Posted on 03/02/2005 7:59:07 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
The great Christian thinker Francis Schaeffer once wrote that philosophy—often dismissed as irrelevant—is, in reality, a powerful engine that drives cultural change. Ivory Tower ideas filter down into popular culture, including films. There, they influence millions who often have no notion of what they’re consuming along with the car chases, love scenes, and popcorn.
This brings us to the Academy Awards of Sunday night. If you watched them, you already know that the films Hollywood chose to honor had little to do with quality and everything to do with philosophy and worldview. As Christian film critic Barbara Nicolosi acerbically put it, Hollywood’s choices affirm, once again, “just how very, very sick America’s storytellers have become.”
Several awards, including Best Picture, went to Million Dollar Baby, a film that promotes euthanasia. Five Oscars went to The Aviator, a film that celebrates billionaire Howard Hughes, the man who bedded dozens of starlets, made unwelcome advances to many others, and ultimately died of syphilis-induced insanity.
Oh, and then there’s the nasty little film called Sideways. This film suggests that it’s fine—even funny—for a man to engage in an orgy of sex with strangers just before his wedding. That got an award, too. Films that were nominated, but did not receive awards, included one intended as a warning against making abortion illegal, and one that celebrates Kinsey, a twisted researcher whose now-discredited theories continue to degrade America’s view of sexuality. Meanwhile, one of the greatest films ever made, one of the biggest box-office hits of the year, worldwide, and the biggest independent film in the history of the world—that is, The Passion of the Christ—was ignored.
It’s gotten to the point where you can’t help but laugh at the pretense that the Oscars actually honor the best films, and at the intrepid efforts of Hollywood to make its choices seem relevant. And, I might add, laughter is a better response than simply getting mad. Critics who do little more than count up the four-letter words and sex scenes, and then issue an outraged press release, only boost the audience. Instead, Christian critics like Barbara Nicolosi take a more sophisticated approach, pointing out that movies like Million Dollar Baby and The Aviator are mediocre films, and they celebrate degraded values—not worth the price of a ticket.
That is the message we need to press home to our friends and to our impressionable kids. They need to know that everyone embraces one philosophy or another—a worldview that defines his or her conception of the world, of reality, and of human life. These beliefs are woven into movies—often in subtle ways that viewers miss. That is why it’s so important that we teach our kids how to find the worldview message in every film.
This week, especially if your kids are home because of the snow, why not teach them a little philosophy. Rent some of the better films and watch them together. Help them identify, not only the filmmaker’s philosophy, but also what makes for artistic excellence.
Schaeffer was right. Philosophy is a powerful engine that drives social change. And the time for philosophy lessons is before our kids walk into the multiplex—not when the lights go out.
If CRITICS hate it, I try to see the movie.
If they RAVE about it, I won't waste the money.
You've been rude and unduly proprietary (um, maybe Jim Robinson needs to send you a private email informing you that it's not your site, and not your call who's got a "bad attitude" or who's allowed to post on what thread, etc.), but you are fractionally redeemed for publicly stating that you didn't see the movie. Re your extubation inquiry: She asks to "just unplug her," and he says No. So does staff. Once he finally gives her an injection (and much time and wrestling with moral issues goes by), he does extubate her.
That works.
I read most of them. You two seem to be solving the problem without help anyway, so just ignore my patriarchal replies. Maybe others will read them and it will help them.
"No, it doesn't promote euthanasia. "The Sea Inside" promotes euthanasia. "Million Dollar Baby" is just a chick, fight movie with a plot twist.
Always see as many movies as possible and decide what you think about them for yourself."
And the winner for most sobering, rational response is...Deb!
I suppose you didn't notice that I was done with this thread.
I think you need to take your own advice.
There are several plot holes surrounding her death. Have you seen patients worse guarded in your whole life? I have never seen a hospital where someone could come into a back entrance and enter someone's room. But the whole point of what he did was to honor her wishes, and show the closing of the relationship. I would guess that many of the jumps made in the plot around this are the fact that FX Toole who wrote it probably didn't know a lot about these situations.
You may retract your coniliatory words after you scroll down to my subsequent posts, but thanks. Have you ever considered hostage negotiation?
It's called artistic license. Many dramas, and even comedies, revolve around artificially removing certain options either through plot twists or just ignoring them. The movie would be kind of boring if they hadn't strategically "forgotten" that she could just order extubation herself, then there'd be no moral quandry for Eastwood's character to navigate.
I cannot agree with how they talk about Hughes. Sure we can look at the faults of anyone and think poorly of them, or we can look at the positive things they did. The movie focused on the postive things he did. Why should that be disparged?
Thank you for your efforts to keep this thread on track.
It is not easy, is it?
I also don't plan to tell anyone that it promotes euthanasia, because I don't know that it does, but I also won't pretend I can't know anything about the film without seeing it. If I hear an assessment from a source I trust, I will take it as a fact. I did the same thing with Fahrenheit 9/11 and the Passion.
And yes, I do know what histrionic means. I chose it to avoid using more insulting terms, like "drama queen." I hope you appreciate my careful word choice, and again, have a nice day.
You make a good point, but no Christian with a brain (and Colson has a very good one) is miffed that Gibson got snubbed, it's as natural as rain falling from the sky.
Speaking of stories, if you can find a DVD of an old TV series called "The Storyteller,</I> it's worth your time. John Hurt plays the title role, and most of the other characters are creatures from Jim Henson's shop.
I have. Everybody I've ever visited in the hospital except mothers with new borns (where there's TONS of security) I just walked in through a convenient entrance and went to their room, only time I ever talked to an employee was when they were doing something with the patient while I was there or I specifically sought them out for some reason (find out what room I was aiming for, discuss the actual medical situation).
Yeah, and I posted a reply addressing that issue to him, and you.
What is really important is that you both seemed to relax and were actually communicating.
I am sure he realizes, in retrospect, he was upset, and you had your remarks as well. We all get involved in these situations where a raw nerve, as misunderstood reply, etc. cause a flurry of negative exchanges. Cause we're human.
Forgive and what seems an enemy might turn out to be a good friend.
Um, in your education about body language and communication, did they tell you all caps is shouting on the internet?
De nada, mi hermano.
It is not easy, is it?
Like herding cats. Ornery cats.
I've been on a deus ex machina kick since I learned the meaning of the term a few weeks ago. It can be pretty funny when you look for it.
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