brucepantages-1

This is a real stinker. We needed something to watch so we headed to NetFlix. We decided to just pick something and not check the IMDB first. We ended up checking how much time was left...over and over. I've never run to the computer to rate this kind of a trash movie before, but this time I just want to warn other potential viewers. This one just doesn't doesn't work.

For years this was our favorite show. We watched (and re-watched) the episodes, wishing there were more funny sitcoms that could achieve such greatness. For us, Charlie was never the "funny" one...but he was there to set up the rest of the extremely talented cast members who were usually very, very funny. In fact, we frankly grew tired of Charlie making kissing noises as he sucked the face of every female in sight. That "joke" tended to cloy after a while, but we chalked it up to just being part of a show we loved. After Charlie's infamous "meltdown" we sort of lost interest in seeing him in anything and after the show shifted gears (and cast members) we found other ways to spend our time. However, when we learned that the "finale" was coming on, we were anxious to see what would happen. We were not disappointed. Everyone at our house was convulsing with laughter and, as each former cast member made an appearance, we speculated on whether Charlie would appear. No one really cared, he was practically in every scene anyway...without making an appearance. The ending was funny and satisfying. We saw our favorites, including Berta, Rose, Evelyn, Judith and so many more. Totally enjoyable...and the puppet sequence was great. See it if you get a chance...I know I'll watch it again.

Ever since a recent private showing (in the Everett, WA area) of "Jesus, the Desire of Ages" was announced by the local Seventh-day Adventist Churches, I have been watching to see how this movie was going to be marketed. I have watched the IMDb closely, but have seen no reviews or comments from anyone who has seen it. I have not seen it. It hasn't come to the local Cineplex. All that aside, I feel compelled to comment on what I am seeing.

THE DESIRE OF AGES has long been a staple in the Adventist library. Written by the prophet and founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church, Ellen Gould Harmon-White or "Sister White" as she is known, THE DESIRE OF AGES remained for many years the book that was distributed to non-members as an introduction to SDA beliefs. Indeed, Sister White's prodigious output of books is revered in Adventist circles as being almost akin to the Gospels themselves. Few, if any, questions were ever raised.

Then along came Dr. Walter Rea and his book, THE WHITE LIES, which provided a scholarly look into the dynamics of Sister White's writings. It seems that rather than gaining her insights from "visions," directly given to her by God, as she claimed over and over, Sister White had been busily copying her books directly from the copyrighted writings of religious authors who had come before her. THE DESIRE OF AGES was/is no exception. I refer anyone interested in knowing more to the website "truthorfiction dot com slash Desire of Ages."(Needless to say, the Adventist hierarchy greeted Rae's book with open hostility). For more information on Mrs. White's plagiarism, Google the words "EG White Plagiarism" and you will immediately get tens of thousands of informative hits.

Interestingly, I see no reference to Mrs. White in the information given on the IMDb. Nancy Hamilton Myers is listed as the sole author, so perhaps the title of the film is only a coincidence…albeit a convenient one. Ms. Myers also directed the picture. I see Ms. Myers is also the author of the Plot Summary on the IMDb. Looking further, I find that the actress, Sandra Dee who plays the "Woman at the Well" is the author of the Synopsis. What is astonishing is that these two women have used almost the exact same wording in their summaries of this picture…and I mean from start to finish Check it out for yourself. Coincidence? Telepathy? You be the judge.

If you go under the IMDb heading "Details" and click on the "Official site" link, you will be directed to "404 – Page Not Found. Sorry, the page you are looking for does not exist." So much for additional details. If one clicks on Nancy Hamilton Myers name we learn that are two other motion pictures she has directed. The one previous to "Jesus the Desire of Ages," is called "The Great Controversy 3." What is of more than casual interest with that title is the fact that THE GREAT CONTROVERSY is one of Sister White's oldest and most famous books. Coincidence? I don't know. I haven't seen that title either but all of this does raise more questions than it answers.