A blog conversation about movies.

Tim Challies as Challies.com posted this today:

Friday Ramblings

I noticed a few days ago that Christianity Today has listed their "10 Most Redeeming Films of 2005." "What do we mean by "redeeming" films? They're all stories of redemption--sometimes blatantly, sometimes less so. Several of them literally have a character that represents a redeemer. And with some of them, the redemption thread is buried beneath the surface; you might have to look a bit harder for it, but it's most certainly there. Some of them are 'feel-good' movies that leave a smile on your face; some might leave you with more of a contemplative frown, asking, 'How should I process that?'"

Here is the list of films:

Cinderella Man
Batman Begins
Murderball
Crash
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Munich
Dear Frankie
Pride & Prejudice
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Millions

Of those I have only seen the last three. Pride & Prejudice and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe were both excellent. Millions was awful. I was disappointed to see a movie like Crash make it to the list. Now I have not seen the film, but judging by what I know of it, I wouldn't even if I wanted to. It is rated R and apparently for good reason. The following warning is provided by PluggedIn Online: "THIS FILM FEATURES GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND LEWD SEXUAL CONTENT. THIS REVIEW REFERENCES THAT CONTENT AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN." The review mentions that there is intense, explicit wildly inappropriate sexual content, plenty of brutal violence and a lot of bad language. "Like the rapid-fire shots of a drive-by, the f-word is sprayed about 100 times (several times it's used with “mother”; it's also used in a sexual manner). The s-word is said at least a dozen times, while God’s name is misused almost as frequently and is often combined with “d--n.” Christ’s name gets abused four times. More than 30 other milder profanities further mar this film, including several sexual slang terms."

But I'm sure it's a wonderful tale of redemption. Maybe I'll rent it tonight and watch it with the kids so we can all be blessed together. Or not. Every now and then I'm tempted to wonder if Christianity Today can stoop any lower. And yet somehow they always manage.

One commenter said this:

"Crash" was very thought-provoking. Not an easy film to see (or hear, as you pointed out) and certainly not family fare. Not even a typical Hollywood film. I was surprised when it won the Academy Award. But better "Crash" than that other travesty...

Another responded with this:

To anyone else:
How do we really apply Philippians 4:8 to the movies? What does "think on or meditate on" in that passage apply to?

I KNOW I will probably get blasted for sounding holier than thou, BUT please understand I am not being judgmental (SINCE I DON'T KNOW ANY OF YOU). I really just want an honest answer...please!

In Christ,
Greg

I responded with this:

Interesting comments. There is so much here to comment on:

1. Tim, is there a useful difference between saying the "f-word" was used 100 times and actually using it? When one puts down "f-word" or writes f#$% we all know what that word is and it probably is running through our mind as we read. In light of the Jesus' teaching about adultery/lust, etc in the Sermon on the Mount isn't this just about the same thing? Does that make sense? I just think we all can kind of ride the line of hypocrisy or legalism with that. This may be a petty point, but I think it is worth thinking through. To sum up, if we are so against the "f-word" then don't put "f-word" anywhere on the page cause it just brings it to mind.

2. In terms of Phil 4:8 - I wholeheartedly believe that we are to meditate on what is good and right and pure, but if that means that we can't go to a rated R movies then I think we may be approaching legalism again. My main problem with it is that then one could really never read the OT since the OT has so much graphic violence and graphic sex (see Song of Solomon) that one would have too avoid it completely. Now I understand that a majority of the time the sex and violence put out by Hollywood is generally set up in a way as to arouse lust, so great caution must be exercised. To be fair, there have been many rated R movies that I have seen were I walked away wondering, "was there any redeeming value in that whatsoever? I should have spent that 2 hours reading a book or playing music or something..." Again, great caution should be the norm.

3. I fear that there is an almost greater danger on the flip side of the freedom that I may be advocating here. John Piper has helped me see in some of his preaching and writing that true spiritually for Christians runs far deeper than not going to rated R movies, not swearing, not cheating on your taxes and not getting drunk and not having premarital sex. The problem is that we can avoid all those sinful trappings and still go to hell if we don't have a right heart. The "avoidance ethic" is what he calls it. One defines their relationship to God based on all those things they avoid, as opposed to cherishing Christ for who he is.

4. Does using the (sorry to be hypocritical here) "F-word" make a movie all bad? I think Crash was an amazing movie. I don't think it's really necessary to swear all the time, but the fact that it was there didn't hinder my ability to walk away thinking about God's desire for us to have real relationships that have substance and really examining my own prejudices, etc. There has to be some sort of middle ground. To say, any hint of swearing and sex disqualifies a movie from being labeled as good for Christians. We need more careful qualification I think.

5. I would submit that Cinderella Man was the best movie of 2005 and on my list of best of all time. I’m not sure if I have ever seen a movie that so inspired me to love and fight for my family more than this one. If that is not on God’s agenda for me as a father and husband, then I don’t know what is.