Looking forward to ‘The Hobbit’

29 January 2008 TBLeave a comment

For the fans of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which I consider myself among, it looks like a director may have been chosen for the film adaption of Tolkein’s “The Hobbit.” From AFP:

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro is in talks to direct two films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel “The Hobbit,” entertainment press reported Monday.

Del Toro, best known for his Oscar-winning 2006 drama “Pan’s Labyrinth,” was on a shortlist of film-makers deemed capable of adapting Tolkien’s story for the big screen, the Hollywood Reporter said without indicating its sources.

The film of “The Hobbit” will be one of the most eagerly anticipated films in years following New Zealand director Peter Jackson’s three phenomenonally successful “Lord of the Rings” movies.

Jackson is to act as executive producer on the two “Hobbit” films, which will be shot back-to-back in 2009 before release in 2010 and 2011, according to studio backers New Line and MGM.

I have not seen any of the movies Del Toro has directed, but I wasn’t familiar with Jackson’s work either before. I am eagerly anticipating what these movies will look like.

Winter comes back, big time

29 January 200829 January 2008 TBLeave a comment

You know the old saying that when you don’t know what else to talk about, talk about the weather? Well, it’s not that there’s anything else to talk about or that I don’t want to talk about anything else, it’s just that I woke up this morning after listening to the wind howl most of the night and it’s freezing cold outside!
What makes it harder is that yesterday it was nearly 50 in Grand Island; ice was melting everywhere, if you were out without a coat you might not care. So this feels even colder. This picture with this post comes from January 2004 (I love the look of Andrew as he helps shovel snow.), but that’s the feeling you have today. The snow isn’t deep enough to shovel, but it’s blowing really hard and drifting. I filled the car with gas this morning and it was a miserable experience standing there with the wind cutting my face the whole time. I grew up in Minnesota and so I mock people here in Nebraska when the complain about weather. But this is uncomfortable.
So, it’s a good day to get things done inside and thank God for providing shelter.

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord

29 January 2008 TBLeave a comment

Just a quick post here as I think about my precious friend who is battling leukemia and whose mom keeps us all updated on her progress. She is a beautiful, brave little girl who inspires us all to trust God more fully than we do.
I am reminded of the passage in I Corinthians 1:26-31 where Paul reminds us that God chose the foolish, the weak, the low and despised so that he would be exalted and not us. Lord, you are a great God and we are weak, needy people — all of us. Strengthen our faith.