November 17, 2018
November 12, 2018
MOVIES: "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY"
Full disclosure. Before I review "Bohemian Rhapsody," you need to know that I have deep "Queen" roots. Engrained memories. I was a fan. Blame my brother who first introduced me to the band as a teen and bought me their sheet music so I could play their "Night At The Opera" album on the piano. Which I did. With great gusto and verve.
I must admit that at first, I wondered why/how my brother, a manly man (and other guys I knew) could accept the effeminate prancing of Mercury (and Bowie and other rock stars). I assumed they overlooked it because of the top-notch music, or they saw it as someone just doing their thing, or as just some theatrical, over-the-top showmanship.
TRULY PG-13
Now, the film. It's rated PG-13 with great accuracy. Freddie Mercury's spiraling down into a depraved lifestyle is very, very lightly touched upon (one or two same-sex kisses are shown). But the film is not about tragedy. The film is not even about the band or even Freddie himself who cannot but shine and shine. The film is about music. Queen's music. That's the only reason we loved them so much. Had they been four silent men, we would not have heard of them, we would not care. But their extraordinary-in-every-way music lifted our spirits and, yes, Freddie's soaring voice is simply inimitable. There is only one Freddie Mercury.
OR WERE THERE TWO FREDDIES?
It's actually kind of thrilling to see superstar-in-the-making, Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie's real name), saunter into a pub where a talented band on stage is well received, but...their lead singer is disgruntled. We know how this ends! The actors who portray May, Deacon and Taylor really look like them, as does Rami Malek who perfectly nails Mercury's swagger and ("darling") affected speech.
Mercury knew his own public persona so well, knew that he was simply born to perform--but alas, his private self was often sad, lonely and fragmented. How can someone give such enjoyment to crowds of music lovers, and yet not feel that joy down deep in their soul? But maybe that's the point. Maybe Mercury only felt good when he was connecting with audiences.
For me, having grown up when musical "giants roamed the earth"--and I think I can speak for my generation of fans--we never saw Freddie's braggadocio as arrogance, but simply unbounded confidence. Yeah, he thought he was the GOAT. But what if you actually are? We all kind of knew he was "gay," but nobody really cared. He was the eminently lovable Freddie Mercury. He was ours. And, it was always about the music for us. We were so spoiled in an era of eclectic, electric raw rock genius--and we knew it.
The band's meteoric rise is due not only to their incredible talent and originality, but their tightness as a "family," and their refusal to compromise on their creative vision. The personalities of the band members emerge early in the film.
LOVE OF MY LIFE
When Freddie slowly discovers his "bisexuality" or rather attraction to men after he gives "the love of his life," Mary Austin, a diamond ring, he embarks on a life of substance abuse and serious debauchery (barely shown in the film). In real life, Mercury carried out myriad reckless, compulsive sexual encounters with anything in trousers and contracted AIDS (untreatable at the time), dying at the premature age of 45, robbing the world of his multi-octave, mesmerizing vocalizations. Mary Austin remained his truest, closest friend through it all.
Sadly, Queen had several horrible songs ("Tie Your Mother Down") and pulled several salacious stunts (all-female naked bicycle race, a music video in the 80's where the whole band dressed in drag--which caused an unintended backlash). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Mc-NYPHaQ I remember editing these out of "my favorite Queen songs."
NOT A WELL-DONE MUSICAL,
BUT A WELL-DONE MUSIC FILM
BUT A WELL-DONE MUSIC FILM
What's best about this film? The exquisite, exquisite use of Queen's catalog. (Which is also a reminder of just how many monster songs they actually had.) So many films about singers or musicians beat us over the head with their greatest hits, box our ears with one full-length song after another throughout the movie, or try to cram (with abrupt fade-ins and fade-outs) an entire repertoire into a film, or, and this is the absolute worst, they keep some form of the troubadours' music grating below the entire film. Not "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's delicious. Just enough, well placed, well-paced, that keeps us wanting more while not feeling cheated.
My one beef is actually about an omission. We positively needed to see/hear "Love of My Life" play at the "Live Aid" finale and watch the audience sing along. Not so much as a tribute to Mary Austin, but as the crowd's tribute to Freddie and Queen. At film school, we learned that there are certain elements of one's story must be on screen and not presumed or simply spoken of in the film. We must "show" some things and not just "tell" them.
Here's the real thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rb6jDvkcHs Queen totally stole the show that day and angered all the other bands because...who could follow that?
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL
If my 13+ kid liked classic rock n' roll? I would let them see this film. Educate 'em. But also educate 'em about Theology of the Body and why Freddie, as far as we can fathom, was so unhappy and why excess, depravity and art don't have to go together. You may also want to show your young person the YouTube below where Freddie speaks fondly of Satan and tell 'em why that's so dangerous. Satan isn't a game. Satan plays for keeps.
What's also great to know is that the remaining members of Queen collaborated on the film and see it as a fitting homage to their shimmering frontman. RIP, Freddie.
OTHER STUFF:
--My mother (Ma) calls them "The Queen." But, of course, she also says "The Who's." Google is "Boogle," and, well, you get the picture.
--My mother (Ma) calls them "The Queen." But, of course, she also says "The Who's." Google is "Boogle," and, well, you get the picture.
-- One MUST stop on the station when one hears a Queen song on the radio and sing along.
--Freddie in his own words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7y7f27IJTw
--BUT! THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE, ANOTHER VIEW. WAS FREDDIE A SPLIT PERSONALITY? DID HE INDEED GIVE HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL, OR MAKE SOME DEAL WITH THE DEVIL FOR HIS TALENT? Some Christians believe Freddie gave his soul to Satan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIzs6v1HOA (connections with sodomy with children/young men, Alistair Crowley and Alfred Kinsey, direct quotes from Freddie). So many British bands flirted with Satanism in the 60's and 70's: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones. One can only hope and pray that "they know not what they do," and that they repented or will repent (for those still alive).
November 11, 2018
November 8, 2018
TV SERIES: "GOD FRIENDED ME"
Watched 1 episode of #GodFriendedMe. Not perfect, but some good points.
Very contempo in a good way. Like, God is not irrelevant.
U just know that more often than not, love/mercy/the right thing to do?
It's gonna be the demythologized, horizontal thing to do.
God is PC.
BUT still worth a watch. Gonna keep 👁️ing.
My question is: WHY was this created? WHO created it? WHAT do they believe?
Is this another attempt to capture the "Christian market"? Is it a sincere exploration from within/without the believing world? Is it just an intriguing "subject"? Inquiring minds want to know!
Is this another attempt to capture the "Christian market"? Is it a sincere exploration from within/without the believing world? Is it just an intriguing "subject"? Inquiring minds want to know!
November 4, 2018
THEOLOGY OF THE BODY YOUTH RETREAT--PETERBOROUGH--NOV. 16-18
Sr. Helena will be presenting Friday night and Saturday.
Online registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJV6yqanh_H7z2CN6FYJ4AbtxT4MKbWnqoU65LW-siKNLVjw/viewform
For more information: Nicholas DuBonnet dubonnen@gmail.com
October 21, 2018
CHRIST OF THE APOCALYPSE: A ONE-DAY BIBLE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION--TORONTO
Msgr. Robert Nusca, PhD will present his new book, "The Christ of the Apocalypse."
We will explore the many faces of Jesus in the last book of the Bible
The Book of Revelation is the answer to postmodernism.
Copies of Monsignor's book will be available for sale.
October 20, 2018
October 17, 2018
MOVIES: "CRAZY RICH ASIANS"
The wildly popular movie "Crazy Rich Asians," from the novel by Kevin Kwan, is rated PG-13, but it's an almost G-rated, old-fashioned romance. (Some of my Asian friends are puzzled by its popularity since it's a sweet little movie, but not FANTASTIC. However, I, white friend, get it. I keep reminding them: This is a HOLLYWOOD film with an ALL-ASIAN CAST.) Constance Wu (from TV's "Fresh Off the Boat") plays Rachel, a young, self-made professor of Economics at NYU. Her boyfriend is Nick (Henry Golding) who comes from one of the richest families in Singapore (well, actually, as developers they BUILT Singapore)--the only catch is, Rachel has no idea who he really is or who his family is. Nick invites her to a wedding in Singapore and she finds out--en route--what she's walking into.
Immediately, there's a showdown with the grand-dame and matriarch of the family, Eleanor (an aging-beautifully, beautifully-aging Michelle Yeoh), who makes no secret of her disdain for her son's choice of a girlfriend. Rachel is from the wrong class. Rachel is from the wrong part of the world. Rachel will never be one of them. Rachel will marry her son over her dead body.
As she's immersed in the opulence of, well, how crazy rich Asians live and party in The Lion City--Rachel learns who her friends and foes are. Just when it seems Nick's mother is going to accept her, Eleanor draws her close ONLY to be able to rub salt into the wound better. But Rachel is a "fighter" and gives Mom a run for her mah-jong money. Is Mom just playing a game, testing her, or is it for keeps that Rachel will never measure up?
Crazy Rich Asians is a fun, visually-appealing, moderately paced and restrained romantic comedy (the comedy is more surrounding our leading man and leading lady than the pair themselves). The fact that marriage is more than just love between two people is writ large here. The tension seems to be between the old guard, the elder generation who believe in having a big say in their adult children's life-decisions AND passionate young love that can nonetheless be worthy love. But is it?
The dialogue made me think that--despite perhaps even the writers being aware--it's also about dueling philosophies beyond the institution of marriage. That being said, Mom is concerned that "families don't just happen, one has to put family first." She is concerned about "building things that last" and not simply "seeking one's own happiness." Not bad ideas, those. But I think this outlook can be blended with a son or daughter seeking out and choosing their own suitable spouse. This spouse might have to work harder to "fit in," but it can still have the stability of an "arranged" type of marriage--but at the same time, be a marriage of the heart.
The dialogue made me think that--despite perhaps even the writers being aware--it's also about dueling philosophies beyond the institution of marriage. That being said, Mom is concerned that "families don't just happen, one has to put family first." She is concerned about "building things that last" and not simply "seeking one's own happiness." Not bad ideas, those. But I think this outlook can be blended with a son or daughter seeking out and choosing their own suitable spouse. This spouse might have to work harder to "fit in," but it can still have the stability of an "arranged" type of marriage--but at the same time, be a marriage of the heart.
OTHER STUFF:
--The funnies are truly funny: "Eat up! There's starving children in America!"
--So, what does the Church teach about arranged marriages, parents' having a say in their adult child's vocation, etc.? Arranged marriages are fine, as long as the adult children are totally free and completely agree to it. Many cultures, even among Catholics, still do variations of arranged marriages. HOWEVER! One's vocation in life is a call from God and God must be obeyed, not parents in this matter. It's always great if parents are on board and give their blessing, but we must always follow our call/vocation from God even without that blessing--at first (and parents should be very careful about obstructing the will of God!) That being said, it's good to listen to parents' wisdom and advice, but in the end, we must follow God...even in the choice of a spouse. We may wish to get sage advice from others around us: priest, friends, other relatives. If they're all saying: "We really don't think you should marry this person! This person isn't right for you!" then maybe WE should be extra careful about making a bad choice! :)
--So, what does the Church teach about arranged marriages, parents' having a say in their adult child's vocation, etc.? Arranged marriages are fine, as long as the adult children are totally free and completely agree to it. Many cultures, even among Catholics, still do variations of arranged marriages. HOWEVER! One's vocation in life is a call from God and God must be obeyed, not parents in this matter. It's always great if parents are on board and give their blessing, but we must always follow our call/vocation from God even without that blessing--at first (and parents should be very careful about obstructing the will of God!) That being said, it's good to listen to parents' wisdom and advice, but in the end, we must follow God...even in the choice of a spouse. We may wish to get sage advice from others around us: priest, friends, other relatives. If they're all saying: "We really don't think you should marry this person! This person isn't right for you!" then maybe WE should be extra careful about making a bad choice! :)
September 25, 2018
"THE MASCULINE GENIUS"--A THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TALK BY SR. HELENA BURNS, FSP
FRIDAY -- OCTOBER 19, 2018 -- 7-9:30pm
(begins with 7pm Mass in church; talk after in church hall)
St. Casimir Church 156 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, ON
(begins with 7pm Mass in church; talk after in church hall)
St. Casimir Church 156 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, ON
John Paul II said a lot about "the feminine genius."
But did he ever say anything about "the masculine genius"?
What's great about being a man?
What is true masculinity?
What does it mean to be a man of God in today's world?
We will be looking at men from a THEOLOGY OF THE BODY perspective.
BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WELCOME!
(guys & dolls, ladies & gents, dudes & gals)
(guys & dolls, ladies & gents, dudes & gals)
speaker: Sr. Helena Burns, fsp
fee: $5
No need to RSVP!
No need to RSVP!
August 21, 2018
August 19, 2018
THE BEST RESPONSE TO THE CLERGY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL 2018
Bishop Morlino. Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin.
This is COMPREHENSIVE.
https://madisondiocese.org/documents/2018/8/Letter%20to%20Diocese%20-%20Abuse%20Scandal%20-%20August%202018.pdf
FURTHER UPDATE from Bishop M:
https://madisondiocese.org/documents/2018/8/Statement%20-%20Bishop%20Morlino%20-%2008-27-2018.pdf
August 16, 2018
A BISHOP WITH THE HEART OF A PASTOR
Bishop Gary Gordon is now bishop of the diocese of Victoria, BC, CANADA. He is doing a lot of reaching out to First Nations people who were brutalized by residential schools. One of his priests shared this video from when he was bishop in the Yukon--as a "bright light" in the midst of this ongoing clergy sex abuse nightmare. (Bishop Gordon is also a former "Flying Father," priests who played hockey for charity and raised millions over decades.)
August 7, 2018
SR. HELENA'S DAILY BOOK FOR WOMEN: "HE SPEAKS TO YOU"
Y'all. Just in case you didn't know: I have a daily book for women, young and old. It's called "He Speaks To You."
- Jesus speaking directly to you
- A daily Scripture
- Does NOT follow the liturgical year, but progressively takes you through the basics of the interior life, starting with a grounding in God's love
- Each month has a different theme: God's will, work, Mary, heaven, suffering, etc.
- Something to do
- Something to journal
- Wisdom from the nuns (30 congregations participated!)
- A daily prayer
And here's where to get it: www.tinyurl.com/DailyBook (Also available on Amazon.)
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE BODY--MY "HUMANAE VITAE" INTERVIEW WITH DUBLIN'S "THE IRISH CATHOLIC"!
Originally published in "The Irish Catholic," July 19, 2018. Reprinted here with kind permission.
(This interview meant a lot to me. My real last name is "Byrne," and my ancestors are from Dublin.)
August 6, 2018
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