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Happy Easter to all our listeners! May the Light of Christ’s Resurrection shine on you and on your loved ones and fill you with joy!
Maria, Steve and Fr. Roderick recorded a special Easter episode of Catholic Weekend! As usual, we talk about a million things and this time, we are getting some trouble from a gnarly Easter bunny 
Click on the player to listen or go to http://catholicweekend.sqpn.com to subscribe!
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I took my daughter over the weekend to see the new Universal Studios movie “Hop“. She loved it, as did all the other children in the theater. With it’s animation and “cuteness” the children in the theater were glued to the screen especially when they showed all the Easter candy being made. The movie is full of stars, it features James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuocu, Hank Azaria and David Hasselhoff. The animation is exceptional and fun to watch.
The story centers around: E.B., voiced by Russell Brand, the Easter Bunny’s teenage son who does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps. He leaves Easter Island to escape to L.A. to be a drummer. There he is hit by the car driven by Fred O’Hare, played by James Marsden. This is where the fun begins, or not. The movie is very slow in developing and at times you begin to wonder what is actually happening as Fred helps E.B. become a drummer and both teenage slackers dodge their fathers scrutiny.
One of the few bright and funny spots in the movie comes from long time voice actor: Hank Azaria. Since his role in the “Birdcage” he has perfected the thick Spanish accent and adds what little comic relief there is doing the voice of Carlos; the little yellow chick who stages a Coup d’etat of Easter Island. He dreams of replacing the Easter Bunny with the Easter Chick. Eventually he is foiled by E.B . and Fred O’Hare to restore order. The first 15 minutes and last 15 minutes were a lot of fun to watch, the hour in between you were just waiting for something, anything to happen.
We have become so spoiled by Disney and Pixar, movies that entertain both children and adults, that we forget sometimes that children’s movies are for children. Though the adults in the theater left bewildered, all the children clapped at the end of the movie and that is what matters.
Most reviews of this movie gave it 2 out of 4 stars and I would agree. But reviews are made by adults and not children. Your kids will give it 4 stars, so if your willing to give up an hour and a half of your life for the entertainment of your child go “Hop” to the movies this Easter.
This is a secular Easter movie, no reference is made at all to the Christian meaning of Easter. Does that bother you? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Illustration: Copyright Universal Studios
The origins of April Fool’s Day seems to be rooted in the shift to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500′s. It was an amazing move on the part of Pope Gregory XIII because he stepped outside his religious influence and introduced a calendar that eventually became the widely adopted civic calendar.
Prior to that, the new year was celebrated beginning on March 25 and ended an octave later on April 1st. The change in the calendar moved the first day of the year to January 1st.
One legend tell us that those folks still celebrating on April 1st were considered somewhat backward and sent on Fool’s errands, which eventually evolved into the tradition of widespread pranks.
Father Roderick, Captain Jeff, and Beth Spellacy discuss April Fool’s Pranks and the how one prank in particular led to the collaboration known today as SQPN.com. Listen here.
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Sean, and 
Kevin Fraser are discussing. 
Sean 9:25 am on April 9, 2011 Permalink |
It doesn’t. Most children, and some adults, are more likely to associate Santa and the Easter Bunny with the holiest of days in Christianity. It’s a world of commercialism we live and it is up to us as parents and our parish community to teach the true meaning of these holiest of days. Hollywood is for entertainment, not education.
My daughter understands what Easter is. She also looks forward to dying eggs and getting candy. So do I.
Kevin Fraser 2:57 pm on April 8, 2011 Permalink |
How does this film, which purports to celebrate Easter, relate to an authentic understanding of this holiest of all Christian celebrations?