"Hollywood Heroes" (Frank Turek and Zach Turek)

TITLE: Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God
AUTHOR: Frank Turek and Zach Turek
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2022, (256 pages).
 

We watch a lot of movies. During a pandemic when most of us are either locked down, working from home, or simply spending more time isolated from the general public, we tend to stay indoors and in our leisure moments, watch even more movies While some of us simply want to be entertained, in the midst of searching for nice movies to watch, there is a little child inside each of us craving for hope. This heart desires to be inspired by heroic acts and heroes who could save the world. Whether fantasy or sci-fi, drama or romance, we all want something good to happen in this world. With the popularity of Marvel movies, characters from Justice League, and memorable personalities from Harry Potter, Lord-Of-The-Rings, etc, these superheroes have captivated our imagination about special powers and unique abilities. These are skills that the common person does not have. Spiderman can swing. Harry Potter casts spells. Batman has his special gadgets and the futuristic Star Wars gives us an out-of-this-world experience. Common to all movies described in this book is the hero who aids mankind with the accomplishment of the greater good, and often to save the world. This hero figure essentially tells us that fictional characters represent hope and inspiration in real life. Throughout these movies, there are many other lessons we could glean from, such as questions about the divine, ethical dilemmas, the reality of evil, the downfall of arrogance, the consequences of personal choices, and the sanctity of life. Authors Frank and Zach Turek assert that these movies actually reveal our desire for God. With an intrinsic sense of good battling evil, these stories speak of salvation, justice, senseless evil, and the eventual culmination of good. These superheroes and gallant protagonists often represent the inner human need for retribution against evil and the victory of the good. Yet, they assert that however heroic or virtuous each of these heroes may be, they are a far cry from the God of the Bible. This book is essentially about how these Hollywood heroes reveal our hearts' desires and how they ought to point us to the Greatest Hero of all: God. 

Movie: American Underdog (Opening Christmas Day 2021)

I watched a preview of the movie "American Underdog" and was wowed by the quality of the acting. Based on the story of Kurt Warner's rise from a rejected football player to become the MVP at the NFL, the film inspires us not to give up on our dreams. The movie begins with statistics. Each year, over a million young boys dream of going to the NFL. Out of this pool, only 10% get a fair shot to be drafted. Out of this 10%, less than 1% is eventually drafted. What was amazing is that Warner was undrafted, and yet able to join the NFL eventually. How is the movie inspiring? Let me summarize it in three ways.

Movie: "The Miracle Season"

TITLE: The Miracle Season
DIRECTOR: Sean McNamara
STARS: Helen Hunt, Erin Moriarty, William Hurt, Danika Yarosh
PRODUCER: LD Entertainment (Released Apr 6th, 2018)

Sports movies remain one of the most powerful ways to inspire people. This latest faith-based movie is no different. What makes it even more powerful and inspirational is that it is based on a true story of what a high school girls' volleyball team had to go through amid a tragedy.  Showing us the emotional highs and lows, viewers would be captivated by the sheer determination to succeed against all odds. Driven by a passionate reminder of a young life who gave her all, it inspired the whole team, the whole school, the whole town, and even the entire state to rise up and cheer. Even though Caroline was no longer with them, their memories of her and the dedication to her cause remain etched in their minds and hearts.

With award winning actress Helen Hunt anchoring the whole cast, not only was she a firm and tough force to glue the shaky volleyball team, her presence provided immense stability to the many younger and less experienced actors in the movie.

The Synopsis:
Iowa's West High School Girls Volleyball team had just won the 2010 State Volleyball Championship. Led by their star player, who was also the captain of the team, Caroline "Line" Found, the entire school had never been so energized as they look to repeat their feat in 2011. No school had ever done that before and West High was set to break that duck. Caroline was full of energy, full of love, and full of pure fun. She was able to lift up the sagging faces of discouragement with her pure joy and laughter. In short, she possesses boundless energies to galvanize anyone who knows her. Until a terrible road accident took her life and the rest of the movie focuses on how the whole family, the entire school, and especially the girls volleyball team led by Caroline's best friend, Kelley, rose from the ashes of discouragement to unimaginable heights. There are many themes we could draw and learn from. Here is a short list.

"The Gospel According to Star Wars" (John C. McDowell)

TITLE: The Gospel according to Star Wars, Second Edition
AUTHOR: John C. McDowell
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017, (224 pages).

The latest Star Wars installment is in theaters everywhere. It has solidified its reputation as a top-selling movie franchise. With its popularity, many are renewing their love for characters such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, as well as the newer characters like Rey and Kylo Ren, and many more. It is amazing how the 70s franchise had lasted till now, where each of the episodes had sold-out crowds on their opening days. Beyond the entertainment aspect, is there a hidden message in the Star Wars saga? Is it more than simply a movie written for kids? How did such a movie franchise grow to be so popular? If there is a secret message, how do we make sense of it without misrepresenting the original storyteller's intentions? For those who say no, they would probably not even bother to pick up this book. For those who say yes, they have to sieve through the many complex interpretations, symbolism, religious undertones, and cultural understanding. For those who are unsure, perhaps, this book would offer not just an alternative look at the SW stories but invites them to consider the religious and spiritual messages hidden within the movies.

"God in the Movies" (Catherine M. Barsotti and Robert K. Johnston)

TITLE: God in the Movies: A Guide for Exploring Four Decades of Film
AUTHOR: Catherine M. Barsotti and Robert K. Johnston
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2017, (304 pages).

The movie industry continues to be a very vibrant one. It is one of the most popular forms of entertainment for people of all ages. In recent years, more movies have been released with the theme of faith. The quality of Christian movies have improved and due to a sizeable chunk of Christians who watch movies, several movie production companies have set up divisions to target these audiences. Truth is, there are already many movies that have the themes of faith and religion. Underlying the stories of many movies is a search for meaning, for significance, and for God. This book seeks to reveal the presence of such themes and how we can learn to watch movies intelligently and with discernment. In one of the most ambitious projects of this kind, authors Catherine Barsotti and Robert Johnston comb four decades of films ('80s, '90s, '00s, '10s) and highlight forty movies to show us that we do see God mentioned both explicitly and implicitly.

What makes this book readable is through popular movies that many people have already seen or heard. Some of the movies like "Chariots of Fire," "The Elephant Man," "American Beauty," "Life of Pi," "Dead Man Walking," "Wall-E," "12 Years a Slave," "Zero Dark Thirty" have either won oscar nominations or received critical appeal for its entertainment and artistic creativity. Reading the synopsis often brings back memories of the first time I watched it. At the same time, I marvel at how much I missed in terms of seeing the themes of faith and God in the movies. This book powerfully equips us with the lens of watching movie intelligently. It is interesting that the hit series STAR WARS are not given much coverage other than a one-line mention. I would have thought that the entire saga has deeply spiritual themes as well. I suppose the authors had two other hidden reasons. First, they want to highlight the relatively lesser known movies. Second, by the time we are halfway through the book, we would have gotten some skills in analyzing the movies ourselves!

"All Saints" Movie Review

TITLE: ALL SAINTS
AUTHOR: Based on a book by John Corbett
PRODUCER: Affirm Films / Providend / Sony Pictures 2017

All Saints Episcopal Church is a historical Church that has became a pale shadow of its heydays with only a dozen aging members left. Like many churches in the West, this Church was about to be shut down for good, her assets sold, and the members given the freedom to move to other churches. Enters a salesman-turned-pastor by the name of Michael Spurlock (played by John Corbett) whose first call is to assist in selling the Church. At his ordination, he was asked to pledge obedience to the church authorities even when he may disagree with the policies or decisions. Everything seemed going to plan according to the powers above until he meets a refugee community. He finds ministering and providing shelter and hope to them a lot more fulfilling than to sell the Church using his knowledge and skills as a salesman. After all, his first calling is to God rather than to fetch the best price for the land. Slowly but surely, the story is about how Michael manages to persuade the church authorities not to sell the Church; how he gathers the congregation to work together as a community; and how he ministers to the refugees looking to build their lives anew in Smyrna, Tennessee. It is a powerful story of hope in the midst of great difficulties. Together with his wife Aimee (played by Cara Buono) and his young son Atticus (played by Myles Moore), he begins the journey of saving the Church through farming. Honestly, the farming is just the cover for something more important: The restoration of hopes and dreams.

Let me share Seven thoughts. [Warning: Spoilers ahead]

"Movies are Prayers" (Joshua P. Larsen)

TITLE: Movies Are Prayers: How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings
AUTHOR: Joshua P. Larsen
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017, (208 pages).

According to the Motion Picture Association of America, global box office revenue for films released in 2016 reached $38.6 billion and $11.4 billion in US/Canada markets. The numbers continue to grow especially with the rising popularity of online streaming mechanisms and more affordable data plans. Movies too are increasingly being used as a platform for self-expression and a general reflection of cultural nuances. Author Josh Larsen believes that movies are actually prayers in disguise. This may seem surprising for some people. After all, aren't prayers something religious that are covered only in Christian films or Church-based activities? How can movies in secular society be considered prayers? The key belief is that underneath the various movies expressions, if we look carefully enough, we can find the deep yearnings of the human heart expressed in various aspects of the movie. By combining film criticism and theological reflection, we get what Larsen calls: "Movies are Prayers."

Without ignoring the profit-making nature of movie making, the hype that surrounds huge stars, and the rotten tomato ratings, Larsen helps us probe inside, dig deep, float up, and reveals how movies contain many different forms of prayers. Taking a leaf from the psalms, prayers are essentially the different expressions of the human longing for a relationship with the divine. No matter how we may try to hide it, prayers are something so natural in us that they will come out of us sooner or later in life. In this book, we learn about how movies are increasingly popular platforms to bare the longings of the human soul. We learn of nine different such longings:

1. Prayers as Praise
2. Prayers of Yearning
3. Prayers of Lament
4. Prayers of Anger
5. Prayers of Confession
6. Prayers of Reconciliation
7. Prayers of Obedience
8. Prayers of Meditation and Contemplation
9. Prayers as Journey

"Watching TV Religiously" (Kutter Callaway)

TITLE: Watching TV Religiously: Television and Theology in Dialogue (Engaging Culture)
AUTHOR: Kutter Callaway with Dean Batali
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016, (278 pages).

It has been said that watching TV is a great way to understand the cultural contexts of our day. Even in an age of online streaming and changing types of media consumption, the ubiquitous TV is still a major channel of audio-visual dissemination of information, news, entertainment, sports, and others. Current affairs inform minds. Science fiction and imagination influence futuristic thoughts. History educate minds. Through story-telling, TV as a medium can be used to communicate a tapestry of human thought and culture. For the Christian, it is wise not to consume these programs uncritically but to develop a thoughtful and theological mode of thinking, even as we watch such programs. How do we watch TV religiously? This question is explored using examples of TV programs both past and present. The three purposes in this book are:

1. To outline a set of analytical tools for critical engagement with TV programs;
2. To supply a process of theological reflection to articulate and perceive the movements of God
3. To develop a theology of television for both celebration and critique.

"The Shack" Movie Review

TITLE: THE SHACK MOVIE
AUTHOR: William P Young
PRODUCER: LionsGate
CAST: The film stars Sam Worthington (Avatar, Wrath of the Titans, Clash of the Titans), Academy Award®-winner Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress, 2012 –The Help; The Divergent Series film franchise), Grammy Award® Winner Tim McGraw (The Blind Side), Radha Mitchell (Olympus Has Fallen), Alice Braga (Queen of the South, Elysium), Aviv Alush (The Gordin Cell) and Graham Greene (Longmire). The screenplay by John Fusco is based on the best-selling faith-based book, “The Shack,” by William Paul Young in collaboration with Wayne Jacobsen and Brad Cummings. Stuart Hazeldine (Exam) directs the film, which is produced by the Oscar-nominated Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side, Marley & Me) and Brad Cummings.

This movie is based on the bestselling book of the same name, written by author William Paul Young. You can read the brief synopsis from the official resource page here. That would help readers who have not read the book to get a gist of the story.

I watched the preview on Wednesday evening, thanks to the gracious invitation of Graf-Martin Communications. Right from the start, we were asked to be prepared to shed tears. A Kleenex box was also provided for those who needed it. We were shown a brief video from one of the show's advocates, followed by a 2 hours and 12 minutes of heart-gripping story telling about God, the struggle of man with the issue of pain and suffering. and many theological matters that the Christian would be familiar with. Some of the themes include:

• Justice and Love
• Pain and Suffering
• The Trinity
• The Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
• Freedom and grace
• Forgiveness
• Family
• Tragedy and Grace
• New creation
• Visions of heaven
• Wisdom 
• Human limitations
• ... and many more

Movie Preview: "Let Hope Rise" - A Hillsong Documentary

TITLE: Let Hope Rise
DIRECTOR: Michael John Warren
PRODUCER: Grace Hill Media, and others
DISTRIBUTOR: Pure Flix

Many of us have heard the songs on radio. A lot of people have also heard their songs belted out on popular reality shows like American Idol or the Voice. Over 50 million people all over the world sing their songs each Sunday. These staggering figures are testimony of how influential and popular the Australian group Hillsong United has become. This music group is an offshoot from Hillsong Church, which started off as a small gathering of less than 100 people. It has since grown to become a megachurch with 30000 people gathering for worship each Sunday. Their global influence continue to rise as the talented musicians write songs for the wider Christian community.

As the music group increases in fame and popularity, critics too. I have heard many criticisms about how closely the singing group resembled a rock band. They blamed the group for introducing the ways of the world into the Church. Some even said that the group is satanic or evil, and have embarked on a campaign to dumb down or fight against them. Whatever their motives, I believe we need to hear both sides of the story before making any appropriate interpretation or conclusion. For those of us who have never been to Australia, Hillsong Church, or any of their concerts, this movie is a good way for us to hear their story. Comprising interviews with individual worship leaders, musicians, writers, band members, and the pastors in charge, we get an insight look at how the whole group worked together, laughed, sang, and traveled together. Instead of the normal glitzy images we watch on TV or in concerts, the movie presents a very human and humble side of what it means to be a traveling band of Christians sharing their love and passion for music and worship.

There are many interviews and clips both on and offstage. Viewers get an inside look at the personal lives of individuals and the impact of the ministry on their own family life. They learn to support one another and see the ministry more as a calling rather than a rock band. While the rest of the world see the glittering images of standing onstage, few would know about the sacrifices and the struggles they all put into the ministry of songwriting, worship leading, and sharing their love for God through music. The pressures are immense. This movie gives an inside look into all of these to dispel armchair critics from judging them merely from an external point of view.

Let me offer some thoughts about the target audience of the movie. First, those who loved all things Hillsong will be enthused about the whole idea of their favourite Christian music group being made into a movie. There is a good chance that they would be buying up tickets and inviting their friends to go see the movie. This group does not need to be convinced to go watch this movie. In fact, they will probably be the ones who would urge others to go.

The second group are the critics. Success can sometimes be cruel. The more popular a group becomes, the more the critics. Indeed, some of the harshest words come from fellow Christians themselves targeting the Hillsong group for all kinds of things. Whenever the word "Hillsong" pops up, they would link it to some worldly rock stars and pop scenes. It will be hard to sway such people from changing their view. Perhaps, this film can give them an opportunity to see things from a different perspective. For this group, before you judge, watch this movie.

The third group would be the people who just wanted to know more about the stories behind the songs they sing so often. This movie has lots of clips on some of the most popular songs we sing. Some examples include "Oceans," "Relentless," "This I Believe," "Hosanna," "Break Free," Mighty to Save," "Broken Vessels," "No Other Name," "Aftermath," "Touch the Sky," "With Everything," "Empires," and others.

The most powerful part of the video for me was the singing of "Mighty to Save" which interlaces singing groups from all over the world singing a part of the song in each video frame. For me, one of the biggest reasons to see this film is to learn more about the background, the story, and the people behind the songs. In seeing how passionate they are for God, for people, and for the music they love, it is most gratifying. Repeatedly, the participants had stated that it was not about them but more about God. This is most powerful.

There are moments in which I feel the most appropriate response is worship. May this movie move people to worship both during and after the movie. I've watched it once and would watch it again.

This movie releases in Canada for 1-day on October 3rd across selected theatres across the country.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This film preview was provided to me courtesy of Pure Flix and Graf-Martin Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Hollywood Jesus" (Matt Rawle)

TITLE: Hollywood Jesus: A Small Group Study Connecting Christ and Culture (The Pop in Culture Series)
AUTHOR: Matt Rawle
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2015, (128 pages).

How is pop culture influencing the world? Are Christians able to counter this pervasive reach of Hollywood with the gospel? If all things were made through Christ, and Christians called to reach the world for Christ, why does it seem that more people know about Hollywood stars than the person of Jesus Christ? How do we reach a people who have been so thoroughly indoctrinated with Hollywood philosophy that oozes worldliness? According to author Matt Rawle, we are not called to reject the pop culture around us. Instead, we need to "re-narrate" them. Just like Jesus who did not reject the cross but endured the shame and transformed something very bad into something so powerful. The purpose of this four-session small group study is to learn to engage the culture around us by opening our eyes to the "spiritual truths" flowing through many different channels of communications today. Key to the whole book is the question: "How are we portraying Jesus to those in our circles of influence?"

One common theme throughout pop culture is the story it tells. Many Hollywood movies depend on good stories that moved from books to screens. In fact, Rawle asserts that the story of Jesus Christ has been portrayed from explicitly Christian titles like "Jesus of Nazareth," "The Gospel of John," "The Passion of the Christ," "Jesus Christ Superstar," to other less obvious titles like "Tommy," "The Matrix," "Ratatouille," "Man of Steel," and even "Star Wars." The sessions are entitled as follows:

"The Stories We Tell" (Mike Cosper)

TITLE: The Stories We Tell: How TV and Movies Long for and Echo the Truth (Cultural Renewal)
AUTHOR: Mike Cosper
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2014, (240 pages).

In an age of multimedia entertainment, TV and movies have become mainstream in the shaping of culture. Many are watching more TV than before, with more watching online via the Internet. Watching a movie is one way for people to relax after a long day's work. With video streaming, access to movies has risen sharply. Not only are TV and movies attractive, people are also increasingly addicted to them. What can we learn from movies? How do we go about discerning the narrative it projects? What kind of stories are they telling? How are they shaping the culture we live in? Are they just telling a story or is there a deeper implication behind the story? These questions and many more are probed through the lens of Mike Cosper to help us understand popular culture. Cosper is Pastor of Worship and Arts at Sojourn Community Church in Louisvilled, Kentucky. He vividly remembers how his family first had a 48-inch rear projection TV and a satellite dish. Raised on Hitchcock, Twilight Zone, progressing to Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, Cosper knows what it means to be a TV junkie and how such programming can get inside one's head. So much so that the stories we watch can influence and change us in a way that we least expect. He gives some insights that are worth noticing.

• TV can shape us in a way that we can be unaware of
• Storytelling don't aim at our heads or hearts. They aim at our imaginations
• Stories do not just report the facts. They reside in our heads long after the movie is over.
• Rationality is weak against the power of images and stories.
• Even shallow movies can connect with our emotional core even when we brush it aside as slapstick
• ...

Movie Review: "Heaven is For Real"

PRESENTED BY: Sony Pictures
DIRECTOR: Randall Wallace
PRODUCER: Joe Roth, T.D. Jakes
SCREENPLAY: Randall Wallace, Christopher Parker
CAST: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum, Margo Martindale, and Thomas Haden Church

Today is the official release of the movie, "Heaven is for Real." Based on the book by Todd Burpo, it is a story of earthly faith with heavenly hope about the Burpo family, whose lives have been changed by one miraculous experience of a three year old boy, Colton Burpo. Now made into a movie, the story comes alive with superb acting and quality footage.


Watch the trailer here.





You can read my full review here.


conrade

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Film: "CAMP"

TITLE: Camp
DIRECTOR: Jacob Roebuck
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Word Entertainment, 2013.

[Release Date: August 27, 2013] [Movie website link]

What can one week away at camp do for foster kids or for children who suffer from parental neglect or abuse? How can anyone help kids who have been hurt to embark on a path of recovery and healing? Send the kids to a week long Summer camp! Based on the filmmaker's personal camp experience at a Royal Family Kids Camp years ago, this film brings together various stories and shows how relationships formed at camp can change lives. For the better.

The film begins with shocking scenes of child abuse, neglect, and violence. Eli grows up in a family devoid of love and care. The mother lives in a world of her own, often choosing to drown herself in narcotics and take out her frustrations on young Eli. The father is not any better. One scene shows how he angrily hits Eli upon suspecting that Eli had not told him the truth about the money in a tin can. Eventually, the mother overdosed on heroin, and the dad got arrested and put behind bars. Hurt, confused, and angry, Eli was at a loss at what to do. At a tender age of 10, Eli gets fostered out to a children's home in Locustwood. The film moves quickly to smooth out Eli's entry to a camp experience. The story then sets the stage for various confrontations between reluctant participant, Eli, and an inexperienced new counselor, Ken. Just when the relationship reaches a breaking point, thankfully, things start to turn for the better. When Ken learns of Eli's broken past, he begins to appreciate Eli and the reasons for his behaviour. Samuel shares his expertise in handling rebellious teens, skillfully infusing enthusiasm into those who appear lethargic and uninterested. Tammie plays her role brilliantly as an encourager as well as an inspiring leader.

Gradually, the different characters of the film are added, each with a personal story to tell. There is Tammie the camp director, and also related to a rich lady tycoon. There are several encouraging camp counselors like Samuel, the ex-military man whose own life was changed as a result of a camp he had attended as a kid. Then there is Ken, a cell-phone hogging investment professional who became camp counselor in order to impress one of his rich clients.

So What?

The movie has many points of hope and grace. It tells of how God works out right through people, in spite of wrong motives.  There is Ken, the shrewd financial guy who drives a Porsche and lives a successful career, forcing his way into the camp just to look good before a rich client of his. This wrong motive turns out for the better, as he becomes not just a close friend of Eli, but a trusted man that Eli's father eventually asked to be custodian of Eli. Ken then breaks one of the camp's rules by bringing and using a cell phone in the camp premises. Eli manages to make a call to his dad who then intruded and created a nuisance at the campsite. All things turned out for the good as Ken becomes more aware of Eli's terrible family past. Viewers understand the importance of camp rules and the need to strictly enforce the rules. Toward the end of the movie, as the credit rolls on, there is a not to be missed, touching series of interviews of real life camp counselors, workers, and camp organizers making the point that camp is a powerful opportunity to change lives.

The film also reminds me how important the core family is to children. While we can build the best foster homes, the most conducive campsites, the best professional children's workers, or the most comprehensive facilities to house troubled kids, there is no substitute for a family that is loving and caring. There is no justification for child abuse or neglect. Much attention has been given for foster care and the care of children. What about the parents and the supporting network in the first place?

The film itself has a powerful story of how hurts can be turned to hopes, and how the most troubled kids can turn out for good. Unfortunately, there are parts of the movie that seem to be either out of place or under-developed. For example, the opportunities for romantic encounters between Ken and Tammie are many, but the love plots appear under-developed. Attention could also have been given to bring out the lives of the other camp counselors and their motivations to serve at camp. That said, the overall quality of film is above average. More importantly, if there is one message the film is sending that viewers need to take home with, it is this: There is always hope. If God can help the lowest of the low, and the poorest of the poor, surely he can do the same for the rest of us?

Links of Interest

• Official CAMP Film website
• Royal Family Kids Inc
• Help Foster Kids Now!
• Purchase the DVD here.

conrade

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This DVD is provided to me free by Word Films without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"From Twilight to Breaking Dawn" (Sandra L. Gravett)

TITLE: From Twilight to Breaking Dawn: Religious Themes in the Twilight Saga
AUTHOR: Sandra L. Gravett
PUBLISHER: St Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2010, (112 pages).

This book interprets Stephanie Meyer's popular book and movie series from the angle of religious themes. Amid the hype, the smashing of box office records, and the astronomical sales of books and merchandise linked to the hit Twilight saga, the author highlights the themes with respect to Stephanie Meyer's Mormon background, how it has been overtly infused into the stories, and significant themes that make the whole series so captivating, and also thought provoking. This book begins with the basics, briefly describing what the movie is about, the main characters, the key themes, and provides simple storyline for readers unfamiliar with Meyer's saga. It also appeals to fans as it provides glimpses of the delightful plots.

Three key characters are studied. Firstly, the character of Edward has been described as a "Christ figure," with lots of positive association of goodness, life-giving blood, spiritual presence, transfiguration, and many good attributes that the Bible has spoken about overcoming temptation, life and death, sacrifice, love, and many more. Secondly, the character of Bella, which helms the entire saga with her being the sole narrator. She represents the Eve figure, innocent and weak, falling to temptation, being a temptress, lover to Edward, often displaying a parallel to Mary in the Bible. Thirdly, Carlisle as leader of the Cullen family, symbolizes a spiritually authoritative figure, chief guide, procreation figure, fatherly position, and a uniting patriarch. After dealing with the three key figures, Gravett moves toward the theme of "Determinism and Moral Choices," with themes of good vs evil, the choices we make, the shifting from mortal to immortal worlds, and Mormon perspectives on morality. Mormon theology on salvation is different from Christian theology. For example, Satan seeks human salvation for Satan's sake, rather than humanity's sake. In that aspect, as Meyer fuses in this into the story, it adds in complexity in spiritual themes as the different Mormon, Christian, and moral themes are intermixed. At some point, it is difficult to tell the themes apart, which makes any interpretation rather challenging.

There is also a chapter on Renesmee, the daughter of Bella and Edward, and Gravett carefully compares the pregnancy of Bella with the Bible story of Mary and Jesus. This straightaway evokes questions about theological significance, with references to some biblical and some heretical teachings about the nature of Christ. The final chapter compares the conclusion of the saga with the Kingdom of God.

My Thoughts

The author, Gravett tries very hard to view the Twilight saga from a biblical angle. I feel that she has overplayed the biblical significance. In fact, it can very well be a misinterpretation of Meyer's intent. While the book and the religious themes represent Gravett's ideas, I think Meyer's books are more Mormon than Christian. It would have been more beneficial to approach this book by using three lenses. Firstly, from the lens of the ordinary book reader or movier goer to connect viewers to the story. This is the general perspective for people who love stories. Secondly, it can be approached from Stephanie Meyer's Mormon outlook, to connect Meyer's Mormonism with direct instances of the saga. I say this because Meyer's version of Mormonism is quite different from the mainstream. This will give a better angle instead of speculating what the stories mean. Thirdly, we can compare and contrast the Mormon themes with Christian themes, instead of risking the application of biblical themes out of context of both story and Bible. In doing so, this book can do both Meyer and the Bible, and Gravett herself a disfavour by quoting both of them out of context.

This book pales in comparison with Elaine Heath's "The Gospel According to Twilight."  The intentions are good but the mechanism is flawed.

Rating: 3 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Chalice Press and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.