We've been talking about doing a sermon series based on movies. Here are links to the whole series.
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-1.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-2.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-3.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-4.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-5.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-6.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-7.html
- http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2008/03/preaching-movie-style-pt-8.html
And here's a question: We do this series every year, and will be doing it again in about 5 months. So ... what movies from the end of 2007 and the first half of 2008 are good possibilities for this year's series?
Some I've had my eye on include: 88 Minutes; The Bucket List; I Am Legend and Penelope. What do you think, and why?
- featured on newchurches.com
15 comments:
Vince,
I think this is a great idea - thanks so much.
Per your advice, we're pulling together a movie series and one of the films we're using is Phonebooth.
We hope to use it to teach about the value of confession and repentance. The movie is quite dramatic and the protagonist's confession is incredibly cathartic - "I wear Italian clothes because inside I still feel like the Bronx."
For me, that moment echoes Adam in the garden, "I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid" as well as Jacob wrestling with God - "...my name is Jacob."
Not that God is a crazy shooter, mind you, although I'm sure he supports the NRA and all that...
'I Am Legend'--yes, you could do a lot with that, especially the Bob Marley stuff
'Into the Wild'--just watched it today...ended up being really good. solitude, importance of community, some wisdom themes
You're going to laugh...but maybe 'Enchanted'--you could talk about attitude, happy endings
Michael Clayton
This may be one that’s too obvious, but the whole movie revolves around guilt and redemption. The movie starts with a lawyer mentally breaking down over guilt. He can’t handle the weight of his conscience and so as the movie progresses we see that he is attempting to make things right. He’s looking for Redemption.
On the other side, we have the head lawyer of the corporation, Karen Crowder, who chooses to kill two people during the movie. We see her struggle, pain, and nervousness in making this choice, but she ignores her conscience, pushes the guilt aside, and continues on. I think she feels the pressure of her job and probably feels like she has no other option. In the end of the movie she deals with a different set of consequences for ignoring her conscience.
Then there’s Michael Clayton who changes as the movie progresses. He becomes disgusted with his actions and he longs for the peace that comes from doing what is right or making things right.
You can go further and look at Clayton’s messed up brother, who is looking for redemption. If I remember right, he tells Michael that “He just wants to make things right.”
You get the basic idea. There’s a lot of different ways to take this. I know that there are times when I try to ignore my conscience. I push it aside until I can’t handle it anymore. I think a lot of people can relate to wanting to make things right. I think a lot of people deeply desire redemption.
Enchanted
This would be a great one for marriage. The question on back of the DVD box (I know because I just rented it) asks, “can you have a fairy tale love in the real world?” This is a great question.
The ideology of any fairy tale movie is the same as Eden. Genesis says that Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed. This vulnerability, trust, no fear of rejection, no holding things back, and no mistrust is the same as any fairy tale. After the fall it says that they realized they were naked and sowed leaves (or something like that). Now this is the world we know. This is the world that Giselle enters (New York). A world of pain, hurt, broken trust, hiding, etc.
In the end, she learns that in the real world you don’t just throw yourself at someone, but you date them. In other words, the first thing you do is get to know the person and see if he/she is worthy to naked and vulnerable to.
Robert learns that there’s something deeper to marriage than just some sort of logical agreement. He learns that you can trust and be vulnerable. You can fall in love.
I think there’s a good point in this movie that you can have an Eden/fair Tale relationship in a broken world. There’s a great passage in Ephesians 5 that essentially tells us that Jesus provides that kind of relationship for his church and that husbands and wives can have it too.
There are some other good points in the movie too. The song, “how do you know he loves you,” tells us to constantly find ways to show your love. Couples won’t have trouble trusting and giving all their love to someone if they are constantly reminded that they’re loved.
Also, there’s a purity concept in here. According to Giselle, a kiss is something powerful. It’s not just something you do with anybody. If a kiss is viewed this way than sex is held to an even higher standard.
Just a few thoughts on that.
Okay, this is the last one....
“3:10 To Yuma”
This may have come out in the early part of 2007, but I love the message of this movie.
For me the theme of this movie is righteousness
Christian Bale plays Dan Evens. Dan tries to do what is right and suffers for it. Every action He takes is rooted in morality, but doing what is right has caused his family to go through a lot of hardships.
Ben Wade is the antithesis of Dan. He has no sense of morality and His life is easy. He takes what he wants and is incredibly rich.
Dan volunteers to be a part of the group that is taking Ben Wade to the 3:10 train to Yuma. As the movie progresses we see three layers of why he’s doing this: first, He needs the money. Second, for his own self respect. Third, it’s the right thing to do. Fourth, his son, William, needs a father figure he can look up to and respect.
Dan’s son, William, is at an impressionable age where he is figuring out who he wants to be. He looks at has Dad and is disgusted by him. He has no respect for his father. He sees all these choices that Dan has made and all the hardships they’ve gone through and is angry with his father for it. William looks at Ben Wade and is intrigued. The way of Ben seems much better than the way of his father.
A lot of this movie has to do with the formation of a young man. Will he choose the path of righteousness (even though that path is filled with pain) or will he choose the path of Ben Wade (whatever is most profitable and self-pleasing). In the end, we see that he chooses to model his father by not killing Ben Wade.
Ben sees himself in William. Ben had no respect for his parents because they left him. But as Ben interacts with Dan, Ben begins to respect Dan. I believe He begins to respect Dan’s righteousness. He begins to like Dan because the relationship Dan has with his son. This was something Ben longed for: parents who love him.
In the end, when Ben kills his posse, I believe he kills them because they killed a righteous man (Dan). In a strange way, the righteousness of Dan was contagious. He killed them because what they did was not right.
One of the main ideas in this movie that really moves me is that fact that Dan didn’t have what it takes to get Ben Wade to the train station. He didn’t have what it takes to be a hero. He didn’t have what it takes to be respectable. So in some crazy way, Ben Wade becomes the Christ figure in that He helps Dan achieve this.
I’m a father, so I’m moved by the relationship of the Father and Son. I’m moved by how badly the father wants to give his son someone to look up to, someone to respect. But I’m painfully aware of my ability to do that. I’m thankful that Jesus lives in me and where I lack, He is abundant.
I hope this one made sense.
SAW IV and the whole plank in the eye thing
Hostel II and contentment
I was going to say Michael Clayton and enchanted too.
No country for old men might be an interesting way to talk about sin effects on each generation and the worsening of things. Plus it deals a little with fate as well. (Note Very Gory)
Atonement deals with a man being accused of a crime after a younger sister of his lover mistakes him for crazy man. Deals a lot with perception and how one )or two) suspect choices can really impact some one.
Don't forget Juno. Great time to talk about the whole abortion/adoption issue.
I know this is a small documentary but King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters is a great look at obsession over the meaningless and acceptance. You would enjoy the movie at the very least.
There is always Superhero movie or College Road Trip - cinema at its finest.
300 - The issue of Legacy/dying for a cause
Bourne Ultimatum - Understanding your identity and the freedom that comes from that. You would have to mention some of the previous two to lay the groundwork.
How bout American Gangster - The story of Shawn Corey? There is a song that is part of that soundtrack by Jay-Z called "Pray" that is hard-hitting. Kind of a weird twist on how some folks tend to let their faith intermingle with the worldly side their flesh and when you live like that, the results are never good.
I'll think of some udders!
Mike Knott,
That last comment has me ROFL dude! "he supports the NRA and all that...."
Too funny dude!
Jacob---
You've missed your calling. Do Ebert and Roeper have any openings?
Watching movies for a job.... yeah, that sounds a lot easier than pastoring. I wonder if Ebert and Roeper get free pop corn.
Okay, i've been thinking about one more movie. I promise to make this a quick one.
I love the movie "Juno" It will probably be out in video by the time you do your series.
One theme I got from that movie was "acting your age" or "knowing it"
Throughout the movie Juno makes reference to just being a teenage and she's not equipped to raise a child. Then there's the husband who wants to adopt the child who still acts like he's in high school (even though He's thirty).
You can take this and apply it many ways. Are you taking responsibility for your life? Are you acting your age? Are you trying to do more than you're able? Are you slacking and living off your parents when you should be on your own? Are you being a parent or are you still acting like a kid?
Then you can take it spiritually. You can go off on Christians (like you already have in your post) who wine that they're not getting fed. You can ask if people who are new Christians are asking for help or doing all to grow and learn. You can ask if people understand their weakness or faults.
You get the point.
okay, you got me on my day off, so i have some extra time to think about this.
somebody mentioned the "Bourne Ultimatum"
Part of Bourne's problem is that he is having flash backs to all the people he has killed and He wants to know how he became who he is.
I think this happens occasionally...we look at our life or an aspect of it and wonder how did I end up in this situation. How did i become this horrible person? or how did i end up in this situation.
Throughout the movie Jason tries to find the man responsible for making Him who he is, but when he meets him, he remembers that it was his choice. Jason is responsible for the man he has become.
You can apply how people will blame others for their life situation. "If only my parents didn't get divorced." "If only my boss appreciated me more." "I only i didn't have a horrible wife/husband." you get the point.
You can also talk about how our every day choices have big consequences. It's our small choices we make that ultimately define us and take us down certain paths.
Thank God that Jesus continually saves us. That God that Jesus can take our horrible choices and turn into something that will bring God glory.
Or you can just talk about how practical it is to know martial arts.
wow, jacob jurado wins the prize for the day - dang dude. want to write some movie sermons for me? i can't pay you, but i would be willing to buy you some popcorn!
It's been a while since I saw it buy I remember thinking that Gone Baby Gone had some good stuff in it.
i was going to say "Gone Baby Gone" but I didn't know how old it is...it came out recently here in Argentina. I was SUPER impressed with the main character's commitment to absolute truth - in the midst of others who prefer the "end justifies the means" - even though it cost him much to follow the correct path, even though it required more from him in the end. That movie kept me thinking for days and I wore my husband out talking about it. Although, the language was so bad we seriously thought about leaving the theatre...I'm glad we stuck it out.
Alisha
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