Last night, on a whim, Jani and I went to a late-night showing of the new Batman film. Some of my favorite people in all the world liked it. But I left vowing not to go back to the movies for the foreseeable future.
First off, for twenty-five minutes we were subjected to the previews of coming attractions, one subwoofer punch in the stomach after another, sitting there like the Maxell logo guy being blasted with stupid sex and stupid jokes, thinking "This is not some bizarre medical experiment for which they're paying me. I paid them. Wait a minute."
(By the way, when sex comes on the screen, which I absolutely do not need in my mind, I just close my eyes. When it's over, Jani nudges me and I open my eyes again. It works.)
Then the movie itself. Visually stimulating. Technologically impressive. Hollywood has fast-forwarded a gazillion years since my favorite films by Steve McQueen and John Wayne. But peel off the layers of glittering presentation, and what's actually there? A ripping good yarn. I grant that. But not much else. In fact, it comes down to a lie of human idealization being passed off on the public because they're supposed to be better off thinking the lie. That violates everything I believe. I learned nothing. I was not enriched in any way.
Immanuel Church cannot compete with Hollywood in terms of raw momentary impact. No church can. But that's one of the great things about church. It can be real. It can be entry-level discovery, for anyone, of the Lovely One who will amaze us forever.
I'm weary with the world's disappointing stimulants. I want more of Christ.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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34 comments:
I agree with these sentiments, but I still loved the movie and I will still continue to watch movies. I think it boils down to expectations.
I didn't expect the Dark Knight to compete with the gospel (I'm not implying that you did). I expected to be wowed by it's artistic achievements and it did. That's all. The Dark Knight or any other movie loaded with mega-hype is not my functional savior and I know that as I enter the theatre. (Actually viewing this movie underlined this truth for me!) But thankfully as you pointed out, there is something very real that awaits those who hope in Him.
You said you were not enriched in anyway. I think I can understand what you are saying but I felt completely in awe of the artistic abilities of so many different people involved in the making of this movie. I actually walked away wanting to watch it again as a result. To each his own!
I wonder if I am one of the ones you heard good things about it from (although I don't remember discussing it).
If so, I apologize.
But I liked the movie and thought it actually said some pretty countercultural things -- which is to say, biblical things -- about total depravity.
Ah, it's a good weariness that drives us to Christ! "They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." May you experience that renewal even now.
Wait...did I just quote a passage from Isaiah to Ray Ortlund? :)
So good to finally meet you last week. Hug Jani for me.
Hi - I stumbled upon your blog via a post over at internetmonk.com. I agree with the first response; it comes down to expectations of what you want from the movie. Myself, I'm a huge fan of graphic novels and Batman in particular, so I was quite happy with the movie.
It has to also do with what you "enjoy" and find stimulating. My brother loves going to baseball games, but I think they're a complete waste of time. I am very bored with sports. To each his own; our minds are stimulated with different things.
The movie did a great job showing us the depravity of mankind. Even the "heroes" are all fallen. Unfortunately, it can't show us the true solution, the Savior.
I recently wrote a couple of pieces exploring the movie and what it tells us about people in general, and how we might apply those lessons to a worship setting.
I am a pastor in Raleigh NC and I read JT's blog and noticed your review so clicked on. My wife and I just came home from the movie. It was horrible. We prayed all the way home and I totally agree with your review. Here is the scary thing-for believers-many have become numb to the darkness that subtly settles into our worldview. I want more of the glory of Christ. Ephesians 6
Strangely enough, watching The Dark Knight actually opened my eyes to the darkness that can exist within my worldview, within my own heart -- even as a Christian. Truth be told, there are times when this world seems like a truly mad place, one that could only be envisioned by someone as amoral and chaotic as the Joker, and sometimes, it's difficult to not lose hope.
Also, where some might see "a lie of human idealization being passed off on the public because they're supposed to be better off thinking the lie", others might see someone who has devoted his entire self to the greater good and is willing to sacrifice everything -- his honor, his reputation, even his life -- in order to protect that greater good.
But that is still a troubling conclusion, to say the least. And I think the film leaves enough ambiguity for the viewer to decide for themselves as to whether or not Batman's decisions in the end are truly for the greater good, or if he's become somehow misguided in his attempts to do good. (This is something that I think Brett McCracken hits on well in his review.)
While I can't say that I "enjoyed" the movie, in the traditional sense of the word, as much as I enjoyed Batman Begins, I certainly appreciated The Dark Knight. And I think that ambiguity is one of the things I appreciated most -- even as it left me feeling unsettled. Those who see The Dark Knight as just another big summer blockbuster action flick are missing the point completely. It's a superhero movie, but one that is not afraid to deconstruct and challenge our notions of what heroism is, or what heroism requires.
It's hard to read this post as a Christian because this movie had so much to say. And to be honest, I learned SO much watching this film!
Movies should never be about expectations nor should it be that we hope it agrees with what we believe in. Nor should movies be solely about our interests and entertainment. Movies are intended to present worldviews that do exist. Unfortunately this movie shares what a mind that is utterly depraved looks like. And like Jared pointed out, that IS the biblical picture of total depravity.
My point is that these are the worldviews that the Christian ought to engage in and be well versed in. Because there will be thousands maybe even millions of minds that may agree with the joker. But as Christians however, we are to understand how minds are capable of thinking such horrible idealizations, not just cast judgment and isolationist views. We engage with worldviews such as this that believes in anarchy and chaos because it makes it all the more clear that these perspectives lead nowhere, and how Christ truly is the only hope in this world.
Most movies I watch violate everything I believe, but more and more I get educated about the world around me and become more acutely aware of needs that only Christ can meet. Is that really such a waste of $6.25? If we only watched movies that perfectly aligned with our belief system, I highly doubt we'd be watching any movies at all.
We need to engage with the world to be relevant to today's society, rather than continuing to separate ourselves from a culture that needs Christ so much. We are not called to be OF the world, but we are still called to be IN the world.
I haven't seen the movie so am I still allowed to comment?
My initial response is so what if there's no moral value in a movie? I mean, we mainly do movies for entertainment, right?
As long as the movie doesn't later lead us to do sinful acts...
But it raises a more interesting question (in my opinion):
To what extent should Christians pursue entertainment and should their entertainment ALWAYS be noticeably different than the world's?
I liked the latest Batman movie!
Granted, it was terribly dark and violent. But I did find the movie meaningful in that, it showed the human heroism at its best, and the limitations of a such hero, eg. although he abides by the law as much as possible, he fails to keep all of them; Batman tries to bring justice and order to the Gotham city, yet he never succeeds ultimately, and all his attempts ends up in the status quo with the criminals. All these can be used to illustrate the Bible-truths, such as, we cannot defeat evil with evil, or human efforts cannot bring ultimate peace, justice, etc.
Of course, I wouldn't, and shouldn't use a movie to validate what the Scripture teaches, but sometimes it's worth-while to use movies (or any sort of secular creation for that matter) to engage with people and illustrate the biblical teachings, and I think the Batman movie is an excellent example for this.
Now, you have spent $6.25 (that's so cheap compared to how much it costs for a movie where I live ;-) and even more valuable time watching the movie, don't let that go down the drain and really waste it, but use it for a good cause, ie. a gospel cause!
cheers, brother. :-)
But then again, with your last words in the post, "I want more of Christ.", it seems to me that you are already making a good use of the money and time spent.
Someone mentioned that this movie has been a good learning experience, that the "Depravity of Man" is pretty clear. I find after reading this post, that it is pretty clear that the Pastor is taking this further. When do we discern biblically what we do with our time(redeeming..the days are evil), to where we are standing in His Strength, to where we can see the "Depravity" in ourselves which creates excuses to need this kind of stimulation. Why is it ok to watch sin? We should hate sin so much that it is unacceptable to us to pay to watch it. We are truly depraved when we cannot see how callous our hearts are to sin, even in the portrayal of it for entertainment sake. Could we not spend 1-2 hours on our knees asking for the strength to mortify our flesh?
It is good to be stirred up with good. Do we need to pay to see murder, immorality, etc? That we may be stimulated to mortify?
Pastor stirred us all up in good with this post. Praise God for His Mercy and Grace.
I wholeheartedly agree with the larger point you're making. For a big-budget, mass-market summer blockbuster The Dark Knight was surprisingly complex and well-written, but not the towering achievement described by many. Director/writer Nolan's earlier film Memento was a better treatment of similar themes/theological categories imo.
Like anything else watching movies is a learned ability that requires discernment...the lack of which probably explains the degree to which evangelicals are in thrall to the "entertainment culture" most of which is mediocre at best. In no way can movies replace Christ and his ministry of Word and sacrament through the church, but they can help us see the world with more compassionate eyes and at their best provide a point of contact between God's truth and the viewer. I believe both John Owen and John Wayne can be enriching to a discerning Christian. But yes, give us more of Christ!
I think you touched a nerve here, Uncle Ray!
I really get what you're saying, even though I looked forward to and enjoyed the film. I feel that way about TV shows. When friends I respect endorse a show and then watching it is shocking, or discouraging, or just not uplifting, I walk away from the experience feeling diminished and tired.
Who was it who said, "I would infinitely prefer a book"? I think it was Mary Bennett in P&P about dancing, but you get the point.
I really get what you're saying, even though I looked forward to and enjoyed the film. I feel that way about TV shows. When friends I respect endorse a show and then watching it is shocking, or discouraging, or just not uplifting, I walk away from the experience feeling diminished and tired.
I think this touches on an important point, and that is that we must realize that different people will react differently to the same work of art, be it a book, movie, television show, play, album, or anything else.
There are many movies that my fellow Christians find meaningful and edifying, and yet I personally find little-to-no merit in them. And the same goes for me. There have been several occasions where I've raved about a film, and recommended it to people, only to find out later that they had a lukewarm, or even negative response to it. And the reasons for their response are just as valid as the reasons for mine.
As such, it's very important that we discuss art with grace and humility, recognizing that art is a mysterious thing and as such, it's fully possible for different people to have vastly different reactions. Indeed, it's not just possible -- as the comments here have shown, it's inevitable.
I guess I've just been a part of too many discussions where someone's spirituality was called into question -- or puffed up, for that matter -- simply because of what they movie or book or band they enjoyed. And oftentimes, noone came out and said it, but the implication is clear.
Now, I'm not saying that the commenter I quoted above is guilty of this, which is why I quoted them, or that any of the commenters are guilty of this. But like I said, I've seen too many conversations about art devolve, and so I just want to throw that out there.
On a related note, ChristianityToday posted several articles a few years back that discussed violence and language in movies, depictions of depravity, and so on. Some here might find them worthwhile:
1) What Is a Good Christian Movie, Anyway?
2) The Honest-to-God Truth About Movies
3) In Defense of Mere Entertainment
4) Violence, Profanity and Nudity: A Dialogue
Psalms 101:3
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
I won't go to movies at all. Though some (in the past) have claimed to be family-friendly, and morally upright, there is always something there that promotes a godless and worldly philosophy.
I won't go to movies at all. Though some (in the past) have claimed to be family-friendly, and morally upright, there is always something there that promotes a godless and worldly philosophy.
But does that necessarily mean that the movie, as a whole, is presenting a "godless and worldly philosophy"? If a movie has a character that cheats on his wife, does that mean that, by default, the movie is endorsing adultery as a good thing?
Perhaps, if the movie celebrates it -- if the adulterer lives "happily ever after". However, if the movie depicts the horrible loss and betrayal that comes as a result of adultery, then I would argue that the movie is simply speaking the truth about the consequences of sin and man's fallen nature, albeit a truth that is sometimes hard and ugly.
Here's another example from another medium: in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", we see the White Witch who has set herself up as the ruler of Narnia. She commits heresy, murder, and speads corruption everywhere. She even kills Aslan, the "Christ figure" of Narnia. All of these things are certainly part of a "godless and worldly philosophy" within the context of the novel. But I doubt anyone would say that C.S. Lewis' intent was to celebrate such a thing. Rather, he depicts such evil, in part, so as to invite and encourage the reader to celebrate and cling to what is good and true.
We see this in all manner of famous stories, from authors ranging from Shakespeare to Tolkien to Dostoevsky to O'Connor. So why should movies be fundamentally any different?
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I agree with ya'll at a number of points.
One strand of thought I am picking up here and there is that this movie helps us see human depravity, and for that reason the film should be commended. Well, let me add a thought, and see what you think.
The Bible shows us human depravity in a very different way -- by revealing that the worst evil is not the blatant evil. In my opinion, The Dark Knight is naive. It's just a comic book with a high level of visual caffeine. It exposes evil because the bad guy is really, really crazy-bad? Here's the biblical portrait: a really nice guy who loves his wife and kids, does his job, pays his bills, works out, picks up his neighbors' mail when they're out of town, pets the dog, goes to church, reads the Bible, votes the right way, serves the community, obeys the traffic laws, wants the best for others -- and this Mr. Pharisee crucifies the holy Son of God. Now THAT is a masterpiece of iniquity. But The Dark Knight is a cartoonish view of evil. Even the concept of "a world without rules" doesn't go far enough. Satan is the world's greatest organizer. He has lots of rules.
The movie a point of contact with our culture? I rather see it as a point of contrast. But then, that can be a good conversation-starter too.
Thanks again. God bless.
Forgot one other thing. My negative reaction to the movie previews is an important part of my post. What we need to remember is that, for the folks selling us their movies, it's all meant to be one experience. We might sit there thinking, "Okay, here are the previews. Blah, blah, blah. Oh, but NOW here's my movie," as if it were two separate experiences. But it's all one. It's a double-feature. And the vulgarity and stupidity of the previews are screaming at us, "Hey, you morons, you like this? Come see the movie and we'll give you even more." Well, I don't like being treated that way. But the previews are when they're openly telling me what the whole movie experience panders to. It sets the tone for everything else that happens to me in that theater. Yikes!
But The Dark Knight is a cartoonish view of evil
Well, it is based on a comic book. :)
But I think you could argue that The Dark Knight does provide a somewhat nuanced view of evil in the form of Harvey Dent. Here's a guy who has clearly groomed himself to be a "white knight" -- he's a model citizen, handsome, successful, charismatic, put together, and what's more, he has an honest desire to do great good. To me, he seems pretty close to the "really nice guy" that you described.
And yet, he's the one who stumbles the most because he placed so much importance on those aforementioned things, all of which were certainly good. But they defined his existence and when they were stripped from him, he had nothing left, and so became a monster.
And I think that's pretty in-line with the Bible, that if we place our ultimate faith in what we can do or what we are, then we are setting ourselves up for a great fall.
That violates everything I believe. I learned nothing. I was not enriched in any way.
I am just curious if there is anything you do in which you do learn nothing or are not enriched in any way? This isn't accusatory, just curiosity. I play basketball pretty regularly, and there are certainly times where learning and enrichment do not occur. Is that "entertainment" wrong? I know the arguments for it being physical exercise and all, but that doesn't seem to be enough if held to your standards in this post. According to you, what then is "good" entertainment?
Just found your post on Between Two Worlds. I agree with your observation about previews. They mostly just affirm what movies I do NOT want to see, not those I do.
I guess that is one good thing about always arriving late. I miss the previews and get to the theater right as the actual movie starts :-D
A lot of people I respect hated Batman, and a lot really liked it. I thought it was good entertainment, but should have received an "R" rating to keep some younger viewers away.
Thanks.
I made my comment about learning nothing, etc., not to imply an all-encompassing standard but rather as an implicit contrast with the significant books and films that made my heart say, "Yes, you deserve to leave a lasting impression here." Like The Lord of the Rings. As "opus" pointed out, TDK is based on a comic book. Exactly.
I allow for entertainment in my life, but I hope not too much. What I really like is sitting around with some of our Immanuel musicians and listening to them improvise. No big production. Just great Nashville sounds in a loving environment.
God bless.
Pop: your first comment above is gold. Pure gold.
As "opus" pointed out, TDK is based on a comic book. Exactly.
Just for the record, my comment was partly tongue-in-cheek.
Please don't take my jest to mean that I, in any way, think that stuff based on a comic book is, by default, of lesser value than something based on any other kind of adaptation.
I don't think comic books are "second class citizens" that somehow should be judged by a lower standard -- perhaps a different standard, but not a lower one.
What was most redemptive about the film for me was how Batman continually sacrificed his reputation for the greater good. I've often found it hardest to be selfless when I knew no one would notice, or when my actions would be interpreted as foolishness or even sin to those who didn't know the whole story. I found Batman inspirational because he didn't cave to the desire to be appreciated or honored, even giving up a long sought after romantic love in the process.
"I'm weary with the world's disappointing stimulants. I want more of Christ."
so stop eating sugar cereal and read Jesus' words in the gospels.
I want more me,
kerrin
I appreciate your comments. But, I have a question that has bugged me for quite awhile. At what point is it appropriate for a Christian, albeit, a Pastor, to pay any amount of money for any form of sex on a movie screen.
Am I just out of touch? I just cannot imagine Jesus patting me or any other Christian on the back and saying, "At least you closed your eyes and your wife/girlfriend let you know when you could see, because she was exposing herself to the sex you were so noble to miss. At least only one of you were exposed to the "bad parts."
Thus, the next question is, "Why is it acceptable for a wife or girlfriend to view sex on a movie screen?" The implied assumption I take from your piece is that it's ok for our wives to watch others in engaged in sex as long as it is merely a naked female which is presented. That kind of logic is pretty embarrassing to consider; at least it seems to me.
When is it ever right to pay money and therefore support pagans in their sinning?
My sentiment is that we must be desperate for something but it's not Jesus . . . the Church is drinking from polluted waters.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Kelly Bridenstine
Ray, welcome to the warped world of the blogosphere. :-(
Hey Ray,
Thanks for your post. Your thoughts did make me re-evaluate my initial reaction to the movie. I came out agreeing more with your 1st comment than original post - that it does serve as a great conversation starter, but the story it tells is deeply unsatisfying.
Again, thanks.
Ray,
While you keep your eyes closed, does Jani keep hers open?
If so, is she okay watching what you don't want to have in your mind?
Thanks, JC. Visualized sex doesn't seem to make the impact on her that it does on me, even as visualized combat doesn't make the impact on me that it does on her. Some scenes in Braveheart, for example, aren't good for me to watch. Other scenes are troubling to her. At the same time, both of us try to be sensitive to whatever is destructive to our hearts.
There are moviegoers who may stay to watch a bad movie in its entirety, reasoning to themselves that since they've spent the money, they might as well watch what they've paid for. My sister used to say that since you've already wasted your money, you might as well leave so that you don't waste any more time.
(As for myself, even a "Christian" movie or a movie with a great lesson is not a good use of time and money when compared to other things, such as reading a good book.)
Before I begin to rail on movies in general let me start by saying that I love to watch movies. I believe there are some fantastic movies out there that get us thinking. For example, John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" was recently made into a feature length film and it is outstanding. The story is true to the book and the acting is wonderful and of course it is Christ exalting and causes us to use our mind to reflect on God and His mercy and grace. However, I draw the line with many of the movies out today and refuse to sit through several hours of a film that attacks Christianity or worse blasphemes Christ.
Here is where I have a major issue with films like "The Dark Knight". It's the number one movie right now outselling just about every other major length film and Christians are raving about it. I am amazed at the way believers have become so desensitized to things they allow their eyes to see and ears to hear. (Job 31:1) For example, according to Gospelcom's Family movie review, this film misuses Jesus' name at least three times. Most of the Christian movie review sites are more concerned with the violence of the film and could care less about the violence done to the "Name above all names". Many professing believers will pay money to sit through a three hour film that repeatedly takes the name of our Creator, our Savior, our Eternal Father, our Prince of Peace, our Almighty God and Sustainer of all things and use it as a four letter filth word. I am amazed at the movies professing believers go to despite the horrible way the actors blaspheme God and mock His glorious Name. It doesn't seem to phase the Church. May I humbly ask those reading this if this same movie used your mother's name as four letter filth word would you watch the film? Would you continue to sit through it and not walk out?
As a Bible teacher I am constantly amazed at the constant viewing of clocks during a sermon or Bible study. We will give up roughly one hour a week to sit through a sermon and attend a 20 minute Bible study and if the preacher or teacher begins to go over or it looks like it will cut into lunch people start complaining and squirming in their seats. Yet the only clock-watching many endure at a theater is the constant checking of the watch to see when the movie will start and never again to look at that watch while intently engrossed into two to three hours of visual and audio candy. Again, I want to stress that I am not knocking all movies - there are many great movies that a Christian could watch that allow us to grow in our knowledge of God and cause us to reflect on His greatness.
The issue at hand is just how desensitized to sin we have become and the complete lack of discernment and control in the life of a believer to protect the things which enter our eyes and our ears. The thought of using my Savior's Name as a four letter filth word crushes me. The fact that most people who profess Christ would be more concerned if a movie producer used their mother's name as a filth word than Christ's is alarming to say the least. The fact that most professing Christians complain if a Bible study extends more than 30 minutes yet can sit through a three hour movie or a football game without a single complaint often reveals where the heart truly is. Can you honestly say you have more joy in worshiping God at church than attending a football game or a movie theater?
This desensitization of sin has permeated most of the American church as well. Pulpits today are more concerned about using "relevant" sections from popular worldly movies as what I like to call "lame sermon illustrations". Think about it - a church today who seeks to be "relevant" might use a movie like "The Dark Knight" to call attention to certain Biblical truths and in essence be promoting a film full of violence and worse a film that drags the Name of the one true God they should be proclaiming behind their pulpits through the mud! It is why I commend churches that focus on expository preaching and teaching. (Again, the elements of multimedia in church are not in themselves wrong - in fact, the showing of "Passion of the Christ" and other Christian films to assist in teaching are commendable.) The living Word of God is infinitely more exciting than the most visually stunning movie out there. The actions of many churches today clearly show that they have little faith in God's Word alone to captivate, convict and convert the congregation.
For me personally, I have allowed the examination of popular "worldly" movies in this post to cause me to examine myself in all aspects of my life - not just my movie going habits. Frankly, if I were to add up the amount of time I spend in worship, prayer and Bible study alongside the amount of time I spend in mindless and worldly endeavors I would be very ashamed to show you the results. Jesus tells us that "the eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. Bit if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness." (Matthew 6:22-32) May we heed our Lord's words greatly! May we not only examine the movies we attend but all aspects of our lives as Christians.
My big question to you is how you treat the blasphemy in these movies? While the special effects, music and everything else is what everyone rants about, what about the fact that this movie misuses the name of Christ? If this movie misused your wife's name would you go and see it? I think it interesting that so many Christians want to make movies into sermon illustrations when in fact they are paying money into movie studios that continue to drag the Name above all names through the mud. I really don't want to come across as a prude but come on. As a pastor, how do you deal with these issues in movies. You say that you close your eyes during sex scenes but can we truly close our ears and eyes to something we are intentionally sitting at and have paid hard earned money to see? I think it's one thing to close our eyes and protect our minds from trash but another to practically endorse films that misuse the name of God. Thoughts?
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