"Batman v. Superman:" The good, bad, and bizarre (part 2)

Previously, I mentioned the bizarre and the bad aspects of the new Batman/Superman film.  Today, I want to conclude my thoughts with the good elements.

The first good aspect I want to bring up is Ben Affleck’s performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman.  Many questioned that he would do a good job in this role, but he proved them all wrong.  He knocked the ball out of the park.  He is absolutely riveting in this role.  He is arguably the biggest highlight of the movie.  Moreover, this is the most intimidating Batman that I have ever seen on the big screen (or small for that matter).  That’s not to disrespect or minimize the other actors who have played this role.  But this is truly a Batman that you don’t want to cross or take lightly.  You don’t want to meet this Batman in a dark alley.

Good element number two: the entire movie seems to be building towards the fight between Batman and Superman (hence the title of the film).  When it finally does happen, their fight does not disappoint.  It perfectly captures the strengths of both superheroes.  It’s the ultimate heavyweight fight between two all-time greats.  I also believe that this battle is exactly how a fight between the two would go.  I’m not going to reveal the details, but I also love what happens to show the two men that they are on the same side.  I think it is pure brilliance on the part of the movie’s writers.

The next thing I love about this film is the character of Superman in the end.  To clarify, I still stand by what I said about Superman’s attitude in the last blog.  But, ultimately, he shows himself to be the hero we all know that he is.  That’s my Superman.  That’s the Superman that inspires us to be better.

-Spoiler alert; I’m serious this is a major spoiler; don’t read the next paragraph if you haven’t seen the movie and you want to be surprised.  You have been warned. 

I’ve decided that I want to spell out exactly why I speak so highly of Superman in the final battle.  A major threat emerges: the formidable villain known as Doomsday.  Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman all battle Doomsday; ultimately, Superman himself defeats the beast.  But in doing so, he dies.  The Man of Steel chooses to give his life basically to save all of humanity who would have been killed by Doomsday.  Superman displays his heroism, selflessness, and valor to everyone.  Furthermore, he shows the watching world that he is a type, and a picture of Jesus Christ.  This is further evidenced by the fact that this film was released on Good Friday.  Is this fact a coincidence?  Perhaps.  But this notion is strongly implied throughout the film, too.  In fact, Lex Luthor actually calls Superman “God” more than he calls him “Superman”.

– Conclusion of the spoiler alert –

There’s more that I could say about the good aspects of this movie.  For example, I could describe how I liked the character of Wonder Woman; and how I thought Gal Gadot did an admirable job in the role.  I could mention the impressive fight scene where Batman singlehandedly takes on a group of villains to save a hostage.  Or I could detail how I like that the film sets up an upcoming Justice League movie (to the uninformed, the Justice League is team of superheroes consisting primarily of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg).  But rather than keep on going, let me just sum up my thoughts.

Is “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” the best superhero movie I’ve ever seen?  No, not by a mile.  But neither is it the worst one, either.  As I said in the last blog, this film is really a mixed bag.  There are great moments, and there are moments that, to put it delicately, aren’t so great.  However, in the end this film is entertaining.  What more can someone ask for than that?

Kevin

"Batman v. Superman": the good, bad, and bizarre (part 1)

I feel like this review of the new Batman/Superman movie is long overdue.  It came out a while ago now (back on 3/25 to be exact), and I’m sure some of you are interested in my opinion of the film.  I say this because several people on the street have already asked me what I thought about it.  This is a subject matter that is on people’s minds.  I’m going to divide this review into two blogs, because there is way too much to try to condense it all into one standalone blog.

My blog title sums up my thoughts on this film.  There are good, bad, and bizarre aspects.  It’s a mixed bag.  The way I’ve chosen to do this is convey the bad and bizarre today, and then I’ll conclude on the high note of the good elements next time.  So, if part 1 of this review depresses you, stay tuned for part 2.

To begin, there are moments that are bizarre in this film.  You sit there thinking, “What in the world is happening?  Why would they decide to throw something in that is so random?”  For example, Batman has incredibly bizarre dreams.  At one point, he dreams that is about to obtain some kryptonite in the desert.  To do so, he runs around with a machine gun mowing countless people down (something Batman would never do, of course), only to discover that he was set up; the kryptonite is gone.  He is subsequently captured; then, Superman (also very out of character) uses his heat vision to kill Batman, after murdering several other people who were guarding him.  This causes Batman to wake up.

Or at least that’s what we think at first.  While the scene shifts back to the Batcave, we actually are in another dream.  This one is even more bizarre.  A random character shows up in the Batcave.  He starts babbling to Batman how he was right; and that Lois is the key.  At one point, this fellow asks if he is too early.  He is apparently some sort of novice time traveler.  Finally, Batman does wake up, but the audience is left without any context of who this guy is, or why he came.  Speculation abounds, but the fact remains, we don’t see this mysterious figure for the rest of the movie.  And it’s never mentioned again.  It’s just another bizarre occurrence that leaves the audience scratching their heads.

But it’s not just Batman’s dreams.  Clark, in a low moment after an episode of failing to save some lives, decides to process it all by going to on a trek to the arctic.  As he is walking, he comes up on a man.  We discover that it is Jonathan Kent.  Clark and Jonathan have a nice conversation, Clark’s spirits seem lifted.  But the question remains: why and how are they talking?  Jonathan Kent died in the last film!  Was it a ghost?  Was it Clark imagining what Jonathan would say?  To make matters more complicated, Jonathan concludes his conversation by telling Clark how much he misses him.   Within the next few moments, Jonathan is gone.  Once again, no explanation or answers.

What about the bad elements?  Well, there’s more that I could say here than I will actually be saying.  There are moments that bothered me.  For example, there are massive plot holes that should have been better executed.  Ultimately, however, most of them are relatively minor, so I don’t see a need in airing them.

The biggest thing I want to mention is Superman’s attitude.  First of all, Superman goes through a lot in this film.  He is distrusted and debated for a large portion of this movie.  I understand that he would be shaken by these negative occurrences.  Anyone would.  But, having said that, I didn’t like how Superman was so unsure of himself and his mission.  My brother (a huge Superman fan) told me that I had to look at this in the context of the incarnation of the Superman being viewed.  This isn’t the Tom Welling or Christopher Reeve adaptation.  I get that.  But even with that in mind, no Superman would ever say what he actually said in this film.  In one scene, he said to Lois, “No one stays good in this world.”  I’m sorry, but that’s not the inspirational, exemplary Superman that I’ve come to know and love.

To be continued!

Kevin

The fragile gift of life

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the events of this year, it is that you should never take the gift of life for granted.  Contrary to popular opinion, we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Cherish each day for the incredible gift that it is.  James tells us not to boast about what you are going to do tomorrow, because you don’t really have any idea what is going to happen tomorrow (James 4:13-14).

It’s so true!  I’ve used this quote several times before, but I think it bears repeating: Peter Parker, in the throes of a crisis, said, “Life is like a thunderstorm.  It’s unpredictable, uncontrollable, sometimes even dangerous.  We like to think we have a handle on life; that we are in charge.  Then, without warning, we find out how wrong we really are.”

The unpredictability of life was evidenced in the lives of my parents when I developed Infantile Spasms as a baby.  For months, they endured the dark season of watching me endure this debilitating disease.  Being not even a year old at the time, I don’t have the memory of these events, so I can only imagine how horrible it must have been to watch their boy suffer.  I’m certain that it was torture for them.

You say, “But that’s not the end of the story.  God healed that boy.”  That’s right.  On this day, back in 1982, God healed me of that devastating disease.  I don’t want to gloss over this fact, either.  So let me linger a moment to brag on God.  I’ve often said that, as far as I’m concerned, this day is more important than my birthday in June because it broadcasts God’s amazing power, kindness, and grace.  To quote the way my dad once described the events of that day: “We didn’t do it; the doctor didn’t do it; God did it.”  Amen!  To Him belongs all the glory and praise!

But, the truth is, sometimes God doesn’t choose to heal.  You can pray, fast, and plead with the Lord for that healing, but it may not necessarily happen.  That makes the harsh reality of life hit you like a punch in the stomach.  Let’s be real: it’s easy when life is comfortable and easy, but to quote Job – a man who also knows something about pain – “shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (Job 2:10).

I have little doubt that someone recently started reading my words for the very first time because the bottom just dropped out of your life.  Your world fell apart in a way you never thought it would.  I know the feeling.  Thanks to the unexpected passing of my father, I am now intimately familiar with pain, suffering, and heartache in a way that I never was before.  I know full well that, to quote our friend Job again, sometimes the Lord gives, and sometimes He takes away (Job 1:21).

What do you do when suffering comes in like a violent tidal wave?  How do you endure when pain is your constant companion?  Do you chock it up to chance, bad luck, or an unfortunate accident?  I can’t answer these questions for you.  I recently heard Cheryl Prewitt say in a Christian program, in times of tragedy, one can either blame God or trust Him.  In my case, I choose to put my trust in God, because He is sovereign and trustworthy.  The Bible speaks of “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).  In times of trouble, you need an anchor that is firm and secure.  That anchor is God Himself.  You can search, but there is no other anchor.  Nothing else is sufficient.

Kevin  

The next bittersweet event

My dad loved April 24th.  If you read my previous blog, you’ve seen how abundantly clear that fact is.  He loved telling others about how God healed me from the debilitating effects of Infantile Spasms.  We have made it a special tradition to annually celebrate God’s miraculous touch that He displayed in my life on April 24th, 1982.  It is for this reason that this April has a bittersweet component to it.  Dad isn’t with us to celebrate this year.  Like the first Christmas, Thanksgiving, Super Bowl, and Easter, this April 24 is yet another first.  It reminds me of the loss.  It reminds of his absence.  It reminds me of the void in my life.

My grief continues.  And, the way I see it, that’s as it should be.  David Kessler, in his helpful booklet, “When a Parent Dies” is apt when he writes, “Grief is the reflection of the connection that has been lost.  That loss does not diminish because you are an adult or because your mother or father lived a long life.  Our society places enormous pressure on us to get over loss, to get through the grief.  But how long do you grieve for the man who was your father for 30 years?  Do you grieve less for your mother of 50 years?  The loss happens in a moment, but its aftermath lasts a lifetime.  The grief is real because loss is real.”

I love that whole quote, but look again at the beginning line: “Grief is the reflection of the connection that has been lost.”  A fundamental connection has been lost in my life.

I will always thank God for healing me from Infantile Spasms when I was a baby.  But this year is different.  This year’s celebration is mingled with sadness.  It’s a painful reality.  Another great line from that citation is this: “the loss happens in a moment, but its aftermath lasts a lifetime.”  How true; how very true!

Kevin 

"That's what God can do"

A few years ago, my dad presented me with a CD that I consider a priceless treasure.  He had converted various important events from my childhood (that were originally recorded on cassette tapes) into one singular CD.  It included when my parents dedicated me back to the Lord in January of 1985.  It also had the time when I sang the song “God Bless the U.S.A” in front of a large audience in July of 1987.

Another track in this invaluable CD was when my parents sang a song celebrating God’s healing touch in my life when I was a baby.  In August of 1988, Mom and Dad sang this song in a church (as they did many times over the years).  Before they sang, Dad gave an introduction to the crowd.  I was so thrilled that he chose to include his words that day on the CD.  Since his words are preserved, I am now able to share how my dad, an eyewitness of this event, shared the story.  Here are his words:

“It’s a pleasure to be with you folks this morning.  We’re going to sing a song that is very dear to our hearts because it is a song that we wrote thanking the Lord for healing our oldest son, Kevin.  A lot of you may know the story, most of you do that we’ve seen in person or people on the radio.  I’ve told the story several times.  But just for those of you who have not heard the story, I’ll tell a brief recap before we sing the song.

We were blessed with a child after 7 years of marriage.  And he had Infantile Spasms, which we had never heard of either.  But it leaves the child totally retarded, in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, possibly with a helmet.  To relieve the pressure, the child I guess pounds his head against the wall or whatever.  It wasn’t a pretty picture whatsoever.

We, of course, took it to the Lord.  We also took him to one of the best specialists.  This doctor had had 400 other patients at the time with the same disease, Infantile Spasms.  And none of them had ever come out of this disease.  This is what we were faced with.  This was supposed to be Kevin’s future.  Not able to walk, talk, run, sing, play, do all the things that children do.

We took him to the hospital several times.  He was in and out; I don’t even remember how many times he was in the hospital.  But the last time we took him, he was at the point of death.  He was turning blue.  His heartbeat was totally irregular.  It didn’t look like it was supposed to.  It had all kinds of funny little [blips on the machine].  It just was not right.  He was at the point of death.  And at the point, we didn’t see the hand of God come down, but the hand of Jesus came down and touched our little boy and healed him totally.  And today he is a normal child.  He’s the one sitting behind Stan, with the glasses.  Nothing wrong with him at all now.  He’s 100 percent boy and normal.

That’s what God can do.  We didn’t do it; the doctor didn’t do it; God did it.  And we have not stopped giving God the glory; thanking Him for what He has done in the life of Kevin.”  After concluding his introduction, my father began playing the piano, and my parents sang a beautiful duet of this special song.  I’ve included a picture.  While this was taken at another occasion that they sang together, it gives you an idea of how it looked on that day in 1988.

I know that just seeing the words on a screen doesn’t give it the full justice it deserves, but here are the lyrics to the song, nevertheless.

“[Chorus] You healed our Kevin, You healed our son.  You gave him a future to walk, talk, and run.  We want to thank You for all You’ve done.  Oh, Jesus, we thank You, for healing our son!

You gave us a baby, then the picture grew dim.  They gave us no hope, no future for him.  The Death Angel hovered to take him away, but then You touched him, You healed him that day!

[Chorus] You healed our Kevin, You healed our son.  You gave him a future to walk, talk, and run.  We want to thank You for all You’ve done.  Oh, Jesus, we thank You, for healing our son!”

This song was written in December of 1982.  The healing event being described occurred on April 24, 1982.  I’m with my dad; I’m not going to stop giving God all the glory for what He did for me all those years ago!