Wow, what an improvement from the band who gave us “Marilyn Manson ate my girlfriend.” I don’t believe I’m being too harsh saying the debut album “Relient K” was atrocious. I really love how they have developed.

Definite improvement over the previous two.

A definite improvement over their first. Still not good, but it does display how the band was growing musically.

I heard some of this CD when Relient K first came out and I mocked them for many years after; they were one of the worst things I had ever heard. A couple years ago I heard some newer Relient K and realized they had grown significantly as a band.

As far as this CD, avoid it unless you like untalented, preachy rip-off music.

Alright, so I am a Christian. I have seen much of what this movie shows first hand (although perhaps not this extreme). Contrary to popular non-Christian belief, however, I find myself on the opposite side of nearly everything these people stand for.

The film was well-done and largely objective, although there was a feeling as to the filmmakers obvious intentions. And while I repeatedly shook my head and laughed at the absurdity of how ridiculous it was, I found myself evaulating myself at the end. I hate what these people stand for; but why don’t I stand for the opposite things with the same fervor? The reason why many people view Christians as all fitting into this extremity of religion is because the Christians who oppose war, who don’t follow the Republic Party, who believe in science, and who are inviting to all remain silent. These evangelicals are preparing for war. When the battle begins (which it probably already has), I don’t want to participate, but I also hope I am not the one who remains silent to their atrocities.

I watch movies like Batman, Spiderman, and the like because my wife enjoys them. Personally, I’ve always thought them a bit cliche, unrealistic, and nerdy (this coming from a Trekkie). This movie is by the far the best I have ever seen from this genre, however. It was not predicatable and used realism to explain most things (although there had to be a few far fetched ideas).

As far as Holmes, I didn’t think she was that bad. Yes, her shy facade seemed a bit weak, but her characters actions were far from weak. Could she have been a little more believable? Yes; but I didn’t think she gave a bad performance either. Personally, I thought she fit the role, but I know nothing of the Batman-girl of the comics. (It helps that I have never seen her look more adorable).

I cannot review this movie from the typical “obedient to the philosophies of the original Batman” or through the conventions of the comic book mind, but from my perspective, I thought it was really good. (Good, but when the sequel comes out in July, I’ll be spending my movie money on the new X-Files <—nerd! ).

The subject matter was great and it was handled pretty well over all; yet, I felt that more could’ve been done with such an interesting topic. The film highlights the extreme cases (meth, alcohol, sex), but brushes aside those who maybe indulge themselves by doing little more than watching tv and going to the mall. Some Amish kids, if not the majority, are much more conservative in their rumspringa than this film likes to portray. The footage was great, especially being how difficult it is to get cameras into an Amish community, but some of the added effects and all of the music was irritating and unneccessary.

Devil’s Playground borders on being worth consuming because it is interesting, but because it could’ve been done so much better, I wouldn’t recommend it to any but those who are already interested in the subect matter.