Sacrifice and Sensuality in Star Trek: Into Darkness

Okay, I know Star Trek: Into Darkness has been out since May and that makes it ancient in this fast-paced culture, but I just got the chance to see it. This film had all the necessary ingredients for a summer blockbuster: spectacle, intriguing story, great acting, humor, tension, sacrifice and sex (more on that in just a minute).

First off, let me just say that I continue to appreciate the work of J. J. Abrams. He has a knack for cultivating a nuance to the action/sci-fi genre while still bringing a certain level of nostalgia into his pictures. He has consistently accomplished this in his films and television series – Super 8 being a prime example. All of this to say, I am very hopeful with his forthcoming Star Wars films.

Back to Star Trek, it was such a satisfying film. The visuals were very impressive – everything from the exterior and interior design of the various spacecrafts, to the futuristic details of San Francisco and London. [Side Note: San Fran gets abused this summer. Alcatraz is destroyed in this film and The Golden Gate Bridge is demolished in Pacific Rim.]. The creativity, however, does not solely reside in the visuals but the various scenarios the characters find themselves in. One of the highlights is Captain Kirk and Khan’s outer-space-free-fall to board their “enemies” ship. The human minds which cultivated that idea from a sheet of paper to the illuminated silhouette on the silver screen explicitly points Christians to our amazingly, creative God.

This entire film would simply be shallow spectacle, however, were it not for the acting. An area the cinema has definitely refined has been the level of acting that frequents this genre. Acting and story were typically sacrificed some years back, but now they are just as central to the special effects. The ensemble cast that comprises the U.S.S. Enterprise is as well-developed as their acting. Not to mention the twists that add a deeper level of drama for the audience/characters.

Sacrificial Love

The theme of sacrifice throughout this film [spoilers]. In fact, the verse that continually came to mind was, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]. This film constantly portrayed characters willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of another. Spock does so in the opening scene, Bones is willing to explode for Carol’s sake, and Kirk willingly pursues death to save his entire crew.

Obviously the greatest example we have of this is Jesus Christ, which makes various portrayals something that should be applauded because they point us to the greater sacrifice.

Summer Sensuality

And of course, no Hollywood film would be complete without exploiting the human body. This is one aspect of the first Star Trek film, as well as, this one that bothers me. There is one completely unnecessary scene that hints at sensuality and a second scene that shows a women undressing.

Two thoughts come to mind when addressing sex making its way into almost every film – one negative and one positive. Negatively, this shows how uncreative Hollywood can be. I was, earlier, praising Abrams for his creativity, but the only thing creative about showing a woman undressing is how a filmmaker creates a scenario where that becomes a possibility in a space-action movie. This is simply cheap, exploitation employed to sale tickets.

Positively, although Hollywood and filmmakers put cheap sensuality in most of their films, they are drawing from a deeper truth that should be appreciated. That truth? Sex is powerful. Why is it powerful? Because God designed it to be. As we know, human sexuality is designed to draw a man and a women together in marriage. However, when it’s exploited from that context, it is still powerful, but it is being abused by its misuse of power.

Concluding Thoughts

Star Trek: Into Darkness is currently the highest-rated summer blockbuster this year (putting it above Man of Steel and Iron Man 3!), and I think it is well-deserved. It is really everything you are looking for in a summer movie. Even though there is an abuse of power, there is still truth that is being highlighted. And, let’s not forget the theme of sacrificial love that’s throughout. While Hollywood will continue to exploit powerful truths, let us not forget we worship a God whose hands are not tied. He is reigning and ruling over every filmmaker and every truth, no matter how much we try to exploit it, will ultimately bring him glory.

Piranha 3DD…umb

This was the only poster clean enough to show on our site

Here we go again. Not too long ago I wrote some strong posts against A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas [post 2] and American Reunion [post 2]. While wanting to remain sensitive to the issue of Christian liberty, I felt there was no reason a Christian should watch or support those films. Today I’m taking a similar stance against the movie, Piranha 3DD. You probably don’t need a blog post to tell you why a Christian shouldn’t watch this film, but, we at Reel Thinking, might need to explain why we would encourage such a strong stance against this film. Plus, it seems that some Christians would view a film like this and simply ‘laugh’ at the possible dangers that are contained in it.

To me, films like this are the ‘gateway drug’ to pornography. Don’t get me wrong, this film is explicitly pornographic, there’s no way around it (just look at the title). However, I say it is the gateway drug to porn, because their plot isn’t entirely centered on porn. Piranha 3DD has various subplots going on – mutant piranhas eating people at a water park – but they have other aspects of the plot that prove to be pornographic; i.e., lifeguards who are strippers. Even though the film is blatantly pornographic to some, the filmmakers mask it in It’s a horror film about piranhas attacking people. Therefore, guys feel less shame in saying they’re going to see P3DD at the theater, but the film still feeds the pornographic desire they have; i.e., gateway drug to porn.

Not only does this film exploit sex, it also contains over-the-top-gore and worships it, which is sinful. There is no doubt that sometimes a movie requires violence. For example, Saving Private Ryan must be violent in order to accurately capture the horrors of war, but P3DD is taking the horrific realities of violence and exploiting them.

We talked about the foolish producers of Harold & Kumar exploiting God’s creation of sex, and now we have the equally dumb creators of P3DD exploiting violence…and sex. The truth is, violence is real. Sometimes violence is needed, sometimes violence happens accidentally, and since we live in a fallen creation, violence will always be a result of the world we live in. But to take that truth and worship it, is disgusting.

The first bloodshed that ever occurred in the history of the world was in God’s gracious covering of Adam and Eve’s nakedness (Gen. 3:21). Genesis tells us that God covered Adam and Eve in animal skins, implying that an animal had to die. It was our first parent’s sin that caused bloodshed – violence. Therefore, it is easy for us to see that sin caused violence. Sin requires bloodshed. There will be no bloodshed in the new heavens and the new earth, so to take a result of the fall and worship it as the creators of P3DD do is sick.

Not only do they worship violence, but they do it in a somewhat humorous way. If you look this film up, its genre is horror, comedy, thriller. They have horrific depictions of piranhas eating humans and they attempt to add humor to a distortion of creation…not funny. Christians must be striving to keep violence and blood in their proper place. These are sobering realities of the fall, but when those lines begin to be blurred as humorous, that is a dangerous lie being communicated.

The Three Stooges might have been the first to depict violence as humorous, but there is a significant difference between a face getting ripped off (this happened in the first Piranha) and a kick to the shin (see Stooges).

Besides the bad acting, story line, and waste of time this film would be, add to that, the graphic nudity/sex and the graphic violence, and I think Christians would be hard-pressed to give a good reason they should see a film like this. Remember, we are creatures created in the image of God, should we really watch (and possibly laugh at) a film that exploits those image-barers with depictions of violence and sex?

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Caution

There are a few things we hope to accomplish at Reel Thinking.  One thing you hear us constantly harp on is illuminating truth in film.  We hope that readers of this blog begin to see that there is a deeper layer to film that points to the Truth of God’s Word.  Another thing we hope to establish is assisting our readers in the area of discernment. Discernment is a challenging process, at times, and is something that requires stewardship in the Christian life.  As we have said, it seems that Christians have become lazier in the area of discernment and have turned to associations like the MPAA who instruct them on what they should watch.  Therefore, instead of focusing on ratings, or even placing too much emphasis on content, we focus more on biblical themes and Truth in film.  All of this (we hope) trains a generation of Christians to appreciate God’s gift of film and assists them as they wade through the difficult grey area in film.

While we know there is much grey in film, there are times when things become black and white.  A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, is one of those black and white issues.  At RT we have made an effort to be different from most Christian sites dealing with film by not stating which films you should or should not see.  However, with a film like H&K3D, we will give our strongest statement we’ve ever given to a film.

We know there is such a thing as Christian liberty, which means what’s offensive to me isn’t necessarily offensive to another Christian and visa-versa. Romans 14 is a clear Scripture passage that illustrates this by using the analogy of food sacrificed to idols.  Paul says,

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Applying this to film, we must be cautious when stating whether or not a Christian can view a certain movie.  Because of the issue of Christian liberty, and desiring to be cautious in order to guard from binding a brother or sister’s conscience, we tend to lean away from that. While we want to remain sensitive to those issues, we also feel that this film gives us plenty of reason to issue a very strong warning to the Christian.  There are at least two cautions (there are probably many more) Christians must consider.

The first and most obvious caution is the sex.  The actual details list the film having ‘graphic nudity’ and ‘strong crude sexual content’.  It seems that you could stop the post here with enough reason why a Christian should not watch this film, but let’s discuss this a bit more.

Reading the same details of graphic nudity and strong crude sexual content and applying them to a film like, Schindler’s List, a Christian would most likely be able to make the argument that this content is needed to show an accurate portrayal of that historic event.  However, when we take that same content and apply it to an exploitative ‘stoner-bud-comedy’, Christians really don’t have a leg to stand on.

And that’s the real issue, exploitation.  This is the modus operandi of films like H&K3D.  Exploitation is the reason Christians should abstain from a movie like this.  The GOAL of the movie is to exploit sex and drugs, but let’s stay on sex for a minute.  The newest tv spot screams that exploitation is what this film is all about.  It says something along the lines of, ‘If we removed all the sex and drugs from the newest Harold & Kumar movie, it would look like this.’  The producers then show you a five second clip implying that when all the sex and drugs are edited out, there’s nothing left in the film.  They are telling you that this film is slam-packed with sex and drugs for the sake of sex and drugs.  Christians, you don’t have to be too discerning here, the producers are telling you what they’re all about.

Men, those who are married or hope to be married one day, Scripture tells us to ‘rejoice in the wife of your youth‘ [Prov. 5:18b], not some trashy woman taking her clothes off in the new Harold & Kumar movie.  Sex is something God created, not the perverted filmmakers of Harold & Kumar. Therefore, it is beyond disgraceful for them to take a good gift of God and whore it for their benefit.  I apologize for the strong language, but this is exactly what they’re doing.  They are removing sex from its proper context and using it, like it was their own creation, in order to make money.

As I warned you, this is the strongest post I’ve written on a film.  Anyone who knows these films, or films like these, know what they’re all about…sex.  Even though sex is a major emphasis and one that is guaranteed to make this film money, there is one more issue I would like to discuss tomorrow.  One that is more offensive than abusing God’s creation of sex.

Death’s Final Destination

Yesterday I discussed a few reasons why Christians should approach a film like Final Destination 5 with great caution.  While I still hold to that, I do believe there are some deep Scriptural truths we can glean from the entire franchise.

Death is a reality: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” Romans 5:12.  If these movies teach us something, they teach us that no one can escape death. Unless Jesus Christ returns, death is a reality we will all face.  The tagline of the first film is No Accidents. No Coincidences. No Escapes. You Can’t Cheat Death.  And the tagline to the fifth is Death has never been closer.  The former is affirming the sovereignty of God; i.e., there are no accidents or coincidences, and you can’t cheat death.  The latter is correct in that death is drawing closer for us each and every day. We may not say it but, we often live our lives like we are going to live forever.  Even if we realize that death is a reality, we often disagree by the trivial decisions we make each and every day.  A film like this illustrates how easily our days can end, and how quickly they are approaching.

God is to be Feared:  “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”  Matthew 10:28-30.  Many of us might not give much thought to the fact that God protects us and sustains us through each and every day.  The FD films truly help to illustrate just how much evil and disaster God protects us from.  If you’re heart is beating right now, God allowed it.  If you made it to the office today, God allowed it.  Nothing on this earth happens apart from the will of the Father.  Although the accidents in most of these films are too outlandish to believe, they depict that accidents are a reality.  The creators of the film come up with inventive ways to knock off the stars, but the Creator is the One holding these realities at bay.  God’s common grace is holding death at bay for the believer and the unbeliever every waking hour.  His power is unmatched.  Therefore, be sure and thank him for His sustaining hand each and every day.

Death’s final destination:  “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57.  Even though these films advertise that you can’t escape death, this is not entirely true.  While we may be taken from this earth, those who are in Christ aren’t truly at home until their death.  And their death is not final.  They will be raised again, because Jesus Christ conquered death.  Death took him to the grave for three days, and then Christ rolled away the stone and spit in the face of death!  Christ has provided a way where death does not have the final word.

Where New Line Cinema may crank out yet another installment of this gross-out franchise, death’s final destination is the grave because of the Hero, Jesus Christ.

Seek Another Destination?

Death is making his way back into the theater for his popular role in Final Destination 5.  He has been popular enough to make his way into five installments of a film, more than most Hollywood actors, so give him credit where credit is due.  Although the Grim Reaper deserves a pat on the back, does he deserve a purchased ticket at the box office?

The last FD film I saw was the first one [2000], which gave me an idea of what the ensuing films would consist of, even with some nuances promised in this film.  However, is unoriginality a good enough reason for someone to say ‘no’ to a film?  Although Christians should approach a film like this with caution, I will follow up with a post tomorrow discussing some good things about the Final Destination franchise…that’s right…good.

Here are a few negative things to consider while wading through the grey:

The first thing to consider is the artistic value of this film.  Christians should strive for good art and appreciate good art when they see it.  The FD films have an interesting concept (this will be discussed in part 2), but the interesting/original concept is now gone.  Money is now driving this machine.  These movies employ bad acting and low budget special effects.  By today’s standards, these films are fairly low budget, but they make a decent amount of money.  Almost everything about these movies scream ‘Poor!’  Therefore, you are merely padding the budget of New Line Cinema when you go see this film, which is something to think about.

Something else to consider is the fact that it’s #5.  Let’s be honest, how many number 5’s have been all that great?  Rocky V?  Saw V? Maybe you’ll argue that You Only Live Twice or Star Wars: Episode II (which is 5) are great fifth installments of films.  But let’s not forget what film series we’re talking about here.  This is Final Destination, not some timeless series such as Ian Fleming’s Bond or Lucas’ epic space saga.  This goes back to Christians appreciating good art, and the fifth installment of a gross-out violent film is anything but timeless.  Which leads me to my last point…violence.

The exploitation of violence is the most obvious caution for the discerning Christian.  While some of the films have nudity (which is also something to be cautious of since it’s typically exploitative in these films), they all have violence…lots and lots of gruesome violence.  Decapitations, bodies ripped apart, intestines spilled, and a lasik operation gone bad in the most recent – at least that’s what is assumed from the trailer.  Now, if you’re the guy or girl who says, “But that kind of thing doesn’t bother me.”  You’re a liar.  The entire reason you go to movies like these is to be impacted.  You go to films like these to be grossed out, so if you claim that you aren’t impacted by that movie than you might as well not go.  But if you’re persistent and say, “These movies don’t bother me.  I really just go to be entertained.”  My question to you would be, “Shouldn’t they bother you?”  Shouldn’t depictions of gruesome deaths of fellow image-bearers upset us.  We are all created in God’s image [Gen. 1:26 & 27] and the death of a human being should rattle us when it’s graphically depicted on screen.

These are just a few reasons (I’m sure there’s more) why I think Christians should approach a film like FD5 with great caution.  These films will soon be forgotten, but the gruesome images will have a lasting impact.  Therefore, truly examine your heart and see that there may be less grey area than you might think.  Be sure and check back tomorrow as I do point out some positive, biblical insights from the film.