Fr. Albert Bradley, Pastor of Holy Cross Church, announces that a unique and dynamic opportunity for personal growth and spiritual renewal is being offered the second weekend in December for all members of our community.
A team of professional Catholic evangelists, a priest and a layperson, will offer a four night Parish Mission at Holy Cross Church.
The original Isaiah 43 Parish Mission was first offered in 1984 at St. Anne's Church, Hempstead, New Hampshire. To date, Isaiah Ministries has presented over 1000 missions in 138 arch/dioceses in 48 states and several provinces in Canada.
Sequels to the popular Isaiah 43 Mission were necessitated when parishes requested Missions a second, third and fourth time, resulting in the eventual development of Isaiah Revisited, Isaiah Remembered, and Isaiah 2000 Missions.
The content and rituals of all four missions are based on Scripture, Vatican II theology, various papal and episcopal document, solid adult education principles, and lived experience. Unlike a typical parish mission in the past, where a priest "comes and goes, "Isaiah Missions involves the laity in collaborative ministry training, formation, and adult religious education…before, during and after the Mission.
Isaiah Parish Missions offers an upbeat, positive message which meets parishioners, visitors and guests wherever they are on their spiritual journey and challenges them to on-going conversion, deeper commitment and service. Isaiah Missions fosters reconciliation, renewal, conversion, forgiveness, healing, and justice.
According to Rev. Bradley and Deacon Capriola, Parish Mission Coordinator, "The emphasis of the mission a Holy Cross is to invite everyone who is seeking a deeper meaning in their lives to discover or rediscover a personal, living faith!"
A unique feature of the Isaiah Parish Mission is that it is designed to continue after the Mission Team leaves. A follow up program, will be offered after the Mission, and will continue with local parish leaders as the facilitators.
Everyone in the community is most cordially invited to the Parish Mission. For additional information, please call Marilyn at: 773 7564.
CARVIVAL COMMITTEE TOWN MEETING
The Virgin Islands Carnival Committee will hold a town meeting open to members and all residents of St.Thomas at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 in the conference room at Windward Passage/Holiday Inn.
The committee would like to hear concerns and suggestions for carnival.
Please call 776-3112 for more information.
The committee would like to hear concerns and suggestions for carnival.
Please call 776-3112 for more information.
INTERNET GAMBLING EXPECTED TO HIT $10B IN 2005
With the number of Internet users and the amount of money they spend projected to significantly increase in the next few years, the prospects for cyberspace gambling are great – especially for governments that cash in early.
That was the word given by experts at the first day of the V.I. Casino Control Commission’s Internet gaming seminar at St. Croix’s Cormorant Hotel Thursday. The seminar panelists include Anthony Cabot, an author on Internet gaming from a Las Vegas-based law firm; Gary Collins, an attorney in Antigua and chairman of that country’s Gaming and Betting Committee; and Frank Catania, an attorney and former director of New Jersey’s Gaming Enforcement Division.
Cabot noted that the technological revolution is still in its infancy and that advances will mean more people will have greater – and easier – access to the World Wide Web. And in the case of online gambling, that means a person being able to view the odds of the "big game" on his or her cell phone or being able to gamble in the comfort of his or her own home via a Internet-equipped TV.
Cabot said that by 2005, 91 percent of homes in the U.S. will be hooked up to the Internet, and not necessarily through a computer. Almost three quarters of those homes will be able to go online through their TV sets.
"By 2005, anybody who buys a TV will have Web access," he said.
And in light of the fact that in 2000, some $2.2 billion was spent on Internet gambling and more than $10 billion projected by 2005, Cabot said it is a growth industry.
"It’s a vastly under-served market with huge potential demand," he said. "It should exceed the entire gross revenues of all the casinos in the state of Nevada."
Those numbers are not lost on at least 52 governments around the world, Catania said. From Antigua to Canada and Australia, governments are cashing in by sanctioning some type of Internet gaming.
"Regulations at this point range from nonexistent to regulations similar to the regular gaming industry," Catania said.
He added that some jurisdictions charge fees for preliminary investigations of the prospective Internet gambling operator – of which there are about 350 world wide – to charging for a simple business license.
The latter occurs in some Central American countries where there is no regulations for operators of Internet gambling sites, "and it’s suspect," Catania said.
Internet gambling varies from sites where people can bet on sports to traditional casino games like blackjack, slots and poker. Most of the sites are operated outside the U.S.
Australia, Antigua, Greece and Monte Carlo have legalized on-line gambling. In 1998, Australia became the first large country to develop and enact a player-protection act. In Antigua, operators of Internet gambling sites are subject to a background check and a licensing fee of up to $150,000.
In the U.S., however, Congress is debating whether on-line gaming should be made illegal. The concerns include the availability of gambling to children and teens, the problems posed for adults with gambling addictions and the opportunity for illegal activity such as money-laundering and fraud.
As for the Virgin Islands, Eileen Petersen, chairwoman of the CCC, said the seminar was intended to inform the community about the pros and cons of Internet gambling. Currently, the status of such gambling is not illegal under federal law, but that could soon change.
"The question is, is the Virgin Islands going to be ready either way?" Petersen asked. "If it’s not going to be illegal, are we ready to jump in?"
That concern was voiced by Michael Bornn, a financial advisor and former V.I. tourism commissioner in attendance. He said the territory acted on its own laws regarding land-based casinos after the initial boom on the mainland. A similarly slow response to the prospects of Internet gambling could place the territory in the back of the pack.
"I look at this with an open mind," said Bornn. "It’s obviously a growth industry."
The seminar continues Friday at St. Croix’s Cormorant Beach Resort from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
That was the word given by experts at the first day of the V.I. Casino Control Commission’s Internet gaming seminar at St. Croix’s Cormorant Hotel Thursday. The seminar panelists include Anthony Cabot, an author on Internet gaming from a Las Vegas-based law firm; Gary Collins, an attorney in Antigua and chairman of that country’s Gaming and Betting Committee; and Frank Catania, an attorney and former director of New Jersey’s Gaming Enforcement Division.
Cabot noted that the technological revolution is still in its infancy and that advances will mean more people will have greater – and easier – access to the World Wide Web. And in the case of online gambling, that means a person being able to view the odds of the "big game" on his or her cell phone or being able to gamble in the comfort of his or her own home via a Internet-equipped TV.
Cabot said that by 2005, 91 percent of homes in the U.S. will be hooked up to the Internet, and not necessarily through a computer. Almost three quarters of those homes will be able to go online through their TV sets.
"By 2005, anybody who buys a TV will have Web access," he said.
And in light of the fact that in 2000, some $2.2 billion was spent on Internet gambling and more than $10 billion projected by 2005, Cabot said it is a growth industry.
"It’s a vastly under-served market with huge potential demand," he said. "It should exceed the entire gross revenues of all the casinos in the state of Nevada."
Those numbers are not lost on at least 52 governments around the world, Catania said. From Antigua to Canada and Australia, governments are cashing in by sanctioning some type of Internet gaming.
"Regulations at this point range from nonexistent to regulations similar to the regular gaming industry," Catania said.
He added that some jurisdictions charge fees for preliminary investigations of the prospective Internet gambling operator – of which there are about 350 world wide – to charging for a simple business license.
The latter occurs in some Central American countries where there is no regulations for operators of Internet gambling sites, "and it’s suspect," Catania said.
Internet gambling varies from sites where people can bet on sports to traditional casino games like blackjack, slots and poker. Most of the sites are operated outside the U.S.
Australia, Antigua, Greece and Monte Carlo have legalized on-line gambling. In 1998, Australia became the first large country to develop and enact a player-protection act. In Antigua, operators of Internet gambling sites are subject to a background check and a licensing fee of up to $150,000.
In the U.S., however, Congress is debating whether on-line gaming should be made illegal. The concerns include the availability of gambling to children and teens, the problems posed for adults with gambling addictions and the opportunity for illegal activity such as money-laundering and fraud.
As for the Virgin Islands, Eileen Petersen, chairwoman of the CCC, said the seminar was intended to inform the community about the pros and cons of Internet gambling. Currently, the status of such gambling is not illegal under federal law, but that could soon change.
"The question is, is the Virgin Islands going to be ready either way?" Petersen asked. "If it’s not going to be illegal, are we ready to jump in?"
That concern was voiced by Michael Bornn, a financial advisor and former V.I. tourism commissioner in attendance. He said the territory acted on its own laws regarding land-based casinos after the initial boom on the mainland. A similarly slow response to the prospects of Internet gambling could place the territory in the back of the pack.
"I look at this with an open mind," said Bornn. "It’s obviously a growth industry."
The seminar continues Friday at St. Croix’s Cormorant Beach Resort from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FINCH: WICO ASKED FOR CROWN BAY PROJECT
Nov. 16, 2001 – Comments made Wednesday by Edward Thomas, president of The West Indian Co., that the Port Authority would be better off investing in a cruise ship homeporting facility on St. Croix instead of a Crown Bay marine port/shopping center on St. Thomas drew strong criticism from VIPA’s top manager Thursday.
First of all, Gordon Finch, Port Authority executive director, said, the Crown Bay development idea came from members of the government's Cruise Ship Task Force, which included Port Authority, WICO, local private sector and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives. He said both Thomas and the F-CCA urged the plan to expand the Crown Bay dock.
The expansion that is part of the Crown Bay plan would allow enough new berthing space to accommodate ships that now must moor in the inner and outer St. Thomas harbor areas when the WICO dock in Havensight is full. Finch said Thomas and former Gov. Roy Schneider approached the Port Authority about expanding Crown Bay facilities years ago.
"Not at any time did [Thomas] talk about any objections to Crown Bay," Finch said, adding, "The cruise lines want Crown Bay developed so badly they’ve become part of the bidding process."
Thomas, speaking to a business group on St. Thomas Wednesday, cited what he considers would be drawbacks to the visitor experience on St. Thomas if the Port Authority were to open a new shopping district at Crown Bay in addition to those in Charlotte Amalie and Havensight. Essentially, he said St. Thomas does not need any more tourism-oriented retail outlets. He said a better idea would be for the Port Authority to invest its $9 million earmarked for the Crown Bay project in a cruise ship homeport on St. Croix.
Finch noted that new retail space adjacent to the Crown Bay facility would compete with the Havensight Mall and said he questioned Thomas's motives in opposing the plans. WICO operates Havensight Mall for the Government Employees Retirement System, which owns it.
Finch also stressed that proceeding with the Crown Bay project doesn't mean abandoning the idea of constructing a homeport facility on St. Croix. He said the issue isn’t St. Croix versus St. Thomas. The Port Authority "has always spoken about doing both," he said.
That idea was supported by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, whose president, John deJongh Jr., co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force.
The chamber views the proposed development at Crown Bay not as a an island-versus-island issue, but as an example of providing necessary infrastructure for visitors while at the same time leveraging private-sector funds to further economic development, deJongh said in a statement.
"In our many meetings with the Task Force it has always been clear that some development would be needed to accommodate disembarking cruise ship passengers," deJongh said, "but task force members agreed that another shopping mall was not the answer." He added, however, that it was always considered important that any development serve as a reception area for the cruise passengers and incorporate the marketing and promotion of the territory and locally made products.
He said the chamber agrees that homeporting on St. Croix should be pursued because it would serve the best interests of the entire territory. Like Finch, however, he said airlift, ground transportation and hotel issues on St. Croix must be addressed before the homeporting efforts are undertaken.
Finch said the F-CCA recommended against developing a homeporting facility on St. Croix for now, mainly because of the infrastructure shortcomings. He said Holland America Cruise Lines looked into the idea three years ago, but the bottom line was that the Ann A. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted wasn’t large enough to accommodate both ships calling at the port and ships using the pier as a homeport.
Finch said that is not the the biggest obstacle, however; St. Croix's lack of airline arrivals is. "St. Croix has no scheduled air service of a significant quantity," he said. "Unless we get significant airlift … it can’t be used for homeporting."
Jean P. Greaux Jr. contributed to this report.
First of all, Gordon Finch, Port Authority executive director, said, the Crown Bay development idea came from members of the government's Cruise Ship Task Force, which included Port Authority, WICO, local private sector and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives. He said both Thomas and the F-CCA urged the plan to expand the Crown Bay dock.
The expansion that is part of the Crown Bay plan would allow enough new berthing space to accommodate ships that now must moor in the inner and outer St. Thomas harbor areas when the WICO dock in Havensight is full. Finch said Thomas and former Gov. Roy Schneider approached the Port Authority about expanding Crown Bay facilities years ago.
"Not at any time did [Thomas] talk about any objections to Crown Bay," Finch said, adding, "The cruise lines want Crown Bay developed so badly they’ve become part of the bidding process."
Thomas, speaking to a business group on St. Thomas Wednesday, cited what he considers would be drawbacks to the visitor experience on St. Thomas if the Port Authority were to open a new shopping district at Crown Bay in addition to those in Charlotte Amalie and Havensight. Essentially, he said St. Thomas does not need any more tourism-oriented retail outlets. He said a better idea would be for the Port Authority to invest its $9 million earmarked for the Crown Bay project in a cruise ship homeport on St. Croix.
Finch noted that new retail space adjacent to the Crown Bay facility would compete with the Havensight Mall and said he questioned Thomas's motives in opposing the plans. WICO operates Havensight Mall for the Government Employees Retirement System, which owns it.
Finch also stressed that proceeding with the Crown Bay project doesn't mean abandoning the idea of constructing a homeport facility on St. Croix. He said the issue isn’t St. Croix versus St. Thomas. The Port Authority "has always spoken about doing both," he said.
That idea was supported by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, whose president, John deJongh Jr., co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force.
The chamber views the proposed development at Crown Bay not as a an island-versus-island issue, but as an example of providing necessary infrastructure for visitors while at the same time leveraging private-sector funds to further economic development, deJongh said in a statement.
"In our many meetings with the Task Force it has always been clear that some development would be needed to accommodate disembarking cruise ship passengers," deJongh said, "but task force members agreed that another shopping mall was not the answer." He added, however, that it was always considered important that any development serve as a reception area for the cruise passengers and incorporate the marketing and promotion of the territory and locally made products.
He said the chamber agrees that homeporting on St. Croix should be pursued because it would serve the best interests of the entire territory. Like Finch, however, he said airlift, ground transportation and hotel issues on St. Croix must be addressed before the homeporting efforts are undertaken.
Finch said the F-CCA recommended against developing a homeporting facility on St. Croix for now, mainly because of the infrastructure shortcomings. He said Holland America Cruise Lines looked into the idea three years ago, but the bottom line was that the Ann A. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted wasn’t large enough to accommodate both ships calling at the port and ships using the pier as a homeport.
Finch said that is not the the biggest obstacle, however; St. Croix's lack of airline arrivals is. "St. Croix has no scheduled air service of a significant quantity," he said. "Unless we get significant airlift … it can’t be used for homeporting."
Jean P. Greaux Jr. contributed to this report.
FINCH: WICO ASKED FOR CROWN BAY PROJECT
Nov. 16, 2001 – Comments made Wednesday by Edward Thomas, president of The West Indian Co., that the Port Authority would be better off investing in a cruise ship homeporting facility on St. Croix instead of a Crown Bay marine port/shopping center on St. Thomas drew strong criticism from VIPA’s top manager Thursday.
First of all, Gordon Finch, Port Authority executive director, said, the Crown Bay development idea came from members of the government's Cruise Ship Task Force, which included Port Authority, WICO, local private sector and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives. He said both Thomas and the F-CCA urged the plan to expand the Crown Bay dock.
The expansion that is part of the Crown Bay plan would allow enough new berthing space to accommodate ships that now must moor in the inner and outer St. Thomas harbor areas when the WICO dock in Havensight is full. Finch said Thomas and former Gov. Roy Schneider approached the Port Authority about expanding Crown Bay facilities years ago.
"Not at any time did [Thomas] talk about any objections to Crown Bay," Finch said, adding, "The cruise lines want Crown Bay developed so badly they’ve become part of the bidding process."
Thomas, speaking to a business group on St. Thomas Wednesday, cited what he considers would be drawbacks to the visitor experience on St. Thomas if the Port Authority were to open a new shopping district at Crown Bay in addition to those in Charlotte Amalie and Havensight. Essentially, he said St. Thomas does not need any more tourism-oriented retail outlets. He said a better idea would be for the Port Authority to invest its $9 million earmarked for the Crown Bay project in a cruise ship homeport on St. Croix.
Finch noted that new retail space adjacent to the Crown Bay facility would compete with the Havensight Mall and said he questioned Thomas's motives in opposing the plans. WICO operates Havensight Mall for the Government Employees Retirement System, which owns it.
Finch also stressed that proceeding with the Crown Bay project doesn't mean abandoning the idea of constructing a homeport facility on St. Croix. He said the issue isn’t St. Croix versus St. Thomas. The Port Authority "has always spoken about doing both," he said.
That idea was supported by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, whose president, John deJongh Jr., co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force.
The chamber views the proposed development at Crown Bay not as a an island-versus-island issue, but as an example of providing necessary infrastructure for visitors while at the same time leveraging private-sector funds to further economic development, deJongh said in a statement.
"In our many meetings with the Task Force it has always been clear that some development would be needed to accommodate disembarking cruise ship passengers," deJongh said, "but task force members agreed that another shopping mall was not the answer." He added, however, that it was always considered important that any development serve as a reception area for the cruise passengers and incorporate the marketing and promotion of the territory and locally made products.
He said the chamber agrees that homeporting on St. Croix should be pursued because it would serve the best interests of the entire territory. Like Finch, however, he said airlift, ground transportation and hotel issues on St. Croix must be addressed before the homeporting efforts are undertaken.
Finch said the F-CCA recommended against developing a homeporting facility on St. Croix for now, mainly because of the infrastructure shortcomings. He said Holland America Cruise Lines looked into the idea three years ago, but the bottom line was that the Ann A. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted wasn’t large enough to accommodate both ships calling at the port and ships using the pier as a homeport.
Finch said that is not the the biggest obstacle, however; St. Croix's lack of airline arrivals is. "St. Croix has no scheduled air service of a significant quantity," he said. "Unless we get significant airlift … it can’t be used for homeporting."
Jean Greaux Jr. contributed to this report.
First of all, Gordon Finch, Port Authority executive director, said, the Crown Bay development idea came from members of the government's Cruise Ship Task Force, which included Port Authority, WICO, local private sector and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives. He said both Thomas and the F-CCA urged the plan to expand the Crown Bay dock.
The expansion that is part of the Crown Bay plan would allow enough new berthing space to accommodate ships that now must moor in the inner and outer St. Thomas harbor areas when the WICO dock in Havensight is full. Finch said Thomas and former Gov. Roy Schneider approached the Port Authority about expanding Crown Bay facilities years ago.
"Not at any time did [Thomas] talk about any objections to Crown Bay," Finch said, adding, "The cruise lines want Crown Bay developed so badly they’ve become part of the bidding process."
Thomas, speaking to a business group on St. Thomas Wednesday, cited what he considers would be drawbacks to the visitor experience on St. Thomas if the Port Authority were to open a new shopping district at Crown Bay in addition to those in Charlotte Amalie and Havensight. Essentially, he said St. Thomas does not need any more tourism-oriented retail outlets. He said a better idea would be for the Port Authority to invest its $9 million earmarked for the Crown Bay project in a cruise ship homeport on St. Croix.
Finch noted that new retail space adjacent to the Crown Bay facility would compete with the Havensight Mall and said he questioned Thomas's motives in opposing the plans. WICO operates Havensight Mall for the Government Employees Retirement System, which owns it.
Finch also stressed that proceeding with the Crown Bay project doesn't mean abandoning the idea of constructing a homeport facility on St. Croix. He said the issue isn’t St. Croix versus St. Thomas. The Port Authority "has always spoken about doing both," he said.
That idea was supported by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, whose president, John deJongh Jr., co-chaired the Cruise Ship Task Force.
The chamber views the proposed development at Crown Bay not as a an island-versus-island issue, but as an example of providing necessary infrastructure for visitors while at the same time leveraging private-sector funds to further economic development, deJongh said in a statement.
"In our many meetings with the Task Force it has always been clear that some development would be needed to accommodate disembarking cruise ship passengers," deJongh said, "but task force members agreed that another shopping mall was not the answer." He added, however, that it was always considered important that any development serve as a reception area for the cruise passengers and incorporate the marketing and promotion of the territory and locally made products.
He said the chamber agrees that homeporting on St. Croix should be pursued because it would serve the best interests of the entire territory. Like Finch, however, he said airlift, ground transportation and hotel issues on St. Croix must be addressed before the homeporting efforts are undertaken.
Finch said the F-CCA recommended against developing a homeporting facility on St. Croix for now, mainly because of the infrastructure shortcomings. He said Holland America Cruise Lines looked into the idea three years ago, but the bottom line was that the Ann A. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted wasn’t large enough to accommodate both ships calling at the port and ships using the pier as a homeport.
Finch said that is not the the biggest obstacle, however; St. Croix's lack of airline arrivals is. "St. Croix has no scheduled air service of a significant quantity," he said. "Unless we get significant airlift … it can’t be used for homeporting."
Jean Greaux Jr. contributed to this report.
SCHOOL BUS SAFTEY REFRESHER COURSE
The Department of Education will hold a school bus safety refresher course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 at the Curriculum Center in St. Thomas.
All school bus drivers and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.
Please be on time.
For more information call 774-0100, extension 9196.
All school bus drivers and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.
Please be on time.
For more information call 774-0100, extension 9196.
SCHOOL BUS SAFTEY REFRESHER COURSE
The Department of Education will hold a school bus safety refresher course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 at the Curriculum Center in St. Thomas.
All school bus drivers and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.
Please be on time.
For more information call 773-1095.
SCHOOL BUS SAFTEY REFRESHER COURSE
The Department of Education will hold a school bus safety refresher course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 at the Curriculum Center in St. Thomas.
All school bus drivers and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.
Please be on time.
For more information call 774-0100, extension 9196.
D'AMORE DUO IN CONCERT AT WHIM
The D'Amore Duo, comprised of two young virtuosos, American guitarist William Feasley and Russian oboist Vladimir Lande will appear in concert at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2 at the Whim Museum.
The duo's repertoire encompasses a variety of styles and influences spanning more than three hundred years of original music for plucked string and double reed.
William Feasley's imaginative new arrangements of classics ranging from Telemann and Bach to Vaughan Williams and Scott Joplin are further complemented by exciting new music written expressly for the duo's own unique talents, according to a release from their publicist.
Winners of the 1990 Baltimore Chamber Music Awards and the 1993 Montpelier Recitalist Competition, the D'Amore Duo is gaining recognition as a popular component of many chamber music series.
Please call 772-0598 for ticket information.
The duo's repertoire encompasses a variety of styles and influences spanning more than three hundred years of original music for plucked string and double reed.
William Feasley's imaginative new arrangements of classics ranging from Telemann and Bach to Vaughan Williams and Scott Joplin are further complemented by exciting new music written expressly for the duo's own unique talents, according to a release from their publicist.
Winners of the 1990 Baltimore Chamber Music Awards and the 1993 Montpelier Recitalist Competition, the D'Amore Duo is gaining recognition as a popular component of many chamber music series.
Please call 772-0598 for ticket information.
THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE – HEAVENLY GREENS
"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is about a game played on trimmed, green grass with a small, white ball, lots of holes in the ground, and a large variety of things with which to hit the small, white ball.
This game has interested politicians and other celebrities for some time, almost the entire 20th century, for instance. So, certainly, movies should be made about it. Well, maybe.
Bagger Vance, in this latest entry, is a supernatural caddy, i.e., bagger, get it? (Will Smith), who is sent from heaven above to help hapless, Rannulph Junuh ( Matt Damon) an extraordinary golf talent, until World War 1 leaves him a nervous wreck, a former shell of his old self. With that name, it's surprising he survived childhood, let alone World War 1.
Anyhow, Junuh's ex-girlfriend Adele (Charlize Theron), trying to promote a resort she inherited from her father, organizes a golf exhibition featuring Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, but the tournament needs a local player, as well, and guess who? Director Robert Redford really likes to pile it on, it would seem.
But, all isn't lost. The mysterious Bagger enters the fable. According to one reviewer, "the authentically likeable Will Smith saves the day," and perhaps the movie.
It is written by Jeremy Leven and Richard LaGravenese, and is rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
It starts Thursday at Market Square East.
This game has interested politicians and other celebrities for some time, almost the entire 20th century, for instance. So, certainly, movies should be made about it. Well, maybe.
Bagger Vance, in this latest entry, is a supernatural caddy, i.e., bagger, get it? (Will Smith), who is sent from heaven above to help hapless, Rannulph Junuh ( Matt Damon) an extraordinary golf talent, until World War 1 leaves him a nervous wreck, a former shell of his old self. With that name, it's surprising he survived childhood, let alone World War 1.
Anyhow, Junuh's ex-girlfriend Adele (Charlize Theron), trying to promote a resort she inherited from her father, organizes a golf exhibition featuring Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen, but the tournament needs a local player, as well, and guess who? Director Robert Redford really likes to pile it on, it would seem.
But, all isn't lost. The mysterious Bagger enters the fable. According to one reviewer, "the authentically likeable Will Smith saves the day," and perhaps the movie.
It is written by Jeremy Leven and Richard LaGravenese, and is rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
It starts Thursday at Market Square East.
