T

Balthazar (Nicolas Cage) has been searching a thousand years for the Prime Merlinian, discovered to be Dave; the only sorcerer who is able to destroy Morgana once and for all and save the world from her wicked reign. Reluctantly, Dave agrees to be Balthazar's apprentice, and his eyes are opened to a whole new world.

Positive Elements

Believing in yourself and being who you were called to be, despite what others think or say, drives Dave to overcome his lack of self-esteem, and we watch as he stumbles through the learning process and struggles with self-control. The wicked sorcerer Horvath (Alfred Molina) tries to convince Dave that he “put his faith in the wrong man” and appeals to his love for Becky (Teresa Palmer), trying to sway him—being classic examples of how Satan attempts to deceive us (2 Cor. 11:14), and how we, also, must not let our hearts deceive us (Jer. 17:9). John 15:13 is reflected in characters willing to give their lives unselfishly for their loved ones, although it must be noted that allowing another soul to possess your body is not scriptural, regardless of the nobility of intention.

The most obvious objectionable material is the prevalent use of occult symbolism and witchcraft. A five-pointed star or pentagram within a circle is utilized throughout the film in various forms, and a spell is used and discussed, in which two souls are incorporated into one body; once this is referred to as a possession (being possessed). A haunting young girl who was a witch from Salem is brought back from the dead. Various characters incant spells, including a scene of a female character moving somewhat provocatively.

There are numerous skulls shown and creatures that may be frightening to younger viewers. In one scene, a spell is cast to bring back the dead, and a partially decomposed face, that is trying to come to life, is shown. Characters are killed, and sorcerer bodies combine and disintegrate into beetle-type insects and dust. There is, alos, a scene in which a pack of wolves chase a character.

Language, sex and nudity: • one instance of “oh my g-d” • children make fun of a boy who “peed” his pants • comment about having to pee • scenes of a dog urinating (and passing gas) • A character uses a urinal in a men's restroom, although graphic nothing is shown. • Conversation about “getting drunk” and mention of sake (a Japanese alcoholic drink) • A man threatens to “cut the truth” out of someone and that a character is going to be “ground into chunks and fed to the cat.” • There is, also, a scene in which a boy is picking up something from the floor and realizes he is looking up a girl's skirt, who is seated at a desk; we see only her legs, covered in tights. • Characters are called “freak,” “moron” and “sexy.” • There is also a kissing scene, but not obscene. • A painting depicts a male character with a scantily clad female.

Conclusion

While there are some great scenes, superb action sequences and effects, and an interesting basis; the script is weak in too many places, leaving the audience experience fragmented and course. After seeing such great previews, I was expecting a much better story, and it is a shame that so many great scenes were brought down for lack of flow. Most disappointing, however, are the heavy occult elements. Fantasy magic, for the purpose of entertainment, may be harmless, however, incorporating it with the occult is a serious matter. Deuteronomy 18:10-13 makes it clear that we are to have nothing to do with sorcery, witchcraft, spells and other occult practices. In fact, there are numerous scriptures on sorcery and sorcerers that after re-reading and considering, I have a changed view on the subject in fiction (Scriptures include: Exodus 22; Leviticus 19; 2 Kings 17 and 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Acts 8; Galatians 5—witchcraft). 1 Thes. 5:22 tells us to stay away from all forms of evil, and verse 21 tells us to “examine all things.

The British prime minister's special representative for Pope Benedict's visit to the UK says protesters should show restraint.

Chris Patten, a former governor of Hong Kong and Tory minister, urged critics of the Pope to show tolerance.

The Pope is due to visit the UK for four days in September and gay and secular groups have already said they will hold demonstrations to protest the trip.

Pope Benedict has repeatedly attacked homosexuality and gay marriage in the last few years, along with equality laws, abortion, contraception and the use of condoms to fight HIV.

Mr Patten, who was appointed by David Cameron to help coordinate the visit, told Reuters: "I hope that (the protests) will be done with restraint, and that it will be done with a show of tolerance.

"It would be an extraordinary irony if those who polemicise past intolerance by churches are to become themselves the proponents of intolerance towards churches."

Speaking yesterday, he added that the public cost of the visit was likely to rise by up to 50 per cent to £10-12 million, excluding security.

The Catholic Church is expected to have to pay out more than £7 million, although the Spectator reported last month that Catholic archbishops of England and Wales were told at a private meeting that costs had risen to nearer £14 million.

The church was left heavily in debt after the last papal visit, that of Jean Paul in 1982.

However, the British National Secular Society believes that the true cost of the visit could be closed to £100 million (R1 200million) due to the Pope's security.

Source & Photo: PinkNews.

Something is on the rise for men who take erectile dysfunction drugs and it's not what you think.

A new study of men over 40 found that the rate of sexually transmitted disease was nearly three times as high for those taking medications (like Viagra) to enhance their love lives.

Risky behavior, not the pills, is to blame, say researchers.

"We are typically unaccustomed to practice safe sex over the age of 50, because the risk of pregnancy is eliminated," study lead author Dr. Anupam B. Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston told Reuters Health.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, followed 1,410,806 middle aged and older men, some of whom used erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, and some who didn't.

Researchers found that although there were higher rates of infection among men taking the erectile dysfunction drugs, no direct correlation could be found. Those men had higher rates both before and after they started taking the medication.

That, researchers say, seems to indicate that men who take these drugs are more inclined towards risky behavior. And the problem is growing fast, they say.

"Younger adults have far more STDs than older adults, but the rates are growing at far higher rates in older adults," Dr. Jena told Reuters.

People over 50 now account for 15 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases according to 2005 data from the CDC, which says 24 percent of people living with the disease are 50 or older.

What's the solution? Doctors should be sure to talk to patients about safe sex when writing out that ED prescription, researchers say. Hopefully, that will get a rise out of them, in a good way.

Source: CBSnews.

Two gay men have won the right to asylum in the UK, after claiming they faced persecution in their own countries; Cameroon and Iran.

The panel of judges on the UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to allow the appeal.

They had been refused asylum on the grounds they could hide their sexuality by behaving discreetly. The men's case was that this tolerability test was contrary to the Refugee Convention, to which the UK is a party.

British Home Secretary Theresa May said the judgement vindicated the coalition government's stance, BBC reports.

Under the previous government the Home Office had contested the case, saying it had taken sexuality into account when making its decisions.

The decision is expected to create a complete change in the approach that will be taken by tribunals and courts to applications for asylum by gay people, as all future applications of a similar nature will have to apply the Supreme Court's guidance.

Lord Hope read out the judgement, saying: "To compel a homosexual person to pretend that his sexuality does not exist or suppress the behaviour by which to manifest itself is to deny his fundamental right to be who he is.

"Homosexuals are as much entitled to freedom of association with others who are of the same sexual orientation as people who are straight."

Chief executive of British gay lobby group Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, is welcoming the ruling.

"Demanding that lesbian or gay people return home to conceal their sexuality bears no resemblance to the reality of gay life in many countries. We're delighted that the Government is responding to what we asked of all the political parties in the run-up to the election," he says.

Summerskill says Stonewall's report No Going Back shows that UK Border Agency staff urgently need better guidance and support to deal with cases involving gay asylum seekers.

"We look forward to working with UKBA and ministers on these issues."