New Release Review.com

The Aviator

Written by Paul Boge

The Aviator is reminiscent of great films like Citizen Kane and Casablanca in that it offers us a look through the apparent ideal exterior of a person to the struggle within to reveal how much they are driven by events in their past. Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric, brilliant, yet fragile tycoon Howard Hughes in a story about what it means to be great, what it means to have debilitating flaws and how our childhoods can have profound effects on who we are today.

Hughes is a character of contrasts. Courageous and frail. Confident and desperate. Methodical and impulsive. He is able to make a $15 million decision to buy Trans World Airlines in an instant. But when faced with choosing which kind of steering wheel he wants on his newly invented Hercules aircraft he freezes, turning what should be a simple decision into something impossible.

That Hughes is not mentally healthy is something we see from the beginning and becomes central to the story. His image in the media is one of perfection; but the man away from the camera is more human than we care to admit. Biblical characters become like this for us the longer we study them. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, but he was keenly aware of his dependence on God. Paul was a man of weakness who put no confidence in the flesh. Peter said “I am only a man myself.” David suffered with depression, yet God delivered him from it. We come to admire these men not because they are perfect, but because they were used in spite of their shortcomings.

The longer we get to know Hughes we begin to wonder why this incredible visionary is under such terrible duress. He has to wash his hands under scolding water (much the way Jack Nicholson’s character did in As Good As It Gets). He’s a hypochondriac – especially in his later years. And he’s only able to eat his steak if it has twelve, not eleven and not thirteen, green peas with it. When someone takes a pea off his plate we see genuine, though irrational, fear as he is not able to continue. As stupid as that may seem, it might cause us to wonder how irrational our fears must look to God and the strength He offers to bring us through them.

An incorrigible womanizer, Hughes falls in love with Kate Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and gives a nod to a teaching of Jesus when he washes her feet. Hughes visits her family and gets a first hand look at craziness. She’s not like them, but she pretends to be. And we see Hughes’ resolve not to knuckle under to be accepted. He stands against the pressure to conform – a quality that needs to be at the core of true disciples.

Hughes’ greatest trait was that he was not intimidated by what others thought was impossible. His life course was dictated not by general consensus but by conviction. Not by being a path follower but by being a path creator. He illustrates the curious truth that brilliant people just seem to know things other people don’t. “If you do that [a bold business move] you could lose everything,” his accountant tells him. “I won’t,” Hughes says as if able to forecast the future. Christians should have an even greater kind of confidence in Christ. Jesus said “Nothing is impossible to those who believe.” This is what it is like to be around people of incredible faith. They don’t make sense, because they operate in a realm much higher than normal.

When we see Hughes we see ourselves. We see that when not dealt with, the past can hold tremendous power over us. It begs us to consider what it is that defines us. Is it success, failure, love, admiration, jealousy, depression, revenge, fear? Hughes experienced it all. And while the film gives no indication Hughes had any relationship with God, he would have done well to hear the words of Christ, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Written by Paul Boge

Rating: PG – Some material may not be suitable for children: for battle sequences and frightening moments

What Does The Spirit World Look Like?

Imagine getting a glimpse into the world beyond our five senses. What if we could see into the realm that separates truth from falsehood, right from wrong? Would we gain any new insights into how vital our role here on earth is?

In the infamous classic, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis creates the fun, ingenious and biblically symbolic world of Narnia where four unsuspecting children embark on the adventure of their lives.

Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) take refuge in the country house of a professor during the German air raids over England in the Second World War. While playing a game of hide-and-seek the children stumble across a wardrobe and mysteriously enter a magical world that is in a perpetual state of winter. They find themselves in a battle against the White Witch (Tilda Swinton), who holds Narnia captive. She is desperate to prevent the foursome from fulfilling a prophecy that would see them joining the lion Aslan (voice by Liam Neeson) and his followers in his fight to save Narnia from her clutches.

In addition to the external battle against the White Witch, the children also face an internal battle of confronting conflict within themselves. Peter struggles to become a leader. Edmund battles through temptation to receive forgiveness. Susan fights to embrace faith over logic. Lucy seeks to retain her child-like faith.

And all struggle to understand the dichotomy between the physical reality of their previous world and the spiritual truths of Narnia.

C.S. Lewis knew the difference between preaching and story telling. And he did both of them extremely well. In preaching, he made his point. In story telling, he inferred his point. This is what helps make a Christian story like Chronicles of Narnia so successful. Lewis and the filmmakers use symbol and metaphor to convey truth, following Christ’s method found in parables. A few examples:

Aslan represents Jesus Christ. The sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ is so detailed it even incorporates Aslan’s mane being shaved to mirror the garments being stripped off Jesus. The Holy Spirit may have been symbolized by Santa Clause as he hands the foursome gifts such as the ability to heal and a sword symbolically representing the word of God – critical weapons in waging a battle against evil to carry out God’s will in a fallen world. “These are tools, not toys,” Santa says.

Satan is cleverly depicted as the White Witch – who disguises herself as an ‘angel of light’ with attractive clothing to cover her blackened heart. She entraps Edmund in a plot reminiscent of the fall of man when he succumbs to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the boastful pride of life.

The movie also portrays the blood covenant, Christ’s passionate love for us, the pain He feels over our sin, the coming of the Holy Spirit and numerous other analogies.

The story delves into doctrinal issues where C.S. Lewis uses clear imagery to illustrate biblical teaching. On the assurance of forgiveness Aslan says: “What’s done is done. There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past.” In regards to the completed work of Christ on the cross, Aslan says, “It is finished.”

The movie is an excellent symbolic description of the Gospel told through the eyes of children whose honest struggles are not unlike those we face today. It’s packed with great cinematography that manages to avoid an overuse of violence. It challenges parents to consider how this movie compares biblically to other popular fantasy novels-turned-movies which are aimed at children, but whose message is decidedly different from that of C.S. Lewis’. Metaphors and symbols can work both ways. As Aslan said about the power that covers all of Narnia, “it defines right from wrong.”

The film leaves us with at least two great truths. First, the war in the spirit world exists regardless of whether someone wants to believe in it or not. Second, it reinforces the need for our active participation in the spirit world war through obedience, self-denial and the pursuit of God to accomplish His will of confronting evil (both within ourselves and within the world) and setting up His Kingdom.

It’s a tremendous film that will be a viable and credible tool to engage people in culturally relevant dialogue about the redemptive story of Jesus.

Previously published in the MB Herald

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban review

Written by Paul Boge

Is Witchcraft Child’s Play?

The debate surrounding Harry Potter movies continues.

Yes, Harry Potter contains witchcraft and lots of it. Nobody argues that. The real question is whether or not that witchcraft has a potential to harm those who watch it. That’s where the problem comes in. There are those who argue the Harry Potter phenomenon is harmless fun aimed at kids; and then there are those who argue it is evil repackaged.

So who’s right?

In this installment, Harry needs to uncover the truth about an escaped prisoner from Azkaban who is seeking to kill him. Harry, Hermione and Ron return to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where they learn about divination, witchcraft, casting of spells, reading tea leaves, crystal ball gazing etc. in the hopes of becoming more proficient in their craft and fending off the oncoming attack.

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The Return Of The King Review

Written by Paul Boge

14A: Intense epic battle sequences and frightening images.
Parents strongly cautioned

Who rules who?

It is a time when all hope seems lost, when all friendships seem uncertain and when success seems impossible.

In the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, evil forces attack Minas Tirith in an effort to wipe out the race of Men. Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin), still trying to determine if Gollum (Andy Serkis) is a friend or a foe, pursue their daunting task of casting the final ring into the fires of Mount Doom. And Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) must answer the call to be king if there is any hope in defeating the enemy.

This epic picture, part of what could be considered the trilogy event of the decade, presents us with at least two key themes: the courage to pursue a calling and the problem of sin.

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Hidalgo Review

Written by Paul Boge

For: ChristianWeek

Somebody once said that adventure is written into the heart of every man – as though there’s a defining characteristic that urges men to pursue goals and tackle missions outside their normal scope of life. Like when Noah built an ark before there had been rain. Or when David the shepard takes on a mighty warrior. Or when a horse named Hidalgo and his rider Frank T. Hopkins entered an impossible race.

Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen of The Lord Of The Rings), is a half-Indian cowboy and a drunk working in the late 1800s with his best friend and horse Hidalgo in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. While his act is popular enough, he’s got a problem that some men can relate to: He’s bored with life beyond comprehension – with its routine, unoriginality and utter lack of adventure. He travels from town to town and event to event, but the different settings are just more opportunities to run through the same old schedule. Life doesn’t move on for Frank Hopkins. He’s stuck. Idle. He’s a man with character and drive settling for a life far beneath his potential.

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Bruce Almighty Review

Written by Paul Boge

What if you could be God?

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be God? Have you ever looked at your world and imagined what you would change if you were in charge? Bruce Nolan (the hilarious Jim Carrey) feels that way. In spite of his very best efforts, Bruce does not get the coveted anchor position available at the news station. Instead of realizing he’s not the most gifted news reporter around he instead blames God for his problems. And he expresses a frustration that some may be able to relate to when he tells God: “The only one around here not doing his job is You.

Through a clever turn of events, God (Morgan Freeman) gives His powers to Bruce under two conditions – he can’t tell anyone he’s God and he can’t mess with free will. And woven in with the film’s truly funny plot lies a critical question; namely, whether or not we assume we could do a better job than God.

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The Alamo Review

Written by Paul Boge

Rating: PG-13 for sustained intense battle sequences.
For: The Mennonite Brethren Herald

Do Legends Ever Die?

The Alamo is a compelling, thoughtful and accurate account of the famous 1836 battle to defend Texas against the advance of the Mexican military. And while Hollywood continues its assumption that audiences watch war films because of battle sequences only, The Alamo depends more on the historical background and key characters surrounding the ill-fated defence by 200 outnumbered Texans. Among them are notable legends Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), knife-wielding Jim Bowie (Jason Patric) and William Travis (Patrick Wilson).
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The Matrix Revolutions Review

Written by Paul Boge

Rating: 14A: Graphic Sci-Fi Violence and sexual content

Believing Is Seeing
Perception is not always reality. And reality is rarely truth. The triumph of the Matrix series, especially the first one, is its ability to contrast the distinction between the three. And in a world still struggling with the absurdity of relativism it becomes all the more apparent that the way in which we sort our fact from fiction, truth from falsehood, depends on how we see the world.

At a time when we as a society are increasingly adopting a “this world is everything” mentality, The Matrix Revolutions presents us with a view that the world we live in is at most fleeting and at the very least a mere shadow of what is really going on.

As Neo (Keanu Reeves) tries to save Zion from the evil machines we see a movie that explores the relationship between free will, destiny, prophecy and faith. And while some Christian circles engage in debating about what God does or does not know, The Matrix Revolutions instead investigates the simple truth that life is not so much about understanding as it is about believing. “Did you always know?” a young girl asks. “Oh, no,” a woman replies, “but I believed.”

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The Manchurian Candidate Review

Written by Paul Boge

There’s something engaging about psychotic female characters. They are so lovable and mysterious that by the time you figure out how messed up they are you look at yourself and wonder how they managed to catch you in their web of treachery.

We find such a woman in The Manchurian Candidate – a different take on the 1962 version by the same title starring Frank Sinatra. It pits a rogue yet powerful group of Washington insiders against an unsuspecting soldier to make him the next Vice-President. They hope he will eventually make it to the oval office for them to use as a puppet to further their hidden agenda.

Ben Marco (Denzel Washington) leads a night patrol in Desert Storm that comes under attack. The entire patrol, including soldier Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), is captured by a covert operation and they undergo mind control techniques. [Read more →]

Spiderman 2 Review

Written by Paul Boge

While Spidey 2 is an entertaining comic book come to life, it makes a similar departure that Star Wars (the prequels) made when it changes focus from an action-packed original movie to a sequel that places a higher emphasis on romance. It offers a fun and thoughtful investigation of how Peter Parker balances his threefold responsibility of keeping society safe, pursuing genuine relationships with his friends (most notably Mary-Jane) and being honest with his personal ambitions so as not to loose his identity.

The Spider-man/Peter Parker character is a study of the inherit human freedom of choice. Service or selfishness? Mission and risk or complacency and security? Peter Parker has had it with being Spider-man and after suffering a strange loss of powers he considers giving up his hero double life. He struggles to make a living as a freelance photographer, questions his place in the world and feels the burden his decision will have on the public, his friends and himself. Peter is alone in the world. Abandoned. And his ensuing battle for victory is not fueled by confidence, but by coming to terms with his weaknesses and needs.

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The Aviator

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban review

The Return Of The King Review

Hidalgo Review

Bruce Almighty Review

The Alamo Review

The Matrix Revolutions Review

The Manchurian Candidate Review

Spiderman 2 Review

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