‘Surrogates’: When Virtual Technology Backfires

Get the full synopsis plus commentary in this movie review of the Touchstone science fiction film Surrogates.

Movie Synopsis

What if you could work, play sports, and enjoy a night out without ever having to leave your home, experience personal harm, or suffer negative consequences?

Welcome to the world of the new PG-13 sci-fi film Surrogates, where human operators are plugging into the Internet and letting their better-looking robotic selves called surrogates live out their lives for them.

Dishing About ‘Meatballs’

Liz Lane and I enjoyed discussing the meatier aspects of the fun, animated flick Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on radio station Positive Hit Radio The Current.

Listen to this edited audio clip about the movie.

Audio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Doin’ Church with Tyler Perry

On Friday, September 18, I chatted with friend and radio personality Liz Lane from Positive Hit Radio The Current about Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

I was talking specifically about how in this particular Lionsgate comedy/drama the audience gets a wonderful taste of church, complete with excellent music from real-life Pastor Marvin Winans and stellar recording artist Gladys Knight. Plus, their is a hope-filled message from the pulpit. It’s enough to make you want to raise your hands in praise, wave a hanky, and say, “Preach it!” That’s exactly how I felt. And believe me, I wasn’t alone in my sentiments in the packed theatre on opening night.

Listen to this short, edited audio clip of our conversation, taken when taping for the radio broadcast. This is not the final on-air version, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.

And be sure to check out Liz Lane’s “Heart of Praise” show Sunday’s from 8 a.m – 11 a.m.

Audio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Stalkers, Road Trips, and Pits!

Liz Lane from The Current and I enjoy chatting on the topic of All About Steve. As part of that radio discussion, we talk about stalkers, crazy road trips, and what lessons we learn when we fall into a literal and figurative pit (like Mary Horowitz –  aka Sandra Bullock – does in the film ).

Hope you will listen in now…

Audio Commentary:

— Laura J. Bagby

Delicious Comments on ‘Julie and Julia’

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the wonderful film Julie & Julia starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep with my good friend and radio personality Liz Lane from The Current several weeks ago.

She asked me my first thoughts post-film and I said beaming, “I am simply inspired to blog and cook!” It’s true, the film does tickle the creative juices in more ways than one.

Together we relished every nuance in this fabulous film in our weekly radio discussion on The Current.

I have here an edited version of that radio commentary. Please excuse the static issue. It’s on the original recording and there isn’t much I can do about it. (I tried!) The phone line was particularly crackly that day – probably due to construction in our area. Ugh!

Audio 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

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.

Dissecting Deeper Themes in ‘Pelham 123’

I really enjoyed discussing the deeper themes in the new Denzel Washington and John Travolta, about two men who face off and stand divided on what is right and wrong in one crazy train ride.

I shared my own ‘train’ of thought with Positive Hit Radio The Current. My buddy, radio personality Liz Lane, and I talked in particular about the issues of sin and redemption that are heavily prevalent in this Columbia/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release from director Tony Scott.

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