Films & Hope

I like movies. I wouldn't say that I'm a film buff because I'm not that serious about them but I think they can be very important expressions in our culture.

I went to see The Passion of the Christ with low expectations and my expectations were pretty much met. One reviewer referred to the main character as "Jesus Christ Super-stoic" and I think that was on target. I was struck by the over-the-top, pornographic nature of the violence which also seemed well beyond the capacity of the human body to endure. In addition, it was Mel Gibson's Stations of the Cross which is a very particular style of devotional exercise that is essentially meaningless to the outsider. Without already knowing the story, it seemed difficult to understand. All in all, I saw the film as being very weak as a way to communicate the gospel. I sat next to an obviously unchurched young man who seemed to reinforce my take. He pretty much reacted to the film as if it was a slasher movie with Jesus having no more significance than a young woman being caught by Freddy Kruger.

Today, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe opens and I'm excited. The reviews that I've read seem to agree that Aslan is a much more complete Christ figure than Mel Gibson's interpretation. On Sunday I'm going to see it with our older elementary program - TEAM. I'm hopeful that it will provide an open wardrobe... er doorway to discussion with the young people and with lots of adults.

I'll post my impressions on Monday.