Idol Chatter: March 2008 Archives

Weeks before its release, Mike Myers' latest film, "The Love Guru" is raising flags and stirring up controversy. Scheduled to hit theaters June 20th, the story revolves around an American, Guru Pitka, who is raised by gurus in India. In this comedy, he returns to the U.S. to find fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality. Guru Pitka does not identify himself with any one faith or creed, yet the Hindu community feels that this new Meyers movie has the potential to ridicule many elements of their religion.

Rajan Zed, who was the first Hindu priest to open a session of the U.S. Senate when he recited a prayer on the Senate floor in 2007, and president of the Nevada based Universal Society for Hinduism (USH), told The Associated Press, "'The Love Guru' appears to be lampooning Hinduism and Hindus and uses sacred terms frivolously. People are not very well-versed in Hinduism, so this might be their only exposure. They will have an image in their minds of stereotypes. They will think most of us are like that." Zed insisted that Paramount Pictures pre-screen the film for prominent members of the Hindu community before its theatrical release.

In a world wrought with religious fundamentalism and violence, Jodhaa Akbar, director Ashutosh Gowariker's latest venture gives a refreshing peek into the history of Hindu-Muslim unity. The movie is both a 16th century love story, and a chronicle of religious respect between two very different people.

"Akbar, the great," is said to have been one of the finest Mughal (Muslim) emperors to rule India, and is played by the handsome and talented actor Hrithik Roshan who fits the character like a glove. To bring unity among various kingdoms diplomatically, rather than waging a war, he takes a Rajput (Hindu) princess Jodhabai as a wife, much to the chagrin of everyone including the princess herself. The ravishing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan does full justice to the role of Jodha.

Princess Jodhabai, who has been used as a pawn in a political move, challenges the emperor and says she will agree to the wedding under two conditions—that he let her remain a Hindu and that he builds a temple for her inside his Mughal palace, something unheard of. Akbar concedes to her demands. Eventually love blooms between the two of them, and the rest is history. It is said that Jodha and Akbar ruled together for many years as king and queen.

This is definitely one of the better recent Bollywood movies and was very well received among North American audiences—the film is reported to have grossed $1.3 million dollars at the box office there in the first weekend alone. It has its share of singing and dancing, but the musicals are all very tasteful and choreographed to the score of renowned music director A.R. Rahman, of Bombay Dreams fame.

Those of you who loved 2005's movie version of the revered book "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" will be happy to watch this making-of featurette about its sequel, "Prince Caspian." The plot picks up 1,300 years later as the world of Narnia has greatly changed. "Prince Caspian" will be released on May 16.

Chris Sligh finished in tenth place on the sixth season of "American Idol." Chris' humor and unique style, along with his choice to sing songs by Christian bands like Mute Math and dc Talk, made him one of the most popular contestants in the show's history.

After going on the "Idol" summer tour, Chris signed with Brash Music to release a Christian-inspired rock CD, "Running Back to You." His first single, "Empty Me," deals with what it's like to be both a Christian and a celebrity. Click on the link below to listen.

For the record: David Gordon Green wants you to be surprised. So if you're planning to see his target="_blank">adaptation of "Snow Angels," wait until after you've left the theater to read Stewart O'Nan's novel, which discloses a key plot point on the fourth page. This device works in the literary framework but will, according to Gordon Green, lead audience members to anticipate a very different film.

"You'll just think it's a horror movie or something," says Gordon Green, who has also helmed indies "George Washington" and "All the Real Girls." "It's a peaceful moment of surrender rather than some violent act: they're going to be together somewhere else." In "Snow Angels," a triptych of love stories set in an appropriately snowbound town, teenagers Arthur (Michael Angarano) and Lila (Olivia Thirlby) fall in love. Meanwhile, Arthur's parents (Griffin Dunne and Jeanetta Arnette) file for divorce, and Arthur's former babysitter Annie (Kate Beckinsale) wrangles through mixed feelings with her born-again husband Glenn (Sam Rockwell).

Stewart O' Nan's book parallels couples falling in love and out of love. You bring falling in love to the foreground.

When you're going through something tough remind yourself of something smooth. It gives you a perspective on where Glenn and Annie are going. There was a point when these guys truly loved each other. She dedicated her life to someone she thought was right. It's not like she's an idiot, she's smart. But people are dynamic and change. You can start with the best of intentions and the most optimism and goodness of heart, but if chemistry evolves to become off, it's time to go.

Anybody who follows Christian music has probably heard the old saw from Christian bands: "if we cross over, we're going to carry the cross over." Really, though, when was the last time you heard a Christian pop band sing...