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Iron Man 3

We’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all done wrong. In doing so, we’ve made demons. That is, negative consequences for the choices we have made.

Tony Stark is no exception. “I’m Tony Stark. I build neat stuff, got a great girl, occasionally save the world. So why can’t I sleep?” Tony has a lot of trials he’s facing in life. Ever since the Avenger initiative, things haven’t been the same. He tasted death and he doesn’t like it. Not. One. Bit. He spends days on end “tinkering” on his Iron man suit, making it better, adding cybernetics to himself, and testing new ideas. Locked away in his shop, he comes out to be with his girl, and occasionally make a trip to the local bar.

Until that is, a terrorist force grips America in fear. The government is powerless to stop a teacher called “The Mandarin”. What’s more, strange explosions, with no evidence of bomb material are occurring throughout the world. Tony decides to make the fight personal. He challenges The Mandarin to try to take him out and makes a promise Ironman will remove this blemish from the face of the earth.

The Mandarin strikes first, and as seen in the trailer, destroys tony’s multibillion dollar home, and everything along with it. Now without a functional suit, superhuman killers hunting him, and a girl to protect, Tony learns even Ironman isn’t invincible.

And Demons, can come back to haunt you.

Things I liked

Tony Stark is a pained man in this movie. He struggles with anxiety, pride, and purpose. Sadly, he fails to recognize any of those. One of the most powerful lessons in this film, is that of what pride can do to a man. “Pride goes before a fall” The scriptures say… And boy. Do we see Tony fall. Because of his pride he loses his home, his health for a time, his suits, and more. Because of his pride, he created a demon years ago which now comes back to bite him in a very painful way. Pride is the great destroyer in this movie, and Tony has to stoop low and ask for help from common people, even a boy, if he is to fix the monster he unknowingly created. Does he learn the value of humility Quite honestly, no. He doesn’t. But we can, and it is painful to watch his fall, and see him learn the hard way.

What is the measure of a man? Certainly not a fancy suit which can fly. We see that here. Tony relies on technology so much in his life, we see how dangerous it is to learn to lean on things, which can break, instead of people. Tony finds he must ask others for help instead of a computer program. That he has to use his own mind, instead of letting a algorithm do it for him. In our age of smartphones, tablets, and the internet I find it fitting to see a message of how important it is not to base our sustenance off these things.

Another great lesson taught is the importance of every interaction we have with others. Because of the way Tony treated one man years ago, the terrible threat he faces today is the result. It was a great reminder, every person we come into contact with we share Christ as a witness, or not. And every interaction has ramifications, either good or bad.

Every great thing begins with an idea, then is eventually destroyed by compromise. That’s what the movie says anyway. Compromising on principles and values are shown to have devastating consequences. We also see some genetic manipulation of people result in terrible effects as well, showing what happens when you try to make God’s creation into something it wasn’t meant to be.

Things I Didn’t Like

Even though Tony goes most of the film without his suit, the violence and body count is extremely and grossly high. Terrorists vaporize civilians with a new technology. A bodyguard, the lone survivor, is shown badly burned, scarred, and bloody. The technology is, quite simply, using people as bombs. They heat up and then… explode. The pain in their face is shown as they become bright hot and then… Boom.

A woman who is enhanced genetically attacks Tony in a bar, and a vicious fight ensues. In the aftermath we see her body hanging from electric lines. A man is shot through the chest with tony’s Arc Reactor. Dozens of soliders and public officials are gunned down, beat up, shot, and shot again. A civilian is shot in the head on live TV.

Stark’s enemies wind up facing Tony in his suit, and he shows no mercy. They are killed in many ways… Being shot, broken, tossed, drowned, vaporized…. the list goes on. Because of their inhuman enhancements, we are tempted to forget they are still human… but they are, and they die in many painful ways at the hands of ironman.

Tony and Pepper are living together, yet not married… But that is just the start of a lot of sensual stuff that isn’t extreme, but most definitely unneeded. Girls are displayed in Bikinis and lingerie more than a few times in the film. A one night stand is talked about and there is a flashback about that. There is also a lot of innuendo about certain actions.

The language was very frustrating in this film, mainly because there was an attempt at humour through it. God’s name is used in vain various times. The S, A, D, P, B and many other crude words are used… many times.

Closing Thoughts

“Ladies, children, sheep… Some people call me a terrorist. I consider myself a teacher. Lesson number one: Heroes, there is no such thing.” ~The Mandarin~

What makes a one a Hero? A hero is one who has incredible qualities worthy of emulation. Qualities of selflessness, courage, and service to others- No matter what the cost. A hero is one who takes whatever they have, and uses it for the benefit of others to the point where they themselves, have given everything they have in the process of helping another. Christ, of course, is the only perfect Hero.

Ironman 3 gives Tony Stark a chance to become a true hero. In the previous two films he has done his thing of zipping around, beating up a few bad guys, and calling it a day. In this movie, it is different. Tony doesn’t always have his suit, and the bad guys aren’t exactly easy to find or beat up. Tony discovers something in this film that he hadn’t realized years past.

“My suit was never a distraction or a hobby. It was a cocoon. And I’m a new man.” ~Tony Stark~

To be honest, I wanted to like this movie. I wanted to see Tony becoming a hero we could emulate, like we see in The Dark Knight Rises. I wanted to see that new man who choose once, just once, to do something not for himself. After pondering this film over the weekend with the various quotes and actions Tony makes, I can say this new man isn’t really that new. Refurbished might be the better term. In reality, Tony is the same guy, just humbled and puts himself back together again. I look at his actions for Pepper, and see they are self serving, not self sacrificial.

Don’t get me wrong, the movie has some excellent teaching points regarding pride, the importance of our interactions with others, and the destruction greed can bring. It brings up interesting points on Bioethics, government, and business. Conversely, It also reveals foolish sensuality, crude speech, and ups the ante yet again in terms of violent content.

So if you go see this movie, don’t go expecting to see Ironman turned into a true superhero, like I did. But rather, Expect to see Ironman made into… a man. A man who learns he isn’t invincible, but fails to realize the value of selfless living. That’s what makes this movie, more or less, like the suits Tony tinkers with. Sure they have purpose, they teach lessons, and they have the flash, bang, and sizzle we’ve come to expect from films like this. But open the suit up, and instead of finding a hero just as incredible as the suit, you’ll find it hollow. Wanting of someone more than the person who made it.

2013: 05/20
CATEGORY: Action
Film Review
PG-13
Science Fiction
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Iron Man 3

“Things are different now, I have to protect the one thing that I can’t live without.”

Since that epic battle in New York, nothing has been the same for Tony Stark. In his own words, “You experience things, and then they’re over. I can’t sleep, and when I do I have nightmares.” Ever since the Avengers assembled to save the world, Stark has become a damaged and suffering man living in a world he no longer understands. Tinkering with his Iron Man suits merely serves as an escape from the real world, and, when “demons” from Stark’s past suddenly appear in his life and threaten to destroy everything he holds dear, will Iron Man realize that hiding is not the solution?

The Good

Who is Tony Stark without his suit? This is a question that not even Stark himself knows the answer to and this film documents the dramatic and raw journey of discovery. While this film does have some exciting scenes, engaging dialogue, and entertaining elements, the themes it provides for thought are definitely the most rewarding aspect.

Arrogant. Egotistical. Narcissistic. These are all words that can be used to describe the character of Tony Stark. However, as Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” Stark does experience his fall and learns the right lessons through it. We watch such a vainglorious character transform from a pompous “genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist” (to use Stark’s own description of himself) into a man who is stripped of his illusion of strength and experiences true brokenness and humility. Iron Man 3 chronicles more than just another action-packed adventure; it tells a story of identity and transformation. Previously, in Iron Man 2, Stark had proclaimed, “I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself.” Throughout this latest installment in the Iron Man trilogy, that view is radically changed and Stark is finally able to admit to himself that his suit was nothing more than a “cocoon” that enabled a new man emerge from it’s shell.

Protection and sacrifice were both themes that I appreciated as much as the emphasis on humility. The previous Iron Man film ended with Tony Stark and Pepper Potts finally in a serious relationship and it is refreshing to watch the way they both sacrifice to protect each other. In a moment of anger and pride, Stark jeopardizes the safety of “the one thing he can’t live without.” Once he realizes his mistake, however, he is broken and his apology is sincere. Multiple times Stark compromises his own safety in order to ensure Pepper’s. What a vast difference this is from the old Tony Stark who only cared about himself; now he loves Pepper and is willing to put her needs and safety before his own. Pepper’s character has always been one of a feminine woman who supports and aids the hero without getting involved in the action herself but that perception is altered somewhat in this installment. After she endures a terrible ordeal, Pepper is worried for herself and Tony and she is terrified that she might inadvertently harm the man she loves. However, Tony reassures her, “I can make you better. I fix stuff.” Both are willing to be there for each other in good times as well as bad and make sacrifices necessary to protect the other.

Another concept that is worth thinking about is introduced in a statement by Stark at the opening of the film. He remarks, “You start something pure, something exciting then come the mistakes, the compromises. We create our own demons.” This quote and the way it is a crucial aspect to the plot provides some excellent food-for-thought. Even if it doesn’t acknowledge the true nature and source of evil, it does inspire people to consider their actions towards others and realize that the compromises we make now can have deadly ramifications for our future. Despite the fatalistic tone of this statement, the story is not void of following up with messages of hope and redemption and overcoming mistakes.

The Bad

The MPAA rated this film PG-13 for “sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content.”

Even though Iron Man 3 is full of some excellent themes and messages worth thinking about, it is not void of negative content and it contains much of the risque content found in the other two Iron Man films.

Yes, Tony and Pepper are in a relationship now, but this does not stop us from seeing the kind of behavior Stark was notorious for during the previous films. Flashbacks show us a glimpse of the promiscuous-pre-Pepper Tony. Nothing is shown and nothing explicit is said, however, there is suggestive dialogue and inappropriate actions are implied. Regarding Pepper and Tony’s relationship, the two live together even though they are not married and suggestive dialogue is amply present between the two of them as well.

People are shown together in bed while, throughout the course of the movie, women are shown in underwear, bikinis, and very revealing clothing. Pepper’s midriff is exposed during quite a bit of the film.

Profanity consists uses of “s-”, “d-”, “a-”, “S.O.B.” and taking the Lord’s name in vain. In addition to those, there are several instances of inappropriate slang terminology.

Drugs are mentioned and some characters drink alcoholic beverages.

This is, without a doubt, a very violent film; more-so than I can remember the other Marvel films being. Iron Man 3 seems to jump from one fast-paced battle to the next with hardly a moment to catch your breath in between. People are killed and terrorism is shown in a way that is extremely frightening and realistic. Blood is shown and genetic modifications are the cause of some highly disturbing images and scenes including people breathing fire, turning red-hot, and being able to regenerate disgusting and mutilated bodies back to normal. People are blown up and buildings explode. Hand-to-hand combat is gritty and intense (including vicious fighting between a man and a woman.) The violence is definitely something of which to be very wary.

Conclusion

While I consider Iron Man 3 to be superior to Iron Man 2 plot-wise, it is far from perfect. What started out as a fantastic plot with plenty of depth and a well-developed villain, was taken too far and ended up being over-the-top and unbelievable. Sometimes less is more and subtlety is better than excess. Towards the end of this film I was ready to go back to the more “realistic” roots of Iron Man and forget about some of the crazy things that were introduced into this story by its end. The messages were there, but they seemed to get buried and lost amidst the special effects and action sequences that failed to deviate from the expected norm.

Iron Man 3 explored and caused viewers to consider and question some serious issues, such as the ramifications of genetic modification and “playing God.” Due to its thought-provoking themes, I am glad I went to see this film; it provided me with a lot to consider and the film itself contained plenty of exciting action, plot twists, and witty dialogue to be thoroughly entertaining. However, because of the risque content and the heavy amount of disturbing violence, this is not a film I would chose to see again.

2013: 05/14
CATEGORY: Action
Adventure
Film Review
PG-13
Science Fiction
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The Avengers

The Hulk.

Ironman.

Captain America.

Thor.

Black Widow.

Hawk.

These are not your average people in the world. Some are not even of this world. When earth is threatened however by Thor’s adopted brother Loci, they are forced to come together and fight for the survival of earth. The cliché of all hero movies is set. The villain is ready. And the heros are gathered. They are the Avengers.

Things I liked

The Avenger initiative was started by one man who had a vision of a group of extraordinary people overcoming their egos, fears, and desires. Working together for the good of the world, and not themselves. This theme of selflessness is present throughout the entire movie. It is displayed all the time by some like Captain America, and hardly at all by men like Stark (Ironman). When the two come together, there is of course, a clash of this value or lack thereof. Captain America calls Stark out in one scene, telling him if the time came where he had to give his life, he wouldn’t. That time comes in the movie though, and we are not disappointed in the result.

Another theme that is actually very biblical and I appreciated was the statement Loki made: “It’s the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life’s joy in a mad scramble for power. you were made to be ruled.” Men are made to worship, and worship something throughout their life. It may be money, fame, power… but that quote is indeed true and biblical. It opens up an excellent talking point for people without Christ.

Right after Loki said that, one man rose and said “I will not kneel to men like you.” In this day and age where standing up against evil is so rare, that one line was incredible to see. It acted as a force of encouragement, to show one should stand against what they know is wrong, even when it will most assuredly cost you your life.

One last main thing, when Loki is about to engage New York, he is told by a dying man he will lose. In arrogance, Loki states “Your Heros are scattered, your fortress crumbling, where is my disadvantage?” The man says, “You lack conviction.” Even as the man is dying, he knows because of the evil Loki is bringing, the damage he has done, and the state of the Avengers… Loki will lose, because ultimately, good does triumph over evil, because good’s conviction overpower’s evil’s motives. What a wonderful allegory to biblical principles.

Additionally, we see themes of self sacrifice, humility, and incredible feats of bravery.

Things I didn’t like

There was a lot of cussing here, in jest and in battle, words such as son of a ——-, d–n, b—–d, a–, and God’s name are used several times. Hulk wakes up “Buck — Naked” in a hanger. No inappropriate things are shown, but the cussing is frustrating.

Black widow’s opening scene shows her dressed in a tight and revealing black dress. throughout the movie she wears form fitting clothes. Stark kisses his assistant. they are not married. Early on the heros lie, mislead, fight with, and manipulate to each other.

Violence I didn’t like, there was an early scene where Loki enters and we see pretty intense footage of him killing many men with his spear. We also see a man stabbed through the chest with the spear again later in the movie. The amount of smashing, shooting, hitting, flinging, sniping, punching… etc. is amazingly a lot. However, it did not bother me, here is why. In the course of this movie, we see hero smash against one another, but they never die. We see cars blown up and citizens running away, but never any bodies or anyone get killed.

All we see is evil animated aliens getting smashed, blown to bits, cut, shot, and more by the avengers. It is intense, the aliens very evil looking, and the heros get quite beat up (we see bloody lips, cuts, etc), but overall, there is a huge lack of human death seen, or even implied death.

Closing Thoughts

“You are such a petty people…” Thor says in one scene, when all the Avengers are arguing with each other over information. Even super-humans, in all their power and glory, still suffer from that condition of man called sin.

Thor too, when he talks about his world “We on Asgard pretend we are more advanced, but we, we come here to your world, battling like bildgesnipe…. These creatures are repulsive, and trample everything in their path.” It is seen the fallen condition is everywhere in the universe. And all living creatures are affected by it.

I think that is what makes this movie so unique and memorable. We already know these people have struggles, weaknesses, and flaws. Just like us, and have to fight these things to succeed. It goes to show a special suit, a big hammer, or a body enhancing drug won’t solve your problems.

What does it take? Purpose.

Purpose in life is the unifier and the compass. It provides the direction and a reason to take it.

On the surface this is an excellent blow up flick, we see mindless aliens (not people) smashed and destroyed, special effects galore, and the Avenger team using their powers in all their glory in the final scene. If you wanted to, you could walk way in that state, just like pretty much everyone else in the theater did last night. Talking about the special effects, the coolest power, and such. However, If we peel off that outer skin of animated blue screen effects, we see a raw and universal question that every person has asked themselves at least once in life.

What is my purpose?

For the Avengers, it was to avenge. Avenge what? well, I can’t say or I would ruin the movie for ya. That vengeance gave them purpose, but it was only temporary. What happens after the apocalyptic battle? They go back to what they were doing before, with a little more humility and experience under their belt. For all men, it is of course to live and serve for Christ, whether they acknowledge this of not, it is what man’s ultimate end. In the words of Loki “In the end, you will always kneel.” How true this is.

What am I trying to say? This movie could be the greatest tool for witnessing in the area of flicks of the year. There are so many questions about humanity presented I could probably go pages in length. But for your sake… I won’t.

So, I will leave you with this.

The Avengers takes a possible cliche of a movie, and turns it into a quest not only to save the world, but a underlying philosophical journey on the quest for man’s improvement. While the cussing and the few inappropriate comments are inexcusable, and the few killings of people are disturbing, we see that is all part of their flaws and depravity. Through trials, sacrifice, and suffering the Avengers find and accomplish their their temporary purpose, some characters change for the better, and the movie ends.

The question to ask yourself though, just like the Avengers should have:

“What is your purpose, and is it a permanent one which will last for eternity?”

2013: 02/04
CATEGORY: Action
PG-13
Science Fiction
1 comment

Batman Begins

“Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

Bats. Ever since he was attacked by bats as a child, Bruce Wayne has been afraid of the creatures. When actors dressed as bats appear on-stage at an opera, Bruce begs his parents to leave early. They exit through a back door into the alley–where Bruce’s parents are robbed and murdered by a thug. Driven by guilt and anger, Bruce waits for 14 years for his chance to kill his parent’s murderer, but someone else gets there first.

Broken and shamed, Bruce abandons his estate and wanders the world, studying the criminal mind. But “The world is too small a place for someone like Bruce Wayne to disappear,” and Bruce is discovered by a mystical group that offers to train him to fight crime. But when Bruce learns that the group’s plan for abolishing evil involves destroying Gothem City, he must decide for himself what is the right way to achieve justice–and determine just how far he’ll go to protect his hometown.

Batman Begins tells the enthralling tale of how the Dark Knight embarked on his journey to fight evil. It was the first “grown up” superhero movie I ever watched, and my mind is still spinning from the onslaught of this new action-packed world. Batman Begins is a complicated film on many levels–but in a good way. Here’s why.

The Just

The story of how Bruce was inspired to join the fight against evil is not only engaging–with a realistic set-up and a very endearing young Bruce–it’s thought-provoking. Bruce’s family is portrayed as loving and stable; Bruce’s father, in particular, is kind, caring, and generous. It’s Bruce’s devotion to his father that plays perfectly into his transformation into Batman, making his character transition realistic and engaging–and it also incites a lot of questions about the nature of justice. Throughout the film, the theme of justice is expounded–and contrasted with revenge–on many levels. Although I didn’t necessarily agree with every thought presented, the film shed light on many angles of the subject and gave me much to ponder. It’s a film that makes you think, which makes it an excellent piece for discerning audiences.

One particularly interesting element regarding the theme of justice is Bruce’s resistance to killing his enemies. He staunchly refuses on several occasions, instead leaving them for the police to arrest and try lawfully. While Bruce isn’t entirely consistent with this ideal, as I’ll discuss below, it does motivate him to make on crucial and very admirable decision. [spoiler!] When the mystical group reveals that they want to destroy Gothem City, a rat’s nest of evil, Bruce refuses. No matter how much evil there is in the city, the people are still worth fighting for. (Gen. 18:32)

Aside from the main plot of Bruce and his search for justice, there is a delightful cast of secondary characters, and I found several of them to be very endearing–and admirable. Alfred is a wonderful example of loyalty; even though he is only a butler, he watches over Bruce like a father. He doesn’t give up on Bruce, despite his mistakes, and he challenges Bruce to do something with his future–and begs him not to destroy the family name in the process. Gordon, the police officer that Batman wins as an ally, shines as a just soul who is willing to go against an unjust system. And Rachel, the district attorney and long-time friend of Bruce’s, is a rare and lovely example of femininity. She fights for what is right and isn’t afraid to stand up to bad guys or Bruce. She takes action and challenges Bruce to achieve a higher standard, yet she doesn’t run into danger or try to save the world on her own. Her primary role in the final climactic battle is defending and comforting a small child, a very endearing and feminine moment.

On a related note, the developing romance between Rachel and Bruce is very subtle and tame. For most of the film, their attraction manifests itself in their desire to take care of each other–Bruce protects Rachel, and Rachel supports and challenges Bruce (and Batman). Near the end of the film they do exchange some romantic words and one kiss, but there is no flirting or sexual overtones. In fact, Rachel is never shown flaunting herself or wearing noticeably immodest clothing, a very refreshing portrayal.

The Unjust

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the two girls Bruce takes out on a date. In an attempt to conceal his secret identity, Bruce tries to fill the role of a millionaire playboy. This results in a decadent evening out that ends with Bruce in a pool with two women who have evidently undressed. While very little skin is shown, it is still worth noting. What’s also worth noting, however, is that this behavior is not condoned. Bruce runs into Rachel shortly after and feels the need to explain that “all this” is “not the real Bruce.” Rachel replies with, “It’s not who you are underneath that defines you, but your actions.” Although the scene was unnecessary, and certainly isn’t appropriate for children, I do think Rachel’s response shows good character.

Aside from that one scene, the adult content in the film is very mild. A few men are shown shirtless briefly, but there is no other overt immodesty or sexual content. There is a fairly generous dose of moderate language, in addition to at least one swear word and direct misuse of God’s name. The mystical group has some quasi-religious rituals and claims to have supernatural influence; it mostly comes off as bizarre and is not explained in detail.

The main content concern is, of course, violence. As is to be expected with an action movie, there’s ample amounts of flashy violence–explosions, car chases, etc. There is also a substantial amount of gang violence and several gun/fistfights. Gore is not excessive, but there is a moderate horror element to one bad guy’s methodology–he uses a toxin to induce panic in his victims, causing them to imagine the people around them as horrid creatures. The disturbing nature of this, and the psychological implications of his weapon, provides interesting material for adults but may be a concern for younger audiences.

Interestingly, while Batman claims to be against killing his enemies, he does not appear to have any qualms against causing destruction and chaos. He blows up the monastery where the mystical group resides, supposedly killing many of them. He wreaks havoc during some of his escapades, damaging buildings and crashing police cars. And during the climax [spoiler!] he intentionally leaves the villain in a doomed train. He’s statement of “I won’t kill you, but I don’t have to save you” makes one wonder just how deep his devotion to saving lives really is.

In the end

The superhero genre was a new experience for me, and I’m still trying to process my reaction to the film. I was expecting ample violence and also hoping for deep themes to ponder. I got both, and thankfully the objectionable content in the film was not high enough to muddy it. I’m not sure yet whether Batman Begins will be a film I enjoy watching repeatedly, or whether it will be a film I watch only a few times and ponder. But I have decided on one thing–superhero movies may just be worth my time.

2012: 10/03
CATEGORY: Action
Film Review
Genres
PG-13
Rating
Science Fiction
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Thor

Mjolnir, the great hammer, formed in the heart of a star, is wielded by a boy. A boy, living in the body of a man…. And this boy, craves war. Thor, the god of thunder and wielder of Mjolnir, has grown up in Asgard. Under his father the king, he longs for the day when he can take his place as the king. With that title, he would declare war on the ancient race of the “Ice World”.

Against his father’s wishes, he goes with his loyal friends to this world and attacks the people there. Thus reigniting an ancient war which had been at peace for thousands of years.

As punishment for Thor’s arrogance and disobedience, his father banishes him to earth until he learns what is means to be a true king.

Things I liked

In the most simple of terms, Thor is a coming of age story, this movie shows how a boy becomes a man, albeit with supernatural powers. At the start of this movie, we see Thor immaturely make decisions without thinking of the consequences. He is arrogant, hot headed, and thinks only of glory in battle.

Through the story, Thor learns many things about being a man, and begins to embody them. Some are selflessness, honor, patience, and sacrifice. We see him turn into a gentleman who exhibits traits worthy of imitating.

Thor’s Father also is worthy of note. He is shown to have wisdom and patience. He hates the fact he has to banish Thor, but like any loving father, does so.

Finally, Magic/gods. I know this is the turn off for many Christians. Oddly enough, the movie made it explicitly clear there is no magic in Thor’s world. Rather it is science. They called what we call magic “science we don’t yet understand”. The gods were not portrayed as gods, but people living on another planet with greater knowledge than us. In other words… Aliens.

Things I didn’t like

In terms of content, there is a reason this film is rated PG-13. Thor has a hammer, and boy does he know how to use it. Many “people” of the ice realm are killed by Thor. No blood is shown in the movie except once. (a person is run thru with an icicle). It is truly a smashingly violent movie, but not as intense or graphic as Lord of the Rings

There is a relationship with a girl. Which results in one intense kiss on the lips.

There are a few times when God’s name is taken in vain, and 3-4 other curse words.

There are a couple bar scenes where people are drinking, and a person gets drunk.

Closing thoughts

Having seen numerous superhero movies. This one stands out to me.

Why?

Thor is a rare gem from Hollywood. Thor is a boy and is struggling against pride, like all of us do. He is punished by his father and instead of rebelling against his family, like so many other productions portray, he in turn becomes apologetic and wishes to be redeemed.

Good wins, even if it is hard at times in the movie to see who is actually good. Evil is sought out and punished. Honor is glorified, deceit condemned.

Many a boy can watch this movie and be amazed at Thor’s superpowers. However, with some guidance, a boy can watch this movie and learn that leadership doesn’t rest in arrogant power, but in humble service.

This movie hits the nail on the head, and drives home those values in a way I won’t be forgetting for a long time.

2012: 08/31
CATEGORY: Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Film Review
PG-13
Science Fiction
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John Carter

Heroism. Honor. A Decorated War Veteran. That was the kind of man John Carter was.

Not anymore.

John Carter is a broken man. He’s a man without a cause, a husband and father without his wife and child, and a hero with no conviction or foundation. Then one day everything he knows and believes changes… literally. After discovering a gold mine, Carter finds himself transported to the planet Mars where his bone structure, and the lighter atmosphere, gives him inhuman strength and the ability to jump incredible distances.

So what does John do with these newfound abilities? Well, first he tries to survive the alien race known as the Tharks and ends up catching the fancy of Tars Tarkas, landing him the responsibility of protecting Sola. That doesn’t go so well… Then he gets involved with the feisty princess of Helium who is being forced into a marriage for the sake of a peaceful alliance with the warring Sab Than that will save her people. And for some reason John can’t seem to get rid of the dog-like critter that keeps following him!

But the real question is not what does John Carter do with these new found abilities, but is he willing to take sides in a battle that is not his own?

Positive Elements

Sacrifice. That is the theme of the movie. Over and over we see different characters sacrificing different things for others. We see Dejah willing to sacrifice her happiness in order to protect her people. We see Tars and Sola willing to sacrifice themselves for one another, but also for Carter. And Carter… we see that he has sacrificed much, and will continue to sacrifice much, by the end of the film.

Carter’s character is one of those that I love watching over and over again. In the beginning he only wants to get back to his cave of gold. The death of his wife and child scarred John and he never again wants to fight in someone else’s war. Then he meets Dejah. While Carter may be struck by the Princess immediately, literally and figuratively, he’s not about to let her distract him from getting back home. But over time Dejah’s character, and her willingness to sacrifice herself for her people, wears off on John. Her courage stirs the embers of his dying heroism into a burning flame, and by the end of the movie we see a John Carter who will go to great lengths, and overcome incredible odds, to save not only the beguiling Dejah, but also the whole of her people. This was the strongest element of the movie for me.

The relationships in the movie are also well done. Be it the bonds of family (John’s apparent love for those he has lost), the camaraderie of Tars Tarkas and John Carter, the mutual respect and love that grows between John Carter and Dejah, and even the man’s best friend relationship that unfolds between John and an alien critter, they all had something to add to the movie.

Consequently, I also enjoyed the stark contrast shown between the fatherly love that Tars has for Sola, and the lengths he is willing to go to protect her, and the love that Dejah’s Father has for her. We see Tars’ love is more aggressive. He will go to any lengths to save his child, including forfeiting his title and his life for her. Dejah’s Father, on the other hand, loves his daughter, but his love does not extend to protecting her at all costs. In fact, he is willing to give her over to a ruthless and villainous character in order to save his people. In the end both father’s did love their daughters, but we see a very different kind of love portrayed by each.

Negative Elements

So, the biggest question I had going into the movie, and that I have heard other people express, is how revealing are Dejah’s clothes? It is no secret that the Novel, Princess of Mars, depicted the alien vixen in less than to be desired clothing. A Disney Movie, however, can’t get away with that, for which we are grateful. Dejah’s outfits certainly expose plenty of skin, her thighs often revealed, and we have the typical cleavage to be found in Hollywood, but on the whole Dejah’s clothing isn’t in your face. The filmmakers could have focused in on the princess’ clothing, reminding us of it constantly, but instead they used camera shots that minimized the skin her outfits revealed, as a whole. In addition, Carter often goes shirtless in the movie, so personal preferences and tolerability will play a large part in whether or not you watch the film.

As for the romance (I assume, even if you haven’t read the book, that you all know this is a action/sci-fi/romance), Dejah does end up in Carter’s arms on more than one occasion, and we see the hero and his princess kiss and marry by the end of the film. We also see Dejah, after their wedding, in bed, but John is not with her. For the most part, it was a tame, well done romance.

Mars is centered around a monotheistic religion, but it is not of this world. All of Barsoom (Mars) seems to worship a Goddess named Issus. We see temples and pilgrimages made in her name, as well as a few prayers, but it was kept to a low roar and seemed very fantastical in its nature. The religion is magical in some ways, but is far more technologically driven, matching the Sci-Fi theme of the movie nicely. There are multiple references made to the religion, but we explore its intricacies little.

The worldview of the Thurns is something worth noting. Shang describes he and his fellow brothers as being influential in helping nudge worlds across the galaxy towards their demise. “History will follow the course we have set,” he says. “We don’t cause the destruction of a world, we manage it. Populations rise. Societies divide. Chaos spreads. Eventually, a population devours itself and slowly fades”. It’s a process Shang relishes in, finding great satisfaction in this job description.

Another disturbing worldview is that of the Tharks. Their culture is very detached, their eggs being raised in a hatchery so that no one knows whose child is really whose. Early on we see adult Tharks riffling through the newly hatched young, loading up the strongest of the batch and shooting the rest. Back at the camp we then see the female Tharks fight over who will own which of the surviving young. Tharks are also punished for wrong doing by being branded on their backs. Too many marks and the Thark is killed.

Violence is a given in a Sci-Fi adventure, but the violence is very futuristic, making it on the level with, if not less than, Lord of the Rings. The most disturbing imagery you will find is the arena fight where a white ape falls on top of Carter before our hero emerges out of the creature’s body, having cut his way through, covered in blue blood. Also worth mentioning is when Carter beheads a Thark (4 armed alien being) and the camera shows the head hit the ground.

The other question that often comes up is language, but I have to be honest with you, I can’t give an accurate account on this one. I watched the movie with my TV Guardian on (removes any language or uses of the Lord’s name in vain). I do know that there were a handful of times that the Guardian bleeped something out, but it didn’t seem very excessive. Also, by context, I assume the words used were h— and d—.

Conclusion

John Carter is far from the disaster it’s been made out to be in some circles. It’s artistically beautiful, the CG landscape and creatures nearly seamless. I heard one person describe the visuals of the movie as “an epic-scale production with visual-effects landscape so palpably real that it’s impossible to tell where actors and sets leave off and movie magic takes over.”

While the movie does start slowly, due to the need to cover a lot of back-story, it quickly gets rolling once we’re on Mars with Carter. I’m often one to guess how things are going to wrap up midway through a movie while I’m watching it. Not so with John Carter. None of my scenarios were working out well and the ending that was presented was not only brilliant, but very satisfying. They had me stumped all the way to the end, which is an impressive achievement.

What I love most about the movie, however, is that it’s the story of a man who had lost his way and needed his heroism renewed. John Carter has qualities that won’t let him bury the hero inside of him, and by the end we see that his deep-seated desire to protect people makes him stand strong in the end. Stanton (screenplay writer of John Carter and a Pixar Legend) is a subtle and sophisticated storyteller with a Pixarian’s understanding of how to build characters that stay with you.

For those reasons I would recommend this movie to any who have a desire to see it. Although, if you’re not a Sci-Fi fan this movie is not for you. A Princess of Mars was the Grandfather of Science fiction, so expect to see that throughout the movie.

2012: 07/27
CATEGORY: Action
Adventure
Film Review
PG-13
Romance
Science Fiction
7 comments

Men in Black

NYPD officer James Edwards was just doing his job, chasing down a criminal through the streets of New York when something strange happened — the perp blinked two sets of eyelids. The rest of the police department doesn’t believe James, but somebody does — a mysterious man in in a black.

The man in black is known only as Agent K, and after some convincing, he recruits James to be part of the Men in Black — a secret agency that monitors, screens, and covers up alien activity on the planet earth. James becomes Agent J, dons his own black suit, and partners with K to find out what threat is sending scores of formerly happy aliens running back home.

The answer? A bug, a violent, parasitic alien who feeds on other life forms, and wants to obtain the Galaxy to help his race win a war with the Arquillians. As if that weren’t trouble enough, the Arquillians regretfully announce that to keep the bug from obtaining the Galaxy, they will destroy earth if the bug isn’t stopped before their deadline, which is just hours away.

Can K and J work together to stop the bug, deliver the Galaxy, and save the earth before the whole planet and every man, woman and extra-terrestrial on it are blasted into oblivion?