Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Nightcrawler Experience!
Here's hoping everyone had a very merry Christmas!
I know this Christmas entry is a few days late, but I was just so busy the last week or so that I simply didn't have time to upload this before now, and it was such a neat movie I didn't want to wait until next year to look at it.
For this one, we'll again be turning to Netflix, for a brand- new movie they created called 'The Christmas Chronicles.' So, take a comfy seat, pour yourself the last dregs of eggnog or cocoa, and let's get started!
SPOILER WARNING! There aren't a lot of major spoilers in this movie, but there are a couple up ahead.
This movie centers around the Pierce family. They were a loving, tight- knit family of four who always had great Christmases. However, their closeness was shattered shortly after Christmas 2017 when the father was killed in the line of duty as a fireman. Ever since then, his kids Teddy and Katie have become more estranged from each other, Teddy has become a juvenile delinquent, and their mother (Kimberly Williams- Paisley, an actress I've always enjoyed seeing ever since her role in the awesome and underrated 2000 TV miniseries 'The 10th Kingdom') is increasingly stressed out dealing with both their friction and working long hours at her own job at the hospital.
On Christmas Eve, as the mom is forced to work a night shift, Katie blackmails Teddy (She had recorded him and his thug buddies stealing a car earlier, further evidence of how desperately Teddy needs to make some changes in his life before it's too late) into helping her stay up in order to catch Santa Claus in the act. The siblings end up getting more than they bargained for, winding up unwittingly stowing away in the back of Santa's (Played by Kurt Russell, of all people) sleigh, and when he is startled to discover them there, he ends up losing control of his sleigh and crashing it.
Worse, he loses his reindeer, his hat (Which apparently enables him to fly even if he's not in his sleigh), and his bag of presents in the process. As a result, they are stranded in Chicago, far from where the kids live.
Santa then explains to the kids that, if they can't get all Santa's missing stuff together, get his sleigh fixed, and get all the gifts delivered in time, there'll be a LOT more at stake than just some kids having a crummier Christmas than they would have otherwise.
See, Santa making his rounds and not missing anyone is what keeps the world's Christmas Spirit level high, and the lower it drops, the more meanness, cruelty, selfishness, and unhappiness begin to take hold on humanity. He points out that the last time he missed a Christmas, the resulting plummet in Christmas cheer and goodwill led to the start of the Dark Ages. We soon see it's already beginning to happen, as we see an abnormally high (Even for Chicago) number of people committing crimes and being arrested.
This then leads to Santa and the kids having to do what they can to get Christmas back on track, but hitting plenty of bumps along the way; After failing to get a car to help find what they need, Santa and Teddy resort to hotwiring a car (In their defense, the car was already stolen, and they intended on turning it in to the police as soon as they were done with it) with Santa eventually getting arrested for it, Teddy attempts to get the bag of presents back but in the process is abducted by a vicious gang, and Kate recovers the reindeer but then soon afterwards finds herself warped to the North Pole and having to explain the situation to the Elves in the hopes that they'll be able to fix the damaged sleigh.
It all leads to a thrilling climax, Teddy getting set straight, and being given a gift that warms his heart and restores the close bond that the family once had.
Having never seen it before, I really enjoyed 'Christmas Chronicles.' The performances were solid, the story had plenty of heart and humor, and it really put me in the Christmas mood.
Kurt Russell made for a MUCH better Santa Claus than you might imagine. He's certainly a departure from the traditional views of St. Nick: He's replaced his traditional red suit for a fur- lined red leather jacket, he adamantly refuses to say "Ho, ho, ho," and is hilariously incensed at all the portrayals of him as a jolly fat man in advertisements and the like (As he puts it at one point, "Billboards add eighty pounds."). He also clearly doesn't have much trouble with breaking a few rules when absolutely necessary, such as his aforementioned hotwiring of a car and leading police on a chase through the streets of Chicago at one point. Yet, he is still as happy, good- natured, and sociable as he's always been portrayed. One element of his personality he displays that most portrayals of Santa miss is that he has an amazing memory of what specific adults were like as kids. He has the charming (Though it gets him and the kids into some trouble at times) trait of greeting adults and talking to them about what they were like as kids and some of their wishes from those days and how things have gone since then. His demeanor in those cases is like that of an old friend eager to catch up with people he hasn't seen in years.
This movie's version of Santa still has the same care for others, sense of joy, and desire to spread the Christmas spirit all around him that he's always possessed. When he's arrested, he convinces the police officer interrogating him to get back in touch with his estranged wife (It starts in a surprisingly quite moving way, as the officer is understandably skeptical and says to him, "Alright then: If you're Santa, then you must know this: What would I most like to have for Christmas?" Santa wipes the smile off his face by responding, simply, "Lisa"), who has apparently had second thoughts about leaving him. Then, in one of the movie's highlights, when put into a holding cell, he helps bring Christmas spirit even into that dismal environment by leading the other people locked up there in a rousing Christmas rock/ blues medley.
The Elves provided for a lot of good laughs as well. They sort of reminded me of a cross between Minions and Furbies. A particularly enjoyable scene is when Teddy is about to be killed by the gang that abducted him before being rescued by the Elves, who proceed to clobber those jerks in hilarious and highly satisfying ways.
The other supporting characters are very good, too. Teddy is a kid who acts the way he does largely out of anger over his father's death (As he puts it at one point, "He had a wife and kids, and he gave it up just to save some random strangers."), as well as shame over how disappointed he knows his father would be in him. Katie just wants the kind of close relationship with her brother that they used to have. The mother largely just wants her family to have the sorts of peace and harmony they had when the dad was alive. One of the only issues I had with this movie was that the mother was a bit underused, they could have shown more of her. Seeing each of those characters ultimately get their Christmas wish is extremely satisfying.
The visual effects are extremely good. A couple real highlights are seeing Santa blast from house to house as a flash of red mist, and traveling through the wormhole between nations. Santa's reindeer are also brought to life through VERY convincing CGI.
There is a lot of clever humor too, such as sly nods to other Netflix shows (i.e. a restaurant valet is at one point seen distracted by watching 'Stranger Things' on his tablet). There is also a cameo by Mrs. Claus at the very end of the film, and the actress they chose to play her was a VERY clever and appropriate choice, especially considering who they had playing Santa.
So, all in all, 'The Christmas Chronicles' makes quite a good addition to the library of Christmas films destined to become classics.
I found a couple excellent Scriptural messages that can be taken from 'The Christmas Chronicles.'
One of the first is that, much like when I talked about 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town' last year, the Santa in this movie can similarly be seen as an allegory for Jesus. We see Santa in 'The Christmas Chronicles' acting as a major force for reconciliation in this world, between his aforementioned help reconciling the police officer with his wife, and gradually helping the Pierce family reconcile with each other. Jesus, of course, was all about reconciliation, as the whole reason why He came down to Earth was so that sinful mankind could be reconciled with God. Romans 5:10 observes that "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!"
Furthermore, Jesus also encouraged people to reconcile with each other. In Matthew 5:23- 24, he tells people that if they are in the temple, about to present a gift or offering at the altar and remember that they have an issue with someone, they should leave that gift at the altar and immediately go to find that person and reconcile with them, THEN return to the temple and present their offering. In other words, Jesus does NOT want people to let grudges linger, but for people to resolve things and reconcile with those they may have had issues with.
Also, this version of Santa, while as friendly and good- natured as ever, still manages to encourage people to keep on the straight and narrow. He helps Teddy get out of his delinquency phase by holding up a surly bartender/ career criminal they come across as a cautionary example of what Teddy's future could look like if he stays on his current path. He also, after being freed from jail by the Elves, turns to the other prisoners (The ones he had been leading in the aforementioned musical revue earlier) and tells them to "Try to be good." This immediately called to mind Jesus in John 8:11, as, after He saved the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death by the hypocritical Pharisees, He told her, "Go and sin no more." While God's grace through Jesus's death and resurrection covers all of our sins and grants forgiveness to those who trust in Him, and while we will stumble from time to time, that doesn't mean we should go on willfully sinning left and right. We need to try as hard as we can to pursue righteousness and avoid sin, to keep on the right path with God and set a good example for others to follow.
Another Scriptural message I found in 'The Christmas Chronicles' concerns the issue of Christmas spirit dropping to low levels and having a negative impact on people's hearts. As Santa puts it at one point, "People need the Christmas spirit to remind them of how good they can be." I'd say this can make an obvious comparison to the Holy Spirit, which works on the hearts of people and helps them, as well, realize how much better they can become if they listen to the voice of God and follow His guidance. When people stop trusting in the Lord, and stop following the leadings of the Holy Spirit, that can lead to all manner of evil coming into the world and growing stronger every day. As it says in Romans 2:5-6, "Those who live according to the flesh have their mind set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." Like the Christmas spirit in the film, the Holy Spirit provides people with hope and inspiration to live the way they should and make a positive impact on God's Kingdom around them.
Living according to the example of Christ and the leadings of the Holy Spirit can help us all better serve the Lord and keep the Christmas spirit in us year- round.
Well, that's all for now. Here's wishing everyone a happy New Year! Stay tuned, my Top Ten Favorite Movie Characters of 2018 list will be up in a few weeks. Until then, God bless you all!
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Truly Knowing Jesus, and Showing Wisdom: A Faith- Based Look at 'Fright Night.'
Hi everyone, happy Halloween from the Nightcrawler Experience!
Here is the final installment in the three- part Halloween special I'll be doing for this blog, looking at something that'll provide scary fun and yet also some valid lessons on what it means to walk with Jesus.
In this case, I'll be looking at the movie 'Fright Night,' the 1985 original and especially the 2011 remake.
(Credit for this goes to the user XD1 on the Fright Night Wiki).
Disclaimer! Both versions of this movie have a noticeable amount of objectionable content, they are rated R. They are also very scary at times. So, use discretion before personally watching either of them or letting young ones watch them.
Generally, horror remakes are regarded as garbage, at times rightfully so (Anyone remember the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' remake they tried to do?). However, I consider the 'Fright Night' remake quite possibly the single best horror remake I can ever recall seeing.
In fact, I consider it one of the few horror remakes that actually NEEDED to be made. While the original is still great, it has not aged very well. Its 80's setting is VERY heavily apparent throughout it, so it doesn't translate quite as well for modern audiences. The remake manages to modernize it without giving off too dated of a feel.
In both the original version of 'Fright Night' and the remake, the basic story is similar: A teenage boy named Charley Brewster comes to strongly suspect that his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge is in fact a vampire (I know it sounds similar to the 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' episode "The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors," which I looked at on this blog a couple years ago, but the similarities end there), who is responsible for a rash of disappearances and deaths in the area. He seeks out an apparent vampire expert named Peter Vincent for help in dealing with this, but Peter refuses to help and admits to being a fraud and a coward. Still, Charley pushes on in order to protect his mother and his girlfriend Amy from becoming Jerry's next victims, and even inspires Peter to find his courage and become the hero everyone believes him to be, and the two of them prepare for a final showdown with Jerry.
However, the remake differs from the original in a number of ways, all of which I think work well. Rather than being set in a suburban Anytown USA as the original was, the remake takes place in Las Vegas, specifically in one of the residential communities on the outskirts of the city. This actually makes a LOT of sense, and I can indeed imagine a vampire living in one of those communities; Most of the people there sleep during the day and work jobs on the Strip at night, so a vampire could easily blend in among them, and those communities tend to have a lot of abandoned houses that would make perfect nesting areas for a vampire.
Another major change is in the way the character Peter Vincent is portrayed; In the original version, Peter (Played by the late Roddy Mcdowell) is a has- been movie star who in his prime played a Van Helsing- esque horror film hero called "Peter Vincent, the Great Vampire Killer" but who's now reduced to hosting a monster- movie- marathon TV show, and gives off a rather pompous, thespian- esque personality. In the remake, in contrast, Peter (Now played by David Tennant) is a Las Vegas stage magician whose act uses a lot of occultic/ vampire- esque imagery and theming, and his personality comes across as more like a British rock star. While both portrayals are awesome in their own ways, I can see why they changed it for the remake; As cool as those old monster- movie- marathon- type shows were, they are sadly a thing of the past now. David Tennant's portrayal of Peter is so much fun to watch, he'd make an excellent spinoff movie! He delivers loads of humor, and also proves to be a surprisingly well- developed character, as we learn more of his backstory.
Another major departure that I approved of is in terms of the portrayals of a supporting character in the film, Charlie's sort- of friend "Evil" Ed. In the original, "Evil" Ed is hyper and loud, alternately supporting Charlie and making fun of him. Many fans of the original film really liked him, but I personally viewed him a lot like how most 'Star Wars' fans viewed JarJar Binks: A character meant to be comedic, but who is often much more annoying than funny. His shrieking laugh is like nails on a chalkboard to me. In the remake, in contrast, "Evil" Ed is much more subtle and quiet. In it, we see that he was once Charlie's best friend and the two engaged in all kinds of "Nerd- friendly" fun, but that when Charlie became part of the "Popular" crowd at school as he began dating Amy, he abandoned all aspects of his geeky former life, including his friendship with Ed. As you can guess, Ed is noticeably bitter towards Charlie over this, which factors a ton into their interactions with each other in the movie. This version of Ed has a lot of funny moments, but also some genuinely heartfelt moments as you really feel bad for him between Charley having kicked him to the curb for the sake of popularity and all kinds of other hardships befalling him.
A final change the remake made that I definitely feel is an improvement is that Charley (Played in the original by William Ragsdale, and in the remake by the late Anton Yelchin) is MUCH more intelligent and tactful than he was in the original. An example is when Charley makes the decision to try and get the police involved. In the original, Charley personally brings a police officer to Jerry's house, and ends up loudly proclaiming that Jerry's a vampire, causing the cop to see him as either a liar or a moron. In the remake, in contrast, Charley makes the much wiser decision to instead try and notify the police through an anonymous phone call; While it still doesn't work well (The cops go to Jerry's house, but Jerry provides a convincing explanation and even sort of befriends the officers), at least it didn't leave Charley looking like an idiot the way the original did.
The action sequences in 'Fright Night' are pretty solid, including an escape from a burning house that leads to a car chase, and numerous battles between the various protagonists and the vampires.
While I somewhat miss the practical effects used in the original 'Fright Night,' the CGI used in the remake is pretty good, especially the ways it shows vampires disintegrating into ash when slain.
So, the 2011 'Fright Night' remake is all in all a surprisingly good film that I definitely recommend to fans of the original and anyone else in the mood for a little scary fun.
I can think of at least a couple theological lessons that can be taken from 'Fright Night.'
In the original and to a lesser extent the remake, we see an interesting new aspect of vampire lore: While vampires can be harmed and driven back by crosses, it only works if the person holding the cross has faith, otherwise it doesn't do a thing. A couple times in those movies, a character will try and drive back a vampire using a cross, yet it has no effect because the person wielding it didn't have the faith for it. What truly repelled the vampires was, in a sense, not actually the cross itself, but rather, the person's faith channeled through the cross. This very much ties into a Biblical theme on the difference between knowing about Jesus, and truly knowing Him and trusting in Him. It calls to mind a story from Acts 19:11-17, when a group of Jewish exorcists find out that the apostle Paul was able to cast out demons by calling on the name of Jesus. Thinking they could turn this knowledge into a lucrative business venture, they find a different person possessed by a demon, and say, "We cast you out in the name of the Jesus that Paul preaches." The demon in the man responds, "Jesus we know, and Paul we know, but who are you?" The demon in the man then beats up the would- be exorcists and sends them out naked and wounded. Those guys thought they could use the name and power of Jesus, even though they didn't even truly believe in Him themselves. That clearly didn't have any effect on the demon. Similarly, just knowing about Jesus without having actual faith in Him is pretty worthless. We need to actually believe and trust that Jesus is who He said He is.
Another important theological lesson that I think can be derived from the 'Fright Night' remake is on the importance of showing wisdom in how we act. As I said earlier, I found the remake's version of Charley much smarter and more tactful than he was in the original. As a matter of fact, considering that the horror film genre tends to be filled with characters who aren't exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer, Charley in the 'Fright Night' remake comes across as easily one of the smartest protagonists in all of horror, right up there with Sidney Prescott from the 'Scream' series and most portrayals of Dracula's nemesis Van Helsing. In addition to the example I listed earlier of how tactful he was when he tried to get the police involved, there are lots of other examples of him proving to be incredibly clever and resourceful. He first meets with Peter Vincent by posing as a journalist with the aid of a phony press pass he made on the fly. When he has to leave his injured mother in a hospital room, he first leaves the room decked out in crosses to ensure that Jerry will not be able to go after her. When he sets out for the final showdown with Jerry, he first goes to an outdoor- supply store and buys all the weapons and supplies that he legally can, he goes to Jerry's house during the morning when Jerry will be either asleep or weak, and as soon as he enters the house he immediately breaks all of the black- tainted windows in sight to get as much sunlight pouring into the house as possible. In short, Charley's one smart cookie in this, and that's why he prevails. Scripture is littered with commands to act with wisdom and planning, in much the way that Charley does throughout the film. An example is Proverbs 14:8, which states that "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." It's showing that wisdom comes from thinking things through and proceeding in what we come to then believe is the best way of proceeding through a situation. When confronted with life's problems and threats, we are to trust in God's deliverance, but also to be wise and careful in how we proceed.
Through keeping a strong and earnest faith in Jesus, and also thinking things through and exercising wisdom and discernment in how we act and what we do, we can triumph over evil like how Charley did in 'Fright Night' and live victoriously knowing we follow the King of Kings.
That's it for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. I have a few ideas for entries to bring out in the next couple months, so keep an eye out for them. Until then, happy Halloween, and may God bless you all!
Here is the final installment in the three- part Halloween special I'll be doing for this blog, looking at something that'll provide scary fun and yet also some valid lessons on what it means to walk with Jesus.
In this case, I'll be looking at the movie 'Fright Night,' the 1985 original and especially the 2011 remake.
(Credit for this goes to the user XD1 on the Fright Night Wiki).
Disclaimer! Both versions of this movie have a noticeable amount of objectionable content, they are rated R. They are also very scary at times. So, use discretion before personally watching either of them or letting young ones watch them.
Generally, horror remakes are regarded as garbage, at times rightfully so (Anyone remember the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' remake they tried to do?). However, I consider the 'Fright Night' remake quite possibly the single best horror remake I can ever recall seeing.
In fact, I consider it one of the few horror remakes that actually NEEDED to be made. While the original is still great, it has not aged very well. Its 80's setting is VERY heavily apparent throughout it, so it doesn't translate quite as well for modern audiences. The remake manages to modernize it without giving off too dated of a feel.
In both the original version of 'Fright Night' and the remake, the basic story is similar: A teenage boy named Charley Brewster comes to strongly suspect that his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge is in fact a vampire (I know it sounds similar to the 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' episode "The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors," which I looked at on this blog a couple years ago, but the similarities end there), who is responsible for a rash of disappearances and deaths in the area. He seeks out an apparent vampire expert named Peter Vincent for help in dealing with this, but Peter refuses to help and admits to being a fraud and a coward. Still, Charley pushes on in order to protect his mother and his girlfriend Amy from becoming Jerry's next victims, and even inspires Peter to find his courage and become the hero everyone believes him to be, and the two of them prepare for a final showdown with Jerry.
However, the remake differs from the original in a number of ways, all of which I think work well. Rather than being set in a suburban Anytown USA as the original was, the remake takes place in Las Vegas, specifically in one of the residential communities on the outskirts of the city. This actually makes a LOT of sense, and I can indeed imagine a vampire living in one of those communities; Most of the people there sleep during the day and work jobs on the Strip at night, so a vampire could easily blend in among them, and those communities tend to have a lot of abandoned houses that would make perfect nesting areas for a vampire.
Another major change is in the way the character Peter Vincent is portrayed; In the original version, Peter (Played by the late Roddy Mcdowell) is a has- been movie star who in his prime played a Van Helsing- esque horror film hero called "Peter Vincent, the Great Vampire Killer" but who's now reduced to hosting a monster- movie- marathon TV show, and gives off a rather pompous, thespian- esque personality. In the remake, in contrast, Peter (Now played by David Tennant) is a Las Vegas stage magician whose act uses a lot of occultic/ vampire- esque imagery and theming, and his personality comes across as more like a British rock star. While both portrayals are awesome in their own ways, I can see why they changed it for the remake; As cool as those old monster- movie- marathon- type shows were, they are sadly a thing of the past now. David Tennant's portrayal of Peter is so much fun to watch, he'd make an excellent spinoff movie! He delivers loads of humor, and also proves to be a surprisingly well- developed character, as we learn more of his backstory.
Another major departure that I approved of is in terms of the portrayals of a supporting character in the film, Charlie's sort- of friend "Evil" Ed. In the original, "Evil" Ed is hyper and loud, alternately supporting Charlie and making fun of him. Many fans of the original film really liked him, but I personally viewed him a lot like how most 'Star Wars' fans viewed JarJar Binks: A character meant to be comedic, but who is often much more annoying than funny. His shrieking laugh is like nails on a chalkboard to me. In the remake, in contrast, "Evil" Ed is much more subtle and quiet. In it, we see that he was once Charlie's best friend and the two engaged in all kinds of "Nerd- friendly" fun, but that when Charlie became part of the "Popular" crowd at school as he began dating Amy, he abandoned all aspects of his geeky former life, including his friendship with Ed. As you can guess, Ed is noticeably bitter towards Charlie over this, which factors a ton into their interactions with each other in the movie. This version of Ed has a lot of funny moments, but also some genuinely heartfelt moments as you really feel bad for him between Charley having kicked him to the curb for the sake of popularity and all kinds of other hardships befalling him.
A final change the remake made that I definitely feel is an improvement is that Charley (Played in the original by William Ragsdale, and in the remake by the late Anton Yelchin) is MUCH more intelligent and tactful than he was in the original. An example is when Charley makes the decision to try and get the police involved. In the original, Charley personally brings a police officer to Jerry's house, and ends up loudly proclaiming that Jerry's a vampire, causing the cop to see him as either a liar or a moron. In the remake, in contrast, Charley makes the much wiser decision to instead try and notify the police through an anonymous phone call; While it still doesn't work well (The cops go to Jerry's house, but Jerry provides a convincing explanation and even sort of befriends the officers), at least it didn't leave Charley looking like an idiot the way the original did.
The action sequences in 'Fright Night' are pretty solid, including an escape from a burning house that leads to a car chase, and numerous battles between the various protagonists and the vampires.
While I somewhat miss the practical effects used in the original 'Fright Night,' the CGI used in the remake is pretty good, especially the ways it shows vampires disintegrating into ash when slain.
So, the 2011 'Fright Night' remake is all in all a surprisingly good film that I definitely recommend to fans of the original and anyone else in the mood for a little scary fun.
I can think of at least a couple theological lessons that can be taken from 'Fright Night.'
In the original and to a lesser extent the remake, we see an interesting new aspect of vampire lore: While vampires can be harmed and driven back by crosses, it only works if the person holding the cross has faith, otherwise it doesn't do a thing. A couple times in those movies, a character will try and drive back a vampire using a cross, yet it has no effect because the person wielding it didn't have the faith for it. What truly repelled the vampires was, in a sense, not actually the cross itself, but rather, the person's faith channeled through the cross. This very much ties into a Biblical theme on the difference between knowing about Jesus, and truly knowing Him and trusting in Him. It calls to mind a story from Acts 19:11-17, when a group of Jewish exorcists find out that the apostle Paul was able to cast out demons by calling on the name of Jesus. Thinking they could turn this knowledge into a lucrative business venture, they find a different person possessed by a demon, and say, "We cast you out in the name of the Jesus that Paul preaches." The demon in the man responds, "Jesus we know, and Paul we know, but who are you?" The demon in the man then beats up the would- be exorcists and sends them out naked and wounded. Those guys thought they could use the name and power of Jesus, even though they didn't even truly believe in Him themselves. That clearly didn't have any effect on the demon. Similarly, just knowing about Jesus without having actual faith in Him is pretty worthless. We need to actually believe and trust that Jesus is who He said He is.
Another important theological lesson that I think can be derived from the 'Fright Night' remake is on the importance of showing wisdom in how we act. As I said earlier, I found the remake's version of Charley much smarter and more tactful than he was in the original. As a matter of fact, considering that the horror film genre tends to be filled with characters who aren't exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer, Charley in the 'Fright Night' remake comes across as easily one of the smartest protagonists in all of horror, right up there with Sidney Prescott from the 'Scream' series and most portrayals of Dracula's nemesis Van Helsing. In addition to the example I listed earlier of how tactful he was when he tried to get the police involved, there are lots of other examples of him proving to be incredibly clever and resourceful. He first meets with Peter Vincent by posing as a journalist with the aid of a phony press pass he made on the fly. When he has to leave his injured mother in a hospital room, he first leaves the room decked out in crosses to ensure that Jerry will not be able to go after her. When he sets out for the final showdown with Jerry, he first goes to an outdoor- supply store and buys all the weapons and supplies that he legally can, he goes to Jerry's house during the morning when Jerry will be either asleep or weak, and as soon as he enters the house he immediately breaks all of the black- tainted windows in sight to get as much sunlight pouring into the house as possible. In short, Charley's one smart cookie in this, and that's why he prevails. Scripture is littered with commands to act with wisdom and planning, in much the way that Charley does throughout the film. An example is Proverbs 14:8, which states that "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." It's showing that wisdom comes from thinking things through and proceeding in what we come to then believe is the best way of proceeding through a situation. When confronted with life's problems and threats, we are to trust in God's deliverance, but also to be wise and careful in how we proceed.
Through keeping a strong and earnest faith in Jesus, and also thinking things through and exercising wisdom and discernment in how we act and what we do, we can triumph over evil like how Charley did in 'Fright Night' and live victoriously knowing we follow the King of Kings.
That's it for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. I have a few ideas for entries to bring out in the next couple months, so keep an eye out for them. Until then, happy Halloween, and may God bless you all!
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Avoiding what God Hates, and Remaining Responsible: How to Avoid Being 'Trolled.'
Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
This is part two in what I'm hoping will be a three- part Halloween- related installment.
The inspiration for this particular entry just came to me on the fly a week or so ago.
As I said in the previous entry, I recently finished a monthlong free subscription to Netflix, which enabled me to get caught up on 'Stranger Things.' In addition, it helped me watch a lot of other shows I was behind on, and it helped me discover another show I'd never even heard of before, called 'Creeped Out.'
SLIGHT DISCLAIMER: While this show is for kids, it can have its creepy moments.
This is a British/ Canadian horror anthology show for kids, similar to what 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' was like. Its sort of host/ Cryptkeeper- type character is "The Curious," a mysterious, silent, childlike figure wearing a strange mask. The Curious is apparently harmless, yet is always around when something spooky happens, and at the end of each episode, takes a little memento from that tale while whistling the show's eerie theme music. Here's the opening to one of the episodes, which shows you a little of what the Curious is like:
There were a lot of very good episodes of this show, such as 'Marti' (The episode that the above clip was taken from, which deals with our society's addiction to smart phones), 'Bravery Badge' (A genuinely frightening and yet encouraging tale in which a kind of Girl Scout troop on a camping trip discovers that mosquitoes and poison ivy aren't the only things to look out for in the woods), and the quite moving two- part episode 'Sideshow.'
However, if I had to pick one episode that was my favorite so far, one that sticks out for me is an episode called "Trolled."
SPOILERS!
This episode revolves around a British teen named Sam, who is enrolled in a prestigious boarding school for choral students. He is outwardly active and well- liked, but we soon learn he is leading a double life: He is secretly "NoFace," a vicious Internet troll and cyberbully who anonymously posts malicious insults and gossip on the school's Web forum and various social media outlets.
He has now set his sights on his roommate Fitzy, who has begun dating Sam's crush, Naini. As NoFace, Sam spreads a nasty rumor about Fitzy on the Web forum to try and break them up, and also posts an insulting picture of Naini on her Facebook page (Keep in mind that Sam outwardly professes close friendship with both of them). After he does so, though, he gets a message from an ominous- seeming user named "Billygoat356," warning him to stop doing this or "Pay the price." Sam of course ignores this.
The next day, we learn that Sam may have to leave the school, as his working- class mother (A decent woman who ironically comes across as a much more sympathetic character than her son) can no longer afford to pay his tuition and various other school- related expenses. Sam, however, learns of a solution: If he can successfully perform an extremely difficult solo at a big choral recital the next day, he'll get a full scholarship.
Later that evening, Sam is back to trolling as NoFace, now posting an insulting (Though admittedly rather funny) edited picture of the school's headmaster on the faculty section of the web forum. Just then, he gets another message from Billygoat356, basically telling him "I warned you," followed by a string of phrases written in Norwegian.
The next morning, Sam begins experiencing some very bizarre changes: He grows a thick unibrow seemingly overnight, his gut becomes bloated and grotesque, his hands and feet turn misshapen and gnarled, and so on.
As you can probably guess, as punishment for his trolling ways, Sam is transforming into an ACTUAL troll! The string of Norwegian words Billygoat356 sent to him, when translated, are revealed to have been a curse which began this transformation.
Billygoat356 contacts Sam again, and tells him that there are two ways for him to break the curse and turn back to normal, but neither are very desirable for him: Either stay hidden from everyone until sunset (In which case he'd miss the recital, lose his shot at the scholarship, and have to leave the school), or go to the recital and openly admit to everyone there that he is NoFace (In which case he'd lose all his friends and be expelled from the school).
Sam shows up to the recital, wearing a hood to keep from revealing that the transformation has now spread to most of his face (Though he tells the headmaster he's wearing it due to stage fright), and attempts to perform the solo. Midway through it, however, Sam's voice changes to a troll's growl.
Suspecting that something's amiss, the headmaster orders Sam to remove the hood, and when he does so, everyone is of course horrified at his appearance. In a touch that is simultaneously funny, fitting, and yet also an incredibly sad commentary on the current state of society, one of the first reactions to this we see from the recital's audience is one of the parents there whipping out his phone to snap a picture of it.
Sam hears the online voice of Billygoat356 telling him one last time to confess he's NoFace and break the curse, and he seems to think about it for a few seconds, but then says "I can't." He runs out of the performance hall in shame, but as soon as he steps out of the building, exposure to sunlight (A mortal weakness for trolls, as anyone familiar with 'The Hobbit' could tell you) instantly turns him to stone, preserving him in troll form forever.
The stone troll statue that used to be Sam is then hoisted to the top of the school's roof and mounted up there like a gargoyle, and the school explains his disappearance by saying that the spectacle he caused at the recital was a prank that got him expelled. The school seizes his computer and thus discovers and reveals to everyone that he was NoFace all along, and Fitzy and Naini get back together when they realize how much Sam had been deceiving and manipulating them. We learn that Billygoat356 was apparently the school's maintenance man, the show's narrator gives a sober warning about how bullying people online is just as destructive as doing so in person and "You never know who's gonna be your Billygoat," and the Curious takes a souvenir of Sam's tale (A chalk rubbing of the school's brickwork that he/she was seen making at the start of the episode), and walks away as the episode ends.
As I said, "Trolled" stands out as being my favorite episode of 'Creeped Out.' The story right away was quite interesting. A tale of an Internet troll (Among the most loathsome kinds of people that most of us would be likely to personally encounter) getting what's coming to him is of course quite satisfying to watch, and the twist of him becoming a literal troll because of it was quite clever. Speaking of clever, having an internet troll's destruction brought about by a user with the screenname of "Billygoat356" is a VERY amusing nod to a certain classic fairy tale, all that was missing was for a bridge to somehow be involved. Most of the characters are quite likable, you find yourself really feeling bad for Fitzy and Naini being so deeply hurt by Sam's actions and the wedge he tries to drive between them, as well as for Sam's mother who you can tell works herself to the bone and sacrifices a lot for her son who clearly doesn't deserve any of it. The acting from everyone in the cast is pretty solid, too.
Sam's transformation into a troll is handled amazingly well, with very good use of makeup effects and prosthetics for a show that you can tell probably doesn't have the highest of budgets. The whole episode also has a fascinating Gothic mood to it, between the use of cinematography and shadows, the ways Sam's transformation is shown, the use of orchestral and choral music throughout, and the austere and rather foreboding environment that the school itself presents. It's just a real treat of an episode from start to finish. If any of you have Netflix and are in the mood for light scares, check it out.
I was inspired to do an entry on the Nightcrawler Experience about "Trolled" because, in addition to it obviously being a cautionary tale about the dangers of cyberbullying, I believe it also conveys a couple warnings that are quite Scriptural in nature.
The first concerns what Sam actually did, and what God's Word says about it. An important consideration is that Sam's actions weren't just cruel, two- faced and cowardly; They were also incredibly sinful. In Proverbs 6:16- 19, it talks about seven things that God hates, and views as abominations. The last four of those things include "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Sam, through his trolling as NoFace, was most definitely guilty of those. He spread lies about people, was quick to deliberately cause trouble, and sowed disharmony and unhappiness between Fitzy and Naini, and you know he had to have done all that to a LOT of others in the school before that point through his trolling. What's worse, he spewed all that hatred and venom about them, all the while outwardly pretending to be a close friend to both of them.
While obviously Internet trolls are particularly likely to commit those sins these days, I've seen plenty of people commit those sins in real life as well.
Gossiping about people and being two- faced with them are incredibly destructive sins, and it pains me to say that one of the places that can be the worst haven for gossip is within a church. The people who commit those sins might try and justify them by saying things like "I'm just speaking out of concern," "I'm just venting my frustrations about them," or "They really need our prayers," but that doesn't change that it's' a sin. It turns people against each other, divides families, destroys friendships, and damages their walks with God.
Another Scriptural warning to be taken from 'Trolled' is on the importance of taking responsibility, not trying to hide your sins. In the end, while Sam's trolling and gossiping were horrible, what truly condemned Sam was his refusal to then take responsibility for what he did. Even when his transformation was exposed to all the school, even when he was reminded that confessing what he had been doing as NoFace was the only way to change back and avoid his awful fate, he STILL couldn't bring himself to reveal his secret, and THAT was what destroyed him. In a sense, Sam's transformation can be seen as his rotten hidden sin manifesting itself in an outer way for all to see, causing the formerly rather handsome young man to turn into a monster as ugly on the outside as he clearly was on the inside, and be preserved that way forever. On top of all that, his foul secret ended up being revealed anyway when the school seized his computer.
We, likewise, might think that when we sin, nobody is watching and nobody will ever find out about it, but God sees all, and will bring all of it to light in time. 1 Corinthians 4:5 points out that a time will come when God "Will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart." Jesus said in John 3:20 that "Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed."
The Devil loves when people try to keep their sins and struggles a secret, so they don't set out to get any help for it. That way, the guilt and pain over it can just keep growing within them and overtaking them, just like Sam's transformation in 'Trolled' did for him. It is through openly admitting our sins and inner struggles to God and to people we know we can trust that we can overcome them and live in the victory and peace that Christ offers. 1 John 1:9 says that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Through avoiding such toxic sins as gossip and through being honest and open when we do stumble, we can persevere in our walks with God and not allow Satan to "Troll" us anymore.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Hope you liked it, and stay tuned, as I should hopefully have the final entry in this Halloween series of entries up by the night in question. Until then, may God bless you all!
This is part two in what I'm hoping will be a three- part Halloween- related installment.
The inspiration for this particular entry just came to me on the fly a week or so ago.
As I said in the previous entry, I recently finished a monthlong free subscription to Netflix, which enabled me to get caught up on 'Stranger Things.' In addition, it helped me watch a lot of other shows I was behind on, and it helped me discover another show I'd never even heard of before, called 'Creeped Out.'
SLIGHT DISCLAIMER: While this show is for kids, it can have its creepy moments.
This is a British/ Canadian horror anthology show for kids, similar to what 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' was like. Its sort of host/ Cryptkeeper- type character is "The Curious," a mysterious, silent, childlike figure wearing a strange mask. The Curious is apparently harmless, yet is always around when something spooky happens, and at the end of each episode, takes a little memento from that tale while whistling the show's eerie theme music. Here's the opening to one of the episodes, which shows you a little of what the Curious is like:
There were a lot of very good episodes of this show, such as 'Marti' (The episode that the above clip was taken from, which deals with our society's addiction to smart phones), 'Bravery Badge' (A genuinely frightening and yet encouraging tale in which a kind of Girl Scout troop on a camping trip discovers that mosquitoes and poison ivy aren't the only things to look out for in the woods), and the quite moving two- part episode 'Sideshow.'
However, if I had to pick one episode that was my favorite so far, one that sticks out for me is an episode called "Trolled."
SPOILERS!
This episode revolves around a British teen named Sam, who is enrolled in a prestigious boarding school for choral students. He is outwardly active and well- liked, but we soon learn he is leading a double life: He is secretly "NoFace," a vicious Internet troll and cyberbully who anonymously posts malicious insults and gossip on the school's Web forum and various social media outlets.
He has now set his sights on his roommate Fitzy, who has begun dating Sam's crush, Naini. As NoFace, Sam spreads a nasty rumor about Fitzy on the Web forum to try and break them up, and also posts an insulting picture of Naini on her Facebook page (Keep in mind that Sam outwardly professes close friendship with both of them). After he does so, though, he gets a message from an ominous- seeming user named "Billygoat356," warning him to stop doing this or "Pay the price." Sam of course ignores this.
The next day, we learn that Sam may have to leave the school, as his working- class mother (A decent woman who ironically comes across as a much more sympathetic character than her son) can no longer afford to pay his tuition and various other school- related expenses. Sam, however, learns of a solution: If he can successfully perform an extremely difficult solo at a big choral recital the next day, he'll get a full scholarship.
Later that evening, Sam is back to trolling as NoFace, now posting an insulting (Though admittedly rather funny) edited picture of the school's headmaster on the faculty section of the web forum. Just then, he gets another message from Billygoat356, basically telling him "I warned you," followed by a string of phrases written in Norwegian.
The next morning, Sam begins experiencing some very bizarre changes: He grows a thick unibrow seemingly overnight, his gut becomes bloated and grotesque, his hands and feet turn misshapen and gnarled, and so on.
As you can probably guess, as punishment for his trolling ways, Sam is transforming into an ACTUAL troll! The string of Norwegian words Billygoat356 sent to him, when translated, are revealed to have been a curse which began this transformation.
Billygoat356 contacts Sam again, and tells him that there are two ways for him to break the curse and turn back to normal, but neither are very desirable for him: Either stay hidden from everyone until sunset (In which case he'd miss the recital, lose his shot at the scholarship, and have to leave the school), or go to the recital and openly admit to everyone there that he is NoFace (In which case he'd lose all his friends and be expelled from the school).
Sam shows up to the recital, wearing a hood to keep from revealing that the transformation has now spread to most of his face (Though he tells the headmaster he's wearing it due to stage fright), and attempts to perform the solo. Midway through it, however, Sam's voice changes to a troll's growl.
Suspecting that something's amiss, the headmaster orders Sam to remove the hood, and when he does so, everyone is of course horrified at his appearance. In a touch that is simultaneously funny, fitting, and yet also an incredibly sad commentary on the current state of society, one of the first reactions to this we see from the recital's audience is one of the parents there whipping out his phone to snap a picture of it.
Sam hears the online voice of Billygoat356 telling him one last time to confess he's NoFace and break the curse, and he seems to think about it for a few seconds, but then says "I can't." He runs out of the performance hall in shame, but as soon as he steps out of the building, exposure to sunlight (A mortal weakness for trolls, as anyone familiar with 'The Hobbit' could tell you) instantly turns him to stone, preserving him in troll form forever.
The stone troll statue that used to be Sam is then hoisted to the top of the school's roof and mounted up there like a gargoyle, and the school explains his disappearance by saying that the spectacle he caused at the recital was a prank that got him expelled. The school seizes his computer and thus discovers and reveals to everyone that he was NoFace all along, and Fitzy and Naini get back together when they realize how much Sam had been deceiving and manipulating them. We learn that Billygoat356 was apparently the school's maintenance man, the show's narrator gives a sober warning about how bullying people online is just as destructive as doing so in person and "You never know who's gonna be your Billygoat," and the Curious takes a souvenir of Sam's tale (A chalk rubbing of the school's brickwork that he/she was seen making at the start of the episode), and walks away as the episode ends.
As I said, "Trolled" stands out as being my favorite episode of 'Creeped Out.' The story right away was quite interesting. A tale of an Internet troll (Among the most loathsome kinds of people that most of us would be likely to personally encounter) getting what's coming to him is of course quite satisfying to watch, and the twist of him becoming a literal troll because of it was quite clever. Speaking of clever, having an internet troll's destruction brought about by a user with the screenname of "Billygoat356" is a VERY amusing nod to a certain classic fairy tale, all that was missing was for a bridge to somehow be involved. Most of the characters are quite likable, you find yourself really feeling bad for Fitzy and Naini being so deeply hurt by Sam's actions and the wedge he tries to drive between them, as well as for Sam's mother who you can tell works herself to the bone and sacrifices a lot for her son who clearly doesn't deserve any of it. The acting from everyone in the cast is pretty solid, too.
Sam's transformation into a troll is handled amazingly well, with very good use of makeup effects and prosthetics for a show that you can tell probably doesn't have the highest of budgets. The whole episode also has a fascinating Gothic mood to it, between the use of cinematography and shadows, the ways Sam's transformation is shown, the use of orchestral and choral music throughout, and the austere and rather foreboding environment that the school itself presents. It's just a real treat of an episode from start to finish. If any of you have Netflix and are in the mood for light scares, check it out.
I was inspired to do an entry on the Nightcrawler Experience about "Trolled" because, in addition to it obviously being a cautionary tale about the dangers of cyberbullying, I believe it also conveys a couple warnings that are quite Scriptural in nature.
The first concerns what Sam actually did, and what God's Word says about it. An important consideration is that Sam's actions weren't just cruel, two- faced and cowardly; They were also incredibly sinful. In Proverbs 6:16- 19, it talks about seven things that God hates, and views as abominations. The last four of those things include "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Sam, through his trolling as NoFace, was most definitely guilty of those. He spread lies about people, was quick to deliberately cause trouble, and sowed disharmony and unhappiness between Fitzy and Naini, and you know he had to have done all that to a LOT of others in the school before that point through his trolling. What's worse, he spewed all that hatred and venom about them, all the while outwardly pretending to be a close friend to both of them.
While obviously Internet trolls are particularly likely to commit those sins these days, I've seen plenty of people commit those sins in real life as well.
Gossiping about people and being two- faced with them are incredibly destructive sins, and it pains me to say that one of the places that can be the worst haven for gossip is within a church. The people who commit those sins might try and justify them by saying things like "I'm just speaking out of concern," "I'm just venting my frustrations about them," or "They really need our prayers," but that doesn't change that it's' a sin. It turns people against each other, divides families, destroys friendships, and damages their walks with God.
Another Scriptural warning to be taken from 'Trolled' is on the importance of taking responsibility, not trying to hide your sins. In the end, while Sam's trolling and gossiping were horrible, what truly condemned Sam was his refusal to then take responsibility for what he did. Even when his transformation was exposed to all the school, even when he was reminded that confessing what he had been doing as NoFace was the only way to change back and avoid his awful fate, he STILL couldn't bring himself to reveal his secret, and THAT was what destroyed him. In a sense, Sam's transformation can be seen as his rotten hidden sin manifesting itself in an outer way for all to see, causing the formerly rather handsome young man to turn into a monster as ugly on the outside as he clearly was on the inside, and be preserved that way forever. On top of all that, his foul secret ended up being revealed anyway when the school seized his computer.
We, likewise, might think that when we sin, nobody is watching and nobody will ever find out about it, but God sees all, and will bring all of it to light in time. 1 Corinthians 4:5 points out that a time will come when God "Will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart." Jesus said in John 3:20 that "Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed."
The Devil loves when people try to keep their sins and struggles a secret, so they don't set out to get any help for it. That way, the guilt and pain over it can just keep growing within them and overtaking them, just like Sam's transformation in 'Trolled' did for him. It is through openly admitting our sins and inner struggles to God and to people we know we can trust that we can overcome them and live in the victory and peace that Christ offers. 1 John 1:9 says that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Through avoiding such toxic sins as gossip and through being honest and open when we do stumble, we can persevere in our walks with God and not allow Satan to "Troll" us anymore.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Hope you liked it, and stay tuned, as I should hopefully have the final entry in this Halloween series of entries up by the night in question. Until then, may God bless you all!
Friday, October 26, 2018
The Deaths of God's Saints: A tribute to Bob from 'Stranger Things.'
Hello again everyone, and welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
This will be the first part of what I'm hoping will be a three- part Halloween installment for this blog. In this entry, I'll be looking at a hit sci- fi/ horror series and an observation I was recently given about it:
A couple times over the last year or so, I've been given month- long free memberships to Netflix. I've used them to, among other things, introduce myself to the popular Netflix series known as 'Stranger Things.'
This series has really put Netflix on the map; It's got an enormous, dedicated fanbase, and this October even has a haunted house/ maze based around it at Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights event (A friend of mine from church is one of the "Scareactors" in it). Watching it for myself, I can see why: It is a great, intriguing show with solid writing and wonderful acting, particularly from the child actors. The effects are top- notch too, and it can have both scares and humor, and some good dramatic moments as well.
DISCLAIMER: While some of this show's main characters are kids, the show is assuredly NOT for kids. It has a lot of language, and also significant amounts of violence and scary imagery at some points. Exercise caution before seeing it yourself if you're sensitive to such material, or letting kids see it.
SPOILERS!
For those unfamiliar with it, the show takes place in a town called Hawkins, Indiana in the early 1980s. In the first episode, a middle- school- aged boy named Will Byers disappears under very mysterious circumstances, yet both his dedicated mother Joyce and his geeky but loyal friends Mike, Dustin and Lucas are convinced he's still alive. In their quest to prove this and eventually save him, they uncover top secret experiments being conducted in their town, a hidden dimension nicknamed "The Upside- Down," a nasty- looking monster, and a mysterious girl known as "Eleven," or "Elle" for short, with several fascinating abilities.
Now that I've brought you up to speed on it, I'll get more to my point. An interesting thing about the 'Stranger Things' fanbase is that many of them greatly loved and mourned the passing of a fairly minor character from Season 1, named Barb. She's a character who was only seen in a few episodes before being abruptly killed off, and we consequently know very little about her, yet a massive fan- following was built around her. There was even a hashtag created, #JusticeForBarb, and a book put out about her.
As sad as Barb's death was, though, I was far more affected by another ill- fated character from the show: A man named Bob Newby who is first introduced during the show's most recent season, Season 2.
(Meet Bob. Credit for this image goes to the user ZeroZeroEight on the 'Stranger Things' wiki)
Some of you may recognize his actor as Sean Astin, the actor best known for playing Mikey Walsh in 'The Goonies' (One of my all- time favorite movies) and Samwise "Sam" Gamgee in the 'Lord of the Rings' films (All of which are ALSO among my favorite movies), and Bob is as likable of a character as both of them were.
Season 2 picks up about a year after Season 1. Will's back, and things seem to have mostly gone back to normal in Hawkins. This of course doesn't last long, though, and a lot of new developments happen, such as Will experiencing strange visions, a new girl coming to town and causing some friction among the main boys, the crude school bully Steve very gradually becoming one of the good guys, and Elle learning more about her identity and her past.
This season is also when Bob first comes into play. Bob runs a Radio Shack in town, and has begun dating Will's mom Joyce some time between the two seasons. He's trying to win over Will and his older brother Jonathan, and he and Will do indeed begin bonding well. Bob is revealed to be quite a clever guy, with a love of puzzles and brain- teasers, as well as a kind heart and an earnest desire to help Joyce and her sons in any way he can. Midway through the season, he brilliantly manages to decipher a kind of map relating to the Upside Down, and in so doing saves the life of another major character on the show, Chief Hopper.
Sadly, things take a tragic turn in the second- to- last episode of Season 2, 'The Mind- Flayer.' Bob and a number of other characters, including Will and Joyce, are trapped inside of a research lab which has been besieged by horrible monsters from the Upside- Down, which a character nicknames "Demodogs." The heroes can't get out, because the facility's power is out and thus the entire place is on lockdown, and they know it's only a matter of time before the Demodogs discover what room they're hiding in and make a meal out of them.
Bob makes the incredibly brave decision to go down into the lab's breaker room (Which could potentially make himself a prime target for the Demodogs), because he's the only one of them with the computer skills needed to get the power back on and reset the locks so they can escape. Joyce pleads with him to reconsider, knowing this is just shy of a suicide mission, but he responds with a smile, "It's gonna be okay. Remember, Bob Newby, superhero."
Bob manages to successfully get the power back on, so Joyce and the others are able to get out safely. Heart- breakingly, just as Bob has made it to the facility's lobby and is about to escape along with them, a Demodog out of nowhere tackles him to the ground and kills him.
When the others have made it back to one of their houses, many of them are of course mourning the loss of good old Bob. In this scene, the boy Mike reveals to his buddies that, when Bob was attending Hawkins Middle School as a boy, HE was the one who first founded the school's A.V. club that they're all members of, and even organized a fundraiser to get all of its equipment.
As sad as I already was at Bob's death, hearing that made it all the more moving for me. That revelation helped confirm that, as a kid, Bob was a lot like the four main boys on the show. He ended up being sort of like a precursor to them.
It kind of ties into Sean Astin's performance as Mikey in 'The Goonies,' as it reminds me of the scene when Mikey is talking to the skeleton of the pirate leader One- Eyed Willie and tells him, "You're the first Goonie."
In the end of the season, of course, the heroes manage to save the town, and in the season finale's epilogue, we see that Will's fridge is now decorated with a new picture he drew, depicting Bob as a superhero.
(A fitting tribute to a hero; Credit for this image goes to the user "AquaTerra7" on the 'Stranger Things' wiki)
I was guided to write this entry partly because a fair number of good, righteous people I've known have died this year. You may recall I dedicated my review of 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' to the memory of two of them, John Knapp and Joseph "Teak" Black. Well, more have passed as well this year, such as Megan (An old church friend of mine who, like Teak, accompanied me on several Cat Island missions trips, but sadly succumbed to cancer this summer) and Perry (An old family friend). I've mourned every one of them deeply.
In thinking of those losses, and Bob's death on 'Stranger Things,' a verse from Scripture popped into my head: Psalm 116:15, which says that "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
Now, on the surface, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense: You'd think that God would mourn or condemn when good, righteous people who've served Him die.
However, that's where things get tricky: One way of looking at it is that it's showing God honors their service to Him throughout their lives. Another which I read somewhere was that those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus are thus regarded as so precious and beloved by God that even their deaths are seen as precious to Him. There's also the matter of how to define the word "Precious." It suggests that they are of great value to God, and also that their deaths are very important to God and of great value, not something to be taken lightly. In 'Stranger Things,' it is clear almost immediately that the show's heroes will never take Bob's noble death lightly, and they will remember both that and the good life he led. Similarly, in real life, when we lose those we love, we must not treat their deaths lightly, or fail to properly honor them.
Another issue I feel I should bring up to help convey my point is the way that verse uses the term "Saints." As a United Methodist, I do not have the same view of saints that Roman Catholics do, that they have been canonized and have official feast days during the year and whatnot.
Rather, when I personally think of that term, it calls to mind a sermon I once heard while in seminary: It involved us seeing "Saints" as those people in our own lives who helped shape us into who we are, and influenced our walks with God. It then led to us thinking about who some of the "Saints" in our lives are.
In that sense, on 'Stranger Things,' Bob can be seen as someone who was a "Saint" in the lives of Joyce and the four main boys. He provided them with strength, courage, comfort, and inspiration. He had helped found the club that the four main boys were all members of. Last, but certainly not least, he was willing to perform a mission that he had to have known he probably wouldn't return from in one piece, because he knew it was the only way to save all of their lives.
Likewise, in real life, John, Teak, Meg, and Perry were a few of the MANY "Saints" in my life. Each of them, in their own ways, impacted my life and helped shape my own knowledge of who I am in Christ. For that reason, I will always remember them and honor the legacies they left behind, in my life and the lives of others.
So, I leave you with a question: Who are the saints in YOUR life, the people who helped shape your walk with God? If they are those who've passed on and entered God's Kingdom, ensure that their memory endures forever through following the good examples they've set. If they're people that are still alive, find a way to let them know what an impact they had on you, and how much it means to you.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Keep an eye out the next few days as I do the other Halloween- related entry/ entries. Until then, God bless you all!
This will be the first part of what I'm hoping will be a three- part Halloween installment for this blog. In this entry, I'll be looking at a hit sci- fi/ horror series and an observation I was recently given about it:
A couple times over the last year or so, I've been given month- long free memberships to Netflix. I've used them to, among other things, introduce myself to the popular Netflix series known as 'Stranger Things.'
This series has really put Netflix on the map; It's got an enormous, dedicated fanbase, and this October even has a haunted house/ maze based around it at Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights event (A friend of mine from church is one of the "Scareactors" in it). Watching it for myself, I can see why: It is a great, intriguing show with solid writing and wonderful acting, particularly from the child actors. The effects are top- notch too, and it can have both scares and humor, and some good dramatic moments as well.
DISCLAIMER: While some of this show's main characters are kids, the show is assuredly NOT for kids. It has a lot of language, and also significant amounts of violence and scary imagery at some points. Exercise caution before seeing it yourself if you're sensitive to such material, or letting kids see it.
SPOILERS!
For those unfamiliar with it, the show takes place in a town called Hawkins, Indiana in the early 1980s. In the first episode, a middle- school- aged boy named Will Byers disappears under very mysterious circumstances, yet both his dedicated mother Joyce and his geeky but loyal friends Mike, Dustin and Lucas are convinced he's still alive. In their quest to prove this and eventually save him, they uncover top secret experiments being conducted in their town, a hidden dimension nicknamed "The Upside- Down," a nasty- looking monster, and a mysterious girl known as "Eleven," or "Elle" for short, with several fascinating abilities.
Now that I've brought you up to speed on it, I'll get more to my point. An interesting thing about the 'Stranger Things' fanbase is that many of them greatly loved and mourned the passing of a fairly minor character from Season 1, named Barb. She's a character who was only seen in a few episodes before being abruptly killed off, and we consequently know very little about her, yet a massive fan- following was built around her. There was even a hashtag created, #JusticeForBarb, and a book put out about her.
As sad as Barb's death was, though, I was far more affected by another ill- fated character from the show: A man named Bob Newby who is first introduced during the show's most recent season, Season 2.
(Meet Bob. Credit for this image goes to the user ZeroZeroEight on the 'Stranger Things' wiki)
Some of you may recognize his actor as Sean Astin, the actor best known for playing Mikey Walsh in 'The Goonies' (One of my all- time favorite movies) and Samwise "Sam" Gamgee in the 'Lord of the Rings' films (All of which are ALSO among my favorite movies), and Bob is as likable of a character as both of them were.
Season 2 picks up about a year after Season 1. Will's back, and things seem to have mostly gone back to normal in Hawkins. This of course doesn't last long, though, and a lot of new developments happen, such as Will experiencing strange visions, a new girl coming to town and causing some friction among the main boys, the crude school bully Steve very gradually becoming one of the good guys, and Elle learning more about her identity and her past.
This season is also when Bob first comes into play. Bob runs a Radio Shack in town, and has begun dating Will's mom Joyce some time between the two seasons. He's trying to win over Will and his older brother Jonathan, and he and Will do indeed begin bonding well. Bob is revealed to be quite a clever guy, with a love of puzzles and brain- teasers, as well as a kind heart and an earnest desire to help Joyce and her sons in any way he can. Midway through the season, he brilliantly manages to decipher a kind of map relating to the Upside Down, and in so doing saves the life of another major character on the show, Chief Hopper.
Sadly, things take a tragic turn in the second- to- last episode of Season 2, 'The Mind- Flayer.' Bob and a number of other characters, including Will and Joyce, are trapped inside of a research lab which has been besieged by horrible monsters from the Upside- Down, which a character nicknames "Demodogs." The heroes can't get out, because the facility's power is out and thus the entire place is on lockdown, and they know it's only a matter of time before the Demodogs discover what room they're hiding in and make a meal out of them.
Bob makes the incredibly brave decision to go down into the lab's breaker room (Which could potentially make himself a prime target for the Demodogs), because he's the only one of them with the computer skills needed to get the power back on and reset the locks so they can escape. Joyce pleads with him to reconsider, knowing this is just shy of a suicide mission, but he responds with a smile, "It's gonna be okay. Remember, Bob Newby, superhero."
Bob manages to successfully get the power back on, so Joyce and the others are able to get out safely. Heart- breakingly, just as Bob has made it to the facility's lobby and is about to escape along with them, a Demodog out of nowhere tackles him to the ground and kills him.
When the others have made it back to one of their houses, many of them are of course mourning the loss of good old Bob. In this scene, the boy Mike reveals to his buddies that, when Bob was attending Hawkins Middle School as a boy, HE was the one who first founded the school's A.V. club that they're all members of, and even organized a fundraiser to get all of its equipment.
As sad as I already was at Bob's death, hearing that made it all the more moving for me. That revelation helped confirm that, as a kid, Bob was a lot like the four main boys on the show. He ended up being sort of like a precursor to them.
It kind of ties into Sean Astin's performance as Mikey in 'The Goonies,' as it reminds me of the scene when Mikey is talking to the skeleton of the pirate leader One- Eyed Willie and tells him, "You're the first Goonie."
In the end of the season, of course, the heroes manage to save the town, and in the season finale's epilogue, we see that Will's fridge is now decorated with a new picture he drew, depicting Bob as a superhero.
(A fitting tribute to a hero; Credit for this image goes to the user "AquaTerra7" on the 'Stranger Things' wiki)
I was guided to write this entry partly because a fair number of good, righteous people I've known have died this year. You may recall I dedicated my review of 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' to the memory of two of them, John Knapp and Joseph "Teak" Black. Well, more have passed as well this year, such as Megan (An old church friend of mine who, like Teak, accompanied me on several Cat Island missions trips, but sadly succumbed to cancer this summer) and Perry (An old family friend). I've mourned every one of them deeply.
In thinking of those losses, and Bob's death on 'Stranger Things,' a verse from Scripture popped into my head: Psalm 116:15, which says that "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
Now, on the surface, that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense: You'd think that God would mourn or condemn when good, righteous people who've served Him die.
However, that's where things get tricky: One way of looking at it is that it's showing God honors their service to Him throughout their lives. Another which I read somewhere was that those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus are thus regarded as so precious and beloved by God that even their deaths are seen as precious to Him. There's also the matter of how to define the word "Precious." It suggests that they are of great value to God, and also that their deaths are very important to God and of great value, not something to be taken lightly. In 'Stranger Things,' it is clear almost immediately that the show's heroes will never take Bob's noble death lightly, and they will remember both that and the good life he led. Similarly, in real life, when we lose those we love, we must not treat their deaths lightly, or fail to properly honor them.
Another issue I feel I should bring up to help convey my point is the way that verse uses the term "Saints." As a United Methodist, I do not have the same view of saints that Roman Catholics do, that they have been canonized and have official feast days during the year and whatnot.
Rather, when I personally think of that term, it calls to mind a sermon I once heard while in seminary: It involved us seeing "Saints" as those people in our own lives who helped shape us into who we are, and influenced our walks with God. It then led to us thinking about who some of the "Saints" in our lives are.
In that sense, on 'Stranger Things,' Bob can be seen as someone who was a "Saint" in the lives of Joyce and the four main boys. He provided them with strength, courage, comfort, and inspiration. He had helped found the club that the four main boys were all members of. Last, but certainly not least, he was willing to perform a mission that he had to have known he probably wouldn't return from in one piece, because he knew it was the only way to save all of their lives.
Likewise, in real life, John, Teak, Meg, and Perry were a few of the MANY "Saints" in my life. Each of them, in their own ways, impacted my life and helped shape my own knowledge of who I am in Christ. For that reason, I will always remember them and honor the legacies they left behind, in my life and the lives of others.
So, I leave you with a question: Who are the saints in YOUR life, the people who helped shape your walk with God? If they are those who've passed on and entered God's Kingdom, ensure that their memory endures forever through following the good examples they've set. If they're people that are still alive, find a way to let them know what an impact they had on you, and how much it means to you.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Keep an eye out the next few days as I do the other Halloween- related entry/ entries. Until then, God bless you all!
Friday, July 20, 2018
A Refuge in the Wilderness, Valuing Life, and Obeying Calling: A Faith- Based Look at 'Open Season.'
Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Nightcrawler Experience!
This entry will be concluding my collaboration with St. John's United Methodist Church on heir "Summer at the Movies: Around the World" series.
We've been to China for 'Mulan,' Mexico for 'Coco,' France for 'Ratatouille,' and now we're returning to North America for a look at the 2006 film 'Open Season'!
The story centers around Boog (Voice of Martin Lawrence), a grizzly bear who's lived with a friendly ranger in a small town outside of the forest his entire life. As a result, while happy, he's also incredibly sheltered and unable to do much of anything on his own. After Boog gets in some trouble with a goofy, one- antlered deer named Elliot (Voice of Ashton Kutcher), the ranger is forced to airlift both of them into the heart of the forest and leave them there. When Boog wakes up (He'd been tranquilized before being brought there), he immediately sets out to get back to civilization and his old life, with Elliot acting as his guide. All the while, they're dreading the impending start of Hunting Season, and trying to steer clear of Shaw (Voice of Gary Sinise), a demented hunting fanatic who believes the two of them are planning an animal uprising against humans.
I'll admit, I'd actually never seen this film before up until just a few days ago. While it's not as amazing of a movie as the other ones we watched in this series, I think it's alright.
One issue I have with 'Open Season' is that I think Martin Lawrence may have been a little miscast as the voice of Boog. He's ok and all, but considering that Boog is a very large grizzly bear, I think they should have gone with an actor with a deeper voice, like maybe Vin Diesel or Michael Clarke Duncan. Also, the animation is definitely not as polished as it is for the other films that we showed in this series. Then again, few animation studios can match Disney or Pixar for that kind of quality. There is also a bit too much bathroom humor at times, but that's pretty much a prerequisite for kids' movies anymore.
All that being said, 'Open Season' still proved to be a decent enough film. The story was alright, with a few interesting turns and plenty of humor. It even manages a little heart at times. Once Boog and Elliot become used to each other's presence, the bond they start building with each other is surprisingly sweet.
Boog is a good enough main character. He seems somewhat torn between loving his life in the ranger's garage with everything he needs provided for him, and feeling regretful that he doesn't really know how to do anything. Elliot is quite a funny supporting character, incompetent and simple- minded but also loyal and mostly well- meaning. Ashton Kutcher does a lot better with his voice than I expected him to. Shaw makes for a pretty good villain; Rather than just another one- dimensional "Evil human" out to mistreat animals out of greed and just for the heck of it, Shaw has the additional motive of his paranoid belief that Boog and Elliot are planning an animal uprising. Plus, Gary Sinise does a great job with his voice, I seriously couldn't tell it was him.
However, my favorite character in the film was McSquizzy (Voice of Billy Connolly), a hilarious, ultra- aggressive Scottish squirrel who commands an army/ clan of fellow squirrels that defend their trees with smack- talking and barrages of acorns. Let's just say that if you're ever in the woods, and hear a bunch of voices from the taller branches of one of the trees all shout "OI" in perfect unison, you'd better start running. McSquizzy is so much fun in every scene he's in, the sort of character who might make a good spinoff movie. Also, a few good laughs can be taken from a human couple in the movie who are revealed to be "Sasquatch- hunters."
While definitely not a masterpiece like the previous films we looked at in this series, 'Open Season' is a decent enough movie, fun for a watch.
In my devotional which was passed out at the movie screening tonight, I brought up that one important Biblical message which can be taken from 'Open Season' ties into the theme of a refuge in the wilderness. I pointed out that Boog and Elliot's perilous trek through the woods over the course of the film can kind of tie in to Psalm 46, which deals with how God is our refuge in the wildernesses of life (Both literal and figurative). Once again, though, I'd say there's more that can be found.
Another Biblical message I've found in 'Open Season' is on valuing life and refraining from unnecessary violence and brutality, using the evil hunter Shaw as a cautionary example. There is nothing wrong with a little hunting or fishing now and then, if done legally and responsibly. Heck, when I was on vacation in Canada last month, I went on a fishing trip one morning and caught about a half- dozen fish! It was the best day of fishing I'd had in years! However, there's a BIG difference between a sportsmanlike appreciation for recreational hunting, and sheer bloodlust. Shaw in the movie epitomizes the latter of the two. He is a man who truly values death more than life, the only living thing he has any care for is himself. Not even fellow humans are safe from him, as a scene early on has Shaw deliberately attempting to kill Elliot with his truck in the middle of town, nearly hitting several pedestrians in the process. Scripture openly condemns holding such a barbaric, kill- crazy attitude towards God's creations. Psalm 11:5 says that "The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion." Also, Proverbs 3:31 instructs believers, "Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways." We are to try and model gentleness and peace in our lives as much as possible, value life and the creatures God creates, and shun the senseless violence and viciousness that defines the very lives of real- life people like Shaw.
A final theological message I can think of from 'Open Season' is on the importance of calling. Even though Boog was at first determined to get out of the forest as quickly as possible, he soon learns that he should use the fact that he's there to help protect Elliot and the other animals in the forest from falling victim to Shaw and the rest of the hunters. It wasn't where Boog wanted to be, but it was clearly where he NEEDED to be in order to do the most good he possibly could. This calls to mind Esther 4:14 in which Mordecai tells his cousin Esther that "And who knows, but that you have come to your royal position for times such as this?" There are times in life when we might seem stuck in a situation or period in our lives which we'd rather not be in. However, it is extremely likely that God put us in those situations because He has specific, extremely important things He'd like us to do while in that situation or period. He's called us to important purposes, and needs at times to have us go through strange, scary, or difficult times to help us achieve it. It's just a matter of remaining open to the Lord and His will for you. Wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you may be in, do not hesitate to say, "Here I am, Lord! Send me!"
So, that wraps up this look at 'Open Season,' a fun family movie which can help teach us about relying on God's refuge and protection, shunning violence and valuing life, and remaining open and willing to follow God's calling for you.
That closes this summer collaboration with St. John's United Methodist Church. As always, I have been overjoyed to be a part of it, and look forward to working together with them again soon.
And so, that completes this entry in the Nightcrawler Experience. I have a couple big ideas for future entries I'm planning on, so keep your eyes peeled. Until then, God bless you all!
This entry will be concluding my collaboration with St. John's United Methodist Church on heir "Summer at the Movies: Around the World" series.
We've been to China for 'Mulan,' Mexico for 'Coco,' France for 'Ratatouille,' and now we're returning to North America for a look at the 2006 film 'Open Season'!
The story centers around Boog (Voice of Martin Lawrence), a grizzly bear who's lived with a friendly ranger in a small town outside of the forest his entire life. As a result, while happy, he's also incredibly sheltered and unable to do much of anything on his own. After Boog gets in some trouble with a goofy, one- antlered deer named Elliot (Voice of Ashton Kutcher), the ranger is forced to airlift both of them into the heart of the forest and leave them there. When Boog wakes up (He'd been tranquilized before being brought there), he immediately sets out to get back to civilization and his old life, with Elliot acting as his guide. All the while, they're dreading the impending start of Hunting Season, and trying to steer clear of Shaw (Voice of Gary Sinise), a demented hunting fanatic who believes the two of them are planning an animal uprising against humans.
I'll admit, I'd actually never seen this film before up until just a few days ago. While it's not as amazing of a movie as the other ones we watched in this series, I think it's alright.
One issue I have with 'Open Season' is that I think Martin Lawrence may have been a little miscast as the voice of Boog. He's ok and all, but considering that Boog is a very large grizzly bear, I think they should have gone with an actor with a deeper voice, like maybe Vin Diesel or Michael Clarke Duncan. Also, the animation is definitely not as polished as it is for the other films that we showed in this series. Then again, few animation studios can match Disney or Pixar for that kind of quality. There is also a bit too much bathroom humor at times, but that's pretty much a prerequisite for kids' movies anymore.
All that being said, 'Open Season' still proved to be a decent enough film. The story was alright, with a few interesting turns and plenty of humor. It even manages a little heart at times. Once Boog and Elliot become used to each other's presence, the bond they start building with each other is surprisingly sweet.
Boog is a good enough main character. He seems somewhat torn between loving his life in the ranger's garage with everything he needs provided for him, and feeling regretful that he doesn't really know how to do anything. Elliot is quite a funny supporting character, incompetent and simple- minded but also loyal and mostly well- meaning. Ashton Kutcher does a lot better with his voice than I expected him to. Shaw makes for a pretty good villain; Rather than just another one- dimensional "Evil human" out to mistreat animals out of greed and just for the heck of it, Shaw has the additional motive of his paranoid belief that Boog and Elliot are planning an animal uprising. Plus, Gary Sinise does a great job with his voice, I seriously couldn't tell it was him.
However, my favorite character in the film was McSquizzy (Voice of Billy Connolly), a hilarious, ultra- aggressive Scottish squirrel who commands an army/ clan of fellow squirrels that defend their trees with smack- talking and barrages of acorns. Let's just say that if you're ever in the woods, and hear a bunch of voices from the taller branches of one of the trees all shout "OI" in perfect unison, you'd better start running. McSquizzy is so much fun in every scene he's in, the sort of character who might make a good spinoff movie. Also, a few good laughs can be taken from a human couple in the movie who are revealed to be "Sasquatch- hunters."
While definitely not a masterpiece like the previous films we looked at in this series, 'Open Season' is a decent enough movie, fun for a watch.
In my devotional which was passed out at the movie screening tonight, I brought up that one important Biblical message which can be taken from 'Open Season' ties into the theme of a refuge in the wilderness. I pointed out that Boog and Elliot's perilous trek through the woods over the course of the film can kind of tie in to Psalm 46, which deals with how God is our refuge in the wildernesses of life (Both literal and figurative). Once again, though, I'd say there's more that can be found.
Another Biblical message I've found in 'Open Season' is on valuing life and refraining from unnecessary violence and brutality, using the evil hunter Shaw as a cautionary example. There is nothing wrong with a little hunting or fishing now and then, if done legally and responsibly. Heck, when I was on vacation in Canada last month, I went on a fishing trip one morning and caught about a half- dozen fish! It was the best day of fishing I'd had in years! However, there's a BIG difference between a sportsmanlike appreciation for recreational hunting, and sheer bloodlust. Shaw in the movie epitomizes the latter of the two. He is a man who truly values death more than life, the only living thing he has any care for is himself. Not even fellow humans are safe from him, as a scene early on has Shaw deliberately attempting to kill Elliot with his truck in the middle of town, nearly hitting several pedestrians in the process. Scripture openly condemns holding such a barbaric, kill- crazy attitude towards God's creations. Psalm 11:5 says that "The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion." Also, Proverbs 3:31 instructs believers, "Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways." We are to try and model gentleness and peace in our lives as much as possible, value life and the creatures God creates, and shun the senseless violence and viciousness that defines the very lives of real- life people like Shaw.
A final theological message I can think of from 'Open Season' is on the importance of calling. Even though Boog was at first determined to get out of the forest as quickly as possible, he soon learns that he should use the fact that he's there to help protect Elliot and the other animals in the forest from falling victim to Shaw and the rest of the hunters. It wasn't where Boog wanted to be, but it was clearly where he NEEDED to be in order to do the most good he possibly could. This calls to mind Esther 4:14 in which Mordecai tells his cousin Esther that "And who knows, but that you have come to your royal position for times such as this?" There are times in life when we might seem stuck in a situation or period in our lives which we'd rather not be in. However, it is extremely likely that God put us in those situations because He has specific, extremely important things He'd like us to do while in that situation or period. He's called us to important purposes, and needs at times to have us go through strange, scary, or difficult times to help us achieve it. It's just a matter of remaining open to the Lord and His will for you. Wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you may be in, do not hesitate to say, "Here I am, Lord! Send me!"
So, that wraps up this look at 'Open Season,' a fun family movie which can help teach us about relying on God's refuge and protection, shunning violence and valuing life, and remaining open and willing to follow God's calling for you.
That closes this summer collaboration with St. John's United Methodist Church. As always, I have been overjoyed to be a part of it, and look forward to working together with them again soon.
And so, that completes this entry in the Nightcrawler Experience. I have a couple big ideas for future entries I'm planning on, so keep your eyes peeled. Until then, God bless you all!
Friday, July 13, 2018
Unlikely Heroes, Becoming as a Child, and Ignoring the Haters: A Faith- Based Look at 'Ratatouille.'
Hi everyone, welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
We're continuing this blog's partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church for their "Summer at the Movies: Around the World Edition" Series.
You may remember we figuratively visited Mexico with our screening of 'Coco' last week. Well, trade in your sombrero for a beret, because for this edition, we'll be going to Paris for a look at another Pixar film, the 2007 masterpiece 'Ratatouille'!
In this film, a Parisian rat named Remy (Voice of Patton Oswalt) finds himself somewhat at odds with the other rats in his clan in terms of his views on food; While everyone else in his clan is content to just scavenge and eat any garbage they can get their paws upon, Remy has an interest in more elegant cuisine, and develops a talent for fine cooking. He eventually finds himself at the once- legendary restaurant Gusteau's, and helps a rather unlucky yet good- natured young man named Linguini (Voice of Lou Romano) become its star chef. Still, he feels torn between two worlds. All the while, quite a lot of intrigue is going on behind the scenes at Gusteau's; It begins increasingly looking like Linguini's connection to the restaurant's now- deceased founder, Chef Gusteau, may in fact be much deeper than anyone thought, leading to even more pressure to succeed being piled on the young man, causing him to rely on both his "Little chef" and the fiery but fetching fellow chef Collette he's begun falling in love with to restore the restaurant to its former glory and prepare for a visit from the dreaded food critic Anton Ego.
'Ratatouille' is an amazing film, though one thing I'd personally change about the film is I thought it had too much focus on the rat characters and not enough focus on the human characters. The humans prove to be a great deal more developed and interesting than the rats, and many of the human characters could have brought a lot more to the film if they were given more screen- time, ESPECIALLY the restaurant's other staff members. In one scene, Collette tells Linguini a little about each of them, and they appear to be quite a colorful bunch. Using them so little in the film then seems like kind of a waste.
Other than that quibble, I'd consider 'Ratatouille' to be easily one of Pixar's best films. While Pixar's films of course are mainly made with children audiences in mind, 'Ratatouille' seems like one which was actually aimed more at adults than at kids. The plot is much deeper and more sophisticated than most kids- movie fare, while still featuring enough simple humor and colorful images to interest the kids.
Another great thing about 'Ratatouille' is that it succeeds perfectly at what I believe all films which center around cooking should aspire to do: Not only does watching it make you feel hungry, it also makes you feel like cooking something yourself rather than simply throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave. While it'll be a bit late tonight for me to properly cook something for myself after the movie's done, I'm thinking tomorrow night I'll prepare a homemade Italian meat pie for my dinner while humming "Le Festin," the lovely tune from the ending of 'Ratatouille.'
The main characters, Remy and Linguini are both great protagonists. Each is struggling with a lot (Remy with the fact that he feels pulled towards both his rat world and family and also towards human society that lets him use his talent for cooking to its most appreciated level, Linguini with initially feeling like a failure just trying to do something good with his life and later with the immense pressure he comes under when he becomes a famous chef), and it all works out well.
Collette is a lot of fun to watch, too. She is short- fused, aggressive, and even a little vicious towards Linguini while helping to instruct him on the finer points of cooking, but you can kind of see why; She explains that, as a woman in a male- dominated industry, she had to become tougher than anyone else in order to advance. She also has not one but two of the film's funniest lines:
"Keep your station clean, or I will kill you!"
(To a group of reporters when trying to suddenly break up a press conference Linguini is in, due to needing him in the kitchen) "I hate to be rude, but, hey, we're French!"
The food critic Anton Ego is an immensely fascinating character, even though he's only really in it for the last third or so of the movie. While not a really cruel person, he is very cold and cynical (Easy traps for a critic to fall into), and you can tell that worldview heavily influences his reviews. A scathing review he gave to Gusteau's restaurant some years earlier was a big part of what caused the restaurant's initial popularity to greatly decline (You get the feeling that this probably wasn't the first restaurant to be sunk by one of Ego's reviews), and almost certainly helped to cause Chef Gusteau's death.
One very amusing scene that says a lot about Ego as a character is when his servant in his house approaches him while he (Ego) is sipping a glass of wine. When the servant tells him that Gusteau's restaurant is popular again, Ego is so surprised that he almost spits out his wine, but quickly looks at the bottle as if reminding himself that it's a particularly good vintage which shouldn't be wasted in such a way, and instead merely forces himself to swallow it. I thought that was so funny and such a great, subtle way of conveying Ego's appreciation of fine food and drink, and also just a creative twist on the classic "Spit take" routine.
The voice acting in this film is magnificent. Patton Oswalt injects a lot of honesty and sincerity into his work as Remy's voice, and Lou Romano gives Linguini the perfect combination of goofiness and heart. Many of the other voice actors in this film gave such amazing performances, I couldn't even tell it was them even though they were actors whose other work I was familiar with, such as Janeane Garofalo as Collette and Brad Garrett as Chef Gusteau.
One Biblical message that can be taken from 'Ratatouille' which I pointed out in my devotional that was passed out at the screening is on the notion of unlikely heroes who can do great things, which both Remy and Linguini end up becoming. I point out that they can thus be compared to another great unlikely hero from the Old Testament, Gideon in Judges 6:6-40. He has long been easily one of my favorite Biblical figures, and I could easily compare him to Remy and especially to Linguini.
Another very important Biblical message in 'Ratatouille' is on releasing our cynicism by remembering our childhood and stopping to view the world through a child's eyes when we can. This is shown in the film through Anton Ego in the film's climax. As I said earlier, Ego comes across as a very cynical and bitter man for most of the film, but what ultimately changes his mind and even his entire outlook on life is the meal that the heroes present to him for his scrutiny in the climax, a simple bowl of ratatouille. While it is far from an impressive dish, of the sort that one would expect from a restaurant like Gusteau's (Collette refers to it as a "Peasant's dish"), it heavily appeals to Ego. When he tastes it, he is immediately reminded of a memory from when he was a very young boy, and his mother offered him a bowl of homemade ratatouille to comfort him when he was feeling down. A truly brilliant visual appears in this scene to further cement Ego's change: When Ego gets the eye- opening taste of the ratatouille, we see his pen (As a critic, he of course keeps a pen and pad handy for notes), which he had been holding, drop to the floor. This can be seen as symbolizing Ego metaphorically "Dropping" his former cold, cynical worldview.
Ditching cynicism and viewing the world with more of a humble, childlike perspective is often listed as an important trait of followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4 that "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Also, Ephesians 5:1 says "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children." While we all must grow up and mature, we must not let ourselves become cynical even as the world around us seems to insist that we should; We must maintain a little of the humble, childlike senses of wonder, open- mindedness and love we had when we were little and use them to guide our hearts and help us get the most out of the life that God has given us.
Another great theological message that the film contains is on the importance of doing the good work that God has called us to, regardless of what the world might say about it. In the very end of the film, Ego opens his review of his experience at Gusteau's with the comment that "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism labeling it so."
This brings to mind many verses from Scripture. First and foremost, Colossians 3:23 says that "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Also, Galatians 1:10 says "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Lastly, 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, "But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."
In all that we do, especially things done with our faith as Christians clearly guiding it, there will be those who will criticize us. That's a simple, unfortunate fact. However, we must not let that stop us from doing what God has called us to do. I was reminded of this recently, as I learned that the movie star Chris Pratt (From films such as 'The Lego Movie,' the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' series, and the 'Jurassic World' series) is a Christian, who has shown to clearly not be afraid of being open about his faith. I discovered that a few months ago, Pratt went on Twitter in support of actor/ filmmaker Kevin Smith (Best known for his 'Jay and Silent Bob' films), who had just recently suffered a severe heart attack that nearly killed him. Pratt said in his Tweet that although he didn't know Smith well personally, he was a big fan of Smith's work and was praying hard for him because "I believe in the healing power of prayer," and he encouraged others to pray as well. This, sadly, led to many on Twitter openly insulting Pratt for his faith. One such responder wrote "Great, now I won't enjoy your films as much knowing you're a Jesus nut." In spite of this vicious backlash, Chris Pratt remained strong and outspoken in his faith, including giving an awesome and very brave acceptance speech at last month's MTV Movie & TV Awards, in which, while he made some funny comments and jokes, he also told the audience that "You have a soul; take good care of it," and "There is a God, He loves you, and He has a great plan for your life." For him to make such a declaration on MTV of all networks was proof that he has learned to care more about what God has called him to do than about criticisms that the secular world might throw at him for it. May we all have the same desire, to glorify God and do His will for us in spite of what the naysayers may tell us.
There we have 'Ratatouille'; An animated masterpiece which can help teach the valuable lessons of following the examples of unlikely heroes, letting go of cynicism and embracing a childlike wonder at the world, and pursuing the Lord and what He would have us do with our lives regardless of what this world's critics would say. Put all those together, and you have a marvelous recipe of how to follow the Lord. C'est magnifique!
That wraps up this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Come back next week as I conclude this series. Until then, God bless you all!
We're continuing this blog's partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church for their "Summer at the Movies: Around the World Edition" Series.
You may remember we figuratively visited Mexico with our screening of 'Coco' last week. Well, trade in your sombrero for a beret, because for this edition, we'll be going to Paris for a look at another Pixar film, the 2007 masterpiece 'Ratatouille'!
In this film, a Parisian rat named Remy (Voice of Patton Oswalt) finds himself somewhat at odds with the other rats in his clan in terms of his views on food; While everyone else in his clan is content to just scavenge and eat any garbage they can get their paws upon, Remy has an interest in more elegant cuisine, and develops a talent for fine cooking. He eventually finds himself at the once- legendary restaurant Gusteau's, and helps a rather unlucky yet good- natured young man named Linguini (Voice of Lou Romano) become its star chef. Still, he feels torn between two worlds. All the while, quite a lot of intrigue is going on behind the scenes at Gusteau's; It begins increasingly looking like Linguini's connection to the restaurant's now- deceased founder, Chef Gusteau, may in fact be much deeper than anyone thought, leading to even more pressure to succeed being piled on the young man, causing him to rely on both his "Little chef" and the fiery but fetching fellow chef Collette he's begun falling in love with to restore the restaurant to its former glory and prepare for a visit from the dreaded food critic Anton Ego.
'Ratatouille' is an amazing film, though one thing I'd personally change about the film is I thought it had too much focus on the rat characters and not enough focus on the human characters. The humans prove to be a great deal more developed and interesting than the rats, and many of the human characters could have brought a lot more to the film if they were given more screen- time, ESPECIALLY the restaurant's other staff members. In one scene, Collette tells Linguini a little about each of them, and they appear to be quite a colorful bunch. Using them so little in the film then seems like kind of a waste.
Other than that quibble, I'd consider 'Ratatouille' to be easily one of Pixar's best films. While Pixar's films of course are mainly made with children audiences in mind, 'Ratatouille' seems like one which was actually aimed more at adults than at kids. The plot is much deeper and more sophisticated than most kids- movie fare, while still featuring enough simple humor and colorful images to interest the kids.
Another great thing about 'Ratatouille' is that it succeeds perfectly at what I believe all films which center around cooking should aspire to do: Not only does watching it make you feel hungry, it also makes you feel like cooking something yourself rather than simply throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave. While it'll be a bit late tonight for me to properly cook something for myself after the movie's done, I'm thinking tomorrow night I'll prepare a homemade Italian meat pie for my dinner while humming "Le Festin," the lovely tune from the ending of 'Ratatouille.'
The main characters, Remy and Linguini are both great protagonists. Each is struggling with a lot (Remy with the fact that he feels pulled towards both his rat world and family and also towards human society that lets him use his talent for cooking to its most appreciated level, Linguini with initially feeling like a failure just trying to do something good with his life and later with the immense pressure he comes under when he becomes a famous chef), and it all works out well.
Collette is a lot of fun to watch, too. She is short- fused, aggressive, and even a little vicious towards Linguini while helping to instruct him on the finer points of cooking, but you can kind of see why; She explains that, as a woman in a male- dominated industry, she had to become tougher than anyone else in order to advance. She also has not one but two of the film's funniest lines:
"Keep your station clean, or I will kill you!"
(To a group of reporters when trying to suddenly break up a press conference Linguini is in, due to needing him in the kitchen) "I hate to be rude, but, hey, we're French!"
The food critic Anton Ego is an immensely fascinating character, even though he's only really in it for the last third or so of the movie. While not a really cruel person, he is very cold and cynical (Easy traps for a critic to fall into), and you can tell that worldview heavily influences his reviews. A scathing review he gave to Gusteau's restaurant some years earlier was a big part of what caused the restaurant's initial popularity to greatly decline (You get the feeling that this probably wasn't the first restaurant to be sunk by one of Ego's reviews), and almost certainly helped to cause Chef Gusteau's death.
One very amusing scene that says a lot about Ego as a character is when his servant in his house approaches him while he (Ego) is sipping a glass of wine. When the servant tells him that Gusteau's restaurant is popular again, Ego is so surprised that he almost spits out his wine, but quickly looks at the bottle as if reminding himself that it's a particularly good vintage which shouldn't be wasted in such a way, and instead merely forces himself to swallow it. I thought that was so funny and such a great, subtle way of conveying Ego's appreciation of fine food and drink, and also just a creative twist on the classic "Spit take" routine.
The voice acting in this film is magnificent. Patton Oswalt injects a lot of honesty and sincerity into his work as Remy's voice, and Lou Romano gives Linguini the perfect combination of goofiness and heart. Many of the other voice actors in this film gave such amazing performances, I couldn't even tell it was them even though they were actors whose other work I was familiar with, such as Janeane Garofalo as Collette and Brad Garrett as Chef Gusteau.
One Biblical message that can be taken from 'Ratatouille' which I pointed out in my devotional that was passed out at the screening is on the notion of unlikely heroes who can do great things, which both Remy and Linguini end up becoming. I point out that they can thus be compared to another great unlikely hero from the Old Testament, Gideon in Judges 6:6-40. He has long been easily one of my favorite Biblical figures, and I could easily compare him to Remy and especially to Linguini.
Another very important Biblical message in 'Ratatouille' is on releasing our cynicism by remembering our childhood and stopping to view the world through a child's eyes when we can. This is shown in the film through Anton Ego in the film's climax. As I said earlier, Ego comes across as a very cynical and bitter man for most of the film, but what ultimately changes his mind and even his entire outlook on life is the meal that the heroes present to him for his scrutiny in the climax, a simple bowl of ratatouille. While it is far from an impressive dish, of the sort that one would expect from a restaurant like Gusteau's (Collette refers to it as a "Peasant's dish"), it heavily appeals to Ego. When he tastes it, he is immediately reminded of a memory from when he was a very young boy, and his mother offered him a bowl of homemade ratatouille to comfort him when he was feeling down. A truly brilliant visual appears in this scene to further cement Ego's change: When Ego gets the eye- opening taste of the ratatouille, we see his pen (As a critic, he of course keeps a pen and pad handy for notes), which he had been holding, drop to the floor. This can be seen as symbolizing Ego metaphorically "Dropping" his former cold, cynical worldview.
Ditching cynicism and viewing the world with more of a humble, childlike perspective is often listed as an important trait of followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4 that "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Also, Ephesians 5:1 says "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children." While we all must grow up and mature, we must not let ourselves become cynical even as the world around us seems to insist that we should; We must maintain a little of the humble, childlike senses of wonder, open- mindedness and love we had when we were little and use them to guide our hearts and help us get the most out of the life that God has given us.
Another great theological message that the film contains is on the importance of doing the good work that God has called us to, regardless of what the world might say about it. In the very end of the film, Ego opens his review of his experience at Gusteau's with the comment that "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism labeling it so."
This brings to mind many verses from Scripture. First and foremost, Colossians 3:23 says that "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Also, Galatians 1:10 says "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Lastly, 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, "But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."
In all that we do, especially things done with our faith as Christians clearly guiding it, there will be those who will criticize us. That's a simple, unfortunate fact. However, we must not let that stop us from doing what God has called us to do. I was reminded of this recently, as I learned that the movie star Chris Pratt (From films such as 'The Lego Movie,' the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' series, and the 'Jurassic World' series) is a Christian, who has shown to clearly not be afraid of being open about his faith. I discovered that a few months ago, Pratt went on Twitter in support of actor/ filmmaker Kevin Smith (Best known for his 'Jay and Silent Bob' films), who had just recently suffered a severe heart attack that nearly killed him. Pratt said in his Tweet that although he didn't know Smith well personally, he was a big fan of Smith's work and was praying hard for him because "I believe in the healing power of prayer," and he encouraged others to pray as well. This, sadly, led to many on Twitter openly insulting Pratt for his faith. One such responder wrote "Great, now I won't enjoy your films as much knowing you're a Jesus nut." In spite of this vicious backlash, Chris Pratt remained strong and outspoken in his faith, including giving an awesome and very brave acceptance speech at last month's MTV Movie & TV Awards, in which, while he made some funny comments and jokes, he also told the audience that "You have a soul; take good care of it," and "There is a God, He loves you, and He has a great plan for your life." For him to make such a declaration on MTV of all networks was proof that he has learned to care more about what God has called him to do than about criticisms that the secular world might throw at him for it. May we all have the same desire, to glorify God and do His will for us in spite of what the naysayers may tell us.
There we have 'Ratatouille'; An animated masterpiece which can help teach the valuable lessons of following the examples of unlikely heroes, letting go of cynicism and embracing a childlike wonder at the world, and pursuing the Lord and what He would have us do with our lives regardless of what this world's critics would say. Put all those together, and you have a marvelous recipe of how to follow the Lord. C'est magnifique!
That wraps up this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Come back next week as I conclude this series. Until then, God bless you all!
Friday, July 6, 2018
Living on forever, being there for our loved ones, and properly following our dreams: A Faith- Based Look at 'Coco.'
Hello everyone, and welcome to another installment of the Nightcrawler Experience!
This is the second of the four- part series I'm doing in partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church's "Summer at the Movies, Around the World" series.
Last week, we were in China for Disney's 'Mulan.' This week, put on your Huarache sandals, because we're going to Mexico for a faith- based look at Pixar's recent smash hit 'Coco.'
In this story, a little boy named Miguel who lives with his large extended family in a small Mexican village finds himself rather torn. His family has outlawed music on the grounds that his great- great- grandfather apparently abandoned his wife and daughter in pursuit of a musical career. In spite of this, Miguel secretly develops a real interest in music and teaches himself how to play guitar, largely driven by the example of a legendary old- school music and film star named Ernesto de la Cruz. Things come to a header during Mexico's famous Day of the Dead celebration, as Miguel comes to strongly suspect that his disgraced, deadbeat great- great- grandfather and his famous musical inspiration/idol may have in fact been the same man! Through a strange twist of events, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead. In order to get back in time to keep from becoming a permanent resident, Miguel goes on a search through the Land of the Dead with help from a mysterious dog named Dante and the down- and- out spirit of a man named Hector, intent on finding the spirit of Ernesto de la Cruz and getting a family blessing from him that will enable Miguel to return home and again pursue his musical dreams. Miguel ultimately helps to right a past wrong, reconcile with his family, and learn what it means to live a life worth remembering.
'Coco' is quite an impressive film. When I first went into it, I was afraid it would be a ripoff of the film 'The Book of Life' (Another animated film in which Mexico's Day of the Dead and their concept of the afterlife play a big role in the plot) from a few years ago. I'm so glad to say I was wrong about that. It proved to be quite original, and one of Pixar's more memorable films.
One admitted problem I had with 'Coco' was that I thought Miguel's grandmother, Mama Elena, was not a very likable character AT ALL. I could understand her continuing the family's opposition to music even if I didn't agree with it, but she goes WAY too far in that regard. She harasses random street musicians and even physically attacks them at times, and I think the ways she tried to bring a stop to Miguel's interest in music crossed the line from mere "Tough love" and overprotectiveness into malice and viciousness, especially early on when she heartlessly smashes Miguel's guitar right in front of him. It makes me question why the other members of Miguel's family (i.e. his parents) didn't do more to try and get Elena to be more reasonable. Though, in her defense, she did have the pretty funny line of "Go get my shoe!"
Now that that's out of the way, there is a TON of great things to love about 'Coco.' For one thing, the animation is absolutely gorgeous. In particular, the Land of the Dead's visuals are so bright and colorful. It was an unbelievably heartwarming film, great at hitting all the right emotions and making you genuinely feel for the characters. I also thought it was extremely gutsy of the filmmakers to address the subject of dementia/ Alzheimer's Disease in the movie, and for them to do so in a way which was age- appropriate for the kids who are this film's main audience was truly brilliant on their part. The characters other than Mama Elena were very likable and sympathetic, especially Hector, a wonderful character who steals every scene he's in.
The songs in the movie are great, too (This movie contains easily more songs than any past Pixar film). Obviously, the one most likely to stay in your head after the movie is over is "Remember Me," which won an Oscar for Best Song. It is quite a beautiful song, and versatile too, as we heard it used in a lot of different styles and for a lot of different functions all through the film. A couple others that I really liked were the quite funny and catchy "Un Poco Loco" and the gorgeous ending song "My Proud Corazon."
'Coco' is a film with quite a few Scriptural messages, as well, that can teach us more on how to walk with Jesus. In my devotional which was passed out at the screening, I pointed out that the film's questions on how we can live on and be remembered echo what the thief on the cross next to Jesus wondered about in Luke 23:39- 43, and the beauty of the Lord's Kingdom.
There's also a great message on the importance of family. Past visitors to this blog may recall that I named the character Hector in it as being one of my top 10 favorite movie characters from 2017, and brought up that in his regrets over not being there for his family as much as he knew he should have when he was alive, he reminds me of 1 Timothy 5:8, which says that "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.". It is certainly a Biblical truth that we have an obligation to love and care for our families. After all, if we can't show Godly love and support and kindness to our own families, how can we expect to do a good job of showing it to the rest of the world as Jesus called us to do?
Another excellent message on living for Jesus in 'Coco' can be found in how to properly follow your dreams and goals. Miguel learns that, while it is certainly important to follow and pursue our dreams and goals in life, he shouldn't sacrifice the most important things in his life, such as the love of his family, in pursuit of them. This calls to mind Psalm 37:4, which encourages believers to "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." It is a great thing to have goals and dreams for what we'd like to do with our lives, and to actively follow them, but we shouldn't become so consumed with following them that we lose sight of what should be most important to us, such as our relationship with the Lord. If we can actively follow Him, and use our dreams and passions to serve Him, He will grant us success if it's what He has truly called us to do.
So, there we have 'Coco,' a magnificent film about what truly living on forever can look like, the importance of family, and pursuing our dreams the right way. To put it another way, this movie is muy bueno!
So, that wraps up this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Check back with me next week, as I'll be looking at the third entry in this series. Until then, God bless you all!
This is the second of the four- part series I'm doing in partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church's "Summer at the Movies, Around the World" series.
Last week, we were in China for Disney's 'Mulan.' This week, put on your Huarache sandals, because we're going to Mexico for a faith- based look at Pixar's recent smash hit 'Coco.'
In this story, a little boy named Miguel who lives with his large extended family in a small Mexican village finds himself rather torn. His family has outlawed music on the grounds that his great- great- grandfather apparently abandoned his wife and daughter in pursuit of a musical career. In spite of this, Miguel secretly develops a real interest in music and teaches himself how to play guitar, largely driven by the example of a legendary old- school music and film star named Ernesto de la Cruz. Things come to a header during Mexico's famous Day of the Dead celebration, as Miguel comes to strongly suspect that his disgraced, deadbeat great- great- grandfather and his famous musical inspiration/idol may have in fact been the same man! Through a strange twist of events, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead. In order to get back in time to keep from becoming a permanent resident, Miguel goes on a search through the Land of the Dead with help from a mysterious dog named Dante and the down- and- out spirit of a man named Hector, intent on finding the spirit of Ernesto de la Cruz and getting a family blessing from him that will enable Miguel to return home and again pursue his musical dreams. Miguel ultimately helps to right a past wrong, reconcile with his family, and learn what it means to live a life worth remembering.
'Coco' is quite an impressive film. When I first went into it, I was afraid it would be a ripoff of the film 'The Book of Life' (Another animated film in which Mexico's Day of the Dead and their concept of the afterlife play a big role in the plot) from a few years ago. I'm so glad to say I was wrong about that. It proved to be quite original, and one of Pixar's more memorable films.
One admitted problem I had with 'Coco' was that I thought Miguel's grandmother, Mama Elena, was not a very likable character AT ALL. I could understand her continuing the family's opposition to music even if I didn't agree with it, but she goes WAY too far in that regard. She harasses random street musicians and even physically attacks them at times, and I think the ways she tried to bring a stop to Miguel's interest in music crossed the line from mere "Tough love" and overprotectiveness into malice and viciousness, especially early on when she heartlessly smashes Miguel's guitar right in front of him. It makes me question why the other members of Miguel's family (i.e. his parents) didn't do more to try and get Elena to be more reasonable. Though, in her defense, she did have the pretty funny line of "Go get my shoe!"
Now that that's out of the way, there is a TON of great things to love about 'Coco.' For one thing, the animation is absolutely gorgeous. In particular, the Land of the Dead's visuals are so bright and colorful. It was an unbelievably heartwarming film, great at hitting all the right emotions and making you genuinely feel for the characters. I also thought it was extremely gutsy of the filmmakers to address the subject of dementia/ Alzheimer's Disease in the movie, and for them to do so in a way which was age- appropriate for the kids who are this film's main audience was truly brilliant on their part. The characters other than Mama Elena were very likable and sympathetic, especially Hector, a wonderful character who steals every scene he's in.
The songs in the movie are great, too (This movie contains easily more songs than any past Pixar film). Obviously, the one most likely to stay in your head after the movie is over is "Remember Me," which won an Oscar for Best Song. It is quite a beautiful song, and versatile too, as we heard it used in a lot of different styles and for a lot of different functions all through the film. A couple others that I really liked were the quite funny and catchy "Un Poco Loco" and the gorgeous ending song "My Proud Corazon."
'Coco' is a film with quite a few Scriptural messages, as well, that can teach us more on how to walk with Jesus. In my devotional which was passed out at the screening, I pointed out that the film's questions on how we can live on and be remembered echo what the thief on the cross next to Jesus wondered about in Luke 23:39- 43, and the beauty of the Lord's Kingdom.
There's also a great message on the importance of family. Past visitors to this blog may recall that I named the character Hector in it as being one of my top 10 favorite movie characters from 2017, and brought up that in his regrets over not being there for his family as much as he knew he should have when he was alive, he reminds me of 1 Timothy 5:8, which says that "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.". It is certainly a Biblical truth that we have an obligation to love and care for our families. After all, if we can't show Godly love and support and kindness to our own families, how can we expect to do a good job of showing it to the rest of the world as Jesus called us to do?
Another excellent message on living for Jesus in 'Coco' can be found in how to properly follow your dreams and goals. Miguel learns that, while it is certainly important to follow and pursue our dreams and goals in life, he shouldn't sacrifice the most important things in his life, such as the love of his family, in pursuit of them. This calls to mind Psalm 37:4, which encourages believers to "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." It is a great thing to have goals and dreams for what we'd like to do with our lives, and to actively follow them, but we shouldn't become so consumed with following them that we lose sight of what should be most important to us, such as our relationship with the Lord. If we can actively follow Him, and use our dreams and passions to serve Him, He will grant us success if it's what He has truly called us to do.
So, there we have 'Coco,' a magnificent film about what truly living on forever can look like, the importance of family, and pursuing our dreams the right way. To put it another way, this movie is muy bueno!
So, that wraps up this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Check back with me next week, as I'll be looking at the third entry in this series. Until then, God bless you all!
Friday, June 29, 2018
Integrity, putting others first, and rooting for the underdog: A faith- based look at 'Mulan.'
Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
Like I said at the end of my last entry, I had some new ideas on the way very soon, and here they are.
It's that time of year again: Time for my blog to renew its partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church as they do their 'Summer at the Movies' series in which they air a movie, their great pastor David Averill incorporates it into his sermon that Sunday, and I make a devotional for the screening and an accompanying entry on the Nightcrawler Experience explaining even more Scriptural messages that can be found in it.
This year, the movies selected will have an "Around the World" feel to it, and we're kicking it off with Disney's 'Mulan,' a movie which is actually celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!
Taking place in Imperial China, our story revolves around Fa Mulan (Voice of Ming- Na Wen), a young woman who desperately seeks to look after and bring honor to her family, but has little success. Everything changes when the Huns, led by the brutal Shan- Yu, begin an invasion of China, and the Emperor announces a conscription to gain more troops. In order to save her aging father from being drafted, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the army in his place. She is helped in her quest by Mushu (Voice of Eddie Murphy), a motormouthed dragon who used to be one of her family's guardians, and figures that by helping Mulan survive and become a hero in the war, he may be able to get his old position back. Mulan soon succeeds in her training, and through her courage and wit, manages to save all of China.
While this movie was made near the tail- end of the "Disney Renaissance" of the 90's, and thus was not as unforgettable as some of the films that came before it, 'Mulan' is still a great film that I always like watching when it comes on.
Probably the only real problem I had with 'Mulan' was with Shan- Yu. A lot of Disney fans regard him as one of the best Disney villains ever, but I always found him to be very overrated, all shine and no substance. His physical design is creepy and intimidating, and his theme music adds to his threatening presence, but he doesn't have anywhere near as much personality as truly great Disney villains like Ursula, Maleficent, Frollo, or Hades. Plus, he has easily one of the lamest, most anticlimactic death scenes of any Disney baddie; A disappointing end for a disappointing villain.
Like I said at the end of my last entry, I had some new ideas on the way very soon, and here they are.
It's that time of year again: Time for my blog to renew its partnership with St. John's United Methodist Church as they do their 'Summer at the Movies' series in which they air a movie, their great pastor David Averill incorporates it into his sermon that Sunday, and I make a devotional for the screening and an accompanying entry on the Nightcrawler Experience explaining even more Scriptural messages that can be found in it.
This year, the movies selected will have an "Around the World" feel to it, and we're kicking it off with Disney's 'Mulan,' a movie which is actually celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!
Taking place in Imperial China, our story revolves around Fa Mulan (Voice of Ming- Na Wen), a young woman who desperately seeks to look after and bring honor to her family, but has little success. Everything changes when the Huns, led by the brutal Shan- Yu, begin an invasion of China, and the Emperor announces a conscription to gain more troops. In order to save her aging father from being drafted, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the army in his place. She is helped in her quest by Mushu (Voice of Eddie Murphy), a motormouthed dragon who used to be one of her family's guardians, and figures that by helping Mulan survive and become a hero in the war, he may be able to get his old position back. Mulan soon succeeds in her training, and through her courage and wit, manages to save all of China.
While this movie was made near the tail- end of the "Disney Renaissance" of the 90's, and thus was not as unforgettable as some of the films that came before it, 'Mulan' is still a great film that I always like watching when it comes on.
Probably the only real problem I had with 'Mulan' was with Shan- Yu. A lot of Disney fans regard him as one of the best Disney villains ever, but I always found him to be very overrated, all shine and no substance. His physical design is creepy and intimidating, and his theme music adds to his threatening presence, but he doesn't have anywhere near as much personality as truly great Disney villains like Ursula, Maleficent, Frollo, or Hades. Plus, he has easily one of the lamest, most anticlimactic death scenes of any Disney baddie; A disappointing end for a disappointing villain.
Now that that’s out of the
way, there is a LOT to like about ‘Mulan.’ The story is quite engaging, it does
a marvelous job with its action sequences and fight scenes (Especially a scene
about 2/3rds of the way into the film involving a massive avalanche), the animation is great, there are
a lot of funny moments, and the characters other than Shan- Yu are quite
enjoyable to watch.
Mulan makes for a wonderful heroine. She earnestly wants to protect and honor her family, but is hampered by the fact that her status as a woman in China in those days keeps her from being able to shine as much with her talents. Seeing her make up for her relative lack of physical strength with her brains and resourcefulness is quite inspiring. Shang’s a pretty good male lead, too. You can tell how much pressure he’s under as the new captain of this regiment of troops, between trying to whip his rather incompetent recruits into shape, deal with the criticisms of an obnoxious bureaucrat who’s monitoring him on behalf of the Emperor, and live up to the example and expectations of the general of the army (Who happens to be his own father). Mushu is funny and pretty likable, and generally keeps from getting too annoying, a good supporting character all in all. I also LOVED the three soldiers Mulan befriends over the course of the film: Hotheaded Yao, wisecracking Ling, and the food- obsessed gentle giant Chien- Po. These guys are a hoot to watch, like a Chinese version of the Three Stooges, and they have a lot of chemistry together: You really get the sense that they’re old buddies who were drafted together and are trying to make the best of it. Also, although he is only a minor character, the Emperor of China demonstrates the sort of quiet dignity, wisdom and inner strength that you'd imagine him to have, thanks largely to the late Pat Morita's performance as his voice. Morita appears to be channeling a little of his famous role as Mr. Miyagi in the 'Karate Kid' movies into his work as the Emperor's voice here, and it works well.
Mulan makes for a wonderful heroine. She earnestly wants to protect and honor her family, but is hampered by the fact that her status as a woman in China in those days keeps her from being able to shine as much with her talents. Seeing her make up for her relative lack of physical strength with her brains and resourcefulness is quite inspiring. Shang’s a pretty good male lead, too. You can tell how much pressure he’s under as the new captain of this regiment of troops, between trying to whip his rather incompetent recruits into shape, deal with the criticisms of an obnoxious bureaucrat who’s monitoring him on behalf of the Emperor, and live up to the example and expectations of the general of the army (Who happens to be his own father). Mushu is funny and pretty likable, and generally keeps from getting too annoying, a good supporting character all in all. I also LOVED the three soldiers Mulan befriends over the course of the film: Hotheaded Yao, wisecracking Ling, and the food- obsessed gentle giant Chien- Po. These guys are a hoot to watch, like a Chinese version of the Three Stooges, and they have a lot of chemistry together: You really get the sense that they’re old buddies who were drafted together and are trying to make the best of it. Also, although he is only a minor character, the Emperor of China demonstrates the sort of quiet dignity, wisdom and inner strength that you'd imagine him to have, thanks largely to the late Pat Morita's performance as his voice. Morita appears to be channeling a little of his famous role as Mr. Miyagi in the 'Karate Kid' movies into his work as the Emperor's voice here, and it works well.
Most of the songs in ‘Mulan’
are awesome, too. “Reflections” is quite pretty, and conveys the inner struggle
that Mulan is going through. The marching song “A Girl Worth Fighting For” has
funny lyrics and a quite catchy melody, I could imagine everyone involved in
that song having a lot of fun making it. Best of all, though, is unquestionably
the training song “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” There is so much intensity and
strength to this song, you’d never guess it was Donny Osmond of all people
singing it. It makes for easily one of the best “Training Montage” scenes I can
ever recall seeing in any film.
As for Scriptural messages
that can be found in ‘Mulan,’ one I discussed in my devotional passed out at
the screening was comparing Mulan’s struggles with the Huns to David’s facing
Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45- 50.
Another Scriptural message I
can think of is on integrity, living out our true inner natures. The song “Reflections” is
all about Mulan struggling with the fact that he can’t do well in the
assignments and gender roles she has been given, and that the person she sees
in the mirror (The role she takes to fit into her society) isn’t a reflection
of her true inner self. Her attempting to put on the facade of a man doesn't work well, either. It's when she's honest and relies on her own gifts and true nature that she manages to shine and do great things. This is a struggle that we as Christians face all the
time. We know that we need to be honest with ourselves and not try to put on false fronts to mislead people about who we truly are, and especially not about our faith. We should be consistent in how we act, so that our outer conduct is a good reflection of our inner selves and the role the Lord plays in shaping our hearts. In Matthew 23:27- 28, Jesus called out the corrupt Pharisees who were not doing this. He points out that they "Outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." May we all strive to avoid living in such a way, but rather, let how we act be a reflection of who we truly are inside.
I'd say another important lesson to take from 'Mulan' is on selflessness. A key scene is near the film's climax, when Mulan believes she has failed. Mushu comes clean to her that he wasn't actually sent by her ancestors, that he was just hoping to impress them so he could get his old job back, and says "You risked your life to help the people you love. I risked your life to help myself. At least you had good intentions." Mulan retains that selfless nature as she then learns that the Emperor's life and the freedom of all China are in danger, and wastes no time in again putting her own life on the line to do what's right and save a nation. One of my favorite verses of Scripture, Philippians 2:3-4, reminds us as believers to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking out for your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." As followers of Jesus, we need to make a point of always trying to act in the best interests of others, putting their needs ahead of our own immediate, selfish desires. In this way, we can model the true servant's heart that Jesus showed when He came down to Earth and died for us all.
So, there we have 'Mulan,' a wonderful movie that helps us learn to root for underdogs, put others' needs ahead of our own, and live with honor and integrity that reflects our true inner selves.
That's it for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Come back next week as I take a look at the next movie they'll be showing. Until then, God bless you all!
I'd say another important lesson to take from 'Mulan' is on selflessness. A key scene is near the film's climax, when Mulan believes she has failed. Mushu comes clean to her that he wasn't actually sent by her ancestors, that he was just hoping to impress them so he could get his old job back, and says "You risked your life to help the people you love. I risked your life to help myself. At least you had good intentions." Mulan retains that selfless nature as she then learns that the Emperor's life and the freedom of all China are in danger, and wastes no time in again putting her own life on the line to do what's right and save a nation. One of my favorite verses of Scripture, Philippians 2:3-4, reminds us as believers to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking out for your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." As followers of Jesus, we need to make a point of always trying to act in the best interests of others, putting their needs ahead of our own immediate, selfish desires. In this way, we can model the true servant's heart that Jesus showed when He came down to Earth and died for us all.
So, there we have 'Mulan,' a wonderful movie that helps us learn to root for underdogs, put others' needs ahead of our own, and live with honor and integrity that reflects our true inner selves.
That's it for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Come back next week as I take a look at the next movie they'll be showing. Until then, God bless you all!
Friday, June 15, 2018
Tests of a Believer: A Faith- Based Look at 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.'
Hi everyone, welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
I've been working on this entry for quite a while, things have been pretty crazy for me.
First up, let me say that this entry is dedicated to the memory of two friends of mine who both passed from this world and into the embrace of Jesus in the last few months: John Knapp, and Joseph "Teak" Black. While on the one hand they were quite different (John lived in Polk County while Teak lived in Collier County, John was 54 when he passed while Teak was just a few weeks shy of 23), they had a lot in common too. Both were good, honorable men who I'm proud to have called my friends, both did a lot of good for their respective churches (I remember John playing Santa at the Lake Alfred youth group's Christmas parties and helping with the youth group in a lot of other ways for quite a while, and going with Teak on the Cat Island missions trips for the North Naples church, with the kids there nicknaming him "Fanta" due to his fondness for the soda), and both will be deeply missed by all who knew them, myself included. Rest in peace, guys. I know I'll be seeing you both in Heaven some day, but for now, this one's for you.
I recently happened to catch on TV one of my all- time favorite films: 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.'
In case any of you haven't seen it yet (Shame on you), here's a brief rundown:
In 1938, archaeology professor and adventurer extraordinaire Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) is informed by a wealthy antiquarian that new clues have recently been discovered which reveal that, not only does the legendary Holy Grail (The cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, believed to have mystical powers of healing/ revitalization that can extend into immortality) actually exist, but that its location is on the verge of being found. Indy learns that his father (Sean Connery), who had been researching the Grail and attempting to discover it all his life, recently disappeared while in pursuit of it. On top of all that, he learns that the Nazis are in hot pursuit of the Grail as well, and that there's no telling who he can trust. Indy rescues his father, and the pair slowly reconcile from their past frosty relationship as all involved parties grow closer to the temple where the Grail is hidden, and a truly unforgettable climax.
While my list of my all- time favorite movies tends to vary a lot, 'Last Crusade' is always in at least my top 10, as well as being easily my favorite of the Indiana Jones films. It nails every note perfectly for an Indiana Jones film: The action sequences are brilliant, there's loads of humor, the environments are diverse (From deserts to Vienna to the heart of Nazi- run Germany to the temple where the Grail is hidden, with many in between) and gorgeously presented, the characters are all great, and it bests the other films in the series with how much heart and emotional depth it can have, between seeing the relationship between Indy and his father, learning more of Indy's backstory through a great opening in which we see Indy as a teen, and the poignancy of the Holy Grail being discovered.
One of the best parts of the movie is unquestionably Sir Sean Connery's performance as Indy's father, Professor Henry Jones Sr.. When thinking of great Connery roles, this is pretty much always the first that comes to mind for me. Nearly all of the movie's most memorable lines, either in a comedic sense, or in a serious, insightful sense, are spoken by him. A few examples:
(When he and Indy have snuck into a Nazi book- burning to retrieve his journal that can lead them to the Grail) "Well, boy, we're pilgrims in an unholy land."
(When a Nazi officer viciously asks him what his journal filled with his notes about the Grail tells him that it cannot tell any of them) "It tells me, sir, that goose- stepping morons such as yourself should try *reading* books instead of *burning* them!"
(After having destroyed an enemy jet by scaring a large flock of birds so they fly into the plane, causing it to crash) "I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne: 'Let my armies be the rocks, and the trees, and the birds in the sky.'"
The theological messages seen in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' are pretty much off the charts, especially in the last 15 minutes or so of the movie, beginning when everyone gets to the temple where the Grail is hidden. Indy must find the Grail quickly, as his father has been mortally wounded and only the Grail's regenerative power can save him. To get to the Grail, Indy must pass through three tests, each containing a potentially- lethal booby trap which ties in some way to an important element of the Christian walk:
First, is the Breath of God: A person seeking the Grail would feel a heavy wind passing through the thick cobwebs of a narrow passage, then have to quickly kneel in a prayer- like pose to avoid being decapitated by a pair of huge circular blades. This test symbolizes the virtue of humility, due to the necessity of bowing/ kneeling to keep from losing one's head and its clue suggesting that "Only the penitent man will pass." Humility is an incredibly important Christian virtue to possess, not thinking too much of ourselves and instead submitting to God. Many verses in the Bible deal with the subject. For just one example, Proverbs 18:12 says that "Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." We must all try to keep pride and self- promotion under control, and act in humble, gentle ways to live out our faith.
The next test is the Word of God: Here, there are a series of lettered tiles on the floor. A seeker of the Grail would have to step on the right tiles to spell out the name of God, Jehovah (Or, in its original Latin spelling, "Iehova"), as stepping on a wrong tile could cause the seeker to plunge through it and fall into a deep chasm. I believe this test symbolizes knowledge. The seeker must have enough of a knowledge of and respect for God, especially through study of God's Word, the Bible, to be able to know Him by name and proceed after Him. Indy himself points this out in this scene, as while trying to figure out how to proceed, he says to himself, "Proceed in the footsteps of the Word." God's Word is filled with instructions for believers to gain more knowledge, especially in the book of Proverbs. For instance, Proverbs 18:15 points out that "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." We should all strive, through study of Scripture and of good Christian devotionals and commentaries, to learn more about the faith we follow, and thus deepen our knowledge of the nature of God.
The third test is the Path of God: The seeker must make a leap of faith across a vast canyon, to land on a hidden camouflaged path. This test, of course, symbolizes faith. I don't need to tell you how important faith is to the Christian walk. One verse that shows this is Hebrews 11:6, which states that "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Also, 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I believe this second verse is especially relevant for this section of the film, as the camouflaged path ensures the seeker acts through faith rather than through what their eyes tell them about their surroundings. We must believe and trust in the Lord, that He is who He says He is, and live out lives that are driven by our faith in Him.
Even after all that, though, upon arriving in the room with the Grail, Indy finds there is one final test: The entire room is filled with Grails of all different shapes and sizes and styles, and the ancient knight who had guarded the Grail for centuries informs Indy that only one of them is the true Holy Grail, and that while drinking from it will grant life, drinking from any of the fake Grails will cause instant death. The villain Donovan enters shortly after Indy, and picks one of the potential Grails: A beautiful golden chalice, inlaid with jewels, which he refers to as "Truly a cup worthy of the King of Kings." However, upon drinking from this chalice, it becomes clear that it was one of the false Grails, and Donovan dies horribly from it. Indy, then, picks more carefully. Examining the potential Grails, he finds a small, simple- looking clay cup without any kind of adornment, and states that, "That's the cup of a carpenter." Sure enough, upon Indy drinking from it, the simple clay cup turns out to be the true Holy Grail. I believe that this final test symbolized the vital difference between knowing OF Jesus, and truly knowing Him. Kyle Idleman, in his book 'Not a Fan,' differentiated between the two by referring to them as "Fans" and "Followers," respectively. One can learn head- facts about Jesus, even go to church and do "Christian things," and still not actually know Him due to having never truly accepted Him into their hearts. Jesus spoke about such people in Matthew 15:8-9: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules." The Lord seeks those who don't just perform religious acts and know facts about Him, but who actively seek after Him and put their whole trust in Him as their Savior and Lord.
I'd say another important message to be taken from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' is on the importance of valuing and protecting that which is sacred, not letting it be profaned or exploited. Donovan and the Nazis in 'Last Crusade' are much like the other villains in the 'Indiana Jones' films: They see priceless, sacred artifacts and vessels, and desire them not for spiritual enlightenment, but as a prize to be exploited and profit from (In the case of Donovan, rather than being interested in the Grail for the fact that it was the cup that the Son of God drank from, all he cares about is the immortality it can offer to those who continually drink from it). In contrast, Indy, his father, and the other heroic characters in the film series realize that such objects are sacred, and meant to be protected from falling into the hands of those who would exploit them, especially people as corrupt and degenerate as Donovan, the Nazis, and the other baddies in the series. Many of the most righteous of people in Scriptures felt the same way about what is sacred. It's why King David was so happy to reclaim the Ark of the Covenant from the invaders who had stolen it that, when he brought the Ark back to Israel in 2 Samuel 6, he did so through a grand parade with himself wildly dancing with joy at the front of the line! It's also why Jesus cast out the moneychangers from the temple in Matthew 21:12- 13, because he recognized that the temple was a holy place which shouldn't be profaned by corrupt merchants seeking to turn it into basically a glorified strip- mall. We too, as Christians, need to know that things associated with our faith are sacred. They should be treated with reverence, not cheapened or exploited for inappropriate purposes.
So, there we have 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade': A magnificent film which can teach us great principles to grow in our faith and help us find the greatest treasure of all; The gift of peace in life and eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Keep your eyes peeled, I'm working on a series of new entries now which should be out VERY soon.
Until then, God bless you all!
I've been working on this entry for quite a while, things have been pretty crazy for me.
First up, let me say that this entry is dedicated to the memory of two friends of mine who both passed from this world and into the embrace of Jesus in the last few months: John Knapp, and Joseph "Teak" Black. While on the one hand they were quite different (John lived in Polk County while Teak lived in Collier County, John was 54 when he passed while Teak was just a few weeks shy of 23), they had a lot in common too. Both were good, honorable men who I'm proud to have called my friends, both did a lot of good for their respective churches (I remember John playing Santa at the Lake Alfred youth group's Christmas parties and helping with the youth group in a lot of other ways for quite a while, and going with Teak on the Cat Island missions trips for the North Naples church, with the kids there nicknaming him "Fanta" due to his fondness for the soda), and both will be deeply missed by all who knew them, myself included. Rest in peace, guys. I know I'll be seeing you both in Heaven some day, but for now, this one's for you.
I recently happened to catch on TV one of my all- time favorite films: 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.'
In case any of you haven't seen it yet (Shame on you), here's a brief rundown:
In 1938, archaeology professor and adventurer extraordinaire Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) is informed by a wealthy antiquarian that new clues have recently been discovered which reveal that, not only does the legendary Holy Grail (The cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, believed to have mystical powers of healing/ revitalization that can extend into immortality) actually exist, but that its location is on the verge of being found. Indy learns that his father (Sean Connery), who had been researching the Grail and attempting to discover it all his life, recently disappeared while in pursuit of it. On top of all that, he learns that the Nazis are in hot pursuit of the Grail as well, and that there's no telling who he can trust. Indy rescues his father, and the pair slowly reconcile from their past frosty relationship as all involved parties grow closer to the temple where the Grail is hidden, and a truly unforgettable climax.
While my list of my all- time favorite movies tends to vary a lot, 'Last Crusade' is always in at least my top 10, as well as being easily my favorite of the Indiana Jones films. It nails every note perfectly for an Indiana Jones film: The action sequences are brilliant, there's loads of humor, the environments are diverse (From deserts to Vienna to the heart of Nazi- run Germany to the temple where the Grail is hidden, with many in between) and gorgeously presented, the characters are all great, and it bests the other films in the series with how much heart and emotional depth it can have, between seeing the relationship between Indy and his father, learning more of Indy's backstory through a great opening in which we see Indy as a teen, and the poignancy of the Holy Grail being discovered.
One of the best parts of the movie is unquestionably Sir Sean Connery's performance as Indy's father, Professor Henry Jones Sr.. When thinking of great Connery roles, this is pretty much always the first that comes to mind for me. Nearly all of the movie's most memorable lines, either in a comedic sense, or in a serious, insightful sense, are spoken by him. A few examples:
(When he and Indy have snuck into a Nazi book- burning to retrieve his journal that can lead them to the Grail) "Well, boy, we're pilgrims in an unholy land."
(When a Nazi officer viciously asks him what his journal filled with his notes about the Grail tells him that it cannot tell any of them) "It tells me, sir, that goose- stepping morons such as yourself should try *reading* books instead of *burning* them!"
(After having destroyed an enemy jet by scaring a large flock of birds so they fly into the plane, causing it to crash) "I suddenly remembered my Charlemagne: 'Let my armies be the rocks, and the trees, and the birds in the sky.'"
The theological messages seen in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' are pretty much off the charts, especially in the last 15 minutes or so of the movie, beginning when everyone gets to the temple where the Grail is hidden. Indy must find the Grail quickly, as his father has been mortally wounded and only the Grail's regenerative power can save him. To get to the Grail, Indy must pass through three tests, each containing a potentially- lethal booby trap which ties in some way to an important element of the Christian walk:
First, is the Breath of God: A person seeking the Grail would feel a heavy wind passing through the thick cobwebs of a narrow passage, then have to quickly kneel in a prayer- like pose to avoid being decapitated by a pair of huge circular blades. This test symbolizes the virtue of humility, due to the necessity of bowing/ kneeling to keep from losing one's head and its clue suggesting that "Only the penitent man will pass." Humility is an incredibly important Christian virtue to possess, not thinking too much of ourselves and instead submitting to God. Many verses in the Bible deal with the subject. For just one example, Proverbs 18:12 says that "Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." We must all try to keep pride and self- promotion under control, and act in humble, gentle ways to live out our faith.
The next test is the Word of God: Here, there are a series of lettered tiles on the floor. A seeker of the Grail would have to step on the right tiles to spell out the name of God, Jehovah (Or, in its original Latin spelling, "Iehova"), as stepping on a wrong tile could cause the seeker to plunge through it and fall into a deep chasm. I believe this test symbolizes knowledge. The seeker must have enough of a knowledge of and respect for God, especially through study of God's Word, the Bible, to be able to know Him by name and proceed after Him. Indy himself points this out in this scene, as while trying to figure out how to proceed, he says to himself, "Proceed in the footsteps of the Word." God's Word is filled with instructions for believers to gain more knowledge, especially in the book of Proverbs. For instance, Proverbs 18:15 points out that "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out." We should all strive, through study of Scripture and of good Christian devotionals and commentaries, to learn more about the faith we follow, and thus deepen our knowledge of the nature of God.
The third test is the Path of God: The seeker must make a leap of faith across a vast canyon, to land on a hidden camouflaged path. This test, of course, symbolizes faith. I don't need to tell you how important faith is to the Christian walk. One verse that shows this is Hebrews 11:6, which states that "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Also, 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I believe this second verse is especially relevant for this section of the film, as the camouflaged path ensures the seeker acts through faith rather than through what their eyes tell them about their surroundings. We must believe and trust in the Lord, that He is who He says He is, and live out lives that are driven by our faith in Him.
Even after all that, though, upon arriving in the room with the Grail, Indy finds there is one final test: The entire room is filled with Grails of all different shapes and sizes and styles, and the ancient knight who had guarded the Grail for centuries informs Indy that only one of them is the true Holy Grail, and that while drinking from it will grant life, drinking from any of the fake Grails will cause instant death. The villain Donovan enters shortly after Indy, and picks one of the potential Grails: A beautiful golden chalice, inlaid with jewels, which he refers to as "Truly a cup worthy of the King of Kings." However, upon drinking from this chalice, it becomes clear that it was one of the false Grails, and Donovan dies horribly from it. Indy, then, picks more carefully. Examining the potential Grails, he finds a small, simple- looking clay cup without any kind of adornment, and states that, "That's the cup of a carpenter." Sure enough, upon Indy drinking from it, the simple clay cup turns out to be the true Holy Grail. I believe that this final test symbolized the vital difference between knowing OF Jesus, and truly knowing Him. Kyle Idleman, in his book 'Not a Fan,' differentiated between the two by referring to them as "Fans" and "Followers," respectively. One can learn head- facts about Jesus, even go to church and do "Christian things," and still not actually know Him due to having never truly accepted Him into their hearts. Jesus spoke about such people in Matthew 15:8-9: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules." The Lord seeks those who don't just perform religious acts and know facts about Him, but who actively seek after Him and put their whole trust in Him as their Savior and Lord.
I'd say another important message to be taken from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' is on the importance of valuing and protecting that which is sacred, not letting it be profaned or exploited. Donovan and the Nazis in 'Last Crusade' are much like the other villains in the 'Indiana Jones' films: They see priceless, sacred artifacts and vessels, and desire them not for spiritual enlightenment, but as a prize to be exploited and profit from (In the case of Donovan, rather than being interested in the Grail for the fact that it was the cup that the Son of God drank from, all he cares about is the immortality it can offer to those who continually drink from it). In contrast, Indy, his father, and the other heroic characters in the film series realize that such objects are sacred, and meant to be protected from falling into the hands of those who would exploit them, especially people as corrupt and degenerate as Donovan, the Nazis, and the other baddies in the series. Many of the most righteous of people in Scriptures felt the same way about what is sacred. It's why King David was so happy to reclaim the Ark of the Covenant from the invaders who had stolen it that, when he brought the Ark back to Israel in 2 Samuel 6, he did so through a grand parade with himself wildly dancing with joy at the front of the line! It's also why Jesus cast out the moneychangers from the temple in Matthew 21:12- 13, because he recognized that the temple was a holy place which shouldn't be profaned by corrupt merchants seeking to turn it into basically a glorified strip- mall. We too, as Christians, need to know that things associated with our faith are sacred. They should be treated with reverence, not cheapened or exploited for inappropriate purposes.
So, there we have 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade': A magnificent film which can teach us great principles to grow in our faith and help us find the greatest treasure of all; The gift of peace in life and eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Keep your eyes peeled, I'm working on a series of new entries now which should be out VERY soon.
Until then, God bless you all!
Saturday, January 13, 2018
My 10 Favorite Movie Characters from 2017, and What We Can Learn From Them!
Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Nightcrawler Experience!
We're now well into 2018, so it's time for my annual look at my 10 favorite movie characters from the previous year, as both a fanboy and a Christian.
All the same rules as in previous years apply: The characters are in no real order of preference. It can be any character from any movie from last year, be it a hero, a villain, or a supporting character. It can be an original character or a character adapted from some other media (Comics, tv shows, etc). It can be from any genre of movie. All of them, either in a "Be like them" way or as a "DON'T be like them" cautionary tale, help convey to me a valuable lesson on how to live for Christ, and hopefully I can do the same for all of you readers by telling you about them. However, there is one new element I'm adding this year: A couple characters on this year's list had appeared in previous films, but we learn more about them in the portrayals I talk about here.
Also, two other notifications I must put in:
1) DISCLAIMER! A couple of the movies I'll be mentioning are not fit for children, so do your homework before letting kids see them.
2) SPOILERS! I try not to give away too much to ruin the movies, but in some cases, I sadly needed to reveal key plot points to better show why I like these characters.
So, let's get started!
1. Billy Cranston, aka the Blue Ranger, 'Power Rangers.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Jamestheawesomefool13" on the Heroes Wiki)
I honestly did not particularly like the original 'Power Rangers' show as a kid. The Rangers as depicted in that were so annoying and one- dimensional, I remember as a kid I found myself rooting for the show's villains to find a way to kill them! Fortunately, in 2017's 'Power Rangers' movie, they avoided that. All of the Rangers in that were much more developed and easy to cheer on, and Billy most of all. Rather than just the stereotypical nerd he was in the original show, here he has a lot going for him; Yeah, he's still a tech genius and socially awkward, but he's also struggling with a lot, such as mourning the tragic death of his father, having an obsessive interest in the abandoned mine that his father died at, as well as the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome with all the hardships that can come from that. As someone with Asperger's myself, I found including that detail about him in the movie was a wonderful touch. Plus, Billy ends up being the first of them to successfully "Morph" (Transform from his regular human form into his Power Ranger armor), owing to the compassion he feels for his new friends. He sees a couple of them have begun fighting among themselves for petty reasons, thrusts himself between them in order to break it up, and thus brings out his heroic nature and Morphs in the process. This can definitely communicate a theological message. Billy was the first one to Morph, not because of his courage or his brains (Though he did have both of those qualities in abundance), but because of his love and kindness within him shown by that act truly giving him the heart of a hero. Many verses in Scripture deal with this kind of love. Ephesians 4:2-3 says "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Proverbs 3:3-4 says "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." So, there we have Billy, one character who'd make it easy for you to sing along with the theme song, "Go, go, Power Rangers!"
2. Diana/ Wonder Woman, 'Wonder Woman.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Catherinesebayang" on the Heroes Wiki)
Right from when I first saw her brief yet memorable appearance in 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' (In fact, it was one of the only memorable things about that movie), I knew the current DC movie universe's version of Wonder Woman was going to be an amazing character, and in her own movie, she more than lived up to that. She was powerful, compassionate, and carried such a strong air through how she was written and especially Gal Gadot's performance. What I'd say is most prominent and unique about her is that she is a champion for peace. Her very existence and all her heroic acts were geared around spreading peace, bringing those who seek war and destruction to justice, and protecting mankind, especially the innocent and helpless. A really defining scene with her is when she and her allies find themselves on the German front in World War 1, on the edge of "No Man's Land." Her allies want to bypass the area because the German forces are so heavy, well- armed, and well- fortified there, but when Wonder Woman speaks to a woman whose village has been seized by those same German forces, she knows she must break right through it for the sake of helping all those people. In one of the most memorable film moments of last year, she pretty much single- handedly breaks through "No Man's Land," capturing the German trench there even as the enemy troops tried to concentrate all of their fire on her. Her courage, compassion, and devotion to serving humanity saw her through and ensured she wouldn't even let an entire army slow her down, and even inspired her allies and others to grow braver simply through watching her in action. This is pretty much a key example of putting into practice the lesson of Micah 6:8, in which we see that what God most desires from us as believers is to "Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." Such should be how we strive to live, valuing justice, kindness, and humility in all that we do. An excellent lesson and example from an equally excellent heroine.
3. Rose Tico, 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi.'
(Credit for this image goes to "King Phelous" at the Heroes Wiki)
'The Last Jedi' was a great movie with a lot of incredible scenes and characters. One, however, who particularly stuck out for me was Rose Tico, a simple mechanic who becomes a pretty impressive hero in her own right (And considering that we've got the likes of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in this, that's saying something). She helped bring both humor and heart to the movie in a great way. While instructed to guard the main ship's escape pod and prevent deserters from escaping, she encounters the hero Finn from the previous 'Star Wars' film. Upon recognizing him, she hilariously geeks out over meeting him, as she had heard about his great deeds from the first film and was a big fan. However, when she realizes he was planning to flee the ship (Albeit for a good reason), she is disillusioned with him and even renders him unconscious to stop him from leaving! From then on, she is put into positions in which she herself experiences what it's like to be a hero, repeatedly risking her own life to aid others (Including Finn, who she comes to see, instead of as an idol, as a friend and possible lover) and keep the new Rebel Alliance alive. Her disillusionment with Finn ties into Psalm 146:3. This verse states "Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." It makes a good point; While we can of course have people we admire and look up to, from movie stars to politicians to athletes to ministers and priests, we must not put them on too high a pedestal, as they are flawed humans just like we are, and they often have their own skeletons in their closets. In the wake of the recent "Hollywood sexual harassment" movement that started last fall, a number of prominent figures in entertainment and politics (Including some whose work I greatly admire) were exposed as being capable of having major moral failings. We must know that salvation and deliverance can only truly come from God, and trusting in anything else is pointless. While Rose's fate in 'The Last Jedi' was left ambiguous so far, here's hoping she survives and appears in the next 'Star Wars' film to teach us more.
4. Yondu, 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Darthranner83" on the Heroes Wiki)
Yondu may have appeared before, in the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movie, but I was so impressed with what they did with him in this sequel that I had to include him on the list. He on the one hand is much the same grumpy, short- fused space pirate that he was in the first film, but at the same time, he gains so much more depth in this one. We see more of the inner struggles he had. We learn that his fellow Ravagers (Basically, the kind of space pirate syndicate he was part of) view him as a disgrace, his own crew turn against him because they feel he's gone soft, he reveals his sad backstory, we discover that he sees a lot of himself in Rocket Raccoon and the two of them connect along those lines over the course of the film, and we see his heroic nature coming through and that he truly cared for Peter/ Star Lord all the time. We also gain a great scene of Yondu using his whistling- arrow weapon to wipe out his mutinous crew to the tune of the classic song 'Come a Little Bit Closer.' I've always said that song could make for a great, funny music video, and the way it's used in this awesome scene (Complete with a breathtaking full- chorus cover of its final refrain) is probably the closest I'll get to it. Plus, he gets to utter the now- famous line of "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" In the climax, Yondu ends up dying a hero's death to save the life of Peter, the young man he had come to view as a son. When word of his death spreads, the other branches of the Ravagers, including their highest commanders, come from all over the galaxy to honor Yondu's memory and give him a proper send- off. What follows is easily one of the best funeral scenes I can ever recall seeing in any movie. Between the gorgeous visuals, the emotional reactions from the characters (Peter's eulogy for him is simple and funny yet incredibly moving), and the brilliant use of Cat Stevens' song 'Father and Son,' it's a moment that would definitely necessitate having some tissues handy. Yondu's noble end and beautiful funeral evoke a couple important verses in Scripture. His brave self- sacrifice for Peter calls to mind my favorite Bible verse, John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." His funeral scene can also call to mind a little of the funeral given to King Saul and his sons in 1 Samuel 3:11- 13; After Saul and his sons were killed in battle by the Philistines, all the bravest men from Jabesh- gilead snuck into Philistine territory, retrieved their bodies that the Philistines had put on display, and brought them back to Jabesh to give them an honorable burial, culminating in a seven- day fast. They could have stayed comfortable where they were and let the bodies of Saul and his sons stay in the Philistine camp to rot, but they knew those brave men and noble leaders deserved better than that, so the warriors ensured they got the proper funeral that such great men deserved, just as the Ravagers in the film all dropped whatever they were doing and came from all over to honor Yondu for his courage and selflessness. So, RIP, Yondu Udonta. My only regret is that it would have been cool to see him joining the Guardians and the other Marvel heroes in their fight against Thanos in the upcoming 'Avengers: Infinity Wars' films.
I wasn't sure about including this next character, because it'll involve me making a potentially embarrassing admission, but this is such a neat character that I'll have to bite the bullet. Here goes, please don't judge me too harshly:
5. Capper, 'My Little Pony: The Movie.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Kyurem147" on the Heroes Wiki
Yes, you read that right: I am something of a "Brony" (A male fan of the animated series 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'). Don't worry, though, I'm not the sort that buys the merchandise, cosplays as characters, or writes disturbing fanfics about it online. I just think it is a really good, funny, well- written show. It has well- developed and quite likable characters, great morals and messages including many that tie quite well into Scripture, incredibly humorous moments, surprising amounts of action at times, and loads of subtle in- jokes aimed directly at adults (i.e. How many kids' shows can you name that would include nods to the movies 'The Big Lebowski,' '300,' and 'The Shining'?). Plus, Weird Al Yankovic did a guest voice in one of the best episodes of it so far, and if you can't trust Weird Al, who CAN you trust? It's the ultimate epitome of the principle that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or in this case a show by its title. Anyway, the theatrical film made of it, 'My Little Pony: The Movie,' lived up to the great quality of the show, and while all the new characters introduced in it were wonderful, Capper was definitely my favorite, and one of my favorite parts of the movie in general. This charming anthropomorphic feline (described by my girlfriend as "Han Solo as a cat") starts out just pretending to be a helpful friend and guide for the six main ponies on a journey/ mission to gain help to save their kingdom, while secretly planning to sell them out in order to settle a debt he had. However, the kindness and generosity that one of the ponies, Rarity, shows to Capper causes him to have a change of heart. Capper makes up for his initial deception tenfold by repeatedly aiding our heroines over the course of their journey, from misleading the villains as to their location in order to buy the Mane Six some time, to giving the Mane Six a subtle but VERY effective pep talk when they're about to give up, to helping concoct a plan to sneak them into a city undetected, to doing a great job helping to fight off the evil Storm King's army in the climactic battle scene. He even at one point uses the little dragon Spike as a living flamethrower to drive back a whole crowd of enemy soldiers, that HAS to be worth some extra cool- points! Broadway and film star Taye Diggs does a wonderful job both with Capper's suave voice and with his toe- tapping song "I'm the Friend You Need." As for a Biblical message that can be taken from Capper, I'd say I could quite easily compare him to a well- known figure from the Old Testament; Jacob in the book of Genesis was similarly a shifty, dishonest type at first. He conned his own brother Esau out of his birthright and later out of getting their father's blessing. However, Esau's eventual forgiveness of him causes Jacob to turn his life around (Much like how Rarity's generous act led Capper to change his ways), as he would go on to father the twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus Himself came from the lineage of this former schemer and con man. Whether in helping ponies to save their home, or helping to drive home the great Biblical point on how a scoundrel can become a hero, Capper is indeed "The friend you need."
By the way, I'd have to give honorable mention to another character in this movie, Captain Calaeno. This daring sky pirate was also a lot of fun to watch, and the song associated with her, "Time to be Awesome," is probably my favorite song in the movie.
6. Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture, 'Spider- Man: Homecoming.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "LOLFOURZERO" on the Villains Wiki)
Spider- Man has always had quite an interesting collection of villains. In fact, I'd say the only superhero with a more memorable rogue's gallery than him would be Batman. Still, among Spidey's main foes, the Vulture has long been seen as a bit of a joke, little more than a crusty old man who happens to be able to fly. That said, the way Vulture was portrayed in 'Spider- Man: Homecoming' blew me away! I'd call him my favorite movie villain of 2017 (A few other memorable 2017 baddies in my book include Pennywise from 'It,' Gaston from 'Beauty and the Beast,' Rita Repulsa from 'Power Rangers,' Poppy Adams from 'Kingsmen: The Golden Circle,' and Ego from 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2'). His fight scenes with Spidey are quite intense, and Michael Keaton gives a typically awesome performance as him. He is a very sympathetic villain all the way through. He started as a friendly, working- class type who became a black- market arms dealer just in order to feed his family and help his crew similarly bring home paychecks after his legitimate salvaging business is forcibly shut down by one of Tony Stark's companies. Toomes/ Vulture has a surprisingly strong sense of honor, too; When he first discovers that Peter Parker is his hated foe Spider- Man, he could have put a bullet in Peter's head right then and there, but instead lets him off with a warning on the grounds that Spidey saved his daughter's life earlier in the film. He also has a very funny scene earlier in the movie, a bit of a twist on the whole "1. Incompetent henchman threatens to rat out villain, 2. Villain kills incompetent henchman to silence him" trope that's often seen in films. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that the Vulture had good motives and sympathetic qualities deep down, that doesn't change the fact that his actions were evil and destructive, and that he needed to be stopped. We see him midway in the film attempting to sell futuristic weaponry to a gang leader, and if his main plan in the film's climax (Basically, hijacking a giant shipment of top- end Avengers tech in order to then make a massive fortune selling it all on the black market) were successful, a lot of very bad people would have acquired powerful weapons and tools that they would undoubtedly use to hurt a lot of innocent people. The Bible is clear that good intentions aren't worth a whole lot if our actions don't back them up, whether through failing to act on those intentions or through sinning to achieve those goals. Proverbs 6:30 says that "Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving." Proverbs 14:12 says that "There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road to death." For one more example, Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 that "Not everyone that saith unto Me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven." So, there we have the Vulture: A great villain who helps show that evil means can drive even the best of intentions astray.
7. LeFou, 'Beauty and the Beast.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "Sergio208" on the Villans Wiki)
2017's 'Beauty and the Beast' was probably the best of the live- action Disney remakes I've seen so far. The performances were all great, the special effects were solid, it was a faithful adaptation of the original, and yet it still threw in enough of its own surprises and touches to keep it from getting too predictable (i.e. Beast's new song in it, 'Evermore,' was truly beautiful and deserves to be nominated for a 2018 Oscar for Best Song), including the great new treatment they gave to the villain Gaston's dopey companion LeFou. First up, I should probably address the "Elephant in the room" regarding the way LeFou's portrayed in it; Yes, it's somewhat implied in the new movie that LeFou is gay, and yes, I'm of course aware of the Bible's position on homosexuality. However, portraying LeFou in that way didn't bother me much because a) It was given a rather subtle treatment and the nods alluding to it were extremely brief, and b) Considering the way LeFou acted in the original film and how slavishly devoted to Gaston he was, imagining him as gay really isn't that much of a stretch. Now that that's out of the way, I definitely liked all of what they did with LeFou in this movie. He has a lot more depth than he had in the animated version, and Josh Gad was truly the perfect choice for playing him. He looks like a real- life version of LeFou, his voice sounds similar to the voice Jesse Corti used for him in the animated version, his skills as a Broadway veteran let him give a wonderful performance of the notoriously catchy song 'Gaston,' and he was simply hilarious all the way through! His delivery was perfect from start to finish. The Scriptural lesson that LeFou helps to teach is on the importance of steering clear of corrupting influences that can lead you into sin. All through the movie, as Gaston coerces and at times flat- out forces LeFou to assist him in increasingly despicable actions, we see how genuinely torn LeFou is between his loyalty to his friend and the pulling of his conscience. We see his guilt weighing more and more on him as he begins slowly seeing Gaston for the selfish, conniving, corrupting false friend that he is. The Bible is filled with warnings on avoiding false friends and bad influences. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, it warns believers "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'" In addition, Proverbs 13:20 says "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." That verse is especially relevant considering all the harm LeFou suffers over the course of the movie because of Gaston, especially in the big battle scene with Gaston at one point actually using him as a human shield. Quite an important and insightful message to teach, from a character whose name is a phonetic pun on the phrase "The Fool."
Now that I've mentioned someone who teaches the importance of avoiding false friends, the next character on my list is someone who, in contrast, demonstrates what it means to be a good friend:
8. Richie Tozier, 'It.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "King Phelous" on the Heroes Wiki)
I already talked a little bit about this character in my review of the original Stephen King novel last summer, and the movie features a wonderful portrayal of him. Although I stated in that review that my favorite member of the heroic "Loser's Club" in that story was the hefty yet warm- hearted Ben Hanscom, I thought Richie was the one who really stole the show in this version. "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard gives an amazing performance of him that nails all of Richie's traits from the book; His great sense of humor (He has so many funny moments in this movie that nicely break up the tension), his snarky and at times foul- mouthed nature, his love of doing different voices and impressions, and ultimately, what a loyal friend he is to the others. One thing that the movie actually does better than the book is show how inwardly conflicted Richie is over everything. A scene that epitomizes him at his best is in the movie's climax (Which was noticeably different from that part of the book, which in this case was a good thing, as it kept me guessing how things would play out); The Loser's Club have been fighting It/ Pennywise in Its sewer lair, and It suddenly grabs the group's leader Bill, offering to let the rest of them get out alive if they let It take and consume Bill. Richie, who at that time was somewhat at odds with Bill, goes into an angry monologue seeming to indicate that maybe they should go along with this offer. He lists all the trouble and even mortal danger that Bill had gotten them into over this summer, growing angrier with each peril he brings up. Then, out of nowhere, in the midst of this ranting monologue, Richie grabs a baseball bat from a pile of rubble and says,"... and now, now we're gonna have to kill this ****ing clown. (To Pennywise) WELCOME TO THE LOSERS' CLUB, *******!" He then tears into Pennywise with the bat, the other Losers follow his lead, and the battle resumes, leading to It's defeat (Temporarily, at least). I have to say, I was flat- out cheering at that part in the theaters! If a creature as terrifying as Pennywise is offering you an out, even with such a horrible price, the temptation to take it would have to be pretty high, but Richie learned to care more about loyalty to his friends and stopping It from hurting anyone else than about his own safety. It calls to mind Proverbs 17:17, which points out that "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for times of adversity." It's one thing to stay true to your friends in good times, but the real test is staying true to them even in bad times or when you're at odds with them. Even when Richie is angry at Bill AND scared out of his mind, his loyalty gives him the courage to do what's right. That's the mark of a true friend. Way to go, Richie!
9. Bethany Walker/ Professor Shelly Oberon, 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.'
(Credit for these images goes to "Witnessme" and "MakeShift" on the Jumanji wiki)
This is kind of a "Two- in- one" character. In this great, entertaining entry in the 'Jumanji' series, the titular magic game morphs from a board game into a video game, and a group of high- schoolers in detention are sucked into it, assume the identities of the playable characters in the game, and must rely on each other as they make their way through the game to try and get home before they run out of extra lives. While each of the teenage protagonists change and grow a lot through their time in Jumanji, none change more than Bethany. This cell- phone- addicted Valley Girl, when brought to the game's character selection screen, selects the character Professor Shelly Oberon, described by the screen as a "Curvy genius." However, once pulled into the game, she finds that this character is in fact a pudgy middle- aged man played in the movie by Jack Black. She is, of course, horrified at this. This was such a fun character to watch. I consider it one of the best Jack Black roles I've ever seen, you'd truly believe he is indeed a flaky teenage girl trapped in the body of a middle- aged man. Many hilarious scenes are built around Bethany getting around in this new form, including a highlight of the film in which she, again still in the guise of the Professor, gives another more socially awkward girl, who had taken on the form of a comely heroine in the game, flirting advice to help get past some guards. To see Jack Black strutting around, giving demonstrations on how to walk, talk, flip hair, etc., had me practically rolling in the aisles! As I said, Bethany ends up being the character who changes and grows the most through the game. From a girl who initially only cared about herself, she finds herself sacrificing one of her own lives in order to save a fellow character from the ultimate "Game Over." From a girl who initially refused to ever step out of her own comfort zone or tear her eyes away from her phone, she develops a love of adventure and the outdoors and near the end is seen trying to convince one of her vapid friends to go with her on a wilderness camping trip. She truly reflects the advice given in Romans 12:2 (One of my favorite verses in Scripture) to "Conform not to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will." Bethany starts the movie as one who is most definitely conformed to the pattern of this world, through both vanity and addiction to technology, but her experiences in Jumanji do indeed renew her mind and transform her entirely.
10. Hector, 'Coco.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "Silver Flight" on the Disney Wiki)
When I first saw the trailer for Pixar's newest film 'Coco,' I assumed it was just a ripoff of the film 'The Book of Life' from a few years ago, but was pleasantly surprised to learn that it wasn't, and was in fact a little better than that movie. Speaking of pleasant surprises, the character Hector in it is an example of a character that I didn't expect I would be all that fond of going into it, but who grew on me more and more with each moment of screen- time he had in this beautiful, heart- warming film. The film's main character, a young Mexican boy named Miguel, through a strange set of circumstances during the famous celebration of Dia de los Muertos, finds himself in the Land of the Dead. He has encounters with the spirits of his various deceased relatives, and sets out on a journey through there both to find a way home before it's too late and also to learn more about some of his ancestors. Along the way, he is aided by both the mysterious dog Dante (Fitting name for a character in a movie about a journey through the afterlife), and by the down- and- out spirit Hector. Hector offers to help Miguel find a way home in exchange for Miguel bringing a photo of Hector back with him so he can be remembered (In the movie's mythology, spirits can only enter the Land of the Living on Dia de los Muertos if there is a photo of them put on their family's ofrenda to ensure they are remembered, and if completely forgotten by everyone, they fade away forever). Hector was a funny, fascinating character to watch right from when you first meet him about halfway through the film. His shifty yet harmless schemes are fun to watch (i.e. He at one point sneaks into a Land of the Dead celebrity party by disguising himself as Frida Kahlo), he has quite an impressive singing voice thanks to his voice actor Gael Garcia Bernal, and it's really funny to see the ways that he takes advantage of his skeletal form such as launching his arm at a window to knock on it to gain someone's attention and letting his skull and torso bones leap all over the place to help a musical number become more entertaining for an audience. It's not all laughs and smiles, though; You come to find that in life, Hector was a man who, while often apart from his family, cared very deeply about them. An act of heartless cruelty by another robbed Hector of the chance to be there for them as much as he should have, and unjustly soured their memory of him. The importance of being there for your family and other loved ones cannot be overstated, including in the Bible. 1 Timothy 5:8 says that "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Indeed, the first and foremost way of showing love and Christ- likeness is in how you treat your family and other loved ones, which can at times mean sacrificing your own plans and desires in order to be there for them. This was a lesson I had to be reminded of by someone much wiser than myself last December (If you're reading this, Kim, I thank you for helping to set me straight on the matter). Who would have guessed that an animated skeleton could teach so much about being alive?
A few Honorable Mentions include the aforementioned Captain Calaeno from 'My Little Pony: The Movie,' Andrew Campbell from 'Fist Fight,' Mel the Minion from 'Despicable Me 3,' and Theresa "Tree" Gelbman from 'Happy Death Day.'
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Hope you liked it! Keep your eyes peeled, as I have some ideas for future entries that I'm eager to get started on. Until then, God bless you all!
We're now well into 2018, so it's time for my annual look at my 10 favorite movie characters from the previous year, as both a fanboy and a Christian.
All the same rules as in previous years apply: The characters are in no real order of preference. It can be any character from any movie from last year, be it a hero, a villain, or a supporting character. It can be an original character or a character adapted from some other media (Comics, tv shows, etc). It can be from any genre of movie. All of them, either in a "Be like them" way or as a "DON'T be like them" cautionary tale, help convey to me a valuable lesson on how to live for Christ, and hopefully I can do the same for all of you readers by telling you about them. However, there is one new element I'm adding this year: A couple characters on this year's list had appeared in previous films, but we learn more about them in the portrayals I talk about here.
Also, two other notifications I must put in:
1) DISCLAIMER! A couple of the movies I'll be mentioning are not fit for children, so do your homework before letting kids see them.
2) SPOILERS! I try not to give away too much to ruin the movies, but in some cases, I sadly needed to reveal key plot points to better show why I like these characters.
So, let's get started!
1. Billy Cranston, aka the Blue Ranger, 'Power Rangers.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Jamestheawesomefool13" on the Heroes Wiki)
I honestly did not particularly like the original 'Power Rangers' show as a kid. The Rangers as depicted in that were so annoying and one- dimensional, I remember as a kid I found myself rooting for the show's villains to find a way to kill them! Fortunately, in 2017's 'Power Rangers' movie, they avoided that. All of the Rangers in that were much more developed and easy to cheer on, and Billy most of all. Rather than just the stereotypical nerd he was in the original show, here he has a lot going for him; Yeah, he's still a tech genius and socially awkward, but he's also struggling with a lot, such as mourning the tragic death of his father, having an obsessive interest in the abandoned mine that his father died at, as well as the fact that he has Asperger's Syndrome with all the hardships that can come from that. As someone with Asperger's myself, I found including that detail about him in the movie was a wonderful touch. Plus, Billy ends up being the first of them to successfully "Morph" (Transform from his regular human form into his Power Ranger armor), owing to the compassion he feels for his new friends. He sees a couple of them have begun fighting among themselves for petty reasons, thrusts himself between them in order to break it up, and thus brings out his heroic nature and Morphs in the process. This can definitely communicate a theological message. Billy was the first one to Morph, not because of his courage or his brains (Though he did have both of those qualities in abundance), but because of his love and kindness within him shown by that act truly giving him the heart of a hero. Many verses in Scripture deal with this kind of love. Ephesians 4:2-3 says "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Proverbs 3:3-4 says "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." So, there we have Billy, one character who'd make it easy for you to sing along with the theme song, "Go, go, Power Rangers!"
2. Diana/ Wonder Woman, 'Wonder Woman.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Catherinesebayang" on the Heroes Wiki)
Right from when I first saw her brief yet memorable appearance in 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' (In fact, it was one of the only memorable things about that movie), I knew the current DC movie universe's version of Wonder Woman was going to be an amazing character, and in her own movie, she more than lived up to that. She was powerful, compassionate, and carried such a strong air through how she was written and especially Gal Gadot's performance. What I'd say is most prominent and unique about her is that she is a champion for peace. Her very existence and all her heroic acts were geared around spreading peace, bringing those who seek war and destruction to justice, and protecting mankind, especially the innocent and helpless. A really defining scene with her is when she and her allies find themselves on the German front in World War 1, on the edge of "No Man's Land." Her allies want to bypass the area because the German forces are so heavy, well- armed, and well- fortified there, but when Wonder Woman speaks to a woman whose village has been seized by those same German forces, she knows she must break right through it for the sake of helping all those people. In one of the most memorable film moments of last year, she pretty much single- handedly breaks through "No Man's Land," capturing the German trench there even as the enemy troops tried to concentrate all of their fire on her. Her courage, compassion, and devotion to serving humanity saw her through and ensured she wouldn't even let an entire army slow her down, and even inspired her allies and others to grow braver simply through watching her in action. This is pretty much a key example of putting into practice the lesson of Micah 6:8, in which we see that what God most desires from us as believers is to "Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." Such should be how we strive to live, valuing justice, kindness, and humility in all that we do. An excellent lesson and example from an equally excellent heroine.
3. Rose Tico, 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi.'
(Credit for this image goes to "King Phelous" at the Heroes Wiki)
'The Last Jedi' was a great movie with a lot of incredible scenes and characters. One, however, who particularly stuck out for me was Rose Tico, a simple mechanic who becomes a pretty impressive hero in her own right (And considering that we've got the likes of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in this, that's saying something). She helped bring both humor and heart to the movie in a great way. While instructed to guard the main ship's escape pod and prevent deserters from escaping, she encounters the hero Finn from the previous 'Star Wars' film. Upon recognizing him, she hilariously geeks out over meeting him, as she had heard about his great deeds from the first film and was a big fan. However, when she realizes he was planning to flee the ship (Albeit for a good reason), she is disillusioned with him and even renders him unconscious to stop him from leaving! From then on, she is put into positions in which she herself experiences what it's like to be a hero, repeatedly risking her own life to aid others (Including Finn, who she comes to see, instead of as an idol, as a friend and possible lover) and keep the new Rebel Alliance alive. Her disillusionment with Finn ties into Psalm 146:3. This verse states "Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." It makes a good point; While we can of course have people we admire and look up to, from movie stars to politicians to athletes to ministers and priests, we must not put them on too high a pedestal, as they are flawed humans just like we are, and they often have their own skeletons in their closets. In the wake of the recent "Hollywood sexual harassment" movement that started last fall, a number of prominent figures in entertainment and politics (Including some whose work I greatly admire) were exposed as being capable of having major moral failings. We must know that salvation and deliverance can only truly come from God, and trusting in anything else is pointless. While Rose's fate in 'The Last Jedi' was left ambiguous so far, here's hoping she survives and appears in the next 'Star Wars' film to teach us more.
4. Yondu, 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Darthranner83" on the Heroes Wiki)
Yondu may have appeared before, in the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movie, but I was so impressed with what they did with him in this sequel that I had to include him on the list. He on the one hand is much the same grumpy, short- fused space pirate that he was in the first film, but at the same time, he gains so much more depth in this one. We see more of the inner struggles he had. We learn that his fellow Ravagers (Basically, the kind of space pirate syndicate he was part of) view him as a disgrace, his own crew turn against him because they feel he's gone soft, he reveals his sad backstory, we discover that he sees a lot of himself in Rocket Raccoon and the two of them connect along those lines over the course of the film, and we see his heroic nature coming through and that he truly cared for Peter/ Star Lord all the time. We also gain a great scene of Yondu using his whistling- arrow weapon to wipe out his mutinous crew to the tune of the classic song 'Come a Little Bit Closer.' I've always said that song could make for a great, funny music video, and the way it's used in this awesome scene (Complete with a breathtaking full- chorus cover of its final refrain) is probably the closest I'll get to it. Plus, he gets to utter the now- famous line of "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" In the climax, Yondu ends up dying a hero's death to save the life of Peter, the young man he had come to view as a son. When word of his death spreads, the other branches of the Ravagers, including their highest commanders, come from all over the galaxy to honor Yondu's memory and give him a proper send- off. What follows is easily one of the best funeral scenes I can ever recall seeing in any movie. Between the gorgeous visuals, the emotional reactions from the characters (Peter's eulogy for him is simple and funny yet incredibly moving), and the brilliant use of Cat Stevens' song 'Father and Son,' it's a moment that would definitely necessitate having some tissues handy. Yondu's noble end and beautiful funeral evoke a couple important verses in Scripture. His brave self- sacrifice for Peter calls to mind my favorite Bible verse, John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." His funeral scene can also call to mind a little of the funeral given to King Saul and his sons in 1 Samuel 3:11- 13; After Saul and his sons were killed in battle by the Philistines, all the bravest men from Jabesh- gilead snuck into Philistine territory, retrieved their bodies that the Philistines had put on display, and brought them back to Jabesh to give them an honorable burial, culminating in a seven- day fast. They could have stayed comfortable where they were and let the bodies of Saul and his sons stay in the Philistine camp to rot, but they knew those brave men and noble leaders deserved better than that, so the warriors ensured they got the proper funeral that such great men deserved, just as the Ravagers in the film all dropped whatever they were doing and came from all over to honor Yondu for his courage and selflessness. So, RIP, Yondu Udonta. My only regret is that it would have been cool to see him joining the Guardians and the other Marvel heroes in their fight against Thanos in the upcoming 'Avengers: Infinity Wars' films.
I wasn't sure about including this next character, because it'll involve me making a potentially embarrassing admission, but this is such a neat character that I'll have to bite the bullet. Here goes, please don't judge me too harshly:
5. Capper, 'My Little Pony: The Movie.'
(Credit for this image goes to "Kyurem147" on the Heroes Wiki
Yes, you read that right: I am something of a "Brony" (A male fan of the animated series 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'). Don't worry, though, I'm not the sort that buys the merchandise, cosplays as characters, or writes disturbing fanfics about it online. I just think it is a really good, funny, well- written show. It has well- developed and quite likable characters, great morals and messages including many that tie quite well into Scripture, incredibly humorous moments, surprising amounts of action at times, and loads of subtle in- jokes aimed directly at adults (i.e. How many kids' shows can you name that would include nods to the movies 'The Big Lebowski,' '300,' and 'The Shining'?). Plus, Weird Al Yankovic did a guest voice in one of the best episodes of it so far, and if you can't trust Weird Al, who CAN you trust? It's the ultimate epitome of the principle that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or in this case a show by its title. Anyway, the theatrical film made of it, 'My Little Pony: The Movie,' lived up to the great quality of the show, and while all the new characters introduced in it were wonderful, Capper was definitely my favorite, and one of my favorite parts of the movie in general. This charming anthropomorphic feline (described by my girlfriend as "Han Solo as a cat") starts out just pretending to be a helpful friend and guide for the six main ponies on a journey/ mission to gain help to save their kingdom, while secretly planning to sell them out in order to settle a debt he had. However, the kindness and generosity that one of the ponies, Rarity, shows to Capper causes him to have a change of heart. Capper makes up for his initial deception tenfold by repeatedly aiding our heroines over the course of their journey, from misleading the villains as to their location in order to buy the Mane Six some time, to giving the Mane Six a subtle but VERY effective pep talk when they're about to give up, to helping concoct a plan to sneak them into a city undetected, to doing a great job helping to fight off the evil Storm King's army in the climactic battle scene. He even at one point uses the little dragon Spike as a living flamethrower to drive back a whole crowd of enemy soldiers, that HAS to be worth some extra cool- points! Broadway and film star Taye Diggs does a wonderful job both with Capper's suave voice and with his toe- tapping song "I'm the Friend You Need." As for a Biblical message that can be taken from Capper, I'd say I could quite easily compare him to a well- known figure from the Old Testament; Jacob in the book of Genesis was similarly a shifty, dishonest type at first. He conned his own brother Esau out of his birthright and later out of getting their father's blessing. However, Esau's eventual forgiveness of him causes Jacob to turn his life around (Much like how Rarity's generous act led Capper to change his ways), as he would go on to father the twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus Himself came from the lineage of this former schemer and con man. Whether in helping ponies to save their home, or helping to drive home the great Biblical point on how a scoundrel can become a hero, Capper is indeed "The friend you need."
By the way, I'd have to give honorable mention to another character in this movie, Captain Calaeno. This daring sky pirate was also a lot of fun to watch, and the song associated with her, "Time to be Awesome," is probably my favorite song in the movie.
6. Adrian Toomes, aka the Vulture, 'Spider- Man: Homecoming.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "LOLFOURZERO" on the Villains Wiki)
Spider- Man has always had quite an interesting collection of villains. In fact, I'd say the only superhero with a more memorable rogue's gallery than him would be Batman. Still, among Spidey's main foes, the Vulture has long been seen as a bit of a joke, little more than a crusty old man who happens to be able to fly. That said, the way Vulture was portrayed in 'Spider- Man: Homecoming' blew me away! I'd call him my favorite movie villain of 2017 (A few other memorable 2017 baddies in my book include Pennywise from 'It,' Gaston from 'Beauty and the Beast,' Rita Repulsa from 'Power Rangers,' Poppy Adams from 'Kingsmen: The Golden Circle,' and Ego from 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2'). His fight scenes with Spidey are quite intense, and Michael Keaton gives a typically awesome performance as him. He is a very sympathetic villain all the way through. He started as a friendly, working- class type who became a black- market arms dealer just in order to feed his family and help his crew similarly bring home paychecks after his legitimate salvaging business is forcibly shut down by one of Tony Stark's companies. Toomes/ Vulture has a surprisingly strong sense of honor, too; When he first discovers that Peter Parker is his hated foe Spider- Man, he could have put a bullet in Peter's head right then and there, but instead lets him off with a warning on the grounds that Spidey saved his daughter's life earlier in the film. He also has a very funny scene earlier in the movie, a bit of a twist on the whole "1. Incompetent henchman threatens to rat out villain, 2. Villain kills incompetent henchman to silence him" trope that's often seen in films. Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that the Vulture had good motives and sympathetic qualities deep down, that doesn't change the fact that his actions were evil and destructive, and that he needed to be stopped. We see him midway in the film attempting to sell futuristic weaponry to a gang leader, and if his main plan in the film's climax (Basically, hijacking a giant shipment of top- end Avengers tech in order to then make a massive fortune selling it all on the black market) were successful, a lot of very bad people would have acquired powerful weapons and tools that they would undoubtedly use to hurt a lot of innocent people. The Bible is clear that good intentions aren't worth a whole lot if our actions don't back them up, whether through failing to act on those intentions or through sinning to achieve those goals. Proverbs 6:30 says that "Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving." Proverbs 14:12 says that "There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road to death." For one more example, Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 that "Not everyone that saith unto Me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in Heaven." So, there we have the Vulture: A great villain who helps show that evil means can drive even the best of intentions astray.
7. LeFou, 'Beauty and the Beast.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "Sergio208" on the Villans Wiki)
2017's 'Beauty and the Beast' was probably the best of the live- action Disney remakes I've seen so far. The performances were all great, the special effects were solid, it was a faithful adaptation of the original, and yet it still threw in enough of its own surprises and touches to keep it from getting too predictable (i.e. Beast's new song in it, 'Evermore,' was truly beautiful and deserves to be nominated for a 2018 Oscar for Best Song), including the great new treatment they gave to the villain Gaston's dopey companion LeFou. First up, I should probably address the "Elephant in the room" regarding the way LeFou's portrayed in it; Yes, it's somewhat implied in the new movie that LeFou is gay, and yes, I'm of course aware of the Bible's position on homosexuality. However, portraying LeFou in that way didn't bother me much because a) It was given a rather subtle treatment and the nods alluding to it were extremely brief, and b) Considering the way LeFou acted in the original film and how slavishly devoted to Gaston he was, imagining him as gay really isn't that much of a stretch. Now that that's out of the way, I definitely liked all of what they did with LeFou in this movie. He has a lot more depth than he had in the animated version, and Josh Gad was truly the perfect choice for playing him. He looks like a real- life version of LeFou, his voice sounds similar to the voice Jesse Corti used for him in the animated version, his skills as a Broadway veteran let him give a wonderful performance of the notoriously catchy song 'Gaston,' and he was simply hilarious all the way through! His delivery was perfect from start to finish. The Scriptural lesson that LeFou helps to teach is on the importance of steering clear of corrupting influences that can lead you into sin. All through the movie, as Gaston coerces and at times flat- out forces LeFou to assist him in increasingly despicable actions, we see how genuinely torn LeFou is between his loyalty to his friend and the pulling of his conscience. We see his guilt weighing more and more on him as he begins slowly seeing Gaston for the selfish, conniving, corrupting false friend that he is. The Bible is filled with warnings on avoiding false friends and bad influences. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, it warns believers "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'" In addition, Proverbs 13:20 says "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." That verse is especially relevant considering all the harm LeFou suffers over the course of the movie because of Gaston, especially in the big battle scene with Gaston at one point actually using him as a human shield. Quite an important and insightful message to teach, from a character whose name is a phonetic pun on the phrase "The Fool."
Now that I've mentioned someone who teaches the importance of avoiding false friends, the next character on my list is someone who, in contrast, demonstrates what it means to be a good friend:
8. Richie Tozier, 'It.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "King Phelous" on the Heroes Wiki)
I already talked a little bit about this character in my review of the original Stephen King novel last summer, and the movie features a wonderful portrayal of him. Although I stated in that review that my favorite member of the heroic "Loser's Club" in that story was the hefty yet warm- hearted Ben Hanscom, I thought Richie was the one who really stole the show in this version. "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard gives an amazing performance of him that nails all of Richie's traits from the book; His great sense of humor (He has so many funny moments in this movie that nicely break up the tension), his snarky and at times foul- mouthed nature, his love of doing different voices and impressions, and ultimately, what a loyal friend he is to the others. One thing that the movie actually does better than the book is show how inwardly conflicted Richie is over everything. A scene that epitomizes him at his best is in the movie's climax (Which was noticeably different from that part of the book, which in this case was a good thing, as it kept me guessing how things would play out); The Loser's Club have been fighting It/ Pennywise in Its sewer lair, and It suddenly grabs the group's leader Bill, offering to let the rest of them get out alive if they let It take and consume Bill. Richie, who at that time was somewhat at odds with Bill, goes into an angry monologue seeming to indicate that maybe they should go along with this offer. He lists all the trouble and even mortal danger that Bill had gotten them into over this summer, growing angrier with each peril he brings up. Then, out of nowhere, in the midst of this ranting monologue, Richie grabs a baseball bat from a pile of rubble and says,"... and now, now we're gonna have to kill this ****ing clown. (To Pennywise) WELCOME TO THE LOSERS' CLUB, *******!" He then tears into Pennywise with the bat, the other Losers follow his lead, and the battle resumes, leading to It's defeat (Temporarily, at least). I have to say, I was flat- out cheering at that part in the theaters! If a creature as terrifying as Pennywise is offering you an out, even with such a horrible price, the temptation to take it would have to be pretty high, but Richie learned to care more about loyalty to his friends and stopping It from hurting anyone else than about his own safety. It calls to mind Proverbs 17:17, which points out that "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for times of adversity." It's one thing to stay true to your friends in good times, but the real test is staying true to them even in bad times or when you're at odds with them. Even when Richie is angry at Bill AND scared out of his mind, his loyalty gives him the courage to do what's right. That's the mark of a true friend. Way to go, Richie!
9. Bethany Walker/ Professor Shelly Oberon, 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.'
(Credit for these images goes to "Witnessme" and "MakeShift" on the Jumanji wiki)
This is kind of a "Two- in- one" character. In this great, entertaining entry in the 'Jumanji' series, the titular magic game morphs from a board game into a video game, and a group of high- schoolers in detention are sucked into it, assume the identities of the playable characters in the game, and must rely on each other as they make their way through the game to try and get home before they run out of extra lives. While each of the teenage protagonists change and grow a lot through their time in Jumanji, none change more than Bethany. This cell- phone- addicted Valley Girl, when brought to the game's character selection screen, selects the character Professor Shelly Oberon, described by the screen as a "Curvy genius." However, once pulled into the game, she finds that this character is in fact a pudgy middle- aged man played in the movie by Jack Black. She is, of course, horrified at this. This was such a fun character to watch. I consider it one of the best Jack Black roles I've ever seen, you'd truly believe he is indeed a flaky teenage girl trapped in the body of a middle- aged man. Many hilarious scenes are built around Bethany getting around in this new form, including a highlight of the film in which she, again still in the guise of the Professor, gives another more socially awkward girl, who had taken on the form of a comely heroine in the game, flirting advice to help get past some guards. To see Jack Black strutting around, giving demonstrations on how to walk, talk, flip hair, etc., had me practically rolling in the aisles! As I said, Bethany ends up being the character who changes and grows the most through the game. From a girl who initially only cared about herself, she finds herself sacrificing one of her own lives in order to save a fellow character from the ultimate "Game Over." From a girl who initially refused to ever step out of her own comfort zone or tear her eyes away from her phone, she develops a love of adventure and the outdoors and near the end is seen trying to convince one of her vapid friends to go with her on a wilderness camping trip. She truly reflects the advice given in Romans 12:2 (One of my favorite verses in Scripture) to "Conform not to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will." Bethany starts the movie as one who is most definitely conformed to the pattern of this world, through both vanity and addiction to technology, but her experiences in Jumanji do indeed renew her mind and transform her entirely.
10. Hector, 'Coco.'
(Credit for this pic goes to "Silver Flight" on the Disney Wiki)
When I first saw the trailer for Pixar's newest film 'Coco,' I assumed it was just a ripoff of the film 'The Book of Life' from a few years ago, but was pleasantly surprised to learn that it wasn't, and was in fact a little better than that movie. Speaking of pleasant surprises, the character Hector in it is an example of a character that I didn't expect I would be all that fond of going into it, but who grew on me more and more with each moment of screen- time he had in this beautiful, heart- warming film. The film's main character, a young Mexican boy named Miguel, through a strange set of circumstances during the famous celebration of Dia de los Muertos, finds himself in the Land of the Dead. He has encounters with the spirits of his various deceased relatives, and sets out on a journey through there both to find a way home before it's too late and also to learn more about some of his ancestors. Along the way, he is aided by both the mysterious dog Dante (Fitting name for a character in a movie about a journey through the afterlife), and by the down- and- out spirit Hector. Hector offers to help Miguel find a way home in exchange for Miguel bringing a photo of Hector back with him so he can be remembered (In the movie's mythology, spirits can only enter the Land of the Living on Dia de los Muertos if there is a photo of them put on their family's ofrenda to ensure they are remembered, and if completely forgotten by everyone, they fade away forever). Hector was a funny, fascinating character to watch right from when you first meet him about halfway through the film. His shifty yet harmless schemes are fun to watch (i.e. He at one point sneaks into a Land of the Dead celebrity party by disguising himself as Frida Kahlo), he has quite an impressive singing voice thanks to his voice actor Gael Garcia Bernal, and it's really funny to see the ways that he takes advantage of his skeletal form such as launching his arm at a window to knock on it to gain someone's attention and letting his skull and torso bones leap all over the place to help a musical number become more entertaining for an audience. It's not all laughs and smiles, though; You come to find that in life, Hector was a man who, while often apart from his family, cared very deeply about them. An act of heartless cruelty by another robbed Hector of the chance to be there for them as much as he should have, and unjustly soured their memory of him. The importance of being there for your family and other loved ones cannot be overstated, including in the Bible. 1 Timothy 5:8 says that "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Indeed, the first and foremost way of showing love and Christ- likeness is in how you treat your family and other loved ones, which can at times mean sacrificing your own plans and desires in order to be there for them. This was a lesson I had to be reminded of by someone much wiser than myself last December (If you're reading this, Kim, I thank you for helping to set me straight on the matter). Who would have guessed that an animated skeleton could teach so much about being alive?
A few Honorable Mentions include the aforementioned Captain Calaeno from 'My Little Pony: The Movie,' Andrew Campbell from 'Fist Fight,' Mel the Minion from 'Despicable Me 3,' and Theresa "Tree" Gelbman from 'Happy Death Day.'
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Hope you liked it! Keep your eyes peeled, as I have some ideas for future entries that I'm eager to get started on. Until then, God bless you all!
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