The Movie Filter

I already know what you’re doing next summer

October 3, 2006
By Jeff Roedel

Do we really need another one of these movies? Here’s what I’ll be seeing next summer. Before posting about this week’s releases, here is my obligatory Borat update: Kazakhstan reporter denied entry to White House. Satire ensues.

Out this week on DVD are Thank You For Smoking, which I’m definitely picking up like a bad habit, andX Men: The Last Stand,, which, love it or hate it, you have to admit it was much more exciting than “Superman Returns.”

How can a movie be heavy-handed and completely devoid of depth at the same time? Ask Bryan Singer, who jumped the good ship X-Men to do an overwrought remake of Richard Donner’s original. Speaking of Superman, Lois Lane Kate Bosworth is blaming the “Superman Curse” (I’m assuming this is the same curse that killed George Reeves and paralyzed Christopher Reeve) for her recent split with Orlando Bloom. Yeah, cause breaking up with Orlando Bloom is pretty much on the same level as dying young or being confined to a wheel chair and a respirator. Can celebrities get any more whacked out? Seriously. Get crazier.

Going to New York anytime soon? Try using this map of the movies while you’re there.

One of the most controversial movies in recent memory, “Death of a President” is a UK-produced fake documentary about the fake assassination of President Bush. See the teaser trailer here. The movie was all the rage at the Toronto Film Fest, and it’s sure to draw more ire and buzz in the coming weeks.

So this happened yesterday, which is weird because I had just watched Devil’s Playground the night before. The 2002 documentary follows a group of Amish kids during a period known as Rumspringa in which those aged 16 to 21 are allowed to live in “English” society. That is, they can wear modern clothes, drive cars, watch movies, play video games and indulge in all manner of drugs and alcohol without parental supervision—sort of like college, but without the education.

Amish elders believe education leads to pride and require all church members to quit school after the eighth grade.

The problem I had with the documentary is the filmmakers only highlighted the extreme cases. The stars of the movie got absolutely blasted every night, stayed up late and lived in squalid trailers. One of them became a severe crystal meth addict and was nearly killed by a drug dealer. I wonder if they went wild the minute their parents weren’t looking because they had been so repressed for so long, or because they were simply acting out the way they had been taught that all “English” people act? (For some reason, American citizens are referred to as “English” by the Amish elders.) Maybe their parents really demonize everyone who isn’t Amish, I’m not sure, and the documentary didn’t really explain this. I just wish they had shown someone who was a little more levelheaded, who retained their Christian faith, but decided to move away from the farm and become a Presbyterian or join a non-denominational church instead of returning to the Amish church. The elders shunned those who did not return to join their church, which unfortunately only served to turn them off to faith all together. “Devil’s Playground” is a flawed movie, but worth checking out if you’re interested in the Amish culture and why teenagers rebel against their parents.

Comments

Posted by rlane1lsu on October 5 at 4:02 p.m.

You should try reading the books by Beverly Lewis. She is a Mennonite who grew up surrounded by the Amish people. Her books are fabulous. They give such a beautiful picture of what the Amish life looks like on the inside. They also have great stories about teenagers living virtuously through their rumschpringe, some even becoming Mennonites or joining other denominations.

Check it out...
Becky

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