fantasy
Let’s bring up a THOR subject
May 25th, 2011
Thor continues the string of connected MARVEL comics films that began with Iron Man. Although different in tone, it soars to similar heights thanks to director Kenneth Branagh and the cast. The film deals with some core issues of sin, (particularly arrogance and jealousy) and emphasizes the need for strong discipline from a loving father that [...]
Read More...A “god’s” legacy in TRON
January 8th, 2011
“Your father was the creator.” – Quorra, from Tron: Legacy Jeff Bridges doesn’t play a divine trinity in Tron Legacy, but he does present a curious trifecta of world creator, absent father, and slightly Lebowski-channeling aging 80s hipster. While the last one provided vocal audience response with claps and laughter, the first two are what [...]
Read More...Going UP?
April 26th, 2010
In Pixar’s UP, an undeniably delicious treat for the senses, Carl Frederickson is chafing against the age-old aging process lamented in Ecclesiastes 12, and sets out to recapture the “spirit of adventure” and honor his late wife Ellie. We find, however, that his motives are mixed, and his mission is missing the mark. This literally [...]
Read More...How to Train your Content
April 21st, 2010
Things have really taken off with Cinemagogue, from increasing emails to a a few interviews culminating in articles to more connections with writers, pastors and filmmakers. The Mars Hill blog began promoting film and theology events where we capture the audio, and I started blogging for The Resurgence using video. The embedded review of How [...]
Read More...Weak God, Limp Lucifer & Wooden Jesus
April 15th, 2010
Although we discussed imperfect Greek gods, and modern myths of a “more fallible Creator” in the last post, the new Clash of the Titans DOES stray from classic polytheism and polarizes the war between Zeus and Hades; save for a few scenes, the rest of the pantheon is scarce. It’s a much more westernized, even [...]
Read More...Perseus damns the gods (Thank God!)
April 13th, 2010
The gods need US! They need our prayers! – Cassiopeia, Clash of the Titans I mentioned in the first Clash of the Titans post that we’d address one of the film’s taglines: “damn the gods”. The queen of Argos speaks brazenly about the Greek pantheon of “gods” that rules over them in this remake of [...]
Read More...Clash of the CLASH of the Titans…
April 9th, 2010
I was SO not impressed. Why did we need a remake of Clash of the Titans? And what about that inaugural tagline: “Titans will Clash”? Ugh, with a marketing team like that on other films we might have had taglines like “War in the Stars” or “Man will Iron 2″. Besides, the ORIGINAL Clash of the [...]
Read More...Our Savior in AVATAR
March 5th, 2010
(this is the last post in a series, click here for the introduction to our series on James Cameron’s AVATAR.) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the [...]
Read More...New Birth, Blue Birth in AVATAR
March 3rd, 2010
“Every person is born twice. The second time is when you earn your place among the people forever.” – Avatar (click here for the introduction to our series on Avatar) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but [...]
Read More...DeprAVATAR of man
February 25th, 2010
The human race sucks. Seriously, if there’s one thing James Cameron and John Calvin might agree on, it’s the depravity of man. The pivotal scene in Avatar, where Colonel Quaritch fiddles with his coffee while Hometree burns, best exemplifies this notion. In fact, the humans who aren’t worthless sacks of flesh in Avatar can be counted on your [...]
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