Reviews
King of California
Film Review
King of California is a whimsical tale of a father trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his daughter. After leaving a mental institution, Charlie is reunited with his daughter, Miranda, who struggles to make sense of her life as she supports both of them by working at a fast food restaurant.
Living what could only be euphemistically called an alternative lifestyle, Charlie, played by Michael Douglas, is lighthearted and quirky. He lives outside of the proverbial box and by default, brings Miranda, played by Evan Rachel Wood, along for the ride.
Exasperated by Charlie’s lack of understanding what it takes to pay the bills and provide food, Miranda charges, “You don’t even know what it’s like to work.” In one of the great lines of the film Charlie responds by asking her to “define work.”
Douglas gives a wacky, yet inspired performance as Charlie, a man who is consumed by his inner world in which he seeks the buried treasure of a Spanish missionary from the 1600s in California. He believes in this treasure when no one else does. As he describes his quest to his daughter, he tells her it’s not only about the money; it’s about doing something noteworthy - something that people will remember.
Charlie defies the meaning of reality as he finds the demarcation line in his life which marks a world lived in delusion that could sometimes cross into greatness. It’s a place that some would call insane and others see as the sign of a genius.
As a viewer, I cheered for the successful outcome of their search knowing it would all make sense, especially for Miranda, as she had to grow up much too soon taking care of her errant father. But of course only Charlie and Miranda know for sure. This is a surprising film with inspired performances by Wood and Douglas.
King of California is presented by the Spiritual Cinema Circle, a leader in spiritual home entertainment. For more information, please visit www.spiritualcinemacircle.com or call 800.556.0129. -SLM
My Big Green Teacher
I may not be a kid anymore, but My Big Green Teacher, written and illustrated by Michelle Glennon, definitely put a smile on my face. That’s because this series of six children’s books informs and inspires young minds about our collective ecological issues in a way that’s fun and uplifting.
Meet Mrs. Knoodle, the quirky and magical big green teacher who shows children the importance of recycling, conserving energy, and saving rainforests, oceans, land and waterways. Each book is packed with a sing-along song, fun activities, a recycling pledge, and interesting facts (did you know that 1.5 acres of rainforest is lost every second?)
With the help of her enchanted big red skirt and special friends like Pedro the Parrot, Little Bug, and Anton the Ant, Mrs. Knoodle (pronounced Ka-noodle) whisks children away on journeys of wonder and appreciation for our planet’s natural resources. Through these colorfully illustrated books, children can express their creativity and become part of the solution because as Mrs. Knoodle says, “it’s easy being green!”
Each book is a class devoted to a particular environmental subject. Children learn how simple tasks like turning off lights when leaving the room and not running the water while brushing your teeth can make a big difference in conserving our energy. The book on recycling informs kids that to recycle is not to “go around the block again on your bicycle,” as one child in Mrs. Knoodle’s class guesses, but rather, to take “things like cans, plastic bottles, newspapers and glass and turn then into something new to be used again [to] help us save our natural resources and keep our planet green.” The book on saving our rainforests explains to kids that trees provide the air we breathe and shows them how to make a difference by planting trees of their own.
Change starts with our youth and My Big Green Teacher is a delightful way to get us there. Whether you have children of your own or know someone with kids, these books make a great addition to any child’s library by teaching them right from the start to have love and respect for the earth—and have fun doing it!
For more information on My Big Green Teacher, visit www.biggreenteacher.com. -EP