America’s 243rd birthday is fast approaching, with all of the barbecues, parades and fireworks that that entails.  But for those planning on taking in a movie or two on this Independence Day, what to watch?  Well, thankfully, Hollywood has produced nearly a century of films to stir the patriotic fervor of every American’s heart.  But which ones to watch?  As a movie lover, I … [Read more...]

From the earliest days of Hollywood, movies about war have proved to be one of the most prolific and popular cinematic genres; and with America’s military history, there is no shortage of stories to tell. From the American Revolution to the modern day wars in the Middle East, Hollywood has covered everything in perhaps over a thousand films.  But there are a few that stand out … [Read more...]

In the year 2000 (has it really been seventeen years?), Hollywood gave us the first film in the X-Men franchise. Since then, multiple film studios have given us ten films in the X-Men franchise; fifteen films in the Avengers franchise (including the Guardians of the Galaxy) with nine more on the way; five Spider Man films; and a handful of other odds and ends.  Movies based on … [Read more...]

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of D.W. Griffith’s silent masterpiece Intolerance, it is easy to remember the many great Bible epics that Hollywood has turned out over the last hundred years.  From the classics (The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur) to the controversial (The Last Temptation of Christ) to the contemporary (The Passion of the Christ), Hollywood’s greatest … [Read more...]

On September 5, 2016, Hollywood celebrated the 100th anniversary of the release of the movie Intolerance, considered by many to be the greatest (or at least one of the greatest) films of the Silent Era.  Produced and directed by D.W. Griffith as a sort of apology for his earlier film Birth of a Nation, which was heavily criticized for its racist overtones, Intolerance focused … [Read more...]

The following churches, cathedrals, synagogues and shrines are featured in The Complete American Pilgrim: NEW ENGLAND FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH – Kittery Point, ME BOWDOIN CHAPEL – Brunswick, ME NEWINGTON TOWN CHURCH – Newington, NH SHAKER MEETINGHOUSE – Canterbury, NH ROCKINGHAM MEETINGHOUSE – Bellows Falls, VT FIRST PARISH CHURCH – Plymouth, MA OLD … [Read more...]

October is here (not that you would know it from the weather), and once again we are plunging headlong into the ever-lengthening holiday season. While I freely admit that I do love this time of year, I can’t help but think that  holidays are fundamentally different today than they were in the days of my increasingly distant youth. There was a time when most holidays, both … [Read more...]

(Note – This is NOT a paid review; the author took all tours anonymously) Last year I spent two weeks traveling across Israel and the West Bank. For the most part I planned and travelled on my own.  But with so many places to see (even considering how relatively small Israel is), I did participate in several day tours.  There are a number of very reputable companies that … [Read more...]

Last week Hollywood celebrated the 90th Academy Awards.  In honor of this annual event, I usually write a piece on movies of religious interest.  This year, I’m doing something a little different.  A rant if you will. As I get older, I find myself harder and harder to please at the movies. With a few exceptions (notably the Marvel cinematic universe), I have gotten tired of … [Read more...]

Are we entering a dark age of Christmas pop culture?  Some might argue that we already have. Christmas has always been a magnet for writers, artists and musicians seeking to put their stamp on the western world’s most beloved time of year.  Some have done it for the love of the holidays, or simply because they are inspired (and of course more than a few have done it to … [Read more...]