April 19, 2010
Knowing (2008)
Should I see it?
Don't bother.
Nicholas Cage stars as John, a scientist who discovers an old piece of paper with the dates of catastrophes written on it. This includes disasters that have yet to happen. In the end of the film (please note I am about to ruin the movie), John figures out that the world is coming to an end. Angel-like aliens arrive to carry away his son and a little girl so they can start human life anew on some distant planet. This essentially makes the young couple a recasting of Adam and Eve.
I have seen numerous reviews, such as this one from MovieGuide, that point out the many Christian references and elements in the film. The problem with have such overt and numerous such references is that the more you have the more it demands the film close the loop and discuss Christ directly. It is obviously fine to have elements and passing references as touchstones in a production without working in specific references to Jesus. There is a line that is eventually crossed when the film is just using Christian symbolism instead of applying them.
This New Age Rapture tale can easily be mistaken as an allegory for Christian concepts. It is not. It is a pile of malarkey dressed up in spiritual clothes—the film intentionally carries Christian elements: John is the wayward son of a pastor and has lost his faith. The Bible is shown numerous times in the film and the discussion of prophecy and end-times inherently has Biblical tones. In addition, the aliens are presented as creepy angelic figures who act to bring about a greater cosmic design. Missing from the proceedings are Christ and the redemption found in Him.
In the end, Christians are just as unsaved as everyone else. John’s pastor-father has an easier time reconciling himself to his fate but is otherwise just as disposable. No one is saved except the children the aliens deem worthy.
Related Reviews:
Nicholas Cage movies
The Family Man (2000)
8mm (1999)
Other Critic’s Reviews:
Biblical Christianity Movie Review
J&C's Movie Review
Click here to buy your copy of
You Are What You See and learn
to change the world from your couch
Labels: apocalypse, film, movie review, Nicholas Cage
posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 8:00 AM
Share
Previous Posts
Friends & Reads
Christian & Culture
Film Resources
Christian Sites
Faithcom
Featured On
Good News Film Reviews LLC 2004-2010 - used with permission
Images, video and titles are the property of their respective copyright holders. Good News Film Reviews LLC claims no ownership or connection to them.
The views expressed on this site are not the opinion of any advertiser or external entity.
While we take care to only link to responsible entities, Good News Film Reviews LLC takes no responsibility for the content linked from this site. There are sharks in the waters. Surf at your own risk.
The Template is generated via PsycHo and is Licensed.
1 Comments:
This was a reasonably good thriller, but a complete downer as a movie. The Christian aspects, such as they were, kept me interested because such things are so rare you had to see where it was going.
Unfortunately, it went the Chariots of the Gods route - leaving a purposely ambiguous secular vs religious interpretation such that in the end I just considered it a waste of a good hour and a half of my time.
In the DVD director's track for "Bedazzled" - I note he apologizes for the religious outlook (which is minor BTW) in the movie, going out of his way to say he didn't want to push that on anyone. So it seems to be the case that bashing Christians and their religion is just accepted as mainstream, but if you incorporate some elements of Christianity it's necessary to tread lightly lest you attract the wrath of the fundamentalist materialists. Sort of completely opposite of the culture I grew up in.
Post a Comment
<< Home