Keys to the Kingdom? Where’s the Lock?

Posted on December 19, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Wake Up Dead Man (2025)

We watched this third Knives Out mystery on Netflix last weekend. It’s a story about spiritual insights into human nature. It is also a critique of religion and beliefs. Over the space of the Holy Week at Easter, a Monsignor is killed (on Good Friday) and is seemingly raised from dead early Sunday morning. But everything is not as it seems.

Along the way, Benoit Blanc has a conversion (of sorts) like Saul on the road to Damascus. Hmm.

The title of this piece came to me as part of a dream sequence last night. A group of twenty (or so) people had convened to discuss spiritual matters. The ambient noise from the room made it hard for me to hear clearly what was being said. At last I got up to challenge the group: I asked, “Do you have the Keys to the Kingdom? Do you even know where the lock is?” And then I walked out of the meeting.

It’s all connected. There are so many YouTube videos produced by AI bots which purport to tell the viewer that they’ve been lied to forever. These are raising questions that challenge our belief systems. But should we be taking their word for what’s right or wrong? Deep inside, we already know the answers. Search your own heart for the Truth. Wake Up Dead Man!

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Star in a Pantomime to Avoid Being “Buttons” Holed?

Posted on December 18, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Tinsel Town (2025)

I never thought I’d see the day that Keifer Sutherland would make a running joke of his own career in order to prove to the world that he has many more acting talents than the one-note agent Jack Bauer on 24. To set up the contrast between that persona and his pantomime image, the film lampoons 24 as “Killing Time” (I – VII) at the beginning. That got my attention. But Brad Mac is not a nice person, or so we’re led to believe. His transformation is wonderful to behold, but totally not believable.

I guess that’s why they call it fantasy (fun-to-see).

A failed Hollywood action star ends up in a small, snow-dusted village to star in the town’s eccentric production of Cinderella. Here, he encounters a colourful cast of oddball locals who slowly come to hold a special place in his heart.
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For Kids, It’s the Scariest Time of the Year

Posted on December 17, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Santa’s Surveillance System

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why (Why?)
Santa Claus is comin’ to town, gather ’round


He’s making a list
And checking it twice
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake


You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


Little tin horns, little toy drums
Rudy-toot-toot and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


And curly head dolls that cuddle and coo
Elephants, boats and kiddy cars too
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


The kids in girls and boy land
Will have a jubilee
They’re gonna build a toy land town
All around the Christmas tree


You better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


He sees you when you’re sleepin’
And he knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake


You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town


You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m a-telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town
You mean, the big fat man with the long white beard
He’s comin’ to town

Literally, Santa is equal to God, at one level, but more like Satan, when he punishes wickedness.

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Circling Back Around to What I Knew in the 1980’s

Posted on December 16, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Edgar Cayce Channeled This Knowledge

When looking at the obvious understanding of the number 7 as seen in Revelation, I am constantly reminded that the chakra system is the reality of the symbolism. Here’s a (somewhat boring) video to support this idea:

Did you ever wonder why there are 7 days in a week? Think about it.

Creation and Completion.

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There’s Truth to the Premise of This Christmas Film

Posted on December 15, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Oh. What. Fun. (2025)

Literally, not. At Christmastime, mothers are overloaded with preparing the presents, the food and the entertainment. Their kids underappreciate the work they do. This Amazon Prime film tries to bring this situation to our collective attention. Honestly, who is the target audience? The kids? No, the moms.

The whole point of the film can be summed up with this one bit of dialog:

[Claire sighs]

I don’t know, maybe I’m-I’m-I’m afraid of, um, if I tell you that, that…

[crying] if I let the cat out of the bag, that… then you’ll know that you don’t need me anymore… and I’ll lose you.

Yeah, maybe that’s it.

I think that’s what it is.

Uh, that’s my biggest fear.

And maybe I’m always gonna need you to need me just… a tiny little bit.

[sniffles]

Is that so wrong?

scrapsfromtheloft.com

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Baby “Jesus” Gets to Experience a Modern Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Man vs Baby (2025)

The premise is preposterous, but this Netflix series of 4 episodes is fun. Rowen Atkinson has evolved his Mr. Bean persona into a more mature, thoughtful individual, named Trevor Bingley.

After the chaos of Man vs. Bee, Trevor Bingley has taken a quieter job as a school caretaker. A lucrative Christmas penthouse gig lures him back — and when no one collects the Baby Jesus from the school nativity, Trevor finds himself with an unexpected companion over the holidays.

Wikipedia

The Spirit of Christmas is all over this show. There are ultra-rich penthouse owners, and down-and-outs with a baby squatting in the building’s basement. There are overworked civil servants, and others who are jetting off to foreign climes. Trevor makes the impossibly huge Christmas dinner, and when the penthouse owners don’t show up on Christmas, he invites waifs and strays in to share the bounty.

This final look happens when the penthouse owners arrive after all. You can imagine the rest.

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How to Fake It When You Can’t Make It @ Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Joy to the World (2025)

No, this is not a Hallmark movie. The false front of the perfect Christmas dinner with the perfect family is what this film is lampooning. But it’s not funny. It’s not even perfectly pathetic, because nobody likes a fake and a fraud. It felt uncomfortable for me from beginning to end. I wouldn’t recommend it to you.

This was filmed in and around Toronto. Just sayin’.

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It’s an Indictment of Modern Politics from the Past

Posted on December 13, 2025 by cdsmiller17

I suspect those who practice political spin are beginning to learn this lesson every day of the week.

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Two Robbin’ Hoods in Santa Outfits?

Posted on December 12, 2025 by cdsmiller17

Jingle Bell Heist (2025)

This is a Christmas film with a twist: two individuals join forces to pay back a corrupt store owner.

Don’t expect great acting or a too-clever story line. They get caught but the store owner gets arrested, instead. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Merry Christmas, folks.

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A “Reverse Mrs. Doubtfire”? No, Not Really

Posted on December 11, 2025 by cdsmiller17

My Secret Santa (2025)

A bit of a fluffy snowflake, this one. The suspension of belief helps, but it also interferes with the enjoyment of the two main stars interacting. (And this was filmed in Kamloops, BC, last February.)

To see how Alexandra Breckanridge looks as Santa Claus, check this out:

You’d think that Ryan Eggold’s character would have recognized her eyes. And she even left her unicorn chap stick behind, after their ‘date’ abruptly ended. But even though he picked it up, he didn’t pick up the clue that went with it. (I think the script let the side down, really.) Literally, he fell in love with Santa.

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