In Eckleburg's Eyes - 3/13/2009

News & Notes from Wednesday-Thursday, March 11th-12th, 2009

-On Wednesday night, WAM and I went to the Regal Pinnacle 18 in Turkey Creek for the 7 PM showing of Watchmen. WAM wanted to see the film on their “IMAX” screen. We did not view the film in true IMAX but we did see it on the largest screen imaginable. For our $13.25 per ticket we also had a concession attendant on hand throughout the film.

-The film, based on a popular 1980s graphic novel, opened on March 6th but this was the first night I could see it. WAM sacrificed and waited to watch the film with me. We caught up before the movie began. As opposed to the usual film ads, posters from Watchmen were flashed on the screen while the film’s diverse soundtrack played. For WAM’s typical brilliance during this portion of the evening, check out the WAM Quote of the Day.

-We both enjoyed the movie very much though I will be the first to admit it is not for everyone. If you cannot handle watching violence, do not view this film. It depicts an alternate universe which shares history with ours until 1940. It diverges at that point with America winning the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon repealing term limits. Nixon is serving his fifth term when the movie takes place, in 1985.

-After the movie, WAM and I headed to Applebees. We spent the better part of the night discussing where the movie deviated from its source material, of which WAM is well acquainted. I learned that Nena’s song “99 Luftballoons”, which is featured in the soundtrack, is a Cold War era protest song about toy balloons triggering an apocalyptic overreaction by the military. Other than WAM, who knew?

-AFH was our waitress. She gave us warning that she will no longer be serving on Thursdays as she will soon begin as eight-week Bible study. WAM said it best (as he usually does), “You’ll have to settle for inferior service on Thursdays.”

-In other news, on June 14th I will be preaching the “Classic Service” at the Central Baptist Church of Bearden. Mike Chesney (CMC) and Jim Heizer (JLH) are now running that service in the wake of ADF’s retirement which is effective March 29th. Anyone who wishes to come is welcome.

-Finally, Wednesday marked DBN’s 30th birthday. Happy birthday, Mongo!