Movies | All is Well

I’m not much of a TV watcher, and never have been. Occasionally I’ll get wrapped up in a show though. ER was my go-to choice for many years. Currently The Walking Dead and Parenthood are two of my favorites, along with watching the current Superhero conglomerate of shows with my youngest boy (Gotham, Arrow, The Flash).

But, even if I’m not huge into TV and for the most part it is turned “Off” at our house, I am not unaware of it and it’s impact on society. I’ll occasionally catch episodes of a mindless show, or delve back into The Twilight Zone or NCIS. I’ll read news articles about different movies and shows (I’m much more apt to go see a movie than watch a TV show). I can’t escape its influence.

Mike Cosper has written and engaging and thought-provoking book examining the ultimate story or thread that is woven through the stories we see on TV and the big screen. He invites his readers to explore aspects of the fall, sin, violence, the desire and need for heroes, and our ultimate longings in the stories we tell.

Cosper is no elitist or snob. He samples genres that fall on a wide spectrum: Horror, Drama, Love Stories, classic and modern, comedy, shallow and deep. He doesn’t recommend the stories he refers to–he simply points out underlying currents that we would be wise to take into account and learn from.

The writing is forthright and fairly insightful. There were a couple of times I thought “Well, huh. I never thought of it that way before”….which is always a good thing. Did I learn anything mind-shattering? No, but it has made me a bit more thoughtful as I’ve engaged in the handful of shows that I watch. His words on social media were also very good.

I’ve sent a copy of the book to a young aspiring film-maker that I know who has tremendous dreams and aspirations. Cosper addresses filmmakers specifically in his epilogue, and his words seem to be very solid.

I received a review copy of this book from Crossway Publishers.

I just found out that Roger Ebert, famed film critic, has died today at age 70. You can read more information about this news at the NPR site.

Ebert had long battled different forms of cancer. He had lost his ability to talk as a result of the cancer.

I remember Ebert most for his TV show reviewing movies with his colleague Gene Siskel. I remember I was always fascinated when they disagreed over a movie. They would get very, very passionate about their opinions surrounding a movie, especially when they disagreed. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like to see them arguing.

Passionate is definitely the word I would use to describe Roger Ebert. The man averaged viewing and reviewing 200 movies a year. 200 movies! And then writing about them. And he loved it! He loved to see a good movie. He was disgusted to see a bad or “dumb” movie. And he addressed his opinions eloquently and thoroughly.

I love a good movie, but I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about them. There are certain movies that I feel have to be seen on the big screen. One of those movies coming out soon is Star Trek: Into the Darkness. I love to watch a good Blockbuster on the big screen. The rest; well, I can wait until they come out on Amazon and then stream them to our X-box.

But I think the takeaway we can find in celebrating this man’s life and mourning his passing, is his passion. Was his passion misplaced? Could it have done good elsewhere? I certainly am in no position to answer such questions. But just from observing him over the years, I think I can speak to his passion, and ask myself “Am I that passionate about anything?”

Am I passionate enough to express my opinions? To do my homework? To write incessantly? Am I passionate enough about my family to spend the equivilant of 200 movies in time with them, giving them 100% of my attention? Am I passionate enough about my children to warn them strongly when I beieve they are headed the wrong direction? Am I passionate enough about my children to speak exuberantly about what I see in them that is God-given and beautiful?

Am I passionate enough about my God so as to spend the equivilant of 200 movies a year studying His word and spending time in prayer? Am I passionate about my God enough to want to share with everyone what I think about Him, and why I think they should consider becoming a follower of Him?

We will miss Roger Ebert and his effusive love of the theatre. But life is short. Life is very short. What are we going to be passionate about?