The first few weeks of any new year are peppered with top-ten lists. Critics re-hash last year's reviews and place them in a hierarchy, kind of like their own personal awards show. At MovieMinistry we do things differently. Instead of looking behind, I prefer to look ahead at films that might represent interesting ministry opportunities for those people who use film for outreach, or to create teachable moments.
Keep in mind that I have yet to see any of these films. The speculations built into this preview are based solely on articles that have appeared about these films, their trailers, and plot synopses. Sometimes we get it wrong. Last year I predicted that Beowulf might offer opportunities for discussion based on my reading of Seamus Heaney's brilliant translation of the epic Anglo-Saxon tale combined with my hope that Robert Zemeckis would again lean toward the spiritual as he did with The Polar Express. My "faith" was unfounded, as anyone who saw this laughable film (complete with a ludicrous "Austin Powers-inspired" fight scene) will attest. And let's not even talk about The Reaping. But most of the films identified as having spiritual or moral ideas worth discussing, in fact, did. Keep in mind, also, that release dates are always subject to change by the studios, and many of these films are yet to be rated.
VeggieTales Presents The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything — January 11
VeggieTales has always been one of those rare commodities. C.S. Lewis noted that the way to tell if a children's story was good was to see if you liked it as an adult. VeggieTales fills the bill. In the middle of the chaotic fun of their films there are always enough clever humor and musical numbers to keep adults interested. And while there is always a message in their films, it rarely seems pushy.
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything is based on one of VeggieTales' "Silly Songs," about a bunch of vegetable pirates who — you guessed it — don't do anything. Except in this film, they do. Transported into the past, the pirates are tasked with a daring rescue. Along the way, they will learn what it takes to be a hero. In our culture, where celebrity is often achieved despite a lack of accomplishment, this film could not possibly come too soon.
Penelope — February 29
A young girl, born an aristocrat, is plagued by a family curse — she has the nose of a pig. The only way that she can break the spell is by finding true love with someone who can accept her as she is. Sounding a bit like a gender-reversal of Beauty and the Beast, except in this version it is the beast that breaks free from the castle to seek out her fortune. Along the way, expect that this film — aimed squarely at the tweener and teen girl markets — will tackle the negative body-image issues that cloud the thinking of many people in western culture. As fashion runways continue to feature size 0 models, young people can never hear, too often, that true and lasting beauty lies within.
Horton Hears a Who! — March 14
The last Dr. Seuss book-to-movie adaptation starring Jim Carrey and a bunch of Whos turned a much-beloved book and animated television film into a disturbing social commentary about Grinch-victimhood and greedy, promiscuous little people. That it is brought to the screen by the same production company that made Robots and the Ice Age films, however, does give me some hope. The story of Horton, the big-eared, big-hearted elephant who saves an entire planet of tiny people is a short book. A lot will have to be scripted in. Just the peril faced by the Whos might get the movie a PG rating. But parents wishing to discuss the meaning of personhood will have ample opportunity, because there is no way this film can be made without the proclamation that "A person's a person, no matter how small." This film could serve as a gentle introduction to the idea that people, no matter what size, even those tiny people inside their mothers' wombs, are valuable and worth protecting.
Inkheart — March 21
Based on the bestselling children's book by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is the story of Meggie, a twelve-year-old girl whose father, Mortimer — a bookbinder by trade — has a mysterious secret power. When Mortimer reads aloud, he brings the story to life — literally. Objects, and even people, are translated out of books and into the real world, and not all of them are good. In fact, some of Mortimer's characters are stalking him and his family.
Inkheart should open up opportunities to talk about what J.R.R. Tolkien called "subcreation": the idea that we create as we are made in the image of the Creator. Present in the book is also the idea that the kind of life we can lead depends upon the stories we believe. And it is never too late to change the story.
Iron Man — May 2
The summer movie season will likely kick off with the screen adaptation of the long-lived Marvel comic book Iron Man. Tony Stark is a cocky, wealthy inventor of weapons systems who is captured by the enemy and forced to use his talents to equip the opposition. Initially rocked by the abduction, the experience forces Stark to reconsider why he is still alive. Instead of fulfilling his captor's desire, Stark fashions a personal weapons system of his own, a flying iron suit, with which he makes his escape. The trailers emphasize the action adventure aspect of the film, but it also appears as if the movie will have a strong good vs. evil plotline as well as moments of introspection where we will, along with the character, get a chance to ask ourselves, "Why am I here?"
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian — May 16
This is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer season (which seems to start earlier each year). If the trailers are any indication, Disney and Walden Media have stepped it up considerably and are poised to deliver a film that actually looks more rousing than the book. The Pevensie children are once again pulled into Narnia, but although only one year has passed in their world, centuries have come and gone in Narnia. Their exploits against the White Witch and their subsequent reign during the Golden Age of Narnia have now become the stuff of legends, and an evil usurper sits on the throne. If the film is true to the book, expect to talk about ideas such as: that truth remains the truth no matter how old it is; that sometimes people, and whole cultures, fall away from the truth; that we have a responsibility before God to follow Him, even if we have to go it alone; and that sometimes we have to be brave, and dare the impossible, in service to what is right and just. Prince Caspian should be the top film on your viewing calendar for the coming year.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull — May 23
Looking back on the Indiana Jones franchise, one concludes that two out of three isn't bad. The Temple of Doom was a disaster, but Raiders and The Last Crusade were both rollicking adventures and thought-provoking films. Rumors abound but revealing details about this film are non-existent beyond cast information; however, Spielberg is at the helm and he knows how to tell a story. This film has to spell the end of Harrison Ford's embodiment of the Indiana Jones character, so I am anticipating that along with the swashbuckling we have come to expect, that there will also be plenty of material for discussions about aging, death and dying, and whatever supernatural subplots that Spielberg is sure to weave in.
The Incredible Hulk — June 13
After a lackluster screen adaptation by Ang Lee in 2003, this time bets are on action-master Louis Leterrier to deliver the big green goods. Geneticist Bruce Banner has managed to survive despite being exposed to massive amounts of gamma radiation. But surviving does not mean that he is unchanged. The accident has unleashed the monster within, and when Banner gets mad, things change. This episode in the Hulk mythology has Banner desperately seeking a cure, while an enemy government is creating a super-Hulk of its own. The Incredible Hulk will likely allow for discussions of the dual nature inside everyone, and of the discipline required to tame the evil within.
WALL-E — June 27
What makes Pixar such a formidable studio is its concentration on story, story, story. Sure, they deliver eye-popping animation — but so do a lot of studios. It is the depth of their storylines that has provided Pixar's fans with an unbroken series of hits for twelve years. WALL-E will continue that tradition.
WALL-E is a robotic trash compactor left on earth to continue his mission long after the humans have left. Busy, but lonely, his "life" is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of EVE, a search robot sent to the earth to see if it is safe for humans to return. But when EVE blasts off to deliver her message, WALL-E manages to hitch a ride off the rock. It is not often that studios can make entertaining animated films that can help parents address questions about the importance of our stewardship role on this planet, as well as the meaning of life, with their kids — but as Pixar demonstrates year after year, they can.
Hancock — July 2
Superhero films are always filled with spiritual content. The transcendent nature of super-powers and the conflicts that they reveal provide potent conversation starters. Hancock looks like a different kind of superhero film. Hancock is far from the self-effacing superheroes we are used to seeing. Though imbued with super-strength, the ability to fly, and who knows what else, Hancock is having a public image meltdown. His efforts to save people are disasters. He needs a new image. So he hires a public relations consultant to help him out. Outside of the usual ground expected in superhero films, Hancock seems like a film that will explore the idea that it is our character, not our abilities, that truly defines us.
The Dark Knight — July 18
Christopher Nolan resuscitated the Batman franchise in 2005 with Batman Begins. Christian Bale's performance as the Caped Crusader vanquished the memory of the campier versions served up as the series wound down in the 1990s, when director Joel Schumacher and George Clooney essentially killed it. Nolan brought Batman back to his roots as the Dark Knight, a superhero without any super-powers other than his keen intellect and his unconquerable will. The plot line of The Dark Knight is closely guarded, but what we do know is that Batman will face off against his nemesis, The Joker. Avoiding the near comical performance of Jack Nicholson in the first film, Heath Ledger takes on the role, and it looks like an edgy performance. Expect to talk about perseverance; the need to make unpopular, but necessary, choices; the essence of evil; and the dual nature of humanity.
X-Files Sequel — July 25
There is virtually no information available about this film release — it is probably an alien conspiracy. From a spiritual perspective, however, how far wrong can you go when you get to start with the tag line: "The truth is out there…" Indeed.
Valkyrie — October 3
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a member of a group of high-ranking Nazi officers who hatch a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler in order to end the war. Based on actual events, this film could lead to discussions on the limits of action in the pursuit of doing good. If parents are taking teens to this film, it might represent an outstanding opportunity to introduce them to the biography and writings of Christian pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who (though not mentioned as a character in the credits so far) was actually a participant in a similar plot. Bonhoeffer was arrested in 1943 and executed in 1945.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince — November 21
The biggest film of the Christmas season will certainly be the latest installment in the Harry Potter series. Christians remain divided about the propriety of seeing Potter films. For those interested in a round-up of opinion, they can go to the articles archive at MovieMinistry to read a careful examination of both sides of the argument from Dr. Todd Lewis, chair of the communication department at Biola University in his article "The Holy Harry Potter Wars." The continuing story turns darker as the forces of evil, represented by Lord Voldemort, come out of hiding and begin wreaking havoc out in the open. Harry and his friends band together in opposition. This film is likely to spark discussions about appearances and whether we can trust them, loyalty, and acting in obedience even when you do not understand the reasons.
Star Trek XI — December 25
Leonard Nimoy will return as Spock, but William Shatner will not return as Captain (or is it Admiral?) Kirk. Rumor has it that time travel is a key component of this plot with Spock (Nimoy) returning to warn himself (played by Heroes bad guy Zachary Quinto) about an impending invasion that could change the course of history. The action takes place as the main characters of the original Star Trek series are still enrolled at Star Fleet Academy (the "younger version" casting is spot on). Over the years, Star Trek has proved itself to be a spiritually provocative series. I can still remember, in a Star Trek classic episode, hearing Uhura announcing that what appeared to the crew to be a primitive tribe of "sun" worshipers was actually worshipping the "Son of God." Let's hope for the best.
Surely other films will land on the schedule this year that are not included in this list, but even a token glance at this compilation of films shows that 2008 is shaping up to be a good year to use film as a way to reach out to others. More people are likely to unreflectively agree to go to a movie with you than to accompany you to church. More people are likely to talk about spiritual things after a film than after a sermon. If we are well-prepared to use instances of popular culture to build bridges for the gospel and to talk about the moral and ethical challenges that face us, then we can meet the biblical requirement to bring salt and light into our culture, and to be ready to have an answer for anyone who asks.
