Noah

I really liked the way the movie depicted Noah receiving revelation from God. His dreams are clear enough for him to understand, but they aren’t as clear to us (though we know what they mean due to our familiarity with the story). He doesn’t get it all at once and it isn’t all clear to him all at once. He has to think on it and work it out in his mind and with those God has blessed him to better understand what it is he needs to do.

Contrary to many world standards and beliefs, the film comes out and equates happiness with being married and having children. The whole film circles around the importance of the family unit and the distress that comes with it breaking up, or not perpetuating.

[***Spoiler Alert...If you haven't seen it and plan to, don't read on (it's on Netflix streaming right now).***]

Two hours into the movie I was rather puzzled at how Noah’s raging lunacy was really tied into anything meaningful. It wasn’t until the conversation between Ila and Noah that everything fell perfectly into place. The movie had been quite the emotional roller coaster. Ham is torn from the possibility of having a family. Shem and Ila live under the cloud of the potential death of their child/children. Ham is on the verge of committing patricide. Ila gives birth to twins, which would satisfy the possibility of all of Noah’s sons having wives. Ila’s new born daughters are almost killed in her arms while crying, but she gets Noah to pause long enough for her to calm them so that they don’t die crying. Noah raises his dagger and almost follows through but can’t, kisses them and walks away.

Why put us through such a ride? How does this have anything to do with the traditional Bible story everyone is so familiar with? Throughout the film the theme of justice beat like drum, relentless and loud. It isn’t until the very end, when despair is about to win out, that the sweet melody of mercy softens the beat and lets us see how much the Creator loves us. The Creator gives us what we need to become like he is, the choices we have to make are difficult for a reason, but if faithful we will be guided to do that which is right. Before I go much further, let me present to you the conversation that tied everything together so beautifully, and without which the film would be so much more difficult to understand and probably wouldn’t have gained my approval.

Ila: “I have to know, why did you spare them?”
Noah: “When I looked down at those two little girls, all I had in my heart was love.”
Ila: “Then why are you alone, Noah? You’re separated from your family.”
Noah: “Because I failed Him [the Creator] and I failed all of you.”
Ila: “Did you? He chose you for a reason, Noah. He showed you the wickedness of man and knew you would not look away. But then you saw goodness too. The choice was put in your hands because he put it there. He asked you to decide if we were worth saving. And you chose mercy, you chose love. He has given us a second chance. Be a father, be a grandfather. Help us to do better this time, help us start again.”

Now the Bible says nothing of this choice that Noah was given, but is it that far fetched? Noah saw himself as human/weak/sinful as any of those who were left behind. He confesses that neither the Creator nor he sees himself as “good” but merely “someone who will complete the task.” Noah didn’t understand why the Creator had chosen his family to survive and the entire human race be destroyed. As good and humble of a man that he was, he was truly sorry for the fate of the world. I appreciated the depiction of the sorrow and guilt Noah felt for leaving so many of God’s children to such a death.

Noah was beginning to be at peace with the fate of his family (no perpetuation of the human race) knowing that their (and his) eventual death was not that far distant from that of all the people that were left behind to drown. God chose to save all the animals and Noah’s family, but as far as Noah knew, Ila was barren and so God really hadn’t intended for them to survive much beyond the flood. This weight on his soul was not lightened when he learned of Ila’s pregnancy, but weighed it down even more, due to the conclusion he had already arrived at and was trying to come to grips with. He is so distraught that he accuses his wife and grandfather of “undermining the Creator,” given their role in healing Ila’s barrenness.

After he thought he had failed in God’s eyes, he was lost in confusion and despair for his choice to let his granddaughters live. And then the dialog above occurs and light re-enters Noah’s soul. He chooses again, more resolutely and with peaceful assurance, to love and be with his family.

Noah was blinded so much by the weight of God’s justice that he didn’t recognize the full choice that he was given. He was so down about assisting in the death of the human race that he failed to see God’s merciful, outstretched hand to him and his family.

To be sure some things were exaggerated and changed to make a good story. But I found the story no less inspiring than what’s written in the scriptures*.

*The LDS religion has an additional book of scripture that adds some more information into the story of Noah that might make this a little more far-fetched (e.g., the Giants fought against Noah). However, as I’ve already mentioned several times, this is a good movie and goodness is there if you want to find it.

Forever Strong (2008)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This was a lot better than your typical movie about an underdog team that rises to the top and ends up winning some championship. Even though this didn’t get great reviews from the critics, we really enjoyed it and learned something from the experiences of Rick, Rick’s dad, and the coach. Definitely a show worth watching with your family of older children. The action scenes were great, they used college-level rugby players to represent the team, which made it that much more fun to watch.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

The great thing about this movie was that the triumphs presented were more focused on the individuals instead of the dominant rugby team; we really didn’t care who won the championship in the end. While maybe the storyline was a bit predictable, what wasn’t predictable was the way the characters changed to create the expected end result. The changes in Rick and his dad may have been somewhat expected, but seeing how the film portrayed those changes really touched us.

I think I’d put this up as one of my favorite sports flicks.

Somebody Up There Likes Me

Synopsis

Rocky Graziano is nothing but trouble for his family and the community, and works his way into several prisons and work camps. His future becomes brighter when he realizes (with the help of a few mentors) that he has good potential to fight professionally and legally. He straightens up his life, gets married, has a child, and eventually completely turns over a new leaf and realizes what things are most important in his life. Starring Paul Newman.

Entertainment Value - B

Great movie, probably Stallone's inspiration behind Rocky, very similar story line (shady character turns to fighting as a more legitimate profession and marries a shy girl who doesn't like to see him fighting). Paul Newman did a great job, though I like Stallone and Crowe a little better as boxers.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 5

Norma had a great role. I liked the part where she corrected his manager by telling him that he can't turn a blind eye to Rocky's past. Doing so was dishonest and in no way helping Rocky accept who he was so he could genuinely turn over a new leaf (not the leaf of some imagined self). By accepting his past, Norma was able to accept Rocky for who he really was and help him get to the point where he had nothing to worry about. (He states that he knows that he'll lose his title someday, but that doesn't bother him; what's most important is what he has right then - his family.)

The great moral dilemma comes when he's about to contact the evil..shady? replace "shady" above with "troublemaker"(need better word) Frankie Peppo to do some business with him. At a very opportune moment his friend, a soda jerk, tells him that when he orders a soda he has to pay for it, teaching him he needs to face up to the truth and take responsibility for what he's done and promised to do. He then runs into another friend who wants to start a flower shop (but really wants money to buy a gun and pay someone to hold someone up with the newly acquired gun for the money for a flower shop so he can run a bootlegging joint...). Rocky tries to talk some sense into him, but realizes he can't force the guy to change.

Rocky's reconciliation with his father was touching as well. Their frank discussion helped both realize the true state of their circumstances and allow them to finally see eye to eye. Rocky's father breaks down and says that all he wants for Rocky is to be the champ he, as a fighter/father, never was. Rocky says "Don't worry about a thing!" and the rest is history.

If you're looking for an original (in that it came out before Rocky), inspirational sports story, check this one out.

The Blind Side

Synopsis

A Christian lady (Sandra Bullock) takes in a troubled youth and with the help of her husband (Tim McGraw) and children she instills in the boy courage to finish school and start a new life, full of hope.

Entertainment Value - A

This was a very well done movie. I went into the theater not terribly excited about it, thinking it was going to be just like every other inspirational sports story (good, but because there are so many of them, it's nothing new); but it wasn't. It was inspirational, but football was just a small element of the movie. The performances were great. The music was a little too contrived, I felt more emotionally driven at time because of the music instead of the actual story.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 5

The focus on the family was very strong in this film. The Tuohy's were your average TV watching family until Big Mike came into their lives. One scene in particular stands out on Thanksgiving day when Michael chooses to sit at the table instead of on the couch watching football like the rest of the family. It doesn't say why, but Michael's example helped bring the family closer that day as the mother corralled the rest of the family into the dining room to spend real family time together.

When Michael first moved in, I was wondering how the mother could do that with a teenage daughter in the home. Apparently she was oblivious to that potential danger (an issue no matter if the boy were a stranger or a good family friend), but when made aware of it by a friend, she made sure to discuss the issue with her daughter to find out her feelings on the situation. This was a good example of humility on the mother's part, realizing she hadn't consulted her daughter on the matter but quickly remedying it.

The last scene where Michael is being interrogated by the NCAA board on why he chose the college he did, was another great scene on the importance of strong family ties. The world doesn't really understand the concept of what a family is and does (as exhibited by the interrogator). She simply thought that the parents were coniving Ol' Miss alumni trying to get some extra points scored for their school; when, like any other parent, all they wanted was for their "son" to be happy, knowing that that school was where they were happy. Michael grounds the interrogator when he comes back and tells her that.

S.J. and his sister showed great initiative in going out of their way to help Michael know he was loved. The husband's support of his wife's charity was inspiring. I really can't say enough good about this show. Go out of your way to see this film, it will definitely find a place in our DVD Binder when it comes out.

A Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Synopsis

Annie is an apple peddler who fakes her residency at a high class hotel to hide her impoverished situation from her daughter who lives in Spain.  Annie finds herself in quite a predicament when her daughter writes of her engagement to the son of a Spanish count and that they are all coming to visit, including the Count.  Annie's friends seek the help of Dave the Dude who believes that Annie's apples are the source of his good fortune.  The Dude and his gang must choose between winning their rights to "own" the city of New York or trying to work some sort of miracle to help Annie out.

Entertainment Value

This film included a great group of actors, and pretty much anything by director Frank Capra great.  The credits at the beginning start off with Christmas music, but I don't recall anything Christmasy in the film.  While Capra's films have strong moral messages, they can sometimes feel a little too forced making them somewhat preachy and unrealistic.  This show, however, seemed more natural (the interaction between the actors) making this film very enjoyable.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate?

The film contains a wonderful message on being selfless and the blessings that come when we sacrifice our time to help others.  Dave the Dude pretty much put his life (and the lives of his close friends) on the line, in order to help out someone who he perceived helped him.  With the help of many friends, the Dude was able to pull off a miracle in the end.

We really can be happier when we lose ourselves in the service of others.  We can't do so irresponsibly (completely ignoring our higher priority duties - families, jobs, etc.), but by pushing ourselves to give as much as we can, we'll be surprised at how far our good-doing goes (especially when we seek for divine assistance in the process).

Ben-Hur

Rating: 5 

This is a classic, must-see movie.  It is definitely a faith promoting film.  The story is set in the Middle East during the life of Jesus Christ, in fact Christ and Judah Ben-Hur are about the same age.  Even though Judah doesn't personally know Christ, it is inspiring to see how Christ touches and inspires his life.  Judah shows faith at different stages of his journey and is blessed in each instance.  It's a story of familial love, the poison of anger and revenge, and faith in Jesus Christ.

One of the strongest lessons presented in the movie is that just because we are doing what's right or standing up for what is right does not mean that we will be rewarded.  However much evil happens to us for choosing the right, God will be with us every step of the way offering us life sustaining water and ultimately eternal life if we stay the course.

Bucket List, The

Luke

Rating: 4

I felt good after watching this movie. There was a good overall message present: it's never too late to make amends (as long as you do it before you die). Carter and Edward were given a forewarning of when they would probably die, not too many people are so fortunate (if fortune is a way to describe such a situation). Both ended up realizing that family was the most important part of their lives, though it was a painful process to realize it.

It taught the lesson that no matter how much good you try to do for someone else they don't have to be willing to accept it. They are probably not ready for it, though it shouldn't be something you avoid doing. Carter thought it would be good for Edward to see his daughter after not speaking with her for years. Though Edward refused it up front, a seed was planted in his heart and he eventually made amends with his daughter and was rewarded for it (though not always the results of good intentions).

Edward also learned the importance of empathy. When he became a patient in his own hospital, he realized that he wasn't just running a hospital, he was running a temporary home for sick people.

This didn't get a 5 because it didn't feel like a 5. It had a great message, and with it filtered I'd recommend it to anyone, but it was very predictable. Nothing overly new or original, but I did enjoy it.