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Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
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In an ironic twist, ‘Hell’ in this movie is idyllic and safe. It's where a group of teenagers find refuge when the world, as they know it, is being destroyed.
Based on the best seller by Australian writer, John Marsden, this movie is an action-packed adventure, with exciting chase scenes and spectacular fiery explosions. It's also a violent war movie with scenes reminiscent of World War Two.
For director Stuart Beattie, who has previously won praise for screenplays such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Collateral, it marks his directorial debut. He says he was keen to adapt the book to film "because it just had it all: a well-known title, great characters and a great story." He plans two more movies based on the Tomorrow series and a TV series is also in the pipeline.
The story follows a group of teenagers who, after spending a week camping in Hell, a remote and beautiful spot in country New South Wales, return home to discover that everything has changed and that they must fight for their survival.
The teenagers are well cast. Experienced actress, Caitlin Stasey, plays the heroine, Ellie Linton, who is intense, no-nonsense and courageous. Deniz Akdeniz is Homer, a Greek larrikin and practical joker who changes for the better as the crisis unfolds. Lincoln Lewis, son of rugby league legend, Wally Lewis, plays the role of Kevin who also redeems himself after initially being branded a coward by the group.
The other interesting character is Robyn, the prim, baby-faced daughter of a minister who tells her parents that she hopes to bring her friends, "closer to God". We see her trying to do this when she prays out loud for God to deliver them from evil. It would have been even better if, in addition to praying for help from immediate danger, we'd seen her pray for God's guidance in their difficult situation. Instead, when discussing their options, the group decides to rely on their instincts to guide them in what to do. As Christians, we know this to be folly since our instincts can reflect our inherent sinfulness and lead us to do wrong in God's eyes.
And, despite Robyn's presence, there are several occasions when the characters use blasphemous language.
In the last scene, Ellie expresses the sentiment of the group, "We'll never give up until this war is finally won". They are emotionally stirring words and should remind us that, as Christians, we need to have the same attitude - to never give up focusing on God and doing His will, despite the roadblocks in life.
Well, that could only be expected to happen if the film's makers were evangelicals like you. As they clearly aren't, it's a no-brainer that they care little for such devotional scruples. Your peeve is pointless.
Of course - they're not Christians, and the story is not an evangelical tract. What do you expect? That they gather in a circle and say "Let's commit that to the Lord in prayer." ?
This explains why molesters, conmen, and other abusers often flourish in church settings. God's sheep are taught to mistrust their instincts, and instead to make petitions to thin air and wait for vague "answers". Surely, instincts are as God-given and redeemable as senses, intellect, and sexuality - no veneer of ex tempore "prayer" necessary.
And, anyway, why is the act of prayer somehow less prone to "inherent sinfulness" than using one's instincts? Public prayer in particular is often a vehicle for manipulative suggestion, self-aggrandisement, and pious exhibitionism.
Oh dear me ... I suppose they should have muzzled themselves, or failing that, implored her pardon immediately post-profanity. Clear and present danger is clearly no excuse for offending pious sensibilities...
You make prayer sound just like posting on blogs, Grant!
Its probably worth asking what his books say about the nature of evil etc.
I understand 'hell' in the novels gains this name because its the hideout of a murderer. This reference has been omitted from the film and so the significance has been lost.
Anyone read the books and can help out?
Also, why are Christians always portrayed in movies as poncy, effeminate and unworldly? There is nothing worse for young Christians' than to see themselves portrayed in movies as goody-two-shoes and as essentially naive or "girly men".
Many "action heroes" of our history have been active Christians.
The curse of Ned Flanders!
Nothing worse? I can think of many things ... If unsympathetic portrayal in a secular movie is the worst they have to contend with, I'd say they've gotten off very lightly indeed, the poor petals.
Not always. They're also often portrayed as sanctimonious, joyless, narrow, uptight, prudish, judgemental, duplicitous, and/or deranged by goggle-eyed zeal.
Popular entertainment thrives on easily recognisable stereotypes, and Christians aren't unique in getting the rough end of that stick. Just ask a Muslim...
I am not sure I have the answer. It just seems the Christian stereotype is unchanging even if it bears no relation to Christians.
Christians have had "image problems" since the get go, Godfrey. Many Romans thought the earliest ones were blood-drinking atheistic misanthropes! By comparison to that, an association with Ned Flanders seems mild indeed, to put it mildly! (What's so bad about Ned anyway? He's alright.)
The "image problem" will always be there in one way or another. According to the Gospels this was fully anticipated by Jesus himself, who said that his followers should rejoice and count themselves blessed when the world slanders them. The reward in heaven is great.
And BTW, I don't think most Christians are like the stereotypes I listed. As for "real flesh-and-blood people, doing their best", well, in that regard Christians are like most everyone else.
Human, all too human.