Posted on 04/01/2014 3:26:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
It wasn't so long ago that conservative Christians believed Hollywood to be evil and some preachers instructed their congregations not to go to movies lest they be tempted beyond their ability to resist. Now Christians are debating film content. That's progress of a sort.
The main complaint from critics of the film "Noah," which opened last Friday with an impressive opening day take of an estimated $44 million in ticket sales, is that it doesn't accurately reflect the rather slim biblical account in Genesis. Here's some breaking news for the critics: Noah didn't speak English, as Russell Crowe does in the film, so right there we have a departure from biblical accuracy. One should not turn to Hollywood for theological truth.
In his book "Hollywood vs. America," critic Michael Medved refers to the film industry as "The Poison Factory," not the "dream factory" it likes to call itself. There is plenty of evidence -- and he includes it in his book -- to support that conclusion, but there are also many independent films being made today that act as antidotes to that poison if people seek them out, buy tickets and spread the word.
"Heaven is for Real" is one such film. Based on the best-selling book by Todd Burpo, the movie was directed by Randall Wallace, an evangelical Christian who also directed "Secretariat" and wrote the screenplays for "Braveheart" and "Pearl Harbor."
Back to Noah. I asked Michael Medved about the film. He emailed me that while he believes the film is "surpassingly strange ... On balance," he says, he's "glad they made the film; unlike so much puerile pabulum from Hollyweird, this serious and seriously flawed offering gives thoughtful movie-goers plenty to talk about." He might have added that controversy also sell tickets, sometimes more than newspaper ads and movie trailers.
As for the storyline (the real one), what we know from Genesis is that God considered Noah a "righteous man." For that reason Noah and his family (and the animals) would be spared so they could repopulate the Earth after the flood. God's reason for wiping out what He had created was because "every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). From there we get a weather report of rain for 40 days and 40 nights, the opening of the Earth's floodgates, a dove going out to see if the water had receded and God providing a rainbow as a sign of His promise never to flood the Earth again. That's it at warp speed.
While dramatic enough, there are not enough additional details to sustain a movie plot long enough for people to finish their overpriced candy bars, tubs of popcorn and supersized Cokes or justify the obscene ticket prices ($16.50 in NYC). Some critics claim there is a heavy environmental message in the film, which undercuts the power of the real story. Aren't there subtle and not so subtle messages in most films?
After decades in which Hollywood mostly ignored or stereotyped faith, Christians should be happy they have gotten the film industry's attention. Successful films like "The Passion of the Christ," "The Bible" and "Son of God" prove that such stories "sell." Instead of nitpicking over "Noah," the Christian community should not only be cheering, but buying tickets to encourage more such movies. Hollywood may not always get it right, but that's not the point. They are getting something and that sure beats not getting anything, or getting it completely wrong as in Martin Scorsese's blasphemous, "The Last Temptation of Christ."
Besides, after some see "Noah," they might want to visit the "original cast." The next time a rainbow appears might be the right occasion to begin a discussion.
Wow, a good word for the “Noah” movie by Cal Thomas!
Went to see God’s Not Dead and I noticed along with it, Noah and Son of God were playing. And Heaven Is For Real is opening soon.
They wouldn’t be making these movies if they didn’t think people were interested. Maybe - just maybe - there is hope for us yet.
Saw it yesterday. Thought provoking despite the variances from scripture. It is INSPIRED by the story of Noah, not to be an accurate accounting of same. Clearly stated. Artistic wiggle room there. Will give many the opportunity to look in the real account and many might for the first time. That is not bad.
Well acted and interesting that no animals were used in film. All CG. Glad I didn’t listen to the naysayers.
Again nothing can pass the scrutinizing of the perfect purists whether it be movies, politicians, faith walks.
Is that Noah in the pic? Not too bad for a 600 year old man.
What shocked me was the list of cases at the end of the movie where colleges/universities have been sued in freedom of religion matters. I knew there were several, but was not aware there were so many.
I do remember the Florida school where the professor told students to write “Jesus” on a piece of paper and stomp on it. I’m just glad my daughter went to a real Christian university.
And I ask you, could anything make Satan happier than something that leads people to believe they are saved when they are not?
I have absolutely no problem with a filmmaker taking a biblical story and adding or subtracting from it as a way to craft a compelling film.
[...]
What does matter, though, is The Message. The Message is everything. And this is where Aronofsky is the snake in the garden. Using $135 million, he and Paramount have brilliantly and deviously disguised the Pagan god Gaia as the God of the Old Testament … as THE God.
And let's give the Devil his due: using the story of Noah to twist Christianity into something it is not, is a genius piece of propagandizing that is sure to lead many away from God under the mistaken belief that through left-wing environmentalism they are coming closer to Him.
Aronofsky is the anti-Michelangelo: a master craftsman using his talents to a dishonest and wicked end.
A collection of FREEPER threads on the movie - Noah ...
Religious tide turns against ‘Noah’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3138393/posts
Noah: a classic blunder
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3138403/posts
Nine problems with the movie “Noah”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138569/posts
Don’t Get Punked by Paramount’s Pagan Noah Film
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3138604/posts
Noah – The Emperor’s New Movie (The Utter Embarrassing Mess of ‘Noah’)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3138663/posts
‘Noah’ Review: Brilliantly Sinister Anti-Christian Filmmaking
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3138716/posts
Noah, The Film: All Washed Up
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3138756/posts
Box Office: ‘Noah’ Winning Over Faith-Based and Mainstream Moviegoers
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138788/posts
No meat at ‘Noah’ party
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138805/posts
The Noah Movie: Our Detailed Review [Christian Review]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3138815/posts
The Noah Movie: Deconstructing Noah’s Ark; Godawful Storytelling
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3138821/posts
Atheist ‘Noah’ director brags film is least biblical Bible movie ever
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138830/posts
Moviegoers Are Thinking Things Over After Earthquake Hits During ‘Noah’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138838/posts
Ken Ham: The Unbiblical ‘Noah’ Is a Fable of a Film
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138844/posts
Box Office: Moviegoers Flock to ‘Noah’… But Hate It
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138851/posts
BOX OFFICE: ‘Noah’ Rises, ‘God’s Not Dead’ Surprises As Schwarzenegger Brought To Knees
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3138858/posts
Ray Comfort Releases Christian Noah Movie: Watch ‘Noah and the Last Day’ on YouTube for Free
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3138946/posts
The midrashiest midrash that ever was midrashed [a spoiler-free “Noah” review]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3138958/posts
If Christians Are Going to Complain About The Movie Noah, Then Create Something Better
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138974/posts
Noah is the Most Unpopular Movie in Current Release (Despite Topping the Box Office)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3139042/posts
The Noah film is afloat with extremism
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3139267/posts
Pastors Enchanted by Hollywood’s Courting Lead Christians to Patronize “Noah” Propaganda Film
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3139548/posts
I’m a Christian and I think ‘Noah’ deserves a four star review
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3139550/posts
People who don’t understand the importance of staying true to the written Word in any context do not understand the importance of the written Word.
Sorry, Cal. This movie is terribly wrong.
Noah....about 2500 BC.
Christianity didn’t exist in the time of Noah.
Christ did.
Jesus very specifically included the account of NOAH in Christianity. He gave that as an example of how it would be again, when the next WORLD-WIDE JUDGEMENT comes down again, at the return of Jesus, himself.
AND ... in fact Jesus said that the entirety of the Old Testament (the law, prophets and writings) is about HIM.
So Jesus, Himself, made it all about Christianity.
I'd say that Christianity began in Genesis 3:15 when the promise was given to our fallen parents that there would be a Redeemer (the Messiah, aka the Christ, the Anointed One). The Seed of the Woman who would crush the head of the serpent, and free mankind from the curse of sin and death,
Through the ages, Mankind continued to look for Him - and Wise men found Him (as He said, 'if he seek me, you will find me').
So 'official' Christianity was ushered in at the Incarnation and Resurrection - but many were trusting in His finished work long before.
The movie, “Noah” is to the real Noah what “Abraham Lincolnd, Vampire Hunter” was to Abraham Lincoln.
I suppose once you view from that perspective it’s possible it’s a pretty good movie.
It's not that it just takes artistic license. It's that it is a lousy movie, period.
Is that Noah in the pic? Not too bad for a 600 year old man.
Christ did.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.