The Matador

I probably see, on average, one movie in the theater each week. I don't plan on writing a review for each film I see though. Last week I wrote about one of the movies I saw, but not the other. This afternoon I went to see "The Matador". For the first half of the movie there wasn't really anything special. It wasn't a very good first half. Then something happened, in a movie that I expected to be a quirky dark comedy. The movie grew a heart. The characters developed a relationship, a friendship. Now the average comedy might take some time to get to know it's characters, and may even allow a little sceen time for a friendship to exist, but this movie went further. It became about friendship, about two people actually being considerate of on and other. It didn't end with some punchline, or gooey happy ending. It had respect for the charcters and thier feelings and motivations. It also had respect for us as an audience. As I write this, I realize even more how that early bad first half wasn't a set-up for a joke, rather a prelude to a deeper exploration into the true purpose of the film. Now here's my little 'Focus-on-the-Family' disclaimer: The Pierce Brosnan character is a bad-guy, R-rated version of his James Bond. This means that he is not as respectful of women, life or the English language as one might hope. Also there was some bull fighting and I saw some alchohol and tobacco usage, just to let you all know.

End of the Spear

"End of the Spear " is a good movie. Let me just say that out of all the movies I've seen in the last year this is probably the only good movie that I have seen in the theater. This movie is an honest look at a group of men and women who are living fallen world, struggling with an inner conflict that they can't explain. The only answer is God's son, Jesus Christ, who a group of missionaries want to share with these lost people. The story is about the lost, the missionaries and thier relationship with each other. "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" was Jim Hanon's (director) documentary about the same events. Although I have never seen that film, the fact that this is the director's second time working with the material benefits this film. He seems comfortable with his characters and enviornment. The missionaries, although not vividly developed have individual personalities and their charisma for spreading God's grace is evident. The lost people are not just stereotypes as one might expect, but are also independent and unique. Obviously this movie was made to bring us one message (which I will not tell you here). That message comes through loud and clear. Is it possible that it comes through too loud and clear? Maybe that's like saying "Freedom!!!" was too loud and clear for Mel Gibson. This was a good movie. It had a good message. It had good cinematography and good direction.
Perhaps you are sensing a half-hearted positive review from me for this film. Why do I go to these Christian films and find myself almost apologizing for feeling that something was lacking. I feel bad criticizing a movie that is made by another Christian. You know me, I have no problem ripping apart any movie, even one I might like. I can tell you why "Gladiator" was the worst movie ever made, and why I'd rather see "Speed 2" again before I would even contemplate watching updated original Star Wars trilogy... "End of the Spear" was a good movie. How many times can I say this? But I want more than a good movie. My favorite part in the film was when the main character lands his airplane on a small sandbar. That was well done. It was set up to be a difficult task by dialouge earlier in the film. The filming of the scene itself had suspense and a good grasp of the danger of the situation. The payoff of the plane touching down and landing safely actually had a positive impact on me, sitting there in the theater. That is what film is about. You take an idea and through sight and sound express yourself to the audience. If a film works, it's because you have made the viewer believe or feel that idea. Speilberg does this so effortlessly that you might not even notice how he's doing it. Joaquin Phoenix does this in "The Village", there on the porch you don't think about him as an actor reciting lines, he is a man in love with a girl. "End of the Spear" is lacking something, it's not much but it is enough to keep you from crossing that line between seeing and believing. What exactly is it lacking? I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's there. "End of the Spear" is a good movie.

Munich

Munich is the last movie I went to see in 2005. It was also one of the best, in the top ten of the year. It was't on the level of Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report or even Indian Jones, but as with everything Speilberg it still was amazing. As with War of the Worlds earlier this year, this film dealt with a very focused subject in the midst of a rather large ordeal. The message is simple, how can a man seperate himself from evil when he is an active participant? Specifically, what makes an Israeli killing Palestinians different from a Palestinian killing Israelis? Of course my description is an oversimplification of what Speilberg adresses in this film. He conducts a very thoughtful exploration of this subject, and I believe that he is fair and uncomprimising in his presentation of both sides of this conflict. Then of course there is the Speilberg filmmaker at work here. The shots he pulls of, and the look of the film are perfect. Speilberg does everything better that everyone else. The gun battles are top notch, yet my favorite scene involes sun-glare and glasses, how did he do that?

What will be my first review in 2006? I'm still not sure, nothing is out right now that I am really excited about. Of course I'm looking forward to Lady in the Water, talk about a perfect preview... How come most previews introduce you to all the main characters, show you all the great stunts/effects, tell you the plot, give you the best dialouge and then tell you how the movie ends? Shouldn't there be an Academy Award for 'Best Trailer'? Alright, enough about that, well until next time I hope you only see good movies, because you can't get the time back that you give to a bad movie.

Broken

Have you ever seen a movie and instantly had a positive reaction, then after thinking about it for a while kind of seen it in a differnt light? I want to move on to a Munich review, but I promised this one next, so here it goes...

How are Walk the Line and Brokeback Mountain connected? Both deal with extramarital affairs, both explore how "true love" can exist even in the midst of being unfaithful. The difference of course is that Walk the Line is heterosexual and Brokeback Mountain is homosexual. Which movie do you think Christians are more offended by? Which movie do you think Christians actually are recomending to friends and family? I know the answer to both of these questions. Of course this isn't a blanket statement. Focus on the Family is so flat in thier movie reviews that they find fault in Walk the Line for exactly the reason that there is an adulterous relationship onscreen. Of course Focus on the Family also counted the uses of profanity, the acts of drug and alcohol and even the use of a shotgun for home protection as negatives against the film. If I start going off on the Focus on the Family style of movie reviews, this blog would get really long, so let's save that for some other time...

Back to Walk the Line and Brokeback Mountain. Have we given up on any hope of dealing with adultery, premarital sex, and divorce from a Christian perspective? Is all of our energy focused on the sin of homosexuality? What does this say to those around us? To answer my own questions, I think we (as a whole) have given up on many other sins. If we overlook those sins already generally accepted by society it allows our churches to get bigger and feel more comfortable in our society. Of course a good percentage of our energy is focused on condemning homosexuality. It is still one of those issues that hasn't penetrated our everyday lives. Maybe if we can stop same-sex marriage we can hold back the tide... And what does this say to those around us? We are hypocrites. So go see Walk the Line, it's a great movie! I really enjoyed the chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.