Film Review #5 - The Matrix

Film Review #5 - "There is no spoon."  

There are few movies with the level of modernization and proper story adaptation of Christian belief as, The Matrix.  The movie starts in the place that each and every Christian does.  Looking for a savior or "The One".  In the case of the movie it doesn't take long for the audience to figure out who that is, Neo.  While the film itself benefits from an assortment of choreography and visual effects, it is the story which above all else grabs the audience inward.  Why shouldn't it?  It is after all the oldest story told.  The story hidden in place sight.  Retold by every culture in every period of human history.  The tale of good versus evil.  

In the case of the Matrix, the evil manifests itself as a race of artificially intelligent robots who have enslaved humanity in an endless repeat of a pseudo world of the mind.  This fake world supposedly takes place at the height of human history, the early 21st century, but there's no iPhone so I will disagree even though that particular piece of technology wasn't around when the movie was made.

At the core of the film are two questions, "What is real and how do we know it's real?"  Perhaps, it doesn't matter to the "Jesus is the only way because the Bible tells me so crowd", but for those of us who still happen to have enough audacity to question God, it matters a great deal.  Is it true that ignorance is bliss?  Adam and Eve may actually surprise us with their answer considering the fruit of tree after all bestowed knowledge on them that was unintended for them.

Without getting too far off track and turning this into a philosophical discussion, what can we learn from a secular movie where the hero dies, comes back to life as an ascended being?  That Christian story and mythology as the secular world would see it is alive and well in Hollywood and provides an excellent avenue for sparking some serious red vs blue pill type conversation.

Film Reviews #6,7,8 - Sherwood Pictures (Facing The Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous)

Going back to basics.  Films are nothing more than audio/visual modes of storytelling.  Adding or subtracting from what that means is to misunderstand what produces the popularity of films.  Now, as with any story there is always a purpose behind telling that story.  Whether it's a fable/moral, fairy tale/adventure, or dramatic/experience driven.  In the case of truly Christian cinema, the purpose is to express any number of Christian values or to "share the Gospel" message itself on screen.  In terms of quality and effectiveness in this specific area, there really hasn't been anything as inspiring as the films coming from a small Baptist church in Georgia, Sherwood Baptist.  While Flywheel counts as a film production of Sherwood Pictures, it honestly deserves to be separated by itself for a number of reasons that don't need to be discussed here.  Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous, are all excellent examples of Christian film making.  "Why you is this?", you may ask.  I'll tell you.  It is because of their signature "real average people" playing "real average people".  With very few departures from this, the majority of the actors and actresses used are not professional or even amature.  Normally, this would result in a very poorly done film.  However, with an excellent script and believable dramatic moments, the films grip at all the right heart strings and lead to genuine moments of falling on your knees prayer.  

Each movie in its own right has themes which guide the characters.  It can often times be predictable, but then of course, "Lord, you gave me a truck.", still gets me tearing up every time.  For Facing The Giants, the primary theme is Faith.  Fireproof focuses on commitment to The Lord and to the relationships in our lives. While Couraegous is about the responsibilities in our lives.  However in spite of all the honest to goodness quality film making that these movies represent, they wouldn't be half as good if it wasn't for the humor in each of them.  Life sucks, and Sherwood Films certainly don't tap dance around that fact, but they do manage to find a way of capturing those moments in life that cause us to laugh no matter how down we might be.  For that myself and millions of others are truly grateful.

Film Review #9 - Captain American: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

*Spoilers Ahead*

I feel as if the subheading for this movie could be, "The Ends Will Never Justify The Means."  and then expect to spend two hours watching how this plays out for everyone.  By the end of the movie, there isn't a single character who doesn't seriously question their motivates for what they do and how they do it.  Setting aside for a moment the obvious influence events like WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden, the movie addresses themes which deal with the heart of conflict and freedom.  Are we truly free if everything we believe in and fight for as nothing more than elaborate lie.  Certainly Captain America isn't the place to question the stars and the stripes, but with a bold and daring script, Chris Evans and company attempt to do just that.  

At a point in the movie, Nick Furry attempts to save S.H.I.E.L.D from being completely dismantled, but ultimately gives in and sees it as the only option.  I found myself at times wondering if the church could benefit from something like this.  Could we all just start over?  No more denominations, no more division, just because we disagree over silly things can we all not get along.  The movie honestly inspired me to remember how much romanticism goes on in our own country and just how sobering it could to do so in the context of church history.

A less obvious and more subtle theme especially for comic readers of the original "Winter Soldier" story arc is how Steve Rodgers deals with first finding out his best friend is still alive and second that he has to fight him.  He chooses to get the mission accomplish and show mercy when possible.  I think Captain America in this sense, displays qualities that would satisfy both the Sunday school teacher and Drill Sergeant side of him.

Film Review #4 - Noah

Darren Aronofsky's Noah and why every Christian should thank the visionary director for his latest film!

It's easy to write this film off, as many Christians have for its view of creation and other additions that aren't explicitly in the Bible, but that view passes by valuable conversation points and masterful film making that at its core is entirely Biblical!

3 Bottom Lines Up Front (BLUFs) about Noah

#1 - The film is true to the story and central themes of Noah and his ark.  It deals more openly with the story's dark and disturbing themes than perhaps many Christians would even admit exist in the text in the first place.

#2 - Despite being called Noah, the movie does an excellent job with material starting from Genesis 1:1 and going through Genesis 9:29.

#3 - The movie is rated PG-13, but do NOT take anyone under the age of 18.  Way too much human darkness for a 13 year old to process.
 

Noah - The Movie (Spoilers.Spoilers.Spoilers)

Non-Textual Elements / Controversial Parts 

1.  Fallen "Rock" Angels 

Let's get it out there since this is likely going to be the first major point of contention with people.  In the movie, Angels have compassion for humanity after, The Fall and descend to Earth to help humanity.  However as punishment for their disobedience to The Creator, after their descent to Earth, they find themselves physically bound up by rock.  It's artistic and a unique spin on the mythology of the Nephilim.  Scholars have struggled for years to come up with a conclusive answer about the Nephilim reference found in Genesis.  Frankly Aronofsky's treatment of the text and creation of "The Watchers" is very tasteful given the range of possibilities that he could have taken with it.

2.  Evolution vs Creationism

The sequence is actually very breathtaking and artisticly beautiful.  It takes place over a few minutes as Noah retells the original Genesis creation story.  Is it true that the movie promotes evolution?  Yes.  Does it matter?  Not really.  Moving on. 

3.  Methuselah 

Two words....ANTHONY HOPKINS!  There were many great and even oscar worthy performances in this film, but SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS steals the entire movie with his performance as Methuselah.  Now, for the actual depiction of the character.  As Noah's paternal grandfather in the movie, Methuselah plays a very important role in that he heals Shem's Wife (Emma Watson) who would essentially be a second Eve and give birth to humanity's new beginning.  Now, I've heard this portrayal questioned because Methuselah seems more like a "Witch Doctor".  Seriously?  The man does nothing more than perform miracles and use herbs to induce Noah into a sleep like state.  He's a supernatural character because the story is supernatural.  Did it happen in the Bible?  No.  It is however a very cool, "What if!"

Overall Progression of The Film

Part 1 - Stewardship 

Out of any topic or subject covered in The Bible, stewardship over what the Creator entrusts to us, which includes our lives and the Earth, is mentioned more than just about anything else.  Noah and his line takes this very seriously.  Noah particularly respect the Earth and all living animals to such an extreme extent that they are vegetarians and are also very responsible with the natural resources at their disposal.  This is in stark contrast to the rest of humanity which Aronofsky imagines as a pseudo industrial metropolis by the time of Noah's revelation from God to build the Ark. 

Part 2 - The Wickedness of Man and The Flood 

In order to draw the audience into the story that  wickedness of humanity has reached such an epidemic extent that The Creator decides to wipe them all out, Aronofsky goes to great lengths to display this wickedness in ways that are both gruesome and violently dark to include rape and murder.  At one point while building the Ark, Noah goes to find wives for his other two sons only to discover that in his opinion all of humanity is lost to wickedness. 

Part 3  - The Worst "Road" Trip EVER!

I think Sunday School teachers mean well, but Noah is by no means a children's story.   With truthful and intentful storytelling, life aboard the ark is flat out miserable.  Let's start at the beginning of the flood.  Out of the cosmic possibilities for the doomed human race, water is aganosingly slow and Aronofsky doesn't ignore this point for one moment.  Starting with an epic fight with Noah and The Watchers on one side protecting the Ark and an army representing THE REST OF HUMANITY on the other side.  Ultimately humanity is no match for the strength of The Watchers, although they manage to "kill" them and set them free to go back to heaven?  That was weird.  Cool, but weird.  Especially is the first Watcher to be "killed" cries out for forgiveness and is accepted back into The Creator's presence. 

Humanity's darkness and self hatred are directly addressed in two primary ways.  The first is when as the waters are rising, the audience is exposed to the screams for help as Noah and his family sit safely inside their Ark.  The Bible simply says that it rained for one hundred and fifty days.  I would imagine that those one hundred and fifty days were something very similar to what Aronofsky has provided to us.  The second is the entire sequence involving Shem's Wife and her unborn children that Noah wants to kill.  I can almost see Russell Crowe smiling like something out of the Shining and saying, "Here's NOAH!"  Clearly some of the movie's more darker moments to be sure, but none the less a reality that needed to be dealt with in the story.  What in the world is the mental sanity for someone who just stood by and watched as all of humanity drowned?  I think that's a fair question of The Bible's Noah story.

Part 4 - Beach Front Property and PTSD

First off with most of the world still covered in water, beach front property isn't nearly as in demand because it's EVERYWHERE!  Got to look at the positive side of a world wide flood, right?  Well, even still Noah can't seem to get it together.  The effects of the burden and his nearly homocidal relationship with his grandchildren proved to be too much of a strain.  Ultimately it takes Shem's Wife to explore Noah's morality and capacity to recognize both good and evil as why The Creator chosen him for the task in the first place to snap him out of it.

Footnote - Christ's Ark

There is an almost unlimited about of conversation or discussion that can take place over the movie, but one thing is certain for me after watching the movie:  The story of Noah is a very powerful foreshadowing of Christ and the Cross.  For that reason alone, Christians should take the opportunity that they have and use Noah to their advantage.

 

Film Review #3 - The Passion of The Christ

You know it's been a really long time since my last post.  I'll tell you a secret as to why that is.  I know how to time travel.  I know how to make time disappear and for weeks to go by without even noticing.  It really is a gift!

This post was originally written on March 27th, 2014

Tonight, Noah will be released in theaters across the nation.  In fact, early showings are already taking place as of 7pm.  Oh for the day when a midnight showing actually meant midnight.  In either case, this movie is surely going to cause a significant amount of conversation and discussion both among film critics and evangelical Christians.  I can remember when another movie caused a similar reaction in 2004.  Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ caused much of Hollywood to rethink their assumptions about the purchasing power of Christians.  Let's face it to Hollywood there's only one religion, money.  In that sense, Mel Gibson risked a great deal having personally financed most of the film with his own fortune.  It's important to understand these background details because films aren't made in a vacuum.

Now, the movie itself is first and foremost a movie.  This fact is inescapable even for Mr. Gibson.  At the end of the day, source material will never be at the center of a movie.  Unless of course you have a Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman.  I think people may just come to hear them read Matthew's Gospel word for word, that is possible.

The visual effects and realism are stunning, sometimes more so than what is really necessary.  It is true for example that the film is in the language of what is likely to have been the language that much of the events transpired in.  However, what does that actually offer or benefit the viewer?  Does it add to the desired impact that Mr. Gibson intended?  I'm not so sure.

Additionally with a level of violence and brutality that Quentin Tarantino would be proud of, the movie has the potential of exposing younger viewers to a level of violence that is unnecessary given the intended audience.

All and all, what purpose does creating and producing the most accurate depiction of the world's most controversial death have?  To lead others to Christ?  There are better ways.  To give a Christian audience a visual reference to the suffering of their savior?  The profoundness of salvation and atonement can't be captured on film.  I would argue that as with most other movies, the reason someone makes a film is to either tell a story or to make money.  In this case, it may be a mixture of both because surely there are methods of film making which serve to express the story itself, in deeper all be it less vivid, expressions.  However, if even one person came to faith in Christ because of Mr. Gibson's movie then wouldn't God say it was more than worth all the controversy and money?  Something to think about.

Up next:  Noah!

Film Review #2 - Dogma

If a movie came out today starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon there would be certain expectations associated with that film given the current quality of both actors.  However, speaking 15 years ago and adding Kevin Smith in as the director, suddenly we're talking about something very different.  We would be talking about Dogma, the crowning film achievement of View Askew Films and creator Kevin Smith.  By far the boldest satirical commentary produced on the Christian religion with angels, demons, fallen angels (there is a difference), Golgothan (poop monster), and top it all off with Alanis Morissette as God.  Noting the overall sexualized tone, vulger language, and violence of the film as deterrents for the film being viewed by young audiences, it does offer some rather profound truths all while remaining humorous such as, "Faith is like a glass of water.  When you're young, the glass is little so its easy to fill.  As you get older, the glass gets bigger.  The same amount of liquid doesn't fill it anymore, but periodically the glass has to be refilled. or Alan Rickman's character, "Tell a person that you're the Metatron and they stare at you blankly.  Mention something from a Charlton Heston film and suddenly there a theology scholar."

    As a general concept, comedy or rather "good" comedy within film occurs because of a tension between a general truth which is readily understood and an inaccurately applied conclusion to that truth.  For example the quote above's point is that in general people can get their theological understanding of God from film instead of understanding what The Bible actually says.  The film is largely set against organized religion which it makes fun of and not so much the actual theological truths which it uses as a premise in the first place. Christians should be aware of perhaps taking some aspects of our faith too seriously and others not seriously enough.  For expressing that point "Jay and Silent Bob" style, there is Dogma.

Film Review #1 - Batman Begins

If humanity had a personal and appropriate response to life's evils and insanity then surely it is Batman.  I don't make this statement sarcastically or without qualification.  Batman is by far the greatest and most accurate personification of what humanity's struggle against its own nature is.  The first thing that distinguishes Batman from every other member of the original Justice League is his ordinariness and humanity.  There is nothing that is inherent in his birth that makes him Batman.  Rather he's molded and established out of a series of life events which places him at a crossroads, but before we get there, let us discuss what makes, "The Bat".  Bruce Wayne is easily on a path leading to a carefree and easy life when his parents are shot dead in front of him by a thief.  Now, young Bruce is officially scared for life by this event and initially he does handle it in manner consistent with someone needing some anger management and grief therapy.  He uses his anger and agression to attempt to kill someone and justify it via his anger, but Carmaine Falcone sees through that, "people from your world have so *much* to lose. Now, you think because your mommy and your daddy got shot, you know about the ugly side of life, but you don't.  You've never tasted desperate. You're, uh, you're Bruce Wayne, the Prince of Gotham; you'd have to go a thousand miles to meet someone who didn't know your name. So, don't-don't come down here with your anger, trying to prove something to yourself. This is a world you'll never understand. And you always fear what you don't understand. Alright."  After running away to find a deeper and more profound understanding of his pain and struggle against the darkness in the world, Bruce determines that something greater than himself is needed, "  People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed; but as a symbol... as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting."  The rest of this movie is spent establishing Batman as this symbol of hope for the city.  As with most superhero origin stories there is a fair amount of correlation between this story and the story of Jesus because much if not all of the story of Jesus fits within the modern superhero archetype.  We need heroes.  We recognize to the core of our being that the world is false and corrupted.  Even the "secular" viewpoint of the world recognizes this need.  How awesome would it be to answer as my son did one time to the question of "Who is you're favorite superhero?" and say, "Jesus is my favorite superhero!".

Book Review : Eyes Wide Open - Looking for God in Popular Culture

As of today, Son of God is showing in theaters nationwide, Noah as portrayed by Russell Crowe is on the verge of being released, and we have a Christian Bale “action-hero” Moses coming via the latest Hollywood version of the Exodus story.  In television, ABC has Resurrection premiering in a week and Believe is coming to NBC station near you.  One way or another God is getting His 15 minutes of fame on American screens both big and small.  In discussing film and its application to the body of Christ, the argument which first must be had is to determine if film is either primarily secular or sacred and if primarily secular then in what capacity, if any, can we glean truth from them.  It would be naïve to simply articulate Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” as entirely sacred.  However, it is possible to determine certain films as completely devoid of any Christian value or teaching such as pornographic material.  By and large, I do believe that film is presented to us via a secular understanding of the world, but that is after all the same world that we all live in. 

In Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture, William Romanowski, puts forth a definition of secular which I believe will assist this discussion, “Secular refers to the absence of faith conviction and perspective in performing these activities. As secularization occurs, a Christian faith orientation loses significance for our thinking, practices, and institutions.”  Romanowski continues throughout the book outlining expressing a cautious and yet hopeful outlook on the whole concept of cultural and contextualized expression of our Christian faith.  I find though that his concluding statement is the most powerful of all, “The popular arts matter. Movies, concerts, music videos, and television programs are ways that people talk about themselves and others, consider the ups and downs of everyday life, and explore important matters that concern us all. Christians can serve their neighbors with popular art and criticism that helps us all understand and feel deeply the brokenness of our world and recognize the destructiveness of sin and the joy of forgiveness and redemption.”  The key emphasis for me is on the notion that, “….are ways that people talk about themselves and others.”  What we as Christians need to realize is that for the most part popular art and culture isn’t about us unless of course it is the secular articulation of the way they view Christians.  At the same time though, we shouldn’t automatically take that to mean that film is of no value to us.  We are after all in theory at least, attempting to reach people in this culture.  It maybe beneficial for us to understand just what the culture says and expresses about itself through the popular arts.  Just a thought.

Introduction

This blog represents my personal work and effort towards understanding the relationship between the Christian faith and film. 

The theory, practice, technique, and method of film making should be of great interest and concern to each Christian for at the heart of film making is the science and art behind the most significant form of modern storytelling.  Christianity itself is if nothing else, one of the greatest stories ever told in history.  

Specifically giving consideration as to the use of film as: 1)  A medium for expressing the Gospel message in new and creative ways, 2) A tool in Christian discipleship, 3) A platform towards generating deeper conversations with the secular culture at large.  Towards this end, I will be reviewing a number of films and books while offering some practical insights.