movies

Why Avatar Ultimately Fails

January 7, 2010 By heather 11 Comments

First things first: The story would make Christopher Vogler proud, but it’s predictable in every way. The computer graphics are amazing, especially with how they work with the real life film. At times, I couldn’t tell which was which. And I applaud Cameron’s imagination to create this amazing world with the animal and plant life. That imagination testifies to God’s creativity implanted in us.

But (spoiler alert!) the ending fails.

In the beginning, the scientists talk about their desire to coexist with the Na’vi on Pandora. Yet, in the end, this does not happen. Not really. One guy becomes a Na’vi through spiritual intervention, and the Na’vi choose a couple of humans to remain on Pandora. But Cameron gives us no reason to believe that humans and Na’vi will attempt to live together peacefully, bringing together their two different cultures.

We all cheer when the military fails to destory the sacred place of the Na’vi. We did not want the U.S. military to conquer and dominate. But I’m not sure the Na’vi kicking out the military completely is a satisfying ending either. Where’s the peace and harmony in this?

Also, Avatar offers no real redemption. They lost a great opportunity to do so with Parker Selfridge’s character (nice name, huh?). Jake Sully warned Parker that he did not want that kind of blood on his hands. And Parker seems to show hints of regret. They could have developed that more–his remorse and repentance. Instead, they focus on the Na’vi, with guns and arrows pointed at the military, kicking them all out.

I’m not saying I’m on the side of the military. Clearly, the military were wrong and selfish and consumerist-driven. This calls for justice. But justice doesn’t exclude redemption.

One last complaint: Cameron created straw men. Is there truth embedded in the characters he created–in this innocent native group and imperialistic military group? Yes. Of course. But he took this to the extreme. The innocent natives are only innocent and the imperialistic military and corporate guys are only impirialistic. The only type of redemption, then, available in this system is to become a native. In other words, to be saved, you have to leave your culture and enter into another culture rather than work with Christ to change the culture in which you live so that every culture will bow at the name of Christ.

No real redemption. No peace and harmony between people groups. That’s why Avatar fails.

Filed Under: Avatar, movies, theology

Movies: The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

September 17, 2009 By heather 5 Comments

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is based on the memoir of Jean-Dominque Bauby, editor-in-chief of Elle magazine. After suffering a massive stroke, Jean-Dominique lived with locked-in syndrome, meaning that though his mind was active and healthy, his body, except for his eyes and minor head movement, was paralyzed.

A speech therapist devised a system so that Jean-Dominique could communicate by blinking his left eye (his right eye had to be sewn closed because of problems–I can’t stand watching anything related to surgery, needles, or sharp objects and eyes). She repeated each letter of the alphabet (arranged according to popularity rather than in alphabetical order), and he blinked at the correct letter to spell words.

After Jean-Dominique learned the system, he contacted the publisher that had recently signed a contract with him. He wanted to write his memoir.

This movie is some Swiss Family Robinson story. It doesn’t gloss over the ugliness of the disease, making it some beautiful conduit without which Jean-Dominique would have never discovered himself. It is wonderfully acted, directed and filmed, often in a documentary style. When Jean-Dominique first wakes in the hospital after coming out of a coma (and for quite a bit after that), you see everything from his hazy perspective. My husband and I cringed at the blurry, vacillating objects. It’s hard to watch, in other words, attempting to give you a taste of Jean-Dominique’s adjustment.

Jean-Dominique is not suddenly some saint because of his stroke and syndrome. He feels sorry for himself; he doesn’t always treat people well. In fact, at times, he can be an ass (at least in the movie–who knows what’s fictionalized and what’s true to form).

But here’s what amazed me: even at this point, when his body betrays him, when he cannot function as he once did, he responds with creativity and culture. He chooses to use his imagination. This is how integral creating is to humanity. I found myself wondering if he, in fact, acted more fully human than I do watching TV on the couch every night (or in the office crammed together with my husband on the one overstuffed chair, since we no longer have cable and watch TV shows on the Internet). This shamed me. How can I complain about the difficulties of writing? He awoke early in the morning, considered what he wanted to write, memorized it, then dictated it by eye-blinks later that morning for four hours each day. No surprisingly, his book became a bookseller.

But he didn’t have much time to enjoy that. He died ten days after it released.

Writing the book wasn’t about acknowledgement. It was about creating itself and about communicating.

Filed Under: anthropology, creativity, culture making, humanity, imagination, movies, The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, theology

Suggestions for Engaging in Art in Your Everyday Life

August 11, 2009 By heather Leave a Comment

Engaging in art starts in areas close to home. As you learn how to construct meaning with the artist, you can expand into more unfamiliar circles to stretch and develop.

Your favorite TV show: What do you enjoy about this show? How is it unique? How do the writing, camera angles, colors, dialogue, etc. work together? What is the premise and what does that premise say about humanity? What does it say about the world? How do the characters develop and grow? Do you see yourself in them?
For example, Pushing Daisies uses bright colors to show grace and joy in second chances. The premise of Dexter takes the hero–Batman, Superman, or the western vigilante–and puts a twist on it.
This weekend’s movie: As you watch a movie this weekend, consider how the storyline develops, the motivations, ethics, and development of the characters, and the images used in the movie. Pay attention to how the director framed the world of the movie. What is the subject of the movie? What does the movie say about that subject? As you did with your TV shows, think about what that says about humanity and the world. Do you agree or disagree with this? Would you act differently than the characters? Why or why not?
For example, Chocolat shows the risk of joy and grace in a controlled environment. It contrasts rich colors of reds and oranges against the dreary grays of the town, structures the story along the liturgical calendar of Lent to Easter, and uses chocolate as a sacrament. It also forces the townspeople to find joy and grace in unexpected characters. Sweeney Todd shows the depravity of humanity through one man’s story of revenge. In this singular purpose, Sweeney destroys life rather than rediscovering it.
A local gallery: After taking in the whole exhibit, find one or two pieces in the gallery to engage with and spend time with them. How does the artist use colors, lines, and spaces? Is it abstract or traditional? What emotions does it invoke? How does the title relate to the piece? Does it make you think of another artist’s work? What is the subject matter of the piece? How does that relate to your life?
A concert: This can be symphonic or popular music. Before going, learn about the composer or singer/songwriter. If going to a symphony orchestra, read about the piece they will be playing–the influences, musical themes, styles, structure etc. When there, see if you can pick out the themes. Close your eyes and enter into the music, following it like a roller coaster. Does it conjure images or colors? What emotions do you feel? If going to a popular concert, consider how the lyrics and music work together. How does the artist deviate from typical songs? Are there places that surprise you? How do the lyrics relate to your life?

These are a few ideas to get you started in engaging art. As you think about the art created around you, think of ways that you can respond through your own art and life, whether by choosing an art form (e.g. painting, poetry, sewing, journaling, collaging) or incorporating your response in your life (e.g. your job, household chores).

Filed Under: art, books, creativity, engagement, movies, TV

Movies and Theology: Up

July 13, 2009 By heather 12 Comments

Most of you know the story: Carl and Ellie dreamed of going to Paradise Lost in South America. They wanted a house at the top of the waterfall. But life doesn’t always happen as we expect or hope. Decades later, after Ellie’s death, Carl vows to fulfill the promise he made her as kids: He’s taking their house to Paradise Lost.

But a stowaway Wilderness Scout brings Carl an unexpected adventure.

This movie with its simple story is one of the best I’ve seen since WALL-E. Of course it is. It’s Pixar. If Pixar took over the world, it might be a better place. With Pixar, we can expect greatness.

I didn’t expect, though, to cry so early on in the film. Oh, I expected to cry. I bawled in WALL-E. Pixar has mastered emotional attachment to cartoon characters.

The colors and attention to detail make this movie visually beautiful. Chris and I saw the 3D version, which I recommend. We don’t often go to the movies anymore, and to shell out the extra $3 per ticket we had to take the hammer to the piggy bank, but it was worth it. Plus, Chris took home his 3D glasses, so he now has an extra coolness factor for that $3. Let me tell you, he looks sexy in those glasses.

Several of the themes in the movie echoed a theology we as Christians can affirm.

Embrace the adventure, even if it means giving up your dreams. We see this theme in Ellie’s life. Life keeps them from their dream, but she never grows bitter. She dances every moment of her life and sees every opportunity as part of the adventure. We also see this in Carl’s journey. He has a choice to make: fulfill his dream and vow to Ellie to get their house to Paradise Lost or to embrace the new adventure to help a hunted exotic bird.
We grow up with ideals of the American Dream, which usually means something bigger and better. Having and working toward goals is good, but how often do we use it as an excuse to neglect those who need us? And how often does the elusive American Dream keep us from enjoying what we have now (a virtue known as contentment). Interestingly enough, Chris and I have some choices to make now that reflect that, although not as drastically as Carl’s choices. We have a dream in life we’ve been working toward. Do we continue pursuing it? Or do we take the new opportunities on the journey?
We need the elderly. Yes, they need us, but even more, we need them. We need them involved in our lives and in the lives of our children.
Side note: I don’t talk politics often on my blog, but I’d like to note that I find the timing of this message interesting with the new healthcare “reform.” This “reform” will most likely affect the elderly first and most. In Europe, which uses the healthcare we’re working toward, often, the powers that be deny the elderly because when “prioritizing,” it’s more important to get care to the younger and stronger.
This is a sanctity of life issue. The elderly are no less valuable than you or I.
Okay, enough of that soap box.
I had a third point, but after that last speech, I’ve forgotten it. Oops.

Pixar has once again made a great film that combines good storytelling, beautiful animation that takes Bugs Bunny to a whole new artform, entertainment, and themes that make us think.

Psst–If you find this post interesting and think others might as well, would you mind taking a minute to stumble it? It would mean a lot to me.

Filed Under: adventure, elderly, movies, the American Dream, theology, Up

I Love to Laugh Loud and Long and Clear

July 6, 2009 By heather 4 Comments

A young man takes up the quest to save the maiden fair (or her job) as well as health and dental plans for the office. Chivalry is still alive.

I wrote the screenplay for a short film entered in a film festival: The Adventures of Don and Cho.

(Sorry about the audio–sometimes the lines are hard to understand.) I had such fun working on this one. I have to be honest–I crack myself up.

***

Chris and I did a preparatory spring cleaning (hey, I wasn’t going to tackle that closet yet). I organized all my music. My flute music is now separate from my piano music. Amazing. And I discovered all sorts of treasures–music I’d forgotten I had, music and poetry I’d written years and years ago, notebooks of my lessons through three piano teachers.

A good weekend.

***

For the first time in several weeks, I’m having a hard time keeping myself from dancing around the room. (And I may have been unsuccessful at restraining myself for a minute.) This is good.

Filed Under: giggles, movies, random thoughts, short film

"Not all who wander are lost."

May 4, 2009 By heather Leave a Comment

After Logan’s painful, almost fatal surgery (the good thing about a prequel is you know Wolverine doesn’t die!), he runs naked into a barn while the farmowners, driving up to their home, look on. Featured prominently on the back of their truck is a bumper sticker: “Not all who wander are lost.”

This Tolkien quote does two things.

First, it gives us the key to Logan and his search for his background. In the X-Men movie, Logan doesn’t know who he is or from where he comes. While we, as the audience, get to go back in time and discover this, Logan doesn’t. His memory can’t recall more than a small flash back to the surgery. But as he wanders Canada, does that mean he’s truly lost? His character–rough around the edges but tender and heroic–remains the same. He may not remember his first name. He may not remember his family. He may not remember how he came upon the nickname of Wolverine, but Wolverine he is, howling in grief and caring for the weak.

Second, the quote hints that perhaps this elderly couple, who take Logan in and care for him, are Christians. After all, the quote is written by a Christian about Christianity. I appreciate that this film displays this couple, who lost so much of their own and experienced pain and grief, risked their well-being, gave generously, for the sake of kindness and perhaps even of Christ.

Image by plynoi via Flickr

I loved this movie, but I love the X-Men movies, especially Wolverine’s character. I’m not a comic book fan. I didn’t grow up on them, nor have I turned to them in my adult years, but I’ve come to appreciate their movie screen adaptations when they tell good stories (as in the case of Wolverine and the Batman series).

X-Men Origins: Wolverine explores the theme of humanity v. base animal instincts. Through-out the movie, Wolverine is continually presented with the choice: will he act humanly (which means to show mercy and forgiveness) or will he succomb to animal instincts (which they portray as revenge and bloodlust).

His foil is his brother, Victor, who deteriorates in his viciousness and destruction until it can no longer be contained and filtered for “good guys.” (I wonder if there’s a bit of commentary about the United States in his character.)

Here’s what I find interesting in this: the theory of mutants is based on evolution (a philosophy I don’t agree with, to be upfront). Mutants have evolved into the next level of humanity. This evolution is not spiritual or emotional. It is purely physical (I would argue that even the power of mind-control and telepathic abilities require physical abilities to accomplish). Moreover, some of the powers borrow from the animal kingdom (although on steroids). (Why would evolution work that way? It’s not exactly forward momentum for survival, then, as much as “this feature in combination with this would be cool.”) As such, the writers suggest that as some of them take on animal abilities (with a kick), they struggle with animal temptations. But it’s not really an animal nature that tempts them this way. It is their human nature, combined with their abilities that allow them positions of power. (Lest you think this is only a struggle for the mutants, Stryker, who has no mutant abilities, manipulates the mutants for his own agenda and lust for power.)

In other words, though they base X-Men on the theory of evolution, the morality they use is based on mercy and forgiveness (which, I would argue, are qualities that are an intrinsic part of being human because humans are created in the image of the Creator, who is merciful and forgiving), rather than survival of the fittest.

Regarding the production, story, and characterization of this movie: well done. Bravo. I don’t know if there are plans for more X-Men origin movies (to be honest, who’s more interesting than Wolverine with his mysterious beginnings?). I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

Two things bothered me. One, if Logan is supposedly a bastard child, making him Victor’s brother (don’t worry, that comes out in the first couple minutes of the movie–I’m not spoiling anything), why does he look so much like the father who raised him (played by Hugh Jackman)? Two, if the Gambler character wants Victor dead so badly, why does he interrupt Wolverine in his attempts to kill Victor? That didn’t make logical sense.

But nevertheless, highly entertaining. Good for considering questions about humanity and anthropology. Also, fun to see a couple of Lost actors resurrected, as well as one of the guys from Two Guys, A Girl, and a Pizza Place, a TV show I still miss.

Psst–If you find this post interesting and think others might as well, would you mind taking a minute to stumble it? It would mean a lot to me.

Filed Under: anthropology, humanity, movies, theology, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."

April 15, 2009 By heather 8 Comments

I love a good movie. I love the story. I love the artistic interplay of the writing, directing, acting, sets, costumes, music. I love reclining in that chair in the movie theater and watching it all unfold in two hours.

But I love books more. In movies, time speeds up, but in books, time slows. You have to commit to a book. If it’s a bad book, you lose more than two hours of your life. But if it’s a good book, you’ve immersed yourself more thoroughly in its characters and stories. It’s not a quick dip in the pool. By the time you’ve come to the end of the book, your fingers and toes are like prunes from the water.

The characters get under your skin. They become part of your life for more than two hours but for days, possibly. And because of this, they stay part of you.

HALLATROW, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 12: Book...

Image by Getty Images

Taking a movie back to Blockbuster is humdrum. Ho, hum, I think. Exchange this one for a new one. Out with the old; in with the new.

Taking a book back to the library tears a piece of me out and leaves it on the shelf with the book, smashed between pages 112 and 113. I mourn when I come to the end of a book. And I continue to have conversations with the characters. Anne, who shall we pretend to be today? Sully, how’s that knee doing? Tell you what, let’s run up to Rosy’s for a drink and see if that helps. Recently, I introduced Rebecca and Lauren, and though both are quiet, they’ve developed quite a friendship.

Movies draw me in, it’s true. I laugh. I cry. I get involved. And my favorite movies, I watch over and over again, and that process makes me part of it.

But I enter into a book on the first reading. I don’t easily move on to the next. I can’t say, "Oh, that was nice. What’s next?"

Movies make me think. They show me different perspectives. Or make me think about old perspectives in fresh ways.

But books shape who I am.

Title quote from Anchorman.

Filed Under: books, characters, movies, stories, storytelling

Trailer: Public Enemies

April 7, 2009 By heather 2 Comments

Johnny Depp is by far my favorite actor. Christian Bale has quite possibly become my second favorite actor. The two meet in this movie. I’ll be there opening day.