WHY WE NEED FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT!

Henry: You take Spider-Man’s pictures, right?

Peter: I used to.

Henry: Where is he?

Aunt May: Henry and I agree. We don’t see his picture in the paper anymore.

Peter: He…uh…quit.

Henry: Why?

Peter: Wanted to try other things.

Henry: He’ll be back, right?

Peter: I don’t know.

Aunt May: You’ll never guess who he wants to be: Spider-Man.

Peter: Why?

Aunt May: He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero—courageous, self-sacrificing people setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them…cheer them…scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us…that keeps us honest…gives us strength…makes us noble…and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams. Spider-Man did that for Henry and he wonders where he’s gone. He needs him.

Today I want to talk about the importance of film and entertainment and why it’s not just something that should be seen as a way to pass the time, but rather something we all need!! 

Now I know that as a film nerd who quotes movies and TV shows in literally every single blog I write, (and will continue to do so) I definitely have a bias about film. I love movies. I’ve loved them ever since I was a kid and my love for the art form has grown even more as I have gotten older, and I know that not everyone loves them the same way I do. But one thing I will say is I think everyone needs access to great stories in their life. 

Growing up as a Christian kid we were always told that movies, TV shows, music, and other forms of entertainment were idols! Stuff that isn’t always good for us, and we need to be mindful of the media we choose to consume. 

The thing that always bothered me as a kid and even more now as an adult who works as a professional filmmaker for a living, is we would always talk about the negative side of entertainment and how the wrong movies can mess you up, and while I one hundred percent agree with that, I don’t understand why we don’t talk about the movies and TV shows that can have the opposite effect on us. Like the movies that not only make us feel good but inspire us, that remind us of God’s kingdom!! 

I often get asked why I love cinema so much!! Why do I own over 300-400 plus DVD, Blu Ray, and 4K movies? Why do I have dozens of posters of some of my all time favorites in my apartment?  Because it reminds me of God’s kingdom and what I am fighting for!! When I watch movies, I’m not just wanting to be entertained, I want to be inspired. I need to see Good overcome evil, it’s a story that never gets old. And I’m talking about all different genres of movies here! 

My belief is that Cinema is a celebration of God’s greatness! When a story is told correctly and follows the fundamental elements of what makes a great film, it’s already glorifying God whether the filmmaker intended it or not! I analyze movies for a living and everytime I find a deeper meaning it always ties back to God! I see so many Christian filmmakers obsessed with making sure a gospel message is in their film and forgetting the basics of filmmaking, But if they just focus on making a great film it will already glorify God. 

I could give you thousands of examples of how God shows up in movies, and if you’ve read my other blogs you’ve already seen some examples. But movies are not an idol to me! FAR FROM IT! They are stories that remind me of God! I have movies and shows I try to see once, sometimes twice every single year because I need that reminder!

I need to see Aragorn return to Gondor and be crowned King.

I need to see Sam carry Frodo up mount doom and show me what it means to carry one another’s burdens and tell me that there is good in this world and it’s worth fighting for! 

I need to see Simba return to defeat Scar and walk up Pride Rock to take his rightful place as King. 

I need to see Avatar Aang and Prince Zuko put aside their differences because the evil they face is greater. 

I need to see Prince Zuko reunite with his uncle and receive forgivness. Reminding me of the story of the prodigal son. 

I need to see Avatar Korra bend the poison out of her body

I need to see Neo free his mind and stop all the bullets shot at him! Reminding me that there is no limit to what God can do through us. 

I need to see Morpheus help Neo discover the truth about what’s really going on in the world. Reminding me that The truth will always set you free. 

I need to see Darth Vader Redeem himself and sacrifice his life for his son, proving that redemption is difficult, but not impossible. 

I need to see Luke remind his sister Leia that she has the force, and in time she will learn to use it as he does. 

I need to see Harry Potter and his friends create Dumbledore’s army, and fight against Voldemort and his death eaters. Reminding me what True Fellowship looks like!

I need to see Lily Potter give her life for her only son to provide the ultimate protection from Voldemort.

I need to see Merlin be the most powerful sorcerer in the world, but yet choose to be a serving boy to King Arthur. 

I need to see Spider-Man learn that with Great power comes great responsibility.

I need to see Ethan Hunt do the impossible.

I need to see Captain America face down Thanos’s army all alone refusing to give up. 

I need to see Peter Pan remember who he is.

I need to see everyone in Storybrooke go to Granny’s diner and share a meal together after the final battle.

I need to see Prince Caspian humble himself before Aslan

I need to see Commander Spock choose to sacrifice himself for the entire enterprise, because the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. 

I need to see Robot put protection over Will Robinson’s Heart! Because he knew the enemy would attack there first!

I need to see Rudy go to absurd lengths to live out his dream of playing football for Notre dame. 

I need to see Andy remind Red that hope is a beautiful thing, the best of things, and NO GOOD THING EVER DIES!

I need to see Desmond Doss go onto a battlefield unarmed to save as many soldiers as he possibly can and each time looking up to God and praying that he helps him get one more!

I need to see Coach Boone take his Team to the battle of Gettysburg, and show them that race doesn’t matter and that they have an opportunity to show everyone that!

And I need to see Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber reenact Bible stories and remind me that God made me special and he loves me very much!

Stories are more than just entertainment, they are a reflection of life! Why else would Jesus use stories to teach and get his points across!

Matthew 13: 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them.

Steve Jobs once said that the most powerful person in the world is the storyteller and I couldn’t agree more, the impact that stories can have for the kingdom of God is incredible. It’s why I became a filmmaker, to tell stories that show everyone the truth!

To end this blog I will let Samwise Gamgee explain the importance of stories, in a far more compelling way than I ever could. 

Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. 

Frodo: what are we holding onto Sam?

Sam: That there is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” 

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