There is a deep divide in our country about exactly what it will take to make America great. Our nation’s character is more than the bottom line of its great corporations, but that truth is not communicated very well in this ad. Nevertheless, I appreciate it anyway. I like its optimism and grittiness, and I also like Clint Eastwood. Is it true? I don’t know. You could argue it either way. That being said, this ad strikes a chord because people want it to be true even if it is not. I hope it is.

I’m no shill for Governor Sarah Palin, but the new trailer for the movie Game Change has me scratching my head. This is the third of three teasers, and all three trailers make it look like the entire story is about Palin and her incompetence.

I read Game Change when it came out (I couldn’t put it down). The book has three parts. Part one focuses on the Democratic primary, part two on the GOP primary, and part three on the general election. Palin doesn’t enter the story until the middle of part three. The book does not cast a good light on Palin, but neither does it do so on any of the other candidates from either side except Senator Barack Obama.

Why does this movie appear to focus on the pratfalls of only one side?

The two-time Oscar winner is closing in on a deal with Warner Bros. to direct “Gods And Kings,” which is described as a “‘Braveheart’-ish version of the Moses story” mixed with the “gritty reality” of “Saving Private Ryan.”

Warner Bros. has been courting Spielberg for the project since last September, and now it appears they are close to nabbing him. That in itself is an accomplishment: the notoriously busy Spielberg always has a full dance card, but will have time for “Gods And Kings” next spring. The director just finished “Lincoln” and will soon start on “Robopocalypse”; “Gods And Kings” would hope to begin lensing in March or April 2013.

I confess that when I first read “gritty reality,” the first thing that came to my mind was Exodus 4:25. And that is small potatoes compared to the rest of the Exodus story: the death of firstborn children, the slaughter of the lambs, water turning to blood, the plague of boils, and on and on. This is not a story for the faint of heart. So I am quite curious to see how far Hollywood is willing to go with “gritty reality” in telling this story.

Read the rest here.

There’s no question the sketches “SNL’s” writers would create for Tebow would play off the many known issues surrounding him — the circumcisions, his virginity, the on-field prayer stance dubbed “Tebowing.” But once they handed those scripts to Tebow, it seems wildly unlikely that he’d go along with what they come up with. Who can blame him?

Manning did it, and he looked smart for doing so. But here’s betting the Tebow sketches would be much more personal and vicious, and much more likely to go against Tebow’s personal values, religious or otherwise.

I think this reporter has it right. SNL’s recent parody of Tebow shows just how profane and disrespectful they are willing to be towards Christianity. I didn’t think the Tebow parody was funny, and many Christians agree that it was in poor taste at best and blasphemous at worst. Self-deprecating humor is one thing. Christ-deprecating humor is another, and it’s completely repugnant to Christians. It’s hard to imagine that the sketches would be any better than the last one, were Tebow to host.

I think Tebow should pass on this one.

(HT: Everybody with a computer)

In his one-minute review over at the Rabbit Room, Father Thomas McKenzie gives two reasons why you may not like the new Muppet movie:

1. You are an adult with no previous contact with the Muppets.
2. You are a soul-less automaton.

It’s hard to disagree with that analysis. I saw the movie last week with my kids, and I thought it was fantastic. I laughed heartily, and I even got a little choked-up a couple of times. This movie has a heart and a soul, and if you have those things you’ll enjoy this one.

McKenzie’s review is below. The trailer is above.

Okay, Gen X’ers. How many of you remember the first time you saw “The Empire Strikes Back” and found out that Vader was Luke’s father? I remember that it was the talk of my elementary school. The kids who hadn’t seen the movie yet could hardly believe that it was true. How could our hero be the son of Lord Vader?!

If you can’t remember, maybe the video above will jog your memory. It pictures a four year old boy named Faris watching the end of “Empire” for the first time. His reaction is priceless.

(HT: Rachel Held Evans)

Daniel Day Lewis has been selected to play the part of Lincoln, and Sally Field will play Mary Todd. The mash-up to the right shows the uncanny resemblance of Daniel Day Lewis to President Lincoln. Spielberg has the Midas touch when it comes to movies, and I can’t wait to see this one.

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Speaking of Spielberg, he has another movie coming out this December that is set during World War I. It’s called “War Horse,” and the trailer is really well done. Watch it below.

“The Princess Bride” is a classic. I still find myself quoting lines from it quite often. So it was a gas to see the cast reunited after 24 years. Watch above.