Sam thambusamy

Looking at the world through faith lens…

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Movie Theology

Cinema is on the cutting edge of culture. Todd kappelman contends, ” literature is no longer the dominant form of expression, scriptwriters, directors, and actors do more to shape the culture which we live in than do the giants of literature or philosophy”.

Why do people watch Movies? Movies provide good entertainment. But, there is more to it than just entertainment. When we are watching a movie we are encounter philosophy. A philosophy of life unfolds  through its storyline and we get absorbed into the story.

Donald Drew writes, ” Films are made not only to affect the senses but to grip the imagination, which then sets up an attitude of the mind and in turn produces certain emotions leading to certain conduct”.

To the popular mind,cinema is all about endless formulaic storyline, song-and-dance routine, and predictable girl-meets-boy romantic tales. However, even a dumb movie promotes a philosophy of life. Movies shapes our thots, lifestyle, values and worldview. Afterall there is no such thing as neutral medium or neutral response. Movies powerfully present and promote philosophy through ideas, information and images. The danger point is that these ” fill-o-sophies” by pass the will of the spectator. Movies exert a powerful influence on life. Therefore, it is important that we bring our theology to bear on what we watch. As followers of Jesus, we must enter the movie experience with a solid grasp of GOODNESS, BEAUTY and TRUTH. All images, information and ideas must pass through a christian grid so that we “test everything and hold fast to what is good”. Donal Drew encourages Christians to ” establish a specifically christian critique over and above that admitted by the non-christian world”.

We must focus on we take into the movie-going experience more than what we take out of the movie-experience. What we look for is what we get and therefore, we must nurture a healthy understanding of goodness, beauty and truth. very often we are so focussed about taking “popcorn” to the movie hall rather than focus on the christian framework. We can make a difference in the cultural arena through our choice of movies, concern for the issues raised and courage to stand-up against evil that is both presented and promoted through movies.

The question is not: TO go or not to go. Rather, the question is, ” how can I bring God’s goodness, beauty and truth to bear on contemporary culture? If you take your theology along with popcorn to the movie hall, I can assure you that you can find God in the story. You will be able to find “evil” that plagues our humanness and also be able to resist it. Next time, you go out to watch a movie with your friends make sure you take your theology to the movie hall. It will guide your choices and help you watch the movie “christianly”.

Why must Christians engage with movies?

Mars Hill Church Website

” If cinema is a modern day pulpit, Film & Theology uses it to identify Jesus’ presence (and lack thereof) in the religion that is pop culture. We have a storied living and stories (re) shape our lives – our attitudes, beliefs and character. The Website write up puts the answer to the question: Why engage with movies? succinctly.

Movie theaters are not that different from church assemblies; people flock to their local multiplexes and group together to be moved by a message told in story form, allowing themselves to be moved by directors and screenwriters who influence how we feel, think, and act. Whether a film moves us to tears or makes us laugh, you can hear its influence in repeated phrases, shared platitudes, and lives lived according to characters that resonate with us.

As image-bearers of God (the master storyteller, whose story spans all of creation) we in turn have a yearning to both create and be entertained by narrative.

At Mars Hill, we believe people should enjoy and engage film not just as diversion but with discernment, engaging the culture around us and reflecting on how it relates to the God we love.”

Mars Hill Church website

What if people get it all wrong? Isn’t there a danger?

A genuine work of art must mean many things; the truer its art, the more things it will mean. If my drawing, on the other hand, is so far from being a work of art that it needs THIS IS A HORSE written under it, what can it matter that neither you nor your child should know what it means? It is there not so much to convey a meaning as to wake a meaning. — But a man may then imagine in your work what he pleases, what you never meant! — Not what he pleases, but what he can. If he be not a true man, he will draw evil out of the best; we need not mind how he treats any work of art! If he be a true man, he will imagine true things; what matter whether I meant them or not? ( George Macdonald The Fantastic Imagination)

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Resources ( Pls visit movietheologyblog)

Articles

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Cinema, Coffee, Conversations

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Life Lessons

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Themes

in Tamil, Hindi and English Movies

  • Life:

    • Rock on (2008), Dasvidaniya (2008), Lakshya (), Life mein Kabhi Kabhi (), Kal Ho Na Ho ();
    • Preachers wife (1997); Life or Something like it (); It’s a wonderful life() ; Mrs. Doubtfire () ; Spiderman (), Spiderman-2 (), Why did I get Married? ()

  • Friendship:

    • Kuselan (2008)
    • Dil Chata Hai ()

  • Success:

    • Rock On (2008)

  • Work:

    • Corporate ()
    • Sabrina (1995), Collateral ()

  • Family:

    • Abhiyum Naanum (2008)
    • Kabhie Kushi Kabhi Gham (),

  • Love and Relationships:

    • Raman Theydiya Seethai (2008) ;
    • Salaam Namaste (), Delhi Heights (); Hum Tum ();
    • Beauty and the Beast (1991)

  • Marriage

    • Salaam Namaste (), Delhi Heights (), Rock On ()
    • Why did I get married?

  • Society:

    • Mozhi (),
    • Phir Milenge (),
    • Blood Diamond

  • Parenting:

    • Abhiyum Naanum (2008)
    • Taare Zameen Par (2008)
    • Finding Nemo (), Meet the parents ()

  • Philosophy:

    • Dasavatharam (2008)
    • Matrix, Matrix Reloaded,

  • God-Talk:

    • Anbe Sivam (), Dasavatharam (),

  • Faith:

    • Miracle on 34th street (), The Third Miracle ();

  • Handling Memories:

    • Autograph (); Varnam Aayiram (), Abhiyum Naanum ()

  • Forgiveness:

    • Diary of a Mad Black women ();

  • Reality of Evil:

    • Kaaka Kaaka ()

  • Gender Issues:

    • Lajja (),
    • Provoked ()

  • Leadership:

    • Kal Ho Na Ho (), Lagaan ()

  • Team Building:

    • Chak De (2007)

  • Caste:

    • Mangal Pande (), Swades (), Lagaan ()

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Must Watch Movies

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Songs