The Men Who Stare at Goats

(1 out of 5)

Main Entry:

es·o·ter·ic

Pronunciation: \?e-s?-?ter-ik, -?te-rik\

Function: adjective

1 a : designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone

The Men Who Stare at Goats – Rated R

This movie is a strange movie. I think you might could really appreciate it if you are into conspiracy theories, new age bizarre-ness, or anti-military rhetoric. And the movie states at the beginning, “More of this is true than you would probably believe.” Well, I have listened to enough late night talk radio to know that there is a huge group of people who believe in such strange ideas as “remote viewing,” and other alien mumbo jumbo and new-age crap to find this movie compelling and hilarious perhaps. But for people who are grounded in reality this movie will mostly leave you scratching your head asking yourself, “now what was that really about.”

The film features George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey (appropriately named for this movie), and Jeff bridges. The main plot is about strange covert underground new-age warfare tactics that may or may not have been used to fight battles overseas. You would have to really have some “esoteric,” knowledge of new-age thought processes, and military research and development conspiracy theories to understand and appreciate this movie. Most of the people I was watching it with fell asleep. There was lots of foul language, some nudity, and a couple of really funny scenes – but not enough (funny scenes, that is) to make the movie worth watching. I loved the part about the little plastic tool that could be used to torture people in numerous different ways and even dreamed of it the next night.  (Not of torturing people mind you, but of holding it my hand. Now the more I think about it - the more I think I shouldn't have admitted that.)  I’m still laughing out loud thinking about it. That being said, “don’t waste your time like we did on this movie."

Oh one more thing.  There was something creepy about the new-age method of "treasure hunting," that hit close to home with some of the stuff that charismatic Christians try to do - in order to "walk by the spirit."  Taking guesses at what the Holy Spirit is saying and then going out and trying to do it.  Made me squirm a bit.

~Pastor Ben

Book of Eli

(4 out of 5)

The Book of Eli

“…people had more than they needed. We didn’t know what was precious. We threw away what people now kill for.”

“I hate it here,” Solara said.

“Then change it,” Eli replied abrubtly.

In this post-apocalyptic story we learn of a man who has been given “a message,” to go west with a book that he has. We later learn “the book,” is the King James Version of the Bible, perhaps the only one in existence. After the war people had blamed religion for the devastation and had attempted to destroy every copy of the Bible that existed.

He is told by a voice to deliver this book west by “faith and not by sight,” as he explains to an unwanted female “traveling,” companion named Solara. Along the way he encounters traveling bands of outlaws who are thieves, murderers, and rapists. Sometimes he makes short work of them with his long blade, guns, and arrows – and other times he tells himself, “this is not your concern, stay on the path.”

One of the main tensions deals with him struggling with being true to the task that he has been given, which is to preserve the word of God, while being true to the words in it which would implore him to be the good samaritan in order to “consider your neighbors as yourself.” How can he be true to maintaining the message that depends on his successful quest, while at the same time not letting other people be harmed.

We, who are spiritual and on our own quests, are inspired to remember a few things:

1. The Word teaches us people are more important than words – because the words tell us to love God and people. Nowhere do we hear Jesus say, “Love the word with all your heart and soul and mind, and love the word as yourself.”  Yet, still we remember "the Word," is so precious it is worth dying for - it is more precious than gold and sweeter than the honey from the honeycomb.

2. If God tells us to do something we need to do it with all our heart and soul and mind.

3. We need to walk by faith and not by sight even if our circumstances seem to large for us to handle – God delights in proving himself faithful to his people

4. That God will give us just what we need and who we need for the task before us.

5. In this world we will have troubles – to proclaim some triumphalism in the face of great suffering is to ignore what God might want to teach us during difficult times.

This movie feels much like the stories we read in the Old Testament - "the message of God is clear," "people who stand in the way of God's men are dealt a heavy and permanent blow," "faith is not something that is to be compromised for just any small distraction."  And even though we can see God working in the New Testament in the same way as he did in the Old Testament (because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow) - as when God struck down Herod, Annais, and Sapphira in the book of Acts - it still feels refreshing to see God so obviously guiding a person and granting him favor for his task.

Cinematically, the movie is stirring – the music compelling – the fight scenes western-like and stark. Denzel always seems intimidating to me in the way a roller coaster does – I want to be made afraid by his confidence and almost always I am. There are cliché’s here and there – but unless you are a movie snob you won’t care and you will look upon it with favor. One of my friends said in an email before I saw it, “that was one of the most Christian movies I have ever seen.” She may be right because I found myself wanting to pray with Eli, “Thank you for keeping me resolute,” knowing my faith is a gift of God and the task that he is given for me in my family and church only has a chance for success if God will send me His favor.

The movie is Rater R for extreme violence. There is no sex or nudity but there is clear abuse of women implied and shown in the background demonstrating the chaos of civilization. I would think waiting till kids are over 17 appropriate.

~Pastor Ben

Once

(5 out of 5)

Once in a while a movie comes along and surprises you by its realism and ability to resist clichés while still dealing with very common every day topics such as how to deal with infidelity, how to deal with the abandonement of close friends, the importance of fighting for relationships, and the even more noble thought of considering other’s needs over your own – all while discovering uncomfortably that your first motives are often selfish and ugly motives.

“Once,” deals with the very real emotions of brokenness, moving on, and coming together for something as simple as beauty and frienship.

Is it possible for two broken and hurting people of the opposite gender to resist the obvious impulses of the flesh for the more noble quest of bringing light to one another? Is it possible that when God brings people with different giftings but complimentary needs and resources that the end result will be selfless service, tender and temporary friendship, and a once in a lifetime relationship experience that is brief and ephemeral but nontheless still poignent, moving and glorious? What would it be like to be in a community moved by God’s love?

This movie is not a Christian movie, but as often happens in secular movies that deal with eternal truths, it becomes a more moving parable then most Sunday services provide. The church should meditate on the possibility of serving one another selflessly, learning to forgive one another’s idiocies, and the great beauty of taking risks to enter into the lives of people who are broken and in need of light and love. This movie provides just such an opportunity. You gotta, oughta, see it. For those who love good music and singing – folksy and heart felt- you will love it. For those who define good movies by “action and adventure,” go watch Gladiator.

~Pastor Ben