Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Nightcrawler Experience!
Sorry it's been almost four months since my last entry, things have been unbelievably busy for me, and technical difficulties made it hard to access the Internet at times.
Well, 2020 is at long last far behind us, and we're well into 2021. As I've done each year since 2016, my first Nightcrawler Experience entry of the year is a faith- based look at my 10 favorite movie characters of the previous year! While the crop of movies from 2020 for me to choose from was more limited than it usually is, there were still enough for me to find ten characters I really liked in it and that can be used to teach us lessons tying into the Bible and Christian theology.
This year, since there were so few movies released, I'll have to use two characters from the same movie at one point. Don't worry, they're both great characters who each in their own way earn their place on this list. This is also my first time including characters from movies that debuted on streaming services.
All the same rules from previous years apply:
1. It can be any character from any movie of that year, regardless of rating or genre.
2. It can be any kind of character, be it hero, supporting character, villain, or comic relief character.
3. They can be original characters, or adaptations of pre- existing characters.
3. They can be new characters, or returning ones from earlier movies whom we learn more about.
4. They can act as "Be like them" role models, "DON'T be like them" cautionary tales, or allegories for Biblical figures or principles.
SPOILER WARNING! In some cases, I may need to reveal spoilers about the movie in question to better convey why I like these characters.
DISCLAIMER! Not all of the movies featured on this list are suitable for young or sensitive viewers. Exercise caution.
Now, let's get this show on the road!
1. Ivan, 'The One and Only Ivan.'
Gorillas have been some of my favorite animals ever since I was a kid (They'd get my vote for being the single most misunderstood creature on Earth), and in 2020, I lucked out as there were not one but TWO movies which had noble, heroic gorillas as major characters. While the slightly cowardly but good- hearted Chee- Chee from 'Dolittle' was a great character, in this case the Big Banana would have to go to the titular silverback from the Disney Plus film 'The One and Only Ivan.'
Based on the book of the same name by K.A. Applegate, which in turn was loosely based on a true story, Ivan is a gorilla who was taken from his jungle home as a baby (His sad backstory was shown in the movie, though thankfully not in as much nightmarish detail as it was in the book), and has spent most of his life since then as the main attraction in a circus- themed shopping mall. This sheltered but mostly content existence is drastically altered by the new addition of a baby elephant named Ruby to the mall's menagerie, who immediately supplants Ivan as the star of the show. While initially somewhat annoyed by her, before long Ivan starts to grow fond of her, and makes a promise to the dying older elephant Stella that he will do everything in his power to help Ruby find a better life. The rest of the film is him attempting to live up to that promise.
In the movie, Ivan is voiced by Sam Rockwell, which I initially was rather skeptical of as his slightly nasal- sounding voice isn't the kind of voice I'd normally associate with a big, powerful creature like Ivan. However, it surprisingly works quite well, especially with the great amounts of emotion Rockwell brings to Ivan's voice.
In the movie, Ivan is voiced by Sam Rockwell, which I initially was rather skeptical of as his slightly nasal- sounding voice isn't the kind of voice I'd normally associate with a big, powerful creature like Ivan. However, it surprisingly works quite well, especially with the great amounts of emotion Rockwell brings to Ivan's voice.
Ivan is a VERY easy character to root for in it. His heart's in the right place, and he's always entertaining to watch, often even quite emotionally moving, especially when we learn of his past.
A Biblical point that Ivan helps raise is on leadership. All throughout the movie, it's clear that Ivan is kind of the unofficial leader of the animals on display in the mall, and he takes this position seriously as he genuinely looks out for the well- being of the other animals there. For instance, one difference from the book is that, while Ivan's initial annoyance with Ruby in the book is purely based on jealousy and injured pride over the fact that she took his place as the mall's star attraction, in the movie it's more based on frustration over the fact that he's afraid Ruby's nervousness/ stage fright hindering her performances in the mall's animal show might lead to the mall being shut down and all the animals becoming homeless. Then, afterwards, he attempts to lead the animals in an ill- fated (Albeit well- meaning) escape attempt. Finally, through his newfound talent for fingerpainting, Ivan takes the lead in the effort to help Ruby get transferred from the mall to a nice local zoo. All throughout the movie, Ivan is determined to act in everyone else's best interests, and help guide them along on the right path. That's the sign of a great leader.
It's the sort of leadership that Jesus talked about in Matthew 20:26- 28, by saying "(Re: The Gentile rulers lording over their subjects and commanding authority over them) It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." A true, great leader, ESPECIALLY among Christians, isn't some control freak who views leadership as just barking orders at people and getting one's own way all the time; It's someone more like Ivan, who puts the needs of those under his care as a MUCH higher priority than his own concerns, and actively works to help and serve them however he can.
As a matter of fact, in a way, Ivan can be seen as kind of the animal equivalent of Moses. Just as Moses in the book of Exodus was called by God to help free the Hebrews from their bondage in Egypt and lead them to the freedom of the Promised Land, Ivan finds himself feeling called to help free Ruby, the other animals, and ultimately himself from their demeaning captivity in the mall and lead them to the relative freedom of the zoo (It may not be the wild, but it's still shown to be a really nice place that's infinitely better and homier than the mall).
So, there we have Ivan. Between his wonderful leadership, and how he calls to mind one of the Bible's greatest heroes, he truly lives up to his title of "Mighty Silverback."
Our next entry is another anthropomorphic animal, but this is one who's smaller and much, MUCH faster:
2. Sonic, 'Sonic the Hedgehog.'
(Credit for this image goes to the user Wikification on the Heroes Wiki at https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(Live-Action)/Gallery?file=LAMovieSonic.png
I already talked a little about him in my review of the 'Sonic' movie last year, so I won't go in too much detail here. He is just a great representation of one of the best heroes in video game history.
The 'Bad Boys' buddy- cop series is always a good watch, a nice blend of action and comedy, and this third entry in the series, 'Bad Boys for Life,' continues that trend.
The character in the 'Bad Boys' series I've always liked the best has been the family- man Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), and I'd say he is indeed my favorite character in this new entry.
Here, we see that, as Marcus has gotten older, he has had a spiritual awakening. While he had not appeared to be particularly religious up to this point in the film series, seeing his police partner/ best friend Mike get shot by a hitman working for the twisted and vengeful drug cartel boss Isabel Aretas (Who quickly became my second- favorite movie villain of 2020) was a turning point for Marcus. When Mike is left temporarily comatose by the attack, we see Marcus made a vow to God; He promised that, if the Lord will spare Mike's life, Marcus in turn will no longer bring any more violence into the world. To keep that vow, and spend more time with his new grandson and the rest of the family, Marcus retires from the force once Mike recovers and appears to genuinely enjoy his retirement for a while.
It doesn't last long, though: We soon see that Isabel is determined to take out not just Mike, but EVERYONE involved in the arrest and imprisonment of herself and her late husband. When Mike and Marcus's longtime commander, Captain Howard, is tragically assassinated as part of this merciless campaign, Marcus rejoins the force to help bring the captain's killers to justice. Still, he tries to stay out of active violence to continue to honor his vow to God.
Nevertheless, later in the film, his views on the subject change a bit. When they are in a motorcycle chase with Cartel assassins pouring bullets at them, Marcus discovers that the motorcycle/ sidecar combo they took had with it a VERY large sidecar- mounted gun that could be used to return fire at the bad guys. While Marcus is still hesitant to use it due to his vow, Mike tells him, "Who do you think sent you that weapon? That is God's gun, sent to you in your time of need. Yes, you are a vessel for the Lord's work, like David and Goliath. That is YOUR slingshot, to smite thine enemies!" Taking this to heart, Marcus uses the gun to help fight off the thugs (and in a pretty awesome and entertaining way, to boot), saving his and Mike's lives.
While Mike's point was obviously expressed in a goofy, flippant way, it still has some truth to it. At that moment, Marcus learned what it means to be a righteous warrior, ensuring that true justice is served and the wicked pay for what they have done. While God seeks to bring peace to the world and rejoices in the efforts of those who help properly bring it about (See entry #9 on this list for more of that), He has also in the Old Testament often empowered brave and Godly men to act as His warriors to help stand against evildoers and champion the innocent. Some great examples included Samson, Gideon (One of my favorite Biblical figures, a real "From zero to hero" kind of guy), and indeed David. In fact, in Psalm 144:1, David says "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle."
Marcus also, in a way, kept the promise he made to God through the decisions he ultimately made over the course of the movie: By helping actively to take down the Aretas Cartel, he helped remove a LOT of senseless violence from the world.
This is what makes it all the more fitting that Marcus is the one who fights and takes down Isabel Aretas in the film's climax. The two really are opposites in every way: While Isabel is a crime lord who seeks to bring more drugs, violence and lawlessness to the world, Marcus is a police officer who seeks to bring more law and order to the world. While Isabel is a pagan nicknamed "La Bruja" (Spanish for "The Witch") due to her fanatical worship of the Mexican death deity Santa Muerte, Marcus is a Christian who strives to faithfully serve Jesus. While Isabel is a bad parent who taught her son to be as vindictive and bloodthirsty as she is, Marcus is a good parent (And now grandparent) who does all he can to protect his family and help them grow to be good people. So, while Mike has something of a history with Isabel, it makes much more sense that Marcus would be the one to face and defeat her as a true "Good vs. evil" showdown.
There we have Marcus Burnett, a great character as always who gains the faith and courage to truly become a righteous soldier of God. His section is best summed up by the unforgettable mantra that he and Mike often recite: "We ride together, we die together; Bad boys for life."
As I said, Isabel Aretas in that movie was my second- favorite cinematic villain of 2020. Now, you'd better run for cover, because it's time to meet #1 in that regard:
(Credit for this image goes to the user N D W on the cinemorgue wiki at https://cinemorgue.fandom.com/wiki/Freaky_(2020)?file=Freaky_ver3_xlg.jpg)
The horror- comedy film 'Freaky' made for the best slasher film I've seen in quite a long time, a bloody but hilarious, entertaining ride with a fascinating premise; Through a strange spell, a shy and bullied high school girl named Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) accidentally switches bodies with a psychotic but aging serial killer known as the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn). They each find themselves having to adjust to their new bodies, complete with Millie having to convince her friends about what happened AND dodge a police manhunt as she's now in the body of the most wanted criminal in the county all while trying frantically to get back in her normal body before the spell becomes permanent, and the Butcher preparing to continue his rampage in a new body which only has about a fourth of the physical strength that his normal body had.
What makes the Butcher such an effective and memorable villain, sets him aside from most other slasher- movie killers, AND which also concerns the theological lesson that can be learned from him, is how terrifyingly adaptive he proves to be. As I implied earlier, it is definitely a shock for him to go from the middle aged yet still extremely strong body he had, to the body of a slim, rather frail teenage girl. He adjusts to this change in circumstances quickly, though, now relying more on his fierce cunning and resourcefulness to perform kills (A particularly memorable one involves him/ her using a locker- room cryotherapy tank to turn the school's nasty "Queen Bee"- type girl into a human Popsicle) and relying on this innocent- looking new body to avoid suspicion by the authorities.
All of this is quite similar to how Satan operates in the real world. He too is extremely adaptive in how he goes about corrupting and destroying everything in our world. He knows people's weaknesses, and can change tactics in a heartbeat to further his dark goals. It's why Ephesians 6:11 tells believers to "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Note that it says "Schemes," in the plural sense. We were given this verse to help us ensure that whatever strategy the Devil tries to use, we'll be ready to quickly resist it.
Furthermore, the Butcher taking on the body of a shy teenage girl who looks like she wouldn't hurt a fly calls to mind 2 Corinthians 11:14, which points out that "Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." The fact that the Butcher's only concern when he gains this new body is how to resume his killing spree as quickly as possible echoes John 10:10, in which Jesus says that "The Thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy."
That about sums up the Blissfield Butcher: A terrifying villain who drives home some equally terrifying truths about the Prince of Darkness.
A few other memorable 2020 villains include the aforementioned Isabel Aretas from 'Bad Boys for Life,' Dr. Robotnik from 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' Hal from 'The Call of the Wild,' and Holda from 'Gretel and Hansel.'
Now, we go from someone who is pure evil, to someone with a great sense of heroism:
5. Barley Lightfoot, 'Onward.'
(Credit for this image goes to the user SammyAlle on the Disney wiki at https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Barley_Lightfoot?file=BarleyOnward.png)
The Pixar film 'Onward' was a very fun fantasy film in which two Elven brothers attempt to use a spell to partially bring back their deceased father, but the spell goes wrong and only brings back his lower half, so they go on an epic adventure to recover a magic jewel to finish the spell and bring all of him back just for a day.
While the technical main character in 'Onward' is the younger of the two brothers, the nerdy aspiring wizard Ian, the older brother Barley is definitely the more interesting and fun to watch of the two. Between his goofy personality, the awesome work Chris Pratt does as his voice, and just how generally likable he is, he dominates every scene he's in. He's sort of the magical/ fantasy equivalent of a "Good- hearted slacker" kind of character.
He is a guy who loves fantasy, loves adventure, and isn't particularly competent in most things, but is wonderfully devoted to his family throughout all of it. A lot of the funniest moments in the film involve him, and many of the most emotionally moving ones do, too. His van Guinevere is pretty cool, as well.
Barley truly is his brother's keeper, always in his own (At times slightly misguided) way looking out for Ian's well- being, and inspiring Ian to grow more and become the person he is in a lot of ways. He acts as a mentor, protector, and friend to Ian, just what a good older brother should be. He does everything from pointing out to Ian how to find the jewel, to inspiring Ian to overcome his fear of driving on the highway and thus eventually get a driver's license, to helping Ian learn how to properly perform magic. He in those senses acted as not just a brother, but also kind of a surrogate father for Ian (Who was only a baby when their father died and thus has no real memories of him), and honestly a pretty darn good one at that.
(Credit for this image goes to https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Corey_the_Manticore?file=Onward_Corey_Poster.jpg)
(Credit for this image goes to the Irish Cinephile's review of this movie, at https://irishcinephile.com/2020/05/14/film-review-my-spy/#jp-carousel-48243)
'My Spy' made for a nice 'Kindergarten Cop'- esque family action- comedy film, in which Dave Bautista plays JJ, a CIA operative who attempts to perform surveillance on the sister- in- law and niece of a French arms dealer to try and hopefully catch the guy, and ends up bonding with the 9- year- old niece who catches on to him and insists he train her on how to be a spy in exchange for her not blabbing to her mom about him. My favorite character in the movie, though, is JJ's tech specialist Bobbi (Kristen Schaal). She is brand- new in the field, idolizes JJ, and longs to become a full field agent herself. She sees helping JJ on this mission, her first time getting out of the office, as the perfect way to prove her skills and achieve that goal. She is also unbelievably funny, largely due to Kristen Schaal's wonderful performance. She has a real gift for comedy, between her distinctive, almost cartoonish voice (Which she famously used for playing Mabel Pines in the wonderful animated series 'Gravity Falls,' I MUST take a look at that show on this blog some time), her expressive face, and just the general aura of hilarity she exudes.
A Godly lesson to be taken from Bobbi is to flourish where we are planted with the talents we have, and not pretend to be something we are not just because we think someone else's talents are "Cooler." See, while Bobbi is fascinated with the more hands- on, James Bond- esque aspects of the spy field, she's not particularly good at them. In the climax, when she "Borrows" some of JJ's guns and grenades to try and help fend off the bad guys, she ends up causing more harm than good. It's when she uses her natural gift for technology and computers to help provide electronic backup that she truly does amazing things for good and helps save the world.
This goes along with 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, which says "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone." See, we all have different gifts and talents, but they all come from God, and He sees the value in all of them, and expects us to do the same. We shouldn't be jealous of or try to imitate the talents of others the way Bobbi at times tried to imitate JJ's more hands- on spy skills; We should try to hone the talents and gifts we already have so we can use them to do the most good for God's Kingdom that we possibly can.
That about sums up Bobbi; A hilarious character who still manages to teach a lesson we all should take seriously on using our own gifts to do all the good that we can.
(He's the one in the necktie, of course. Credit for this image goes to the blog Musings of a Middle Aged Geek's review of the movie at https://musingsofamiddleagedgeek.blog/2020/08/30/bill-ted-face-the-music-2020-and-its-not-at-all-heinous-dude/)
Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed the charming 'Bill and Ted' movies about two dopey but likable best buddies who use a magic phone booth to travel through time and space, and find that their band Wyld Stallyns is destined to one day use its music as a catalyst to bring about a utopian world in which war, pollution and poverty are things of the past.
I never would have guessed it, but just like last year, a character named "Grandpa Eddie" made the list (The previous occasion being Danny DeVito's character in 'Jumanji: The Next Level'). This time, though, it's Robert DeNiro's character in the family comedy 'The War With Grandpa.' In this fun family comedy movie, based on the children's book by Robert Kimmel Smith, Grandpa Eddie moves in with his adult daughter and her family, and is given his young grandson Pete's bedroom, while Pete is made to move into the attic. Pete doesn't take this change of circumstances well (And one can't particularly blame him for that), and declares a secret "Prank War" with his grandpa to try and get his room back. Grandpa Eddie accepts this, largely just out of a bored amusement, but things escalate quickly and often hilariously as the pranks that the two of them pull on each other become more impactful and at times even destructive.
A great aspect of this take on the story is that both sides get their respective social groups to help them in the war; Pete gets his school buddies to help him, and Grandpa Eddie in turn gets some of his elderly friends to help him (And considering those friends are played by Christopher Walken, Cheech Marin, and Jane Seymour, you KNOW that hilarity is going to ensue). This leads to some very funny moments, such as when the two sides take each other on in a no- holds- barred dodgeball tournament at a local trampoline park.
I also liked that it made it clear that Grandpa Eddie and Pete each had pretty valid reasons for the positions they take, yet at the same time, that attempting to resolve things in this way was seriously wrong.
An important quality about Grandpa Eddie is that, while he takes part in the prank war, he right away sets down some "Ground rules" that Pete agrees to, including that there is to be no collateral damage (i.e. Nobody else in the family should fall victim to any of the pranks).
Even amid the war, Grandpa Eddie is clearly a man who deeply loves his family. This is shown through a number of ways: The "No collateral damage" rule, his repeated attempts to make peace with Pete, convincing him to agree to a temporary truce during Pete's little sister's birthday party, and together with a couple of his buddies teaching a lesson to a mean bully who had been harassing Pete (That moment made me applaud in the theater; Eddie and his friends really give that jerk exactly what he deserved).
The most important Biblical message to be taken from Grandpa Eddie is on the need to make and seek peace. Of the two combatants in this "War," Grandpa Eddie is the one who first realizes how harmful it is and tries to stop it as best and as peacefully as he can. While attempting to reason with Pete in one scene, Grandpa Eddie tells him, "War is no game, Peter. Only kids and fools and generals think that. War hurts and kills and is misery." He has recognized how destructive and futile war is (Even on as small of a scale as their prank war), and begins doing what he can to bring this war with Pete to an end so they can regain the happy relationship they used to have.
To finish out my list, we now go from an older man who comes to desire outer peace, to one who seeks inner peace.
10. John Thornton, 'The Call of the Wild.'
(Credit for this image goes to the user Bennybop on the Call of the Wild Wiki at https://the-call-of-the-wild.fandom.com/wiki/John_Thornton_(2020_version)?file=70C6B9FE-3273-4BCA-B591-6094760BFDD9.jpeg)
Last year's 'The Call of the Wild' movie made for a decent enough adventure story (If one can get past the obvious cgi they use for all the dogs, that is), and Harrison Ford's performance as John Thornton is definitely one of its highlights.
In this adaptation of the story, John is a man who is mourning the loss of his son, and has become estranged from his wife out of this grief. He believes he can honor his son's memory by discovering and making a fortune mining out a mythical mother lode deposit of gold that his son had taken a keen interest in finding when he was alive.
John's best quality is his combination of patience and assertiveness. He can deal with much in this world, but at the same time isn't afraid to stand up for himself and for others. We see this when he stops the brutish prospector Hal from beating Buck the dog and then promptly adopts Buck as his own. His sad backstory that the movie gives him helps to provide him with more depth and make him more sympathetic. Out of all the masters that Buck has over the course of the movie, John is clearly the best, building a genuine friendship with the dog and helping it to discover its place in the wild. John eventually does grow to feel a little better through the bond he develops with Buck and prepares to leave the Yukon to return to his wife, only to meet a tragic end before he can do so.
A Biblical point that Ivan helps raise is on leadership. All throughout the movie, it's clear that Ivan is kind of the unofficial leader of the animals on display in the mall, and he takes this position seriously as he genuinely looks out for the well- being of the other animals there. For instance, one difference from the book is that, while Ivan's initial annoyance with Ruby in the book is purely based on jealousy and injured pride over the fact that she took his place as the mall's star attraction, in the movie it's more based on frustration over the fact that he's afraid Ruby's nervousness/ stage fright hindering her performances in the mall's animal show might lead to the mall being shut down and all the animals becoming homeless. Then, afterwards, he attempts to lead the animals in an ill- fated (Albeit well- meaning) escape attempt. Finally, through his newfound talent for fingerpainting, Ivan takes the lead in the effort to help Ruby get transferred from the mall to a nice local zoo. All throughout the movie, Ivan is determined to act in everyone else's best interests, and help guide them along on the right path. That's the sign of a great leader.
It's the sort of leadership that Jesus talked about in Matthew 20:26- 28, by saying "(Re: The Gentile rulers lording over their subjects and commanding authority over them) It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." A true, great leader, ESPECIALLY among Christians, isn't some control freak who views leadership as just barking orders at people and getting one's own way all the time; It's someone more like Ivan, who puts the needs of those under his care as a MUCH higher priority than his own concerns, and actively works to help and serve them however he can.
As a matter of fact, in a way, Ivan can be seen as kind of the animal equivalent of Moses. Just as Moses in the book of Exodus was called by God to help free the Hebrews from their bondage in Egypt and lead them to the freedom of the Promised Land, Ivan finds himself feeling called to help free Ruby, the other animals, and ultimately himself from their demeaning captivity in the mall and lead them to the relative freedom of the zoo (It may not be the wild, but it's still shown to be a really nice place that's infinitely better and homier than the mall).
So, there we have Ivan. Between his wonderful leadership, and how he calls to mind one of the Bible's greatest heroes, he truly lives up to his title of "Mighty Silverback."
Our next entry is another anthropomorphic animal, but this is one who's smaller and much, MUCH faster:
2. Sonic, 'Sonic the Hedgehog.'
(Credit for this image goes to the user Wikification on the Heroes Wiki at https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(Live-Action)/Gallery?file=LAMovieSonic.png
I already talked a little about him in my review of the 'Sonic' movie last year, so I won't go in too much detail here. He is just a great representation of one of the best heroes in video game history.
He starts out the film deeply lonely, wanting to connect with the humans in Green Hills and form friendships with them, but being hindered by his fear that they might try to hurt him or exploit him for his amazing speed. Eventually, he overcomes that fear, and forms a wonderful friendship with the small- town sheriff Tom. They set out to recover Sonic's magic rings that let him travel from one place to another instantly, and in the process build a rock- hard bond of friendship with each other.
As I said in my review of the movie, Sonic's recognition of just how valuable friendship is ties into the main Biblical principle to be learned from him. He deeply values friendship and companionship as one of the greatest joys of life, and he teaches Tom to feel the same way through the close bond they form with each other. The two of them regularly do all that they possibly can to help each other through thick and thin, from Sonic protecting Tom from getting beaten up in a bar fight, to Tom stopping the evil Dr. Robotnik from killing Sonic in the film's climax. This calls to mind Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, which says that "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to pick them up." God wants us to show this kind of loyalty and devotion to our friends, looking after each other and relying on each other, and strengthening each other in their walks with the Lord.
As I said in my review of the movie, Sonic's recognition of just how valuable friendship is ties into the main Biblical principle to be learned from him. He deeply values friendship and companionship as one of the greatest joys of life, and he teaches Tom to feel the same way through the close bond they form with each other. The two of them regularly do all that they possibly can to help each other through thick and thin, from Sonic protecting Tom from getting beaten up in a bar fight, to Tom stopping the evil Dr. Robotnik from killing Sonic in the film's climax. This calls to mind Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, which says that "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to pick them up." God wants us to show this kind of loyalty and devotion to our friends, looking after each other and relying on each other, and strengthening each other in their walks with the Lord.
There we have Sonic the Hedgehog, a wonderful hero who helps show just how important friendship is.
Now, we go from a popular recurring hero that's an animal, to one who's a human.
3. Marcus Burnett, 'Bad Boys for Life.'
(He's the one in the red jacket; Credit for this image goes to the user "Jedi Raven" on the Bad Boys Wiki at https://badboys.fandom.com/wiki/Bad_Boys_for_Life?file=Marcus_and_Mike_indoor.jpg#Gallery)
Now, we go from a popular recurring hero that's an animal, to one who's a human.
3. Marcus Burnett, 'Bad Boys for Life.'
The 'Bad Boys' buddy- cop series is always a good watch, a nice blend of action and comedy, and this third entry in the series, 'Bad Boys for Life,' continues that trend.
The character in the 'Bad Boys' series I've always liked the best has been the family- man Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), and I'd say he is indeed my favorite character in this new entry.
Here, we see that, as Marcus has gotten older, he has had a spiritual awakening. While he had not appeared to be particularly religious up to this point in the film series, seeing his police partner/ best friend Mike get shot by a hitman working for the twisted and vengeful drug cartel boss Isabel Aretas (Who quickly became my second- favorite movie villain of 2020) was a turning point for Marcus. When Mike is left temporarily comatose by the attack, we see Marcus made a vow to God; He promised that, if the Lord will spare Mike's life, Marcus in turn will no longer bring any more violence into the world. To keep that vow, and spend more time with his new grandson and the rest of the family, Marcus retires from the force once Mike recovers and appears to genuinely enjoy his retirement for a while.
It doesn't last long, though: We soon see that Isabel is determined to take out not just Mike, but EVERYONE involved in the arrest and imprisonment of herself and her late husband. When Mike and Marcus's longtime commander, Captain Howard, is tragically assassinated as part of this merciless campaign, Marcus rejoins the force to help bring the captain's killers to justice. Still, he tries to stay out of active violence to continue to honor his vow to God.
Nevertheless, later in the film, his views on the subject change a bit. When they are in a motorcycle chase with Cartel assassins pouring bullets at them, Marcus discovers that the motorcycle/ sidecar combo they took had with it a VERY large sidecar- mounted gun that could be used to return fire at the bad guys. While Marcus is still hesitant to use it due to his vow, Mike tells him, "Who do you think sent you that weapon? That is God's gun, sent to you in your time of need. Yes, you are a vessel for the Lord's work, like David and Goliath. That is YOUR slingshot, to smite thine enemies!" Taking this to heart, Marcus uses the gun to help fight off the thugs (and in a pretty awesome and entertaining way, to boot), saving his and Mike's lives.
While Mike's point was obviously expressed in a goofy, flippant way, it still has some truth to it. At that moment, Marcus learned what it means to be a righteous warrior, ensuring that true justice is served and the wicked pay for what they have done. While God seeks to bring peace to the world and rejoices in the efforts of those who help properly bring it about (See entry #9 on this list for more of that), He has also in the Old Testament often empowered brave and Godly men to act as His warriors to help stand against evildoers and champion the innocent. Some great examples included Samson, Gideon (One of my favorite Biblical figures, a real "From zero to hero" kind of guy), and indeed David. In fact, in Psalm 144:1, David says "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle."
Marcus also, in a way, kept the promise he made to God through the decisions he ultimately made over the course of the movie: By helping actively to take down the Aretas Cartel, he helped remove a LOT of senseless violence from the world.
This is what makes it all the more fitting that Marcus is the one who fights and takes down Isabel Aretas in the film's climax. The two really are opposites in every way: While Isabel is a crime lord who seeks to bring more drugs, violence and lawlessness to the world, Marcus is a police officer who seeks to bring more law and order to the world. While Isabel is a pagan nicknamed "La Bruja" (Spanish for "The Witch") due to her fanatical worship of the Mexican death deity Santa Muerte, Marcus is a Christian who strives to faithfully serve Jesus. While Isabel is a bad parent who taught her son to be as vindictive and bloodthirsty as she is, Marcus is a good parent (And now grandparent) who does all he can to protect his family and help them grow to be good people. So, while Mike has something of a history with Isabel, it makes much more sense that Marcus would be the one to face and defeat her as a true "Good vs. evil" showdown.
There we have Marcus Burnett, a great character as always who gains the faith and courage to truly become a righteous soldier of God. His section is best summed up by the unforgettable mantra that he and Mike often recite: "We ride together, we die together; Bad boys for life."
As I said, Isabel Aretas in that movie was my second- favorite cinematic villain of 2020. Now, you'd better run for cover, because it's time to meet #1 in that regard:
4. The Blissfield Butcher, 'Freaky.'
What makes the Butcher such an effective and memorable villain, sets him aside from most other slasher- movie killers, AND which also concerns the theological lesson that can be learned from him, is how terrifyingly adaptive he proves to be. As I implied earlier, it is definitely a shock for him to go from the middle aged yet still extremely strong body he had, to the body of a slim, rather frail teenage girl. He adjusts to this change in circumstances quickly, though, now relying more on his fierce cunning and resourcefulness to perform kills (A particularly memorable one involves him/ her using a locker- room cryotherapy tank to turn the school's nasty "Queen Bee"- type girl into a human Popsicle) and relying on this innocent- looking new body to avoid suspicion by the authorities.
All of this is quite similar to how Satan operates in the real world. He too is extremely adaptive in how he goes about corrupting and destroying everything in our world. He knows people's weaknesses, and can change tactics in a heartbeat to further his dark goals. It's why Ephesians 6:11 tells believers to "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Note that it says "Schemes," in the plural sense. We were given this verse to help us ensure that whatever strategy the Devil tries to use, we'll be ready to quickly resist it.
Furthermore, the Butcher taking on the body of a shy teenage girl who looks like she wouldn't hurt a fly calls to mind 2 Corinthians 11:14, which points out that "Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." The fact that the Butcher's only concern when he gains this new body is how to resume his killing spree as quickly as possible echoes John 10:10, in which Jesus says that "The Thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy."
That about sums up the Blissfield Butcher: A terrifying villain who drives home some equally terrifying truths about the Prince of Darkness.
A few other memorable 2020 villains include the aforementioned Isabel Aretas from 'Bad Boys for Life,' Dr. Robotnik from 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' Hal from 'The Call of the Wild,' and Holda from 'Gretel and Hansel.'
Now, we go from someone who is pure evil, to someone with a great sense of heroism:
5. Barley Lightfoot, 'Onward.'
(Credit for this image goes to the user SammyAlle on the Disney wiki at https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Barley_Lightfoot?file=BarleyOnward.png)
The Pixar film 'Onward' was a very fun fantasy film in which two Elven brothers attempt to use a spell to partially bring back their deceased father, but the spell goes wrong and only brings back his lower half, so they go on an epic adventure to recover a magic jewel to finish the spell and bring all of him back just for a day.
While the technical main character in 'Onward' is the younger of the two brothers, the nerdy aspiring wizard Ian, the older brother Barley is definitely the more interesting and fun to watch of the two. Between his goofy personality, the awesome work Chris Pratt does as his voice, and just how generally likable he is, he dominates every scene he's in. He's sort of the magical/ fantasy equivalent of a "Good- hearted slacker" kind of character.
He is a guy who loves fantasy, loves adventure, and isn't particularly competent in most things, but is wonderfully devoted to his family throughout all of it. A lot of the funniest moments in the film involve him, and many of the most emotionally moving ones do, too. His van Guinevere is pretty cool, as well.
Barley truly is his brother's keeper, always in his own (At times slightly misguided) way looking out for Ian's well- being, and inspiring Ian to grow more and become the person he is in a lot of ways. He acts as a mentor, protector, and friend to Ian, just what a good older brother should be. He does everything from pointing out to Ian how to find the jewel, to inspiring Ian to overcome his fear of driving on the highway and thus eventually get a driver's license, to helping Ian learn how to properly perform magic. He in those senses acted as not just a brother, but also kind of a surrogate father for Ian (Who was only a baby when their father died and thus has no real memories of him), and honestly a pretty darn good one at that.
This awesome love Barley shows towards Ian as well as their mother brings to mind 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Barley has that kind of love in spades, and we should all show that kind of love to our own families.
That's all I have to say right now about Barley. Another addition to the list of memorable Pixar heroes, and a great example of what family love as Christians can look like.
Now, while I'm done talking about Barley, there is one more character in 'Onward' that I think deserves a look, too:
6. Corey the Manticore, 'Onward.'
Barley has that kind of love in spades, and we should all show that kind of love to our own families.
That's all I have to say right now about Barley. Another addition to the list of memorable Pixar heroes, and a great example of what family love as Christians can look like.
Now, while I'm done talking about Barley, there is one more character in 'Onward' that I think deserves a look, too:
6. Corey the Manticore, 'Onward.'
(Credit for this image goes to https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Corey_the_Manticore?file=Onward_Corey_Poster.jpg)
As the film 'Onward' progresses, the brothers Ian and Barley, in order to get information that will lead them to the magic jewel, must visit the famed Manticore's Tavern. They go expecting it to be a seedy, Cantina- From- 'Star Wars' type of place, but when they get there, it turns out to have been converted into a ridiculous family restaurant more along the lines of Chuck E. Cheese's. What's worse, the Manticore, aka "Corey," who had been known for being a brave adventurer, is now a has- been manager of the place more concerned with getting customers' orders right and keeping the karaoke machine working than with anything cool or quest- related.
However, upon the brothers visiting the tavern, they not only get the information they need, but also inspire Corey to basically stop being such a sell- out and regain her former sense of adventure. She eventually proves to be a tough and valuable ally to the boys and their mother, helping them a lot in the pursuit of their goals.
The fact that she's voiced by the brilliant actress Octavia Spencer (Who won a well- deserved Oscar for her work in 'The Help') makes her even cooler.
However, upon the brothers visiting the tavern, they not only get the information they need, but also inspire Corey to basically stop being such a sell- out and regain her former sense of adventure. She eventually proves to be a tough and valuable ally to the boys and their mother, helping them a lot in the pursuit of their goals.
The fact that she's voiced by the brilliant actress Octavia Spencer (Who won a well- deserved Oscar for her work in 'The Help') makes her even cooler.
The point that Corey helps to drive home is on courage and taking risks in life. One of the things that helps inspire her to regain her former self is being reminded of an old quote she herself had once said in her prime: "You have to take risks in life to have an adventure." This is very much in keeping with Scripture. We as Christians aren't called to just sit on the sidelines and avoid doing anything that might be seen as risky. Just the opposite, in fact! The Bible is littered with people who took big risks. The first disciples of Jesus all took BIG risks, leaving their homes and former lifestyles to follow Jesus in His Earthly ministry and help spread His Gospel, and they kept at this risky, adventurous mission for the rest of their lives.
It also calls to mind 1 Chronicles 28:20, in which David says to his son Solomon (Who was setting out to build the massive temple for the Lord), "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord thy God is with you."
In more modern times, this can take the form of Christians doing overseas missions work to help spread God's love and message to others halfway around the world.
Doing amazing things for the Lord requires stepping out of our comfort zones and not being afraid of how risky the journey can be, as if we remain devoted to the Lord, He will direct our steps and use us to build His Kingdom on Earth.
If a washed- up adventurer like Corey the Manticore can learn/ rediscover this lesson, then so can we.
It also calls to mind 1 Chronicles 28:20, in which David says to his son Solomon (Who was setting out to build the massive temple for the Lord), "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord thy God is with you."
In more modern times, this can take the form of Christians doing overseas missions work to help spread God's love and message to others halfway around the world.
Doing amazing things for the Lord requires stepping out of our comfort zones and not being afraid of how risky the journey can be, as if we remain devoted to the Lord, He will direct our steps and use us to build His Kingdom on Earth.
If a washed- up adventurer like Corey the Manticore can learn/ rediscover this lesson, then so can we.
Regrettably, there aren't a lot of female characters who made my list this year (That's nothing personal, btw, it's due largely to the fact that I just wasn't able to see as many movies in 2020 as I do most other years). The Manticore was one, now here's the other:
7. Bobbi, 'My Spy.'
(Credit for this image goes to the Irish Cinephile's review of this movie, at https://irishcinephile.com/2020/05/14/film-review-my-spy/#jp-carousel-48243)
'My Spy' made for a nice 'Kindergarten Cop'- esque family action- comedy film, in which Dave Bautista plays JJ, a CIA operative who attempts to perform surveillance on the sister- in- law and niece of a French arms dealer to try and hopefully catch the guy, and ends up bonding with the 9- year- old niece who catches on to him and insists he train her on how to be a spy in exchange for her not blabbing to her mom about him. My favorite character in the movie, though, is JJ's tech specialist Bobbi (Kristen Schaal). She is brand- new in the field, idolizes JJ, and longs to become a full field agent herself. She sees helping JJ on this mission, her first time getting out of the office, as the perfect way to prove her skills and achieve that goal. She is also unbelievably funny, largely due to Kristen Schaal's wonderful performance. She has a real gift for comedy, between her distinctive, almost cartoonish voice (Which she famously used for playing Mabel Pines in the wonderful animated series 'Gravity Falls,' I MUST take a look at that show on this blog some time), her expressive face, and just the general aura of hilarity she exudes.
A Godly lesson to be taken from Bobbi is to flourish where we are planted with the talents we have, and not pretend to be something we are not just because we think someone else's talents are "Cooler." See, while Bobbi is fascinated with the more hands- on, James Bond- esque aspects of the spy field, she's not particularly good at them. In the climax, when she "Borrows" some of JJ's guns and grenades to try and help fend off the bad guys, she ends up causing more harm than good. It's when she uses her natural gift for technology and computers to help provide electronic backup that she truly does amazing things for good and helps save the world.
This goes along with 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, which says "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone." See, we all have different gifts and talents, but they all come from God, and He sees the value in all of them, and expects us to do the same. We shouldn't be jealous of or try to imitate the talents of others the way Bobbi at times tried to imitate JJ's more hands- on spy skills; We should try to hone the talents and gifts we already have so we can use them to do the most good for God's Kingdom that we possibly can.
That about sums up Bobbi; A hilarious character who still manages to teach a lesson we all should take seriously on using our own gifts to do all the good that we can.
Speaking of Kristen Schaal, this next movie we'll be looking at also features her, though in this case the character in question is played by someone else, someone who ends up helping to save the world in a different way:
8. Louis Armstrong, 'Bill and Ted Face the Music.'
This latest extremely funny entry in the series, 'Bill and Ted Face the Music,' has a now middle- aged Bill and Ted as has- been musicians who apparently never accomplished this glorious destiny. They learn that in order to do so, they must craft a kind of ultimate song that will initiate this change in the world, and they are running out of time to make and perform it or else a kind of paradox will result which could obliterate all of time. The guys get the idea to travel to the future and meet their future selves to hopefully "Borrow" the song from them, and of course run into all kinds of hilarious problems in the process.
To aid their dads in this quest to create the ultimate song, Bill and Ted's daughters travel throughout time to recruit some of the greatest musicians in human history to form the greatest band of all time. As you can probably guess, they're quite a diverse bunch. It includes a cavewoman named Grom who's an incredible drummer, ancient Chinese flute expert Ling Lun, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jimi Hendrix, and modern rapper Kid Cudi. All of these are awesome characters, but my favorite member of this ultimate band is definitely the movie's depiction of jazz legend Louis Armstrong.
To aid their dads in this quest to create the ultimate song, Bill and Ted's daughters travel throughout time to recruit some of the greatest musicians in human history to form the greatest band of all time. As you can probably guess, they're quite a diverse bunch. It includes a cavewoman named Grom who's an incredible drummer, ancient Chinese flute expert Ling Lun, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jimi Hendrix, and modern rapper Kid Cudi. All of these are awesome characters, but my favorite member of this ultimate band is definitely the movie's depiction of jazz legend Louis Armstrong.
Jeremiah Craft gives an excellent performance as him (Both in terms of acting, and in terms of his singing and trumpet skills), nailing Louis' trademark gravelly voice and big grin, and generally making him a character who's always a lot of fun to watch. Plus, it simply makes sense that, if one were to create a band with the greatest musicians of all time, you'd want to include someone as talented and influential to the music world as him.
Speaking of influential, that ties a little into the Biblical lesson that can be taken from how this movie portrays Louis. When Bill and Ted's daughters meet Louis, they are impressed and star- struck with him (As one of them puts it, "You liberated all music, dude."). He, in turn, is greatly impressed with them, their technology, and the music of Jimi Hendrix, ESPECIALLY when he learns that Hendrix was largely inspired by the music that he (Louis) made. Even though Louis, Jimi, and the two daughters were from three completely different generations, the immense respect they clearly all have for each other is really inspirational.
Speaking of influential, that ties a little into the Biblical lesson that can be taken from how this movie portrays Louis. When Bill and Ted's daughters meet Louis, they are impressed and star- struck with him (As one of them puts it, "You liberated all music, dude."). He, in turn, is greatly impressed with them, their technology, and the music of Jimi Hendrix, ESPECIALLY when he learns that Hendrix was largely inspired by the music that he (Louis) made. Even though Louis, Jimi, and the two daughters were from three completely different generations, the immense respect they clearly all have for each other is really inspirational.
It is so easy for people of one generation to look down on people from older or younger generations, dismissing older ones as outdated relics and younger ones as ridiculous, spoiled posers. However, that's not what God wants us to do. God knows that the older and younger generations each have great things to offer: The older have their wisdom and experience to share and provide guidance, while the younger can provide their strength and enthusiasm and come up with newer and more efficient/ innovative ways to get the job done.
It calls to mind Psalm 100:5, which declares "For the Lord is good, and His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Note it says, God's faithfulness is offered to ALL generations. God loves those of all generations, and needs all of them to help spread His Gospel to the world. He intends them to have the same respect and admiration for each other that Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix, and the two daughters have for each other in the movie.
That's all I have to say about this movie's awesome portrayal of Louis Armstrong. A great interpretation of an amazing musician who uses his music to help save the world, and uses his respect for the younger generations to help us see how we should interact with those older and younger than ourselves. Hardly surprising that so much goodness could come from the man who inspired and first sang "What a Wonderful World."
This entry may have dealt with someone who was greatly impressed with and moved by people of a younger generation, but next up on my list is someone who, in contrast, gets into a heated conflict with someone of a younger generation:
(You should be able to tell which of the two he is; Credit for this image goes to the user JacobJohn55 at the sound effects wiki at https://soundeffects.fandom.com/wiki/The_War_with_Grandpa_(2020)?file=MV5BNTlkZDQ1ODEtY2ZiMS00OGNhLWJlZDctYzY0NTFmNmQ2NDAzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ%40%40._V1_.jpg)
It calls to mind Psalm 100:5, which declares "For the Lord is good, and His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Note it says, God's faithfulness is offered to ALL generations. God loves those of all generations, and needs all of them to help spread His Gospel to the world. He intends them to have the same respect and admiration for each other that Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix, and the two daughters have for each other in the movie.
That's all I have to say about this movie's awesome portrayal of Louis Armstrong. A great interpretation of an amazing musician who uses his music to help save the world, and uses his respect for the younger generations to help us see how we should interact with those older and younger than ourselves. Hardly surprising that so much goodness could come from the man who inspired and first sang "What a Wonderful World."
This entry may have dealt with someone who was greatly impressed with and moved by people of a younger generation, but next up on my list is someone who, in contrast, gets into a heated conflict with someone of a younger generation:
9. Grandpa Eddie, 'The War With Grandpa.'
(You should be able to tell which of the two he is; Credit for this image goes to the user JacobJohn55 at the sound effects wiki at https://soundeffects.fandom.com/wiki/The_War_with_Grandpa_(2020)?file=MV5BNTlkZDQ1ODEtY2ZiMS00OGNhLWJlZDctYzY0NTFmNmQ2NDAzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ%40%40._V1_.jpg)
I never would have guessed it, but just like last year, a character named "Grandpa Eddie" made the list (The previous occasion being Danny DeVito's character in 'Jumanji: The Next Level'). This time, though, it's Robert DeNiro's character in the family comedy 'The War With Grandpa.' In this fun family comedy movie, based on the children's book by Robert Kimmel Smith, Grandpa Eddie moves in with his adult daughter and her family, and is given his young grandson Pete's bedroom, while Pete is made to move into the attic. Pete doesn't take this change of circumstances well (And one can't particularly blame him for that), and declares a secret "Prank War" with his grandpa to try and get his room back. Grandpa Eddie accepts this, largely just out of a bored amusement, but things escalate quickly and often hilariously as the pranks that the two of them pull on each other become more impactful and at times even destructive.
A great aspect of this take on the story is that both sides get their respective social groups to help them in the war; Pete gets his school buddies to help him, and Grandpa Eddie in turn gets some of his elderly friends to help him (And considering those friends are played by Christopher Walken, Cheech Marin, and Jane Seymour, you KNOW that hilarity is going to ensue). This leads to some very funny moments, such as when the two sides take each other on in a no- holds- barred dodgeball tournament at a local trampoline park.
I also liked that it made it clear that Grandpa Eddie and Pete each had pretty valid reasons for the positions they take, yet at the same time, that attempting to resolve things in this way was seriously wrong.
An important quality about Grandpa Eddie is that, while he takes part in the prank war, he right away sets down some "Ground rules" that Pete agrees to, including that there is to be no collateral damage (i.e. Nobody else in the family should fall victim to any of the pranks).
Even amid the war, Grandpa Eddie is clearly a man who deeply loves his family. This is shown through a number of ways: The "No collateral damage" rule, his repeated attempts to make peace with Pete, convincing him to agree to a temporary truce during Pete's little sister's birthday party, and together with a couple of his buddies teaching a lesson to a mean bully who had been harassing Pete (That moment made me applaud in the theater; Eddie and his friends really give that jerk exactly what he deserved).
The most important Biblical message to be taken from Grandpa Eddie is on the need to make and seek peace. Of the two combatants in this "War," Grandpa Eddie is the one who first realizes how harmful it is and tries to stop it as best and as peacefully as he can. While attempting to reason with Pete in one scene, Grandpa Eddie tells him, "War is no game, Peter. Only kids and fools and generals think that. War hurts and kills and is misery." He has recognized how destructive and futile war is (Even on as small of a scale as their prank war), and begins doing what he can to bring this war with Pete to an end so they can regain the happy relationship they used to have.
Grandpa Eddie acting in this way calls to mind Romans 12:18, which says, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Getting along with people at times REALLY isn't easy. Some people can be incredibly frustrating and difficult, and it can be easy to come to conflict over things. Family matters, work matter, relationship issues, all of these can turn people against each other. However, that is what the Lord seeks from us. We shouldn't always seek to get the last word in (Which I know is difficult), but should try and restore damaged relationships and get along with everyone around us as best we can.
Well done, Grandpa Eddie. Though, after how the movie ends, he might need to watch his back for what Pete may have planned next!
Well done, Grandpa Eddie. Though, after how the movie ends, he might need to watch his back for what Pete may have planned next!
To finish out my list, we now go from an older man who comes to desire outer peace, to one who seeks inner peace.
10. John Thornton, 'The Call of the Wild.'
Last year's 'The Call of the Wild' movie made for a decent enough adventure story (If one can get past the obvious cgi they use for all the dogs, that is), and Harrison Ford's performance as John Thornton is definitely one of its highlights.
In this adaptation of the story, John is a man who is mourning the loss of his son, and has become estranged from his wife out of this grief. He believes he can honor his son's memory by discovering and making a fortune mining out a mythical mother lode deposit of gold that his son had taken a keen interest in finding when he was alive.
John's best quality is his combination of patience and assertiveness. He can deal with much in this world, but at the same time isn't afraid to stand up for himself and for others. We see this when he stops the brutish prospector Hal from beating Buck the dog and then promptly adopts Buck as his own. His sad backstory that the movie gives him helps to provide him with more depth and make him more sympathetic. Out of all the masters that Buck has over the course of the movie, John is clearly the best, building a genuine friendship with the dog and helping it to discover its place in the wild. John eventually does grow to feel a little better through the bond he develops with Buck and prepares to leave the Yukon to return to his wife, only to meet a tragic end before he can do so.
The Biblical point that John helps to drive home is on discovering inner peace. John lost his sense of peace and contentment when he lost his son, and promptly attempts to rediscover it through his quest to discover the mother lode. As he writes in a letter to his estranged wife at one point, "I search for a place I might feel some peace, though I fear I will never find it, because I know that, as I am, there may be no home for me in this world."
In that letter, John is actually spelling out a pretty concrete truth that we as Christians should know about. This world is not our true home, and no true, lasting peace can be found through worldly things, but only through a sincere relationship with Christ. It ties in to what Jesus pointed out in John 14:27, when He said " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Any peace the world has to offer is temporary, whereas the peace we have through Jesus is eternal, and for those of us who follow Him, we have an eternal home waiting for us in Heaven.
In short, John Thornton in this adaptation of 'The Call of the Wild' was an immensely likable, sympathetic character who helps us see that Jesus is our only source of true, lasting peace.
A few honorable mentions for this list include 22 from 'Soul,' Joe Gardner from the same movie, Millie Kessler from 'Freaky,' Kelly from 'Bill and Ted Face the Music,' and Snow White from 'Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs.'
That's all for this edition of the Nightcrawler Experience. Stay tuned, as now that this one is finally finished, I have a couple more I'll be able to finish very soon. Until then, stay safe and healthy, and may God bless you all!
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