Movies
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
In recent years, many have eulogized the “death of the narrative” in an age where cinematic focus has shifted from story to CGI-driven action.
It strikes me as a fair charge, given the major movies I’ve seen this summer: both Captain America and Conan the Barbarian utilize narrative to bring the viewer to the point of action, rather than the other way around. (And really… Who goes into a movie like Conan expecting anything less?)
On Monday evening, I was expecting more of the same with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. My expectations for the latest Planets installment ran low, as I expected a similar breed of mindless action that drove the the 2001 remake.
I left the theater pleasantly surprised. Rise avoids the camp of the originals, and it does not lean heavily on action to hold the audience. What action there is, is there for a reason.
Since I run the risk of ruining the movie by commenting further, let me simply end by recommending this movie to all. Even if you despise the Planet of the Apes franchise, give this one a try.
Planet of the Apes: “A”
Captain America: “C+”
Conan the Barbarian: “B”
My Beef With Twilight
Bloggers elsewhere have already said a great deal about Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight series, and why it is so troublesome. You can find a great analysis from David P. Goldman here, which sums up some of the more destructive elements at work in the series.
I’m also concerned about the Twilight series because of what it seems to represent, both from a literary and a cultural perspective. Since Goldman addresses the issue of sex, I’ll table that issue and look at one that really grinds my gears: the depiction of the vampire.
It’s Meyers’ depiction of the vampire that ultimately bothers me the most. Vampires are evil creatures. Most depictions put them in a league with the damned, demons and other residents of the underworld. Once human, they are now Something Else, and it is generally accepted that this Something Else is irredeemable.
What’s most important about the vampire is that they may look human, but their humanity has been destroyed. Some of the most intelligent vampire figures ever crafted are locked in a constant battle with a desire to regain some of their humanity, against the ever-present reality that they can never be what they once were.
Even the “good” vampires are objectively evil figures, insofar as anything can be, when evil is a perversion of the good. This is why vampires like Bill of True Blood and Ann Rice’s creations appeal and captivate. There’s no going back, and the vampire struggles to come to terms with that.
Twilight vampires don’t fit the tradition. At times, they seem more human than the humans. They’re vegetarians. They don’t feed off of human beings. They’re physically beautiful, perfect in every way. They… sparkle.
And personality wise, they remind me of emo kids always wrapped up in the pettiness of teenage problems. Difference is, they occasionally break out of their life-for-us-is-hard whining to battle werewolves and interact with other vampires.
Looking at a Twilight vampire, who wouldn’t want to be one of these guys? They’re not monsters, not objectively evil creatures. They can live forever, and seem to retain the fullness of their humanity. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
It’s an ironic – yet fitting – artistic move for Meyers, who crafts her ultra-human vampire in an age where that which has always been considered morally problematic is now acceptable, even lauded. The vampire no longer serves as a cautionary figure; he no longer stands as an example of the darkest parts of human nature and perversion: the vampire is now something it’s fine to be.
A perfect (though unintentional) commentary on the state of our ailing cultural, political, and moral values.
I leave you with this video, which wraps up everything else wrong with the series:
The Book of Eli
Modern Hollywood did it. They manufactured an intelligent, mainstream movie dealing with Christianity, without it being ham-fisted, trite, campy, demeaning, or relativistic.
That’s all you need to know about The Book of Eli before you see it.
No links in this article, no analysis. Don’t read any reviews, and don’t get into conversations about the movie with your friends or colleagues. Go see it as long as violence doesn’t offend and the kids have a babysitter.
A Film Recommendation: TNT’s Gifted Hands
Just a quick note encouraging all with a little time to catch TNT’s Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. You can read about the real Dr. Carson here.
It’s an excellent story, and two themes really shine: faith and vocation. The film also trumpets the importance of education, to which Dr. Carson has dedicated a lot of personal resources. A good family movie, I hope a lot of kids out there see this and take note of its wholesome message.