Arrival

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Arrival-ehm8jl

Today we’re covering the movie arrival, this movie came out in 2016, produced by 

Arrival is a fantastic movie that illustrates humanity’s fear of the unknown but also dives DEEP into the prophetic (more on this later). I like the strangeness of it all and how it turns out at the end is completely unexpected. This is a VERY cerebral movie (obviously my favorite kind) and there are many layers to this film.

We start at our main character Louise’s house overlooking a water body which I’ll call a lake for simplicity. A quick note here her name Louise means “famous warrior” I will come back to this later. Louise’s narrative begins with “Memory is a strange thing. It doesn’t work like I thought it did. We are so bound by time, by its order.” The movie opens with Louise and her daughter we go through a quick montage of her daughter growing up and then contracting an illness that eventually ends her life.

Some time later (we thinks as the audience more on this later) Louise is teaching languages at a college. The aliens arrive interrupting her lesson just like how God sometimes interrupts our lives and supersedes our plans with His. The class is dismissed then we see Louise at her home.

A Calling

A military Colonel Webb? surprises her at her house, we learn she has translated Farsi for them before and she disagrees with their motive and actions resulting from the translation. He tells her you’re the top of everyone’s list when it comes to translations. I felt like God was saying that our giftings and callings will draw the right people at the right time TO us, He will bring the increase. She initially turns them down and she asks if they are going to ask another expert she’s familiar with. She tells Webb to ask him the Sanskirt word for war and it’s translation. 2 minutes later in the movie, they return to pick up Louise. She tells him it means “I desire more cows.” I think this demonstrated her unique abilities to understand MEANING and not just sounds of the languages. An important reference here to Matthew 22:14 “14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” They then go to the Alien spacecraft arrival site in the United States in Montana. It’s in a remote location, just like Moses, Jesus and even Paul had wilderness experiences to commune with God. Just to contrast Louise’s reaction, there are several times in the movie where they show people protesting and graffiti saying Humans first! “Save humanity” etc. and also the handling of contact with them. I feel like this represents how various people groups respond to God’s gospel message. Some receive His message with joy, some fight it, and others outright ban it.

The military

I likened the military in the movie to the established church. With their many rules and conditions and protocol to reach and make contact with the aliens. Just like some churches (not all) say that only through these prayers, these rituals or this type of religion you can meet with God. The military only wants to control and determine if the aliens are a threat to them. So interesting here, like religion or the church establishment being angry when the “real God” shows up and messes up their traditions. However, they are the first to make a way to contact the aliens and reach their ship, however we see soon enough that it is Louise and her PERSONAL interaction and relationship with the aliens that brings the breakthrough of communication with them. I think it’s interesting that at first the story shows us how afraid a lot of the characters are of the aliens. I relate to this in my personal journey, I was really afraid of God at first in my walk with Him, afraid He was going to strike me down at any moment for my wrongdoings. But just like Louise learned how to trust the aliens through the film, I have learned and am still learning how to trust God in my life.

The task at hand

The task at hand is to learn the alien’s language and this just spoke to me. We also have to learn God’s language. God’s language is not English, actually a strong argument can be made that his language might be Hebrew (since God’s chosen people are the Israelites and Jesus is a Hebrew man). God’s language is holy and completely other than our human languages, now I believe all languages come from God at some point (see Tower of Babel) but the point remains how He can and does communicate to us is somewhat of a mystery.

First contact

During Louise’s first contact session with the aliens she wears a Hazmat suit and what looks like a spacesuit. This made me think of how when we first come to God we have MANY layers of protection built up from our past experiences that we must remove and surrender to Him in order to have intimacy with Him. After a few visits, she eventually removes these protective suits so the aliens can better see her. Again like she has no barriers and is learning to trust God. I also think it’s interesting that they go back into the spaceship every 18 hours and are reminded of the window of opportunity by an alarm. I felt like this alarm represents the Holy Spirit warning us when we need to take time out and commune with God.

Aliens otherness

There are 12 ships all over the globe at seemingly randomized locations. One suggestion is that they are sites fairly free of lightning (with exceptions). This number 12 could obviously represent the 12 apostles spreading the gospel around the world but also it could represent the 12 tribes of Israel and given their locations all over the globe I wonder if that fits more revealing a more global call to humanity. It’s interesting again like I said before that the different cultures respond differently, kind of like in real life how they respond to the gospel. I like that the spaceship isn’t touching the ground but it is reachable, but it is also separate and other than us. Also that they open the door to meet with them just like God invites us to Him and He provides the way. They have to climb an almost literal stairway to Heaven to enter the spaceship. The aliens then provide gravity part of the way up so the crane lifts the team part of the way (not all the way just as our efforts cannot help us reach God on our own strength) but the aliens meet them part of the way (not halfway) by providing the gravity, just like God provided the way for us to reach Him through Jesus. 

I liked that the aliens are separate in their own atmosphere just like God is Holy and separate from us and even though there is a barrier, perhaps like God is in the unseen realm to us now? the aliens and God still want to meet with us. There are clouds that swirl as the aliens approach it reminds me of Exodus 19:3-25, Psalm 18:11 etc. At first, their only communication is low groans and moans just like Romans 8:26-27 “26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” It’s unintelligible, this reminds me of how we must learn how to discern God’s voice and His faintest whispers to us. 

Also their ship resembles Earth rocks in texture but a lens in shape when horizontal and an egg when vertical. So fascinating that their “gift” to us is a way to see and their ship looks like a lens (when it lays sideways) and an egg (a new beginning? new way to see things?). The rock composition of their ship reminds me of so many scriptures where God is referred to as the “rock of ages”, and Jesus is also referred to as the “rock of offense” and then there’s the “rock” that Jesus built His church on, etc etc. 

I also liked that the ships don’t disrupt the atmosphere around them, they don’t emit any radiation or signals detectable by humanity. This made me think they are able to communicate through an unseen realm with one another, just as God communicates from Heaven to us. They eventually name the aliens heptapods, hepta meaning 7 and pod meaning foot. This reminded me of 7 the number of completion in the Bible and feet reminds me of Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””

Their written word

I like that their written language is circular with no beginning and no end, it has no forward or backward direction called non-linear orthography (interesting this is also the way they see time we find out later). They suggest it may be the way the aliens think. I personally think this is a way God might think, since time is non-linear to Him as well. Which makes sense then why His Word wouldn’t be changed by time also. Their language is also called semasiographic which conveys meaning not sound. The other main character Ian also explains that unlike speech, a logogram (their written circular language) is free of time. I LOVE THIS!!! Just like God’s written Word conveys meaning and not sound (you don’t literally hear a voice with your ears when God’s “speaking” through His Word although there have been exceptions) and His Words are not bound by time. They were written over 2,000 years ago and yet He can still use them to convey meaning and teach us today. We learn later that the order is important to their written images and so is interpretation. Same is true of God’s Word. 

Louise’s gift

Louise starts having visions. Remember, at the beginning of the movie she remarks how we are so bound by time, but these visions seem to juxtapose that statement (SPOILERS HERE) showing her glimpses of her future. This is like how the prophetic can work in us, we are bound by time but God can speak things to us just the same way. Even more interesting to me was that she started seeing the visions WHILE studying/looking at their language. WOW WOW WOW this impacted me SO much God’s Word opens up new realms and gifts to us as we study it and it’s not bound by time. Ian and Louise discuss how immersing yourself in a foreign language can change the way you think. I absolutely LOVE that they mentioned this. It’s just like studying God’s Word, His Word literally transforms our mind, mindsets and thought processes, everything! Like in Romans 12:2 “2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  He transforms our minds to connect with Him and understand what and how He speaks to us. The more time Louise spends with the aliens, the frequency of her visions also increases. Just like in Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” And communing with the Lord endows us with power from on high, like it says in Zechariah 4:6 “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

The “gift” for humanity

When they finally ask why the heptapods have come to Earth they answer with “offer weapon”. The alien asks Louise to write on the glass, he provides the “ink” and she is “filled with the Spirit” almost, sees another vision of her daughter and that memory/feeling/sentiment allows her to draw the right logogram. I believe this was her graduation ceremony. They wanted to test her to see if she was fluent enough in their language to do the task they were going to ask her. When she succeeds, they in return respond with a HUGE reply with thousands and thousands of logograms all overlapping each other. I felt like this is similar to when God tests us and when He knows He can trust us with certain gifts or levels of responsibility we “level up” in a way to more giftings and responsibility. It also represents God’s infinite and vast knowledge. When the other countries cut off their communications and declared war on the aliens, it was fascinating again that it was Russia and China two of the most persecuted countries when it comes to the gospel. Everything then snaps into war games, but Ian and Louise feel they don’t completely understand the heptapods’ answer. They go back in unawares that an army soldier has planted a bomb in the spaceship. The heptapods protect Louise and Ian from the blast, they could see the danger coming, just like sometimes God shields us from dangers that only He can see around the bend. After the attack, the heptapods withdraw upwards exactly ½ mile. I think demonstrating how God will give us space if we demand it, but doesn’t leave or forsake us. The ships turn to lay horizontally again like I said before to resemble a lens. Soon after Louise recovers from the blast, Ian cracks the BIG message’s meaning, the logograms whitespace is mathematically equal to mean one of twelve. They hear an intercepted recording from a Russian scientist that their heptapods said “there is no time, many become one” an interesting foreshadowing of the humans on the planet all coming together as one at the end of the movie. But also of how the church must unite AND it also speaks to our propensity to misinterpret what God says. Since initially they believe that means they’ve all been given weapons with “some assembly required” and Louise says what better way to make us work together? Perhaps this is why God has different gifts and callings in the body of Christ for the different roles to encourage coming together in unity. And finally I think the heptapods might be trying to teach them that time has no meaning for them? Maybe? Louise has a vision of telling her daughter about a non-zero sum game. The military and CIA officials come up with this term in the present, a solution where if they share their data with the other nations maybe they can end up working together. 

Louise matures in her gift

Louise knows she needs the assistance of the heptapods, and needs to understand what the “weapon” is that they’ve given them. She seeks them out on her own and the heptapods send an escape pod looking object for her to come up to the ship. I really like this part it shows her willingness to pursue them no matter what any one else is doing or the potential consequences. Just like we should with God. She has to go alone, just like our own personal journeys with God. Their atmosphere then fills the pod, just as we breathe in God’s Spirit and the atmosphere of Heaven. When she meets with the alien this time on their side of the glass it almost looked like Heaven with all the clouds? So Louise is essentially going to plead with them on behalf of humanity, an amazing image of intercession prayer. Abbott tells her that “Louise has weapon” and to “use weapon” we help humanity and in 3,000 years we need humanity help. The number 3 is the number of the trinity. Could this be a reference to the millennial kingdom here? Revelation 20:1-3 When she asks how can you know the future? Louise has another vision of her daughter and she finally says I don’t understand who is this little girl? And the alien tells her Louise sees future, weapon opens time. And she sees this vision where she is explaining to her daughter that she knows something that’s going to happen but this information caused Ian (the father of the child) to leave, just like some people won’t be able to stand and agree with your anointing/gifts. Interesting she mentions still choosing to have her daughter (a strong pro-life statement here) despite knowing the daughter would die of this really rare disease. Her husband Ian thinks she made the wrong choice and she says coming out of the vision I just realized why my husband left me. But she’s not married to him yet. She tells her daughter in the next vision that her name Hannah is a palindrome – same forwards and backwards because that’s the way the heptapods think/speak/write. A little homage to the gift they gave louise to see her daughter before she was born. She then sees a vision of a book “universal language” that she’s written on translating heptapod, then sees herself teaching it. I like this because once you grow in your giftings I believe God likes it when we help others grow in theirs. The weapon IS their language WOW that can preach right there! God’s Word is a weapon “12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 If you learn it, you begin to perceive time the way that the heptapods do, so you can see what’s to come. TIme for them is non-linear just like I said God sees time as non-linear. Her next vision she’s at a gala about heptapods and she meets General Shang. Like I said in the opening her name means famous warrior, General Shang said he came to the gala just to meet her, literally her actions have changed the course of the entire planet. God can use us in HUGE ways if we but surrender to His will. He tells her you did something no even my superior could do — change my mind, she is the reason for the unification because she reached out to him on his private number. He shows her the phone number so she knows it. He says I believe it was important for you to see that. In the present, she breaks away from the evacuation team and finds a satellite phone to dial the number from the vision. She calls and literally as she’s hearing him speak the words in her vision, she repeats them to him on the phone in the present. These are his wife’s dying words, I looked it up and it translates to “In war there are no winners, only widows.” China then stands down, and the different shell spaceships are clothed in clouds and vanish as they stand upright once again. I think it represents that they had restored the relationship to peace with Louise’s actions. 

Conclusion

Louise asks Ian if you could see your whole life start to finish would you change things? He says maybe I’d say what I feel more often. And he goes on to tell her I spent my life looking up at the stars, but it wasn’t meeting them, it was meeting you. I think God brings the right people at the right seasons into our lives for the gifts and purposes He has planned for us, illustrated here with Louise and Ian. But another point to make here in closing is that many of us think if we had this type of knowledge of how our life was going to go and what the next step was and all the details then and only then could we trust God with our life. I know I used to think this. However, this actually reveals a complete and utter lack of trust in God. If you know all the steps and all that’s going to happen, why do you need to trust God? Something we must all deal with is our limitations as humans, the surrender of our control to someone we must trust with everything in us.

I really like this movie and I identify with it because this was part of my growth as a Christ follower learning my giftings (a good example being this podcast) and growing in them and stepping out in faith to putting it out there for the world to see/view/hear and judge. I hope you’ve enjoyed.

Tron Legacy

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Tron-Legacy-e4uuvk

This is one of those movies I knew the instant it started I would have to make a post. Also, I’d like to say what an engaging and visually appealing movie Tron is to watch. No matter how many times I see it, I’m always pulled in by the story and the action. 

 

No doubt for me, this movie is a parable about God’s creation. Kevin Flynn in the role of God the creator, he creates the Grid. The Grid is a computer world, he says he tried to imagine information moving through the computer, just like God imagined the world and us “before the foundation of the world” Eph. 1:4. I think it’s interesting that the prologue has Kevin explaining to his son that one day “he got in (to the grid)” just as God came in the form of a man into His creation (Phil 2:7). Flynn says the world was more beautiful than he ever dreamed. Kind of like in the days of creation when God said it is good (Gen. 1:31). He also says it’s more dangerous than he ever imagined (Gen 3). It’s also interesting that the world inside the Grid is a mirror to the real world, just like it says in Heb 8:5.

 

The audience is then introduced to Tron. Tron is a program who fights for the users. I believe Tron represents our inner conscience which can be seared or corrupted (Rom 2:15; 1 Tim 4:2). More on this later. Flynn says he and Tron built a new system for programs and users, reminding me of the Millennial Kingdom (Rev 20:1-3). Flynn says he couldn’t be in the Grid all the time so he made a program in his own image. Boom Gen 1:27 right there. And he called him Clu (codified likeness utility) who could think like him. So much here, God made us in His image with the capacity to think like Him. We are all “clu’s made in God’s image to create the perfect system. The problem is after the Fall (Gen 3), all fall short of perfection Rom 3:23. Flynn continues that they all built the system where all information was free and open. This made me think of the way God intended man to live originally Gen 1:28. Young Sam says I want to go with you dad, and Flynn says yeah well one day you will (Gen 4:4, Rom 5:6), we find out later it’s 20 years in the future, 20 the number of completeness.

 

I liked the exchange between Sam and Flynn as he’s leaving. Flynn offers to play arcade games with Sam and Sam asks if they can play doubles on the same team, Flynn replies we’re always on the same team. It made me think of how God is always for us (Rom 8:31).

 

What happens next is fascinating if you know your Bible. Kevin Flynn the Father disappears (we learn later into the Grid) until the son also enters the Grid. This made me think of the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. The Jewish people must’ve thought God had forgotten or left them and then Jesus appears. The ENCOM board is upset with Flynn’s erratic, even obsessive behavior, this made me think of the Pharisees for some reason. They didn’t understand Jesus’ behavior whilst He was on earth. The company plunges into chaos with Flynn missing. How many times do we look at the world and think God is missing, He’s sleeping or something, look at all this mess!

 

We then see Flynn speaking at a conference he claims in the Grid is a new world, our future, our destiny. This is where I see Flynn also representing humanity and almost a Tower of Babel situation (Gen 11:1-9) he embarks on this quest to find perfection and solve all of humanity’s problems, but without God (2 Tim 3:5). He raises his hands to the cheering crowd almost in a way, accepting their worship (John 12:43). The TV reporter then calls Sam the heir to an empire in turmoil. Ohmygosh I LOVE this line, not only is Jesus called the heir (Heb 1:1) but think of our world, what chaos and turmoil (Rom 8:19, Matt 24:8) it’s in. Empire, in other words a sovereignty, government or domain, just like the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 1:33, Isaiah 9:7). Then Sam says about his Father, he’s coming he promised (Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32). The announcer says the future of the company is dependent on what will become of Sam who’s now an orphan. Jesus came to rid us of the orphan mentality (John 14:18-24).

 

We flash forward to when Sam is older. He’s riding a motorcycle, again interesting how the Grid lightcycles mirror the real world motorcycles. Sam breaks into ENCOM tower, reminds me of Matt 24:44 and Luke 12:40, especially since the security guard isn’t ready for him. I liked how Sam remarks on the size of the door, he says that’s a big door (John 10:9-16). 

 

I think the chairmen/women of the board represent the establishment church who run things for profit or the praise of man (John 12:43, 2 Tim 3:1-7). I love the imagery here, as the board is meeting Sam is sneaking in, again that scripture the Son of man will come at an hour least expected. Also, when Sam uses a laser pointer to blind a security camera it made me think of Matt 24:27 and Luke 17:24. Interesting that the version of their software is the number 12 which represents faith, the church and divine rule again making me think the board represents the established church. He says it will hit the shelves all around the world, makes me think of the “professional” Christianity the West pumps out. When Alan Bradley (Flynn’s partner) asks what improvements have been made to the software, the chairman replies they put a “12” on the box. This made me think of the same old lies that the established church perpetuates, like the prosperity gospel, etc. The software lead says that the idea of sharing the software or giving it away for free disappeared with Kevin Flynn (Matt 10:8). 

 

Meanwhile, Sam plants a virus to upload the software for free, and a video “message” to the board. Reminded me of the Church reformers of the past who contended against the established Church, that everyone had the right to access and read/interpret the Bible for themselves. The message to the board I think represents how Jesus is trying to get the attention of mainstream churches today to “bring them back to their first love” (Rev 2:5). When Alan Bradley tells the chairman that the master file is on the web and people are seen to be downloading it, this makes me think how controlling some churches are about their people, their message. Their software developer hits the literal kill switch and everything is as it was, a haunting antithesis to John 10:10.

 

Sam goes to the roof of the tower and says hey dad, how you doing? Reminds me of when Jesus went off by Himself to pray to the Father (Mark 1:35, Matt 14:23, Luke 6:12). Sam breaks down how the security guard’s boss is ok with what he did. He says your boss works for the CEO, the CEO works for the shareholders, do you know who the biggest shareholder is? Security guard admits I don’t know some kid. Then he indicates he is the “some kid”. Security guard says you’re Mr Flynn? why? This is your father’s company. Sam says not anymore. This whole scene made me think of how the church is supposed to be representing Jesus aka the CEO and the shareholders. When the security guard asks you’re Mr Flynn it’s just a telling picture, the company looks NOTHING like Sam or His Father, so the guard couldn’t recognize him. Just like the mainstream church has become so distorted with our image of Jesus and Father God, if He really showed up would we recognize Him?

 

Sam is caught by the cops and arrested but is subsequently released. Made me think of Acts 2:24 for some reason. He returns to his apartment where Alan Bradley is waiting for him. When Sam says he was 12 he appreciated the whole surrogate-father thing, this made me think of the possible relationship between Jesus and Joseph Mary’s husband. Since Joseph was Jesus’ step-father technically. Interesting that Bradley notes Sam has a good view of the company from where he lives (Eph 2:6). Bradley also comments how the company is pretty happy with where Sam is that way they can keep doing whatever they want. Made me think of how in some churches, they don’t even want Jesus there just their religion, rules and traditions. Interesting that Bradley is paged (we learn later from Clu not Flynn) two things here 1) sometimes the way God calls us is not how we expect (aka rainbows and giant messages painted in the sky, and 2) the enemy also likes to plant his messages in us, to reroute and detour us unnecessarily (John 10:10). Sam jokes that he’ll find his Father working and say hey kiddo lost track of time. A joke to him, but to us the Father is always working (John 5:17).

 

Sam goes to the arcade and finds his father’s secret basement office. Sam logs into the terminal his father left running for 20 years and actives the LaserControl not realizing it will zap him into the Grid. Another thing I just thought of, he types whoami command into the terminal and it says Flynn, so Sam goes into the Grid representing the Father. He’s mistaken for a stay program because he has no disk. Again Phil 2:7, Sam is mistaken as just another program just as Jesus was mistaken as just another man (Isa 53:2). Immediately, Sam asks a nearby program if the name Kevin Flynn meant anything to him, the program tells him to be quiet if he wants to live. Interesting that Sam invokes the Father’s name just as Jesus did so many times (John 1:18, John 14:6-11, Matt 11:27). 

 

Next, Sam finds himself in the armory. One of the Siren programs notes to another he is different, just like the people recognized Jesus was different in His teachings (Matt 7:29, Mark 1:22). Sam is fitted with armor and receives an identity disk. I liken the identity disk to our souls. Everything he does or learns will be imprinted on the disk, just like our experiences we can recollect as memories. If he loses the disk or fails to follow commands, he is subject to immediate deresolution (known to us as deletion or death). This is kind of a metaphor for the verse Matt 10:39/16:25, if one loses their soul (disk) then they’ve technically already “died”. It also made me think of following the commands of God as a safeguard for our souls (Psalm 121). The identity disk is mirrored, activated and synchronized, this makes me think of when we become Christ-followers. Our identity is activated and synchronized to God’s word, purpose and plan for our lives (2 Cor 5:17). Also Sam’s outfit is lit up, as well as his disk after activation, makes me think of you are the light of the world (Matt 5:14-16). 

 

Sam heading into the Arena reminds me of the scripture “enter through the narrow gate for wide and broad is the way leading to destruction” (Matt 7:13-14). And when he’s in the glass bubble, trying to see what’s going on, he has no idea the fight that’s ahead of him. I think we can relate to this moment, sometimes God puts us in a protected place, until we’re ready to do battle, but we have no idea what’s ahead of us. Interesting how Clu presides over the disc war games, watching the players win and lose just like I think the enemy watches us (Eph 6; 2 Cor 10:4). Although reluctantly, Sam engages in the disc war games; he is inexperienced and it shows. However he’s able to improvise as a user, breaking all the “rules” in the progress. I noticed when Sam breaks the rules, Clu initiates a more challenging battle with Rinzler (spoilers, aka Tron). Sam remarks how is that even legal, sometimes our struggles hardly feel fair and the enemy is never going to quit or give up (1 Peter 5:8). Even though Rinzler is the combatant Clu is in real control behind the scenes, just like in our circumstances, the enemy will try to take advantage of any situation against us. I thought it was fascinating that the way RInzler could tell Sam was a user is by Sam shedding actual drops of blood (Deut 12:23, Lev 17:14). And more interesting both Clu and his assistant demand Sam to identify himself. Sam says he’s not a program and his name is Sam Flynn. It’s important what we identify ourselves with and as (John 1:12, Eph 1:5, Rom 15:7, Col 2:9-10, 1 Cor 6:17, etc.). When Sam says his name the crowd grows extremely silent (John 18:6). 

 

Sam is taken to Clu’s lightship, and Sam asks who he is. Clu deactivates his mask and I love this picture here. Clu is a copy of his real father Kevin Flynn, he looks and sounds just like him (2 Cor 11:14), he doesn’t correct Sam at first when he calls him dad. This is what the enemy does to us, he disguises himself to look and sound like the Father but he is NOT the Father. I also will note here that I like the “good guys” have white lights on their suits and the “bad guys” have orange lights. But even here Clu tries to deceive, his lights are slightly yellow like he mixed the white and orange. This made me think of Matt 12:34 and Luke 6:45. Clu says to Sam he expected more from him, I liken this interaction somewhat to when Jesus is tempted in the Wilderness in Matthew 4. Sam says that Clu is in charge (Eph 2:1-2). And Sam says can we just go home now? And Clu replies not in the cards, a reference to the occult (Lev 19:31). Only then after Sam calls him out does Clu admit he’s not his father. Sam knew it wasn’t his father because of Clu’s treatment of him, makes me think of 1 Thess 5:21.

 

Sam is then taken to the lightcycle challenge of the Grid. Clu’s assistant makes this overly flamboyant speech about Sam being a user (John 1:11, Mark 12:10). Clu is titled as the liberator, luminary, their leader and maker, the one who vanquished the tyranny of the user. Fascinating choice of words, since…all these are actually in reality the opposite of what he is (John 10:10). He enslaves the programs of the Grid, darkens their minds, he leads but it’s more a dictatorship, and he didn’t make them he corrupted them (as we see later). When Clu’s assistant asks if his execution of the speech pleased him, Clu says it wasn’t meant for them. The enemy knows the specific words that if/when we hear them it will bring us low, he knows his target at all times. Sam and Clu both choose lightcycles and again Sam is ignorant at first what to do, it made me think of new Christians being ignorant of the Word and of the battles raging around them and how to engage meaningfully (Eph 6). And of course Clu cheats at the game (faster bikes for the bad guys, etc.) just like our enemy never plays “fair”. Sam teams up with another program to defeat numerous enemies (Eccel 4:12, Heb 10:25). Quorra eventually interferes and comes to Sam’s rescue. I found it fascinating that no matter what is thrown at Rinzler (Tron) he’s adaptable in a good sense this is how Christians should be adaptable to life many circumstances through fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in a negative sense this does depict how the enemy can change and adapt his tactics to continue his assault on your life. Sam tells the (at the time) mysterious driver to pull back you can’t make that! Never let others in your life tell you what you can and cannot do, only Jesus. We answer to one. She then gloats, made it.

 

I believe that Quorra in this movie represents the Holy Spirit. She tells Sam, patience all your questions will be answered soon (John 14:26). Also I like that they go out into the Outlands to meet with Sam’s Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). Sam and his Father are reunited, they immediately embrace a stark contrast to his previous encounter with Clu. We learn that when Sam came into the Grid he activated the portal, which remains open for only a short period of time. This also reminds me of Matt 7:13-14 but also Sam is who arrived so the arrival of the son, like the Star of Bethlehem (Matt 2:1-12)? Quorra shows Sam around and they pass a board game of strategy, she says his patience usually beats out my more aggressive strategy (2 Pet 3:9). They pass multiple volumes of novels by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, I-Ching, Jules Verne and Quorra says Flynn is teaching her about self-sacrifice (John 15:13). 

 

We cut to where Clu is waiting for Flynn to make the next move. This made me think of Job (1:9-21; 2:2-7) where the devil has to ask permission from God to torment Job (and his family). The enemy has limited power and reach. Flynn explains why he never came home. In so doing, he says the line, “I had you, I had ENCOM, I couldn’t be here all the time. I needed partners to help out.” This made me think of how God wants to use each one of us. I’m not saying God’s too busy to work in people’s lives but I think He does want partners to help in furthering the Kingdom of Heaven. Flynn explains that he brought Tron and Clu into the new system, Tron to protect it and Clu to help maintain it, to build a perfect world. Flynn says that ISOs isomorphic algorithms “manifested”, he calls them a miracle. But, because they weren’t perfect Clu destroyed them all. For some reason, this entire sequence made me think of the Holocaust, Rwanda and so many other genocides that have happened throughout human history. How many times is one group of people demonized for “not being perfect” or not like the other group and then targeted and wiped out because of it. All driven by our need for control, that’s gone out of control. They called it the Purge.

 

Clu “falls from grace” sort to speak, and stages a coup to overthrow Flynn. In the midst, we’re shown Tron fighting for Flynn to escape, and at one point looks down at two light discs in his hands, one white, one orange, he’s confused. I love this imagery, like I stated before I believe Tron/Rinzler is the seared human conscience (1 Tim 4:2) it’s at moments like these, can we remember good (white) from evil (orange) (Isa 5:20, Rom 1:18-23, 2 Tim 3:1-5)? Flynn then explains how the portal uses massive power and can’t stay open forever, and like a safe it can only be opened from the outside. This reminded me of a portion of a book I read called Arena (highly recommended, https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0764226312/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_rUXuDbHZ7C3FN) where the main character walks through a portal and she is told the door is only open on her side. It makes me think of how we must accept Christ into our hearts (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Finally Flynn was trapped by the closed portal for 20 years. We learn that Flynn stopped fighting Clu because it only made Clu more powerful and now Clu wants Flynn’s disk to figure a way to conquer Flynn’s real world. Flynn says the guy doesn’t dig imperfection what’s more imperfect than our world (Rev 12:12)? 

 

Quick note here, the older Flynn has moved into complete passivity. He says it’s to protect our world and to keep Clu from getting his disk, but is it? Or is it because he’s tired of fighting…full of regrets maybe? Since after all, he did create all of this, perhaps some underlying doubt and guilt is there. Sam comes in youthful full of change and wanting to make changes happen. This reminded me of what happens in some churches sometimes. The older or sometimes just more seasoned in the faith wait and do nothing on the sidelines whilst the youth are still bubbly and excited to make things happen. Recall that the light disks represent our souls, is Flynn protecting his disk from Clu? Or has he already become corrupted in a way by his passivity and lack of motivation? The Bible says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Eph 6:9 and to press on towards the mark (Phil 3:14). His statement “Sometimes life has a way of moving you past things like wants and hopes” exposes the discouragement and disappointment in his soul. I thought the imagery was interesting that the very next thing Flynn does is go to sleep, his soul’s hopes and desires have been sequestered to sleep, or repressed. Quorra explains that to end Clu, Flynn would have to reintegrate with him and it would be the end of them both. Wow, this made me think of the old man, how we’ve died to sin and are now alive to Christ (Rom 6:11, 2 Cor 5:17), if we try to reintegrate with that sinful part of ourselves it could definitely destroy us. 

 

Quorra recommends Sam go find Zuse in order to make it to the portal in time. Meanwhile Flynn has a dream of young Sam and him at the beach. I liked the depiction here, because he dreams in the negative, like a film negative almost like the real world is no longer real to him, the Grid is. I also think this dream reminds Flynn of who Sam is, his son, someone worth sacrificing for. When he wakes he goes to Sam’s room but finds he’s already gone. Sam steals…um borrows Flynn’s ENCOM 786 lightcycle to go back to the main part of the Grid, even knowing it could get him killed. For some reason this made me think of when Jesus set his eyes on Jerusalem even though he knew it meant going towards his death (Luke 9:51). Gem appears to take Sam to see Zuse. Like I alluded to before the programs wear their colors to indicate which side they are on and Gem appears with white colors (2 Cor 11:14). Flynn and Quorra follow him in their lightrunner after Flynn finally realizes he can’t lose his son again. Meanwhile, Clu traces the lightcycle back to their hideout, it seems they pass each other unknowingly. I like this picture because it shows how the enemy and the Father can be at work in our lives but only Father God knows all. Back at the club, Gem tells Sam not to worry about the security programs because they’re occupied. So much can be said here, when the enemy can distract you (Matt 13:1-23), your heart’s security is lowered and he can do much damage unawares. As Sam meets with Castor/Zuse and Gem, they secretly alert Clu to his presence in their club by lighting up the club’s tower (Luke 22:1-6). 

 

Meanwhile, Clu is at Flynn’s alcove in the Outlands. He has a flashback to when Flynn created him. Flynn says you are Clu, you will create the perfect system. This is how Father God makes us, he creates us (Psalm 139:13-14, Jeremiah 1:5), names us and calls forth His purpose in us. I also liked that Clu repeats after Flynn’s words, he agrees with what his creator says about him, just like we should (Isa 29:16; 45:9, Rom 9:21). And Flynn says together we’re going to change the world man, just like God uses us to change the world through our gifts and talents, our lives yielded to Him. Clu explodes in anger because (as we learn later) he has been unable to fulfill his purpose. Not using our gifts or yielding ourselves to God will ultimately leave us feeling frustrated and sometimes like we’re living a life without meaning. Clu sees the indicator lights and sets off to get Sam. They use lightpacks to descend into the club from above (Isa 14:12-15, Rev 12:4). Sam figures out he’s been betrayed and goes to fight Clu’s minions. I thought Castor/Zuse’s ridicule of Sam was definitely like those of the Jewish leaders at the foot of the cross (Matt 27:40, Mark 15:30). Quorra arrives just in time to fight alongside Sam. A beautiful picture of how the Holy Spirit strengthens us and helps us in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9). Quorra is damaged in the fight, but notice her arm is derezzed not her entire self. We learn later this is because she’s an ISO, not a normal program. Flynn arrives, we see several programs bow in worship to him, as the creator that is his due right (Rom 1:20). Unfortunately, the “bad guys” obtain his disk in the process of their escape.

 

They jump on a solar sailer to attempt to beat Clu to the portal. Flynn works to repair Quorra’s code and we see her head as a hologram projected over her disk, just like we are ourselves right down to our “root code” DNA in our souls. Flynn reveals that Quorra is the last ISO in existence and he’s been protecting her all these years. Flynn is able to extract the damaged code easily once her disk is opened and repair it. I feel like this is what Father God does with us, once we surrender to Him and His surgeon’s hands He can identity hurts and “damaged code” in us that needs repairing. Flynn blows on the remaining code and it rearranges and “heals” just like the breath of life from God is to us. I like that her rebooting and healing the damage isn’t instantaneous, just like for us we go through processes God helps us through.

 

Sam and Flynn catch up about the outside world. We see Flynn starting to take responsibility for Clu, he says he didn’t screw it up, he’s me, I screwed it up. I liken this to when our old nature flares up and we must apologize for doing something sinful to others. Flynn also realizes that by chasing his dream of perfection in the Grid, he missed out on the relationship with his son. Sam says look at what you’ve accomplished, it’s incredible. Flynn says he would’ve given it all up for one day with Sam. A statement similar to keeping first things first, like our relationship with God, family and friends.

 

I think Clu’s betrayal of Castor/Zuse illustrates how the enemy does not take prisoners. He doesn’t fight fair and he will not honor any agreement you make with him. This is why it’s so sad to see people caught up in the lies of the Occult. It promises power, but ultimately will lead to destruction.

 

Quorra recounts her tale of how she met Flynn. She says it was during the Purge, the black guard were executing ISOs in the streets she said, a sympathetic program smuggled her out of the city. Again reminding me of the Holocaust. Just as everything was going dark she says I felt a hand on my shoulder (Psalm 30:5). And when she opened her eyes standing above her was the Creator, Sam’s father. He saved me she says, I guess you could say I’m a rescue. This is what Father God does for all of us (Matt 18:12, Matt 11:27, John 6:44), He saved us by sending Jesus (John 5:23). They face the portal lit up and Quorra says it used to let us know that Flynn was here, it became the symbol of something bigger, something better than this world. She says it’s how she imagines a sunrise to be. Sam then tells her there’s no comparison. I like this idea, that the Sun, it’s rays it’s warmth is a reminder that God is with us, and that it reminds us we are part of a bigger universe and ultimately a Kingdom not of this world (1 John 1:5, Rev 22:5). 

 

They then stumble upon Clu’s exit strategy. They see the solar sailor is full of inactive programs. Flynn says that Clu cannot create programs he can only destroy or repurpose them. Wow, so much truth here the enemy cannot create in our world, but he can destroy (John 10:10) or repurpose us by filling our minds with lies and keeping us away from the Father. They see Clu’s building an army of programs. Quorra again sacrifices herself to keep Rinzler/Tron from finding the Flynns. Clu plugs in Flynn’s disk and his assistant says he knows that Clu has greater designs than any of us understand. What does it do? he asks. This made me think of us, sometimes we don’t understand God’s plans or we think we do until that twist comes and changes our circumstances. Flynn says that Clu has figured out how to take the army and everything with him into the real world. Quorra is captured and Clu says he has something special in mind for her. I think the enemy really does have specific plans for each of us to derail, distract and if possible destroy us. Clu then gives a version of the same speech Flynn made at the beginning of the movie, “out there is a new world…out there is our victory…out there is our destiny. This speech shows how a human heart/mind can grow over time, we learn things, we comprehend, we make mistakes but we grow. Clu is a snapshot of former Flynn -20 years, he was unable to change, hence he believes the same things former Flynn did. This entire scene with the thousands of thousands of programs in rows reminded me of Lord of the Rings with Saruman’s Uruk-hai and more realistically of Hitler’s many speeches he gave (Prov 18:21). I noticed that all these programs that were repurposed have their eyes covered, if the enemy can take away your vision well then he can control you (Hosea 4:6, Prov 29:18). Clu calls Flynn out as a “false deity” in a way he is right, although man is created in God’s image, all images we create are going to be lesser than. He claims he will never betray them, like he feels Flynn betrayed him. I thought it was interesting that the lightship taking all this to the real world was shaped like a sword about to pierce through the portal. A visual representation of the literal attack on the world to come? 

 

Sam’s next line reiterates the abilities of users vs programs, he says I’ll improvise, whereas programs are limited to their functionality. It’s the difference between using your gifts and talents for the Kingdom and just surviving on limited “human programming.” Sam recovers Flynn’s disk and reunites with his dad on the flight deck. As they steal the light shuttle, the colors turn to white. Clu and minions pursue in lightjets. A flight battle ensues and at one point Tron flies overhead, Flynn says Tron what have you become? This interaction is apparently enough to cause inner chaos between his original programming and what Clu has done to him. He turns “back to the light” saying I fight for the users whilst crashing into Clu’s lightjet. Both lightjets explode, free falling Clu attacks Tron and takes his backup lightjet. When Tron hits the water, his suit lights turn back to white. A good reminder that no matter how many lies of the enemy embedded within us, no matter what we’ve done, no one is too far gone to find God’s grace.

 

They finally reach the portal, where there’s a literal stairway to heaven (Gen 28:12). Clu has somehow beaten them there. Flynn confronts Clu, Clu says Flynn broke his promise to create the perfect system and change the world together. Flynn says that perfection is unknowable, impossible and yet possible at the same time and says Clu couldn’t know because he didn’t when he created him. Again Flynn changed and grew over the 20 years and Clu couldn’t. This also reminds me that what we build in our own strength will not last (1 Cor 3:12). Flynn apologizes to Clu and Clu fights with him. Eventually Clu gets his disk, and we see that he switched his disk with Quorra’s. When Clu asks why he deceived him, Flynn says he’s my son. It made me think of the lengths, of what the Father is willing to do for us His children (John 14:14). Again we see that flashback to Sam and Flynn on the beach, but this time it’s in full color. Makes me think Flynn’s heart is now reawakened, and his love for his son enables him to make the ultimate sacrifice here. Flynn and Clu are reintegrated and the Grid is destroyed.

 

When Sam returns to the real world he pages Alan Bradley, tells him he’s taking the company back (Matt 11:12, Rev 19:11-12). Interesting, next Sam flicks the switch to the sign saying that Flynn arcade is open (Matt 24:30). We then find out that Quorra is also out in the real world. He takes her on a motorcycle to see a real sunrise. I think a fitting end and possibly foreshadowing of the son rising to his place in the company?

 

Like I said before, I really enjoy Tron Legacy. It’s a brilliant film, very engaging, there’s action, adventure, and betrayal. And it’s also a fantastic metaphor of biblical truths.

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Inception

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Inception-e4ri1i

I will make this disclaimer up front, there is a good deal of language and violence in this film that I do NOT endorse in the slightest. But sometimes there is gold amidst the rubbish.

 

Inception is a wonderfully multi-layer complex film. Its deep, even for me. 

The movie opens in a memory that Cobb has of his children playing, he’s on a beach and is taken prisoner. The old man who has captured him recognizes the spinning top Cobb has with him. We flashback to a memory of Cobb meeting with the same man many years earlier. Cobb explains how ideas or thoughts are resilient and highly contagious (2 Corinthians 10:5). He says “once an idea has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that’s fully formed, fully understood” What a powerful example of this verse. God doesn’t tell us to take every thought captive as “another rule to keep”, no He’s literally protecting us.

 

Cobb’s teammate Arthur then explains the premise of the movie, “that in dream state your conscious defenses are lowered, and that makes your thoughts vulnerable to theft.” So interesting, a couple of thoughts here. One, the first thing I thought of was Matthew 13 the parable of the sower, where some are choked out by the cares of this world. If he can, the enemy wants to get you to place of passivity, a “sleep state” if you will. Because then, you are no threat to him. Two, the enemy never sleeps, yet we do. It can leave us vulnerable, if we aren’t vigilant in prayer. They continue that to steal those thoughts is called extraction and that they can train Mr. Saito’s subconscious to defend itself from these attacks. This reminded me of memorizing Scripture. As we memorize the Word the Truths in it protect us from the enemy’s attacks (John 8:32). Cobb then says he can teach him because he is the most skilled extractor. He’s the expert, just like God’s Word tells us about our thoughts and we can trust Him with the defenses He gives us because He is the top authority. Cobb says he needs to know Saito’s thoughts better than anybody, his wife included. In order for the training to work, he needs to have complete access. “In order for this all to work you need to completely let me in.” I’m sure you see where I’m going with this…Jesus needs complete access to us with His love and Truth in order to completely protect us. Well I’ll put it this way, it works better when we cooperate with Him.

 

It’s so interesting that in the dream states time extends exponentially, minutes stretch into hours, or hours into decades. It reminds me of 2 Peter 3:8. In the dream world, gravity still works to some degree and when things happen “up top” as they say, rumblings and shakings happen in the dream world. It made me think about how we are affected in our sleep sometimes by our circumstances.

 

In the dream, Cobb’s wife shows up. She asks if I jumped would I survive? Now spoilers here, but this is the first glimpse of her suicidal tendencies throughout the film, more on that later. Cobb and Arthur are caught and Cobb’s wife rats him out to Saito. He figures out that they are all asleep. Mal (Cobb’s wife) shoots Arthur in the leg because the rules are apparently to die you wake up, but pain is in the mind she says. I wonder if this is another reason why the Lord asks us to guard our thoughts, because they can eventually cause us pain? Cobb then kills Arthur to wake him up and since he’s the dreamer the world starts to collapse. Our thoughts construct our own realities. What we allow to stay, can cause us pain or pleasure. Cobb is still in the dream until they “give him the kick” and he’s submerging in water. For some reason this makes me think of baptism. Before we accept Christ and are baptized, we are asleep and dead in our sins, afterwards we wake as a new man (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

Interesting here when Saito wakes up Cobb asks him why did you let us in at all? He claims its an audition, that they failed. Cobb says they extracted every bit of information, but Saito says that their deception was obvious and he had withheld information because of it. It’s easy for us to defend against obvious attacks by the enemy, it is when we can’t tell we’re being deceived that it becomes more difficult.

 

So they use a music cue to indicate to the team when to wake up. This song is in French “non rien de rien non je ne regrette rien” I tried to roughly translate this and it means “no nothing, nothing no I regret nothing.” Fascinating choice since many of their actions and tasks seem to center on regrets, like Cobb and his children and his wife (more later). When the music is not enough they use something called a kick, the sleeper is to fall and it triggers them to wake up. I think sometimes God does this with us and our circumstances, in order to keep us on the right path, sometimes we get a jolt at just the right time to keep us awake spiritually. Of course the easiest way is through abiding in Christ (John 15:4).

 

Turns out that Saito discovers their second layer of deception by the texture of the fabric of the carpet in his apartment. This struck me that like the saying “know the real in order to reveal the counterfeit” we must know the Word so intimately so that any half Truths the enemy tries to throw at us can be discredited.

 

In the next scene we see Cobb spinning a top, we learn later this is to test if we are in reality or not. The top stops spinning, it is the “real world.” One of their teammates rats them out and he’s taken back to Cobol engineering their employer for “punishment” which is implied. Cobol is actually a programming language, an acronym means “common business oriented language”. I thought it was interesting they chose this name for the movie because the entire premise is sharing dreams to discover company secrets for one business to profit from.

 

Cobb and Arthur are then kidnapped by Saito, he wants to use them for inception or planting an idea in someone. Arthur explains that the subject’s mind can always trace the genesis of the idea. True inspiration is impossible he says. Cobb counters, that’s not true. Cobb is only tempted when Saito offers a clean slate for him to go home to America and his family. Cobb asks about the complexity of the idea, it must be simple for it to stick he says. This made me think of two things: 1) 1 John 5:3 his commandments are not burdensome, God’s Truths are simple enough that we can “become like little children” (Matthew 18:2-4) to understand them and 2) the enemy usually goes for the subtle, slight half truth to deceive you not the jugular.

Saito tempts Cobb, are willing to take a leap of faith? or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone? Again a reference to that French song about regretting nothing. Arthur and Cobb argue about whether or not it can be done. Cobb insists it can if you “go deep enough.” Perhaps this is why God requests our total surrender? Because in order for His thoughts and Truths to take hold in us they must be planted deep within us (Rom 12:1, Gal 2:20, Matt 16:24-25, Mark 8:35).

 

Next we met Ariadne. Quick section here on the names in this film. Dom Cobb his first name means Lord, and last name: a man of impressive features or great strength. Mal his wife’s name means beloved in Greek, and from Latin meaning ill-favored. Arthur means noble, courageous. Saito is Japanese meaning purification, worship and wisteria. Ariadne means most holy. I believe Cobb’s name is to indicate he is the master of impressive ability at extraction/inception. Mal’s temperament becomes more obvious throughout the film, because she is his lover, however she is ill-tempered and we find out why later. I think Arthur is the one who tries to do what is right, even though their employment is less than honorable. Saito’s name may not stand out at first but consider wisteria represents long-life and immortality in Japan, it also signifies expanding consciousness; all symbols of the quest he sets Cobb and his team on during the film. Now Ariadne is my favorite because I believe she represents the Holy Spirit in this movie and her name means most holy.

 

Cobb takes Ariadne into a shared dream experience. We’re told that this technology was developed for the military to train soldiers. Cobb asks for another 5 mins and Aridne gasps that they were there for at least an hour. Cobb explains that their mind functions more quickly in the dream, so time feels slower. Therefore 5 minutes in the real world gives one hour in the dream. She’s taken back in to practice building dreams. Cobb explains that his subconscious populates it, and that’s how they extract information. His subconscious can also sense when someone else is creating the world, the more she changes things the quicker the projections start to converge on her. This makes me think that this is why God builds in us through process instead of all at once. Like in the movie, our inner self can feel God changing things around and maybe we are less likely to reject His changes if He does it slowly? Just a thought.

 

Cobb then warns Ariadne to never create places from her memory, always imagine new places he says. Why not she says, he tells her that building a dream from your memory is the easiest way to lose your grasp on what’s real and what is a dream. She quips is that what happened to you? Is that why you need me to build your dreams? Soon his subconscious surrounds and attacks her and his wife appears and stabs Ariadne to death. Arthur tells Ariadne Mal is Cobb’s wife. He also instructs her to make a totem, a small object potentially heavy something that you can have on you all the time that no one else knows, something unique. That way when you look at your totem and feel the weight of it you know beyond a doubt that you aren’t in someone else’s dream. This was fascinating to me and it made me think of our individual relationship with God our history with God. Each of us has things we’ve been through, things that only we know about, when we can reflect on these things, and our relationship with the Father we can anchor ourselves in reality, pull strength from Him and keep ourselves from deception just like the totems do for the “dream team.”

 

It’s interesting here, that because of her run-in with Mal Cobb’s wife Ariadne leaves. She tells Arthur I don’t know if you don’t know or if you’re trying to not know but Cobb has some serious issues he’s trying to bury down there. This made me think of how I feel sometimes, that my issues are too much for Holy Spirit and that He’s going to leave me. Cobb assures Arthur that she’ll be back. Cobb goes to visit Eames, he’s a thief and a forger. Eames says if you’re going to perform inception you need imagination. God uses our imaginations to teach us Truth, like this podcast for example. Eames continues that it’s not just about the depth of the idea plant but also the simplest version of the idea to take and grow naturally in the subject’s mind. Again back to becoming like a little child to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 18:3). Eames says that the basic of the idea they are trying to plant is the relationship between Fischer and his Father. BOOM, so much here. The enemy does the exact same to us, he doesn’t go after the obvious things we know he attacks where it counts, our relationship with the Father.

 

Ariadne returns, says she tried not to come but it’s “pure creation”. They train on some paradoxical structures, Arthur says she’ll need to make them as boundaries to keep the projections from finding them too quickly. So at this point in the film, it started to remind me of the writing by C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters. First example here Ariadne and Arthur talk about how to hide their deception from the subject. If they represent the enemy in this example, he will do whatever it takes to conceal himself from you. He also attempts to create structures, paradoxical in nature in your mind, these are called strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Ephesians 6:12), that way you cannot detect him at work. Adriane says Cobb can’t build anymore and Arthur says that he won’t because of Mal. Adriane learns that Mal is dead.

 

We go back to where Cobb, Saito and Eames are meeting with the chemist. He shows them a room full of elderly sleeping with his compound. They ask why they come and he says because it’s the only way they can dream anymore. This made me think of lost creativity. When we are young our minds are full of creativity, slowly through maturity and societal/cultural constraints we lose that side of ourselves. On the other hand they say that the dream has become their reality. This made me think of the escapism that now plagues our society, whether through entertainment, cell phones, or video games.

 

Cobb explains again to Saito that the seed that they plant in Mr. Fischer’s mind will grow into an idea. This idea will define him, he says. It may come to change…everything about him. More on this later but I believe this begins a powerful illustration of Proverbs 4:23 and Proverbs 18:21. We see Ariadne make her totem, a bishop’s chess piece. Again an interesting choice, as I believe she represents the Holy Spirit. Bishops traditionally are responsible for teaching doctrine, governing, sanctifying and representing the Church, these are all functions of the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26). One might say that Cobb’s totem the top represents how his inner world is spinning out of control, which he got from his wife, and his wife’s death is what began the loss of control. Arthur’s totem is a weighted die, perhaps symbolizing that he is only willing to take weighted risks.

Ariadne explains that the mazes are to bring out the part of the subject’s subconscious that they are trying to access. I believe the enemy does the same thing. He manipulates events and life circumstances to access specific parts of our lives where he knows we are weak or worse knows he has domain in. Cobb insists that Ariadne NOT share the specifics of the layout with him. She says it’s because you can’t keep Mal out, can you? He says right. She continues you can’t build because if you know the maze then she knows it and she’d sabotage the whole operation. Mal represents Cobb’s grief over his wife, his anger, his unresolved guilt. But I also think she represents the latent sin still within us (Romans 7:15-20). Cobb finally confesses to Ariadne that he can’t go home because they think that he killed his wife. Again interesting that he will confess to her (like Holy Spirit) but not to the others.

 

Next scene brings me back round to the Screwtape letters. The entire team is sitting together trying to plan about this “attack” on the subject Robert Fischer. Cobb highlights that it needs to be planted deep in his subconscious, and subconscious is motivated by emotion not reason. Several times in the Word we are warned to govern our emotions (Ephesians 4:26, Proverbs 16:32, Philippians 4:7, Proverbs 4:23). They then say that Robert’s relationship with his father is stressed. Again this is where the enemy tries to get at us, our relationship with Father God. Eames suggests revenge on his father, but Cobb says that positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time. SO much here. The enemy doesn’t want you to feel you’re under assault all the time, he wants you to become comfortable, feeling those positive emotions and forget all about God and him.

 

They go through the plan to unravel the breaks in Robert’s relationship with his father for him to ultimately choose to break up his father’s company like Saito wants. The new chemical compound with the sedative gives them a week in the first dream, six months in the second dream down and 10 years in the deepest level of the dream. This made me think of the layers of our hearts. As we go deeper and deeper into our hearts, those layers have different ages. Just like tree rings the oldest part of us is toward the center of our hearts and the youngest along the outside. And as we see up next that also as we go deeper into our hearts our defenses become more and more fortified.

 

Ariadne finds Cobb sedated dreaming on his own. She enters the dream. She finds him with Mal, Mal talking with Cobb about his dream that they grow old together. Ariadne is caught and Cobb says she shouldn’t be there. She says I just wanted to see what kind of “tests” you’ve been doing every night. And he says it has nothing to do with her. She says this has everything to do with me you’ve asked me to share dreams with you. He says not these, these are my dreams. They go to the top layer in an elevator and Mal with the children are on the beach. Ariadne asks why Cobb does this to himself and he explains its the only way he can still dream. She asks why it’s so important to dream and he says in my dreams we’re still together. She realizes that these “dreams” are his memories and that he’s trying to keep Mal alive, he can’t let her go. He says that these are moments that he regrets, memories that he has to change. Immediately Ariadne asks what’s down at the basement level that he regrets and he stops her. He shows her a memory where he wishes he could’ve seen his children’s faces one last time. Ariadne sneaks off to the elevator whilst he’s distracted. She passes a level with a train on the way to the basement. The basement is a hotel room and Mal is there she wants to know what Ariadne is doing there. She asks if she knows what it is to be a lover. To be half of a whole? Aridane says no. She tells her a riddle about the train. Mal calls Cobb out, you promised she says you promised we’d be together. He says I need you to stay here just for now. I’ll come back for you I promise. They wake, Ariadne asks do you think you can just build a prison of memories to lock her in? Do you really think that that’s going to contain her? Then it is time to move on the plan, and Ariadne convinces Cobb that he needs her to come because she understands what he’s going through. This entire exchange made me think of what happens between us and Holy Spirit when he’s healing us. We have certain “floors” that we allow Him to access, but we don’t want Him mettling about in the deep places, the places of pain. So we try to hide these from him.

 

They get on the airplane that Saito has bought out, and everything going according to plan. In the dream, they kidnap Fischer in a taxi. Cobb and Ariadne follow in another car when suddenly the train from Cobb’s elevator smashes into their car. Cobb stares in disbelief. The taxi is assailed by military. The team gets away but we learn he has been trained and his subconscious is militarized. Saito has been shot but Cobb says that the deeper they go the less pain he’ll feel. I thought this was interesting here, because along many of us have deep trauma to our hearts we don’t necessarily feel those parts of us consciously. Deeper pain is more repressed. We are also told that if he dies in the dream then they drop into limbo, unconstructed dream space. Arthur says it’s made of raw infinite subconscious, nothing is down there except whatever might have been left behind by anyone sharing the dream who’s been trapped there before, which is only Cobb. Arthur then asks why Cobb didn’t tell them the risks, again seems like his totem represents his personality well as a weighted risk taker.

 

The team exploits Fischer’s relationship with his godfather who he calls Uncle Peter. Through this exchange they plant the idea of a second will. Fischer seems to confirm everything the research had told the team about him and his father’s relationship. It’s strained, Fischer doesn’t even believe his father loves him. He felt abandoned after his mother’s death. He believes he heard his father say he was “disappointed” in him on his deathbed. This really hit close to home for me. It reminds me of my own grief in losing my dad. I felt like I had disappointed God, by not praying enough or not doing “something” enough for my dad to be healed. After, my relationship with God became strained, for a time I didn’t believe He loved me. I felt like He had abandoned me. I definitely related to this moment.

 

Ariadne confronts Cobb about Mal bursting through his subconscious “prison” for her. She says a train could show up at anytime. And that as they go deeper into Fischer they go deeper into Cobb. Cobb then relays the story of how he went deep before with Mal. They were exploring the dream within a dream concept. Cobb kept pushing further and he didn’t realize the delayed time concept and that it could stretch into years. And finally they lost sight of what was real. This reminds me of the escapism again. Or how people are desensitized to reality that they think they can go into public places and shoot people without consequences, that they aren’t real people dying. Cobb says they created and built a world for themselves. In a way, this is what God wanted for us to do in the original design of man (Genesis 1:28). Cobb was there building their own world with his wife for 50 years. We are told that Mal had something locked away, deep inside her. A truth she had known but chose to forget. We see her place the top into a vault and shut the door. She chose to forget that this wasn’t reality, limbo became her reality. He said they lived like gods (1 John 2:16). After they eventually woke up, Mal was possessed with the idea that the world wasn’t real and she needed to wake up to come back to reality, in order to get back home they would have to kill themselves. She thought their children weren’t real, they were projections. She made a plan to commit suicide on their anniversary. Interesting here, Mal says I’m asking you to take a leap of faith (to die and wake up in reality as she thinks) just like Saito asks Cobb to take a leap of faith on his business proposal for inception. She says you’re waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away, you know where you hope this train will take you but you can’t know for sure, but it doesn’t matter, because you’ll be together. And she jumps to her death. Ariadne says that Cobb’s guilt defines his projection of Mal, it’s what powers her she says. You are not responsible for the idea that destroyed her, you need to forgive yourself and you’re going to have to confront her and that he doesn’t have to do it alone. I liked this part because this is what Holy Spirit does for us. He takes us to the place of pain but stands with us, helps us forgive and enables us to confront it (Exodus 15:26, Jeremiah 30:17, Isaiah 66:13, Luke 9:10-11, Psalm 38:9, Psalm 103:2-3). Ariadne then says I’m doing it for the others, because they have no idea the risk they’ve taken coming down here with you. A brilliant illustration of why our healing is important. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying hurting people hurt people before. This is exactly that. Cobb can’t control his grief and guilt and it’s endangering the entire team. Holy Spirit has a master plan that involves every person on planet Earth, not just us. To not give Him the chance to heal us is somewhat selfish because then our hurt-triggered actions will hurt others around us. Ariadne then insists that she’s coming down to the next level of the dream with him.

 

Eames says that Fischer’s issues with his father are worse than they thought. Cobb says it could help them because the stronger the issues the stronger the catharsis. Catharsis is defined as “the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.” Two thoughts here, 1) It’s ironic that Cobb is the one, the expert who says this since he is experiencing a great need for catharsis, and 2) our deepest and strongest issues might actually propel us towards Father God instead of away because of catharsis. It’s actually an illustration of Matthew 11:28-30.

 

In the next level of the dream, Cobb meets with Fischer under the pretense of being his subscious’ security. These dream levels remind me of Ephesians 6, where we are attacked from unseens realms. The movement on the plane, in the van on level 1 all affect the lower level where the team is through they cannot see it directly. But even as Cobb is trying to pull this off, a memory of his children appear. His issues are bleeding through his barriers. Sometimes we try to hide or mask our own pain, but eventually “things hidden will be revealed” (Luke 8:17, Matthew 10:26) and of course nothing is hidden from God (Hebrews 4:13-15). As Cobb tries to pretend and convince Fischer that he’s there to protect him, sometimes our pain will do the same thing. You’ve lived with me so long it will say to you…how will you ever get on without me? This interaction also reminded me of 2 Corinthians 11:14. At first Fischer tries to kill himself to wake up from the dream, Cobb stops him and reminds him that if he’s sedated he won’t wake up. I think sometimes we try to take the easiest way out from pain and dealing with pain, just like Fishcer here who’s overwhelmed. Fischer tries to recall the first level of the dream and Cobb tells him it is like trying to remember a dream once you’ve woken up. This made me think of when we’ve been in pain for such a long time, we can’t recall a time before the pain was there. The team sets up Fischer to be suspicious of his godfather Uncle Peter. Fischer then agrees to go into his uncle’s subsconscious to find out anything he’s hiding. But we’re told that he’s actually helping the team break into his own subconscious. Again 2 Corinthians 11:14 here, if you can “divide the Truth rightly” 2 Timothy 2:15 then you can fall victim to the enemy’s attacks and even end up working with him to attack yourself or your loved ones.

 

The innermost dream, or the innermost part of Fischer is a snowy isolated compound that’s heavily guarded. Again reminding me that we all protect our innermost selves the most carefully. It’s no wonder God asks us to surrender, He wants to help heal those inner parts of ourselves. In the next sequence it shows Fischer’s subconscious fighting the intruders at all levels of the dream. It makes me think that even if we don’t know it, sometimes we are fighting battles on multiple levels in the unseen realm. Interesting that Ariadne is the one who created the labyrinth, just like God created the inside of us down to the most intricate detail (Psalm 139: 13-14). She knows how to navigate the maze expertly, just like the Holy Spirit and our hearts.

When the team gets Fischer into the strong room (interesting choice of words again it’s like when the enemy creates strongholds in our minds (Ephesians 4:27)), Mal shows up and Cobb is unable to kill her. He starts to lose it, he thinks she might be real Ariadne tells him that she’s just a projection and Fischer is real (John 16:13). Mal shoots Fischer and Cobb is finally able to shoot her. Ariadne encourages Cobb to go down even further to get Fischer back. He knows that Mal has Fischer in their dream world. Cobb and Mal’s dream world is in a rough state, the buildings are collapsing even as they enter it. This made me think of Matthew 7:24-27 the house built on the sand. In his dream world the buildings are literally on the sand and they are collapsing. But if this place was maintained by their love for each other, now that Cobb is alone and only consumed by his guilt and grief it makes sense that it is collapsing. Ariadne exclaims that his world is incredible, I think the Holy Spirit appreciates it when we use our gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4) for His glory. He says the built for years and then started in on the memories. It is fascinating that all the warnings Cobb gave to Ariadne, don’t use your memories, don’t tell the dreamer they are dreaming etc are all from his bad experiences. The reason he is an expert is because of his own trials and failures. Just like God uses us 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 and Ephesians 4:12. Cobb tells Ariadne as they pass different buildings that they are different places Mal and him lived together, except for the house Mal grew up in and he says she wouldn’t be there. All of the buildings except her childhood home were where they had been together, as that’s her only remaining wish, it makes sense she would not be in the one place she wasn’t with him. Also in the sequence earlier where she tried to forget this wasn’t reality she locked her totem away in her childhood home. A symbol maybe of trying to forget her past as well and live in a place where she’d experience no pain.

Again in an elevator ride, Cobb then confesses all about inception. He says an idea is like a virus, resilient, highly contagious and the smallest seed of an idea can grow (an excellent reason for taking every thought captive 2 Corinthians 10:5). It can grow to define or destroy you. Mal continues his speech, the smallest idea such as “your world is not real.” Simple little thought that changes everything she says. She is toying with a kitchen knife. So certain of your world, of what’s real she continues. Do you think he is or do you think he’s as lost as I was? Cobb says I know what’s real Mal. She quips no creeping doubts? Not feeling persecuted Dom? Chased around the globe by anonymous corporations and police forces? The way projections persecute the dreamer? Admit it, you don’t believe in one reality anymore. She tempts him to choose to stay with her. She tries to manipulate him by seeing the children’s faces. She says you keep telling yourself what you know, but what do you believe? A critical point here. God warns us not to rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), but to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. His Truth supersedes all realities or perceived realities. She challenges him what do you feel? He admits guilt, that is always there he says. The idea that causes Mal to question her reality came from him. A perfect and chilling illustration of Proverbs 18:21 “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The reason he knew inception was possible is because he did it to Mal first. He planted the idea that her world wasn’t real and that death was the only escape. He tells her the story of the train again, they both lie on the tracks to die. This is the train that keeps appearing other places. And we see how this idea compounded upon itself and continued to grow in ways he didn’t expect to the point where she killed herself. The idea grew like a cancer inside of her mind he says. So powerful, that those closest to you like your spouse, your friends, your family has the greatest power in their words over you. You must be careful what words you speak over people and we will give an account Matthew 12:36. His projection of her says you infected my mind, you betrayed me and she says he can make amends by staying in the world that they built together. Mal says I’m the only thing you do believe in anymore. Cobb says I wish more than anything, but realizes that he cannot recreate his wife, she’s too complex. He says she’s just a shade of his real wife. She stabs him and Ariadne shoots her. It seems here, Cobb had the strength and courage to face his fear, guilt and grief and Ariadne (Holy Spirit) was there to stop her from causing him further pain.

 

Fischer enters the inner chamber and his father lay dying. He says to his father I know you were disappointed I couldn’t be you. Then the father says no I was disappointed that you tried. Fischer opens the safe and the will has the pinwheel from the picture with his dad as a child. I felt like this resolved his “daddy issues” as we call them now and bought him healing even as the inner walls of his heart were destroyed or bought down symbolically.

 

Deep below, Ariadne tells Cobb before going don’t lose yourself, find Saito and bring him back.Cobb stays with his dying wife’s projection and she says do you remember when you asked me to marry you? you said we’d grow old together. He says to her but we did you don’t remember? And he says we had our time together and I have to let you go. I was really moved by this scene, it shows in such detail the process of grief, that its ok to cherish the time you had with the person you lost, but it is also ok to let them go to move on in your life.

Up on the top level of the dream, Fischer states that the will means that his dad wanted him to be his own man not just live for his dad and resolves to do that. The inception has worked.

Deep below we return to the first scene in the movie where Cobb and Saito sit across the table from each other. Saito asks if he came to kill him, he says he’s waiting for someone. Someone from a half-remembered dream Cobb continues. Saito says he’s an old man, filled with regret waiting to die alone. Again very interesting given Saito’s name represents immortality. Cobb says he came back for him to remind him of something. That this world is not real, we see the top totem spinning continuously. Cobb tries to convince Saito to come back with him. We see Saito handle the gun and then Cobb wakes up on the plane. We see everyone there on the plane. Saito wakes up and makes the call to honor his arrangement with Cobb. Cobb goes through immigration without a problem. He meets up with the children’s grandfather (unclear who’s father he is) and he is taken to see his children. Before he does he spins the totem top on the table. He’s reunited with his children, but the camera pans to the totem top which remains spinning. Meaning that Cobb isn’t in reality. I interpreted the ending this way, Cobb says the entire movie that he wants to go home if home is heaven for the Christian is it possible that Cobb has also died and is in a “heaven” reality where he is reunited with his family. And he is only able to do so because he forgave himself, confessed his wrong to Ariadne (Holy Spirit) and released his grief of his wife.

 

Inception is a multiple layer film in many ways, but deals with deep subjects that none of us can avoid, grief, love, heart ache, pain, abandonment. It deals with the complexity of the human heart our longings and desires and how irrationally can creep in when it comes to our emotions. It challenges us to think about our thoughts, our minds and what we allow to live there. Truly an epic and brilliant movie.

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Alita: Battle Angel

To listen as podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Alita-Battle-Angel-e4nldb
Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force Matthew 11:12. This movie reminded me of this scripture. I believe in this movie the warrior spirit in the Church is revealed.

I think it’s interesting that the current area is “300 years after the Fall”. The Fall, what Christians refer to as the Fall of man. Alita is found in a scrapyard that’s comprised of debris and trash from “above” or Zalem (maybe a reference to Jerusalem?). Her brain intact, Ido her “father” takes and rebuilds her from scratch. When she wakes up her entire new body is exquisite, it looks hand-carved. Just like Father God “hand carves” us Psalm 139. The first thing Ido gives her is an orange, perhaps a reference to Eden? Alita is found without any memory of who she is. She is unable to tell Dr Ido and his assistant who she is.
He says let’s look on the bright side, your tears are working. Ido fills her in on Iron City and the state of things currently. She shows interest in the motorball games and her Father discourages that interest. It’s not long before her memory starts to return and she rediscovers the warrior within her. While out she meets Hugo and instinctively challenges a Centurion and shows impressive abilities. Ido is a cybersurgeon, he fixes and mends cyborgs. Just like Father God fixes and mends us. Chiren Ido’s ex-wife visits, she’s trying to get back to Zalem. Wants Ido to help her make players for the motorball games, she thinks it will buy her a ticket back to Zalem. He refuses. Also noticed Chiren has a mark on her forehead. Apparently those from Zalem take the Mark of Zalem (Rev. 16:2, 19:20) which Ido later tells Alita he removed himself. Alita plays motorball in the street with Hugo and friends and again, her abilities seem a little strange for just a young girl. They spot a “hunter-warrior” with a sword. The sword is what stands out to Alita (more on this later). Hunter-warriors are bounty-hunters, since there are no police. It’s pretty much every man for himself (2 Tim 3:2).
I believe Hugo represents the unsaved world. He has bought into the lies of Zalem that if he just works hard enough, keeps his eye on his dream then one day he’ll get up there (Eph 2:9). He says he has connections, ultimately which are a deal with the devil. Alita believes at first that she’s an insignificant girl, “like I wasn’t very important”, thrown out with the rest of the garbage.
Alita follows Ido at night on a dangerous mission he’s on to capture a serial killer of women. She thinks he’s the killer from her perspective. Interesting that many of us see God’s plan only from our perspective and sometimes it doesn’t look “good” to us. Ido is revealed to be a hunter-warrior. Grewishka a giant cyborg appears just like 1 Samuel 17. Alita instead of running away, kills two of the attackers easily. Just like David and Goliath, the giant cyborg taunts her calling her a little flea. During the fight, she has a flashback to a battle on the moon. There are dozens of warriors like her fighting, she is called 99. Grewishka gets away, but maimed. He retreats to the underworld. Ido is a hunter-warrior and collects cash to fund his clinic.
Alita asks who she is and confronts Ido for not telling her the whole truth. He tells her that his daughter was murdered and her body was for her. And explains how that put him on the path to becoming a hunter-warrior, hoping to kill or be killed by the murderer. But he says there were always more demons like him and he felt responsible for all of them. Then he reveals that she is technology from before the Fall. We find out Chiren is sleeping with the enemy. Nova, the ultimate evil force, speaks thru several people (Matthew 8:28-34) to get his bidding done. Chiren is tempted and gives in to repair his cronies in exchange is promised to return to Zalem (1 John 2:16).
Alita tells her Father Ido, that she wants to be a hunter-warrior like him, he tries to protect her and tells her some things are better left forgotten. She goes out on her own with Hugo to motorball, he says are you going to follow Ido’s rules or your rules? A temptation to go outside her father’s protection (Gen 3). She learns that Final Champions are players that can’t be beat and are allowed to go to Zalem. So Vector controls the games and immediately orders a hit on the winner. We find out the Hugo is part of this hit team and it’s his own method to get to Zalem.
Alita, Hugo and his friends take a field trip to the Badlands. They tell her all about the war with United Republic of Mars or URM, that the earth shook and the sky burned but Zalem still stood. They lead her to a crashed ship, she is able to tell the technical layout of the ship and enters, she knows the entry code for the cargo hold where she finds a new more advanced body within a downed enemy aircraft. This made me think of the armour of God (Eph 6). She even says this body has the power I need (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) and that she feels a connection to it. She thinks it’s who she is. Ido finally breaks the truth to her, that the body is called a Berserker, a humanoid weapon-system created by the URM Technarchy that her core was made to interface with it. Interesting illusion to Ezekiel 11:19 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 since a Christian is a new creation able to “interface” with God’s Spirit and the Spiritual Realm. Her instincts and battle technique is ancient combat art Panzer Kunst, kind of like (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) again the church relying on the Scriptures to fight non-material battles. He says this is why she is drawn to conflict without hesitation, its part of her training, she’s not just a warrior, she’s an URM Beserker the most advanced cyborg weapon ever created. I really think this is how God views the church, we are collectively and individually the most advanced spiritual warriors ever created after being regenerated in the Spirit.
Ido says he’ll never unite her with the body. She goes and registers as a hunter-warrior, just like the church is supposed to be. She goes and confronts the other Bounty Hunters. She again encounters the Damascus blade, forged before the Fall just like her. Zapan describes its precision to her. This interaction reminded me of Hebrews 4:12, divides between soul and spirit the precision of the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. She accuses Zapan of killing someone to acquire it. She tries to rally support from the bounty hunter “brothers” to defeat Grewishka who’s being protected from them. No one comes to her aid. To me these remind me of other believers who are lost to the cares of this world, one literally says “ain’t no money in that” (Mark 4:19). She fights Zapan briefly and tells him he doesn’t deserve the sword (2 Timothy 2:15). Then she fights with the rest of the hunters, Ido breaks up the fight. Of course Goliath Grewishka arrives. No one has courage enough to stand against him. She says “I do not stand by in the presence of evil.” He taunts her and she follows him to the underworld. Hugo also discovers his “street gang” is delivering parts to the enemy. Alita fights him, but is dismembered in the process. She has another flashback where her mentor/trainer Gelda (I liken her to the Holy Spirit) tells her she has the soul of a survivor, you’ll never give up she says. Know what is hidden she tells Alita, always ask what is it that you are not seeing? (2 Corinthians 2:11) She is shown a projection of Nova, Gelda tells her he is the dragon that must be slain (Rev 12:9, 20:2). Thinking he has her defeated, Grewishka taunts her further, and she is able to rip out one of his eyes. Backup arrives, the dog bounty hunter, Hugo and Ido, they chase him off. Chiren the ex-wife is there to spite Ido, says bring her back as many times as you like, but in her expression is doubt.
Ido then places Alita in her Berserker body and says no one will dare harm you again. Once she is transferred into this new body she is virtually indestructible. The armour responds and the adaptive technology, the shell reconfigures to her subconscious image of herself. It makes micro-adjustments throughout every system. This made me think that although the armour of God is “standard” in a way for all believers, is it possible for certain areas of each believer’s life it adapts to protect weaker areas? Also made me think that our core identity as a child of God is critical to wearing that armour. Ido finally admits to Alita that she was right, a warrior’s warrior spirit needs a warrior’s body. She’s able to make fire from her fingertips, Ido jokes you didn’t exactly come with a manual did you? Although the Bible is to be our manual through this life. He affirms her saying now you know who you are. I like that she still cuddles up close to her father. He says that’s just a shell, it’s not bad or good that part’s up to you. Again reminding me of 2 Timothy 2:15 or perhaps 1 Corinthians 9:24? She goes to meet up with Hugo and she tells him she’s faster, stronger and feels more like herself. As we become more like who God created us to be, we will feel more “settled” or at peace with our true selves. God reveals more and more of who we really are. Although she rubs shoulders sort to speak with the world around her, she is the only person with impeccable moral rightness. Hugo’s actions contrast this constantly. But she still falls in love with him. Just as we are as believers to love the person of the world around us into the Kingdom. She asks if it bothers him that she’s not completely human and he says you are the most human person I’ve ever met. This is how the world should view Christians; we should be the most fully human, the most fully loving, etc people the world has ever met.
Interesting that Nova then orders Grewishka to bring Alita’s heart to him. This is what the enemy is after, our hearts (Matt 5:8, John 10:10). Vector then brings in Hugo to tempt him into betraying Alita (Matt 26:15-16), Hugo still believes in Vector’s “promise” to get him up to Zalem. Vector then says this interesting line, I’d rather rule in hell than serve in heaven. He seemed to believe he had it better in Iron City ordering around his minions. He says they can live like kings “down here”. Interesting that this meeting was at night (Eph 6).
Alita visits with Hugo in the morning, where he seems in conflict over leaving for Zalem. She offers to do bounty hits to get him there, she literally offers him her heart (which we know Nova wants). He says don’t just do things for people no matter how good or deserving you think they are. She says this is who I am, I’m all or nothing (John 15:13). Then Hugo pitches Vector’s plan to make her a motorball champion to make enough money for both of them to get to Zalem.
Ido meets her at the arena with special armour to wear over her new cyborg body. When she says I don’t need all this stuff, he says yes you do, because if you wreck this body I can’t fix it. We find out that Vector has set her up, because all the other competitors were hand-picked to kill Alita. At the same time, Hugo is attacked by Zapan. Ido warns Alita too late that the competitors are basically a death-squad for her. Chiren is watching the game with Vector and Vector confirms Hugo’s betrayal and Chiren learns that Vector is lying to them both about going to Zalem. Alita fights in the arena then takes Hugo’s call for help and goes to rescue him. She shows up just in time. But Zapan’s plan works and Hugo shows up on the bounty screen for murder. Zapan quotes from the hunter-warrior code to her, that there’s no love or mercy in the code. This seemed to me to be like when the devil accuses us in front of God (Rev 12:10, 1 Tim 4:13). Zapan stabs Hugo and Alita takes him into the church. He confesses all his wrongdoing to her and that he was going to stop because he loves her. This is when Chiren turns “back to the light” upon witnessing their love. Alita says I’d give him my life if I could (1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:14). Chiren helps them by putting Hugo on Alita’s heart for life support. She confronts Zapan and the Centurions are is allowed to pass by technicality. She reclaims the Damascus blade and slices Zapan’s face off (1 John 2:16, Proverbs 31:30).
Ido is able to save Hugo and place him in a cyborg body. Ido says this city corrupts even good people (Gen 19). Ido tells Alita that Vector was running a scam, if you’re born on the ground you stay on the ground, no amount of money would change that (John 14:6). Chiren faces Vector and is killed for helping Alita. She finally realizes what she really wants isn’t in Zalem, but too late. Ido tells Alita not to ever feel sorry for herself, that she’s the only one built for this. She says thank you Father. Makes me think of Romans 11:29 and 1 Corinthians 12, each of us is made with specific gifts and purposes God planned in advance.
Alita goes to confront Vector. She calls him out on his scam, and he shows her parts of Dr Chiren. Her hands, her brain, her eyes and her heart. All the things the enemy goes after in our lives, he seeks to corrupt the works of our hands, he sows seeds of doubt and unbelief in our minds, he wants us to see only in the natural world and he wants to corrupt our hearts (John 10:10). Vector says Nova requires body parts for his experiments, especially the brains of the people he admires. A chilling remark, so much more so because if the devil can get his lies into our minds he has our brains for his purposes. Vector says that’s the only way anyone ever gets to Zalem (another lie).Grewishka shows up and stabs Alita in the side (John 19:34?). Alita has another flashback to her and her fellow troops storming Zalem by climbing up the factory cables. A defense ring engages them and all of them die except her and Gelda. Gelda grabs her arm and says finish the mission, destroy Zalem. Alita rises with purpose, her wound heals with her suits nanotech and she says I know who my enemy is and I know he’s watching us now and calls Grewishka “just his slave”. And I’m just “an insignificant girl” mocking him and the lie he told her. She kills him and demands to speak to Nova. He says he won’t come after her this one time and she tells him I don’t need your permission to live. He then threatens Ido and Hugo. She kills Vector and he says the only way he enjoys immortality is to watch others die (John 10:10). She says you just made the biggest mistake of your life…underestimating who I am. He says to her then until next time, remember I see everything. A claim to omnipotence that God only holds, although the kingdom of darkness does know our weaknesses so they must watch us.
Hugo then escapes custody and tries to climb to Zalem. Alita goes to stop him, he still believes he belongs in Zalem. A defense ring is released towards them and he’s dismembered. Alita isn’t able to save him and he falls.
Time passes, next we see Alita competing for FInal Champion. They call her Battle Angel. I think this is what the church should be recognized as. She seems to spot Nova above her and ignites her sword as she raises it in challenge.
To me Zalem represents the Kingdom of Heaven and of darkness at the same time. Either way as the regenerate Church we are to be reclaiming everything under the authority of Christ. And as I began this post I believe this is a metaphorical picture of Matthew 11:12. We must all find our inner Alita and partner with the Spirit of Christ to retake what is rightfully His (Gal 3:13-15, Acts 20:28, Col 1:20, Eph 1:7, Heb 9:14, Heb 9:22, Rev 1:5, Rev 12:11, Rom 5:9, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Heb 10:6-9).

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Captain Marvel

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Captain-Marvel-e4nn1d

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

Captain Marvel is a movie about all of us as believers finding our place in the world. We all go through the same process of finding who we are and who God created us to be. It also highlights how the enemy can use half truths against us if we are not well-versed in the Scriptures. And finally it places in the spotlight the use or misuse of our emotions and how we can “master” ourselves.

Carol has dreams of her past throughout the film of the moment when the lightspeed engine exploded and she gained her powers. I like to think of this in the same way that sometimes God uses our dreams to communicate to us what our destiny and identity is. The Kree, we learn later have kidnapped Carol, trained, used her for her abilities, and changed her memories to match their war-mongering and propaganda. But the recurring dream/vision is a message, trying to reveal the truth to her of the Kree’s true nature and motives. Carol at first wants to avoid this glimpse into her past because it confuses her, she has trouble making sense of the jumbled up memories. When she fights with her commander instead, he asks if she’s seen anything new (keeping up that facade that the Kree have going in her mind is important to them it seems), she says no. He says she needs to let go of her past because it causes her to doubt and doubt makes her vulnerable. She says she doesn’t remember her past.

A thought here, does doubt make us vulnerable as Christians? While the immediate answer is yes, think about this…if you never experience doubt and never question, then might you never grow? How do you know what you know to be true is true unless it is tested? Think about 1 Peter 1:7 “…so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” He also says that her anger only serves the enemy, much the same as Ephesians 4:26 says “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” But again, here can be a twisting of the truth. These “rules” that Yon-Rogg tells Carol are actually half truths or twisted truths. We are allowed to feel anger. Even Jesus was angry (see Matt 21:12), like the Ephesians scripture I quoted above says be angry…but sin not. Yon-Rogg also tells Carol her humor is a distraction. All of these are emotions, and emotions are a normal part of the human experience. However, in trying to make Carol into “Vers” a Kree soldier, they want her to be less human. They say “control your emotions” but it seems more like suppress your emotions is the message. Perhaps emotions are more important than we as church have ever thought possible? An interesting thought to ponder indeed.

On the Kree subway, Carol asks Yon-Rogg who he sees when he communes with the Supreme Intelligence, the AI leader of the Kree. He answers that no Kree can ever divulge this information because it’s intensely personal who the AI chooses to appear as to each individual Kree. This can be taken positively, that spiritual experiences are unique to us like Proverbs 14:10. Or it can be taken negatively The enemy can appear as an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14. He then says to her that he only wants her to be “the best version of herself.” However, we learn later that this is only “his best version.” I’ll point out right here that just like the Kree had a special name for Carol “Vers”, might the enemy have a special name for you? A name to dissuade, discourage and discredit you? It says in Revelation 2:17 that God will give a new name to those who persevere to the end, wouldn’t it stand that the opposite is also true?

Next we see Carol “communing” with the Supreme Intelligence. A reminder/warning here that you can commune with the enemy just as easily as you commune with the Lord. Carol wants nothing more than to prove herself and her abilities. She wants approval and to gain the respect of the Kree over her. The AI tells her she still struggles with her emotions and that she needs to master herself. Another half truth is lodged right here. Like I said before, emotions are important, but without them can we truly be our full selves? However, we cannot let our emotions overrule us either and mastering them is discipline all Christians must learn (without stuffing!)

Vers is given a mission with her team and she jumps at the chance to prove herself. The AI takes the time to remind her that “what was given can be taken away” the inhibitor chip they placed on Carol is used as a threat and a manipulative tool to gain her trust and allegiance. However later we learn the truth that the Kree are actually suppressing her powers. God’s Word says “the gifts are without repentance” Romans 11:29 but the enemy twists scripture to use against us. He pretends to have power that he doesn’t have, just like the Kree. He uses the lie that God will take away it gifts and use someone else instead or maybe that your gifts won’t be accepted. And just like the Kree, the enemy knows who you are and tries to limit your growth and abilities by whatever means necessary.

On the mission, Vers is captured by the Skrulls who set the ambush to capture her. The Skrulls use a memory machine to track down information they are looking for in Carol’s mind. They find she knew Dr. Wendy Lawson aka Mar-Vell the Kree scientist who developed the lightspeed engine. Just like the memory machine, our enemy studies us and know us better than we know ourselves. The devil can use anyone in our life just like the Skrulls can simulate people. While in the memory machine, Carol relives a moment where she says “I prefer the view from up there” which made me think of Colossians 3:2. When Carol wakes up from the memory machine she fights the Skrulls and escapes to C-53 aka Earth. Before she does she briefly has a talk with Talos leader of the Skrulls and he tells her he didn’t plant any of those memories, everything was already in there. He says it’s like a bad trip in there it’s no wonder you have trouble keeping it straight. The lies the enemy tells us warps our minds, literally. Neuroscience has proven that negative thoughts have a different effect on our brains than positive ones. Lies also distort, confuse just like Carol was experiencing.

Once on Earth, Carol meets Nick Fury, Agent Coulson and Goose and go in search of Dr. Wendy Lawson. In doing so, it’s revealed that Carol was actually a test pilot on Earth and worked with Dr. Lawson. Before going to find Lawson, she contacts Yon-Rogg, and I think it’s telling how each “phone call” she has with him she learns more of the truth and grows more and more suspicious of the lies he feeds her. At one point he tells her “Remember your training, know yourself, know your enemy, it might be you.” Such an interesting choice of words maybe indeed she is his enemy? But it’s not entirely bad advice since even Paul said this in a matter of words in 2 Corinthians 2:11.

Eventually our hero is lead to the home of her bestie Maria Rambeau, this whole time Carol doesn’t know who she is. But Maria and her daughter know her. I think the most beautiful scene in the movie is the photo montage where her niece reminds her who she is. This is so powerful. It reminds me of Hebrews 10:25 do not neglect the gathering of the saints. This is one of the reasons why, so when one of us loses our way or forgets our true identity our fellow sisters and brothers can reminds us and point us back on the path.

Talos follows them there and reveals a CD with the black box recording of the crash Carol was in. In this Carol learns the truth that the Kree are the “bad guys” who kidnapped her and that they did not give her her powers but in a way Mar-Vell did through her lightspeed engine explosion hence why she is the person the Supreme Intelligence imitates during Carol’s sessions. Interesting to note here, the Skrulls are not the only ones that deceive using their looks.

Carol’s whole world is rocked as the truth sinks in. I love that Mar-Vell’s character sees the evil that her race is causing and essentially repents of it and has vowed to “end wars.” It makes me thinks that we cannot think in “good guys” and “bad guys” all the time, sometimes we are just missing critical information that leads us to the truth. No one should be demonized for their ignorance.

When Carol destroys the lightspeed engine, it explodes infusing her with its energy and granting her her new abilities. When she’s being exposed it changes her DNA, just like when we accept Christ it changes our spiritual DNA. I like that in the final sequence it zooms in on her eyes and shows the energy and power flooding her eyes and entire being with light. It reminds me of Matthew 6:22-24; almost a visual representation of her being flooded and filled heart, mind, and soul with the new Truth she’s learned. Maria her bestie then reminds Carol who she is, she says you are Carol Danvers, tells her what a powerful and inspirational woman she was to Maria, a supportive friend, etc. all as she points out “before you could shoot fire from your fists.” This made me think again of the support of the body of Christ, but also of the need for identity and character building BEFORE operating in our God-given gifts. Maria was reminding Carol of her identity and her character aka who she was. We need to know who we are in Christ and have the character to support us, that way it doesn’t become a people-pleasing thing and instead is a God-pleasing thing. Carol also learns that the Kree are trying to commit genocide and wipe out the Skrulls and that only a handful of them are left.

Now so armed with the Truth, Carol changes her suit colors a visual and outward representation of the change that occurred within. I liken this to baptism in a way? Since baptism is our outward expression of our inward change and union with Christ. Yon-Rogg finds out that Carol knows the truth when the Skrull simming her can’t answer who’s blood is flowing in her veins and he summons Ronan the Accuser to Earth. He says that it’s his blood. This really struck me here, since we know “the life is in the blood” Leviticus 17:11 and it seems like they really went above and beyond to convince Carol that all her power all her strength everything came from them.

Carol finds the hidden, cloaked spaceship with Talos’ family aboard. Once aboard the spaceship Talos is reunited with his family and Carol finds the Tesseract. I liked that Talos admitted his hands were also dirty with the actions committed during the wars. And also that he shielded his daughter from the horrors of war by asking his wife to cover their daughter’s eyes when he was killing some enemy soldiers. Innocence was being protected.

Of course her former Kree compatriots show up, and the “show down” occurs. When Carol is confronted by her former allies, they repeat the lies she’s heard formerly that the Skrulls “got in her head” an interesting choice of words since they are the brainwashers here and she repeats the Truth that she has learned that the Skrulls are just looking for a home. An example of speaking the truth, voicing it gives it power over our situation and over our minds. She’s then captured and they imprison her mentally with the Supreme Intelligence. The battle is in her mind, literally just like it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

I absolutely love this scene! The Supreme Intelligence tells imprisoned Carol that’s she’s only human to discourage and discredit her. It shows her how many times she’s fallen, again only a half-truth because then Carol remembers, that she always gets back up. “Though a righteous man falls 7 times, they rise again…” Proverbs 24:16. Not only a fantastic illustration of the mind games the devil will play with us but it’s in that moment she discovers her true self and hence her true identity and power. She says, “My name is Carol”. This deliverance and acceptance of self allows her to escape and kick some major butt. She accepts her weakness and finds her inner strength. Since Carol has been lied to about her past and reminded of their version of it so the devil does with us. The AI tells her we found you, a half truth, they did find her but also kidnapped her, which Carol tells the AI you stole me, you kidnapped me took me away from my family, my friends. She is then loosed from the lies that limited her true potential. At first Carol has to be very angry to access her powers or “emotional”. When she finally breaks free of the Kree’s control of her, her power flows effortlessly. Only her powers, her “anointing” flowed freely. The enemy could only slow her down, but could not stop her. Her power flows from her hands and helps free the others. She says “I’ve been fighting this whole time with one arm behind my back. What happens…when I’m free?” I REALLY like this part. Carol being released from the inhibitor chip is us when we let go of the lies we’ve believed. We are then free and our anointing and destiny comes forth effortlessly.

So there’s some skirmishes and eventually Carol ends up off the ship and out in space. Ronan has arrived ready to blow the Earth to kingdom come. She goes binary and finds the true extent of her powers, blowing up missiles and some spaceships in the process. And the best part? She has fun whilst doing it (another human trait). She makes a threatening fist gesture to Ronan and they withdraw. Ronan says we’ll come back, his lieutenant says for the weapon? Ronan says for the woman. The way he said it made me think of Genesis 3:15 when it says the seed will bruise your head and you will pierce his heel. The woman is the weapon of God. Through the woman, Christ came in human flesh. And a good, I mean a godly woman can turn back the “missiles” of attack of the enemy with her prayers just like Carol does with her hands. Ephesians 6:16

I also love the end scene with Jude Law where she says “I have nothing to prove to you.” Never fight the battle the enemy wants you to.

These are my thoughts so far, more will most likely follow.

Contact info: Twitter @aremoviesmore or aremoviesmore@gmail.com

Dr Strange

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Dr-Strange-e4nnbm

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

Introduction

Dr. Strange is a new take in the comic book venue. While most of our favorite characters learn some important lessons whilst blowing stuff up, Dr. Strange takes a ‘stand’ in a world of bendy twisty magic.

This movie reminded me a lot of Iron Man 3 in its obvious references to spiritual warfare. But I believe this is a timely release to tell the church to wake up to the world unseen around us.

Pre-Magic Dr. Strange

Before Steven Strange encounters this new world beyond ours he is literally a complete arrogant jerk. Head strong and conceited he believes he’s the best at everything and even says so several times. The director and writers chose on purpose I believe to show Strange doing many variety of tasks with his hands before his accident. Operating (even freehand), tying a bow tie, putting on a watch, etc. His hands were his livelihood, literally. He had it all: power (medically speaking), fame, and fortune. Driving a Lamborghini like it’s not a big deal winding around curves and corners, passing cars at high velocities. I don’t think anyone in the audience is surprised when his accident occurs. Remember pride goes before the fall Prov. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Dr. Strange shows a perfect example of this. After his accident, he tries everything to put his life back together in his own strength. We are told he has 7 surgeries, but eventually as he puts it, “western medicine failed me.” I believe the 7 represents the completeness of his fall and his “mania” represents our striving in the flesh to keep things in a status quo or restore thing we lose.

Strange’s Pilgrimage

At this point Strange is introduced to someone’s story who “recovered” from a completely broken back. I found it interesting both Pangborn and Strange were injured doing something related to their secular work and it partially or completely paralyzed/crippled their hands. Making me think of how the enemy sees our potential and targets us specifically in those areas.

So Strange meets Jonathan Pangborn who we learn later uses his gift of magic for himself. A literal “hiding his talent in the earth” Just like Matthew 25:18 where it says “But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.” The Ancient One affirms that this was his choice. Mr. Pangborn points Strange to Kamar-Taj, warning him that the cost there is high but not money. Later it becomes clear, this cost is your life in defense of the planet. Matthew 16:25 comes to mind here: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

When Strange arrives he is lost (literally and figuratively) and cannot find Kamar-Taj, but just as we do not find God He finds us, Mordo meets up with Strange saving him from thugs trying to rob him. His watch is broken in the fight, and I think the watch there was a foreshadowing of Strange’s future encounter with the time infinity stone and his breaking the natural law of time at the end of the movie. In his quest, he thought he was looking for healing but in reality he was seeking so much more. He had tried in his own strength to get healing unsuccessfully, and now he had spent his last dime getting to Kamar-Taj; he was a desperate man. But God usually waits for us to be in a desperate place and acknowledge our need for Him. I appreciated that they said, “forget everything you think you know” essentially a rewording of Matthew 18:3 “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” I also liked the Ancient One appearing as one Strange did not expect and serving him tea. Because Jesus is a Servant-King.

The Ancient One

Now obviously the Ancient One or Sorcerer supreme is a Christ-like character. One of God’s names is even the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9. 7:13, 7:22). She is his teacher, a friend in a way, but her authority is unquestionable. She is described as “of unknown age”, Celtic in origin, merciless yet kind, steadfast but unpredictable. All of which describe our own King Jesus. Dr. Strange is told to “trust your teacher and you will not stray.” Just as we must put our trust is God to lead us on His path for our lives. Strange has just one encounter with her an it completely UNDOES him. At first, Strange’s mind was opposite and opposing to the things of the Spirit just like Gal 5:17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[a] you want.” and Romans 8:6-8 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” He confessed his unbelief in the supernatural openly. Then the Ancient One leads him in a demonstration. She says, “You’re a man who sees the world through a keyhole and having spent your whole life trying to widen that keyhole and now upon hearing it’s possible you reject the possibility.” Sometimes our minds keep us from believing in the things of God. He continues to assert that belief and spirit is nonsense and we are merely matter. I liked that during this exchange where he purports the current views of evolution that we are merely “accidents” and insignificant specks in the cosmos, she says “You think too little of yourself.” We must realize our worth as created beings in God’s image (Gen 1 and 2). So first she pushes his spirit out of his body and he starts to freak out, then the show really begins. She sends him beyond Earth to countless realities, world, and dimensions. She says “what is real?” Note here his unbelief didn’t make the multiverse any less real! She begins this by saying “Open your eye” I think this is a reference to his spiritual eyes and awakening his mystical gifting. “You think you know how the world work” and she says “thoughts shape reality” a POWERFUL truth here as we are cautioned as Christ followers to “take every thought captive”, 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Interesting towards the end she says “Who are you in this vast multiverse?” I also liked that she doesn’t hide the reality of the dark dimension from him.

Training Level 1

Upon his return to Kamar-Taj, he begs the Ancient One to teach him. She says No. And casts him out. Made me think of Matthew 22:14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Choice was emphasized several times; you must choose to walk the path of a magician or Christ-follower. Also, the first thing he does is spend intimate time with his Teacher, just as we must do with Christ. I liked the first thing Strange has to master was the sling-ring. Similar to transport/translation in the Bible, these allowed our characters to travel “great distance in an instant.” I believe the sling-rings represent discipline. It takes focus and determination to operate them, just like prayer and meditation in the Christian’s walk. The Kamar-Taj also was a type of church or a fellowship of sorcerers in training and building each other up. I believe the sorcerers represent Christ followers as in 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” The sling ring also represents 1 Corinthians 10:13 the way of escape: “No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Strange is given a pep talk kind of that you don’t beat a river into submission you surrender to its current. The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as a river and we must surrender our will to His. She tells him to “silence your ego and your power will rise” death to self right there surrendering your will. Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” It’s also interesting she tells him “your intellect has taken you far in life but it will take you no farther. He was saying that doesn’t make any sense, she replied “Not everything does, not everything has to”. This is something I’ve personally struggled with. You generally speaking cannot use your intellect for spiritual things. The Ancient One then tests him on the mountain side. (I love it!) Just like Abraham with Isaac on the mountain (Gen 22) God always tests our surrender, Always! Now during the test, the Teacher left him, but only a sling-ring away, just like Jesus with us. Strange passes the test.

Training Level 2 – The Word

The Ancient One then asks Dr. Strange how he became a neurosurgeon and he says “study and practice, years of it.” The Spells are drawing energy from the other dimensions of the multiverse. This makes me think of prayers. Prayers make things manifest from the unseen realm into ours. Strange is told to start with the primer, there is also a portion of the library for masters only. Made me think of the hidden things of God in His Word that He wants to reveal to true students of the Word. Strange pours himself into study. We are told he questions everything and prefers to teach himself. And where this could be arrogance in a way it is also the responsibility of every believer to 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “…but test them all; hold on to what is good…”. Strange also has to learn Sanskrit, a new language, just as in following Christ sometimes God’s Truth feels foreign to us. I noticed it took some faith/belief to conjure the spells/prayers. The spells could be used to conjure a shield (Eph 6), weapons (2 Corinth 10:4-5) or really anything they needed to defend themselves. Strange is introduced to the mirror dimension to “train safely, surveil, ever present yet undetected.” Just like sometimes God puts us in a “safe place” for a time to train and learn. It is crucial for Strange and Christ-followers to learn the Word. As we find later, Mordo is deceived because he didn’t read the Word for himself, but (in a way) put blind faith in a leader, which turn out to be a bad thing because his leader was corrupted secretly. An admonishment here for the believer, don’t blindly follow! You are responsible for what you believe, NOT your pastor!

The enemy and his zealots

Interesting that the bad guys were called zealots in this story. Zealots are people who are fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious or other ideals. The zealots were former “believer” sorcerers. They became proud and rejected the Sorcerer Supreme’s teaching and were seduced by false teachings. An anti-picture of James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” By allowing pride in their life, they opened the door to deception. And I was reminded that men (the zealots) must agree with evil and darkness for it to be released in the Earth. I also noticed the zealots were in a church when they summon the dark energy. A warning against false teachers and false believers in your midst like in Jude 1:12 “These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.” Interesting also that as they summon the darkness their faces change to look more like Dormammu’s (a corruption of God’s image maybe?). His followers followed him like sheep. Again you are responsible as a believer for what you believe. I also noticed the follower zealots never spoke, made me think how when we compromise we lose our voice to speak Truth. Also the zealots and the dark dimension had more power in the mirror dimension. There are some atmospheres just like they release heaven, some atmospheres darkness rules it. The enemy also used the spell or the Word but we must rightly divide Truth 2 Tim 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Dormammu called himself “The One” ultimate blasphemy, the devil always deceives (Mark 12:15 and Matt 24:15). We are told that Dormammu hungers for Earth most of all; in real life also our planet is targeted by the enemy Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone own to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” The zealots were seduced by the promise of eternal life because time and death is “an insult to humanity.” “Because humanity longs for the eternal” which is true. But Dormammu didn’t let on that his eternal “life” was torment. Where the zealots try to escape death, the Ancient One to the contrary purports that “Death is what gives life meaning, to know that our days are numbered.” Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Because Dormammu feeds off our fear of death and that is how he tempted the zealots.

Spiritual warfare

Dr. Strange believed that he came to be healed “not join some mystical war.” I think this sadly sums up how many Christians operate. Joined a church for friends, get a job, feel better, or a number of other reasons, but NOT to have a relationship with God and be a solider of Christ 2 Tim 2:3 “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” We might not feel ready, but we are always called to action in the Spirit. Dr. Strange at this point has learned the reality that he exists as spirit even taking to studying while his body sleeps, even as Christ-followers can have visions and dreams and learn new Truths in them from God. We learn the original sorcerer Creator created 3 sanctums to protect the Earth as a shield, could this be the 3 heavens?? Then the magicians protect the sanctums. The Creator also made the Eye of Agamotto – which “sees all of time” just like God sees past, present and future as the same to Him. Now the Master of the New York sanctum let the enemy speak into his life and he ends up dying. And Strange is thrust into a war he doesn’t want to fight. I noticed the NY sanctum has different relics. Made me think that different cultures have different anointings. Now Dr. Strange tried to use his gifting before he was ready and nearly broke the space-time continuum. Then he’s nearly killed fighting with Kaecilius. The cloak of levitation helps him. The relic chose him. I believe the relics represent mantles, anointings or gifts because they decide when you are ready, just like God decides when we are ready to operate in our gifts. I also noticed the weapons of Kaecilius and crew were invisible (Eph 6:12) and also literal darts/daggers.

Warring in the Spirit

I think one of the most fantastic scenes spiritually was the hospital fight scene. After Strange is stabbed by a zealot, he portals to his love Dr. Christine Palmer for help. I think she represents unconditional love and compassion in Dr. Strange’s life. She draws the poison out of the stab wound whilst Strange fights the zealot all around her in the spirit realm. He spiritual condition affected his physical condition. When he was knocked out in the spirit, his heart stopped in the physical. And vice versa, he gained more strength in the spirit when zapped with the defibrillator in the physical. An important point here: our bodies are the temples of God’s Spirit but they also house our spirits! (1 Corinth 3:16, 6:19). We need to keep this principle in mind when diagnosing illness, etc. because they may have a root in the spiritual condition of the person.

Conclusion

When the Ancient One dies, Strange meets with her in the spirit. Where she tells him she saw his capacity for goodness. But that his arrogance and fear of failure kept him for learning the most important lesson of all: “It’s not about you!” Phil 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…” and Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” came to my mind. He had a choice again we must choose whom to serve (Josh 24:15). She says no one ever is ready but we don’t get to choose our time. I felt like this was a Gandalf moment:

“and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

She also said you’d think after all this time (she’d lived many, many years) I’d be ready, but look at me stretching 1 moment into a 1,000. Again a reference to 2 Pet 3:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Finally, although the details are different essentially, Dr. Strange claimed the Earth as territory and took authority over it when “bargaining” with Dormammu. Ushering in planetary wide deliverance from his rule. Also Strange demonstrates a picture of 1 Pet 3:18-20 descending into the dark dimension to deal with the enemy face to face just like Christ did. And Strange also takes on a Christ-like caricature by offering to face eternal torment himself in order that the Earth be spared. Of course our hero is victorious, but at a cost, as Mordo says “the bill comes due…ALWAYS!” Our actions have consequences sometimes we can’t see them or they aren’t immediate.

Overall, I really enjoyed this Marvel film and I’m glad they kept to their traditional method of storytelling and didn’t dabble in anything too dark. 😉

Contact info: Twitter @aremoviesmore or aremoviesmore@gmail.com

Ironman 3

To listen as a podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Ironman-3-e4nno9

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

Ironman 3 sets a new tone compared to the other 2 movies, but beyond a doubt, this movie is about spiritual warfare. One of my favorite things of this movie is the Mark 42 suit, and coincidentally, if you look up Mark 4:2 in the Scriptures it reads, “And He taught them many things in parables (illustrations or comparisons put beside truths to explain them)… [AMP]”. Marvel comics are a fantastic source of modern day parables, as I attempt to illustrate in this writing and others.

The Danger of Being Indifferent

In the beginning of the movie Tony is isolating himself from Pepper (Love) and life in general. For him, it’s a matter of protecting her, for us it’s a matter of declaring our independence from God. “Oh it’s ok Lord, I’ve got this”. How many times have we said that before disaster happens? Because of his isolationist tendencies, Tony does not see the threat coming and his life is a mess. If we don’t keep up with our lives and our hearts, satan can have a field day with us. This is also a wake up call to Christians, although we are not to live in fear (2 Timothy 1:7) we should also not hide or bury ourselves away from the world. Tony only “gets involved” in the Mandarin manhunt after his friend, Happy is seriously injured in one of his attacks. Don’t wait for the enemy to attack close to home to accept God’s call to be His soldier (1 Peter 5:8).

The Enemy

The Mandarin is the face of evil in the movie Ironman 3. I thought it was interesting that the Mandarin almost taunts Tony using the very line he wrote on his name badge 13 years earlier “You know who I am” and then adding “but you don’t know where I am.” Two important points here: 1) we know who the true enemy is – satan Revelation 12:9 and 2) we don’t know where he is. We know that he is “the prince of the power of the air” Ephesians 2:2 and that he is cast down to the earth Luke 10:18. However, satan and his forces are invisible to us. Just like they could not pinpoint the Mandarin’s location or the location of the bomb subjects (at first). The devil is also confined to darkness 2 Peter 2:4 and I am not sure if this was intentional or not, but a majority of the film is filmed in darkness or night scenes. Now, the Mandarin is a face or distraction from the true enemy Killian (the name alone is a great portrayal of John 10:10). Just as satan will use people to distract or attack us and we may not realize the true source of the attack. Tony Stark is under attack throughout the course of the entire movie, he can’t even sleep. Just as Christians we are always in spiritual warfare and satan never sleeps. But just as Christians do sometimes, Tony lets his guard down and it costs him his house and nearly his life. He threatens the Mandarin openly and challenges him to meet him at his house. Of course satan never plays fair, and neither does the Mandarin. He accepts Tony’s invite, but not as he expected. Another reason why we should not toy with the enemy, he knows our weaknesses and that’s what the Mandarin does, hits him at home in his weak spot, where Pepper is endangered. But another important note here is, that Tony embodies Ephesians 6:13 when he does challenge the Mandarin. Although in this case his motives were wrong, he does speak directly to the enemy, in authority and say “I’m not afraid of you.” We as Christians can do this too as we accept the truth of 1 John 4:4 “…because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.” When Killian finally does capture Tony, he wants him to join him in his quest for power and dominion. We see this when satan tempts Christ in Matthew 4. The ultimate plan on earth in to see whether man will willingly chose to love God and worship him or chose pride and the path of satan.
Enemies We Face

Tony says in the opening, “we create our own demons”, in a literal sense he’s incorrect, but in a metaphorical sense he’s spot on. As Christians, we can make mistakes and fall into sin. Although God forgives us and picks us back up, he does allow for consequences to our actions. Tony sees the direct consequences of reckless living and frankly being a jerk. A basic theme/plotline to the movie can be summed up as “be nice to nerds, because one day they will be famous and powerful and kidnap your girlfriend and try to kill you repeatedly using unhuman superpowers.”
Extremis

Speaking of superpowers, the extremis (ie. “using extreme measures”) in itself speaks of the extreme measures satan and his demons will go to destroy the Church collectively and Christians individually (remember Revelation 12:12). Note that the bad guys are on the whole manipulated and deceived into receiving the extremis treatment to “better themselves” or “become the next evolution of humanity”, but in the end they burn (literally). What satan promises us when he tempts us always seems good (ie. Eve in the garden Genesis 3:4-5,etc.), but in the end will always bring us harm (John 10:10). I also thought it interesting that the extremis subjects were manifest as burning in one way seeming to be possessed, another as burning (like in hell the demons and persons trapped there), and in another way they look as if they are demons themselves. They cannot die except when Tony/Ironman basically blows away one subject’s heart (and possibly soul?) SPOILER: When Pepper uses the Extremis she remarks, “That was so violent”, meaning she still has morals (soul) and almost implies the serum controls/possesses its subject. When we give in to evil motives, sinful behavior, etc. it can eventually do as in 1 Timothy 4:2 “sear our consciences.” Perhaps this is why the extremis subject could no longer tell the difference between good and evil. Also notice that some of the “powers of the enemy” in the movie (evil henchman) can be easily defeated whilst others are nearly impossible for Tony. Another fantastic biblical illustration for the verse Mark 9:29 and the hierarchical structure found in Ephesians 6:12.
Armor of God

Two interesting points about the armor in this movie: 1) Tony can now summon the Mark 42 suit at will thanks to his implants, another great illusion to the impartation and gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (see John Chapter 14) which can be likened to prayer (prayer activates our armor) and also 2) that he must step into the armor and it encapsulates him. I especially like this last point because it paints a great illustration of Galatians 3:27 “put on Christ” or in this case His armor Ephesians 6:13, since Christ is our armor Ephesians 6:10. When Tony is attacked at his home, the first thing he does is protect Pepper (again Love) and perhaps imagery of Proverbs 4:23. Something that Tony does in this movie is realize he cannot rely solely on his suit. And where we can draw a parallel between the suit and our spiritual armor, his armor does him no good if it is not charged. I found it interesting that in the movie, that when Harley says the suit isn’t charging Tony freaks out and has a panic attack. Our spiritual armor is charged by being in Jesus. If our minds are not aligned with His, then we can also panic and have no power. We must keep ourselves “charged” through Jesus (again Ephesians 6:10). For Tony he had to recharge by going back to his roots as a mechanic. Myra says in the movie they started with pure motives and an idea, then ego and compromise brought them to where they were. Another important reminder that when we don’t keep our hearts pure before God, our armor has no effect. So also motives are just as important as our actions are. Tony went through at least 5 suits of armor trying to defeat Killian in anger, but it only took one act of love by Pepper to defeat him! Ultimately, Tony cannot protect himself and in his moment of weakness, Pepper (Love) steps in to protect him and defeat the enemy! Just as Jesus fights all our battles for us and has absolute victory through the Cross. Also, Pepper is empowered by her passion and love for Tony to protect him. This can be interpreted two ways: 1) Jesus in His passion for humanity went to the Cross to defeat the enemy for us and 2) we should fight all our battles in the same spirit of submission with passion and love for Christ.
Our Mind as the battleground

Tony’s PTSD rages within his mind and our spiritual battle is mostly in our minds as well. To avoid the anxiety attacks, Tony must really live 2 Corinthians 10:5 “take every thought captive.” The child Harley helps Tony to process the PTSD and “get back in the game” through his innocence. Harley represents the Holy Spirit as in Matthew 10:16 “as innocent as doves” the dove being the Holy Spirit. His childlikeness (also how we are to enter the Kingdom of God Matthew 18:3) breaks down the walls of fear, guilt and shame that Tony has erected in his heart. The Holy Spirit can also bring healing to us after the battle and I think the scenes with Tony and Harley really flesh out 1 Peter 5:10.
Conclusion

The opening sequence is like a testimony to Tony’s life before he became a new man/Ironman. Just like Christians give their testimony to the change God has made in their life. I think by the end of the movie we also see the maturing of Tony Stark. He has the shrapnel in his heart extracted, he blows up all of his suits and essentially starts life afresh with Pepper trusting more in her than ever before. Perhaps this is an illustration of us surrendering to Christ and his work in us. James 4:5-8 can be likened to where Pepper is jealous of Tony’s attentions and affections, in verse 6 Tony must humble himself and admit he is a mess and finally in 7 and 8 submitting to God and realizing our disloyal and divided interests. Tony does this and activates the “Clean Slate” program which God does for us when we humble ourselves and ask forgiveness, He wipes our “slate” clean through the shed blood of Jesus. Also an illustration of Proverbs 3:5-6, where Tony lays down what he knows (his intellectual endeavours).

Overall, this movie has some really fantastic revelations of truths found in the scriptures. I encourage you to find some of your own! My motto when I go to the movies: “never settle for surface level.” Hope you’ve enjoyed the read!

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Safe Haven

To listen as a podcast, click here : https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Safe-haven-e4nnuu

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!
Although I watched this movie reluctantly, it has several deep spiritual metaphors that surprised even me (since I hate chick flicks). Anyhow to the analysis!
The overall message of this story is a picture of our salvation and coming to the true lover of our souls, Jesus. Aeron at the beginning of the movie experiences an unknown (to the audience) trauma which then leads her to flee for her life. I thought it interesting that she changes her name to Katie. The name Aeron means “carnage or slaughter” from Welsh origins. On the contrary, Katie is Greek and means “pure.” The Bible says in Rev. 2:17, that we receive new names and also we are wiped clean and transferred from unrighteousness to righteousness.
She assumes the name Katie from this point on, thereby illustrating the burial of her past. Her journey lands her in an island where she rents a house in seclusion (see Rev 12:6) and begins a new life. She befriends a man named Alex whose name means “helper and defender of mankind.” She is desperate to begin afresh and forget our past. Are we not all trying to forget our sins? At first she cannot trust Alex whose honest, genuine love cannot penetrate the years of abuse she has experienced. This is just like Christ and us. He wants us to come to Him and accept His love, but sometimes we cannot because of issues from our past. Alex first begins by giving her a gift, which she promptly returns. He says usually you say thank you. But her hardness of heart cannot accept this free-will offering. Something that also happens between Christ and ourselves.
I found the contrast between Alex’s love and the ex-husband’s “love” to be imagery of being married to Mr. Law (ex-husband) or Mr. Grace (Alex). “The Law” continues to hunt, pursue, stalk, and even kill Katie twice during the movie. This is what the law does to us, for Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death. Mr. Law is also a picture of Katie’s past. Throughout the film, she is plagued by visions and dreams of her past catching up with her. Something that we do even though we are free in Christ and 2 Corinthians 5:17 applies to us. Katie tries to run from love because her “greatest sin” is found out, but notice that Alex (Jesus) pursues her. Matthew 18:12. A great reminder that even though Katie says, “He doesn’t give up, he will find me, he is the police” (interesting he even represents human law). But what does Alex say to her? “I am in love with you Katie. The safest place to be is here with me.” Does not God speak this to us?
I love the fantastic example of Katie standing up to Mr Law and declaring herself free from him. Something that we must also do. I think the alcoholism represents sin and the disillusionment that comes from it.
Could be a stretch, but I see the former wife’s ghost as imagery of the Holy Spirit/Ghost. She guides, comforts, is a ready companion, AND! always points her to Alex (Jesus). The wife was even “inspired” to write letters of encouragement to the future lover of her husband. Could this be imagery of the Bible? Also she speaks to Katie (the church) to care for her children. John 21:17.
I see the fire of the house as a possible picture of 1 Corinthians 3:15. And also 2 Peter 3:10, the house represents the world which is burned up and destroyed, but what about the words written by the Holy Ghost? They endure! Matthew 24:35. She has notes for her children in their future just as Jesus does for us. Notice the burning of the house comes at the end of the movie, maybe the end of time? And who returns? Alex (Jesus). He seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he arrives just when he needs to. Katie is in a struggle for her life Matthew 24:13. But eventually Mr. Law aka Death is killed 1 Corinthians 15:26. In the end, Katie and Alex are united, just as Jesus will be to His church.

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The Green Lantern

To listen as podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Green-Lantern-e4no2l

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

Here are some thoughts I had whilst processing through the Green Lantern. It’s a fantastic movie that I recommend all Christians watch.

Beginning

The universe is said to be created, just as ours is and it is mentioned several times that the Corps was created for this very purpose (to stand and fight against evil). This is a metaphor for the church which also stands and fights against evil. “The Guardians harnessed the power of will because it is the strongest source of energy in the universe.” Showing that will is more powerful than fear because we can chose to overcome our fear, but through the work of the Holy Spirit (green ring). The Guardians could be likened to angels, one of them falls, just like satan. “A great light has gone out in the universe” Abin Sur is mortally wounded (as Christ was), and eventually dies. This quote describes his passing, interesting because Christ also called himself “the light of the world”. And if I REALLY stretch it, one might say Abin Sur is “resurrected” in a way in Hal Jordan. Maybe…or at least Hal is infilled by the same power he was.

Parallax

Parallax is obviously a caricature of the devil. Parallax feeds on his victims by instilling fear/doubt then sucking the life force out of them. Parallax grows larger and more powerful with each feeding, and his victims appear to be trapped inside a “hell”-like state.

Hal receives the ring

Hal has trouble admitting he is afraid at first and just decides to quit, but then he REPENTS and realizes (with help from friends/fellowship) that this responsibility is too important for him to just quit. The ring never makes a mistake when it chooses people, God never makes mistakes when he chooses us. The ring needs to be “recharged” with willpower from the Green Lantern. As we also need to “recharge” by prayer and fellowship with God and other believers and reading the Word (Bible). Green Lanterns are supposed to be fearless, it’s really that they admit they are afraid and stand courageously anyways. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) and we are to overcome the enemy with our faith.

Hal’s transformation and Induction process

Hal has the Green Lantern suit fused to his body, (although painful) he undergoes a transformation process similar to ours when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17) we become new creations. The machine in the induction process touches his heart with a zap of energy, as we are touched and changed by God. The Green Lantern suit is made of pure willpower energy, could be liken to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Also, all the lanterns wear the same uniform…can we say robed in righteousness? And Hal wears the ring on the right hand…right hand of power? Hal then has access to a “working knowledge base”, or in our case scripture, which is written on his heart? Kinda a stretch I know. Sinestro says to Hal, “Fear is the enemy of will. Will is what makes you take action. Fear is what stops you and makes you weak. You must ignore your fear. When you’re afraid you can’t act. You can’t act, you can’t defend. You don’t defend, you die!” I think if you replace “ignore” with “overcome through the Holy Spirit”, this is a fantastic and powerful quote! “Your will turns thought into reality”, also true of us. In real life, our thought life will show us exactly where our hearts are at and eventually we live those out (Proverbs 23:7, Proverbs 4:23). After the induction process Hal shows complete life change going from a total selfish jerk face to a selfless, courageous hero.

Hector’s transformation

After Hector is infected with fear from Parallax, he also undergoes transformation that extenuates his evil qualities, exactly the opposite of our hero Hal. Hector takes his own blood and looks under the microscope and sees the fear from Parallax overtaking and consuming his cells, just like fear consumes us from the inside. Hector and Hal both have encounters with aliens, and yet they both turn out so differently. This demonstrates that our thoughts, choices, and actions led us and become who we are. When Hal tricks Hector by giving him the ring, Hal says, “I lied too. You see, the way it works is you have to be chosen.” The only way to be saved is when God chooses us and draws us to Himself.

Hal confronts the powers that be

Hal says, “We say we’re only human because we are vulnerable and we are afraid, but it doesn’t mean that we are weak.” The first thing the devil does is convince Christians that we are alone, vulnerable and weak, because he knows that we’re NOT! Hal goes into the chamber of the Guardians (like we can enter the throne room of God), and asks to go fight for and save the human race, just as Jesus did for us. A great picture of intercession. Hal says the human race is worth saving. God said we were worth saving at the Cross. Hal says you can’t use fear to fight fear, once you’ve crossed that line and given into fear you’ll never go back. Fear will control you if you let it.

Good vs Evil Showdown

Parallax says to Hal, “Your will is strong, but not strong enough. You are nothing without the ring.” Indicating that although willpower powers the ring and is how to wield it, without the ring (the Holy Spirit), he is powerless. When Hal faces Parallax downtown, Parallax attacks him with flaming balls of fire (Ephesians 6:16) and Hal creates a “shield of faith” with his ring to protect himself (also Ephesians 6:16). Parallax starts to talk to him to induce fear in him by citing all the evil he will do to his planet, family, etc. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Hal ignores him and instead recites the Oath (scripture) to focus his will and also a perfect example of taking every thought captive 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Final Battle in Space

In the end, Hal sacrifices himself willingly to rid the universe of Parallax (self-sacrifice) (John 15:13). Parallax is destroyed in the Sun (a figure of Christ perhaps?), and burns up (illusion to the lake of fire) (Revelation 20:10,14). “The Fellowship of the ring”, at the end when Hal sacrifices himself the other Lanterns save him from burning up in the Sun, showing that we can’t walk the path of faith alone (Hebrews 10:24-26). Also along those lines, the leader of the Corps says, “Individually, we are vulnerable. Together, we are unstoppable!” The Corps is a metaphor of church and in the Holy Spirit (the ring of willpower) we are invincible.

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Hook

To listen as podcast click here: https://anchor.fm/aremoviesmore/episodes/Hook-1991-e4no75

Note: it is assumed that you have already viewed the film once you are reading this blog. Just in case that isn’t true, spoiler alert warning!

Lest one should think I only do Marvel movies, I have the following…my very first movie analysis on the 1991 Film Hook. Enjoy!

• First, and most obvious Hook represents the Devil. Before you’re like whoa Katie it’s just a movie, hear me out. Hook decides to seduce the children into loving him and forgetting about their real home (the same that the Devil does to us). This works on Jack who is angry with his Father, Peter. And at one point in the film Peter says to him: “Come on Jack lets go home” and Jack replies, “I am home.” I think this is an important spiritual message to Christians. The Devil (Hook in this case) tries to make us forget that there is a spiritual war going on, that this is not our real home and the real old lie “What has God ever done for you anyways?” (which Hook says in the movie to Jack). By buying into these lies, we concede as Jack did and start to forget truth.
• For as they said in the movie, “Neverland makes you forget” the more you buy into the lie, the less lie-ish it looks…
• Heaven: And when you’re in Neverland you forget the old world, and when you’re in the old world you “grow up” and forget Neverland. Lets say Neverland is sort of like Heaven and the old world sort of like the Earth. See what I’m getting at?
• “Grow up”: could be likened to becoming independent. After Peter “grew up” he becomes a selfish man only concerned with being successful in his job. Peter tells his son Jack to stop acting like a child, and Jack says I am a child! As we know, being independent or more accurately “acting like independents” we separate ourselves from God and lose track of the fact that we are dependent on Him for our every breath!
• My Jack: Hook stages a baseball game in Jack’s honor in which a sign reads: Run Home Jack. Hook quickly corrects them, but Jack remembers his sister and Mom for a split second and then forgets again. After hitting a home-run, Hook says, “That’s my Jack, good job son!” Peter being nearby, says “My Jack”. I think God might do this with us, when the Devil tempts us or seduces us, God always claims us as His Child.
• “My Word is my bond” An interesting phrase that Peter uses with his son and although he cannot come through on his promises, God always does. And also interestingly God’s Word (the Bible) is his bond, he will always do what it says in His Word.
• Use your imagination: Peter couldn’t see the food on the lost boy’s table because you have to use your “imagination”. I likened this to faith. Because Peter was seeing things physically instead of with “faith” he couldn’t see the food. Once he started “believing”, he could see the food.
• Repentance: Yes there is even a scene of repentance in this film. After Hook fatally stabs Rufio, Rufio says to Peter “I wish I had a Dad like you”, upon hearing this, Jack finally renounces (I know its a stretch) his claims on Hook’s lies, he even takes off Hook’s costume (sin??) and says I’m sorry Dad and cries…= repentance.
• The ultimate themes are Family is most important, Good triumphs over evil, Love conquers all, and Believe in yourself/Know who you are. All of which are Biblical themes…except maybe the last one, but some variation of that.

Anyways, so that’s some of my thoughts. I thought I’d share with you.

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