A couple of week ago, I went to see a movie with a friend. I didn't want to particularly go to see this movie. While it looked interesting, I feared it would be as bad, with little redeeming value. Not bad as in horrible plot, acting and film making but bad as in content. The kind of movie where you leave and say, "What was I thinking?" I now say, publicly, that I was wrong to go see this movie.
Now at this point I could offer up some generic insights about how I felt, why I felt it and the lessons learned. But no matter what I say, the only thing you will want to know is, "Which Movie was it?" You would miss all the salient points and the nuggets of truth I might dispense. You might also take this opportunity to, silently and to yourself, pass judgment on me for my poor choice of movie and lack of moral certitude. "How could you see THAT?" or "DUH!" or even "What were you Thinking?"
So I guess before we continue any further, I must be transparent and tell you which movie I saw......
It was.......
Are you really certain that the title of the movie is That important? Shouldn't my pithy observations be enough for you? Shouldn't my revelation that I Was Wrong to see this film be enough to satisfy you?
No? Alllllllright!
It was "The Dark Knight", the second of the recent reincarnation of the Batman series starring Christian Bale as the Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker. Not the Joker as I remember being in the comic books or earlier movies, but a more demented, evil Joker. So lets start with my observations. I my humble opinion, this movie had not one shred of redeeming value in it. It was dark, very dark, full of fear and horror, gruesome and base, demented and vile. And I ponied up $10 to see it! I had been harranged for weeks about going to see this follow-up to the first movie with Bale (which was pretty good and did have some redeeming value). Inside something told me not t go see it. And did I listen? No. I went. And the movie went on and on and on. Just when you thought it was close to the end, it took a turn for the worse and continued on its downward slide.
I think the thing that bothered me most was what I heard before I actually saw the movie then what I felt after I saw it. "The Oscar buzz for Heath Ledger, what an amazing performance he had, the depth of character he brought to the role of the Joker. Accolades and praise and great reviews abounded." Certainly it was heightened by his untimely death but that misses the point. "This was one of the must-see films of the year!" In all the reviews and effusive praise, never once did I hear anyone say, "That was a truly evil, demented film. Should he have made it all?"
How tragically sad that the last statement Heath Ledger made on this earth was the one of the Joker. This is how most people will remember him (and maybe for the gay cowboy flik as well). People gushed over his performance and called it Oscar-worthy. People talked about how he embodied the Joker and how his character was spot-on. How he really brought the character to life and make him seem almost likable. Yet no one seemed to be the least bit concerned about the content of the role, what he said and the seeds evil and mayhem he left in your mind. By the end of the film, you almost liked the Joker and thought "Yeah, he did kinda make sense, in a demented twisted sort of way." He was well spoken and used twisted logic to make his points.
I know I felt slightly nauseous and queasy when I left the theater. Interestingly, as we left the theater, we passed by a large group just letting out from seeing "Fireproof", the latest movie from the makers of "Facing The Giants." Completely redeeming, value-affirming and morally sound. People were leaving the theater with red eyes and with wet tissues. I, too, was crying inside because I has been seduced by the glitter of Hollywood and had parted with my hard-earned cash and left the theater feeling sick and, quite frankly, ashamed that I had been duped and used. We sat for 2 1/2 hours watched as evil and horror and death and destruction and torture and insanity played out before my eyes. I was not a guardian of my eyes that night. I let seep into my thoughts and soul the depravity of man, without a hope outside of the saving power of God.
Songs from years long past came to mind...."Be careful little eyes what you see..." Scripture exhorts us to guard our minds and hearts, being always watchful for the seeds of destruction that can lead to the crumbling of our walls and defenses. "Set no worthless thing before your eyes." Even if it seem fun and is "just entertainment" I must always be on guard.
That night, I was not. I am ashamed of my lack of conviction and my poor judgment. I can only hope that when I am faced with such a decision as that again, I will pass on it with flying colors, my head up, my defenses intact, my spirit and soul safe.
Being a little more watchful.
Traveler
2 comments:
Hi Jeff,
I too got duped into seeing the Dark Knight. I came home so mad and up set it took me most of what was left of the evening to settle down. I based my decision on going on the previous Bat Man movies. What I ended up seeing was 2.5 hours of non stop senseless violence. As if violence ever really makes sense. The violence in this movie was not violence with even a motive but simply for the sake of destruction. This film was unbelievably dark.
So as I searched my heart to see if there was anything of redeeming value as a result of that experience. All I could come up with was that it was a wake up call for how dark our world has become. We as believers need to burn much brighter.
"All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke
It is time to be out shining the light of the gospel on every street corner. We have been too busy shining our lights at each other.
If this film does anything I hope that what the enemy meant for our destruction will turn out for our good. In that those unfortunate believers who had to witness the evil of this movie would wake up to the fact that our enemy is not flesh and blood but powers and principalities intent on destruction.
We need to wake up - no matter what end time scenario you choose to hold to the hour grows late and our lives are only a pittance of years. It is our personal end times. What will we do with our years for the glory of our Lord and King? Will we have oil in our lamps when the Bride Groom comes? Will he find us faithful?
For me, after repenting for not walking out after the first 15 minutes and subjecting myself to the entire movie. After I calmed down and turned to God in prayer with humble repentant heart.
I came to the conclusion that I needed to ask God to turn up the fire in my life. How easy it is to be lulled to sleep or to be carried away by all the distractions and things of this life. We have become desensitized to the evil running rampant in our land. Truly we need to allow the Lord to shake us up.
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It is time to wear out our knees!
Kudos Jeff for speaking out on this one.
Excellent Post Bro, Appreciate the charactered candor. I hope your readers will follow your insightful anaysis.
A wise man learns from experience-A wiser man learns from someone else's!
RGH
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