Short Review: The reeking.


Hilary Swank portrays Katherine, an ex-Christian missionary, who spends her time debunking claims of miracles with scientific explanations. Katherine is called to a small southern town that is being inundated with what appears to be replicas of the 10 plagues from Exodus. Sure, there’s lice instead of gnats and the plagues occur in the wrong order but the point is made. Katherine, who has left her faith, is forced to confront her disbelief as each plague ticks off one by one.

Yawn.

The thing about the plot is that it relies on the the stupidity (or arrogance) of its main character. Katherine is shown to be an intellectually aggressive woman with a sharp mind. She travels around the world and is capable of exposing miracles as bunk with ease. All this and she’s still incapable of the intellectual jump that although if she can explain the scientific reasons for the ten plagues that these reasons don't deny the existence of God. Just because you can explain how something happened doesn't mean you've excluded the hand of the Almighty. If she were a missionary, given to the faith she claims to have had, this logical connection would have already been made.

Unfortunately, it is not remarkable to report that a mainstream film places theological concerns on the back burner in order to promote a sophomoric plot. It also isn't shocking that this film doesn't have a deep regard for its Christian characters or the its Biblical source material. Most Christians in the film are shown to be cruel southern booger eaters who spit out condemnations every time they speak. They even go so far as to have the Christian leader be a sweaty, pig-faced Boss Hogg type (complete with all white suit). They’re all thoughtless, impulsive, gun-toting morons who will believe anything – they also don’t pray, mention Jesus or show any reverence towards God at all. Since I’m on the subject of the townsfolk, I’ll also mention they’re all white. You know, just like the real south. It’s nothing but a bunch of angry white Christians sweating on their shotguns waiting to string someone up.

What’s interesting is that this film begins with a depiction of the city of Concepcion in Chile. The city is shown to be a horrid third-world toilet which is being poisoned by an evil corporation. This depiction has nothing to do with the real Concepcion which is modern, clean and apparently free of toxic waste. Did the filmmakers bother to investigate any of the peoples or locations they decided to show in this film?

At least they spread their ineptness equally.

This film also abuses Biblical text for cheap thrills. The plagues don't have a Biblical foundation, and Exodus isn't even quoted. This nonsensical flick offers no connection between the original plagues and the mess this film prattles on about. I’m not against the use of the plagues, but if you’re going to pull from the Bible you better have some context that makes sense IN LIGHT OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL. Some of us take this is the word of God after all.

Even forgiving the rather offensive disregard the filmmakers have for the Bible, this film is still an unmitigated disaster. The clunky script doesn’t provide any suspense or mystery. The dialog is functional but doesn’t have any depth or interest. The plagues themselves aren’t visually arresting and aren’t handled to their maximum effect. We’re looking at Biblical plagues and its boring – they actually make them boring.

It’s my recommendation that you skip this film. It doesn’t have the intellectual weight that it should and since it also doesn’t offer any guttural thrills, it can only waste your time.


Related Reviews:
Another Hilary Swank movie
The Gift (2000)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Cinema de Merde
Reel.com

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, anti-Christian, apocalypse, Christians, film, Friday Rewind, Hilary Swank, movie review, Stephen Rea

Chucking opinions out online is like throwing feathers into the wind. You never know where they’re going to end up and which ones will float back your direction. Usually, I have traffic coming in from a variety of message boards that I have nothing to do with. People get chatting, someone does some Google fishing and comes up with one of my posts. They toss a link up and, more times than not, the commenters descend on my review like ravenous lions on a bleeding impala. This kind of thing is happening right now on at least three boards that I know about. As a rule, I will follow a link back to see what’s being said. 99.9999% of the time it's a gaggle of no-minds tossing around pedestrian moral arguments that make no sense if pressed. In one case, I’ve come up on a board I feel compelled to talk about here. These folks aren’t the usual troupe of hyperventilating dimwits trying to sound smarter than one another. Over at BaptistBoard.com, there’s a brief exchange about Christian film reviews sites. During the discussion one writer explains that her 13 year old son is bugging her to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Someone does a Google search and they find my review. To sum it up, I find it an enjoyable movie founded in one of the strongest scripts I’ve ever read (structurally speaking.) I have an issue with the film since it promotes reverse mortality, good = evil, evil = good. It isn’t obvious, but structurally, this is what the story does. It says breaking moral codes, being a pirate, is superior to keeping to duties and responsibilities. Read the full review for more on my point regarding the film. Why I’m talking about his here is the end of the comment string on the board. The person with the 13 year old says

“I don't guess we'll be watching it. Better safe than sorry.”

This is where I slap my palm to my forehead.

Previous generations confronted witchdoctors, satanists and all matter of philosophical creep. Us? We’re sent running by Johnny Depp in a handkerchief.

It is my opinions that many Christians have become far too scared of this big bad world to be of any use in saving it. Honestly, better safe than sorry over a Disney movie? Regarding a 13 year old? This teen will presumptively be leaving the home in less than five years and he/she is too fragile to handle Pirates of the Caribbean? I don’t necessarily mean to launch on this woman trying to look out for her family. It’s just that I see this all of the time - parents over protecting Christian kids to the point of hobbling their ability to cope with the world as it exists. My advice to her is simple, let the kid watch if they want and use this moment. Wisdom only works if its used and the social arguments made in the film can be a launching board to discuss not only the film's philosophy but also how even an innocent looking chunk of culture can influence our thinking. But, my beef isn’t really with this specific movie, but more about the cultural choice in general. American Christians have become wimpy. Unable to stand on our own. We pride ourselves in being outside of the modern culture when in truth we reek of it. The modern culture celebrates the big me. Everything is about me. Secularists mock Christ primarily because His presence demands they stop looking out for me. It is about Him not me and that's just too intrusive for most folk.

When I hear some Christian swooning in fear over movies or anything else in the culture, it warns we have become too interested about me. Over and over I hear Christians say that they never or rarely watch movies because they’re too concerned about being tempted, being led astray. Too often I see Christians talking about boycotting or protesting things they don’t like. This is all about the big me more than it is about God and we should be ashamed.

Obviously, it is important to keep tabs on one’s temptations and to do one’s best to not allow one’s weaknesses to run their lives. This, what should be a caution, has turned into a lifestyle for many Christians. It’s what I call "suburban Christianity". Having been weaned in American culture, the modern suburban Christian is completely consumed by the big me. This fear of being tempted is a self-serving racket meant to put the Christian in a strange victim role where they are constantly being taunted by the evil culture outside their door. The big bad world is nasty and scary and, golly, I’m so precious, so tender in the Lord’s eye, that poor little me can’t take the slightest breeze of discomfort. Again, before people start firing off comments, let me make this clear – I’m not talking about actual temptation (watching porn, torture porn horror movies, other salacious material) I’m talking someone who cowers under their pillow over Lord of the Rings because Gandalf casts spells.

This suburban Christianity is so focused on training Christians to cover their own theological butts that they can’t effectively speak to those outside the church walls. We are to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20) How can we do this if we’re too frightened to take on our own DVD players?

I’m not saying you have to go out and watch the whole Saw series to be able to deliver the Word. What I am saying is that we have become too comfortable and too cautious – I’ll even go as far to say that we’ve gotten too lazy. It is easier to write off the world than to lend a hand in trying to save it. It is easier to avoid all temptation and all arguments against the faith than to confront them and hold them to the light of Christ. Allowing this avoidance culture corrupt the church is THE biggest reason we are in the cultural mess we’re in today. Sick of seeing porn on demand? Tired of living in a culture where news broadcasters can make “teabagging” jokes on air without fear of reprisal? Disgusted by the mockery of our Lord on prime time television? We have no one but ourselves to blame. The maintenance of this world falls to us, not someone else. When we turn our backs on the culture because it’s too icky and gosh I’m so sensitive – what do you expect will happen? Go find your Bible. Look up Acts 17:16-34. Did Paul shy away from the enemy? Did he turn from a fight? No. He went in, learned the culture and learned its language. He became like his hosts and turned them using their own arguments, their own ways. If Paul was with us today would he be too scared to view Pirates of the Caribbean? No. I believe he’d watch it to discuss its merits and its flaws. Then he’d use it to teach if he could find a way. Then again, Paul wasn’t so much into that whole me thing.

Here is the kicker, if you honestly believe the Bible, if you truly meant the words that passed your lips at your baptism then how can you turn your back on your fellow man for the sake of yourself? We are Christian. We believe that HE is the only way. When you turn your back on the culture, when you decide you’re too fragile or things are too corrupt for you to deal with, you are saying your comfort is more critical than the salvation of your fellow man. Scared of being tempted? Frightened of a trial of faith - then you pray and then get up off your behind and lean into the storm and persevere - then pray some more. Yes, we must protect ourselves but you can take it too far. You don’t wear a suit of armor to a football game. We must put aside this weak and pathetic crutch of being too important to do the hard work. We shouldn’t search out sinful behavior but we shouldn’t avoid it when it comes around. Confront it, call it by its name and understand it. Christians are meant to be out in the world, not hidden in their caves. After all, who is stronger in their faith? The man who protests outside the brothel or the Christian who walks inside and talks to the whores and tries to get them help?

Labels: Christianity, Christians, miscellaneous

Short Review: The reeking.


Hilary Swank portrays Katherine, an ex-Christian missionary, who spends her time debunking claims of miracles with scientific explanations. Katherine is called to a small southern town that is being inundated with what appears to be replicas of the 10 plagues from Exodus. Sure, there’s lice instead of gnats and the plagues occur in the wrong order but the point is made. Katherine, who has left her faith, is forced to confront her disbelief as each plague ticks off one by one.

Yawn.

The thing about the plot is that it relies on the the stupidity (or arrogance) of its main character. Katherine is shown to be an intellectually aggressive woman with a sharp mind. She travels around the world and is capable of exposing miracles as bunk with ease. All this and she’s still incapable of the intellectual jump that although if she can explain the scientific reasons for the ten plagues that these reasons don't deny the existence of God. Just because you can explain how something happened doesn't mean you've excluded the hand of the Almighty. If she were a missionary, given to the faith she claims to have had, this logical connection would have already been made.

Unfortunately, it is not remarkable to report that a mainstream film places theological concerns on the back burner in order to promote a sophomoric plot. It also isn't shocking that this film doesn't have a deep regard for its Christian characters or the its Biblical source material. Most Christians in the film are shown to be cruel southern booger eaters who spit out condemnations every time they speak. They even go so far as to have the Christian leader be a sweaty, pig-faced Boss Hogg type (complete with all white suit). They’re all thoughtless, impulsive, gun-toting morons who will believe anything – they also don’t pray, mention Jesus or show any reverence towards God at all. Since I’m on the subject of the townsfolk, I’ll also mention they’re all white. You know, just like the real south. It’s nothing but a bunch of angry white Christians sweating on their shotguns waiting to string someone up.

What’s interesting is that this film begins with a depiction of the city of Concepcion in Chile. The city is shown to be a horrid third-world toilet which is being poisoned by an evil corporation. This depiction has nothing to do with the real Concepcion which is modern, clean and apparently free of toxic waste. Did the filmmakers bother to investigate any of the peoples or locations they decided to show in this film?

At least they spread their ineptness equally.

This film also abuses Biblical text for cheap thrills. The plagues don't have a Biblical foundation, and Exodus isn't even quoted. This nonsensical flick offers no connection between the original plagues and the mess this film prattles on about. I’m not against the use of the plagues, but if you’re going to pull from the Bible you better have some context that makes sense IN LIGHT OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL. Some of us take this is the word of God after all.

Even forgiving the rather offensive disregard the filmmakers have for the Bible, this film is still an unmitigated disaster. The clunky script doesn’t provide any suspense or mystery. The dialog is functional but doesn’t have any depth or interest. The plagues themselves aren’t visually arresting and aren’t handled to their maximum effect. We’re looking at Biblical plagues and its boring – they actually make them boring.

It’s my recommendation that you skip this film. It doesn’t have the intellectual weight that it should and since it also doesn’t offer any guttural thrills, it can only waste your time.


Related Reviews:
Another Hilary Swank movie
The Gift (2000)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Cinema de Merde
Reel.com

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, anti-Christian, apocalypse, Christians, film, Hilary Swank, movie review, Stephen Rea

Short Review: A heart wrenching work about keeping one's faith while confronting one's fate.


This is a gem. As the title explains, this film focuses on the last six days of famed anti-Nazi protester Sophie Scholl. Scholl (Julia Jentsch,) who’s life ended at the age of twenty-one. She was executed by the Nazi regime along with her brother Hans and friend Christoph Probst. With her execution, she is forced to trade her life for her ideals.

Scholl and her brother led a group of student protesters known as die Weiße Rose (The White Rose.) This group of five students and one professor wrote leaflets denouncing the Nazi party. In an act youthful stupidity, the group ups the ante by distributing leaflets in broad daylight. This act of brazenness is costly as they are all captured and detained by The Gestapo.

The film’s strength comes in presenting the interrogations of Scholl. These scenes not only provide some of the best interrogation scenes made in a very long time, but also perform a brilliant job of comparing and contrasting worldview. On one hand we have the Lutheran Scholl whose view of the world is determined by Christian principles. Her faith informs her decisions and actions. While she initially attempts to defend her family and friends and deny the charges of high treason, she eventually relents and accepts responsibility for her deeds.

On the other side of the argument is Gestapo functionary Robert Mohr (Gerald Alexander Held.) Mohr represents the Nazi worldview. He attempts to defend his desire for the Nazi philosophy to be correct. As the two verbally spar, it is really the two worldviews having a battle of ideas. On one side of the table is Scholl’s slightly watered down Christian ethos and on the other is Mohr’s sputtering belief in Hitler’s promises of a man made paradise. The interrogation scenes alone are worth the price of admission. They are masterfully written and acted to perfection.

Beyond the interrogation scenes, the film also does a wonderful job of showing the wheels of “justice” in action. Scholl is hurried through the procedures of the legal system as if she were just another widget coming down the assembly line. There’s hardly a moment for human interaction or thought. The Nazi machine was a massive rubber stamp regime that utilized the bureaucratic tools to dehumanize the process of killing people. Once Scholl gets caught in the machine her doom is inevitable.

In the context of the film, the bureaucracy expresses the lack of justice in this world. Scholl’s beliefs are based in God and his ultimate justice. His law is eternal and consistent. The feeble law of man is hindered by the sway of man’s inclinations. Yes, the legal system that killed Scholl was a functioning organ, but it was poisoned by the sickness that is Nazism. Scholl’s beliefs are consistent because she relies on God for her direction, not the machinations of man.

This is an absolute must see film. The script by Fred Breinersdorfer is pithy and direct. Direct is a good word for this whole production. Director Marc Rothemund has the sense to allow the events unfold and let the story speak for itself. Since the piece is rooted in the actual East German archival documents of the case and interviews with witnesses to these final days, Rothermund was wise to allow the story to tell itself.

I highly suggest seeing this film as soon as you can. A good film is a rare thing and you should treat yourself when the option arises. Even though I ramble about worldview, the theological elements in the piece are not too preachy for those of you who are wary of such things. Conversely, they are obvious enough for those of us who appreciate them to catch them as they arise. There is a fine balance to be found in this production. While it is difficult to see a person unfairly executed, we can learn from Scholl’s example and bravery.


Related Reviews:
German Movies
Der Tunnel (The Tunnel) (2001)
Downfall (2004)
Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives of Others) (2006)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Reel.com
Monsters & Critics


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Labels: Christians, film, Julia Jentsch, movie review, Nazis, Sophie Scholl