Social and Cultural Documentary: What Would Jesus Buy- 2007

Taking on rampant American consumerism with a focus on Christmas shopping, the Rev. Billy (Bill Talen) and the Church of Stop Shopping go on a cross-country journey to save citizens from the Shopocalypse in this hilarious documentary produced by Morgan Spurlock. Reminding shoppers of the true meaning of Christmas, Reverend Billy exorcises demons at Wal-Mart's headquarters and preaches his message at the Mall of America and Disneyland. (Netflix.com)

Grade: A+

This was a REALLY great look into how "spend happy" we can get as Americans, ESPECIALLY around the holidays. With his alter-ego persona Reverend Billy (Bill Talen) holds demonstrations, and mock church services that point out just what we've been fed through the media, personal tradition, and society to believe about holidays and spending money in general. His look on this epidemic is truly eye opening, and literally caused me to look at myself, and my own financial situation a little closer, and not just take things like spending a little money here and there so easily for granted. Although his persona is a preacher, the satire behind it, and the comedy of it, causes it (surprisingly) to NOT come off preachy, believe it or not! This is well worth the watch, and I think it may just make you take a little harder look at what you're spending your money on!

Comedy/Satire: CSA: Confederate States of America- 2004

What would the United States look like if the South had won the Civil War, slavery was still legal and liberals had fled to Canada? According to filmmaker Kevin Willmott (an assistant professor at the University of Kansas), it would resemble the vision put forth in this provocative mockumentary, set in a modern-day Confederate States of America. Spike Lee lends his name as a producer to this daring, if discomforting, parody. (Netflix.com)

Grade: C+

This was a funny, and interesting look into what life would have been like had the south won. There was A LOT of racist stuff in this movie, but it was done in a way to show the idiocy of racism, not to promote it, and actually, the things that were the most racist and offensive were actually things that existed back then, so you cant fault them for showing us a piece of history that we'd rather have tucked away or swept under a rug. For that reason it was good, it was a good "what if?" movie, and also a good "look at what life was LIKE back then" movie. I think it was worth the watch, and it was done in a way that really was not off putting, and more thought provoking.

Comedy/Satire: The Med Who Stare at Goats- 2009

Journalist Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) latches onto an unbelievable story in Iraq when he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man of mysterious origins who reveals he was a "warrior monk" trained by the U.S. Army to develop psychic powers. Jeff Bridges co-stars as Lyn's mentor, the man who dreamed up the top-secret operation. Kevin Spacey and Rebecca Mader co-star in this Grant Heslov-helmed wild spoof. (Netflix.com)

Grade: B+

This movie was an interestingly funny look into a bizarre unit of the military most of us would never imagine, let alone believe if told about! George Clooney is such a versatile actor, he can play a serious dramatic leading man, or an out of the ordinary, off-the-wall character with what equal ability, and come off completely believable as both. The acting in this movie was great, and the situations this poor reporter gets into are crazy, to say the least. This really was a funny watch, check it out!