Movie Theater Review: The Avengers

Well it wouldn't be summer without a Superhero Blockbuster, and this year it happened to be an alliance of superheroes, in The Avengers. I went with my mom this morning, at the classic Rave Motion Pictures, a place full of many movie memories. (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix). It seemed only fitting that I would later see my old friend Serge, who was with me for most of those memories. I don't go to the theaters as much as I use to, but I still always try to catch the biggest blockbusters of the year. These movies are high on budget, special effects, nonstop action, big name actors, and constant suspense. This seems to be an especially big year for blockbusters; The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, The Great Gatsby, and The Hobbit are my "must-see-in-theater-films" of the year. Yet for now, I will focus on my experience with The Avengers.

The story is quickly set in motion when the main villain, Loki, Thor's brother, infiltrates the SHIELD headquarters to steal a powerful source of energy known as the Tesseract. Nick Furry, the director of SHIELD played by Samuel Jackson, fears that the Tesseract is not safe in Loki's hands, and begins the Avenger Initiative, an alliance of superheros. With the help of his top secret agents, such as the manipulative Black Widow, he is able to round up some of the most powerful superheroes to fight against Loki. After some dramatic hesitation, Captain America, Iron Man, and Bruce Banner/The Hulk all join in on the operation. Thor also later joins them, feeling guilty that his brother has once again reeked havoc on the people of Earth. The four superheroes are joined by two super agents, The Black Widow and Clint Barton/The Hawkeye. This team of superheros is then able to give Loki and his army of mutants a fair fight, in the heart of New York City.

As a blockbuster, this movie does not disappoint, and is worth every penny to see in theater. Each character/actor brings something quite unique to their roles. Captain America, played by Chris Evans, makes for good comic relief, as an old school legend who still packs a punch. The Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr, brings his usual narcissism to the story and somehow still wins over the crowd by saving the day. Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, is ashamed of his Hulkish demeanor, yet steals the show when he finally loses control. Then there is the seductive and manipulative, Black Widow, played by the amazing Scarlett Johannson, who is always a step ahead of everybody. Thor returns with his godly persona, however is some what of a dud in this movie, as is Hawkeye. The showdown in the end, is the cliche stuff Hollywood is made of, full of action, drama, laughs, and suspense. And somehow it just doesn't get old, watching giant mutants and superheroes destroying New York City on the big screen. Loki has an army, the Avengers have a Hulk. Great stuff!

Random Spring Notes 2012

Here is my seasonal update on the state-of-things. As usual Springtime has brought forth all sorts of new inspiration, opportunities, and events. The winter was a mild one, and the Lenten Season ushered in an ambitious transition towards diet and exercise. Springtime is now fully underway, and the nicer weather and longer days are always greatly welcomed.

I reached my year anniversary working at Racer Cartage and Logistics back in February. This is a new record, the longest I've ever held a consistent job. I'm fully employed there as a contracting courier, with good days, bad days, busy days, and slow days. For the most part I'm still quite satisfied with the workflow, management, and income.

A big opportunity came from Sportvision this spring, working Minor League baseball games for the Indianapolis Indians.  This is a part-time evening job, where I track pitches on a computer in a press box for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's a fairly easy gig, with a great view of Victory Field and downtown Indianapolis. The hardest part is paying attention and staying awake for the full 9 innings.

I am in great running shape, possibly the best since college. I've been training on the Monon Trail consistently since February. I try to get at least 3 to 4 runs in a week and have recently begun running in the early mornings, to begin my day. Although my times are slower, it's much nicer way to start the day. Philip inspired me to begin keeping data on my runs, which makes it all the more statistical. I have recorded two PRs this spring, in the 2-mile (13:40) and the 4-mile (28:52).

It seemed my Mini-Marathon Record of 1:43 was up for grabs this year, by either Marc, Philip, or myself. We got unlucky however on race day, being muggiest race we'd ever run, with 90% humidity. I ran a disappointing time of 1:55. Philip and myself agreed to run a redemption run, two weeks later at Geist. This time I ran a 1:46, which was far better than my Indy time. I hope to continue training this summer, through the Kekionga Sprint Triathlon (July 21st) and possibly another Half or even a full Marathon in the Fall.

Had a great time at Josh Cross and Lyndsay Sluyter's Wedding in Fort Wayne. Although I'm not very close with the bride or groom, Lauren is a good friend, and I worked for her dad, Chris, and I just couldn't pass up on Sluyter wedding. It was a fun time and I saw lot of my good college friends and some old high school friends. We're planning on going together as a group to see Dave Matthews Band in concert, Saturday June 23rd. This has been on my bucket list for a very long time, and I'm sure it will be a memorable time.

I've been going through a sudden musical rush, with new phases ranging from DMB, Coldplay's latest album (Mylo Xyloto), Paul Simon (Graceland), Led Zeppelin, Queen, and The Band. Running to music puts me in the zone, and driving to music makes the workday all the more enjoyable.

In other news, Andres is about to graduate from St. Johns New Haven, bringing an end to the 24 year family presence there. Gabriel is moving on to IUPUI, next semester. And Philip and Shawna are going to have a baby in January.

Movie Masterpiece: Melancholia

I was quite excited when I saw Melancholia suddenly appear on Netflix, a movie I had wanted to see for some time. I remember hearing quite a bit about it last summer and fall, at the Cannes Festival or on NPR, mostly praising Kirsten Dunst's performance. It's not often I watch a movie twice in one week, unless it's something truly original and captivating. Well that is definitely the case for this art-film directed by Lars von Trier, unlike anything I've see before.

From the get-go it's quite clear that this movie is a "gloom-and-doom" story, by no-means a feel-good movie for the faint of heart. Lars von Trier, makes it clear in the beginning that the world is going to end. However never has an end-of-the-world film, looked so beautiful. It is dosed with a powerful Wagner score, incredible astronomic visuals (similar to Tree of Life), and an amazing landscape setting. Throughout the film the planet Melancholia, is having a death dance with Earth, and there is no escaping this planetary collision. However the story doesn't focus on the total chaos of the end of the world, yet instead presents the reaction of a few.

The main protagonist is a depressed bride named Claire, played by Kirsten Dunst, who begins to unravel at the beginning of the film. At her reception, she displays an extreme behavior of aloofness and disconnection from her loved ones. Her new husband can hardly recognize her, while her sister and brother in-law are quite frustrated with her ungratefulness. "I am trudging through this grey wooly yarn, it's really heavy to drag along" she tells her sister, confessing her depression. The wedding is a total debacle of awkward exchanges, between Claire and her groom, her parents, and her boss.

The movie then takes a different turn in the second part, focusing on Claire's sister Justine, and the peculiar planet of Melancholia. Justine is a concerned mother, afraid that the planet may collide with Earth. She is however constantly assured by her scientific husband, that it is no more than a "fly-by". Justine takes care of her depressed sister, while growing more anxious of the planet. Suddenly it becomes a reality that the planet is on a death path to Earth. The interesting contrast that occurs in this film, is the different reactions of Claire and Justine. Justine begins to panic at the inescapable doom, while the depressed Claire remains calm. The final moment of this film, where the planets collide, is quite sensational. It is a conclusion of sheer gloom, and yet done so in such an artistic fashion.

History of Christianity: European Wars of Religion

The Reformation was a major religious dispute, between Protestantism and the Catholic Church, and quite naturally it turned into a political and armed dispute. It began with peasant uprisings in the 1520s, the Eighty Years War in 1568, the French Wars of Religion in 1562, the Thirty Years War in 1618, and the English Civil Wars in 1639. Although each of these wars were fought for various political or economic purposes, it was driven by a disagreement of religion. This period of Christian Civil War, resulted in a major decline of Catholic influence and a rise of Protestant influence.

Protestant Uprisings

By 1524, nearly 5 years after Martin Luther had been excommunicated from the church, his movement had grown quite passionate throughout Central Europe. This sudden burst of Protestant fervor eventually turned into radicalism. It sparked revolts throughout Germany and Switzerland against the Holy Roman Empire. One of the most notable of these revolts was the German Peasant's Uprising which lasted for over a year, from 1524-1525, and resulted in the death of over 10,000 peasants.

Eighty Years War

After this there were many other notable Protestant revolts, throughout central Europe, however the first successful one occurred in the Low Countries of Europe. Calvinism had grown especially popular in the Netherlands, and would eventually initiate a Dutch Revolt against King Philip II's Spanish Empire. In 1568, the Eighty Years War began as a major peasant rebellion that eventually won the support of Dutch nobles such as William of Orange. The Dutch nobles and peasants united for an on-and-off battle against the Spanish armies. While this was mostly a war of independence, it was also a religious war with religious allies. Catholic Spain was aided by the Holy Roman Empire, while the Dutch Protestants were aided by the German and French Protestants. It eventually combined into a much larger conflict, however by 1648, the Dutch had finally won their independence from Spain.

French Wars of Religion

During this time, another civil conflict emerged within France, with a similar issue of religion. The growth of Calvinism, spread throughout France, and gave way to a new group against the Catholic Church, known as the Huguenots. In 1562, several Huguenot followers were murdered, at the Massacre of Vassy, which sparked the French Wars of Religion. The main dispute was between noble aristocrats and their difference in religious ideology. The Huguenots gained support from other Protestant factions as well as England. On the other hand, the French Monarchy won support of Spain and the Vatican. This period of religious civil war, lasted for over 30 years, with numerous battles and massacres. The civil war had a third party, known as the Politiques, who used compromise and negotiation to bring about the Edict of Nantes in 1598. This treaty applied the use of tolerance and secularism to recognize both the Huguenots and Catholics within France.

Thirty Years War

By the 17th Century, these Christian civil wars and rebellions eventually merged into one great war throughout Europe, known as the Thirty Years War. It began in 1618, with the Bohemian Revolt against the Holy Roman Empire. The Bohemians found early success under the leadership of Frederick V, as well as support from the Protestant Union and the Ottoman Empire. They were however later defeated in 1620, by Ferdinand II and the Holy Roman Empire at the decisive Battle of the White Mountain. This resulted in a brief period of retreat and standstill for the Protestants, however only the beginning of the war.

The French Huguenots were still not pleased with the Edict of Nantes, and continued their uprisings throughout the 1620s. Once again, this consisted of a series of battles and rebellions against the Catholic Monarchy. It finally came to an end during the Siege of La Rochelle, led by King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu. The French Monarchy would later revoke the Edict of Nantes, as well as persecute and expel the Huguenots from France.

In 1625, the low countries of Europe began to unite and intervene against the Holy Roman Empire. Christian VI, the Lutheran king of Denmark-Norway, saw this war as a pivotal turn for the Reformation and feared a Catholic success. He thus led a massive army of over 20,000 marching through Germany, and laying siege on various Imperial towns. The Danish army was however defeated by the Catholic General Albrecht von Wallenstein, at the Battle of Wolgast. Christian VI and his Danish army were forced to retreat, while the Catholics continued to repel the Protestant armies.

However in 1630, the Swedish Empire picked up where the Danish left off, and successfully invaded Germany, under the leadership of King Gustavus II Adolphus. This Swedish campaign finally marked a turning point for the Protestant war against the Catholic Empire. In 1631, Gustavus II Adolphus found victory against the Holy Roman Empire at the Battle of Breitenfeld, however lost his life afterwards in the decisive Battle of Lutzen. While this marked an extremely important victory for the Protestants, they now lacked leadership and direction.

The war then took a sudden political direction, when the Catholic Monarchy decided to aid the Protestant armies of Sweden. This curious motive, was launched by the political Cardinal Richelieu, who saw an opportune moment to turn France into the ultimate power in Europe. He did this by declaring war on Spain in the west, (who was preoccupied with the Dutch) while allying with Sweden in the east against the weakened Holy Roman Empire. This action gave the Swedish a new boost to reignite their campaign against the Holy Roman Empire. By 1648 the Protestant armies had swept through Germany, winning many decisive battles against the Holy Roman Empire. The Battle of Prague, marked the end of the Thirty Years War.

Peace of Westphalia

In 1648, the religious wars finally came to an end with the Peace of Westphalia. This treaty was an end-all to the multiple conflicts throughout Europe; coordinated by the French, Swedish, Spanish, Dutch, the Holy Roman Empire, as well as other liberated Protestant states. The Dutch were granted their independence from Spain, in the Peace of Munster, which brought an end to the Eighty Years War.

Meanwhile Protestants were given freedom and liberty to rule their states as they wish on an equal playing field as Catholics. This treaty thus brought an end to the Thirty Years War, and completely changed the scope of Christianity in Europe. A new age of Secularism had now begun, and the Catholic Church was pushed back as a mere onlooker of political affairs.

History of Christianity: The Reformation

It seemed only natural that there would be dissension within the church as a result of the Renaissance. This was primarily due to a century of corruption within the papacy, where popes would marry, have children, mistresses, and grant indulgences for money. Pope Alexander VI was the epitome of this corruption, from 1492-1503. His leadership would ignite a movement of opposition to the papacy and the new ideal of humanism. This protest fervor was first initiated by the Dominican monk, Savonarola, who spoke out against the practice of humanism, and the distancing of Christianity that was occurring in Florence. He was however executed in 1497, by Pope Alexander VI, yet his conservative ideals carried on throughout Europe to spark a Protestant Reformation.


Ninety Five Thesis

The movement began in Wittenberg Germany in 1517, when the Augustine monk, Martin Luther, posted his Ninety Five Thesis document on the walls of the Castle Church. This document was a list of protests against the corruption of the Catholic Church. Prior to this, Luther had grown extremely disgusted with Pope Alexander VI's selling of indulgences, and felt it was time for Christianity to move in a new direction. This bold action, became a declaration of independence from the Catholic institution and the beginning of the Protestant movement. Following his excommunication in 1520, Luther began to establish his theology and church that grew to become Lutheranism.

Lutheranism became the defining religion of the Protestant Movement with the most followers. It established a doctrine that differed from Catholicism in many ways. First there was the Real Presence, a belief that God was within the Eucharist and that a transformation of bread and wine were not necessary to become body and blood. Lutheranism also emphasized a belief in Sola Fide, faith alone and nothing else. They believed there was no need for a papal institution to dictate the law of God, and only Christ held that power.

In 1521, Martin Luther's new theology was put to the test, at a Imperial assembly in Germany, known as the Diet of Worms. He was summoned by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, to explain his revolutionary beliefs against the Catholic church. Knowing that he may be persecuted, Martin Luther boldly stood by his beliefs in front of the assembly, accusing the Catholic church of corruption and religious dogma. The assembly thus ruled that Luther was a notorious heretic, and should be punished accordingly. Luther however managed to escape and go into hiding.

Reformation in Central Europe

There were many in Central and Northern Europe, who agreed with Luther's protest against the Catholic Church. A significant reformation began to sweep through Switzerland, led by the pastor Huldrych Zwingli. This new theology, was very similar to Luther's protestant approach, and quickly began to spread throughout the country.

The Protestant Movement began to branch into different directions, claiming that Luther's theology was either too conservative, no conservative enough, or in need of compromise. One of the most significant leaders who worked for compromise was the Dutch priest Desiderius Erasmus. Erasmus was a Renaissance Humanist, aware of the corruption within the church, yet devoted to fixing it from within. He worked effortlessly to bridge the gap between the Protestants and the Catholic church.

In 1536, a French theologian, named John Calvin, took the Protestant Movement into a more radical direction. He began his work in Geneva, Switzerland to reform the Christian church based on much stricter beliefs. Through his Five Points, John Calvin emphasized a harsh ideal of "predestination", "total depravity", and limited justification. The belief basically stressed that humanity was ultimately doomed and needed to spend their lives seeking salvation from God. This theology, became known as Calvinism, and quickly spread from Geneva, throughout Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe.



Church of England

The reformation movement took a significant turn in England under the leadership of King Henry VIII. At the time, there was a growing sentiment for reformation, and the King merely took advantage of it for personal gains. Henry VIII was a devout Catholic, however after the Catholic church did not grant him an annulment from his wife Catherine of Aragon, he split away from the church, and established the Church of England in 1534. This new church consisted of Reformation ideals, and was entirely under the control of the monarchy. Henry VIII was then able to officially marry Anne Boleyn, who later gave birth to the great Queen Elizabeth.

This religious reformation within England, became the defining issue of Queen Elizabeth's reign. On one side she received heavy opposition from the Catholic institution and the Spanish Empire. On the other hand she received heavy opposition from radical reformers such as the Calvinists and Puritans. In 1588, Queen Elizabeth was ale to bring an end to King Philip's Catholic crusade, during the Spanish Armada. By this point she had established one of the most powerful empires in the world, and a new center for culture. She worked vigorously to further the Church of England, by infusing both Catholic and Reformed ideals. England thus became the first official Reformed government.

This Elizabethan Religious Settlement, was not enough however for the conservative reformists, and eventually sparked a Puritan Movement to change the Church of England. Throughout the 16th and 17th century England grew divided over this religious issue; those who supported the Church of England and those who opposed it. This would later result in migrations to the new colonies of America, as well as an English Civil War from 1642-1651. The English Civil War was a result of political, economic, and religious differences. It eventually resulted in the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a Commonwealth of England, a government for the people, under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell.



Counter-Reformation

By 1545 the Catholic Church had grown quite aware of this sudden spread of the Protestant Reformation, and launched a counter campaign with the Council of Trent. The Council held 25 sessions, from 1545-1563, to condemn the Protestant Movement while also reforming the Catholic Church. They ruled against the Protestant Movement, by rejecting Luther's concept of "Sola Fide" and disallowing other interpretations on the bible. However the council also agreed to improve the administration of the church from within, and to especially bring an end to the corruption.

Following the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church made an organized effort to pursue and re-convert Protestants. This Counter Reformation against Protestantism consisted of new religious orders and movements to revive the Catholic faith. Orders such as the Jesuits, embarked on missionaries of religious education throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Meanwhile new Spiritual Movements began to arise in Spain, inspired by mystical nuns and priests such as Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila. These Spanish Mystics wrote of their divine experiences, to further the church's theology on spirituality.