Movies that Matter – The Candy Shop
Per my last post, I believe that movies – stories – can change the world. I pray that is true.
Maybe this very well produced short film will change the world of at least one little girl.
While not a vulgar film, its content – sex slavery – is not always easy to watch.
The Candy Shop from Whitestone Motion Pictures on Vimeo.
Can Movies Save the World? I say yes.
www.relevantmagazine.com/god/mission/features/27179-can-films-save-the-world
Can movies save the world?
I say yes.
While the above article from Relevant Magazine focuses on documentaries I have to believe it also applies to “fiction” films.
Stories move us.
Stories teach us.
They make us laugh and the make us cry.
And sometimes a movie – the story – changes us.
And when we are changed our story is changed. And it’s our stories that make up the world.
In a small way Less than Zero
I knew from watching The Jungle Book
That lesson was reinforced while watching E.T.
I have been able to teach that lesson to my kids through Lord of the Rings
Over the next few weeks we will look at a handful of movies that try to change the world.
Until then, what movie changed you?
Sharing God’s Story with Finding Nemo (Part One, Expectations)
Sharing God's Story with Finding Nemo
Pre-Production:
Whether you are doing a Reel Parables with a small group, such as with family or friends, or with a larger group, such as a youth group or at a lock in, be sure to plan time to watch Finding Nemo together.
Be sure to enjoy yourselves and to have fun. And remember, pop corn is allowed, and even encouraged!
Director’s Notes: Before you begin the movie ask the others to be on the look out for the answers to the following questions.
What one rule did Nemo’s dad give to Nemo?
Who was Nemo’s constant or biggest helper?
Production: (For those of you who like outlines and alliteration, let’s call this section “Expectations.”)
What one rule did Nemo’s dad give to Nemo?
Why did Nemo’s dad give him this rule?
What did Nemo’s dad want to prevent?
Was Nemo’s dad being mean by giving Nemo this one rule?
Did Nemo obey his dad?
What happened when Nemo broke his dad’s one rule?
Director’s Note: If you are doing this Reel Parable in a group, then Make sure that no one person dominates the discussion.
Next time we will talk about what happened when Nemo disobeyed his dad.
Sharing God's Story with Finding Nemo
Sharing God’s Story with Thor!
- Sharing God’s Story with Thor
SPOILER ALERT
The following conversation assumes that you have already seen Thor, do not plan to see Thor but want to discuss it with friends and family who have, or simply don’t care if Thor is “spoiled.”
Consider yourself warned.
Does God get royalties?
Pop quiz – What story is this?
- Father sends son to Earth, where he was once worshiped as a god. Oh yea, and the son is even emptied of his glory and takes on the form of us lowly humans.
- Son saves humans by dying a sacrificial death – also explicitly stated to be substitutional death – only to be resurrected by the power/words of the Father.
- Son is lifted up into the heavens and tells this friends and followers that he will return to them.
Yes, as well as being the basics of the Christian story it is also the basics of the new movie Thor.
As we talked about with Avatar here and here, I am sure many Christian groups will (negatively) comment on the “pagan” religious and/or mythological elements of Thor. We will probably hear thinks like false gods and false religions, etc.
That said; please do not be afraid of this movie.
First, in the movie we are told that Thor and his friends are not gods. Instead, the men of old simply didn’t know who or what they were and decided to worship them as gods.
Second, because Thor shares so much of its story with the Bible, it is easy to share God’s story with Thor.
In the coming days we will look specifically at Thor (his coming, his emptying, his death, his resurrection and his promised return) and spend a little time talking about Loki.
Stay tuned and subscribe to Reel Parables to be notified when the next post is online.
Until next time.
Sharing God’s Story with Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is more than just a good story with funny characters and great writing. Finding Nemo is a Reel Parable that teaches us who God is.
Finding Nemo teaches us about God by retelling the “lost” parables (stories) that Jesus told when people started complaining that He was spending time with the wrong kind of people (sinners).
To teach us about God – and His love for us – Jesus told stories.
Jesus told a story about a lost coin and the woman who looked for it until it was found.
Then He told a story about a lost sheep and the shepherd that looked for it until it was found.
Finally, He told a story about a lost son and the father that looked for him until he returned home.
In the same way (but through a different form), Finding Nemo tells the story of a lost fish and the father that searched for him until he was found.
In the coming weeks we will take a look at God’s story as seen in Finding Nemo.
Subscribe to Reel Parables to get the latest updates and post notifications.
Until next time…
Naysayers vs Yaysayers
When I posted some brief thoughts about Avatar on December 19, 2009 I started the post with this comment:
While I am sure many Christian groups will (negatively) comment on the “pagan” religious elements of Avatar, I was surprised at the biblical correlations.
Indeed they have.
One in particular touched our family directly. My home schooled son takes a number of classes at a local Co Op. While at classes a few weeks ago the students were invited to hear a special guest speaker talk about media, specifically Avatar.
My son, who loved Avatar by the way, was disappointed when the first point the guest speaker made was that Avatar was of the Devil.
While I have no doubt that his intentions are sincere, I do believe that this guest speaker missed an incredible opportunity to teach God’s story with Avatar.
Instead of focusing on the film’s presentation of Paganism and Pantheism I wished he would have used it as parable (much like Jesus did) to teach God’s story.
The movie itself is a beautiful parable of the Incarnation. The way Jake Sully uses his avatar to be born as a Na’vi is telling.
His avatar is Na’vi and is also completely Jake Sully.
He is human.
He is Na’vi.
We are also told why they created the avatars; so that the Na’vi would accept the humans.
The humans became one of them so that they would be accepted by them.
I would assume that James Cameron is no friend of Christianity (he produced The Lost Tomb of Jesus in 2007 rejecting the divinity and resurrection of Jesus) but it does seem that he has made a masterful parable explaining to us – showing us – the first chapter of John.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1:14
Also visualized in Avatar is the idea of being again (Jake even says that the day is his birthday) and of resurrection (life after death).
Does Avatar visualize pantheism? Yes.
Does it also tell part of God’s story? Yes.
I wish the guest speaker would have used the opportunity to encourage and teach his audience instead of frighten then.
I wish he would have shared God’s story with Avatar.
The Gospel According to James Cameron’s Avatar
While I am sure many Christian groups will (negatively) comment on the “pagan” religious elements of Avatar, I was surprised at the biblical correlations.
· Jake Sully’s savior character being born into their world both human and part Na’vi (think incarnation).
· The Na’vi idea of being born again.
· Jake Sully’s resurrection.
Combine these with Cameron’s continual use of a savior willing to die for the one he loves/protects (T2, Titanic) and you get a pretty good picture of the biblical concept of salvation.
Can you think of any other biblical correlations in Cameron’s movies?
Sharing God’s Story with Atonement
SPOILER FYI
The following discussion assumes that you have already seen Atonement, do not plan to see it but want to discuss it what friends and family who have, or simply don’t care if the movie is “spoiled.” Consider yourself warned.
Atonement – Review
I really, really wanted to like this film.
I really did.
First, I don’t mind Keira Knightley. I do, however, think she may want to back away from the period pieces for a bit. Second, I might like Mr. Tumnus, sorry, James McAvoy, especially as he makes his transition from Mr. Tumnus to a real Leading Man. As with just about all the other actors, these two did an amazing job.
In addition, the cinematography was spot one. This was an amazingly beautiful movie, for the most part, to watch. Other than these there are really only two things about the actual movie that I liked:
1.The musical score
2.And the library scene.
I really liked the score for one very simple reason; the score of Atonement appealed to my love of Industrial music. Yea, I know this may sound odd, especially for a “period piece,” but at the heart of the score is the use of a typewriter as a musical instrument. This, at a very basic level, is a foundational element of Industrial music; take everyday non musical/instrumental items and use them to make music (i.e., Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten, early Depeche Mode, etc.). The way Dario Marianelli weaved the typing of the typewriter in and out of the score was masterfully done! Also, as a “narrative” element it was very successful in connecting the dots of Robbie’s (McAvoy) writings to Briony’s (Saoirse Ronan, Briony age 13 and Romola Garai, Briony age 18).
In the same way that the score was masterfully composed, so was the library sex scene. As a “Christian” writer, critic, etc., I almost feel obligated to mention how inappropriate, uncalled for, and immoral it was. The problem is I really, really liked this scene; so much so that it makes me want to take my wife in our library, pushed up against our books.
Anyway, the events building up to their rendezvous, coupled with their modest intensity, were perfectly executed allowing for a very satisfying explosion of their sexual tension.
Atonement – Reel Parable
In addition to being a well acted and beautifully filmed epic love story and period piece, Atonement is also a reel parable of biblical truth. As the film’s title implies, well, as it actually states, this is a movie about atonement, and therefore penitence, penance, punishment, apology and making amends. While it may seem that the movie is about Robbie (James McAvoy) and Cecilia (Keira Knightley) this film is really all about Briony, her sin, and her quest for atonement, redemption, and restoration.
Out of what seems to be a combination of confusion, jealousy and resentment Briony testifies that she saw Robbie rape Lola (Juno Temple). We know that he didn’t and that he is wrongly accused and unjustly punished.
As the “twist ending” shows us, Robbie and Cecilia are never reunited after they are separated as a result of Briony’s sin; specifically breaking the 9th Commandment and bearing false witness against Robbie. We then spend the rest of the movie waiting for – looking for – atonement.
Although there were more than just the two, these specific movie “tag lines” shed light on the world view presented in Atonement and the atonement represented.
You can only imagine the truth.
Joined by love. Separated by fear. Redeemed by hope.
These tag lines make sense as the older Briony reveals the twist ending via her interview at the end of the movie. The truth we see – the happy ending where our two separated lovers are reunited to live happily after – is only imagined in Briony’s new book, Atonement. It is in this book, this fictional retelling of the true story, that the lovers are redeemed by hope. In the “reality” of the movie they were never reunited and became young casualties of the war.
And in the context of this movie that reality – that TRUTH – becomes inescapable, even for Briony. Even after a long life and successful writing career she is still tormented by her sins.
She gained the world – she lived a long life and established a successful writing career – but lost her sole – even after decades she was still longing for redemption and reconciliation. (Matthew 16:26/Mark 8:36)
Although it is played out in a very post-modern narrative our twist ending lives our two very specific biblical ideas on forgiveness:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9
It is only after Briony confesses her sins – through the writing of her book, Atonement – that our two lovers find their peace and “eternal” happiness.
And that is source of my love/hate relationship with this movie. It presents such a clear reel parable of forgiveness; Briony confesses her sins our two separated lovers are reunited and live happily ever after. But at the same time the atonement it presents is shallow and unfulfilling.
At the end of Atonement I wanted Briony to feel the forgiveness and cleansing she longed for, but her confession was hallow and misdirected.
And Atonement ended without any real atonement.
Sharing God’s Story with The Incredible Hulk
SPOILER FYI
The following assumes that you have already seen The Incredible Hulk, do not plan to see the Incredible Hulk but want to discuss it with people who have, or simply don’t care if the movie is “spoiled.” Consider yourself warned.
I enjoyed Iron Man more than The Incredible Hulk (I enjoyed the humor more, if not the product placement) but think that The Incredible Hulk makes for a better Reel Parable.
I understand there is no real “redemption” story in The Incredible Hulk. Instead, the movie is more of a compare/contrast study. Specifically, the Reel Parable in The Incredible Hulk is in the differences between the Hulk and the Abomination.
- Bruce Banner – the Hulk – learns self-control (humility?), which is really a fruit of his relationship with and submission to Betty Ross, and finds the hope he is looking for.
- Emil Blonsky – the Abomination – becomes controlled by his own lust for power (pride?).
Bruce makes a comment that he does not want to learn how to control “it” but would rather get rid of “it.” Now, I do not mean to sound like a religious nut-job, but I think the “it” in The Incredible Hulk is a good metaphor for the biblical/theological concept of sin. Bruce wants to be free from “it” while Blonsky wants to indulge “it” so that he can be more; more bigger, more stronger, more powerful, MORE!
At one point a scientist describes the Hulk as “godlike,” to which Blonsky replies “I want that.”
This desire – to be like God – echoes Isaiah 14:12-14 where the Devil says “I will make myself like God (the Most High)” and reverberates through his temptation of Eve in Genesis 3. Here the Devil tells Eve that if she will disobey God then her “eyes will be opened” and she “will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Adam and Eve do disobey God and their eyes are opened. They are ashamed of their nakedness which leads to the first death to cover – literally – their sin. Because they now know the difference between good an evil, so they are a *little* like God, but they are not *really* like God. They have simply disobeyed God, introduced the world to its first taste of sin (which has one nasty aftertaste!), and ushered in the “fall” of man.
In the context of The Incredible Hulk we see Bruce Banner going through great strides to control “it.” He does his best to remove himself from situations that will cause him to lose control (literally!) and even gives up what he wants – and who he loves – in order to control “it.”
Blonsky, however, does whatever he can and everything he can to indulge “it.”
Bruce tries to control “it.”
Blonsky tries to feed “it.”
Blonsky finally becomes the Abomination, the very personification of evil and self-indulgence.
Bruce finally learns self-control, but only when he – as the Hulk – learns to submit to that still and quiet voice; the voice of Betty Ross.
OK, so here’s there deal. I don’t want to push this metaphor too far and I do not want to sound like that religious caricature that sees Jesus in his waffle, toast, soap scum, etc. But, in the context of the movie – and in the context of the metaphor – I think it works. In the movie Betty Ross is very much like the Holy Spirit. In Galatians we are told that self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Bruce as the Hulk learns to control “it” only when he submits to Betty Ross, much like when a Christian submits to the Holy Spirit. He can not – and does not – control “it” on his own.
As we submit to and obey the Holy Spirit we learn self-control (as well as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
As the Hulk submitted himself to Betty he also learned self-control, and finds the hope is has been looking for.
The Incredible Hulk is an incredible Reel Parable. This movie shows us the differences between someone who submits and humbles themselves to the Holy Spirit (the Hulk) and someone who does not (the Abomination).
One learns self-control while the other one is controlled by pride.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
