Category: Movie Review

I’ve finally watched Avatar. Let me explain just how popular this movie is before I get into the review. I was originally planning to watch it Monday evening with a buddy of mine. I arrived at Mall of Asia before 5 to discover that tickets were sold out for both the five o’clock and eight o’clock shows (the only available showing was 11:00). This kind of surprised me, especially considering the tickets (Imax) cost twice that of regular movies. The evening plans were kind of ruined, but I went ahead and bought tickets for Saturday (five days ahead).

So, what did I think?

Avatar was a truly awesome visual experience—I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The movie brings viewers into a brilliant world of colorful creatures and landscapes, not to mention some very satisfying action sequences. I don’t regret forking over the money to watch the Imax version.

Having said this, I need to challenge some of Avatar’s ideological and spiritual pretenses.

First, there’s the not-so-subtle political message: capitalism is inherently evil and oppressive. The world would be better of if we’d all just trade in our iPods for spears, move into mud huts, and become one with nature. Needless to say, I can’t agree with any of these presuppositions.

But I want to spend more time on Avatar’s spiritual message. I want to help you, my reader, discern truth from error in what you watch. The movie’s alien race worships a female deity called Eywa, the “All Mother” who is the collective energy of all living things. This is known as pantheism, and it is not a Christian idea.

Pantheism is nothing new. Since the beginning of time, people have mistakenly assumed that creation and Creator are one in the same (which led to worship of the sun, rivers, etc). We take Genesis 1:1 for granted, but it was completely radical for its time—One God who created everything, yet exists independently of His creation.

The Bible teaches that God created everything; pantheism teaches that God is everything.

I’ll give you another illustration that may help. A pantheist would argue that I am to God as a drop of water is to the ocean. Wrong—if this were true, then God would not be holy—He would be reduced to the sum of creation.

Here’s an illustration that more accurately reflects the nature of my relationship to God: I am to God as a statue is to a sculptor. I am part of God’s creation, so I reflect His character. But God is still God, regardless of whether or not I ever existed—He exists completely independently of me and everything else He has chosen to create.

You’ll see this time and again in movies: pantheism has been called “Hollywood’s religion of choice” for this generation. “The Force” of Star Wars, for example, is the same idea: an impersonal force that flows through everything in the universe.

Here’s my conclusion: Avatar was very entertaining, but not the least bit enlightening.

OK, so your first boyfriend had fangs, then your second boyfriend has . . . fur?  This has the most bizarre love triangle ever.

Edward Cullen is 109 years old and can quote Shakespeare verbatim . . . but he hasn’t managed to graduate high school.

Shall I go on?

Needless to say, I didn’t enjoy this movie at all.

Why did I even bother watching New Moon?  Because I knew the vast majority of my students did (especially the girls).  I decided I could endure two hours of misery to keep in touch with my students.

I also watched it in order to address it from a Christian/pastoral perspective.

Please keep something in mind: I’m not saying New Moon is “bad.”   It’s fine with me if you enjoyed watching it.  You can go watch it twice if you want, though I think there are better uses of your money. 

What I want to do is make sure we are critically thinking about some of the movie’s major events and themes.  Here are three “talking points” I’d like to share with you–things I would point out to a young, impressionable mind:

*Boys in the Bedroom

Isabella (the main female character) always ends up having boys visit her bedroom.  Fortunately, there are no sex scenes–Jacob and Edward are perfect gentlemen.  But this is an unrealistic depiction of what happens in such tempting situations (see also: Hotel Rooms and Hand Grenades).

*I’d Rather Die than Live Without You

Edward’s departure puts Isabella into a deep depression–she basically gives up on life.  Edward attempts suicide because he believes Isabella has died.  This, of course, ads to the whole Romeo and Juliet aspect of the story.  This is fine for the movies, but not real life–we are supposed to build our lives on Jesus, not a romantic relationship (see also: Dumped–Overcoming a Breakup).

*Bad Boys

Jacob and Edward are both dangerous, albeit for different reasons–the whole “bad boy” thing.  Edward has overcome his own urge to drink blood, but unwittingly exposes Isabella to those who would harm her.  Jacob’s werewolf temper is the problem–his “pack leader” even attacked is own wife in a moment of beastly rage.  All this ads dramatic effect and tension to the movie.  But bad boys are usually just bad news in real life (see also:  Three Stupid Words Women Say and The Two Types of Men).

I hope this humble post will help those of you who work with youth–movies like this are an opportunity to help them think critically.