Sunday School Musical

[Compound]

Okay, I'm looking for Iron Man images and at one of the sites that I use, I see an ad for this:



Now, I have no particular dislike for the High School Musical films but I did want to know a bit more. Was it a parody, a knockoff or what? Well, after a bit of looking I discover that it's a knockoff... and it's being done by Asylum Films. You know them, right? They're the makers of films like:



or



or



I don't know whether to laugh or cry that they're doing this. (Since the plot seems to be a mishmash of HSM, Breakin' and Sister Act 2, I'll probably do the former.) I do feel sorry for the Christian stores that pick this up hoping to sell it though.

[BathTub]

Thinking back to most of the Christian edutainment I grew up with as a kid, Asylum Films is probably still a step up in budget.

[MSTJedi]

Thinking back to most of the Christian edutainment I grew up with as a kid, Asylum Films is probably still a step up in budget.

Ain't that the truth. Ever see those ridiculous Tribulation movies of the 70s?

[BBQ Platypus]

Well, I've heard that the Left Behind movies aren't much of a step up, either.  Most of the people who are adamant enough about their faith to make a movie about it tend to be the far-right fundamentalists.  Most normal, well-adjusted people just aren't determined and/or crazy enough to go out and raise the money to make a film.  So, unfortunately, we don't see a sensible religious person's film, which I suppose is for the best.  "Mainline Liberal Protestantism - fuck yeah!" just isn't crazy enough to sell.

An urban Unitarian musical, though - now THAT'S something I'd pay to see.  Universalism Phunk: Vaguely Benevolent Force-Groove!

[MSTJedi]

Well, I've heard that the Left Behind movies aren't much of a step up, either.  Most of the people who are adamant enough about their faith to make a movie about it tend to be the far-right fundamentalists.  Most normal, well-adjusted people just aren't determined and/or crazy enough to go out and raise the money to make a film.  So, unfortunately, we don't see a sensible religious person's film, which I suppose is for the best.  "Mainline Liberal Protestantism - fuck yeah!" just isn't crazy enough to sell.

An urban Unitarian musical, though - now THAT'S something I'd pay to see.  Universalism Phunk: Vaguely Benevolent Force-Groove!

Now that sounds like a winner.

Back in my conservative days, I actually went to a Unitarian church once with a friend (it was another of his friends' church). We basically spent the time in the youth group telling them they were idiots who were going to Hell. Even back then, I never was very outspoken, but for some reason I was in front of those poor kids . . . and now I realize that I was the idiot. Hopefully it all just went in one ear and out the other. Makes you think . . . or maybe not.

[BBQ Platypus]

Yeah, I have some transcendentalist leanings myself (though I'd like to mention that Unitarianism now covers a much broader spectrum of beliefs than just that).  I think that one of - if not THE - best places to look for God is in nature, and NOT the Bible.  The Bible can, at best, help you live a better life that is more connected TO God and in accordance with what He would want (and, at worst, give you a bunch of bad, backward ideas about life, depending on how you read and interpret it).  He's out THERE, not in a 2000 year-old book, or in a traditional happy-go-fun Fluffy Cloud Heaven (TM).

Another thing I like is the focus on the here and now - too many religious folk (read: asshole Christians) talk about how they're "anointed" and "saved" and crap, and look at the world as if they were already standing behind the Pearly Gates - all pure, moral, and fit to judge crap.  They talk about how such and such people are going to hell, and whatnot.  To be honest, I don't worry or focus on the afterlife much.  Whatever happens (or doesn't happen) will happen based on the kind of person I was.  Ultimately, I ask myself - will I have made a positive impact (however small) on the world?  Will I leave behind a "legacy," so to speak, of a good person.  Will I have led a good life?  If the answer to those questions is yes, then Paradise will follow from there.  Still, I can't see Paradise.  I can't choose when I get there, or even prove it exists.  It's things like inner peace and hell on Earth that I'm worried about, because it's something I can SEE and DO something about.  Wherever else it may or may not exist, it can be shown to exist HERE.

If I were to assign a label to myself, I'd still call myself Christian (though I'm sure some hardcore fundies would disagree), but I like to cover all my bases and view it in a symbolic and philosophical sense as well.

One funny part was when I was explaining this to a friend who asked me about what I believed, and about fifteen seconds into it, he just said, "So...it's kind of like Star Wars?"

I just caved and was like, "Yeah...it's like Star Wars."


But enough about theology.  Back to the point of this thread.

Who here has seen Transmorphers?  I've heard it's dreadful, but is it FUN dreadful or just dreadful dreadful?

[ScottotD]

THAT'S THE FUNNIEST THING I'VE SEEN ALL WEEK!!!

I assume the singing will be accompanied by laturgical dancing.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Eh. I think that the bible has some kick-ass mythological creature features to offer us, if we didn't keep glossing over them in favor of stuff about Soddom and Ghamorra and who begat who.

What about ghibborhim and nephalhim, the half-human giant spawn of angels with mysterious powers? What about the dread Leviathan, the supreme beast of the sea, intiitially morally neutral but tending towards evil in the end? What about all these beasts that are great masses of wings and eyes and flames?  What about the race of multiheaded, multihanded giants with superhuman strength that just get this tantalizing passing mention at the beginning of one of the flood stories?

Sod the "antichrist", that's just an actor in an expensive suit. The most you get with him is some colored contact lenses, IF you're lucky. I want to see a christian blockbuster with swords of flame, forbbiden spawn of mortal and angelic beings, and primordial sea monsters!

[ScottotD]

I agree, it's a pretty cool collection of short stories.

[ninjacat11]

I love the Asylum. Hell, I nearly went out and rented 100 Million BC.

Eh. I think that the bible has some kick-ass mythological creature features to offer us, if we didn't keep glossing over them in favor of stuff about Soddom and Ghamorra and who begat who.
[,,,]
Sod the "antichrist", that's just an actor in an expensive suit. The most you get with him is some colored contact lenses, IF you're lucky. I want to see a christian blockbuster with swords of flame, forbbiden spawn of mortal and angelic beings, and primordial sea monsters!

That would actually be really badass if it were done correctly. I don't believe in the Bible, but it could make for some awesome movies. Just like Greek mythology.

[Compound]

But enough about theology.  Back to the point of this thread.

Who here has seen Transmorphers?  I've heard it's dreadful, but is it FUN dreadful or just dreadful dreadful?

Let me put it this way. I own a copy of Transmorphers. I haven't gotten past the ten minute mark.

I did see Dragon though, their Eragon "tribute". It wasn't anything special, but it was an okay film. 

[BBQ Platypus]

But enough about theology.  Back to the point of this thread.

Who here has seen Transmorphers?  I've heard it's dreadful, but is it FUN dreadful or just dreadful dreadful?

Let me put it this way. I own a copy of Transmorphers. I haven't gotten past the ten minute mark.

I did see Dragon though, their Eragon "tribute". It wasn't anything special, but it was an okay film. 

Wow...it must've been like looking at a Xerox copy of a Xerox copy.

[MSTJedi]

Aw, come on, Eragon was totally original!

[Cryptobotanist]

In a world, where sex driven teenagers plague the good Christian children of this fine country, one rag tag group of young missionaries, are here to save.. YOUR...SOULS! From the assistant director of "Applebees Employee Training Video" and the Executive Producer of "Mandroid", comes a film that will fill your soul with heavenly rhythm.

Featuring veteran actors that recently graduated from drama class at various universities and community colleges.

It's a funky fresh musical of biblical proportion! It's so good, it's sacrelicious.  These messengers of Christ aren't gonna take it anymore!

Sunday School Musical: Christ Harder!

This film is rated H for heresy

[MSTJedi]

In a world, where sex driven teenagers plague the good Christian children of this fine country, one rag tag group of young missionaries, are here to save.. YOUR...SOULS! From the assistant director of "Applebees Employee Training Video" and the Executive Producer of "Mandroid", comes a film that will fill your soul with heavenly rhythm.

Featuring veteran actors that recently graduated from drama class at various universities and community colleges.

It's a funky fresh musical of biblical proportion! It's so good, it's sacrelicious.  These messengers of Christ aren't gonna take it anymore!

Sunday School Musical: Christ Harder!

This film is rated H for heresy