Is a movie a movie, or does it have to be perfect? Is a story a story, or does it have to be perfect? Or are we content with a plot that opens our minds and makes us think, or does it have to present to us what we already know in a nice little package? Why is it that as Christians we ask Hollywood to put out a movie that expresses Christian values, and yet when they come close, we bash the movie for not meeting our high standards. I dare say the Bible probably doesn’t meet our high standards. And why do we want Hollywood to make a movie about everything we already know about? My only guess is so it can be a perfectly packaged witness. My friends, a Christian witness is not going to come packaged in VHS format. It comes from our lives, our actions, our choices. No movie will ever perfectly capture the message of salvation that our world needs to hear. A movie may come close, and yet be only grasping at straws, and yet Christians still complain that it’s not good enough.
Category Archives: Movies
A first viewing of the Matrix
I just saw a glimpse of the eternal. I just saw a symbolic portrayal of sin, death, and redemption. Whoa.
I’ve never watched a movie in a less comfortable position. I’ve never held an empty apple sauce container and a spoon in my hands for the duration of a really long movie. I’ve never had my heart pound, my breathing stop short, or my mind be tickled to wonder so much in my life.
It’s just a story, I keep telling myself. A movie. It’s not real. It has no impact on this world.
Or does it?
The symbolism is real. The symbolism is powerful. Why couldn’t I see it myself… if only I’d open up my eyes and read it for myself. The truth is there. Take a hold of it. Chew it. Process it. Live it. I have been set free.
I just can’t help but wonder why it takes a movie for me to see just how much better the truth is. And I have the truth. It’s sitting here on my desk–and within me. So much more real and powerful and good then I or anyone else could ever imagine. Why do I not see that on my own?
Lord, forgive me.
Oh Lord my God. When I, in awesome wonder, consider all the works your hands have made. I see the stars. I hear the rolling thunder. Your power throughout the universe is on display. Then–my soul cries out, my God, how great thou art.
Words to express that very thought. Plots to reveal that idea. Themes to reflect on that notion. Symbolism to mirror that story. These are my desire… that understanding may be imparted, that darkness may be shattered, that souls may be set free, and that God above may be glorified. This is my reason for living.
What’s yours?
The Zoo with Preschoolers and a Gen X Movie
So here I sit in front of the TV again. With you. It’s been an extremely lazy day. A typical summer day that I’ve missed so far. Doing nothing. Believe it or not, I can’t stand it. I need something to do. Man is a strange creature. Half the time we want to get our work done so we don’t have anything to do, but once we have nothing to do, we’re bored and have to find something more to do. Oh the joys of life.
I went to the zoo today with a bus load of preschoolers. If today were a normal day, I’d have some intelligent comments to make, some observations, and something you can take home with you. But today’s not a normal day. It’s my lazy summer day, and thinking is not allowed.
Another Gen X movie that makes me question what’s purist and what’s simply commercial drivel. I myself am probably slightly on the purist end of things–so I’ve been told from the more normal minded. But is it simply a story about finding yourself in life, just to make a buck, or is there actually more to it than that. Somehow I walk away wondering where I am in it all. This is a movie of my generation. But why do I feel like I’m standing on the edge asking why? Feeling like I don’t belong. Perhaps I don’t. I don’t think that’s quite what it’s all about. But that’s another purist tirade that probably just misses the point.
School starts in two weeks. Maybe the intelligence will return then. Then again, maybe not.
Thomas Crown Affair
The exciting lives of the rich and powerful. It’s the American dream, right? That’s what we’re all chasing to the ends of the earth, right? It must be because money is so satisfying, right? I watched a movie last night about a rich loner who has more money than anyone would know what to do with. On a whim he takes off to the Caribbean, he flies a glider in his spare time, and crashes a boat for the sheer fun of it. But still the stunning money-bags isn’t satisfied, and he decides to steal a $100,000,000 Monet–“It’s just a game, love.” The thrill of not-so-petty larceny isn’t enough either, and the game becomes capturing the beautiful insurance agent out to unravel the crime–and isn’t the insurance agent always beautiful? In the end, the movie becomes a question of masks, asking who we really are and who we can really trust. We all hide behind our masks and whimper, “I’m just fine.” But it’s all just a game for the rich–those too lost in life to really know what’s important.
Yeah, it was a good movie. And the ending is as soaked in Hollywood and as far from real life as you’d expect. It still makes for good entertainment, but nothing close to the truth. Walking away, what sticks with me the most is the complete dissatisfaction money brought and how in reality (aside from Hollywood’s sugar coating) there is only one thing that can truly bring satisfaction.
Dreams about Lightsabers
The other night I dreamed I fought in a lightsaber duel. And considering how extremely cool it was, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss. I think one of the coolest things about the Star Wars saga is the lightsabers. It’s one of several truly original things in Star Wars. Of course Star Wars is more than your average sci-fi flick, but if you compare them, most sci-fi flicks have space ships and lasers and big scary bad guys. But how many have laser swords? How cool is that? It can cut through anything. It can deflect laser blasts. It’s also cool because it’s nothing you can actually have.
Phantom Menace Brings Family Together
Intelligence coming soon, I promise. Tomorrow I head to Chicago. But before taking off, my family and I attended Star Wars together tonight. All four of us together in the same theater at the same time. Impressive, huh? Amazing how a movie can bridge the gaps. Well, I’m off to bed.
Just Saw Star Wars: Phantom Menace
As a proud member of the Star Wars generation, I just returned from seeing the new movie. Wow. I must say, it’s quite an experience to grow up with the original trilogy, play with all the toys, and now watch the phenomenon happen all over again. It’s way cool to see it happen and notice all the intricate little plot details. Lucas is a pretty keen guy. I’d love to write to no end about all the cool stuff I saw, but then I’d probably ruin the movie for you. So I’ll shut up. All I can say is stay in the theater until the credits are totally done rolling. There’s something cool at the end.
“You can’t stop the change.” Shmi (Anakin’s mother)
“Who would have thought that Darth Vader was Luke’s father!?” Homer Simpson
Oh yeah, I’m heading home now.
Inspired by Dead Poets’ Society
Today I spent almost the entire day working my tail off on homework. Considering I spent most of last night doing the same thing, it gets to be rather exhausting. But I got a lot done, so that’s good. You know the one thing I hate about being a writing major? Writing crappy papers. Since I’m a writing major there’s this feeling that everything I write has to make people stop and go, “wow.” But sometimes you have these papers that you could care less about and you just have to crank them out. I was doing that yesterday. Now it’s not like they’re bad papers. By normal standards they’re decent. I’ll probably end up getting an A on them. But if these were for a writing class, I think I’d go crawl in a hole. I suppose you have to get the bad writing out of your system somewhere. And you can’t poor your heart and soul into every little report about the impacts on the graphic design field by the legendary Paul Rand. I think you’d burn out pretty quickly if you did. Oh well, that just bothers me.
Monastic Traditions, Patch Adams, Random Quotes
I’ve learned a few things today. First of all, I learned that monks, monasteries and that whole realm of Christianity that we kind of tuck away in the corner–they just might be on to something. Often times we as Protestants (I’m speaking for myself here, so don’t feel that title has to apply to all of you) look down on the monastic fathers and that whole tradition as a bunch of routines that aren’t heart felt. You say a prayer, you read a psalm. What’s the deal?
Yeah, I’ve been reading more of St. Benedict. Today in the commentary I read a story from a collection of monastic tales. A visitor asks a monk, “What do you do in the monastery?” The monk replies, “Well, we fall and we get up and we fall and we get up and we fall and we get up,” (100). Isn’t that the case in every Christian life?
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Pleasantville
Do you see everything in black and white? Or do you see the world in full, vibrant color? Is every day the same for you? Waking up, going to school or work. The same old thing? Are you stuck in the rut of the way things are supposed to be? Well let me ask you, are thing really supposed to be any certain way? The story of your life doesn’t have to follow the template that everyone else follows. That’s why it’s a story, write it yourself!
Tonight I watched an amazing movie. It’s called Pleasantville. Hollywood doesn’t crank out many good movies. For probably the first time ever, I’ve wanted to own a movie. This film was so original, so intelligent, so phenomenal… I was impressed. It asked some interesting questions, and said some powerful things about life. It made me laugh too. Not only was it entertaining, but it was valuable. You can’t say that about many movies. For those conservatives out there, I will warn you that this movie is rated PG-13. They talk about sex. If your eyebrows are raising right now, you are the person who needs to watch this movie. Go on, I dare you.
Life is more than Camaro’s, game systems, and striving for pleasure. Life is vibrant. Life is wild. And life is free–or at least it can be. God has blessed us with an amazing world, and he has showered us with a very unconditional and very astounding love. Claim that love, be free, and really live.