December 3, 2007

WWJB? Love, Baby!

The reviews are in and GLOWING!!! Here's a random sample of reviews to motivate you to join the Church of Stop Shopping!
From the Chicago Tribune:
'What Would Jesus Buy?'--3 stars
A sharp look--and poke--at holiday commercialism| Tribune staff reporter, November 29, 2007
[…] What could have been a bone-dry exercise in dogmatism is instead a witty, abrasive and hugely entertaining romp, thanks to director Rob VanAlkemade. Credit is also due to Reverend Billy, the alter ego of Billy Talen, who, after watching in horror as Disney took over his neighborhood (New York's Times Square), decided to mimic the local street preachers, the only people being heard over the commercial din. Since launching his crusade in 1997, Reverend Billy has been banned from 130,000 Starbucks worldwide, as well as from every Disney property. He has also added the 35-member Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir to his routine, a Baptist-style event delivered with all the evangelical, red-faced zeal you'd expect from a man who earnestly believes the world is plunging headlong toward what he calls "The Shopocalypse."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-071130buy-story,1,6140027.story
From Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
'What Would Jesus Buy?' is an entertaining reality check
By WILLIAM ARNOLD, P-I MOVIE CRITIC
[…] Beneath the faux-religious bluster and exaggerated blond hairdo, however, we are made to understand that the guy is totally serious. He believes the distortion of the holidays is the key to everything that's gone wrong with America, and he wants us to "take Christmas back from the corporations who stole it."
[ ] It also piles on the statistics: $2.4 trillion in consumer credit-card debt. More than 60 percent of the population over their heads in "eternal debt." Some 15 million Americans clinically addicted to shopping. Three-fourths of the population "dreading Christmas more than looking forward to it."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/341606_jesus30q.html
From MTV Movie Blog comes an interview with the producer, Morgan Spurlock of “Super Size Me”:
[…] The cover of my copy of the “What Would Jesus Buy” press notes, a new movie produced by “Super Size Me” director Morgan Spurlock, shows Mickey Mouse, arms outstretched, crucified on the front of an American Express Card.
For an American of the 21st century, it’s about the least shocking thing found in its pages.
[…] MTV News: Reverend Billy advocates the “Stop Shopping” movement. Are you the Grinch that’s going to steal my Christmas presents?
Morgan Spurlock: [Laughs] There is this amazing disconnect that kind of happened during the holiday where the gifts you give equate love. By giving you this, I love you this much. The more expensive it is and the better it is, then wow you must really love me because this was really expensive and hard to get and hard to find. Well, at the end of “The Grinch” even his heart grew three times that day, so maybe that’s what we’re hoping — that after seeing this film everybody will start to realize it’s not all about stuff, and things, and crap under a tree.
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/11/21/morgan-spurlock-asks-what-would-jesus-buy/

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