The Best of 2005

I decided to go ahead and get this done now so I don't forget on New Year's Eve. Once again, we're at the end of the year, and it's time for the 2nd annual David awards! I decided since I re-titled my blog earlier this year, I might as well give these an official title, too. I think I'll call it...the Barb Awards. Yay for cutesy synonyms!

So, without further ado, here are David's 2005 Barb Awards.

Candidates for Song of the Year:

1. Casting Crowns - "Voice of Truth"
I've enjoyed listening to this group from the moment I first heard them on the radio while driving through Mauldin. Their lyrics are packed with emotion, yet they have a distinct, down-to-earth flavor to them. The simplicity of the music cuts you right to the heart. This song in particular inspires me because it illuminates my daily struggle against the waves and giants of the world. I can never win facing them unless I listen and believe the voice of truth, which is Jesus, who rebukes the waves and slays the giants of my life. I play this song every time I watch the slideshow of the Pittsburgh trip. I believe it fits. So many are overwhelmed by waves and giants. They need the voice of truth.



2. Mark Harris (4HIM) - "For the First Time"
Too often, I believe, we as Christians are much too focused on the afterlife. Passing off life on earth for the much more pleasurable life in Heaven. In other words, we're not focused on living. We're focused on dying. And that's not how God wants it. He breathed life into us for a reason. We're supposed to be bold. Be willing to take chances, step out on faith, and not holding back. When we do that, we know that our life is being pushed by bigger hands. We can feel ready to live as God would have us. Mark Harris illustrates that truth in this powerful song. He sings it with the appropriate fire and intensity in his voice, like he truly believes every word of it.


3. Rachel Lampa - "When I Fall"
I love this song for its humility. It gets back to the core of the Christian faith. It doesn't try to gloss over indirect praising of mankind with Godly worship language. It doesn't say "If I fall." It's "When I fall." Because that's what we do. We fall, we stumble, get scraped up, tattered, and blemished. And when we kneel before God, He's still standing tall, and He stands us up again. We're not victors. We're just vessels for Jesus, the one, true, and undisputed champion.




And the Barb Award goes to ...

Casting Crowns - "Voice of Truth"

As much as I loved the other two songs for what they stood for, none of them affected me quite like this one did. The raw emotion behind the lyrics, the sense of calling, and the triumph in obeying the voice of truth. Every time I hear this song, I crank up the volume. It still refreshes and inspires my soul despite how many times I've heard it.

Candidates for TV Show of the Year

1. Storm Stories (The Weather Channel)
Many people don't understand my fascination with The Weather Channel. To them, it's just a convenient cable station they'll occasionally tune in to for a quick 10-day forecast or when severe weather threatens. But I fell in love with this network at age 5 and still love it to this day. This drama has been running for over two years and has some gripping tales of survivors of some of the worst and bizarre weather phenomena. It's proof that still-motion photography can still keep you on the edge of your seat. Jim Cantore's narration is also a major plus.



2. Gargoyles (Toon Disney)
This show was a breath of fresh air when it hit the airwaves. Back in 1994, all that kids' TV had going for it was Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and Batman: The Animated Series. Both were hits, but Gargoyles brought something new to the table. Rich continuity. Epic story-telling. Characters with depth. Growth and development. And unlike Batman, Gargoyles didn't have a 50-year-old comic book hero to simply modernize. It built a whole mythology and universe all on its own. While the show never really broke out and knocked down its competition, I loved it because it took the audience seriously and didn't let the kids label stop it from being bold and ambitious with its stories. Something I find to be sadly lacking from today's cartoons.

3. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (Disney Channel)
I'm giving a shoutout to my good friend Will Swinson for turning me on to this charming series. A Disney Channel original series that actually entertains me! All it took was one viewing for me to warm to Zack and Cody's antics and fun banter; they've got some smart writers on this one. The jokes are legitimately funny, well-timed, and not forced at all. The stories are pretty much standard fare for Disney, but the delivery and chemistry of Dylan and Cole Sprouse drives them home. This show is a near-instant de-stresser for me. I recommend it for anyone who just needs to laugh after a hard day of classes, tests, or work. School's out!

And the Barb Award goes to ...

Gargoyles

This one was close because of the distinct natures of all three shows. But when it came down to a decision, the edge goes to the show that delivers on all counts. Storm Stories makes for gripping drama and Suite Life tickles your funny bone with slapstick comedy. Gargoyles has both and a lot more to offer. I'll take the whole package.

Candidates for Movie of the Year

1. Batman Begins
At last! A live-action Batman movie that does justice to the Dark Knight! Back in 1997, the gaudy debacle that was Batman & Robin flopped so badly that it appeared the Bat-franchise was dead and buried. Even George Clooney admitted as such. Eight years later, director Christopher Nolan resurrects it with a story that gouges out the problems that plagued the 90s movies. We go all the way back to the start with Bruce Wayne. How he came to become Batman. So much potential in the journey never before realized until now. Backed with stellar casting, solid pacing, a dark and depressing Gotham rather than the Vegas-Gotham of the 90s, as well as Chrisian Bale's dead-on perfect Bruce Wayne/Batman, this movie finally did it right. I can now scrub the bitter aftertaste from the Joel Schumacher era (Batman Forever/Batman & Robin)out of my mouth.





2. Dreamer: inspired by a true story
A very quiet movie among 2005's blockbuster epics led by Anakin Skywalker, Batman, a big ape, and a certain lion and four children I'll be getting to in the next entry (consider yourself spoiled). But this one didn't need to rely on dazzling special effects and jaw-dropping scenery to astound me. It just told a good, powerful story about a struggling family that takes in an injured horse. The little girl (Dakota Fanning) is the cream of the crop; she lights up every scene she's in, and that's a good thing given that she's the co-star to Kurt Russell, who plays her father. Russell does an average job, but Fanning and Sonador (the horse) steal the show. It won't blow you away, but it has a lot of heart to go around, and believe me, you'll find yourself cheering at the very end; I promise you that.




3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
It pays to go into movies with low expectations, because this one blew me away. Every single character, with the notable exception of Peter, clicked with me. Lucy (Georgie Henley) was just adorable; easily the best of the lot. The characters of Narnia were exceptional as well. I was surprised by how attached I grew to secondary ones like Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Oreius, Mr. Tumnus, and Fox. The White Witch, portrayed by Tilda Swinton, gave me chills (heh); she practically oozed evil just with her facial expressions. Liam Neeson did an admirable job as Aslan the lion, rock-steady and fearful when the time called for it. But the key scenes were Aslan's sacrifice on the Stone Table and the climactic battle between Narnia and the Witch's minions. I feared that director Andrew Adamson would take the former over the top with the whipping and slashing (ala The Passion of the Christ), but he showed remarkable restraint by keeping it true to what it was. The final battle was surprisingly intense for a Disney movie, packed with just enough emotion to keep things from feeling crowded. Excellent, excellent film.

And the Barb Award goes to ...

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

It came down to either Batman or Narnia. And where Batman has Katie Holmes, Narnia has Lucy. No contest.


And that wraps it up for this year's Barb Awards! Tune in again next year, same Barb time, same Barb channel, and same shameless Batman parody! (hehe...)