Articles by Charles T. Tatum, Jr.:
- "A Brief History of Sims, North Dakota"
- "Is This Necessary?: A Thought on Stoicism and Christianity"
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Is This Necessary?: A Thought on Stoicism and Christianity by Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
This article was an offshoot of a review I wrote after reading How to Be a Christian Without Being Religious by Fritz Ridenour. It started as notes in a deep-read notebook, and then took on a life of its own:
“When you’ve done well and another has benefited by it, why like a fool do you look for a third thing on top— credit for the good deed or a favor in return?”- Marcus Aurelius
“If you seek tranquillity, do less.” Or (more accurately) do what’s essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow.”- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
"For the Christian, every trial, every problem can be a useful experience to build his faith, his confidence, his hope, his happiness...if he faces it by relying on the Holy Spirit."- Fritz Ridenour, How to Be a Christian Without Being Religious
It was by chance that I read the three quotations above on the same day, and thought through a connection between them. Not only is "is this necessary?" a profound question to ask yourself, but you must pause to remember to ask it, instead of chalking up a decision to chance or whimsy. Asking over a simple choice makes harder decisions easier to discern and understand. You might still make a "bad" decision, but you'll be able to justify your decision-making process to others (and yourself) who question or disagree. You might understand why they felt they were right, or you can explain why an unpopular decision worked. I want to do better in keeping the "is this necessary?" question in my head, especially concerning helping support my family and better self-care, but also in my quest to build my faith.
"Vacations are necessary, relaxing and free time are necessary, replacing my broken stove is necessary- right?" I agree. One person's necessity may be different from another, but be careful in assuming the eight hours you spend on your phone or in front of your television, while ignoring your family, is necessary. Calling everything you do necessary, as long as you aren't sinning, is a dangerous habit. Deciding to rant online about your obnoxious neighbor may not be necessary, the question doesn't just apply to physical things in our lives. Instead of watching the newest Hollywood fan service reboot, remake, and/or reimagining (I'll argue the necessity of that all day long), maybe play with your kids, read a book, or go for a walk? Pray? Read your Bible? When I'm alone in the house with children in school, and my son is napping (also a necessity!), I'll shut off the TV or computer, put the phone down (but not on silent in case a school needs to get ahold of me), and sit. I'm trying to teach myself to meditate, but as of now, I can feel the stress leave me by listening to the quiet around me for a few minutes. I am also trying to go for more walks on a whim instead of a hardcore scheduling ritual that I beat myself up over if it's raining outside, I hurt, or my baby son is overtired and wants to be held. Is getting mad at myself over a stagnant weight loss effort, or the weather, necessary? No, but standing on our porch and watching the rain fall is necessary to me. Cutting down on distractions also tends to cut down on getting distracted. I don't watch any sports anymore. We have one streaming service we never look at, no cable, and no satellite television. We own a thousand movies on disc and digital, I have a few hundred books I want to read, and the only television station we watch consistently is MeTV over the air, and some programming on YouTube. We literally pay zero dollars for television content, and trust me, the calm we feel about that alone is immeasurable- plus with three kids under the age of seven, who has the time?
Ridenour says challenges teach patience, and patience strengthens character- turn life's trials into something positive. Combine this thought with Marcus Aurelius'- how many of our challenges are due to us not asking "is this necessary?" We can work through our challenges with God's help, we shouldn't stop praying and try to handle troubles on our own, but we can use our knowledge of God's love for us to help answer the question. We wouldn't need to ask "is this necessary?" if the situation involves sin. We have been given a great gift that we don't deserve because of God's grace, so questioning whether we should commit a sin shouldn't require analysis or a second thought. Have God help you when you're undecided or troubled- "is this necessary?"- let Him show you that yes or no, He loves you and wants to help, especially when you subconsciously know the answer.
“When you’ve done well and another has benefited by it, why like a fool do you look for a third thing on top— credit for the good deed or a favor in return?”- Marcus Aurelius
“If you seek tranquillity, do less.” Or (more accurately) do what’s essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow.”- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
"For the Christian, every trial, every problem can be a useful experience to build his faith, his confidence, his hope, his happiness...if he faces it by relying on the Holy Spirit."- Fritz Ridenour, How to Be a Christian Without Being Religious
It was by chance that I read the three quotations above on the same day, and thought through a connection between them. Not only is "is this necessary?" a profound question to ask yourself, but you must pause to remember to ask it, instead of chalking up a decision to chance or whimsy. Asking over a simple choice makes harder decisions easier to discern and understand. You might still make a "bad" decision, but you'll be able to justify your decision-making process to others (and yourself) who question or disagree. You might understand why they felt they were right, or you can explain why an unpopular decision worked. I want to do better in keeping the "is this necessary?" question in my head, especially concerning helping support my family and better self-care, but also in my quest to build my faith.
"Vacations are necessary, relaxing and free time are necessary, replacing my broken stove is necessary- right?" I agree. One person's necessity may be different from another, but be careful in assuming the eight hours you spend on your phone or in front of your television, while ignoring your family, is necessary. Calling everything you do necessary, as long as you aren't sinning, is a dangerous habit. Deciding to rant online about your obnoxious neighbor may not be necessary, the question doesn't just apply to physical things in our lives. Instead of watching the newest Hollywood fan service reboot, remake, and/or reimagining (I'll argue the necessity of that all day long), maybe play with your kids, read a book, or go for a walk? Pray? Read your Bible? When I'm alone in the house with children in school, and my son is napping (also a necessity!), I'll shut off the TV or computer, put the phone down (but not on silent in case a school needs to get ahold of me), and sit. I'm trying to teach myself to meditate, but as of now, I can feel the stress leave me by listening to the quiet around me for a few minutes. I am also trying to go for more walks on a whim instead of a hardcore scheduling ritual that I beat myself up over if it's raining outside, I hurt, or my baby son is overtired and wants to be held. Is getting mad at myself over a stagnant weight loss effort, or the weather, necessary? No, but standing on our porch and watching the rain fall is necessary to me. Cutting down on distractions also tends to cut down on getting distracted. I don't watch any sports anymore. We have one streaming service we never look at, no cable, and no satellite television. We own a thousand movies on disc and digital, I have a few hundred books I want to read, and the only television station we watch consistently is MeTV over the air, and some programming on YouTube. We literally pay zero dollars for television content, and trust me, the calm we feel about that alone is immeasurable- plus with three kids under the age of seven, who has the time?
Ridenour says challenges teach patience, and patience strengthens character- turn life's trials into something positive. Combine this thought with Marcus Aurelius'- how many of our challenges are due to us not asking "is this necessary?" We can work through our challenges with God's help, we shouldn't stop praying and try to handle troubles on our own, but we can use our knowledge of God's love for us to help answer the question. We wouldn't need to ask "is this necessary?" if the situation involves sin. We have been given a great gift that we don't deserve because of God's grace, so questioning whether we should commit a sin shouldn't require analysis or a second thought. Have God help you when you're undecided or troubled- "is this necessary?"- let Him show you that yes or no, He loves you and wants to help, especially when you subconsciously know the answer.
A Brief History of Sims, North Dakota by Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
Before 1878, the Northern Pacific surveyors made their way west from Mandan, North Dakota and discovered a valley now known as Sims Valley. A thick vein of coal was discovered in 1878 when the NPRR was extending their road bed. Thanks to the coal, clay, and ample running spring water that did not freeze in the winter, a station was built. Trains could now take on water all year round. In 1879, the railroad tracks reached the new stop.
Sims wnet through a few names at first. Baby Mine and Bly's Mine were considered, as was Carbon, named for a new brick plant. Sims was named after George V. Sims, chief clerk in the executive office of the railroad in New York, on July 5, 1879. It is also reported that the town was named for a Captain W.H. Sims, a northern Missouri River boat captain. 1879 also saw the opening of the N.P. Coal Company by Charles W. Thompson.
Charles William Thompson was a native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and the son of an Army general. He went to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and attended the U.S. Military Academy, before becoming a civil engineer for the South Pacific Railway. Thompson was a colonel in the National Guard Dakota, and fought in the Indian Wars.
The mines grew until there were seven in operation. A post office was established on May 2, 1883, with Theodore Shenkenberg serving as postmaster. The same year, the NPRR platted the townsite. Thompson also opened the first store in May, and organized a bank in July with himself as president and Shenkenberg as cashier. The bank was constructed but never opened. In 1884, the output from the coal mine was about 100 tons a day, taken from five different veins.
The coal company built a $15,000 hotel, which was opened to the public as the Oakes House. It was the largest hotel west of Fargo, according to some. Thompson was then the general manager of the coal company.
Charles W. Thompson also opened a brick yard in Sims. The Carbon Pressed Brick and Lime Company had Thompson as president, W.A. Dows as vice president, and J.H. Hansel as secretary and treasurer. Thompson had the contract to build the first state capitol building. Sims brick went into many local buildings, and the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan. It is said that Sims lost the county seat designation to Mandan by just one vote.
Also in 1884, the community organized the Sims Skandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. The members built a parsonage and held services in the top story, and the minister and his family lived on the main floor. The members got the needed materials to construct their church from an abandoned building in Sims. The church was also said to be the oldest Lutheran church west of the Missouri River.
As Sims was growing, the railroad would send in work gangs of over a hundred people. They would dig ovens in the surrounding hills, and the smell of baked bread woul be evident for miles. Since Sims was the main shipping point west of Mandan, there was a 21-pen stockyard west of the depot. Herds from as far away as South Dakota were driven there for delivery to Chicago or St. Paul.
At its peak, the town was over a mile long. Two additions, Balasta and Ramstown, were added to the town. Sims boasted saloons, a brick schoolhouse, three stores, a lumber yard, two real estate offices, and a Presbyterian church. A fortress was dug out on top of the Anderson hill for protection against Native Americans. The coal mines and brick yard employed over 500 people, with Sims' population being well over a thousand at this time.
The old central part of the state capitol in Bismarck was faced with brick from Sims. It was light colored, and considered very attractive. Unfortunately, the surface began to crumble. The clay from Sims had specks of lime, which slacked and left holes in the brick. The $30,000 brick plant was abandoned. Hard coal was discovered in Montana, so the railroad decided to close the Sims mines in favor of the new hard coal. Speculators not interested in settling moved on as well.
Charles W. Thompson ended up in Washington state in 1890. He became president of Washington Cooperative Mining Syndicate, and Montezuma Mining Company. He owned several valuable copper, gold, and silver properties in Pierce County, Washington. He made his home in Tacoma, Washington and later died.
Sims, North Dakota died as well. In 1906, the population was 300. In 1910, Sims could claim just 86. On October 31, 1947, the post office was discontinued and the mail was routed to Almont. The town continued with a few businesses until December of 1947 when a railroad line change took place. A new line went from New Salem to Glen Ullin, cutting off Sims, Almont, and Curlew. The railroad tracks were taken up a year later. In 1975, Sims had a population of one, and it disappeared from most state atlases and road maps.
--Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
SOURCES:
Almont Golden Jubilee 1906-1956, Almont, ND: 1956.
Crawford, Lewis F., History of North Dakota, Vol. 1, Chicago and New York: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1931.
Fristad, Paula, Historical Mandan and Morton County: Early Days to 1970, Mandan, ND: 1970.
Gallagher, John S., and Patera, Alan H., North Dakota Post Offices 1850-1982, Burtonsville, MD: The Depot, 1982.
Peterson, Marion Plath, ed., Morton Prairie Roots, Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1975.
"Thompson, Charles William," Who Was Who in America, Vol. 1: 1897-1942, Chicago: Marquis Publications, 1968.
Tostevin, Sarah, ed., "Mantani" A History of Mandan- Morton County including Fort McKeen and Fort Abraham Lincoln 1738 to 1964, Mandan, ND: 1964.
Copyright Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
Sims wnet through a few names at first. Baby Mine and Bly's Mine were considered, as was Carbon, named for a new brick plant. Sims was named after George V. Sims, chief clerk in the executive office of the railroad in New York, on July 5, 1879. It is also reported that the town was named for a Captain W.H. Sims, a northern Missouri River boat captain. 1879 also saw the opening of the N.P. Coal Company by Charles W. Thompson.
Charles William Thompson was a native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and the son of an Army general. He went to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and attended the U.S. Military Academy, before becoming a civil engineer for the South Pacific Railway. Thompson was a colonel in the National Guard Dakota, and fought in the Indian Wars.
The mines grew until there were seven in operation. A post office was established on May 2, 1883, with Theodore Shenkenberg serving as postmaster. The same year, the NPRR platted the townsite. Thompson also opened the first store in May, and organized a bank in July with himself as president and Shenkenberg as cashier. The bank was constructed but never opened. In 1884, the output from the coal mine was about 100 tons a day, taken from five different veins.
The coal company built a $15,000 hotel, which was opened to the public as the Oakes House. It was the largest hotel west of Fargo, according to some. Thompson was then the general manager of the coal company.
Charles W. Thompson also opened a brick yard in Sims. The Carbon Pressed Brick and Lime Company had Thompson as president, W.A. Dows as vice president, and J.H. Hansel as secretary and treasurer. Thompson had the contract to build the first state capitol building. Sims brick went into many local buildings, and the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan. It is said that Sims lost the county seat designation to Mandan by just one vote.
Also in 1884, the community organized the Sims Skandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. The members built a parsonage and held services in the top story, and the minister and his family lived on the main floor. The members got the needed materials to construct their church from an abandoned building in Sims. The church was also said to be the oldest Lutheran church west of the Missouri River.
As Sims was growing, the railroad would send in work gangs of over a hundred people. They would dig ovens in the surrounding hills, and the smell of baked bread woul be evident for miles. Since Sims was the main shipping point west of Mandan, there was a 21-pen stockyard west of the depot. Herds from as far away as South Dakota were driven there for delivery to Chicago or St. Paul.
At its peak, the town was over a mile long. Two additions, Balasta and Ramstown, were added to the town. Sims boasted saloons, a brick schoolhouse, three stores, a lumber yard, two real estate offices, and a Presbyterian church. A fortress was dug out on top of the Anderson hill for protection against Native Americans. The coal mines and brick yard employed over 500 people, with Sims' population being well over a thousand at this time.
The old central part of the state capitol in Bismarck was faced with brick from Sims. It was light colored, and considered very attractive. Unfortunately, the surface began to crumble. The clay from Sims had specks of lime, which slacked and left holes in the brick. The $30,000 brick plant was abandoned. Hard coal was discovered in Montana, so the railroad decided to close the Sims mines in favor of the new hard coal. Speculators not interested in settling moved on as well.
Charles W. Thompson ended up in Washington state in 1890. He became president of Washington Cooperative Mining Syndicate, and Montezuma Mining Company. He owned several valuable copper, gold, and silver properties in Pierce County, Washington. He made his home in Tacoma, Washington and later died.
Sims, North Dakota died as well. In 1906, the population was 300. In 1910, Sims could claim just 86. On October 31, 1947, the post office was discontinued and the mail was routed to Almont. The town continued with a few businesses until December of 1947 when a railroad line change took place. A new line went from New Salem to Glen Ullin, cutting off Sims, Almont, and Curlew. The railroad tracks were taken up a year later. In 1975, Sims had a population of one, and it disappeared from most state atlases and road maps.
--Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
SOURCES:
Almont Golden Jubilee 1906-1956, Almont, ND: 1956.
Crawford, Lewis F., History of North Dakota, Vol. 1, Chicago and New York: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1931.
Fristad, Paula, Historical Mandan and Morton County: Early Days to 1970, Mandan, ND: 1970.
Gallagher, John S., and Patera, Alan H., North Dakota Post Offices 1850-1982, Burtonsville, MD: The Depot, 1982.
Peterson, Marion Plath, ed., Morton Prairie Roots, Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co., 1975.
"Thompson, Charles William," Who Was Who in America, Vol. 1: 1897-1942, Chicago: Marquis Publications, 1968.
Tostevin, Sarah, ed., "Mantani" A History of Mandan- Morton County including Fort McKeen and Fort Abraham Lincoln 1738 to 1964, Mandan, ND: 1964.
Copyright Charles T. Tatum, Jr.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
The Star of Bethlehem (2007)
I guarantee the amount you enjoy this film is related to the amount of faith you have in its subject.
Aping Al Gore's monumentally successful (and now debunked) "An Inconvenient Truth," lawyer Frederick A. Larson also presents a slide show about a subject. That subject is whether or not the star of Bethlehem, which brought the three (or so) wise men from the east to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ was real. Larson does not have Gore's live audiences, so he presents his findings in a library to a small gathering. Larson is the first to tell us he is not an astronomer. He is a lawyer. He started doing research on a whim, after refusing a neighborhood boy's efforts to decorate his lawn with non-Christian Christmas decorations. Larson wanted to display the star, and began to do a little research. Well, thank goodness for the age of the computer. Larson began to read the Bible very closely, not for theology but for time clues about what was seen in the sky back then, and when. Using computer software, he is able to reconstruct what was seen, and eventually rule out hypotheses such as comets and exploding stars. Taking the Book of Matthew as his word-for-word starting point, Larson is able not only to explain the star, but also what was going on in the sky when Jesus was crucified as well.
The documentary is not a bunch of talking heads and questionable Biblical scholars. Larson gives his talk, which never bored, and then illustrated his findings with his animated vistas of the night sky. Intercut with his lecture is footage of Larson reenacting his moments of discovery, all put to a very impressive soundtrack by Julie Davison Larson. Most documentaries I see on the Bible fall into two camps. One has the frothing evangelist foreseeing the end of the world unless I send them money, and the other has liberal scholars explaining away miracles dismissively through science, making one wonder what drew them to study the Bible in the first place. Larson and the film makers here are a little different. The project is very short, barely an hour, but is also very earnest in their beliefs. Larson is not damning anyone to an eternity in pools of fire for not believing, and he does not look down his nose at the other theories that are presented about the star. He takes the facts he has, interprets them, and presents what he finds- which is very convincing. He is easy to listen to, and passionate about what he found, talking honestly about how he surprised even himself with what he learned.
To put it simply, if you are an atheist, you are not going to believe Larson's presentation. But if you are a practicing or lapsed Christian, looking to expand your knowledge of the Gospel aside from yet another Bible study program, you might want to give "The Star of Bethlehem" a look.
Aping Al Gore's monumentally successful (and now debunked) "An Inconvenient Truth," lawyer Frederick A. Larson also presents a slide show about a subject. That subject is whether or not the star of Bethlehem, which brought the three (or so) wise men from the east to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ was real. Larson does not have Gore's live audiences, so he presents his findings in a library to a small gathering. Larson is the first to tell us he is not an astronomer. He is a lawyer. He started doing research on a whim, after refusing a neighborhood boy's efforts to decorate his lawn with non-Christian Christmas decorations. Larson wanted to display the star, and began to do a little research. Well, thank goodness for the age of the computer. Larson began to read the Bible very closely, not for theology but for time clues about what was seen in the sky back then, and when. Using computer software, he is able to reconstruct what was seen, and eventually rule out hypotheses such as comets and exploding stars. Taking the Book of Matthew as his word-for-word starting point, Larson is able not only to explain the star, but also what was going on in the sky when Jesus was crucified as well.
The documentary is not a bunch of talking heads and questionable Biblical scholars. Larson gives his talk, which never bored, and then illustrated his findings with his animated vistas of the night sky. Intercut with his lecture is footage of Larson reenacting his moments of discovery, all put to a very impressive soundtrack by Julie Davison Larson. Most documentaries I see on the Bible fall into two camps. One has the frothing evangelist foreseeing the end of the world unless I send them money, and the other has liberal scholars explaining away miracles dismissively through science, making one wonder what drew them to study the Bible in the first place. Larson and the film makers here are a little different. The project is very short, barely an hour, but is also very earnest in their beliefs. Larson is not damning anyone to an eternity in pools of fire for not believing, and he does not look down his nose at the other theories that are presented about the star. He takes the facts he has, interprets them, and presents what he finds- which is very convincing. He is easy to listen to, and passionate about what he found, talking honestly about how he surprised even himself with what he learned.
To put it simply, if you are an atheist, you are not going to believe Larson's presentation. But if you are a practicing or lapsed Christian, looking to expand your knowledge of the Gospel aside from yet another Bible study program, you might want to give "The Star of Bethlehem" a look.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Enchanted (2007)
As the older brother who was stuck taking my younger siblings to all those Saturday matinees back in the day, I am overly familiar with the Disney animated output. I know every whitewashed fairy tale, every catchy song, and every talking woodland creature. So with weary trepidation, I turned to "Enchanted," and I have been smiling ever since the "The End" credit rolled.
In the magical kingdom of Andalusia, Giselle (voice of Amy Adams) is swept off her feet by local prince/heroic troll hunter Edward (voice of James Marsden). The two fall instantly in fairy tale love, and plan to marry the next day. Evil Queen Narissa (voice of Susan Sarandon) is against the marriage, dresses like an old hag, and sends Giselle down a magical well which leads to a manhole cover in the middle of Times Square in New York City. Another problem, Giselle (Amy Adams) is no longer animated, she is real but burdened with story book sensibilities. As Giselle wanders around the city, she meets sad divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his young daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). Robert plans to ask girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) to marry him but Giselle quickly complicates their relationship with her naivete. Prince Edward (James Marsden) follows Giselle through the well and begins looking for her, as does buffoonish Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), sent by Narissa to kill Giselle with poison apples. Robert begins to fall for Giselle despite his harsh outlook on love, and after Nathaniel fails one time too many, Queen Narissa herself makes a grand entrance in Times Square.
Writer Bill Kelly and director Kevin Lima could have taken the easy way out. They could have turned this into a weak "Shrek" knock-off (a film series whose success astonished me) or "Airplane!" it up and make "Princess Movie" complete with fart jokes, a Pamela Anderson cameo, and an unrated DVD release. Instead, respect (but not false reverence) is shown, keeping the story familiar but never making fun of the audience that enjoyed "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty;" the same audience that turned the Disney brand into an icon. Many sequences in the film are just nutty genius. Giselle making do with city animals to clean Robert's apartment was hilarious. The live action dance numbers are fun and catchy. Even the maligned action finale, which Disney used to do in their classic animated fare to give the little boys and older brothers in the audience something to enjoy, is handled well, with Sarandon making the most of her brief live action screen time. A nice medium is struck between Giselle and Edward's idealistic love and Robert's harsher reality without the audience being pummelled into submission with the message. Even the character Nancy is handled correctly, as the film makers fight the urge to turn her into a shrewish evil stepmother in training. Adams is all sorts of fun as Giselle, striking a ridiculously sympathetic chord. Covey is thankfully not overly cute in the daughter role, but I wish Dempsey had put a bit more pep into Robert- oh, what Ben Stiller could have done with this role. Spall is merely okay, but my greatest enjoyment was watching James Marsden as the charming prince. Just like Adams' Giselle, Marsden also does not play the role "stupid" but invigorates every scene he is in- from the bus scene, to mistaking a seedy hotel room's television for a magic mirror. This is his best role since the underrated "The 24th Day."
The goodwill and talent of the cast and crew more than make up for the film's occasional hiccup. "Enchanted" is a wonderful surprise. Followed by a sequel.
In the magical kingdom of Andalusia, Giselle (voice of Amy Adams) is swept off her feet by local prince/heroic troll hunter Edward (voice of James Marsden). The two fall instantly in fairy tale love, and plan to marry the next day. Evil Queen Narissa (voice of Susan Sarandon) is against the marriage, dresses like an old hag, and sends Giselle down a magical well which leads to a manhole cover in the middle of Times Square in New York City. Another problem, Giselle (Amy Adams) is no longer animated, she is real but burdened with story book sensibilities. As Giselle wanders around the city, she meets sad divorce lawyer Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and his young daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). Robert plans to ask girlfriend Nancy (Idina Menzel) to marry him but Giselle quickly complicates their relationship with her naivete. Prince Edward (James Marsden) follows Giselle through the well and begins looking for her, as does buffoonish Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), sent by Narissa to kill Giselle with poison apples. Robert begins to fall for Giselle despite his harsh outlook on love, and after Nathaniel fails one time too many, Queen Narissa herself makes a grand entrance in Times Square.
Writer Bill Kelly and director Kevin Lima could have taken the easy way out. They could have turned this into a weak "Shrek" knock-off (a film series whose success astonished me) or "Airplane!" it up and make "Princess Movie" complete with fart jokes, a Pamela Anderson cameo, and an unrated DVD release. Instead, respect (but not false reverence) is shown, keeping the story familiar but never making fun of the audience that enjoyed "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty;" the same audience that turned the Disney brand into an icon. Many sequences in the film are just nutty genius. Giselle making do with city animals to clean Robert's apartment was hilarious. The live action dance numbers are fun and catchy. Even the maligned action finale, which Disney used to do in their classic animated fare to give the little boys and older brothers in the audience something to enjoy, is handled well, with Sarandon making the most of her brief live action screen time. A nice medium is struck between Giselle and Edward's idealistic love and Robert's harsher reality without the audience being pummelled into submission with the message. Even the character Nancy is handled correctly, as the film makers fight the urge to turn her into a shrewish evil stepmother in training. Adams is all sorts of fun as Giselle, striking a ridiculously sympathetic chord. Covey is thankfully not overly cute in the daughter role, but I wish Dempsey had put a bit more pep into Robert- oh, what Ben Stiller could have done with this role. Spall is merely okay, but my greatest enjoyment was watching James Marsden as the charming prince. Just like Adams' Giselle, Marsden also does not play the role "stupid" but invigorates every scene he is in- from the bus scene, to mistaking a seedy hotel room's television for a magic mirror. This is his best role since the underrated "The 24th Day."
The goodwill and talent of the cast and crew more than make up for the film's occasional hiccup. "Enchanted" is a wonderful surprise. Followed by a sequel.
Friday, January 23, 2026
FILM & TELEVISION REVIEW INDEX (in progress)
#
41 (2007)
A
Against the Grain (2023)
The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022)
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me (2023)
Another Body (2023)
B
Because I Said So (2007)
The Beguiled (1971)
Bloody Current Exchange (2007)
Born to Kill? {"Fred West" #1.1} (2005)
Bride Hard (2025)
C
The Call of the Wild (2020)
D
Death Has Blue Eyes (1976)
Death of a Prophet (1981)
Death Scenes (1989)
The Defiled (2010)
The Desperados (1969)
Dillinger (1973)
Dirty Harry (1971)
Dr. Giggles (1992)
Dragon Force (1982)
Drum Struck (1992)
E
Ed Gein (2000)
Enchanted (2007)
F
FAQs (2005)
Forgive Us Our Trespasses (2022)
Fruit Fly (2009)
G
The Game of Death (2000)
Gandu (2010)
Go Down, Death! (1944)
Good Morning Karachi (2013)
H
Haunt (2013)
Heaven's Gate (1980)
Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
Hoi Polloi (1935)
Home Sweet Home (1981)
Homework (1982)
I
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Infected: The Darkest Day (2021)
The Island (1980)
J
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
Jail Bait (1954)
Jake's How-To (2008)
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Japon (2002)
Jesus (2000)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
Johnny Be Gone (2011)
Johns (1996)
Jude (1996)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
K
Kill Plan (2021)
Killer Shorts (2009)
Killer Tongue (1996)
King Solomon's Mines (1950)
L
The Last Horror Film (1982)
The Litch (2018)
Little Buddha (1993)
Local Legends (2013)
Lovelace (2013)
Lycanimator (2018)
M
Magnum Force (1973)
Maid in Sweden (1971)
Making a Monster {"Rose West" #1.1} (2020)
The Man in the Lighthouse (2007)
The Marine (2006)
Meltdown: Days of Destruction (2006)
The Men (1950)
Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
Monster in My Family {"John Wayne Gacy" #1.6} (2015)
Montana Sky (2007)
Move Over, Darling (1963)
Murder at 1600 (1997)
Music of the Heart (1999)
My Best Friend's Wife (2001)
My Fellow Americans (1996)
My Tale is Hot (1964)
Mystery of the Maya (1995)
N
New Rose Hotel (1998)
No Place to Hide: The Rehtaeh Parsons Story (2015)
O
Of the Dead (1979)
Offerings (1989)
One from the Heart (1982)
The Other Woman (2014)
P
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)
Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989)
Pharoah's Curse (1957)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
The Prey (1983)
Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (1990)
The Prowler (1981)
Q
Quintet (1979)
R
Rabid (1977)
Racquet (1979)
Raging Sun, Raging Sky (2009)
The Raven (1963)
Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)
Retrograde (2004)
Return to Horror High (1987)
The Ripper (1985)
The Rookie (1990)
S
Saberfrog (2009)
The Samurai (2014)
Satisfaction (1988)
Saving America Begins with You (2009)
Scanner Cop (1994)
Schizoid (1980)
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988)
Scream (1981)
Season for Assassins (1975)
She Came to the Valley (1979)
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989)
Simon, King of the Witches (1971)
Skin Deep (1989)
Skull World (2013)
Small Wonders (1995)
The Snowman (2017)
The Soham Murders (2023)
Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge (1979)
The Star of Bethlehem (2007)
The Star Packer (1934)
Stiffed (2011)
Sublime (2022)
The Suburbans (1999)
T
Temple Grandin (2010)
The Terror of Tiny Town (1938)
TerrorVision (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
There's a Caterpillar in My Bok Choy (2003)
Theresa Is a Mother (2015)
They (2002)
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The Toolbox Murders (1978)
Treasure Island (1934)
The Tuxedo (2002)
U
Up from the Depths (1979)
V
The Vibrating Maid (2000)
41 (2007)
A
Against the Grain (2023)
The Andy Warhol Diaries (2022)
Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me (2023)
Another Body (2023)
B
Because I Said So (2007)
The Beguiled (1971)
Bloody Current Exchange (2007)
Born to Kill? {"Fred West" #1.1} (2005)
Bride Hard (2025)
C
The Call of the Wild (2020)
D
Death Has Blue Eyes (1976)
Death of a Prophet (1981)
Death Scenes (1989)
The Defiled (2010)
The Desperados (1969)
Dillinger (1973)
Dirty Harry (1971)
Dr. Giggles (1992)
Dragon Force (1982)
Drum Struck (1992)
E
Ed Gein (2000)
Enchanted (2007)
F
FAQs (2005)
Forgive Us Our Trespasses (2022)
Fruit Fly (2009)
G
The Game of Death (2000)
Gandu (2010)
Go Down, Death! (1944)
Good Morning Karachi (2013)
H
Haunt (2013)
Heaven's Gate (1980)
Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
Hoi Polloi (1935)
Home Sweet Home (1981)
Homework (1982)
I
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Infected: The Darkest Day (2021)
The Island (1980)
J
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
Jail Bait (1954)
Jake's How-To (2008)
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Japon (2002)
Jesus (2000)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)
Johnny Be Gone (2011)
Johns (1996)
Jude (1996)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
K
Kill Plan (2021)
Killer Shorts (2009)
Killer Tongue (1996)
King Solomon's Mines (1950)
L
The Last Horror Film (1982)
The Litch (2018)
Little Buddha (1993)
Local Legends (2013)
Lovelace (2013)
Lycanimator (2018)
M
Magnum Force (1973)
Maid in Sweden (1971)
Making a Monster {"Rose West" #1.1} (2020)
The Man in the Lighthouse (2007)
The Marine (2006)
Meltdown: Days of Destruction (2006)
The Men (1950)
Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)
Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
Monster in My Family {"John Wayne Gacy" #1.6} (2015)
Montana Sky (2007)
Move Over, Darling (1963)
Murder at 1600 (1997)
Music of the Heart (1999)
My Best Friend's Wife (2001)
My Fellow Americans (1996)
My Tale is Hot (1964)
Mystery of the Maya (1995)
N
New Rose Hotel (1998)
No Place to Hide: The Rehtaeh Parsons Story (2015)
O
Of the Dead (1979)
Offerings (1989)
One from the Heart (1982)
The Other Woman (2014)
P
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)
Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989)
Pharoah's Curse (1957)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
The Prey (1983)
Prom Night III: The Last Kiss (1990)
The Prowler (1981)
Q
Quintet (1979)
R
Rabid (1977)
Racquet (1979)
Raging Sun, Raging Sky (2009)
The Raven (1963)
Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)
Retrograde (2004)
Return to Horror High (1987)
The Ripper (1985)
The Rookie (1990)
S
Saberfrog (2009)
The Samurai (2014)
Satisfaction (1988)
Saving America Begins with You (2009)
Scanner Cop (1994)
Schizoid (1980)
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988)
Scream (1981)
Season for Assassins (1975)
She Came to the Valley (1979)
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! (1989)
Simon, King of the Witches (1971)
Skin Deep (1989)
Skull World (2013)
Small Wonders (1995)
The Snowman (2017)
The Soham Murders (2023)
Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge (1979)
The Star of Bethlehem (2007)
The Star Packer (1934)
Stiffed (2011)
Sublime (2022)
The Suburbans (1999)
T
Temple Grandin (2010)
The Terror of Tiny Town (1938)
TerrorVision (1986)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
There's a Caterpillar in My Bok Choy (2003)
Theresa Is a Mother (2015)
They (2002)
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The Toolbox Murders (1978)
Treasure Island (1934)
The Tuxedo (2002)
U
Up from the Depths (1979)
V
The Vibrating Maid (2000)
Thursday, September 11, 2025
The Defiled (2010)
Since the 1930's, and perhaps before, the movie going public has been treated to their fair share of zombie flicks. Zombies that stumble, zombies that run, and zombie comedies have all come down the pike. Some are classics, many are not. This film takes another stab at the zombie genre, and turns it on its head.
A nameless zombie (Brian Shaw) seems to be enjoying his zombie existence. His zombie mate is pregnant, he has what seem to be two teenage zombie children, and the quartet live in the woods, eating whatever human flesh they happen to stumble upon. The dad zombie brings home a suicide's body, and partakes of some booze while the family feasts on the body. The other three family members become violently ill and die, obviously not seeing the radioactive warning labels that surrounded the dead person. Before expiring, zombie mom gives birth to the zombie baby. The man must now care for the newborn, killing small animals and chewing its flesh to feed his offspring. The two are on the run from a mysterious army who are killing the zombie creatures. The man sees a human woman (Kathleen Lawlor) and saves her from another set of zombies. The woman becomes a surrogate mother, and now the three begin traveling together. They don't seem to have a destination, except the woman tries not to be eaten, and the man tries not to eat her. As with most zombie films, things don't end well for all involved.
Writer/director Julian Grant has done a fantastic job with this. He also provided the shimmering black and white, or maybe more blue and white, photography, and the brisk editing. The film is devoid of spoken dialogue, except for the guttural zombie grunts, and some background voices of the zombie killers here and there. The woman cannot communicate with the zombie man, so what's the point of talking? David Findlay lays down a professional musical score that adds to the film. The makeup effects are excellent, including the zombie infant- which thankfully in no way resembles the fakery of "It's Alive!" or "The Unborn." The cast all give great performances in obviously difficult roles. Shaw is covered in gross makeup for the entire film, and Lawlor doesn't look like she just strolled out of a salon, either, but both use their facial expressions to the fullest without resulting to broad theatrical acting. The film was shot in the Chicago, Illinois/Gary, Indiana/LaPorte, Indiana area, and the locations are perfect. I love old abandoned buildings and ghost towns, and Grant has found some excellent places to set his story. The screenplay itself keeps a lot under its hat, never out-and-out explaining anything, including the reason half of society turned into zombies. We do not get any back story on the two main characters, and I liked that. Grant has them living and surviving right now, no time for embarrassing fireside English lessons and "what I did before the apocalypse" speeches.
"The Defiled" will satisfy gorehounds as well as sci-fi and horror fans, and it definitely compares favorably to the work of George A. Romero and the "28...Later" films. Seek it out.
A nameless zombie (Brian Shaw) seems to be enjoying his zombie existence. His zombie mate is pregnant, he has what seem to be two teenage zombie children, and the quartet live in the woods, eating whatever human flesh they happen to stumble upon. The dad zombie brings home a suicide's body, and partakes of some booze while the family feasts on the body. The other three family members become violently ill and die, obviously not seeing the radioactive warning labels that surrounded the dead person. Before expiring, zombie mom gives birth to the zombie baby. The man must now care for the newborn, killing small animals and chewing its flesh to feed his offspring. The two are on the run from a mysterious army who are killing the zombie creatures. The man sees a human woman (Kathleen Lawlor) and saves her from another set of zombies. The woman becomes a surrogate mother, and now the three begin traveling together. They don't seem to have a destination, except the woman tries not to be eaten, and the man tries not to eat her. As with most zombie films, things don't end well for all involved.
Writer/director Julian Grant has done a fantastic job with this. He also provided the shimmering black and white, or maybe more blue and white, photography, and the brisk editing. The film is devoid of spoken dialogue, except for the guttural zombie grunts, and some background voices of the zombie killers here and there. The woman cannot communicate with the zombie man, so what's the point of talking? David Findlay lays down a professional musical score that adds to the film. The makeup effects are excellent, including the zombie infant- which thankfully in no way resembles the fakery of "It's Alive!" or "The Unborn." The cast all give great performances in obviously difficult roles. Shaw is covered in gross makeup for the entire film, and Lawlor doesn't look like she just strolled out of a salon, either, but both use their facial expressions to the fullest without resulting to broad theatrical acting. The film was shot in the Chicago, Illinois/Gary, Indiana/LaPorte, Indiana area, and the locations are perfect. I love old abandoned buildings and ghost towns, and Grant has found some excellent places to set his story. The screenplay itself keeps a lot under its hat, never out-and-out explaining anything, including the reason half of society turned into zombies. We do not get any back story on the two main characters, and I liked that. Grant has them living and surviving right now, no time for embarrassing fireside English lessons and "what I did before the apocalypse" speeches.
"The Defiled" will satisfy gorehounds as well as sci-fi and horror fans, and it definitely compares favorably to the work of George A. Romero and the "28...Later" films. Seek it out.
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