By Dave Montalbano

cinemadave.livejournal.com

With very little fanfare, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief opened in 2010 and earned a respectable box office gross. Based on a series of novels written by Rick Riordan, the film boasted a fine supporting cast, including Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean. Fans eagerly awaited the sequel, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, which has now been released; but three years is a long time for a sequel based on juvenile fiction. The young leads Logan Lerman (as Percy) and Alexandra Daddario (as Annabeth) return, but the cost-cutting is very apparent.

In the first movie, Percy is a dyslexic kid who discovers that he has an affinity for water. Labeled a freak by the “cool” kids, Percy attends a Special Educational program and learns that his father is a god on Mount Olympus. At the school, Percy meets other “freaks,” who are actually “half bloods.”

After saving the world in the first movie, Percy and Annabeth learn that their school is in danger of being destroyed by an ornery Cyclopes (Derek Mears). The shield that protects the school is crumbling and it is up to Percy and his friends to find the Golden Fleece that was originally obtained by Jason and the Argonauts.

Despite the budgetary restrictions, this is an enjoyable film with clever moments. We eventually find out about a West Palm Beach connection and learn that the Sea of Monsters is another name for the dreaded Bermuda Triangle. Since the young cast is so likeable, it would be silly not to sit back and enjoy the ride, for this is a good family film.

For a free family experience before school starts next week, the 50th Anniversary Screening of King Kong versus Godzilla will be held at Imperial Point Library Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Admission is FREE and popcorn will be served while supplies last. Like the new Percy Jackson film, in this King Kong film, one feels the good intentions despite the budgetary restrictions

I was three reading levels behind my peers and 9 years old when I saw King Kong versus Godzilla. Forty-one years later, I have been the film columnist with the Observer for 14 years and have just self-published my second book, a mythical novella titled Davy Jones & the Heart of Darkness, which is available through Amazon.com.

In case you haven’t noticed it lately, Miami (and South Florida in general) is not what it once was to “our people.” There was a time that when a Jew from Brooklyn or “De Bronx” dreamed of retirement, that dream included moving to Sunny South Florida to live out the goldenah yoren, the golden years. And, with so many retired down here, it became the norm for many of their children to move down here to be near them. It became the hot spot for those who had gone through divorce as they, too, came, (albeit for other reasons) to be near their parents. This all gave the bubbes (grandmothers) and zeydes (grandfathers) of South Florida the joy of having their grandchildren nearby.

Sadly, that is no longer the norm. South Florida is no longer the dream retirement spot for our people and we now have many bubbes and zeydes who seldom get to see their grandchildren. And for many of those Grandparents, it is no longer possible for them to travel up North to visit their precious little angels.

Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach has 100 of the sweetest bubbes and zeydes you could ever hope to meet. Few, if any, actually have grandchildren who live down here in Florida.

The High Holy Days are coming up and the bubbes and zeydes of Temple Beth Israel (and those of other Congregations as well) would love to have little ones sitting next to them in the Shul.

Being able to “adopt” a precious little angel as a grandchild and having that adoptee and their parents adopt a grandparent. Well, that could just make the greatest of New Years for everyone involved. And, at the same time, selfishly, yes, it would bring more members into the congregation … young members, vibrant members … and this would insure a minimum of two more generations for the Temple. It is a win/win situation all the way around as it has the potential to increase the joy and well-being of so many in our midst.

While you’re thinking about it, let me share a story that was e-mailed to me about just how loving and patient a zeyde can be. A woman is in a supermarket behind a zeyde and his badly behaved 3- or 4-year-old grandson. It is obvious to her that the zeyde has his hands full with this little one screaming for candy and cookies. Meanwhile, zeyde is doing his shopping and saying in a soft voice, “Easy, Moshele, we won’t be long…”

The little one has another outburst and the woman hears the zeyde calmly say, “It’s okay, Moishele, just a couple more minutes and we’ll be out of here.” At the checkout counter, the little imp starts throwing items out of the shopping cart and zeyde calmly says, “Moishele, relax, don’t get upset. Stay cool.”

The woman who had been following him is quite impressed with the zeyde’s patience and says, “You are amazing! I don’t know how you did it. That whole time you kept your calm and kept saying things would be okay. Moishele is very lucky to have you as his zeyde.”

The zeyde responds, “Thanks, but I’m Moishele. The little shmegegee’s name is Jacob.”

This year, bring your little ones with you to our Shul. Become a part of our family. There might just be a new bubbe or zeyde in it for you or your child. Looking forward to seeing you there on the Holy Days and all year round.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and of the Association of Professional Chaplains, He works professionally in this capacity with a number of healthcare facilities in the area, and with hospice. He is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach.

By Dave Montalbano

www.adventuresofcinemadave.com/

This summer, movie goers have witnessed the end of the world in World War Z, Man of Steel and Pacific Rim. Given the repeated massive scale of this destruction, a “ho hum” reaction becomes predominant. Meanwhile, on a far smaller and more personal scale, films like The Body (El Cuerpo) and The Conjuring are creating memorable experiences featuring pity and fear.

Released a few weeks ago, The Conjuring has become a sleeper hit, grossing more money than 42, MaMa and Pacific Rim. It is an R-rated family horror movie, a film that will generate discussion over the dinner table and cause a few nightmares for the young. The unnerving factor is that this film is based on a true story in Rhode Island.

Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Elaine Warren (Vera Farmiga) lecture on the subject of “paranormal science” on a New England campus. The husband and wife team have battled ghosts and poltergeists for most of their adult lives. A recent battle with a spirit has weakened Elaine.

Enter the Perron family, who purchased a mansion on a lake in Rhode Island. Roger (Ron Livingston) is a truck driver and Carolyn (Lili Taylor) is housewife with four girls. The house is mostly a fix-me-up and, many things go bump in the night and create havoc for the family.

Despite the Warren’s semiretirement, Carolyn seeks them out at a university lecture. Reluctant at first, Elaine sees how desperate this mother is. As the Warrens confront the entity, Carolyn becomes possessed by the host demon.

Director James Wan (original Saw, Insidious) knows how to direct a terror flick. From the first off-putting shot to the final resolution, he takes the viewer on a spiritual journey. Wan’s shot construction is worthy of a James Whale or Val Lewton masterpiece. The pacing is excellent with a comedy break midway through the motion picture to relieve stress.

Perhaps the success of The Conjuring has been due to the respect shown to the Christian faith. The Warrens confidently battle this demonic apprentice, while the agnostic Perron family suffer the tortures of the damned. The Conjuring does not proselytize, but provides subtle common sense rules.

If you are tired, can’t deal with the pressure any longer, are sick of the direction your life has taken, then God is speaking to you today.

Just picture the prodigal son who was at the very lowest depths of despair, yet somehow heard the voice that told him “Go home.” When the son arrived, he found a father not ready to punish him, but to love him. He found a father not ready to reprimand him, but to reinstate him. God is waiting for you today with outstretched arms of love, simply saying to you this day… “Come home.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13

And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. NIV

Don’t grow weary doing what is right. Do what God tells you to do. Do not waste time worrying about what someone else thinks because, if you do, eventually, they will wear you down. When you are tired and worn out, you are more likely to slip and stumble, give in to temptation and make mistakes. Do not grow weary or lose heart.

Galatians 6:9

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. NLT

Are you tired of running, tired of hurting and just plain tired of being tired? There is an answer! There is a way! God is calling you right now to simply “Come home to Him.” The problems don’t go away, and the consequences of your actions don’t magically disappear. But by coming home, you start to deal with the issues, put them behind you, and become restored into fellowship with your God who loves you. Then, slowly, you will see the joy, the peace and the happiness return to your life. Do not ever quit, do not ever give up, and do not ever give in.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. NIV

Sometimes we do not even realize how much rest we need until we actually take some time to rest and reenergize our bodies and minds. Vacation sure does the body good, but don’t forget the one who wants to give us rest. God can charge you up no matter what has drained you – and he is the only one who can do that. Be sure to spend time with God. We can do that by going to church, praying (just talking to God), reading the Bible, and by singing worship songs and hymns. We can talk to God, read the Bible, or sing anytime and anywhere we want.

There is also one other thing that I have found that helps me to recharge. That one thing is to help other people in a time of need. It not only brings great joy to your life, but it also brings you a new energy that you did not have before. We can create an environment for ourselves to recharge anywhere and time we need. So remember to keep your batteries charged so you can keep going.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

By Gary Curreri

Reg Cook won more than 500 games at Highlands Christian Academy School, however, one of the other things he is most proud of is the annual summer basketball camp offered by the school.

“The basketball camp is our most popular summer athletic camp here at HCA,” said Cook, former athletic director and boys’ varsity basketball coach at Highlands who started the camp in 1985. “Our coaches and counselors do a great job! They love the kids, the game of basketball and the Lord.”

There were approximately 100 campers between the two weeks, including 55 in the first session (7th through 12th graders), and 45 in the second session (second through the 6th grade).

“Our goal at basketball camp, along with all of our other athletic camps, is to train these young people to become better individuals as well as better players,” said Jim Good, camp coordinator and boys’ varsity basketball coach. It was his 16th year being a part of the camp. “Our coaching staff does a great job in teaching the skills of the sport while also teaching the benefits of hard work in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.”

Josh Good, HCA’s boys’ middle school coach, worked his 11th year of camp, while Luke Still, HCA’s JV coach, worked his third year of camp. Head girls’ varsity basketball coach, Ramona Caputo along with HCA alumnus Chris Wilson (2005) and Jeff Sullivan (2011) assisted with the camp. Several varsity players from both the boys and girls varsity team earned community hours in the second week of camp while serving as assistant coaches.

Highlands Christian offers seven different summer sports camps, including cheerleading, basketball, softball, track and field, soccer, volleyball and golf.

Visit www.highlandschr istian.org for more information about the school.

Randall reinstated

Melvin Randall will return to coach the boys basketball team at Blanche Ely High School after a face-to-face meeting with the school’s principal last week ironed out their differences.

Randall had been at odds with school principal Karlton Johnson and was relieved of his duties just four months after winning his second consecutive Class 7A championship.

Randall and Johnson had clashed over the firing of his two long-time assistants, Reginald McNair and Morris Grooms, who were released before the 2012-13 season, and the fact that Randall had to apply more than once for the head coach position.

“It was a very, very good meeting,” Randall said. “Just clearing some things. We both agreed that we want to put this behind us and move forward. We want to work toward improving Blanche Ely academically and athletically.”

Both McNair and Grooms, former student athletes of Randall’s, will be allowed to return. Randall has a 458- 136 career record, including 226-79 at Blanche Ely and five state titles.

“I always believed everything would be OK,” Randall said. “The kids were thrilled when they heard the news. It was a relief for them and they are ready to work for a third state title.”

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

As the Wolverine, Hugh Jackman burst upon the celluloid screen 13 years ago in X-Men directed by Bryan Singer.

Much like John Ford’s influence in developing John Wayne’s image, Singer presented Jackman as an iconic leading man for the 21st Century. For an unknown Australian song and dance man, Jackman has become a durable leading man.

The Wolverine is Jackman’s sixth appearance as Logan, alias Wolverine. While this is a standalone movie, the film takes place after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand and before next Summer’s future blockbuster, X-Men: Days of Future Past. Stick around during The Wolverine’s closing credits for the exciting movie teaser.

The Wolverine opens with a depressed Logan, the ultimate soldier cursed with eternal life. In his long existence, Logan keeps losing the loves of his life. Recently Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) died at his hand and the guilt has caused Logan to become a hermit in the Canadian woods.

Enter Yukio (Rila Fukushima), an employee of Yashida (Hal Yamanouchi), a dying industrialist whom Logan rescued from the atomic bomb blast at Nagasaki. Yashida would like to offer Wolverine the gift of death.

With such a serious theme in the background, The Wolverine could have been bogged down with theories and theology. Fortunately, director James Mangold has directed a visual treat (one feels like they are roaming the Morikami Gardens). The action sequences are directed with visual clarity; most notable is the creative detail utilized during a fight sequence aboard the bullet train racing at 300 m.p.h.

On a far more serious note, Blackfish opens tomorrow. This documentary reviews whale captivity and theme parks. Much like Ric O’- Barry’s The Cove, Blackfish presents how creatures of the wild cannot be confined to cages; for whenever there is a conflict between man and nature, monsters are born. In this case, senior trainer Dawn Brancheau died during a routine exhibition at Sea World Orlando on Feb. 24, 2010.

Also opening tomorrow is a Spanish Hitchcockian thriller titled The Body. After a femme fatale meets her maker, her body disappears from a morgue. This conspiracy-laced noir features Belen Rueda, Spain’s answer to Meryl Streep.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

Where did the summer go? It gets shorter every year. All around me are the signs, the marketing, the reminders, the reach for dollars in the name of our kids. It’s back to school time.

I was thinking of that theme tonight while watching the 60 Minutes interview with Bill Gates, the famous Harvard dropout I reflected on the many ways we learn that have nothing to do with school. When our official book learning curriculum comes to a halt, life learning takes its place and self motivation is the engine that really defines the learning curve. Life learning is the school from which we graduate only on the day we are interred.

Alas, that our impoverished world has not produced more Bill Gates. Those of us not so blessed must rely on the creativity of teachers, most of whom are in unimaginative physical settings and must, therefore, in their own small territory, devise ways to keep 21st Century kids from thumbing their way through classes on their smart phones.

I’m hoping that among my readers each of you has had at least one memorable teacher who has sparked an interest in a subject otherwise “dead” to you.

For me, it was Mr. Sayles, my high school English teacher in my senior year, who spent months using as his teaching tool not any book or video. The New York Times was his text. All our lessons had sprung from its content. I remember especially his emphasis on the Book Review section, as we pawed through it for a few weeks, talking about the content page by page. I realize now why on Sunday mornings, as I dive into my Times, I separate the sections – placing the Book Review at the bottom, savoring it for the last and best read, and taking weekly notes regarding my own future reading.

What a dull subject Geography was for me until I was assigned to Miss Martin’s class when we studied the Caribbean countries (at a time when my most distant travel was from Brooklyn to The Bronx, and when I had no hope of ever expanding that horizon). She didn’t have us memorize facts about climate, history, natural resources, politics and history. Instead, my group was assigned to plan a virtual trip to Puerto Rico having to choose a travel agent, transportation (I’d never been on a plane), hotel, sights and finances to the point where we took a class trip to an airport.

How could I have known at the time that I would someday wind up on the streets of Kathmandu, among other exotic locations? My interest in travel was sparked by that early experience.

I’ll save my tirade in the cause of greater support for creative teachers. I can only begin to imagine the many changes in knowledge delivery that have taken place since “my day” and will continue with the accelerated swiftness of our technological age. And, as a one-time parent of school age kids, I know how you can’t wait for the school year to begin!

Back to Shul … I mean, back to school … The new school year is about to begin and teachers, those amazing souls who spend the day tending to a whole classroom full of precious students, will once again ask that most famous of questions, “How did you spend your summer vacation?”

Many little ones spent the summer at sleep-away camp, and I was pleased to read that there were a few camps this year that actually forbid the campers from having cell phones and other technological devices. (Wow, what I wouldn’t give to have a month without being so connected.)

Now, you might be wondering to yourselves, “But, if they didn’t have cell phones or computers, how did they keep in touch with their parents?” Well, with school starting again, let me be the first to remind you of a dying art. You may have heard of it before. It’s called “WRITING!” That’s right; they kept in touch by writing letters. You remember the letters of the alphabet, don’t you? Well, thank a teacher if you can put them together into a coherent sentence and take a pen and write a letter to someone you care about.

There was a little one away at camp this summer who had probably never written a letter before although he was incredibly fluent in texting with every abbreviation you can imagine. But away at one of those camps without cell phones, he had to learn the art of letter writing.

He did pretty well at it, too; but, when he got a letter from his mother that ended with, “P.S. I love you,” he had to write back to find out what P.S. meant. And so it was that he began to finish all his letters to his parents with just that, “P.S., I love you.”

There was a beautiful, heart-warming movie out a few years back starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler called, “P.S. I Love You.” It told the story of a husband who, knowing he was dying, wrote a series of letters to his wife. Each of those letters was actually an assignment. Like a teacher, he was telling her to do something.

The truth is that, while she was doing each of these assignments, she wasn’t really sure what the purpose was. Her best friend in the movie (and her mother as well) were afraid that those assignments were keeping her tied to the past. But, as the movie goes on, we learn that each bit of homework was actually moving her into a bright new future.

That’s what teachers do; they try to steer our children toward a bright new future.

The Beatles had a song that said: “As I write this letter, send my love to you, remember that I’ll always be in love with you. Treasure these few words, ‘till we’re together, keep all my love forever, P.S., I love you.” I know you think you know what P.S. stands for, but that’s not what it meant to my mother of blessed memory. To her, P.S. stood for Public School. I was able to write this letter today because of Public School and because of the many teachers I was blessed with and, as to Lincoln Elementary School back in Rock Island, IL, all I can say is “P.S. I Love You!” And to the teachers I am still blessed to know, “P.S., I Love You Too!” To the parents and to the students reading this today, I hope you write to your teacher often and that you close each letter with that most meaningful of post scripts “P.S. I Love You!”

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and of the Association of Professional Chaplains, He works professionally in this capacity with a number of healthcare facilities in the area, and with hospice. He is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach

By Gary Curreri

Friends of Frankie keep turning out year after year.

The sixth annual Frankie Foundation Golf Tournament at Woodlands Country Club in Tamarac recently pulled in $75,000. In addition to the money raised, it also raised awareness for automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

The location may have moved during the six years of the annual Frankie Foundation Golf Tournament; however, one thing hasn’t changed – people still care. A record number of 242 golfers recently turned out for the tourney, whose proceeds go toward the purchase of AEDs and scholarships to local high school students.

“It was the most players ever by 12 and we had a waiting list of 30,” said Frankie Foundation Vice President Mike Goodrich, of Coral Springs. “The course is different and the banquet facility is different. We are excited about that because we were able to dress up the banquet facility and be able to accommodate all of us now, so the synergy we were able to generate there would continue what is coming off the course into there.”

Tammy Good, Shane Munson, Tracey Adcock and Dave Anderson carded a 59 to top all golfers on the east course, while Doug Kingera, Eric Depp, Hernan Millan, Hilarion Millan shot a 61 to win on the west course.

The tournament once again honored Frankie Speciale, who died of a massive heart attack while playing in a recreational men’s soccer league match in Deerfield Beach in 2007. Even though the 1982 graduate of Pompano Beach High School was given CPR immediately, his life could not be saved. It is believed an automated external defibrillator might have made the difference in him surviving.

Goodrich, who was a classmate of Speciale’s, said the tournament has grown over the years. The first tournament at Colony West drew a capacity crowd of 144 golfers. It then moved to Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano before ClubLink owners of both Palm Aire and Woodlands suggested the tournament move to Woodlands because its banquet facility can accommodate the 242 golfers.

“We’ve raised more than a half million dollars in six years,” Goodrich said. “We have given out more than 40 AEDs to cities, churches, charities, Kids in Distress, Sheridan House and other foundations.”

Goodrich said the Frankie Foundation still has the same sponsors and vendors since it started including One Step CPR, the presenting title sponsor. Goodrich said the scramble/best ball tournament is run totally by volunteers and all of the proceeds go toward the scholarships and AEDs.

Lon Rosen, of One Step CPR, hopes to generate awareness and teach people the importance of having a defibrillator at golf courses and different athletic events.

“People don’t even know what a defibrillator is,” Rosen said. “We are just scratching the surface. We want to send a message through the Frankie Foundation of what an AED [is].”

Rosen noted that Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 325,000 deaths each year, and that it claims a life every two minutes.

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

I’ve been waiting seven months to write about Still Mine, a beautiful film that screened at the Miami International Film Festival and the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Still Mine quietly rides the emotional roller coaster from sadness to joy with understated dignity.

“Age is an abstraction, not a straight jacket,” says Craig Morrison (James Cromwell). In his 80s, Morrison proves this theory by living an independent life on his farm in Canada. His wife Irene (Genevieve Bujold) faces the onset of dementia. When she is injured in a fall, he decides to build an ergonomically friendly home on his own land.

Despite his knowledge and experience in construction, Morrison runs afoul government bureaucrats, upset that he is not pulling permits and waiting for building inspectors.

Still Mine, a universal story that echoes August Strindberg’s play An Enemy of the People and the writings of Thoreau, is also a love story that will attract Nicholas Sparks’ fans.

Based on a true story, writer-director Michael Mc- Gowan said of his film, “I didn’t want to sugar coat it, but I wanted authenticity. Craig is not a saint; but he was responsible for his own fate.”

Regarding Cromwell, Mc- Gowan said, “Collaborator, strong presence … made the film better, and we had no disagreement.”

“Michael had my back,” Cromwell added.

This collaboration was never more apparent than a brief outdoor shower scene with Cromwell in the buff and the intimate love scene with costar Bujold, who was reluctant to do a nude scene.

McGowan said, “She changed her mind when she saw that the crew was not gawking during the shower scene. Her scene was shot towards the end of production and it was comfortable. On the day of the shoot, the scene was vulnerable and intimate; she understood that and embraced it. In the end, she was happy she did it.”

Cromwell was introduced to the public four decades ago in the television show, All in the Family and has worked steadily with 167 credits, including films like L.A. Confidential, The Green Mile, and Babe, a life-changing motion picture that earned Cromwell his only Oscar nomination thus far.

Cromwell said about Babe, “I did not want to do the film. The character only had 16 lines, but it was a trip to Australia.”

For those who have seen Babe with an audience, tears are shed when Cromwell’s Farmer Hoggett says, “That will do, pig; that will do.”

Cromwell said, “I never paid attention in the past; but, this time, I looked in the lens and I saw the reflection of this person. I looked at the pig and I looked up and saw my father. When I said the line, my Dad was talking to me.”

In many ways, Still Mine reconnected me with lessons from my father, lessons I recommend to Observer readers.