Science, Religion and the "Other"

The countdown to our annual Literary Night is on! No matter how many times past attendees have suggested Scott and I do C. S. Lewis, we've opted not to, for the twelfth time. (Good news: Earl Palmer, formerly of University Pres, has been doing a fabulous series on Lewis--way better than we could ever hope to! Get the tapes if you can't get there!)

Instead, we have delved into the world of monsters, taking on Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Isaac Asimov's I, Robot. Which means, in addition to reading the books for the first time, we've been indulging in some movie-watching.

This puppy, for instance:

Well, I actually already don't remember it very well, but it didn't have a heckuva lot to do with the book, and at the time I gave it a B+.

Then there was Bela Lugosi's version:

He had the hand position down-pat

which I found both (unintentionally) humorous and a little dull, followed by Nosferatu.

Which just goes to show you, not all vampires are sexy

In the past we'd also seen the Winona Ryder version

where Gary Oldman plays what seems to be himself, yet again. (The guy really needs a new agent. Like Tom Felton (a.k.a. Draco Malfoy), Oldman seems in a villainous rut.)

On the lighter side, is it possible ever to tire of seeing Young Frankenstein, which falls in the category of funnier-each-time-you-watch-it?

Finally, as for I, Robot, the Will Smith vehicle didn't have much to do with the book, apart from some character names and a plot allusion or two, but who cares? Will Smith is always fun to watch.

If you don't have time to read the books, check out a movie or two! We'll be showing a couple clips, in addition to sharing dazzling literary insights (har har), and taking up a freewill offering to support the church library. Bring a friend.

Friday, November 7. 6:45-8:30 p.m. at Bellevue Presbyterian Church