TRANSFORMERS

Here's a movie review without any spoilers.

Last night I went to see Transformers: Rise of the Fallen, a much anticipated sequal to the first film which surprised audiences and box offices with its astounding success and exhilirating visual effects. Director Michael Bay is back in his usual form delivering in one sense the same promised package of action, comedy and CGI as the first film.

Rise of the Fallen brings a plot with slightly more deapth, more robot war action and a few unanticipated emotional moments. However, it fell short of the first movie by offereing less natural comedy than the first, and little to no character development (except for Sam). New robots were introduced on both sides of the autobot battle field, and/but with so many characters I can understand the diffilculty faced in giving each of them adequate screen time. In this way, the movie fell pray to the same problem that hindered Spider-Man 3.

The one stronger criticism which may hold back some measure of success is the kind of comedy the movie makers typically went for. The level of sexual humor and some crudeness increased from it's predecessor making it less appealing to families, especially those with smaller children (though this did not stop an 8 year old in my theater from yelling during most of the movie).

Overall, I enjoyed the movie and will definitly watch it again. Of the summer movies so far released, I would put it at the top right beside the new Star Trek movie, because I can't decide which I enjoyed more. I'll just have to have two favorites.

Resident

After graduating (finally) from grad school, being ordained and moving back to the mountains of North Carolina, I have begun working as a Resident Chaplain at Spartanburg Regional Hospital Systems. This position will last for one full year and from what I hear and am now foreseeing will be no cakewalk.

Above is a picture of the front of the Gibbs Cancer Center, one of more than 6 of the hospitals many interconnected buildings.

The facility has approximately 588 beds, specialy centers for cancer, heart care, neo-natal care, women's health, and the busyest emergency room in both of the Carolinas.

For the last decade or so prime time TV has been populated with dramas taking place in the hospital. From ER to House and Gray's Anatomy viewers have been mezmorized by the seemingly endless debaucles in which medical professions can get tied up.

Recently, I've thought how easy it would be to create a TV show that follows the life of hospital chaplains. In one day a hospital chaplain might talk with patient's suffering from amputation, terminal disease, severe burns, heart problems, those brough to the ER, angrily screaming patients and much more. We talk with families with sick babies and families of patients who sadly and suddenly pass away. And of course there's always inner-office drama that could be played upon.

Yes, I think a drama about hospital chaplains could have limitless opportunities for crowd pleasing drama and sticky situations. You could title the show "Resident."

Anyway, while there's no TV camera following me around these are the kinds of things i'll be running into this year as a Chaplain in Residence in Spartanburg. Wish me luck!

P.S. However, if Hollywood does ever pitch the show I think I should get some kind of compensation for such a good idea.