The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Entertainment Rating: 5 of 5

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. It was every bit as good as Minority Report and quite a bit better than Blade Runner (all three based on stories by science fiction writer Phillip K. Dick). I was told this was more of a romance than a thriller/action movie, and so I was expecting a slower paced film that possibly wasn’t great. I was pleasantly surprised that it was much more than a romance, but a look at the value of our ability to choose our own destinies and exercise our free will.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

[Spoiler Alert]

In contrast to Mao’s Last Dancer, the two main characters here actually decide to sacrifice their career goals because they really love the other person more than their careers. This love is what allows them to become more free and ultimately use their free will to the fullest.

Megamind (2010)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

Great humor; Will Ferrel did a great job. The story was a lot better than I had anticipated. I thought it would mimic the stale plot of bad guy versus good guy, bad guy never wins, good guy gets girl in the end, with occasional humorous moments. It was not stale at all, and the originality of it (as far as I can think right now, it’s original) was refreshing and engaging; and the humor was great. The music throughout the film rocked, pure classic rock.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

Great message on the fallacy of fate. Our future is not already written for us. We don’t have to fit the mold people put us in. We need to become whatever it is that will allow us to reach our full potential as children of God. Megamind struggled with this idea of trying to fulfill his destiny, constantly going through the motions because that’s what he thought he was supposed to do. It wasn’t until he realized his potential for good that he actually became free from the bonds of fate.

I couldn't decide which clip to include, so here are a few more:

9 (2009)

Entertainment Rating: 4/5

This wasn't a very complex movie. However, the story seemed like it had so much background information that was only shared in bits and pieces of flashbacks that you feel wanting at the end of the 75 min. film.

Moral Rating: 3/5

9 is the last stitchpunk made and the one that helps the others realize their destiny. Some were content to just hide and avoid the evil that existed in the world, while others tried to learn and grow on their own. 9 actually brings everyone together, and only then are they able to realize their full potential and start the world progressing again (even if it is through implied non-creationism/evolution). We are all free to choose our own destiny. The final line of the movie nicely illustrates this by saying that the world is "what we make of it."

If you're looking for something short and sweet, check it out. I'm not sure why it was rated PG-13, it's definitely a mild PG-13 if anything but could be a bit scary for younger kids.

Slumdog Millionaire

Entertainment Value

Rating: A

Amazingly well-done movie. The cinematography was beautiful, the music was awesome, and the story was cool (even if some people complain of it being a bit gimmicky). I wasn't sure how "Who wants to be a millionaire?" and a love story would be all that compelling of a movie, but being set in India makes all the difference. If you can get a hold of someone with an edited version, this is a great film, otherwise it's probably on the milder end of R-Rated movies.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate?

Rating: 4

There was a strong message of destiny throughout the film (there is a difference between destiny and fate). The brothers, Salim and Jamal, both grew up in the same environment and suffered the same hardships, but each chose to take a different route. They both were little con-men up to a certain point, but Jamal chose to change and became 100% honest in all that he did. His honesty didn't make his life any easier, but in the long run we see that his honesty enabled him to be one of the happiest characters in the story (the 20 million rupees probably didn't have anything to do with it).