keep out.”

“To be afraid is to not fully trust God. He instructs us not to be afraid, promising that if we cast our anxiety upon Him, He will take care of us (see 1 Peter 5:7).”

“Before I received the Lord, every other word had four letters imaginatively arranged. I became acutely aware of the sinfulness of this coarse language, aided, no doubt, by its high visibility. Through prayer, God dramatically changed this area of my life.”

Practical stories of men’s struggles along with Pat’s life stories will encourage you to find balance in life. Pat takes on everyday issues men face (masculinity, the rat race, work, family, money, leisure, relationship, time, integrity, etc.) and challenges them to think about true meaning in life in his Focus Questions section at the end of each chapter. Thinking and answering these questions will help men see the self beneath the tip of the “iceberg” and not just the fraction of that part where it is seen and known by the self and observable to others.

The subtitle of the book, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face, is slightly misleading since it does not instantly “solve” all the 24 problems, but it does address them. Responsibility lies with the reader and God to do the solving (and it will happen if you give it a chance). All in all, a good and recommended read and a valuable resource for men’s group study and possibly for women too. Happy reading!

Billy Chan is a graduate from Trinity Theological College and also holds a MSc in Information Technology from University of Sheffield. He is the Vice President of Programs at Eagles Communications.

I must admit, I was a bit skeptical when I started. “Jokes are jokes right? How deep can they be?” Pardon my blatant honesty here, but I wanted to voice it out because it is a misconception that many of us share. As it would turn out, I discovered my pre-conception to be myopic, childish, and wide off the mark.

Each volume follows a specific theme: Life & Death, Professions, Kids, Romance & Marriage, Animals, etc., and within each book are a substantial number of jokes (200 pages of them!) all related to that particular subject.

The jokes in Rev George Ong’s books are funny. Some of them actually made me laugh out so loud that my colleagues got a little worried about my health! But, more than that, his jokes are thought through. Attached to them is always a deeper meaning and a message.

These somber and wise reminders hit straight to a heart that has already been coaxed open by laughter – what a powerful combination of humor and wisdom!

At the end of each chapter is also a segment titled “Going Deeper” where he urges his readers, after the jokes, to do some serious thinking about that particular issue. Here he provides a perspective from God’s Word.

These books have taught me one thing – humor, just like music or beauty, can be used to open hearts and minds. And whilst jokes are jokes, they can be deep indeed!

If you wish to purchase or enquire about the humor books, please contact Rev George Ong at: georgeog@singnet.com.sg (correct spelling) or (65) 65634704.
Website: www.revgeorgeong.com

Let us begin with a review of the movie, which cleverly draws on the whodunit aspect of the novel rather than focus on its more scholarly discussions on philosophy, religion, ethics, and art.

Sean Connery’s character is William of Baskerville, a Franciscan monk who is renowned for his intellect. Eco deliberately alludes to Sherlock Holmes as William goes about investigating mysterious deaths in a Benedictine abbey famous for its library, housed in a fortress-like Aedificium. His novice is Adso of Melk, played by Slater, whose role parallels that of Watson, so that William’s explanations to Adso also serve to enlighten us. The setting is 14th century Europe, where the light of learning from such monasteries served to hold back the tide of ignorance in the Dark Ages by preserving whatever knowledge and wisdom known to the civilized world through making copies of books and manuscripts. This arduous task fell on the monks, who were the educated elite of this medieval age. They lived very comfortably, warm and well-fed, as monasteries extracted taxes in kind from the peasantry.

The Devil seems to be at work as six inexplicable deaths occur in quick succession, with four bearing the same marks – a blackened tongue and a blackened right fore-finger.

A wizened and stone-blind aged monk, the Venerable Jorge of Borgus, wields a powerful influence over all in the abbey. He despises reason, preferring to cling to superstitious fear as the proper attitude for Man. The debate between William and Jorge on the role of laughter is the reason for this movie review.

Jorge contends that there is no evidence in the Bible that Christ laughed. Laughter is a devilish wind that distorts the lineaments of the face so that one looks like a monkey. William retorts that there is likewise no evidence that Christ did not laugh and that laughing is particular to Man since monkeys do not laugh!  Jorge’s sharp repartee is that sinning is also particular to Man. Undaunted, William quotes the tale of St Mauros, when he was being boiled by the pagans, used humor to ridicule them by complaining that his bath was too cold. This prompted the Sultan to put his hand into the water and scald himself. Jorge scoffs at this anecdote as “childish tricks” for a saint would restrain his cries and suffer for the truth. When William counters him with reference to Aristotle’s lost second book of Poetics, which discusses comedy as an instrument of truth, Jorge brusquely informs him that the book is not lost, but never existed because Providence does not want futile things glorified.

His spiritually distorted view is that a monk should not laugh, for it is the fool alone who laughs. Where there is laughter, there is no fear. If there is no fear of the Devil, there is no need for God. If it is permissible to laugh at God, one is permitted to laugh at anything. Besides, once there is no fear, there is no more “faith” which is Jorge’s term for superstition. The Church had utilised this “faith” for centuries to oppress the masses. People were burned at the stake for practising “witchcraft and devilish rituals,” condemned by Inquisitors who saw themselves as empowered by God to root out evil. So the first question arises: What is the Rose? The only clue is William quoting a line from a poem by Bernad de Morlais: “All that remains of a dead rose is the name”. Could it be Aristotle’s lost work? Or the learning that Man loves and idolises? The library’s learned collection is forever lost without a trace.

I am thus reminded of Ecclesiastes 12:12-13: “…of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Elaine Lim is a regular contributor to the Eagles VantagePoint editorial team. She teaches in an independent girls’ school and remains in awe of God’s grace and goodness.

The King James Version of the Bible has been referenced.