Pearl Harbor

Today is the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor is the greatest generation’s 9/11.

Before Pearl Harbor, many Americans wanted to stay out of World War II. They were still recovering from World War I, the last thing they wanted to get involved in another overseas war.

I wonder what our grandchildren and great grandchildren will say about 9/11. Will they solemnly remember 9/11 as we do now or will it be just another day to them?

I wonder sometimes about history. I sometimes remember what I was taught about the ancient Greeks and Romans when I was in school. Today, we see stone monuments from the ancient world with images and writing that has been partially or totally obscured by man and nature.

Will the Pearl Harbor or 9/11 memorials exist in 100o 0r 2000 years? What will our descendants think of us and our monuments to the dead?

I remember Pearl Harbor, do you?

 

 

 

Soul Doctor Review

Within Judaism and the Rabbi’s the lead the thousands of Jewish congregations around the world, Shlomo Carlebach was both a visionary, a wunderkind and a man ahead of his years. Shlomo was the son of a Rabbi and a descendant of a respected Rabbinical dynasty. Born in 1925, he and his family were able to part of the small minority of Jews that were lucky enough to escape Nazi Europe before the borders closed.

As an adult, he was known for being revolutionary (or a heretic, depending on your point of view). His goal was to return the joy and love to the traditional Jewish liturgy. But some within the Jewish community, including his own father vehemently disagreed with Shlomo’s vision of Judaism. But it was his friendship with legendary R&B singer Nina Simone that changed both of their lives.

The new Broadway musical, Soul Doctor, is the story of Shlomo’s life as he tries to discover who he wants to be.  The show starts as Shlomo returns to Vienna, the city of his youth to perform. It then flashes back to Shlomo’s boyhood and then follows his journey to discover who he is and the life he wants to lead.

I liked this show. I haven’t seen many Broadway musicals recently and I have no interest in seeing most of what is presently playing on Broadway. But this one is enjoyable.

The audience does not have to be Jewish or know anything about Judaism to understand or enjoy the show. The recurring theme of finding your voice and being yourself when everything and everyone is pointing to fitting in is universal.

I recommend it.

The Critics Were Wrong (Maybe)- Batman & Robin (1997)

In every movie franchise, for every individual movie that succeeds, there is one that bombs horribly. In the Batman movie franchise, for every Batman Begins (2005) or Batman Forever (1995), there is a Batman & Robin (1997).

Gotham City is under a two pronged attack. Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) and Dr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) are looking to control the city. Poison Ivy uses her feminine charms and poisons while Dr. Freeze just wants to see the city frozen over. Our heroes, who were able to successfully defeat Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey) in Batman Forever, find that their relationship is at a crossroads. Can Batman (George Clooney), Robin (Chris O’Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) defeat the villains and return Gotham City to peace and security?

Were the critics wrong? No.

I will give the production team points for trying. Sometimes when a franchise becomes too serious, a little lightening up is required. But this movie goes too far in trying to put the humor back into the story. It was just a little too over the top for me.

Do I recommend this movie? No.