Michael Kress: December 2007 Archives

Watch an exclusive clip from the movie "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," and then read below to find out how to enter to win prizes related to this critically acclaimed new film:

Click to Watch

What is your new year's resolution? Aiming to live a better life? Or maybe just to lay off the chocolate a little? Tell us about it, and you'll be entered to win prizes related to the new movie "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." The film tells the inspirational story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), the world-renowned editor of French ELLE magazine, who suffers a stroke and is paralyzed, able to communicate only by blinking one eye. Despite his disability, Bauby learns to live a full life--and dictates, using his eye blinking, the memoir on which this movie is based.

New Year's resolutions are a time to start fresh, to decide to improve our lives. So, inspired by Bauby's triumph, we want to know what your resolution is. The prizes for the best resolutions, in the judgment of Idol Chatter editors, are: the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," the movie's soundtrack CD, and two movie posters. The contest ends January 3, and there are two ways to enter:

1) Film a video describing your resolution, log into the Beliefnet community site, and post your video here.

2) Use the comments box below to post your resolution.

Click here for the full contest rules, or click here to learn more about the movie.

Already nominated for a Golden Globe, "The Great Debaters" opens Christmas Day. It's Denzel Washington's second time behind the camera as director (the first was "Antwone Fisher"). Watch a clip:

Click to Launch Video

When you're done watching, read my interview with Washington. Yes, I spoke to Denzel. And yes, he's as articulate and thoughtful on the phone as he is in his movies. We spoke about his daily Bible study, the role of prayer in his life, and of course, why he made "The Great Debaters." Read it here.

It's not coming out until May, but you can get into the Narnia spirit with this first trailer for "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian":

Click to Play Trailer

This Sunday, CBS will air a documentary, "In God's Name," that interviews 12 spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama and Pope Benedict XVI, about "myriad issues in our post-9/11 world, including the rise of terrorism, fanaticism, intolerance, and war," according to the press release. Watch more:

Click to Play Video

The show is by French filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet, brothers who produced the award-winning documentary "9/11." "In God's Name" will be broadcast Sunday, Dec. 23 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), on CBS.

A movie adaptation of the massively popular novel "The Kite Runner" opens today in theaters. We've got a bunch of great features about it:

• Interview with author Khaled Hosseini
• Movie Mom's review of "The Kite Runner"
• Movie Mom interviews the movie's star, Khalid Abdalla
• Watch a clip from the movie.

Not just a movie, "What Would Jesus Buy?" is also a book, and you can win it. To enter, post your answer to this question: What would Jesus say about Christmas in America today? Would he be proud that the...

This is the last in a series of blog posts about "The Golden Compass" by guest blogger Tony Watkins, author of "Dark Materials: Shedding Light on Philip Pullman's Trilogy 'His Dark Materials.'" Eyebrows are sometimes raised in my direction when...

Take a sneak peek at Monday night's new episode of "Saving Grace" (for mature audiences only!): Click to Launch Video Explore more 'Saving Grace' features, including more video, reviews, discussion, and galleries by clicking here....

This is the second in a series of blog posts about "The Golden Compass" by guest blogger Tony Watkins, author of "Dark Materials: Shedding Light on Philip Pullman's Trilogy 'His Dark Materials.'" I wonder how aware Philip Pullman is of...

Frequent Idol Chatter visitors are well aware of blogger Donna Freitas' love for "The Golden Compass" and Philip Pullman. In several blog posts and a series of videos, she has articulated her belief--contrary to the outcries of many Christians angered...

Happy However-You-Spell-It to all who are celebrating it!...