Rango (2011) - M7.4/E8

I almost didn't see this movie.  The only reason I ended up seeing it (and so soon) is that it is currently on Nexflix Instant!  I'm glad I saw it too.  Despite the negative reviews from others (including Uncle Orson), I really enjoyed this movie, though would not recommend it for young kids, even though it is an animated PG-rated film (again, no thanks to the MPAA for consistency).

[Slight Tangent: How do movies like Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon, and Tangled get mixed up with movies like Rango and Shrek (1,2,3,4) - all rated PG?  Well, for one, there's never a clear line between one rating and another other than the types of swear words allowed, and that seems to be it. (I know Shrek didn't have much, if any, swearing; but the bathroom humor and off-color jokes were rampant).]

Rango has it's fair share of swearing for a PG-rated animated flick as well as some inappropriate comments for younger kids; but for those of us desensitized or mature enough, there's plenty to enjoy.  The number one thing I loved about Rango was the musical score provided by the mariachi owls.  I just might go out and buy the soundtrack.  It's not filled with popular music, but a vivid latin/mariachi sound that really draws you into the story and brings you right a long for the "riiiiidde".

I struggle with writing about the morality of movies.  People don't go to a movie to be educated or morally uplifted, they go to be entertained.  Hopefully the people that actually read my posts are looking for more than entertainment, but are actually looking for ways to deepen their movie watching experience.

There's a big difference in being entertained by a sporting event or the circus and watching a movie or reading a book.  The latter two have a lot of power to influence our lives for good or bad.  The spectrum of evil and good in these media is so much greater than in any other venue for entertainment.  This spectrum of Good and Evil is necessary to help us learn, it provides a laboratory where our thoughts can see the consequences of good/evil without us actually experiencing the consequences (providing the director/screen writer/author are competent enough to do this).

So, back from another tangent, there were a few quotes that really helped the movie make a lot of sense in my mind and really brought the "ride" to a point.  Of course, it all comes when Rango has hit bottom; he's been revealed for who he really is, just a lonely lizard who never had any real friends and not a gun toting sheriff.  He finally meets the Spirit of the West and is taught some important lessons that are not just trite platitudes, but really bring all the events of the story together.

The alabaster-carriage-driving Spirit says to Rango, "No man can walk out of his own story."  Rango's experience in Dirt wasn't an imaginative experience, even though he was acting the majority of the time he was there.  His actions and confidence touched real people and made real differences, it wasn't just one of his plays he rehearsed back in his lonely terrarium.  He needed to realize that.

Secondly, Rango's told that the people saw what they needed to see.  They needed a hero, so that's what they saw in Rango.  He filled that part well, even if he didn't believe he was a hero from the start.  Sometimes we need to get outside ourselves and be there for people in need.  When we stop lamenting about how pointless our life is and try in some measure to fill the voids in others' lives, we actually become somebody. (I'll have to watch the movie again to figure out exactly what was said and to whom it was said, but I think this covers the gist of it).

Last word, check it out, you might enjoy it.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This and X-Men have been two of the best movies I’ve seen this year. I was a little concerned with how much I’d enjoy Captain America since I had a hard time getting into one of the graphic novels I picked up from the library (Winter Soldier) - I was, however, pleasantly surprised. The story was perfectly told with exception to some missing background on the Red Skull. How did he actually get a red skull face? We get bits of his history and position within the Third Reich, but not enough to really get pulled into his character. X-Men did a great job with getting us acquainted with the villain/s and I think that greatly increased the enjoyment of that film.

The music sequences were also great. It was nice to hear a little big band music come through the big screen.

[***Spoiler alert***]
I almost whooped when Steve Rogers doesn’t tell Peggy that he loves her right before he goes down. The film did a great job of depicting their relationship.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

Through Steve Rogers, we are shown the value of and need for good character. Though that may not be what most people look for in a hero (e.g., Col. Chester Phillips - played by Tommy Lee Jones), it is a strong moral foundation that truly gives us power beyond what we think we are capable. Not that it is a power in and of itself, but it allows for God’s power to play a stronger positive role in our lives and the lives of those we touch.

Be sure to stick around until after the end of the credits for an extra scene from the movie and the first trailer for The Avengers, coming out next year!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This musical had a fun story and great music. The two main actors did a great job, and you can’t go wrong with a classic.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

It’s rather ridiculous for a man to go down from the country into town one day, get married, and move back out to the country, not expecting much to change except getting some home cooked meals and laundry done. It’s also a bit of a stretch that a girl thinks that a man can just whisk her away from all her troubles and that married life will be loads better than what she was dealing with.

This exaggeration makes it fun to see the compromises that come with being married. The selfishness we experience while being single (though not bad selfishness, but we don’t have to worry about others) needs to give in to selflessness in order for happiness to exist at home. Husband and wife have to learn to communicate their needs and expectations and at the same time have to be willing to listen to the others needs and concerns.

Even though one of our kids mentioned that it was a long movie only 20 minutes into it, I think the whole family enjoyed it.

Pay It Forward (2000)

Entertainment Rating: 4 of 5

This was more of a tear-jerker than I remembered, but still held a really good message with it (not just emotion-manipulating scenes and scores). Nothing was Romanticized or made to appear larger-than-life, which made it a really down-to-earth movie, easily enjoyed and we recommend it.

Moral Rating: 4 of 5

Trevor’s plan to change the world was set up perfectly. He was discouraged at first by apparent failure in each of his endeavors to “do something big” for someone else. Even though he was discouraged he never lost hope in the people he loved (and ultimately found it more worthwhile to focus on those close to him, rather than someone he happened to on the street).

Another important aspect of the film was the fact that most of the good deeds weren't made public and a lot of the time immediate results weren't seen.  We need to learn to do good for the sake of doing good and trust that the seeds are planted even if we don't get to see the outcome of our kindness.

We see Trevor’s mom in a typical abusive relationship, where she’s easily led to believe that her husband has “really changed.” Too many people return back to broken relationships in hopes that it can be repaired, choosing to fall back into an already existing (albeit dangerous) relationship. It seems to require too much courage and “putting one-self on the line” to make the needed change and redirection of one’s life toward progression. The scene where Mr. Simonet explains to Trevor’s mom where he got his burns is a perfect example of this battle many people face.

While this is a movie about a kid, the themes in the film are for a more mature audience.

The movie is based on a fictional novel from which the author started the Pay It Forward Foundation in hopes of spurring a movement similar to what was depicted in the story.

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).

Fireproof

Rating: 5

This was a great movie! Not well acted (for the most part) but a very powerful message on overcoming one's weaknesses, and looking past the weaknesses of your spouse to enable love to grow in that relationship.

The film starts off introducing a struggling marriage where both spouses are having problems overcoming their selfish desires. They are consistently pointing out how the other is always doing things that prevents them doing what they want/need to do or not showing enough respect. Everything is the other person's fault. We are shown the damage that comes from addiction to pornography, associating one on one with the opposite sex in inappropriate ways, not sharing the same financial goals, and a number of other issues that are commonly at the crux of rocky marriages.

Caleb takes the first big step in trying to save their marriage. At the point where both of them are considering divorce, they each go to their friends for support. When Catherine approached her friends with her marriage problems, they were overly sympathetic. Their words verified Catherine's false image of being a victim and encouraged more negative thoughts and feelings towards Caleb. Her friends surely had good intentions, but led her away from any accountability for her own actions. Caleb on the other hand, found better support in his friend who encouraged him to get help to fix the problems and better the marriage instead of running away from it. On top of that, his parents (especially his dad) gave him specific challenges and ideas to help him change and give him a desire to make things better. The best thing about the father’s advice is that it led to Christ. This also provides a very good example of how much we can be affected by those with whom we surround ourselves.

As Caleb began following his Father's advice, it took a long time for his actions to be visible to Catherine as being purely selfless. Even though the actions themselves were 100% good, Caleb's motives were probably not as pure. But with each act of kindness and selflessness his heart was softened and his actions become more and more genuine until his wife couldn't deny his humility, love, and real desire to change. It was his own fault that his wife took so long to trust him, but at the same time, if she had been working towards staying together instead of moving further away, she would have seen his intentions a lot earlier. Open, honest, and frequent communication is necessary to keep your marriage going and to see what's going on in the other person's life. At the same time we need to learn to not get offended so easily and to always assume the best of the other person. By doing so, the love we display is more Christ-like and the marriage is strengthened.

The turning point for Caleb came when he was so frustrated that all his attempts to give service and show love for Catherine were denied, disregarded, and blatantly ignored. He asked the question, “How can I love someone who rewards my good deeds by spitting in my face?” (something like that). And then it hit him as he saw a cross. He was reminded that that was exactly what happened to Christ. He realized that Christ had given His life for him and he was spitting back in His face (he didn’t want anything to do with religion). And yet Christ still loved him anyway. His attitude began to change as he began to better understand and improve his relationship with Christ. When he truly felt the love of Christ in his heart, his heart changed and he began to truly feel love for his wife, even with all her problems and insults. There was a drastic difference in the deeds he did from then on (meaning he did them with real intent and out of pure love) and instead of anger and frustration at her blatant disregard, he was sorrowful and genuinely hurt.

In any problem we are facing, if we can come to Christ and try to better understand His love for us and His sacrifice, we will then be better able to deal with whatever comes our way. The more we improve our relationship with Christ and have His love within us, the more perfectly we will be able to love others unconditionally.

Seven Pounds

Rating: 2

Ben Thomas did a lot of very good and commendable deeds, but all for the wrong reason. You totally understand his remorse and depression, and you could almost say that his death did bring about some good. However, understanding the purpose of our life here on earth and God's eternal plan for his children, blesses us with the knowledge that this life isn't it.

[***Spoiler Alert***] Ben's theft of his brother's IRS credentials doesn't really make his deeds 100% good, he committed a very serious offense to help supress his own guilt. His relationship with Emily was portrayed as something that was good. However as the story reaches it's climax the director disappoints us by portraying Ben and Emily's last act together as something that illustrates true love. In reality, and it doesn't take much experience to realize this, there is more to love than just a physical relationship.

In Ben's mind he was trying to do as much as possible to make up for the seven deaths he caused by giving his own body and material belongings to help improve the lives of others, but with an eternal perspective it is selfish and erroneous to think that taking your own life (no matter what you do with it) will make anything or anyone better. The overall message appears to be that even something inherently wrong is ok if it ends up helping others...which is not true especially since it culminates in one more life that he took. No matter how many good deeds we do, it does not erase our sins or mistakes. And while serving others can help cure depression, taking a life (whether your own or someone elses) actually worsens your state for the next life.

But, because Ben didn't have this eternal perspective and didn't seem likely to be in a position to acquire it, maybe enriching seven other lives and ridding the world of his depressed, guilt-ridden self was the best thing to do. Maybe what he did prescribed to a higher level of ethics and that what was not legal was actually what was in the best interest of everyone.

Either way I did not feel good after the movie, nor inspired to donate my organs.

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.