My Big Fat Greek Wedding

[Ian (John Corbett) is on his first date with Toula (Nia Vordalus).  Toula is Greek, which is kind of a crazy world as she explains, but she feels like she is defined by this world, and that she is trapped.]

Ah, the beauty of a first date.  Do you remember your first date with your husband/wife? fiancee? girl/boyfriend? The beauty of it is coupled up in this understanding that the other person is a mystery that you are fascinated by and want to know more about.  This is a movie in which a girl who feels so trapped by her family is able to come to terms with the fact that there is a bigger wider world that is full of wonderful non-Greek people.  

Toula is on the date with Ian, but she is so overwhelmed, that even though the date is going well she fears that it won't end well because she is Greek.  Ian says it so wonderfully, "we are not different species, we are both human people."  He has clearly stated his intentions, he wants to get to know her.  She is so afraid but our family is the soul definition of who we are.  As the movie unfolds we learn that, of course, family is important.  It does effect and change who we are, but it is not the sole criteria.  Look at me and my brother, or other families and the differences just between siblings, let alone other relations.  We are trapped only so far as we lack the will to act.  

Last Samurai

[Captain Algren (Tom Cruise), an American, had been hired to kill the rebellion that Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) started in Japan.]

There are a lot of things to pull from this clip, starting with the idea that all human beings have emotions.  Yet given these emotions we can still be kind to one another and show respect, even to an enemy.  

They devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they do from the moment of their waking.  This is the same goal for a Christian as it is for the people in this village.  The point of our existence is to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect." Mt. 5:48  Some would argue that this is in impossible, and rightly so, yet it is about the pursuit of it that matters.  We ought to pursue to become always aware of this Presence, this God who became man.  It is about discovering that in the moment, the means through which God is choosing to save us.  It is an amazing way to live.

Which leads to the point about how we are called to be servants to one another.  Algren stated that Katsumoto believes that his rebellion is in service to the Emperor, the man he has sworn to defend.  Amazing to think about how violent action can be at the service of somebody.  To borrow from another movie, "people need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy" -Batman Begins. Katsumoto's rebellion is indeed at the service of the Emperor, because he needs a wake-up call to what has been happening in Japan.  The point of life is to live in service and remind those people by the way we live our life that to truly live, we must lose our life for His sake.  To truly live one must live for Another.  

Gone with the Wind

[Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is in love with Ashley (Leslie Howard), all though the reason she loves him so is because he won't give in to Scarlett's advances.  Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) is a man who is not noble, but calls things as he sees them.]

Gone with the Wind is such a classic as far as movies and books go.  The thing that we can gain from this clip is the way Scarlett acts.  How often are we like her that we begin to insult, and moan about when God does not seem to do what we want Him to do?  Ashley told her he never said anything to make her believe that he would marry her.  Ashley only loved her, how she ought to be loved, and that was not in a romantic way.  We get so caught up on what we think God is saying, and don't pay attention to what He does say.  God loves us exactly for who we are, and where we are.  If God were to follow our plans we would end up miserable indeed, which is what will happen to Scarlett when she doesn't follow what is right in front of her, namely Rhett.  

Rhett is somebody that can teach us a thing or two about life.  So often we are caught up in this appearance of what we want people to see, but God cuts through that.  He sees people for who they are, judging their actions, along with the intentions of their hearts.  This is kind of how Rhett sees the world, he calls things how he finds them.  He states that he was paying Scarlett a compliment because this quality of passion is something that makes you live fully, and that is what Rhett intends to do.  I think it would be really nice if we could see more people like Rhett, who are so concerned with their reputation, but call things how they seem them. 

Robin Hood

[a former soldier Robin (Russel Crowe), has been reminded of who his father was, a man who demanded liberty.  Now he is at a meeting of nobles and the king, who need to decided the fate of England.]

Robin over the course of the movie remembers who he is.  But ultimately becomes a "freedom fighter."  Why might you imagine this person has become a person of the hood, a criminal?  Sometimes in order to be just, we need to show the inadequacies in the law, or point to a Law.  Robin in this clip does exactly that, he makes it clear to the king that the best way to have the loyalty of the people is to allow them justice, and a law that even the king himself is bound to you.  "No servant can have two masters.  He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other." Lk. 16:13 The king himself must be subject to law. 

How often in our society do we see a gradation of who is under the authority of the law, like celebrities?  They should be held to the same standard that the average John Doe is.  The other aspect is that the laws of a land should reflect Natural Law, the Law to which we can discover is and is not good for man in general.  Think about it for a second the liberties that Robin talks about is that of which the Church would agree.  Take time today to think about the laws of this country, and whether or not they give us liberty, or bind us under a tyrant?  To quote from another movie, "why should I trade one tyrant 3000 miles away for 3000 tyrants one mile away?  A legislator can trample a man's right just as easily as a king can." -The Patriot

Real Steel

(spoiler!)

[Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) was a former boxer who was pretty amazing.  He had gone a shady path, but over the course of the movie we see his friend Bailey (Evangeline Lilly) and his son, Max (Dakota Goyo), change that.]

As I was watching this movie I realized something about a lot of the movies that I love so much, they all have a theme that connects them.  It is the theme of Providence.  Providence is that wonderful thing, knowledge, that there is a plan for our good, not for our ill.  "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you...plans for your welfare and not for woe so as to give you a future of hope." Jer. 29:11  It is this idea that all things are given for our good and maturity.  

This movie is no exception to that wonderful thing.  Charlie Kenton at the beginning of the film is not somebody that we necessarily like but ,through some turn of events, you cannot imagine something good to come out of, something good does come.  Bailey had told Max earlier in the film, to watch Charlie box was one of the most magical things, you would be taken up in the beauty of an athlete that could move so gracefully.  In this clip we see not only the transformation of the life of Charlie, but also of Max.  Charlie has been a crappy dad to Max throughout the film, but he sees his father for the glory that his father is, and Bailey sees that magic once more.  

You can see the joy so present on Charlie's face when he is boxing back to Zeus.  It is amazing to see people so enthralled in the task at hand, to stand back and watch the beauty of what people do.  The emotion in that moment is almost tangible.  At the beginning of the film, nobody could have imagined the outcome, that situation that seemed so dire could be redeemed.  

The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I know it seems like a cop-out, but so often we forget that God is choosing to save us directly from the circumstances that are from us.  I imagine a lot of people, when they get up to the pearly gates and are talking to God they will ask, "Why did you let me get so messed up," or "why was I abused, why did you not step in to save me?"  And He will show us how our life would have been different had those things not happened...and we see the person that we would never have wished to become.  Providence is that guiding factor, reminding us that there is a plan, not that we have to know it, but that He has plans for our good, not our woe.  May you today embrace the knowledge that there is a plan, and that these circumstances no matter how terrible, are given for your good. 

Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[Peter and his sisters have befriended the Beavers.  His family is supposed to be the people to save Narnia.  Now is the time that he must decide where his allegiance lies.]

What faith related topic do you think I am going to talk about with this clip?  Baptism!  I figured I could give you one that was actually a really beautiful image for what Baptism is all about.  And seeing how we just celebrated last Sunday the Baptism of the Lord, it seemed fitting. So what is the Sacrament of Baptism in our Church?  Well, it is the desire to be accepted into the family of God, becoming an adopted son or daughter of His.  It is done through renunciation for the empty promises of devil, and the pouring of water in the Trinitarian formula; "in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

So how does this clip integrate the parts connected with baptism?  Peter is posed with a choice, to accept the empty lies of the wolf that is threatening his family and his new found family the Beavers, or to follow what he knows to be right, rescuing his family from danger.  He makes his choice to accept the love of his new family (the Beavers) i.e. the Church.  He plunges his family into the water, accepting the role that has been decided for his good, by somebody greater than himself, Aslan.  Aslan is the true king of Narnia.  He accepts this new family as his own, but not in contrast to his natural family.  He chooses a new life for them, one in which they help their new friends, and all of Narnia.  

I let the clip go for quite some time, as well, because with baptism comes a responsibility to care for those of us who are placed in our path.  Then good choices bear good fruit.  This is why at the end of the clip you see new life spring from the once frozen trees.  Life comes from following His will.  Without Aslan (Christ) life is banished to a cold world in which things are sad and boring.  May we today open ourselves up to the beauty of the world around us, and the joy that God has to offer us. 

Frozen

[Anna's sister, the queen, just turned the whole kingdom into an icy world. She has been helped to go find her sister who ran away after it happened by Kristoff.]

Finally, Disney understands the bad romance model they have shown people!  I am glad that Disney takes the time to explain the absurdity of falling in love, and getting married when you don't even know the person.  Kristoff's reaction is good when he learns about this woman who is doing something that seems so stupid.  First, love takes time to develop and grow, just like you don't see the plant when you first put it it the ground.  You have to wait to have it grow, and then you see if it took. The second aspect of this is that when we see people making poor decisions we have an obligation to point out the decision.  

Kristoff also asks, "Didn't your parents teach you not to trust strangers?"  Anna then slides away from Kristoff, no longer trusting him.  My question to Anna would be, do you really think that the man who reminds you of that rule is going to then not be trustworthy?  The very fact that Kristoff brings it up makes him more trustworthy because you know that you need to be wary of new relationships.  When we meet people we have to ask if the person is reasonable, or charming.  Hans is charming to Anna, which is how he is able to woo her so quickly, but Kristoff is reasonable, pointing out throughout the film inconsistencies in logic.  He is a man who takes what is in front of him and accepts it for what it is.  These are the types of friends that we need to find, ones that are reasonable, and those are the new people, "strangers," we need to trust. 

Lastly, Kristoff is humble by acknowledging that he himself does not possess love expertise, but he knows people who do.  This is how we ought to respond as Christians.  I am not  an expert, but I know Somebody who is.  We point to others, who are better than us in certain circumstances.  This does not mean that Kristoff thinks he is worthless, or being falsely modest, he is being true to what he knows:  "I have friends who know what love is, and they have shown me what it is to live." 

Apollo 13

[Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) is being interviewed about his life as a pilot.  He was interviewed because he is the Captain for the Apollo 13 space flight to the moon. His wife, and daughter watch.  It is said that Apollo 13 (the real story) was a successful failure.]

I really enjoy when Hollywood takes the time to tell the true stories our culture has already experienced.  It brings that story to a new generation and has lots to offer them.  I was not even alive when the mission of Apollo 13 took place.  My parents hadn't even meet yet.  They were in middle school.  Yet this is a story that has a lot to teach us in this modern era.  

I love the way that Jim is able to look at a circumstance that was terrible, and recognize Providence in it.  He mentions that had his lights not shorted out he would not have been able to see the green in the water, and ultimately find his way home.  The line he stated is so beautiful for us, "You never know what events are going to transpire to get you home."  How true is this for us as well?  So often I hear people complain, myself included, about why we have to go through painful experiences, or unpleasant ones, but many times that is the means that God is using to bring us home, to heaven.  It is Him reaching down and shorting out your cockpit lights so that you can see the thing that will get you home.  

Earlier he stated that one of his instruments that should have led him home had been hijacked by the enemy and would have led him in the wrong direction.  How many times does that happen in our own lives?  We trust something because it has always steered us right before, but the Enemy is crafty.  He can use things that we have always trusted to bring us away from our home.  God wants us home, and sometimes He uses the most unusual of circumstances, things that might seem like He has abandoned us, to bring us to Him. 

Benchwarmers

[Gus (Rob Schneider) had picked on Marcus all throughout his child hood.  He picked on him so bad he had to be institutionalized (or at least they state that in the movie). Gus has become the hero of a team, that has spoken up for the untouchables.]

There might be some of you out there who still believe that Marcus is weird, and that he was worthy to be picked on, or at least he should have had thicker skin.  Let me tell you that you are wrong.  Marcus is weird, and unusual, but he is still a human being, and is made in the image and likeness of God.  We so often forget that every person is a reflection, a manifestation if you will, of God.  We are called to love that person just as we would God.

Gus did an amazing thing in this clip, he showed love.  He shows it in multiple ways.  Gus came to show Marcus that he was sorry his actions, he admitted that he was wrong.  That is a very hard thing to do for anyone especially in this day and age.  Gus stood there before somebody who had every right to hate him for what Gus had done to him, and apologize.  Courage and humility often work together, like in this scene, with Gus asking for forgiveness when he had done something wrong. Humility is about recognize the way things are, and having the courage to make the truth stand.  Gus is not the true hero of the team, but rather Marcus.  He was being a man that did not seek the glory for his own interests, but rather that of the good of others, which is evident throughout the movie. 

Gus had learned his lesson growing up, which is why he took the time to go and say he was sorry to the person he had first wounded by his careless actions.  He was willing to go to the true root of the issue rather than just changing his behavior in the present.  We have deep wounds, are we willing to go all the way to the beginning to scrub out all that scar tissue?  

Tangled

[Flynn has just been mortally wounded, and Rapunzel wants to use her hair to save him.  Her evil "mother" has been abusing this power of her hair for years, and we will continue to abuse it.  The power of Rapunzel's hair makes her young.]

I love Disney movies, especially when they can show us good things, not just happy things.  More often then not we see the happy-go-lucky part of Disney, but this one shows the nature of what it is to be a man, what is written on a man's heart.  This is true for women as well, but there is something natural about how it comes to a man.  

Flynn cuts the hair from Rapunzel before she has a chance to heal him.  Why does he do this?  It is to protect Rapunzel.  Her "mother" had been using Rapunzel all along and the whole reason why Flynn got hurt in the first place was trying to prevent the mother from ever using Rapunzel again.  Yes, it could have saved Flynn, but the nature of what it is to be a man is to lay down his life for the good of others, especially the one he loves.  He is a good man who puts the needs and life of his love, Rapunzel, before his own.  "There is no greater love, than to lay down one's life, for one's friend." -John 15:13.  It is the very nature of love to be sacrificial, to will the good of the other as other.

This is what we have so often forgotten in our modern age.  We think of love as an emotion, as something that makes us feel good.  That is not love, it is a fickle emotion, that comes and goes.  Love is to think of the other, to put their needs before your own.  The point of living and loving "is not thinking less of myself; it is thinking of yourself less." - C.S. Lewis