Sunday, July 13, 2008

"The perfect antidote to The Passion of the Christ" *

It turns out I watch a lot of movies when I am home for the summer, caring for a baby Jack. This means that I get to ruin review all of them for your reading pleasure, so that you don't actually have to see any of them. (sigh)

Whatever. Let the review begin!

So, the movie we watched yesterday has a disclaimer that says:

"Rated R for strong sexual content including a scene of aberrant intimacy, graphic nudity, frank dialogue and some language."

Rich said, "Hmm. Frank dialogue? Intriguing."

"Of that whole list, that's what intrigues you?" I asked.

He stared at me blankly. blink. blink.

Apparently so.

Anyway. The movie, Forgiving the Franklins, though not my favorite, makes some interesting points. I'll briefly note them for your consideration.

Firstly, the story is about what happens when a Bible belt Christian family of the James Dobson persuasion (sort of) dies (save one), goes to heaven, and meets Jesus who is tattooed, has an excellent fro, and is cutting down crosses that keep falling from the sky and planting themselves in the ground. He mumbles something about the cross reminding him of the worst day of his life. He can't imagine why anyone would want to remember it.

Jesus literally reaches into the skulls of the family and pulls out bloody apples (from the infamous Tree of Knowledge, I presume) then sends the family back to suburbia where they awaken as if they were in the Garden of Eden, unashamed of their nakedness, and impervious to any societal rules. They only know to love one another and their neighbors, and to enjoy and be thankful for their human forms, hence the movie's aberrant disclaimer. The family's new behavior horrifies the one daughter who doesn't come face to face with Jesus, and it baffles the Christian neighbors who immediately ostracize the family for their "craziness."

The family walks out of church mid-hellfire-and-brimstone-sermon but without disdain or anger. They simply don't want to be subjected to that sort of message but don't mind that others want to be. In the end, it isn't good news for the family since their community can't accept them any longer. Whether this is because the community members are jealous, lost, or completely dependant on their idea of Christian normalcy, is debatable.

I'm not sure I would recommend this movie to everyone, certainly not to my grandmother. But I do think that it raises some excellent points:

A. Jesus probably doesn't look like we think he does.
B. God's version of truth varies greatly from our indoctrinated, human perceptions of those truths.
C. The way in which we pray is a little bit ridiculous and should be more about giving thanks than anything else, instead of prayer that lends itself to guilt.
D. We should enjoy our lives with love as the foundation.

Thoughts?

* review by Premiere Magazine

8 comments:

Mark said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine said...

Amen to your A, B, C, and D. Well said.

The movie sounds intriguing; heading to add it to netflix and the ever-growing queue. I think when I actually watch everything on my queue, Jesus will come back.

Ginger said...

Hey Fougs, don't hold your breath about this one. I would see Persepolis instead..

Mark, I'm bummed that you erased your comment! As always, you give me a lot to think about. I wanted to respond to you.. Ah well. :) Maybe next time.

Amira Abu-Shawish said...

It's funny you should say all that. I'm getting a bit of an education in film lately.

As far as Forgiving the Franklins goes... well, I have no idea. But I know Persepolis is amazing and the reason I'm upset by people who think 2d animation as an art form is dead. The look of the movie is positively stunning, not to mention the storyline. I don't know if it's just because I'm absolutely in love with it, but I have not a damn thing bad to say about it.

LBelle said...

you know I had to comment on this post. hope I don't annoy you. Work is slower today so I am finally getting a chance to check your blogs out. You are so talented Ginger. First let me say the description of the movie literally makes my stomach turn over (sorry, I haven't had breakfast yet.) Secondly, I agree with your summary points. The only thing I would add is to #2 where you said God's version of the truth looks a lot different than how we view it - - I think to some extent you are correct, in that as flawed humans we have the ability to enter pride and other junk into the perfect theology God has provided. However God has given the Word of God as the authority. So I believe that as we are truly in tune with the Holy Spirit (i.e. through prayer and humility and in love), the Bible comes alive and we see just how loving God truly is. Truth faith is not about guilt it is about focusing on God's love and grace.

Ginger said...

Hi Lala! ;)
Of course you are not annoying me! I appreciate your insight and opinions! Express them freely.

Ginger said...

BTW, Which part made your stomach turn?

LBelle said...

Ginger, thanks for letting me be a part of the commenting process!

Stomach turned on this part:

"Jesus literally reaches into the skulls of the family and pulls out bloody apples"

Love ya too!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

"The perfect antidote to The Passion of the Christ" *

It turns out I watch a lot of movies when I am home for the summer, caring for a baby Jack. This means that I get to ruin review all of them for your reading pleasure, so that you don't actually have to see any of them. (sigh)

Whatever. Let the review begin!

So, the movie we watched yesterday has a disclaimer that says:

"Rated R for strong sexual content including a scene of aberrant intimacy, graphic nudity, frank dialogue and some language."

Rich said, "Hmm. Frank dialogue? Intriguing."

"Of that whole list, that's what intrigues you?" I asked.

He stared at me blankly. blink. blink.

Apparently so.

Anyway. The movie, Forgiving the Franklins, though not my favorite, makes some interesting points. I'll briefly note them for your consideration.

Firstly, the story is about what happens when a Bible belt Christian family of the James Dobson persuasion (sort of) dies (save one), goes to heaven, and meets Jesus who is tattooed, has an excellent fro, and is cutting down crosses that keep falling from the sky and planting themselves in the ground. He mumbles something about the cross reminding him of the worst day of his life. He can't imagine why anyone would want to remember it.

Jesus literally reaches into the skulls of the family and pulls out bloody apples (from the infamous Tree of Knowledge, I presume) then sends the family back to suburbia where they awaken as if they were in the Garden of Eden, unashamed of their nakedness, and impervious to any societal rules. They only know to love one another and their neighbors, and to enjoy and be thankful for their human forms, hence the movie's aberrant disclaimer. The family's new behavior horrifies the one daughter who doesn't come face to face with Jesus, and it baffles the Christian neighbors who immediately ostracize the family for their "craziness."

The family walks out of church mid-hellfire-and-brimstone-sermon but without disdain or anger. They simply don't want to be subjected to that sort of message but don't mind that others want to be. In the end, it isn't good news for the family since their community can't accept them any longer. Whether this is because the community members are jealous, lost, or completely dependant on their idea of Christian normalcy, is debatable.

I'm not sure I would recommend this movie to everyone, certainly not to my grandmother. But I do think that it raises some excellent points:

A. Jesus probably doesn't look like we think he does.
B. God's version of truth varies greatly from our indoctrinated, human perceptions of those truths.
C. The way in which we pray is a little bit ridiculous and should be more about giving thanks than anything else, instead of prayer that lends itself to guilt.
D. We should enjoy our lives with love as the foundation.

Thoughts?

* review by Premiere Magazine

8 comments:

Mark said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine said...

Amen to your A, B, C, and D. Well said.

The movie sounds intriguing; heading to add it to netflix and the ever-growing queue. I think when I actually watch everything on my queue, Jesus will come back.

Ginger said...

Hey Fougs, don't hold your breath about this one. I would see Persepolis instead..

Mark, I'm bummed that you erased your comment! As always, you give me a lot to think about. I wanted to respond to you.. Ah well. :) Maybe next time.

Amira Abu-Shawish said...

It's funny you should say all that. I'm getting a bit of an education in film lately.

As far as Forgiving the Franklins goes... well, I have no idea. But I know Persepolis is amazing and the reason I'm upset by people who think 2d animation as an art form is dead. The look of the movie is positively stunning, not to mention the storyline. I don't know if it's just because I'm absolutely in love with it, but I have not a damn thing bad to say about it.

LBelle said...

you know I had to comment on this post. hope I don't annoy you. Work is slower today so I am finally getting a chance to check your blogs out. You are so talented Ginger. First let me say the description of the movie literally makes my stomach turn over (sorry, I haven't had breakfast yet.) Secondly, I agree with your summary points. The only thing I would add is to #2 where you said God's version of the truth looks a lot different than how we view it - - I think to some extent you are correct, in that as flawed humans we have the ability to enter pride and other junk into the perfect theology God has provided. However God has given the Word of God as the authority. So I believe that as we are truly in tune with the Holy Spirit (i.e. through prayer and humility and in love), the Bible comes alive and we see just how loving God truly is. Truth faith is not about guilt it is about focusing on God's love and grace.

Ginger said...

Hi Lala! ;)
Of course you are not annoying me! I appreciate your insight and opinions! Express them freely.

Ginger said...

BTW, Which part made your stomach turn?

LBelle said...

Ginger, thanks for letting me be a part of the commenting process!

Stomach turned on this part:

"Jesus literally reaches into the skulls of the family and pulls out bloody apples"

Love ya too!