Tonight, we
have the first storm-warning of spring. Earlier today we watched a movie about
the ultimate storm, the Genesis flood.
The NOAH movie is causing a mini-storm among
Christians. People are taking to Facebook to post articles that support their
criticisms. Others are posting their own Ebert & Siskel reviews
after actually seeing it (good for them!) Some Christian bloggers have even
listed reasons to see the movie (none of which are because it's a good flick).
We were
given a gift card for a theater we usually don't go to,
so we've put off using it. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity -
if the movie was that bad, at least we didn't throw our money away. So off we went to see what all the fuss was about.
This isn't
the first movie to cause a storm.
In the early
70s, I was searching desperately for God. When I heard the music from Jesus
Christ Superstar, I fell in love. When I saw the film, I was moved to tears. I
saw that movie dozens of times. It was the only link to Jesus that I had. It made me think. It made me search. One day, I took
the album to a co-worker, a young seminary student, to hear. We were working an
evening shift to put ourselves through school. I was sure he would be as
enraptured as I was, being a minister-in-training and all. He brought it back
the next day, exclaiming in shock and wonder that I could listen to such blasphemy. I was
stunned. He then asked me if I had been "born again." I had never
heard the term and so he led me in the "sinner's prayer" right there at my keypunch machine. Still, Superstar was my hymnal for years to
come and I love the movie to this day. Is it totally scriptural? No. And
neither are Son of God, Passion of
Christ, The Ten Commandments, and
Veggie Tales.
I remember
another movie that caused a big storm in 1988. It was called The Last Temptation of Christ. People
were outraged. I reassured friends not to get their blood pressure up over it because,
based on tons of bad reviews, the movie would die out quickly by its own
hand and it did. I finally rented it years later and guess what? I was right -
it was a terrible movie by any standard.
I had read
the book in college, because I was looking for ANYTHING about Jesus. I knew it was fiction and frankly, it was a really
good, well written novel. It made me think. It made me
search. But as happens with so many films based on books, the film
didn't measure up. The storm died down.
So what
about Noah? I was all ready for a big-action,
Russell Crowe flick full of great effects. It had a few moments. I got a
chill-bump or two when the animals started towards the ark. I thought it was
kinda clever how they (spoiler alert)... let's say, put them in a Genesis
version of cryosleep.
But yes, it's
true, the storyline is not Biblical at all. They went beyond artistic license.
In this case, the story was changed but the names remain the same. I agree with
a friend who said they could've just made a movie based on the Epic of
Gilgamesh and avoided offending Christians. I'm guessing that wouldn't have had wide
audience appeal (read: profit). Because, let's face it, you've never seen cute little Gilgamesh
ceramic arks with adorable animals sticking their heads out the windows.
In summary, Noah is really just a dark, weird
movie with some dumb scripting and surprisingly cheesy special effects. But
check out the director: he also made Requiem
for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black
Swan. No surprise that Noah is dark and weird.
In
Siskel-speak: Noah gets 2 thumbs down. It will drown soon. Whoa, hold on and dial back that gloating... I don't recommend Son of God either. But that's another
post.
Funny thing
about storms. They don't last. The Bible has a story about another storm, where
some men got all up worked up in fear while another one just slept. They
accused Him of not caring. This is what
happened next: "He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet!
Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was
completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is
this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:39-41
Even
after that experience, the disciples would still get in a fret over things, big
and small, just like we do today. What mercy and understanding Jesus
demonstrated as He gave last instructions before His arrest: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid." John 14:27
There are
storms all around us. In our personal lives. On a global scale. In our
families. In our friends' lives. Political storms and crazy weather
patterns. There really are things more
important to be concerned about than a movie.
If you see
Noah, I hope it makes you think. I hope it makes
you search. And if you get in a conversation
with someone who has seen it or wants to see it, don't get all sanctimonious; use
the opportunity wisely! Because maybe that person is thinking
and searching!
What do I
want you to take away from this long post? The fact is, we are living in a
dark, fallen world. There will always be insulting, offensive situations in our
current pop culture and it's getting worse by the day. There are times to stand
up and not be afraid to say "that's just wrong." And there are times
to walk through the open door and use the moment to engage in a meaningful
dialogue. However you feel you should handle the situation, always do it with
grace and love. The object is to point the way to eternal life with a loving
Father. He'll do the rest.
