Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance and Adaptation
Runtime: 2 hrs, 1 min
Rating: PG-13 for a scene of sensuality and some violence.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Lena Olin, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss
Synopsis: Vianne Rocher and her 6-year-old daughter move to a small village in southern France, near Toulouse, and open a chocolate shop across from the church, just as the town is preparing to observe Lent. The parish priest is horrified, especially since Vianne keeps her tempting shop open on Sundays. In time, the arrival of the mother/daughter team and their shop transforms the conservative and religious locals into open-minded, fun-loving people.
This movie has become a favorite and a yearly classic to watch at Easter, so I was surprised as I watched it this time to have discovered a new insight in the movie. There are so many things that can be touched on in this movie, but as I've mentioned before, when interpreting a "parable" it is important to focus on only one aspect, and this time I want to focus on something new.
Seeing as the name of the movie is Chocolat and one of the main characters is in fact chocolate, I want to focus on this aspect of the movie. I want us to think of the chocolate (yes, all of it) as Jesus. Now, I'm not going to try to make comparisons between chocolate and Jesus, rather I want to focus on the role of chocolate in the movie and the idea of Christ.
When Jesus came to Earth, He came into a world that was "pious" and "religious", much like the chocolate. Also like the chocolate, Jesus caused quite a stir and the religious leaders of His day tried to get rid of Him.
There is one scene in particular that I want to focus on in this comparison. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Near the end of the movie, the Comte de Reynaud (Molina)--the pious mayor who has spent the entire 40 days of Lent fasting--has reached his breaking point and believes that he has to take drastic measures in order to make sure that the chocolate (and it's maker) leave his town. So, he sneaks into the chocolate shop and, using a letter opener, begins hacking and stabbing the beautiful chocolate sculptures decorating the front window display. In what one could call a providential instant, a small piece of chocolate lands on the Comte's lip as he's destroying the display. He briefly touches it with his finger and then his tongue, as he does, something inside of him breaks and he begins to devour the chocolate that he was just destroying.
Watching this scene, I was struck with how similar it was to the moment that Christ enters a life. All too often we get caught up with the dos and don'ts of religion and lose sight of Christ's counter-culture attitude. But when we come into personal contact with Him, when we allow Him to touch our lives in a miraculous way, nothing will ever be the same. We just need to stop fighting Him, stop trying to destroy what He came to rebuild, and indulge in Him.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Secret Window
When this movies first came out, I truly had no desire to watch it...not because I thought it was scary or anything...but as much as I love Johnny Depp, the previews didn't appeal to me. Go figure, that a friend recommends it, I watch it, and my original decision about the movie was affirmed.
Genre: Drama, Suspense/Horror, Thriller and Adaptation
Run time: 1 hr, 37 min
Rating: PG-13 for violence/terror, sexual content and language.
Starring: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, Charles Dutton
Synopsis: Though he knows he should be at his computer writing another book, or at least walking his dog along the sparkling lake outside his dingy cabin, successful author Mort Rainey is sleeping on his favorite sofa for up to 16 hours a day. He is in the midst of a painful divorce and everything about the breakup has turned messy and unpleasant. It has sapped his energy and siphoned away his creativity, leaving him with a monumental case of writer's block that renders him incapable of even stringing a simple sentence together. Then, when it seems as if things can't possibly get worse, a psychotic stranger named John Shooter shows up at his doorstep, accuses Rainey of plagiarizing his story and demands satisfaction. Despite Rainey's efforts to placate him, Shooter becomes increasingly insistent and hostile, intimating a twisted sort of justice that could include cold-blooded murder. Forced into a mind-bending game of cat and mouse, Rainey discovers that he has more cunningness and gritty determination than he ever imagined. In the end, he realizes that elusive Shooter may know him better than he knows himself.
I was so disappointed with this movie, that it took me two days to realize that I could, and probably should, blog about this movie. At first glance, this movie is about a crazy author as he deals with personal demons, the most recent of which is catching his wife cheating and going through the ensuing divorce. After that scenario has been set up, another wrench is thrown into the wreck that is Mort's (Depp) life, when a psychopath claims that Mort plagiarized his book. Upon finishing the movie I figured it was a waste of time to blog about it because it was a simple case of "sin and consequences."
After further thinking about the movie, I've decided that it's a little deeper than that...
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!!
Near the end of the movie, it comes to light that Mort and Shooter are one in the same, the only difference is that Shooter is the dark side of Mort, the one who is willing to do what Mort would normally not do. He's able to disassociate himself from this inner darkness and deny it until it faces him head-on. At this point, Mort has a choice to make, embrace the darkness or deny it full reign.
We all have this darkness within us. As Christians we call this darkness sin. Sometimes we deny that this darkness exists within us, sometimes we ignore it and let it run its course without any interference from us, and sometimes we embrace the darkness. Every single one of us is capable of unimaginable and terrible things if this darkness is left unchecked. But as Christians, we know that there is one stronger than the darkness, that He is the only way to overcome the darkness.
Whether or not you see this movie is up to you. I personally wouldn't recommend this movie, but I know many people who have enjoyed it...to each his own...
Genre: Drama, Suspense/Horror, Thriller and Adaptation
Run time: 1 hr, 37 min
Rating: PG-13 for violence/terror, sexual content and language.
Starring: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, Charles Dutton
Synopsis: Though he knows he should be at his computer writing another book, or at least walking his dog along the sparkling lake outside his dingy cabin, successful author Mort Rainey is sleeping on his favorite sofa for up to 16 hours a day. He is in the midst of a painful divorce and everything about the breakup has turned messy and unpleasant. It has sapped his energy and siphoned away his creativity, leaving him with a monumental case of writer's block that renders him incapable of even stringing a simple sentence together. Then, when it seems as if things can't possibly get worse, a psychotic stranger named John Shooter shows up at his doorstep, accuses Rainey of plagiarizing his story and demands satisfaction. Despite Rainey's efforts to placate him, Shooter becomes increasingly insistent and hostile, intimating a twisted sort of justice that could include cold-blooded murder. Forced into a mind-bending game of cat and mouse, Rainey discovers that he has more cunningness and gritty determination than he ever imagined. In the end, he realizes that elusive Shooter may know him better than he knows himself.
I was so disappointed with this movie, that it took me two days to realize that I could, and probably should, blog about this movie. At first glance, this movie is about a crazy author as he deals with personal demons, the most recent of which is catching his wife cheating and going through the ensuing divorce. After that scenario has been set up, another wrench is thrown into the wreck that is Mort's (Depp) life, when a psychopath claims that Mort plagiarized his book. Upon finishing the movie I figured it was a waste of time to blog about it because it was a simple case of "sin and consequences."
After further thinking about the movie, I've decided that it's a little deeper than that...
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!!
Near the end of the movie, it comes to light that Mort and Shooter are one in the same, the only difference is that Shooter is the dark side of Mort, the one who is willing to do what Mort would normally not do. He's able to disassociate himself from this inner darkness and deny it until it faces him head-on. At this point, Mort has a choice to make, embrace the darkness or deny it full reign.
We all have this darkness within us. As Christians we call this darkness sin. Sometimes we deny that this darkness exists within us, sometimes we ignore it and let it run its course without any interference from us, and sometimes we embrace the darkness. Every single one of us is capable of unimaginable and terrible things if this darkness is left unchecked. But as Christians, we know that there is one stronger than the darkness, that He is the only way to overcome the darkness.
Whether or not you see this movie is up to you. I personally wouldn't recommend this movie, but I know many people who have enjoyed it...to each his own...
Eat Pray Love
I'm sorry about the hiatus, but I'M BACK! And what a movie to start with. Although this could be considered a "chick-flick" I prefer to call it a "real life quest".
Genre: Drama and Adaptation
Run time: 2 hrs, 13 min
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity
Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup
Synopsis: Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having -- a husband, a house, a successful career -- yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.
Although Liz Gilbert's (Roberts) mention of God is brief, the entire movie is her journey to a deeper understanding of life, God, and spirituality. Despite the obvious leanings toward Eastern religions, I found that much of what Gilbert discovered on her quest could be applied to any and all religions, including Christianity.
The idea of enjoying life is the first lesson that Gilbert learns during her time in Italy. While in Italy, she learns to enjoy food, to take a break from life/stress, and to enjoy life as she's been given. By the end of her stay, she has discovered a passion for life that many in the West have lost in the midst of work and entertainment.
The next stop on Gilbert's quest is India, where she lives in an Ashram and attempts to meditate and pray. I could personally understand her problems with meditation...I find it so difficult to shut off my brain and focus on one single thought, idea, or even Bible verse. But more than the focus on prayer and meditation, there were two things that I found pertinent to this section of the movie. 1) Gilbert was adamantly told by another member of the ashram, that it wasn't her job to forgive her husband or hope that he could forgive her, instead she had to forgive herself. How many of us have this problem? We know in our heads that God has forgiven us, but we don't feel forgiven and we can't forget what we've done. Part of the forgiveness process is learning to forgive ourselves. 2) Just before leaving India, Gilbert comes to a profound realization: God doesn't expect a specific type of research, or a strict form of behavior, instead God meets us where we are and uses us how we are.
Finally, on the last leg of her trip, Gilbert continues her study of balance and meditation in Bali, only to discover that true healing only comes through love. As Christians, we are deeply aware of this fact, for had it not been the love of God, we would not have had the opportunity for reconciliation with Him. "For God so loved the world..."
So...the four things that I walked away from this movie with are 1) enjoy the life that God has given us, take time to enjoy it; 2) we must forgive ourselves before we forgive ourselves before we can hope to forgive others; 3) God works in mysterious ways, we should not limit Him to certain times, places, or activities; and 4) LOVE is everything!
I highly recommend this movie to everyone, but especially to those who are on a similar journey...
Genre: Drama and Adaptation
Run time: 2 hrs, 13 min
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity
Starring: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis, Billy Crudup
Synopsis: Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having -- a husband, a house, a successful career -- yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.
Although Liz Gilbert's (Roberts) mention of God is brief, the entire movie is her journey to a deeper understanding of life, God, and spirituality. Despite the obvious leanings toward Eastern religions, I found that much of what Gilbert discovered on her quest could be applied to any and all religions, including Christianity.
The idea of enjoying life is the first lesson that Gilbert learns during her time in Italy. While in Italy, she learns to enjoy food, to take a break from life/stress, and to enjoy life as she's been given. By the end of her stay, she has discovered a passion for life that many in the West have lost in the midst of work and entertainment.
The next stop on Gilbert's quest is India, where she lives in an Ashram and attempts to meditate and pray. I could personally understand her problems with meditation...I find it so difficult to shut off my brain and focus on one single thought, idea, or even Bible verse. But more than the focus on prayer and meditation, there were two things that I found pertinent to this section of the movie. 1) Gilbert was adamantly told by another member of the ashram, that it wasn't her job to forgive her husband or hope that he could forgive her, instead she had to forgive herself. How many of us have this problem? We know in our heads that God has forgiven us, but we don't feel forgiven and we can't forget what we've done. Part of the forgiveness process is learning to forgive ourselves. 2) Just before leaving India, Gilbert comes to a profound realization: God doesn't expect a specific type of research, or a strict form of behavior, instead God meets us where we are and uses us how we are.
Finally, on the last leg of her trip, Gilbert continues her study of balance and meditation in Bali, only to discover that true healing only comes through love. As Christians, we are deeply aware of this fact, for had it not been the love of God, we would not have had the opportunity for reconciliation with Him. "For God so loved the world..."
So...the four things that I walked away from this movie with are 1) enjoy the life that God has given us, take time to enjoy it; 2) we must forgive ourselves before we forgive ourselves before we can hope to forgive others; 3) God works in mysterious ways, we should not limit Him to certain times, places, or activities; and 4) LOVE is everything!
I highly recommend this movie to everyone, but especially to those who are on a similar journey...
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Book of Eli
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Western
Run time: 1 hr, 58 min
Rating: R for some brutal violence and language
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals
Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth--all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water... or for nothing at all.
But they're no match for this traveler.
A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive--and continue.
Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie, the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain.
But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing--and no one--can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.
Run time: 1 hr, 58 min
Rating: R for some brutal violence and language
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals
Synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth--all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water... or for nothing at all.
But they're no match for this traveler.
A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive--and continue.
Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie, the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain.
But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing--and no one--can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.
* * * * * * * * * *
This was yet another movie that I nearly shut off in the first ten minutes...it reminded me a little too much of "I Am Legend"...a movie I truly did not enjoy. However, a friend recommended it, so I stuck with it, and I'm actually glad that I did. Now I'm not sure if the producers did this on purpose but about half way through the movie I realized a double entendre in the title...for those who may (or may not) know anything about ancient or Biblical Hebrew, "Eli" is the word for God...so this can be read as "The Book of Eli" or "The Book of God."
Now I may be giving a bit of the plot away, but the book that Eli is carrying with him across the country, is supposed to be the only surviving copy of the Bible...the Book of God. Once I realized that, my views on the movie changed dramatically. Now, was it the best movie ever made...probably not...but it did get me thinking.
The plot and the two main characters in this movie revolve around this book. Eli (Denzel Washington) is sworn to protect the book until he reaches the location shown to him by God where the Book will be safe. Carnegie (Gary Oldman) wishes to possess the book so that he can prey on the fears and superstitions of the people to give him more power. Now I do hate to give away more of the plot, but my favorite line has to be put into context.
According to the back story, after the near destruction of the planet, all the Bibles were burned because the powers that be felt that the war and destruction were caused by religion. Eli, who survived, heard the voice of God which led him to the only remaining copy of the Bible. He was told to take it to a place where it would be safe and as long as it was in his possession he would be protected. This of course causes a problem for Carnegie who wants the Book. In the middle of all this is Solara (Mila Kunis) who leaves Carnegie's makeshift town to follow Eli. When Carnegie catches up to the two of them, he threatens to kill Solara if Eli doesn't give him the book. Carnegie gets the book, takes Solara, shoots Eli and leaves him for dead. When Solara escapes and returns to Eli she asks him why he gave up the book...
"All the years I've been carrying it, reading it every day, I got so caught up with keeping it safe, I forgot to live by what I learned from it."
I wonder how many of us could say that?
I'm really not sure whether or not I should recommend this movie. Although a little strange, a little violent (but not graphically so), a few too many f-bombs, this movie was truly inspired and moving. However, take to heart that it's not for everyone, and definitely not for the casual viewer.
Tooth Fairy
So, I went on vacation thoroughly planning on maintaining this blog...but failed at that attempt. So, now that my vacation is over, I'm back to blogging about movies...and go figure, this is the first movie that I'm going to blog about...I've really got to broaden my current viewing patterns...
Genre: Comedy and Kids/Family
Run time: 1 hr, 42 min
Rating: PG for mild language, some rude humor and sports action
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews
Synopsis: "The Tooth Fairy," also known as Derek Thompson, is a hard-charging hockey player whose nickname comes from his habit of separating opposing players from their bicuspids. When Derek discourages a youngster's dreams, he's sentenced to one week's hard labor as a real tooth fairy, complete with the requisite tutu, wings and magic wand. At first, Derek "can't handle the tooth" - bumbling and stumbling as he tries to furtively wing his way through strangers' homes-doing what tooth fairies do. But as Derek slowly adapts to his new position, he begins to rediscover his own forgotten dreams.
About 10 minutes into this movie I couldn't believe that I was actually watching it. But considering that I was jet lagged and didn't really want to do anything else (especially get my butt up off the couch and change the DVD) I left it in and finished it...and in some ways I'm glad that I did. Although this movie is a bunch of silliness about Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson) who is a hockey player by day and "paroled" tooth fairy by night, there was one scene in the movie that especially stood out to me.
The head Tooth Fairy, Lily (Julie Andrews), is standing in her office ripping Thompson a new one about his attitude and how terrible he is as a tooth fairy. She tells him off for killing kids dreams and ruining their "belief" in all things magical. She tells him that children's imaginations and fantasies "nourish their souls and are the foundations for their dreams."
I started to think about that statement throughout the rest of the movie as Thompson becomes a better tooth fairy, and in the process becomes a better person. Jesus once said "except you become like little children..." now a lot of different people have speculated as to the exact meaning of that statement: did he mean their innocence? their ability to believe easily? Maybe it was both. But this movie reminded me of one thing: childhood is a wonderful time of belief, magic, and dreams. How often do we allow the disappointments of life interfere with the better parts of ourselves? Dreams die and with them so do our "souls." We become angry, bitter people and do our best to make people see the "reality" that is life.
Although the reality of this life is that the world is sinful and is slowly, but surely destroying itself, there is an element of "magic" that can still be found. If we allow ourselves to return to the innocent belief of childhood, we may once again find that although things may not always go our way, God is still very much present and waiting to "heal" our disillusionment and despair.
Genre: Comedy and Kids/Family
Run time: 1 hr, 42 min
Rating: PG for mild language, some rude humor and sports action
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews
Synopsis: "The Tooth Fairy," also known as Derek Thompson, is a hard-charging hockey player whose nickname comes from his habit of separating opposing players from their bicuspids. When Derek discourages a youngster's dreams, he's sentenced to one week's hard labor as a real tooth fairy, complete with the requisite tutu, wings and magic wand. At first, Derek "can't handle the tooth" - bumbling and stumbling as he tries to furtively wing his way through strangers' homes-doing what tooth fairies do. But as Derek slowly adapts to his new position, he begins to rediscover his own forgotten dreams.
About 10 minutes into this movie I couldn't believe that I was actually watching it. But considering that I was jet lagged and didn't really want to do anything else (especially get my butt up off the couch and change the DVD) I left it in and finished it...and in some ways I'm glad that I did. Although this movie is a bunch of silliness about Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson) who is a hockey player by day and "paroled" tooth fairy by night, there was one scene in the movie that especially stood out to me.
The head Tooth Fairy, Lily (Julie Andrews), is standing in her office ripping Thompson a new one about his attitude and how terrible he is as a tooth fairy. She tells him off for killing kids dreams and ruining their "belief" in all things magical. She tells him that children's imaginations and fantasies "nourish their souls and are the foundations for their dreams."
I started to think about that statement throughout the rest of the movie as Thompson becomes a better tooth fairy, and in the process becomes a better person. Jesus once said "except you become like little children..." now a lot of different people have speculated as to the exact meaning of that statement: did he mean their innocence? their ability to believe easily? Maybe it was both. But this movie reminded me of one thing: childhood is a wonderful time of belief, magic, and dreams. How often do we allow the disappointments of life interfere with the better parts of ourselves? Dreams die and with them so do our "souls." We become angry, bitter people and do our best to make people see the "reality" that is life.
Although the reality of this life is that the world is sinful and is slowly, but surely destroying itself, there is an element of "magic" that can still be found. If we allow ourselves to return to the innocent belief of childhood, we may once again find that although things may not always go our way, God is still very much present and waiting to "heal" our disillusionment and despair.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Nanny McPhee
Woohoo...another "fairy tale"...Sheesh.......
Genre: Comedy, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Run time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language
Starring: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Kelly MacDonald, Thomas Sangster
Synopsis: A new nanny enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children, led by the oldest boy Simon, have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies and are certain that they will have no trouble with this one. But as Nanny McPhee takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. Her influence also extends to the family's deeper problems, including Mr. Brown's sudden and seemingly inexplicable attempts to find a new wife; an announcement by the domineering Aunt Adelaide that she intends to take one of the children away; and the sad and secret longings of their scullery maid, Evangeline. As the children's behavior begins to change, Nanny McPhee's arresting face and frame appear to change as well, creating even more questions about this mysterious stranger whom the children and their father have come to love.
Like most fairy tales, there is a hidden message in "Nanny McPhee", now whether or not this is the message that the author/scriptwriter expected, is really not something I'm going to worry about too much. Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) enters the Brown household to teach the seven children 5 lessons. Now, these seven children are absolutely adorable...some of the cutest kids you could hope to meet, but they are some of the rudest, meanest, sneakiest kids you could ever possibly meet. On the outside they are beautiful, but on the inside they are ugly. When Nanny McPhee arrives, she outwardly portrays the inner ugliness of the children. What is then very interesting - and a key part to the movie - is that as the children increase their inner beauty, Nanny McPhee's outer beauty increases.
This movie reminded me of the God's words to Samuel "Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the inside." Although the children "looked" good, their actions betrayed their true nature. However, as they learned Nanny McPhee's lessons, they truly became "beautiful" people.
So it often is with us - we may look "righteous" on the outside, but it is the heart that interests God. Not until our inner matches our outer, will his work be complete - heaven!
Genre: Comedy, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Run time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some rude humor and brief language
Starring: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Kelly MacDonald, Thomas Sangster
Synopsis: A new nanny enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children, led by the oldest boy Simon, have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies and are certain that they will have no trouble with this one. But as Nanny McPhee takes control, they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. Her influence also extends to the family's deeper problems, including Mr. Brown's sudden and seemingly inexplicable attempts to find a new wife; an announcement by the domineering Aunt Adelaide that she intends to take one of the children away; and the sad and secret longings of their scullery maid, Evangeline. As the children's behavior begins to change, Nanny McPhee's arresting face and frame appear to change as well, creating even more questions about this mysterious stranger whom the children and their father have come to love.
Like most fairy tales, there is a hidden message in "Nanny McPhee", now whether or not this is the message that the author/scriptwriter expected, is really not something I'm going to worry about too much. Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) enters the Brown household to teach the seven children 5 lessons. Now, these seven children are absolutely adorable...some of the cutest kids you could hope to meet, but they are some of the rudest, meanest, sneakiest kids you could ever possibly meet. On the outside they are beautiful, but on the inside they are ugly. When Nanny McPhee arrives, she outwardly portrays the inner ugliness of the children. What is then very interesting - and a key part to the movie - is that as the children increase their inner beauty, Nanny McPhee's outer beauty increases.
This movie reminded me of the God's words to Samuel "Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the inside." Although the children "looked" good, their actions betrayed their true nature. However, as they learned Nanny McPhee's lessons, they truly became "beautiful" people.
So it often is with us - we may look "righteous" on the outside, but it is the heart that interests God. Not until our inner matches our outer, will his work be complete - heaven!
Get Smart
Genre: Comedy, Thriller and Adaptation
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language.
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp
Synopsis: Maxwell Smart is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency Control is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field alongside stalwart superstar Agent 23. Smart is partnered instead with the only other agent whose identity has not been compromised: the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99. As Smart and 99 get closer to unraveling KAOS' master plan--and each other--they discover that key KAOS operative Siegfried and his sidekick Shtarker are scheming to cash in with their network of terror. Given little field experience and even less time, Smart--armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm--must defeat KAOS if he is to save the day.
Although I've only been blogging about movies for about a week, I've been honing my movie watching for the last four, and I must admit that I still have a difficult time picking out specific themes in some movies. Movies like "Get Smart" have such an overwhelming silliness that it is often difficult to see the trees for the forest. There is however one scene in the movie that stands out in my mind. Again, if you haven't yet seen this movie, beware of spoilers.
Near the end of the movie, Max (Steve Carrell) was imprisoned for treason, but escapes and flies across the country to locate those who accused him of treason...why? To make sure that they stop the bomb. I love what the Chief (Alan Arkin) says "You escaped prison and ran back to those who captured you. You're either an idiot or innocent and I don't think you're an idiot." (paraphrase)
Max had every right to give up and sulk when he was wrongfully accused of treason, but instead he escapes and continues to save the day in his unique, bumbling way. This theme stuck out to me as I watched the movie. But unless you're looking for it, you'll miss it behind the comedy and general ineptness.
Although living in the grey world of spies and espionage, Max has a very definite idea of right and a distinct set of values to go along with it. He's not beyond playing the espionage game to protect those values, but he would never stray from them - even when accused of treason and thrown in jail...he still managed to hang on to his beliefs and optimism and rise to save the day.
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for some rude humor, action violence and language.
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp
Synopsis: Maxwell Smart is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency Control is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field alongside stalwart superstar Agent 23. Smart is partnered instead with the only other agent whose identity has not been compromised: the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99. As Smart and 99 get closer to unraveling KAOS' master plan--and each other--they discover that key KAOS operative Siegfried and his sidekick Shtarker are scheming to cash in with their network of terror. Given little field experience and even less time, Smart--armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm--must defeat KAOS if he is to save the day.
Although I've only been blogging about movies for about a week, I've been honing my movie watching for the last four, and I must admit that I still have a difficult time picking out specific themes in some movies. Movies like "Get Smart" have such an overwhelming silliness that it is often difficult to see the trees for the forest. There is however one scene in the movie that stands out in my mind. Again, if you haven't yet seen this movie, beware of spoilers.
Near the end of the movie, Max (Steve Carrell) was imprisoned for treason, but escapes and flies across the country to locate those who accused him of treason...why? To make sure that they stop the bomb. I love what the Chief (Alan Arkin) says "You escaped prison and ran back to those who captured you. You're either an idiot or innocent and I don't think you're an idiot." (paraphrase)
Max had every right to give up and sulk when he was wrongfully accused of treason, but instead he escapes and continues to save the day in his unique, bumbling way. This theme stuck out to me as I watched the movie. But unless you're looking for it, you'll miss it behind the comedy and general ineptness.
Although living in the grey world of spies and espionage, Max has a very definite idea of right and a distinct set of values to go along with it. He's not beyond playing the espionage game to protect those values, but he would never stray from them - even when accused of treason and thrown in jail...he still managed to hang on to his beliefs and optimism and rise to save the day.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Many people get hung up on the title of this movie and it's predecessor, however, if you will give me a chance to review this movie, maybe you'll see what I saw when I gave it a chance: it's not what you think.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror, Thriller, Adaptation and Sequel
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and some language
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Doug Jones, Luke Goss
Synopsis: After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy.
What most people miss when they get hung up on the title of this movie and it's predecessor, is that Hellboy - son of the devil with a terrible destiny to fulfill - chose to be a hero and champion for mankind. In fact, a recurring theme in both movies is that Hellboy wants above anything else to be human!
Now, I should probably review the first movie before the second, but sadly I saw the first one before starting this blog, and if I go back....well, I've already mentioned once that I'd go insane trying to review every movie I've ever seen, so I'll start with "Hellboy II", and maybe at another time I'll get to "Hellboy."
There are probably several different themes that I could pick from in this movie, but the one that struck me this time was new...
Hellboy, who spends his time with other "freaks" trying to save the world from the "other-wordly" bogey monsters, wants nothing more than to "fit in" in the "real world." He wants to be accepted and "belong," but soon finds that humans don't want to accept differences and are often incapable of doing so. In this, Hellboy has to make a decision if it's still worth saving humanity when all they do is scorn him and his friends.
It seems to me that as Christians who are supposed to follow the idea of "being in the world, but not of the world," we often want nothing more than to be a part of the world and accepted by it. Eventually we have to make a choice between being "worldly" or being "Godly" and that choice often leads to ridicule and scorn. Yet, at the end of his ministry on earth, Christ commands that we "make disciples of all nations..."
So, like Hellboy, we must make a decision: are we a part of the world? is it worth saving humanity? how do we reconcile Christ's command and the scorn of the world?
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror, Thriller, Adaptation and Sequel
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and some language
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Doug Jones, Luke Goss
Synopsis: After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy.
What most people miss when they get hung up on the title of this movie and it's predecessor, is that Hellboy - son of the devil with a terrible destiny to fulfill - chose to be a hero and champion for mankind. In fact, a recurring theme in both movies is that Hellboy wants above anything else to be human!
Now, I should probably review the first movie before the second, but sadly I saw the first one before starting this blog, and if I go back....well, I've already mentioned once that I'd go insane trying to review every movie I've ever seen, so I'll start with "Hellboy II", and maybe at another time I'll get to "Hellboy."
There are probably several different themes that I could pick from in this movie, but the one that struck me this time was new...
Hellboy, who spends his time with other "freaks" trying to save the world from the "other-wordly" bogey monsters, wants nothing more than to "fit in" in the "real world." He wants to be accepted and "belong," but soon finds that humans don't want to accept differences and are often incapable of doing so. In this, Hellboy has to make a decision if it's still worth saving humanity when all they do is scorn him and his friends.
It seems to me that as Christians who are supposed to follow the idea of "being in the world, but not of the world," we often want nothing more than to be a part of the world and accepted by it. Eventually we have to make a choice between being "worldly" or being "Godly" and that choice often leads to ridicule and scorn. Yet, at the end of his ministry on earth, Christ commands that we "make disciples of all nations..."
So, like Hellboy, we must make a decision: are we a part of the world? is it worth saving humanity? how do we reconcile Christ's command and the scorn of the world?
Clash of the Titans
It's sad that the first "action" flick I've had a chance to see since starting this blog was a colossal disappointment. Granted there may be some who enjoy(ed) this movie, but let me suggest one thing...it's just as good in 2-D as it is in 3-D.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy and Remake
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality
Starring: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Alexa Davalos
Synopsis: The ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades, vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny.
The classic mythology of Perseus, this movie fell short of my expectations. However, this blog is not about reviewing movies in general, but reviewing them according to Christian standards...so despite my disappointment in this movie, I can, and will, review it through the eyes of a Christian.
Although the story centers around Perseus (Sam Worthington) and his desire for revenge against Hades (who killed his adopted family), I found that there was a sub-theme that was far more powerful. Having been fascinated with Greek mythology in my youth, I found a renewed interest in the study because of the sub-themes I saw within this movie. Besides Perseus (half-human son of Zeus) the two main characters are Zeus (Liam Neeson) and Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and their continuing "family feud." Feeling betrayed by his brother, Hades desires to exact revenge against Zeus, so he orchestrates a plan that will destroy his brother's power and increase his own.
We see the fulfillment of the sub-theme in a very poignant scene near the end where Zeus and Hades meet on Mt. Olympus and Hades plot is revealed. Hades reminds Zeus that he requires the love of humans as a source for his power, while Hades requires their fear, which he is increasing by having the Kraken attack the people of Argos.
I found this scene extremely poignant and impressive in it's parallels to Christianity. The Bible repeatedly says, "God is love" and portrays Satan as preying on the fears of humanity. So, although "Clash of the Titans" is based in Greek mythology, the premise of good vs. evil and love vs. fear is still a portrayal of very basic Christian belief and philosophy.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy and Remake
Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality
Starring: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Alexa Davalos
Synopsis: The ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades, vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny.
The classic mythology of Perseus, this movie fell short of my expectations. However, this blog is not about reviewing movies in general, but reviewing them according to Christian standards...so despite my disappointment in this movie, I can, and will, review it through the eyes of a Christian.
Although the story centers around Perseus (Sam Worthington) and his desire for revenge against Hades (who killed his adopted family), I found that there was a sub-theme that was far more powerful. Having been fascinated with Greek mythology in my youth, I found a renewed interest in the study because of the sub-themes I saw within this movie. Besides Perseus (half-human son of Zeus) the two main characters are Zeus (Liam Neeson) and Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and their continuing "family feud." Feeling betrayed by his brother, Hades desires to exact revenge against Zeus, so he orchestrates a plan that will destroy his brother's power and increase his own.
We see the fulfillment of the sub-theme in a very poignant scene near the end where Zeus and Hades meet on Mt. Olympus and Hades plot is revealed. Hades reminds Zeus that he requires the love of humans as a source for his power, while Hades requires their fear, which he is increasing by having the Kraken attack the people of Argos.
I found this scene extremely poignant and impressive in it's parallels to Christianity. The Bible repeatedly says, "God is love" and portrays Satan as preying on the fears of humanity. So, although "Clash of the Titans" is based in Greek mythology, the premise of good vs. evil and love vs. fear is still a portrayal of very basic Christian belief and philosophy.
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Really can't watch one Narnia movie without watching both, especially when you're watching them with someone who has never seen them before!
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Rating: PG for epic battle action and violence.
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: One year later, the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct and Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy. The four children will soon meet a curious new character: Narnia's rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding, as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of the kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians--led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian--embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz's tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.
Like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" there are some serious family issues in "Prince Caspian." However, it's not the family issues that I want to focus on. In fact, it's not even really Caspian that I want to focus on...instead I'd rather turn our focus to Peter.
One year after returning to being a teenager, Peter is frustrated and "unfulfilled" with life in England. So when he and his siblings return to Narnia, he immediately tries to step back into the role of "High King"...allowing his pride to get in the way...and we all know what happens to pride...
Having once been humbled by the presence of Aslan and the overwhelming task in front of him (first movie) Peter has now forgotten those lessons and allowed his pride to cloud his actions. It isn't until Peter tries and fails, that he realizes his mistake and relearns the lessons previously learned. He has to humble himself, accept that others were right, and ask for help before their mission to Narnia is fulfilled.
Far too often, this is the hardest lesson for us to learn. We want to do things in our own power, we're convinced that we know everything and know the best way to handle things, only to have them crumble around us because we didn't connect to the One who does know everything. Sometimes we have to come face-to-face with the "king of all" before we can fully see the truth.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Rating: PG for epic battle action and violence.
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: One year later, the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct and Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy. The four children will soon meet a curious new character: Narnia's rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding, as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of the kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians--led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian--embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz's tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.
Like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" there are some serious family issues in "Prince Caspian." However, it's not the family issues that I want to focus on. In fact, it's not even really Caspian that I want to focus on...instead I'd rather turn our focus to Peter.
One year after returning to being a teenager, Peter is frustrated and "unfulfilled" with life in England. So when he and his siblings return to Narnia, he immediately tries to step back into the role of "High King"...allowing his pride to get in the way...and we all know what happens to pride...
Having once been humbled by the presence of Aslan and the overwhelming task in front of him (first movie) Peter has now forgotten those lessons and allowed his pride to cloud his actions. It isn't until Peter tries and fails, that he realizes his mistake and relearns the lessons previously learned. He has to humble himself, accept that others were right, and ask for help before their mission to Narnia is fulfilled.
Far too often, this is the hardest lesson for us to learn. We want to do things in our own power, we're convinced that we know everything and know the best way to handle things, only to have them crumble around us because we didn't connect to the One who does know everything. Sometimes we have to come face-to-face with the "king of all" before we can fully see the truth.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Now I know what you're thinking..."Really? She's going to do this movie? Doesn't she know that this is an easy movie to find spiritual themes?" You're right, this is a rather easy movie when it comes to seeing it with Christian eyes. But how often do we look at something obvious and miss the importance because it's something we're used to? Ever tried to get a fresh look at the Gospels? We look at this movie and see the clear parallel between the gospels, the idea of grace and dying for love, but what about the other messages?
Genre: Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign, Drama, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hours, 19 minutes
Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: Four young adventurers playing hide-and-seek in the country home of an old professor stumble upon an enchanted wardrobe that will take them places they never dreamed. Stepping through the wardrobe door, they are whisked out of World War II London into the spectacular parallel universe known as Narnia--a fairy-tale realm of magical proportions where woodland animals talk and mythological creatures roam the hills. But Narnia has fallen under the icy spell of a mad sorceress, cursed to suffer through a winter that never ends by the White Witch Jadis. Now, aided by Narnia's rightful leader, the wise and mystical lion Aslan, the four Pevensie children will discover their own strength and lead Narnia into a spectacular battle to be free of the Witch's glacial enslavement forever.
I do want to focus on the general theme of love, but under a different context: that of familial love. The four main characters - Peter (William Mosely), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) - are typical siblings...they argue, they fight, and they drive each other crazy. As a typical "oldest child" Peter is bossy and a know-it-all which, of course, causes problems between him and Edmund, who often feels lost in Peter's shadow. So when Edmund is given an opportunity to have something better then Peter, he takes it without thinking - setting events into motion that aid the main theme of the movie.
It seems to me that this movie portrays a very basic familial idea...that family - whether biological or chosen - is so intertwined with our lives that any and all interactions will impact our lives and our everyday choices. This of course doesn't absolve us of any responsibility for our own choices and actions, but I do believe that - as Peter and Edmund exemplify - family relationships do play a role in who we become.
There are two scenes in the movie that stand out to me. The first is the scene where Peter, Susan, and Lucy chase after Edmund when he goes to the White Witches (Tilda Swinton) castle and Peter is adamant that they must save Edmund. The second is in Aslan's camp when the White Witch comes to claim Edmund as her own and Peter stands in front of Edmund and challenges her. It seems to me that of all places it could show up, the family is the most important place for love. It is the first place we learn about love and the one place we can always return to find it again.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Art/Foreign, Drama, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 2 hours, 19 minutes
Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson
Synopsis: Four young adventurers playing hide-and-seek in the country home of an old professor stumble upon an enchanted wardrobe that will take them places they never dreamed. Stepping through the wardrobe door, they are whisked out of World War II London into the spectacular parallel universe known as Narnia--a fairy-tale realm of magical proportions where woodland animals talk and mythological creatures roam the hills. But Narnia has fallen under the icy spell of a mad sorceress, cursed to suffer through a winter that never ends by the White Witch Jadis. Now, aided by Narnia's rightful leader, the wise and mystical lion Aslan, the four Pevensie children will discover their own strength and lead Narnia into a spectacular battle to be free of the Witch's glacial enslavement forever.
I do want to focus on the general theme of love, but under a different context: that of familial love. The four main characters - Peter (William Mosely), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) - are typical siblings...they argue, they fight, and they drive each other crazy. As a typical "oldest child" Peter is bossy and a know-it-all which, of course, causes problems between him and Edmund, who often feels lost in Peter's shadow. So when Edmund is given an opportunity to have something better then Peter, he takes it without thinking - setting events into motion that aid the main theme of the movie.
It seems to me that this movie portrays a very basic familial idea...that family - whether biological or chosen - is so intertwined with our lives that any and all interactions will impact our lives and our everyday choices. This of course doesn't absolve us of any responsibility for our own choices and actions, but I do believe that - as Peter and Edmund exemplify - family relationships do play a role in who we become.
There are two scenes in the movie that stand out to me. The first is the scene where Peter, Susan, and Lucy chase after Edmund when he goes to the White Witches (Tilda Swinton) castle and Peter is adamant that they must save Edmund. The second is in Aslan's camp when the White Witch comes to claim Edmund as her own and Peter stands in front of Edmund and challenges her. It seems to me that of all places it could show up, the family is the most important place for love. It is the first place we learn about love and the one place we can always return to find it again.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Kids/Family and Science Fiction/Fantasy
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Rating: G
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zachary Mills, Ted Ludzik
Synopsis: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world. In fact, it's a magic toy store and everything in it comes to life--including the store itself. The emporium asks only one thing of its customers--you must believe it to see it.
"You must believe it to see it." I have to say that this is a much better way of saying the old phrase "Seeing is believing." I believe this phrase is at the heart of this movie's spirituality. Even more than that, the idea of having "faith like a child" is portrayed as the basis for believing.
Young Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) was considered a child prodigy on the piano, but years later, she's feels lost as to her true purpose - living life without "sparkle". Working for the quirky Mr. Magorium, who even she admits is magic, she's seeking for meaning and purpose for her life. But when Mr. Magorium surprises her with his imminent demise and subsequent passing on of the store to her, Molly is faced with a crisis: that of losing the one person who believes in her and her feelings of inadequacy in running the "magical" toy store.
It isn't until Molly has to defend the store to a disbelieving accountant (Jason Bateman) that Molly discovers her own belief in not only the store but also in herself. She had to return to the "pre-skepticism" of childhood before she could fully see the "magic" in her life.
Surrounded by the sweetness of this movie, is the hidden message that somethings require the faith of a child. How often do we get caught up in the "reality" of every day life and forget that God is more wonderful then we could ever imagine? Have we lost our "sparkle" somewhere along the way?
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Rating: G
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zachary Mills, Ted Ludzik
Synopsis: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world. In fact, it's a magic toy store and everything in it comes to life--including the store itself. The emporium asks only one thing of its customers--you must believe it to see it.
"You must believe it to see it." I have to say that this is a much better way of saying the old phrase "Seeing is believing." I believe this phrase is at the heart of this movie's spirituality. Even more than that, the idea of having "faith like a child" is portrayed as the basis for believing.
Young Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) was considered a child prodigy on the piano, but years later, she's feels lost as to her true purpose - living life without "sparkle". Working for the quirky Mr. Magorium, who even she admits is magic, she's seeking for meaning and purpose for her life. But when Mr. Magorium surprises her with his imminent demise and subsequent passing on of the store to her, Molly is faced with a crisis: that of losing the one person who believes in her and her feelings of inadequacy in running the "magical" toy store.
It isn't until Molly has to defend the store to a disbelieving accountant (Jason Bateman) that Molly discovers her own belief in not only the store but also in herself. She had to return to the "pre-skepticism" of childhood before she could fully see the "magic" in her life.
Surrounded by the sweetness of this movie, is the hidden message that somethings require the faith of a child. How often do we get caught up in the "reality" of every day life and forget that God is more wonderful then we could ever imagine? Have we lost our "sparkle" somewhere along the way?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Ever After
Okay, so I'm not usually one to watch a lot of chick flicks...in fact, I didn't even realize that I owned so many chick flicks until Sheila started going through my movies and pulling them out to watch. Don't worry, this whole blog is NOT going to be all chick flicks...I'd go crazy before I'd come anywhere near finishing this crazy project. I suddenly feel the need to go watch the "Die Hard" series, or "Mission Impossible" or something!
Genre: Comedy, drama, romance and remake
Running time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for momentary strong language
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Angelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds
Synopsis: In a re-telling of one of our most beloved tales, a resourceful young woman must overcome the schemes of her evil stepmother to be with the one she loves -- the Prince of France -- who has fallen for her beauty and intelligence. With the ingenuity of Leonardo Di Vinci and the strength of love, the young woman realizes that the Cinderella stories can come true.
Yes, I know, I know...I picked "Cinderella"...how terrible of me! So, fairy tale aside, this movie actually has some really good themes to it. In fact, I had to remind myself of my two primary rules (see "Julie & Julia"), because I was finding multiple Christian messages in this movie! But it wasn't until the very end, that one stood out far above all the others.
Maybe it's because I'm currently reading Philip Yancey's "Whats So Amazing About Grace?
" for a class, but this movie is a wonderful portrayal of the world's sense of "ungrace" and God's unbelievable grace. Just about every character is seeking for or working toward attaining something. This is the idea of "ungrace" - the opposite of grace. The idea of grace is being given a gift regardless of whether or not you deserve it. So, how does the story of "Cinderella" show grace? There are two very clear scenes in the movie that portray grace in a fantastic way.
[WARNING: Spoiler Alert...if you haven't yet seen this movie...you may not want to read this one!]
The first scene is near the end, just after Danielle (Drew Barrymore) escapes from the wretched Monsieur Pierre Le Pieu. Danielle walks out of Le Pieu's "house" (and I use that term lightly) to see her "Prince Charming" riding up to save the day. For those of you who have seen this movie, you'll remember that previously, Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) had humiliated and rejected Danielle because she was a commoner and not of noble birth. So here he is, suddenly back on the scene and determined to save her. So Henry pours out his heart to Danielle, asking for her forgiveness. All young women out there who have ever had their hearts broken by stupid men will agree with me when I say: Henry doesn't deserve it! And that's why this is such a tremendous picture of grace...Danielle has every right to hate Henry and to turn him away for what he did to her, yet she forgives him! Now that's grace!
The second scene is almost immediately following the first one, when Danielle's step-mother (Rodmilla) and step-sisters (Marguerite and Jacqueline) are summoned before the king. A little background, Rodmilla (Angelica Huston) has spent the entire movie trying to marry Marguerite off to Henry, and is in fact the one who orchestrated Danielle being humiliated. So after the first scene, Danielle and Henry get married and Rodmilla and Marguerite are summoned before the king to answer for a lie she told to the queen. The two are stripped of their nobility and are going to be sent to the Americas unless someone will speak for them...which no one will...until Danielle walks in. You guessed it...after spending the previous 10 years treating Danielle as nothing better than a servant, Rodmilla deserved to be sent to the Americas. Instead, Danielle shows her grace.
Genre: Comedy, drama, romance and remake
Running time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for momentary strong language
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Angelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds
Synopsis: In a re-telling of one of our most beloved tales, a resourceful young woman must overcome the schemes of her evil stepmother to be with the one she loves -- the Prince of France -- who has fallen for her beauty and intelligence. With the ingenuity of Leonardo Di Vinci and the strength of love, the young woman realizes that the Cinderella stories can come true.
Yes, I know, I know...I picked "Cinderella"...how terrible of me! So, fairy tale aside, this movie actually has some really good themes to it. In fact, I had to remind myself of my two primary rules (see "Julie & Julia"), because I was finding multiple Christian messages in this movie! But it wasn't until the very end, that one stood out far above all the others.
Maybe it's because I'm currently reading Philip Yancey's "Whats So Amazing About Grace?
" for a class, but this movie is a wonderful portrayal of the world's sense of "ungrace" and God's unbelievable grace. Just about every character is seeking for or working toward attaining something. This is the idea of "ungrace" - the opposite of grace. The idea of grace is being given a gift regardless of whether or not you deserve it. So, how does the story of "Cinderella" show grace? There are two very clear scenes in the movie that portray grace in a fantastic way.[WARNING: Spoiler Alert...if you haven't yet seen this movie...you may not want to read this one!]
The first scene is near the end, just after Danielle (Drew Barrymore) escapes from the wretched Monsieur Pierre Le Pieu. Danielle walks out of Le Pieu's "house" (and I use that term lightly) to see her "Prince Charming" riding up to save the day. For those of you who have seen this movie, you'll remember that previously, Prince Henry (Dougray Scott) had humiliated and rejected Danielle because she was a commoner and not of noble birth. So here he is, suddenly back on the scene and determined to save her. So Henry pours out his heart to Danielle, asking for her forgiveness. All young women out there who have ever had their hearts broken by stupid men will agree with me when I say: Henry doesn't deserve it! And that's why this is such a tremendous picture of grace...Danielle has every right to hate Henry and to turn him away for what he did to her, yet she forgives him! Now that's grace!
The second scene is almost immediately following the first one, when Danielle's step-mother (Rodmilla) and step-sisters (Marguerite and Jacqueline) are summoned before the king. A little background, Rodmilla (Angelica Huston) has spent the entire movie trying to marry Marguerite off to Henry, and is in fact the one who orchestrated Danielle being humiliated. So after the first scene, Danielle and Henry get married and Rodmilla and Marguerite are summoned before the king to answer for a lie she told to the queen. The two are stripped of their nobility and are going to be sent to the Americas unless someone will speak for them...which no one will...until Danielle walks in. You guessed it...after spending the previous 10 years treating Danielle as nothing better than a servant, Rodmilla deserved to be sent to the Americas. Instead, Danielle shows her grace.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Bulletproof Monk
As Sheila and I prepared dinner and discussed what movie we wanted to watch last night, another friend of ours spoke up and said "not a chick flick, please!" Poor guy, it's hard when you're outnumbered. But, not wanting to make him suffer too much, I picked "Bulletproof Monk" which is a great combination of comedy and action with just a touch of romance.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language, and some sexual content
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, Karel Roden, Jaime King, Victoria Smurfit
Synopsis: The Monk is a Zen-calm martial arts master whose duty has been to protect a powerful ancient scroll. Faced with finding the scroll's next guardian, the Monk's quest brings him to New York City where--to his disbelief--it appears his successor is a smart-mouthed pickpocket named Kar. Kar's a charming, street-tough wild card who enjoys his life of no responsibility. As the Monk instructs Kar, the unlikely duo become partners in protecting the scroll from a power-monger who's been chasing it for sixty years. Amidst high-flying acrobatics and martial arts action, this comical odd couple has to work together to keep the scroll--and mankind--safe.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking...of course this movie has religious connotations...it's about a Buddhist monk! Very true, there are definitely Buddhist undertones to this movie....but I'm not talking about "religion" in movies....I'm talking about seeing movies through Christian eyes...
So what can we learn from a movie with a Buddhist monk as it's main character? Let's break it down...we have four main characters: the Monk, Kar, Jade, and the scroll. The scroll?!?! You're probably wondering...and yes, objects can be main characters and in this case the scroll is most definitely a main character, because without it you wouldn't have a story.
Scroll: ancient legend says that anyone who reads the entire scroll aloud will receive ultimate power and can use it for either good or evil. As an old monk says at the beginning of the movie: "the world isn't ready for that kind of power."
Monk: has been protecting the scroll for 60 years, traveling the earth, evading the clutches of a Nazi who is seeking the scroll. Although the man chasing him would not hesitate to kill him, the Monk reveres life above all things.
Kar: a young pickpocket who likes the martial arts, but has no concept of the deeper meaning behind the art. He lives for the day and for himself.
Jade: heiress by day, street rat by night. Caught in the shadow of her father's reputation, she is seeking to find herself in the madness she sees as her life.
Throw all four of these characters into a pot and what do you get? A recipe for a classic Good vs. Evil, fulfilling an inner potential, movie. It's so hard not to see the great controversy between good & evil (God & Satan) in most of the movies that come out of Hollywood. But has that in any way desensitized us to the importance of that controversy?
One of the things I love about this movie is the recurring line "he has potential." Didn't Christ come because we all had "potential"? I also find it interesting how much the Buddhist monk is a Christ-like figure. a) By protecting the scroll, he is protecting humanity. b) Although most people don't see Kar's potential, the Monk meets him where he is and grooms him to becoming the next guardian - instead of waiting for him to meet the high standards first. c) The Monk believes in peace rather than anger or revenge, although he fights, it is always in self-defense or defense of those weaker than himself, and it is never fatal.
But what stands out to me the most...the final thought that I want to leave with you...it is through meeting the Monk that Kar and Jade discover the purpose and that their lives are changed. Sound familiar?
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language, and some sexual content
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Seann William Scott, Karel Roden, Jaime King, Victoria Smurfit
Synopsis: The Monk is a Zen-calm martial arts master whose duty has been to protect a powerful ancient scroll. Faced with finding the scroll's next guardian, the Monk's quest brings him to New York City where--to his disbelief--it appears his successor is a smart-mouthed pickpocket named Kar. Kar's a charming, street-tough wild card who enjoys his life of no responsibility. As the Monk instructs Kar, the unlikely duo become partners in protecting the scroll from a power-monger who's been chasing it for sixty years. Amidst high-flying acrobatics and martial arts action, this comical odd couple has to work together to keep the scroll--and mankind--safe.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking...of course this movie has religious connotations...it's about a Buddhist monk! Very true, there are definitely Buddhist undertones to this movie....but I'm not talking about "religion" in movies....I'm talking about seeing movies through Christian eyes...
So what can we learn from a movie with a Buddhist monk as it's main character? Let's break it down...we have four main characters: the Monk, Kar, Jade, and the scroll. The scroll?!?! You're probably wondering...and yes, objects can be main characters and in this case the scroll is most definitely a main character, because without it you wouldn't have a story.
Scroll: ancient legend says that anyone who reads the entire scroll aloud will receive ultimate power and can use it for either good or evil. As an old monk says at the beginning of the movie: "the world isn't ready for that kind of power."
Monk: has been protecting the scroll for 60 years, traveling the earth, evading the clutches of a Nazi who is seeking the scroll. Although the man chasing him would not hesitate to kill him, the Monk reveres life above all things.
Kar: a young pickpocket who likes the martial arts, but has no concept of the deeper meaning behind the art. He lives for the day and for himself.
Jade: heiress by day, street rat by night. Caught in the shadow of her father's reputation, she is seeking to find herself in the madness she sees as her life.
Throw all four of these characters into a pot and what do you get? A recipe for a classic Good vs. Evil, fulfilling an inner potential, movie. It's so hard not to see the great controversy between good & evil (God & Satan) in most of the movies that come out of Hollywood. But has that in any way desensitized us to the importance of that controversy?
One of the things I love about this movie is the recurring line "he has potential." Didn't Christ come because we all had "potential"? I also find it interesting how much the Buddhist monk is a Christ-like figure. a) By protecting the scroll, he is protecting humanity. b) Although most people don't see Kar's potential, the Monk meets him where he is and grooms him to becoming the next guardian - instead of waiting for him to meet the high standards first. c) The Monk believes in peace rather than anger or revenge, although he fights, it is always in self-defense or defense of those weaker than himself, and it is never fatal.
But what stands out to me the most...the final thought that I want to leave with you...it is through meeting the Monk that Kar and Jade discover the purpose and that their lives are changed. Sound familiar?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Julie & Julia
Considering that the movie "Julie & Julia" was part of the inspiration to start this blog, I figure I should probably start with this movie. So let's start with some basics:
Genre: Comedy and Adaptation
Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality
Starring: Merryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanly Tucci, Chris Messina, Jane Lynch
Synopsis: Based on two true stories, "Julie & Julia" intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.
Although I'm a big fan of both Merryl and Amy, I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie or if I'd even like it. However, the superb acting on the part of these two great actresses brought the story to life. The character of Julie (Amy Adams) was especially easy to relate to as she portrayed a young woman stuck in a mundane job despite her dreams of grandeur. A young married woman who feels like a failure and laments the fact that she's never completed everything, Julie takes up the challenge from her husband to blog her way through Julia Child's cookbook in one year.
So what in the world does this movie have to do with Christianity? What many Christian's fail to realize is that most movies can be "read" like a parable, and as my Religion teachers told me in college, it's vitally important to know how to translate a parable. Step 1: don't over-analyze - the first, easiest, and most obvious interpretation is usually the best one. Step 2: don't squeeze the parable dry - in other words...one interpretation at a time. Often we want to pick out every possible meaning from a parable/movie and we lose the power of the message in the process.
Now, let's apply these two steps to "Julie & Julia":
The majority of the movie focuses on the journey that Julie takes through Julia's cookbook. It shows her struggles, her joys, her failures, and her successes. Sound familiar? Ever tried to read the Bible through in one year? The idea is the same. Throughout the course of the year, Julie comes to feel a special bond with Julia as she studies her life and cooks through her cookbook, so much so that she comes to feel as if she knows Julia. Watching the ups and downs of Julie's year, really made me think about my journey with God. As I work my way through God's "cookbook" - the Bible - I have my own ups and downs, failures and successes...but through it all, I come to have a better relationship with a being that I've never "met."
Now here's the hard part, obviously there are going to be pieces of movies that don't fit in with the Christian lifestyle. For instance, if you notice the rating above, this movie is rated PG-13 because of language and sensuality. Sadly, it is nearly impossible to find a movie these days that doesn't have at least mild language and sensuality, so, how much is too much? That is something that you need to decide for yourself. It's a sad state of affairs that people today, including Christians, have become desensitized to language, sex, and violence. So what do we do? Do we just shrug it off as a part of the world?
My personal philosophy on the language, sex, and violence in movies has two parts: 1) there is such a thing as too much. Everything we watch and hear will affect our subconscious, and personally no movie or possible "hidden" message is worth sitting through a movie stuffed to overflowing with language, sex, and violence. 2) As a "big picture person" it is possible for me to completely overlook the "details." Now, not everyone can do this...and I must warn you that those particular details do tend to come to the forefront when watching movies with people who are more sensitive to them (i.e. parents, children, etc). So how much is too much? I challenge you to find out for yourself - that decision is truly between you and your conscience.
Genre: Comedy and Adaptation
Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality
Starring: Merryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanly Tucci, Chris Messina, Jane Lynch
Synopsis: Based on two true stories, "Julie & Julia" intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.
Although I'm a big fan of both Merryl and Amy, I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie or if I'd even like it. However, the superb acting on the part of these two great actresses brought the story to life. The character of Julie (Amy Adams) was especially easy to relate to as she portrayed a young woman stuck in a mundane job despite her dreams of grandeur. A young married woman who feels like a failure and laments the fact that she's never completed everything, Julie takes up the challenge from her husband to blog her way through Julia Child's cookbook in one year.
So what in the world does this movie have to do with Christianity? What many Christian's fail to realize is that most movies can be "read" like a parable, and as my Religion teachers told me in college, it's vitally important to know how to translate a parable. Step 1: don't over-analyze - the first, easiest, and most obvious interpretation is usually the best one. Step 2: don't squeeze the parable dry - in other words...one interpretation at a time. Often we want to pick out every possible meaning from a parable/movie and we lose the power of the message in the process.
Now, let's apply these two steps to "Julie & Julia":
The majority of the movie focuses on the journey that Julie takes through Julia's cookbook. It shows her struggles, her joys, her failures, and her successes. Sound familiar? Ever tried to read the Bible through in one year? The idea is the same. Throughout the course of the year, Julie comes to feel a special bond with Julia as she studies her life and cooks through her cookbook, so much so that she comes to feel as if she knows Julia. Watching the ups and downs of Julie's year, really made me think about my journey with God. As I work my way through God's "cookbook" - the Bible - I have my own ups and downs, failures and successes...but through it all, I come to have a better relationship with a being that I've never "met."
Now here's the hard part, obviously there are going to be pieces of movies that don't fit in with the Christian lifestyle. For instance, if you notice the rating above, this movie is rated PG-13 because of language and sensuality. Sadly, it is nearly impossible to find a movie these days that doesn't have at least mild language and sensuality, so, how much is too much? That is something that you need to decide for yourself. It's a sad state of affairs that people today, including Christians, have become desensitized to language, sex, and violence. So what do we do? Do we just shrug it off as a part of the world?
My personal philosophy on the language, sex, and violence in movies has two parts: 1) there is such a thing as too much. Everything we watch and hear will affect our subconscious, and personally no movie or possible "hidden" message is worth sitting through a movie stuffed to overflowing with language, sex, and violence. 2) As a "big picture person" it is possible for me to completely overlook the "details." Now, not everyone can do this...and I must warn you that those particular details do tend to come to the forefront when watching movies with people who are more sensitive to them (i.e. parents, children, etc). So how much is too much? I challenge you to find out for yourself - that decision is truly between you and your conscience.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Greetings!
I must admit that I never thought I would be one of those people who blogs for the world to see. As much as I love to write as a hobby, I've never been very good at sharing my innermost feelings on a regular basis. However, three key events in the last week have inspired me to write this blog. 1) watching the movie, "Julie & Julia" based on the true story of a young woman who blogs about her year-long journey through a cookbook; 2) spending time with a new friend/sister who loves chick flicks; and 3) taking a class on ministry and spiritual life.
So here's the deal, like Julie from "Julie, Julia" I've decided to blog my way through something that I enjoy - but instead of cooking, I'm going to do movies. Now if I was to try to blog about every single movie that I've ever seen I would drown in the immensity of the task, so instead, I will blog about movies after seeing them - which will include older movies that I am re-watching.
As the title of this blog suggests, this is going to be my journey through Hollywood's myriad of productions as seen through the eyes of a Christian. The majority of Christians today can be lumped into two main groups: those who won't watch anything because it's too "secular" and those who will watch anything without any kind of filter. I would like to pose two questions as I begin this journey...
1) Do movies really affect us as human beings, especially Christians?
2) What kind of filter should a Christian have when selecting and viewing movies?
I should probably warn you, if you decide to take this journey with me and are serious about answering the questions above, you will come out of this with a changed point of view. Are you ready?
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