‘Harry Potter’: Spells and the Spoken Word

Proverbs 18:21 says that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. We can bless and curse with the words we say. Words that are said with authority also have creative power to call things into being. We know this because God said, “Let there be light” and light came into existence. We know that Jesus was the “Word made flesh” and that the Bible is also called the “Word of God.”

So how does this relate to the latest box office release of the PG-rated fantasy film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?

The power of words in Potter is not Holy Spirit-driven. They are coming from the opposite spirit in the form of spells and incantations – things which the Bible considers detestable.

I discuss more about the power of words in Potter in this edited radio commentary from a discussion I had on the air with radio personality Liz Lane of The Current FM on Thursday, July 3o. Hope this discussion helps you weigh this film in the light of faith.

Radio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Magic and Lies in ‘Harry Potter’

I explain the dangers of practicing magic and some of the underlying spiritual lies in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” with The Current FM’s Liz Lane — namely, the fallacy that there is a distinct difference between white magic and black magic.

This commentary is an edited version from the radio interview from The Current FM on Thursday, July 30.

Radio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’: Overall Spiritual Concerns

I was really concerned about seeing this latest Harry Potter film at the box office for two reasons: one, I hadn’t read any of the books by J.K. Rowling or seen any of the previous films so I wasn’t sure I would get the gist of it, and two, I wasn’t sure if I would feel like my Christian beliefs just got assaulted. Would I feel like I had dishonored God by seeing this film? That was my main question.

Radio personality Liz Lane and I talked about the spiritual undertones of the PG fantasy film on The Current FM yesterday. Here is an edited version of our radio commentary abut the film:

Radio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Can’t Wait for ‘Never the Bride’

Cheryl McKay… does that name sound familiar? Well, if you saw The Ultimate Gift starring Abigail Breslin, you would know she wrote the screenplay and directed the film.

OK, now that you are with me on this, did you know that she has also got a new book out (June 2009) with co-author Rene Gutteridge called Never the Bride?

Anyway, my friend Christi loaned me the book recently. She had been telling me about it for weeks, saying, “Laura, I think you will like this book.” And then when I told her I became a fan of the novel when one of my guy Facebook friends from my film school days at Regent asked me to join this Facebook fan site even though I hadn’t read the book yet, she knew she had to locate that book for me immediately! 🙂

The ‘Ugly’ Side of Relationships

I know I should have had very, very low expectations for The Ugly Truth, since I knew the premise of the film was a fiery relationship between a control-freak TV producer trying to keep her self respect (Katherine Heigl as “Abby”) and a raunchy-but-devastatingly-handsome cable talk show host who just happens to be Abby’s newest on-air project (Gerard Butler as “Mike”).

This Sony Pictures film isn’t just about the “truth” about relationships: i.e., women want the romance and a man who will meet their unrealistic,10-point checklist, while guys simply want an approachable, beautiful woman who can be sweet librarian by day and bedroom tease at night. It’s the truth about a society that is morally crumbling.

‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’: A Well-Fashioned Comedy

Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) has a love for fashion. If it is anything designer, she’s got it. And she pays for all of it by credit card. (She has at least 12 of what she calls those plastic “magic” cards.)

Rebecca’s dream job is to work as a fashion journalist for Alette Naylor (Kristin Scott Thomas) at coveted Alette magazine. But when an icy, long-legged diva named Alicia Billington (Leslie Bibb) takes the only available slot at Alette, Rebecca ends up getting a job as a personal finance writer at sister publication Successful Saving.

Since Rebecca didn’t inherit wise money management skills from her frugal parents Jane (Joan Cusack) and Graham (John Goodman), saving money is a subject that she knows nothing about.

However, when she writes an article that likens money issues to shopping, Rebecca hits a nerve with her new boss, the handsome Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy), and the public; thus, getting her own financial column called “The Girl in the Green Scarf”.

What I Learned From ‘Shopaholic’

New stilettos, a fabulous Coach bag, a faux fur jacket – advertisers say we can have all this and more with that shiny plastic credit card… or maybe several of them. And time and time again, our culture has fallen victim to that trap. Never mind that we can’t afford these things, don’t truly need them, and don’t have anywhere to store them. We got the “cash back” and travel points. Plus, it’s “normal” to be in debt. Everyone else is, so who cares? Thus begins the vicious cycle we call consumer debt.

But knowing that our consumer debt can ultimately lead to business failures, foreclosures, divorce, bankruptcy, and even suicide, it is time that we have more voices speaking “enough is enough – there is a better way.”

The true call for change must begin with personal responsibility. That’s why I love Confessions of a Shopaholic (now out on DVD!). We are enlightened both about the scary potential consequences of out-of-control credit card spending and the way out of the debt cycle – all within the context of a funny romantic comedy.

‘Ice Age 3’: Not So Family Friendly

Me at Positive Hit Radio The Current

Sorry, parents. If you are hoping for a really great PG animated film to take the whole family to, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs isn’t it. It’s scary in some parts for the younger children, particularly the 3-D version where the dinosaurs jump right out from the screen. And it has much more adult innuendo than this kind of film typically includes. I think it is disappointing. The only saving grace is that silly squirrel Scrat and the chase for his deepest desires.

I shared my thoughts last Friday on the air with radio personality Liz Lane from Positive Hit Radio The Current. This audio review is not the on-air version. It has been cut-down for the purposes of this blog. Take a listen…

Radio Review:

— Laura J. Bagby

Male Gender Issues Abound in ‘Ice Age 3’

Recently, I chatted with Positive Hit Radio The Current’s Liz Lane about Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on the local radio.

I was really hoping to give a good recommendation on this PG animated film, but I found myself more annoyed than entertained.

What really got me was the portrayal of many of the male characters in the film, who often seemed bumbling, cowardly, indecisive, and passive. And one character in particular, a sloth named Sid, the epitome of the nurturing male, made me want to stand up and say, “Dude, be a man!” What a sad look at how our society these days views men: incapable, troubled, and insecure. It surely doesn’t inspire the male gender to be strong and fearless, now does it?

Listen to my conversation with Liz on the radio about these frustrating issues in Ice Age 3…

Audio Commentary:

The above audio clip is not the original on-air version from The Current FM. It has been edited for this blog.

— Laura J. Bagby

‘The Bill Collector’ Sneak Screening

I just got an invite to the screening for an upcoming movie called The Bill Collector, a Moonlit Pictures dramedy written and directed by Cristobal Krusen of Messenger Films. Cris is a talented and humble guy with a really big heart. The film stars Danny Trejo of Disney’s Spy Kids and singer Ron Kenoly. Release date is later this fall.

Watch the trailer

What is great about this film is that it was shot in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, using many locals. Cast and crew were pulled from my church, New Life Providence. If you have heard of Fireproof or Facing the Giants, this is the kind what New Life hopes to do with The Bill Collector.

I am just bummed I wasn’t able to help out with the film back when they shot it in October and November 2008. I was chosen to be an extra and very excited about the prospect. But unforeseen circumstances meant I had to back out. I am sure the experience would have been a blast.

Kudos to you, Cris and crew!

— Laura J. Bagby