Mike King

Prim in Dystopia... Hunger Games resource for your youth ministry from Immerse.

 

***Major Spoiler Alert***

This is an excellent piece and a resource for you to engage with young people about Hunger Games from your friends at Immerse.

Prim in Dystopia 

By: Clint Schnekloth

Prim dies. This is where Suzanne Collins finally and irrevocably tears to shreds whatever tattered rag of a covenant she has with readers-that at least somehow, somewhere, something truly good can survive in this twisted, dystopian world. By the time readers make their way to Mockingjay, the third volume in the series, hopes are long gone that anyone might thrive or find redemption. Cinna lives on only in clothing designs. Peeta is shattered and no longer pure. Gale is busy mimicking the murderous tactics of the Capitol. Whole districts are fire-bombed.

But, until the very last, Collins offers the (slim) possibility that Katniss' innocent and lovely sister (with the ever un-tucked shirts and braided hair) might at least survive. And then in a final moment-reminiscent as it sadly is of the Massacre of the Innocents commemorated in Christian tradition-Prim herself is blown to bits by exploding parachutes dropped in to slaughter hundreds of caged children that she as a medic attempts to assist. Her death is pointless, gross and wrong-and there is never even any clarity as to the guilty party. Everyone is at fault. Everyone kills Prim. Even her own sister.

There are many ways to discuss the books and the first movie, but if we cannot in horror and shame keep our hearts focused on this naked fact-Prim dies-then nothing else about the novels, in all of their nihilism, will make any kind of sense; if one can make sense of nihilism.

Read More & Download the FREE User Guide

The Tree of Life

I have been anticipating the release of The Tree of Life for some time. I heard that Kansas City Star Film Critic Robert Butler would be introducing the movie at its Kansas City Premiere at the Tivoli Theater, so I couldn’t pass that up.  The Tree of Life is a film by Director Terence Malick.  If you love intelligent movies, great cinematography, the mystery of  life, theology and beauty, then you will be deeply moved by The Tree of Life.

Butler’s introduction was helpful to grasp more fully the context of this project by Malick.  The movie is set in Waco, Texas where Malick grew up and is largely biographical.  Malick’s interest in theology is evident throughout this movie.  The dialogue between characters felt less like a script and more like a glimpse into real human conversation and human thought (via the narration).  Malick begins with a poetic description of the interplay of nature vs. grace.   In the movie he inserts a lengthy creation sequence.  Although there was breathtaking beauty in this sequence there was also a sense of the awesomeness and powerful clash of nature’s forces.  However, it wasn’t until (and I’m not messing with you) an encounter between two dinosaurs that I had my first breathtaking moment in this film.  I actually spoke aloud (to the annoyance of my wife and daughter), “here comes the violence, nature on nature.”  Instead, Malick surprises with an act of grace.  OK, enough from me.  See this movie.  I’m looking forward to more of my friends seeing this movie so I can engage in dialogue and reflection. 

Roy Anker, who attended this year’s Cannes Film Festival, weighed in on The Tree of Life for Books & Culture. 

“The Tree of Life. This hotly awaited new film by American writer-director Terence Malick won the big prize at Cannes. It is a cinematic landmark that in style and substance goes where few films have. And it is a rapturous, profoundly Christian film in which Malick sets forth in clear form the vision that has informed the later part of his career (though lots of critics still don't get it). With an epigraph from Job, Malick offers a theodicy within a vision of cosmic history. Go at first chance, and then go again.”

Here is the trailer.

 

No really, Where is Aslan?

While I have now seen all three of The Chronicles of Narnia movies and enjoyed (not loved) them, it is now clear to me what is increasingly becoming the biggest irritation of the movie versions of C. S. Lewis' narratives, especially after the first movie The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  Where is Aslan?  Why is Aslan such a peripheral figure in the movies, especially Prince Caspian and now The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?  For C. S. Lewis, Aslan is the center of focus throughout the The Chronicles of Narnia.

So I started looking around the internet to see if others felt like me about the Narnia movies.  I guess I've missed this conversation.  Some are quite happy to have Aslan take a back seat.  Courtney Ferguson, a film critic for the Portland Mecury wrote an review entitled Aslan is a Prig.  She writes, "Prince Caspian wages a war with his uncle to regain his throne. Here's where all Prince Caspian's battle sequences start going down, and here's also where Lucy starts getting all, "Where's Aslan? How come y'all can't see him? Where's your faith? I believe! What would Aslan do?" (To director Andrew Adamson's credit, he does away with much of the Aslan/Jesus business that plagued Wardrobe, and here gets straight to the savage battle scenes.)"

How do you go away from the "Aslan/Jesus business" and retell Lewis' story?

I also found this interesting critique that is worth a read from Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity.  The article entitled "Narnia Invaded" was written by Steven Boyer, Professor of Theology at Eastern University.

Have any of you wondered about this?

 

Movie Recommendations

Two movie recommendations;

Best movie (I've seen )of the Year End Releases thus far goes to The Road

This is a powerful movie starring Viggo Mortensen that explores the best and worst of humanity.  This movie is both ugly and beautiful.  It will most definitely linger with you long after you leave the theater.  This is not an action movie (the trailers can be misleading).  It is a movie about life and death, tragedy and despair, and how to be human in within that reality. 

Another excellent movie that is quite a bit more uplifting is Blindside.  Blindside stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw.  This is a true story about the life of Michael Oher.  Michael grew up in a chaotic, impoverished environment and was basically homeless and abandoned when Sean (Tim McGraw) and Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) adopted him.  They enrolled him at Wingate Christian School and provided tutoring for him to catch up on his education.  Michael Oher also became a football sensation and now plays offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens.  This is really a wonderful story that handled the faith aspect of this in an honorable manner.

Bad Soloist, Good Soloist

 Vicki and I saw the movie The Soloist.  There is so much to love about this movie.  Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. are two of our finest actors and they live up to their reputations in The Soloist.  Jamie Foxx may well receive an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Nathaniel Ayers.  Nathaniel Ayers is living on the streets plagued by mental illness.  Downey Jr. plays the role of LA Times newspaper columnist Steve Lopez who encounters Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx) on the streets and discovers that he is a brilliant cellist who drops out of Julliard because of his mental illness.  Lopez befriends Ayers and a beautiful story emerges. 

Here are some things that I love about this movie;

    1.  The music is excellent (I have been a fan of Classical Music for the last twenty years).

    2.  I love true stories.

    3.  The acting is excellent.

    4.  The movie uses real homeless people as actors in this movie.

    5.  Lopez discovers life in his pursuit to care for the marginalized.

We saw this movie after spending some time with homeless people (something that always makes me feel alive and whole) so the scenes of homeless community celebration at the end of the movie was very beautiful.

Here are some things that I really disliked about this movie;

    1.  In real life Steve Lopez is married, has been for many years.  In the movie they show him divorced from his wife.  WHY?  Those involved in the movie said it was to show the isolation of Lopez' character.  Duh, you can do that within a marriage relationship - it happens all the time.  The good things is that they reconcile by the end of the movie.  You can still accomplish the same thing within a marriage relationship - it happens all the time.  Big issue for me -> Marriage mostly gets a bad rap in Movies and TV.

    2.  In the movie, Lopez arranges for Ayers to have a Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist who attempts to rehabilitate Ayers.  This characters name is Graham Claydon and he is a stereotype evangelical Christian who is a butthead.  This movie is based on a true story... in real life there is no Graham Claydon who is a overzealous and judgmental Christian.  This is a made up character.  WHY?  Someone was interested in portraying the typical media stereotype of the self-righteous Christian.  Lopez behaves like a Christian but is not portrayed as a Christian.  It makes me upset but it also reminds me that Christians have primarily created this stereotype - unfortunately.

Overall, I highly recommend this movie.  The last several scenes remind me of the joy found in the Upside Down Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Waltz with Bashir

Vicki and I saw the movie Waltz with Bashir, which I think should have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film last weekend.  The movie is a documentary shot in animation.  The sound tract is by Max Richter and is extraordinary.  The subject is the Israeli incursion into Lebanon told by Israeli soldiers dealing with the horrific psychological impact it had on them.  The plot listed on Wikipedia is below the Trailer in this post.  The film has been banned in several Arab countries.  It seems like it would more likely be banned in Israel and shown in Arab countries.  I'm thankful that Israel allows a free and vigorous criticism of its politics, policies and the realities that I'm sure they wish had never happened.  The film left animation in the last few minutes and morphed into actual footage of Palestinian women shrieking in terror and hysteria over the Sabra and Shatila massacre.  My God have Mercy and help us seek peace and an end to war.

The PLOT (Wikipedia)
In 1982, Ari Folman was a 19-year-old infantry soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. In 2006, he meets with a friend from his army service period, who tells him of the nightmares connected to his experiences from the Lebanon War. Folman is surprised to find that he does not remember a thing from that period. Later that night he has a vision from the night of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the reality of which he is unable to tell. In his memory, he and his soldier friends are bathing at night by the seaside in Beirut under the light of flares descending over the city. Folman rushes off to meet another friend from his army service, who advises him to discuss it with other people who were in Beirut at the same time in order to understand what happened there and to relive his own memory. Folman converses with friends, a psychologist and the reporter Ron Ben-Yishai who was in Beirut at the time.

The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke is simply astounding in The Wrestler (a no-brainer for an Academy Award as Best Actor).  This movie is a glimpse into a way of life that I'm very insulated from.  The Wrestler will break your heart if you are truly human.  Vicki and I have very different opinions to how the movie ends (which leaves you to make your own conclusion).  Listening to Bruce Springsteen singing The Wrestler over the credits is powerful.  You can't buy Springsteen's single yet (which should be his second Academy Award for Best Song to go along with one for Philadelphia) but here it is on YouTube.

Doubt, gossip, and rhythm of life...

 I’m not sure I want to say that Doubt was my most favorite holiday movie but it was the  movie that most impacted me.  It is the movie I can’t stop thinking about.   I’m not sure how long the scene between Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) in Sister Aloysius’ office lasted, but I don’t remember breathing.  It is one of the most intense and dramatic scenes I’ve ever experienced. 

I think that most great movies have a line or a scene that is the very reason the director made the whole movie for.  Sometimes that scene is an epiphany.   Most often it seems to come in the last third of the film.   Doubt contained several scenes that I thought could be that  moment – the scene I described in my first paragraph, a scene I will mention in the next paragraph, and a scene depicting a conversation between Sister Aloysius and the mother of student Donald Miller.  However, I was totally surprised by the power and transformational (for me) impact of the last two minutes of this movie.  Powerful. 

The other scene involved a sermon delivered by Father Flynn who tells the story about a priest who hears the confession of a woman who admits to gossip.  The priest instructs her to take a feather pillow on top of a building and cut it open to release all of the feathers.  Later the priest instructs the woman to go out and gather up all of the released feathers and return them to the pillow.  She replied that it would be impossible because the feathers had gone out to the four corners.  The priest responds by saying that is what GOSSIP does, once gossip is released there is no control over where it goes, how broadly it disperses and how impossible it is to recover.

The power of the story was magnified through director John Patrick Shanley masterfully illustrating Father Flynn’s story by portraying the released feathers caught in the wind currents, spreading to the ends of the earth.

In Adam Hamilton’s book Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White he writes, “We are all afflicted with the same human condition.  One of the hallmarks of our tendency to sin is that we feel the need to criticize, we take pleasure in gossiping, and we feel qualified to make judgments, often with very little information… The Apostle Paul says it this way, ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up’ (Ephesians 4:29 NIV).  The Greek word for ‘unwholesome’ is sapros.  It means rotten, putrid, or worthless—and in this context I believe Paul means to describe, in part, the words we use to destroy others, for in the rest of the verse he contrasts this first form of speech with that which is ‘helpful for building others up.’”

Seeing at least one movie a week is a part of my Spiritual Rhythm of Life.  The movie Doubt is a great example of why I have incorporated movies into my devotional life.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

So far this holiday season The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the only "must see" movie on my list.  I saw it last week with Vicki and my parents.  This is a heavy but extraordinary film. 

Here is a summary from Wikipedia; "Bruno is an eight year old German boy who leads a very comfortable life in Berlin during the Second World War. His father is a high ranking Nazi officer, and things change when the family has to move due to his father’s new post. In his innocence, Bruno sees the nearby concentration camp  as a ‘farm’ and wonders why its inhabitants are always wearing striped pajamas. Eventually Bruno becomes friends with a Jewish boy his own age who lives on the other side of the fence."

Seeing the atrocity of the holocaust through the eyes of eight year old boys is very unique.  It humanizes the ugly reality of what was happening in a way that brings it close.  In other words, sometimes the viewing of nasty people doing these atrocious things results in a kind of disbelief that these kinds of things could really happen in our world today.  This can leave us thinking "Those weren't human beings they were monsters."  Somehow this allows us to remain distant from these realities.  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas gives a glimpse into the human tragedy that allows us to realize this kind of thing not only could happen, it is happening.  There were points in this movie where I would realize that I had actually quit breathing, other times I would exclaim, "Oh, My God."  Here is the trailer.

Ordinary Radicals

What: Ordinary Radicals movie (with director/co-founder of The Simple Way, Jamie Moffett, and author/interviewee, Zach Exley)

When: Tuesday, Sept. 23rd

Where: Screenland theatres in the Crossroads

Directions: 1656 Washington Kansas City, MO 64108

Time: 7:30pm

Cost: 10 dollars (buy tickets at door or online: http://www.theordinaryradicals.com/blog/calendar)