Change Your Image
tsfogg
Reviews
Cog (2004)
I Know What It's REALLY About . . .
That's one of the strongest features of "Cog." You watch it and you know what it's saying, but then you say "yeah, but I know what it's *REALLY* about." Then you hear everyone else say the same thing. The greatest stories ever told work on a multitude of levels, and "Cog" is to be considered amongst them.
Not a single spoken line. Only two cast members. Repetition. Not exactly hallmarks of a great film. But the emotion conveyed by the lead actress, Maria Sager, the superb editing, the inspiring cinematography, and the inescapable music let's you know, we're in the presence of greatness.
Can't wait to see the director's next project.
The Girl Next Door (2004)
Pretty Woman -- but not as Sleazy
I remember when I watched "Pretty Woman" for the first time. I was appalled at how everyone loved Richard Gere and how it was touted as the greatest romantic comedy of all time. I seemed to be the only person who was creeped out by the fact that Gere was only into Julia's character for the sex! He was paying her for sex and dressing her up to make her presentable! At the end, I half expected him to say, "sorry, I have to go home to my wife in New York now." THAT would have been an interesting story.
Enter "The Girl Next Door." Very similar storyline except our hero, Matt, is blissfully unaware of Danielle's past. He falls for her because of who she is. It's when he finds out she's a porn star that things start to crumble. Then she goes back to it, but Matt chases after and tells her "you're better than this."
This story of love, grace, jealousy and forgiveness reminds me a lot of the story of Gomer from the Bible (in the book of Hosea, for those interested -- tiny little book at back of the Old Testament). It was story about love. It has teen comedy elements, but it's real and raw at times that help transcend the genre that belongs to American Pie, Porky's and the like.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Some Christians Can't Get No Satisfaction
Here's an article I wrote on the film for my school newspaper.
"Can't Get No Satisfaction"
I borrowed the title of the Rolling Stones' song to title this piece because it reminds me of many of the Christians who are feeling threatened by Mel Gibson's new movie, `The Passion of the Christ.' The Accent has published three articles (by my count) about the movie and two of them were very un-`Passionate.'
I have so much to say on this subject, I don't know where to begin. Because I'm studying to be a Christian filmmaker, do I confront the idea of not being able to find Christ in a theatre? Do I confront the religious zealots who bash Hollywood for making `trashy, immoral movies' and then continue to bash Hollywood when it produces an honest account of the pinnacle and cornerstone of Christianity?
But then it occurs to me that you, the reader, won't be able to see this article until at least two weeks after the movie opens. I write this on the eve of Spring Break, the day after I sat down and witnessed the passion of Christ. So for those of you who are considering boycotting the film, and while it is still fresh in my mind, I want to share my experience in watching the film before it's too late and you miss out on this enriching experience.
I was curious (as I'm sure many of you are) as how can one accurately adapt a story from the Bible into a two-hour movie? Masterfully, it appears
The film begins in Gethsemane, with Jesus sweating blood (Luke 22:44) and praying that the Father's will is adhered to, not His own (Matthew 26:41). Satan enters and mocks Jesus and His mission. A snake slithers out from under Satan's robes and is about to strike Jesus when Jesus stamps his foot down, crushing the snake's head (Genesis 3:15). Judas, a little scared and intimidated by the high priests, accepts thirty pieces of silver for the arrest of Jesus (Mark 14:10). The disciples flee into the night, John is even seen being pulled out of his robe in his flight (Mark 14:52). Jesus is taken to the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:54), where we see both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus object to the council's actions (Luke 23:50-51).
It was at this point I realized this film was as anti-Semitic as the New Testament - not at all.
Peter denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:75). The high priests take Jesus to Pilate's court (Luke 23:1). Pilate, swayed by his wife's dream (Matthew 27:19) sends Jesus to Herod (Luke 23:7). Herod finds no fault in Him, so he sends him back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). Judas, racked with guilt and tormented by inner (and very visual) demons, hangs himself (Matthew 27:5). Pilate, swayed by the masses, releases Barabbas (Matthew 27:20) and has Jesus flogged (John 19:1). Jesus is then brutally and torturously flogged. He is mocked and spit upon (Matthew 26:67, Matthew 27:29). They place a rod in his right hand, a crown of thorns on his head, and drape a purple robe over Him, mocking Him as `the King of the Jews' (Matthew 27:29). He is led to Calvary (John 19:17), though He can't carry His own cross (Mark 15:21). He is nailed to the cross on Golgotha and He dies (John 19:30). But it's a victorious death. Not just a release from pain. He's on the cross, and with His final breath, exclaims `it is accomplished!' Three days later, He exits the tomb, triumphant (Matthew 12:40).
Throughout this timeline of events, we are privy to flashbacks of Jesus' life and teachings (John 14 most notably). The most liberty was taken with the character of Satan. Though it is never recorded in the gospels, it is no stretch of the imagination to say that Satan was present on the day Jesus died. In the movie the role of Satan is played by Rosalinda Celentano. While it may seem strange to cast a female in the role of Satan, it's nothing new to those of us involved in Christian Drama. She plays a very cunning, sulking Satan who unleashes a foul cry of defeat when Jesus dies on the cross.
There are certain `Catholic liberties' that are taken, such as a quick glimpse of the Shroud of Turin, Veronica wiping the brow of Jesus, and a special emphasis on Mary, the mother of Jesus, but they in no way distract from the focus on Christ or change the message of mercy and sacrifice the cross and this film brings.
Instead of slinging mud at past writers and sharers of opinions, I would like to propose a question, in hopes that you might ingest it and regurgitate it amongst your peers:
How would you see it done? The box office report is in. On opening day, the movie made 26.6 million dollars. It opened in 3,006 theatres, each theatre averaging $8,835 in ticket sales for `The Passion.' That means at seven dollars a ticket; in one day 3,794,001 people were able to witness the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. How would you take this story to a society that is callous to violence? How would you take this event to so many people in a single day? How would you take this story to a people who would rather sit in any theatre, watch any movie, than sit in church? How would you make the story alive again to a church who has grown callous to the event, so much so that they simply thank Jesus for His sacrifice and move on to our prayers for Aunt Betty's sniffle?
It seems the moral of the story should be `Don't judge a movie by its maker, but view it before making outlandish statements about its lack of spirituality.'