It was a joy and pleasure to discuss the deep spiritual implications of Talledega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby last month in North Seattle. Yes, I’m serious. This movie helps illustrate why we laugh along with comedy, how many of us pray to our own personal Jesus, and how so many of us listen to the insipid wisdom of people even more foolish than ourselves.

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Hollywood has recently green-lit a film based on chain-mail wearing, flag-wrapped, World War II super-soldier Steve Rogers, who many folks know as Marvel comics’ literally flagship character Captain America. His fictional former friend, Iron Man, is set to fly on the silver screen played by Robert Downey Jr. and his web slinging associate, Spider-man, will swing into his third blockbuster this summer. There’s only one difference between these three men:

Captain America is dead.

In the most recent issue of his magazine, the comic book symbol of America is fatally shot by a sniper, pronounced D.O.A. on his arrival to the hospital. The event made major news headlines across the nation and even garnered mention on The Colbert Report. While not as widespread, it is reminiscent of the global news phenomenon in 1993, when DC comics “Death of Superman” made worldwide headlines in CNN and Time magazine; even comedians like Jay Leno wore black armbands to memorialize the hero. 

The fatal shot came in the wake of a miniseries entitled “Civil War“, which also garnered a lot of press this year. In this storyline, a super-powered battle caused massive civilian casualties, leading the U.S. government to pass the “Superhero Registration Act”. This basically deemed superheroes as living “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and demanded they register their real identities. Some heroes complied and supported the act, including Iron Man and even Spider-man, who unmasked in public and revealed his identity to the world (another dramatic change that made news in 2006 in America and worldwide including the BBC.) However, Captain America the symbol of America’s spirit in comics, disagreed with the Registration Act. As ABC News reported, “Captain America thought the act violated basic civil liberties and led a group of crime fighters who went rogue after refusing to register.” (more…)

Premonition
Director: Mennan Yapo
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon
TriStar Pictures, 2007
Rated: PG-13

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a premonition is “previous notice or advance warning”. If only Sandra Bullock had received such notice before signing on to star in this Jenga-like movie that crumples under its own internal logic.

Better yet, if only I’d lived Saturday before Friday, obtained advance warning this movie sucked, then awakened Friday morning with the premonition to save my money.

America’s Miss Congeniality stars in this thriller about a housewife named Linda Hanson, living a week “out of order”, realizing that her husband will die midweek if she doesn’t sort out the timeline or take steps to alter the course of events as she bounces around the week on either side of the horrific day. Moreover, the odd behavior in light of her chronological displacement seems destined to get her children taken away from her and land her in the psychiatric ward. The film is fairly well-acted; I have nothing against Sandra Bullock, and like actor Julian McMahon. The cinematography is engaging and the film is well paced. However, I can only imagine that somewhere between first draft of Bill Kelly’s screenplay and Mennan Yapo’s finished, edited film the story got mangled.

The premise is intriguing, and the overarching themes of providence and destiny drew me in. At first, it’s terrifying for Linda (Bullock) that her life, and time, are out of joint, she begins to understand she has the chance - and the urgency - to do much more than simply save her husband’s life: she’s actually been given the opportunity to save a stagnant marriage… a family that seems okay on the surface but has fractures beneath the veneer.

Fidelity, family, perseverance, and an efficacious love that involves choice and work are upheld not only as a part of marriage, but one of the few things in life truly worth fighting for. Many elements for a good film with good speaking points were present… but the film quickly shows its cards and reveals it has cheated to set the mood… timeline continuity is ruined for the sake of a red herring part of the plot, meant to throw the viewer off track. (more…)

In 480 B.C., Leonidas and his 300 Spartans sacrificed themselves to buy time for the Greeks as an army of Persians beyond count sought to conquer the lands. Over time, the story has become legend; I actually passed through Thermopylae Pass on a trip through Greece, where the Spartans fell in battle for their families, for glory, for Sparta, where the statue of Leonidas still stands with the inscription of his defiant cry which has been echoed as a tough guy anthem throughout thousands of years of history. Recently, graphic novelist Frank Miller (who also created Sin City) inked his own artistic version of the 300 Spartans and their story; it is his fictitious rendition of the events that has been adapted into the film “300” directed by Zach Snyder.

Watching the movie, I couldn’t help but wonder if people would think his classic line was an inserted Hollywood fiction; in fact, it’s one of the known components in the film based on historical tradition. When emissaries of Xerxes, the god-king of Persia, demand that Leonidas and his men lay down their arms, the bold King of Sparta replied “MOLON LABE”, or “Come and Get ‘em”. Never mind that a hundred tough guys throughout cinematic history have touted variations on this line (Bruce Campell vs. the Army of Darkness - “come get some!” - springs to mind), it seems Leonidas set the catch phrase bar long before Bruce Willis died hard.

Leonidas died harder.

This movie is not about historical accuracy. As a classic mythological tale of sacrifice and valor - the heights of heroism - it is phenomenal. The cinematic craft is visually astounding. The carnage is visceral and rightfully disturbing; the performances are passionate and intense to match the hyperreality of the lavishly crafted digital set pieces. Not since Fight Club has there been such a testosterone fest, and manly men will not be able to resist this film.

Some have complained about this movie being plotless; I guess that hinges on what you call plot. I’m tapping out this review during sessions of a Men’s Training Day at Mars Hill. As we walk through what it means to be a biblical man - the basics of embodying protector, savior, of being willing to lay down our lives, metaphorically and physically, for wife, children, family, for what we believe - to live like Jesus and empty ourselves for others… I can’t help but resonate with the plot of 300. There is danger, and men respond: two hours of combat ensue. While I can be enthralled by a good twisting who-dunit, complex spy film, or introspective drama, sometimes 300 is more than enough plot for any man. (more…)

In my last post, I dropped Cinemagogue’s Top 10 film of 2006, many of which toy with great themes of narrative, philosophy and spirituality. I also promised that I’d cover some honorable mentions for 2006, as well as the “guilty pleasures” and royal stinkers. The latter category won’t be making the “film and theology” class rounds at Mars Hill Church anytime soon.

Honorable Mention
World Trade Center
I went with a chip on my shoulder, expecting a biased Oliver Stone film, and found myself shocked at the respect not only for the day, and the people involved, but the faith of the men both trapped in the rubble and the man who was providentially led to find them. As Nicolas Cage cries out the Lord’s Prayer desperately, begging forgiveness for his own sins and to forgive the sins of those who have so imminently transgressed against him, it sent chills down my spine. As he sees a vision of his wife and laments whether he has loved her enough, it evokes tears.

Lucky Number Slevin
Mistaken identities, war between two rivals who rule the city, a young man caught between the law and an infamous assassin, Slevin’s story is a cross between Shakespeare and the book of Judges with revenge and deceit and double-cross. The all star cast (Ben Kingslley, Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, and Stanley Tucci) make you give Josh Hartnett a chance as the central character; he succeeds. It’s no Usual Suspects, and is pretty brutal, but engaging.

Mission Impossible 3
The creator of Alias and co-creator of Lost finally did what Brian DePalma and John Woo failed to do - make a Mission: Impossible movie instead of an Americanized Bond film with MI theme music. There are moments that will warm fans of the old television show while still telling a tight spy story that works in modern times. Love, and the impact of lies on those relationships, is a central theme. With Oscar-award winning Philip Seymour Hoffman as the antagonist who abducts Ethan’s (Tom Cruise) wife, you can virtually forget Tom’s shenanigans for a few hours and actually enjoy the film.

And now… for movies you wish you didn’t have to admit you liked… (more…)