A memorable film turns 10

Here’s an interesting historical tidbit: it was in 2008 when the film The Dark Knight starring Christian Bale was released.  I vividly remember seeing this film in theatres for the first time; to understand that this was already 10 years ago makes me shake my head in amazement (and sort of makes me feel old).

There is a lot I would like to say about this film.  I think I could write a week’s worth of blogs on this movie.  I would like to talk about some of my favorite scenes, and some problems I have with the movie that bother me, even to this day.  This is one of those movies that sticks in your brain long after.  Maybe I will devote another blog to this memorable film, but for today, I want to tackle two subjects.

First of all, it would be quite careless of me if I didn’t mention Heath Ledger’s masterful performance as the Joker.  There have been various interpretations of the Joker over the years; I appreciate the take that each of the actors have taken (I found Mark Hamill’s Joker very effective; I should write a blog about that version of Joker one day), but as Paul Asay, in his excellent book God on the Streets of Gotham: What the Big Screen Batman can Teach Us About God and Ourselves writes, “I don’t know if there’s ever been a more gripping depiction of pure evil in cinema than Heath Ledger’s unforgettable Joker.”  In my opinion, Heath’s Joker is the enduring legacy of The Dark Knight.

Secondly, this movie presents compelling topics.  I read a fascinating article by an author named David Chen.  At one point, he mentions the sad plight of Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) in the film.  Chen writes, “At the beginning of the film, Dent represents absolute good, a goodness that’s so pure, that has so much potential to change Gotham, that even Batman is thinking of hanging up his spurs…Dent’s journey from light to darkness is handled plausibly and adeptly in the film, which makes his story arc monstrously tragic…The film makes us realize that we, as humans are limited…Dent is not just a proxy for hope, he’s a proxy for us as well, reminding us of the duality that lies within each of us.”  (Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/assessing-the-themes-of-the-dark-knight/

Kevin

A new film worth considering

Earlier this month, the animated movie The Death of Superman was released.  When I first heard about this, I thought it was strange that they decided to do this.  You see, way back in 2007, the animated film Superman: Doomsday was unveiled.  What this film attempted to do was truncate three popular Superman graphic novels (The Death of Superman; World Without a Superman; and The Return of Superman into one animated film).  I’ve even blogged about Superman: Doomsday a few times.  While I’m happy it exists, this new film The Death of Superman is a much, much better version.  I feel like this is the version that should have existed all along.

For various reasons, I almost didn’t give this new movie a chance, but I’m sure glad I did.  I’m not ashamed that I cried a few times upon viewing this.  If you want to see a film that captures the essence of those first two graphic novels, I recommend The Death of Superman to you (they decided to release an upcoming second film Reign of the Supermen that covers the graphic novel The Return of Superman; and frankly, I think that’s a very good decision). 

Let me issue a caution: The Death of Superman (and Superman: Doomsday for that matter) is violent.  I know I’ve said it’s an animated movie, but it’s not for young children.  For those that don’t know, The Death of Superman is essentially the story of how Superman saves Metropolis from a heartless monster named Doomsday.  Doomsday has no conscience, mercy, or morality; he murders anyone that happens to be in his path.  Superman and Doomsday, in an epic fight, end up killing each other.  So, as you might expect, this film has a lot of violence, brutality (via Doomsday), and bloodshed in it.

But with that stated, I really like this movie.  You can see that the filmmakers had a deep love for the graphic novels; but really you don’t even have to have any knowledge of what transpired in those graphic novels to enjoy this film.  In short, this is a tale of the world’s greatest superhero giving his life for the citizens that he loves.  Many years ago, I heard a critic summing up the 1993 film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm by stating, “This is Gotham City’s savior the way he was meant to be.”  I submit that The Death of Superman captures Metropolis’ savior the way he was meant to be.

Kevin

"Memories never die"

As I shared back in June, the TV show “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” debuted back in 1993.  It was an immensely popular show.  Everyone seemed to watch it, and I was no exception.  I don’t know exactly why, but I have been watching a lot of those old Power Rangers episodes of late.  I’ve been watching the second season.  One of the storylines for a portion of that season was the fact that Tommy Oliver (arguably the greatest Power Ranger of all time) was losing his Green Ranger powers.  Every episode showcased that Tommy’s powers were getting weaker and weaker.

At the ending scene of an episode titled “The Song of Guitardo”, after yet another intense battle, Tommy was sad as he realized that his days as a Ranger were apparently numbered (ultimately, Tommy did lose his Green Ranger powers, but interestingly, he went on to become the White Ranger, and the new leader of the Power Rangers, but I’m getting ahead of myself in the story arc).  Seeing how somber and depressed Tommy was, Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, spoke up.  She announced that she, along with Zack, the Black Ranger, had written a song for him.  Kimberly proceeded to grab a guitar, strum it, and sing these words:

“Down the road, we never know what life may have in store.  Winds of change will rearrange our live more than before.  But you’ll never stand alone, my friend.  Memories never die.  In our hearts, they’ll always live, and never say goodbye.”

It’s always a strange phenomenon when I watch a TV show or a movie that I saw before my dad passed away, only to see it again now, and see it with new eyes.  Kimberly’s heartfelt song was something that I saw differently now than I did way back in 1994.  

Yesterday would have been my parent’s 44th wedding anniversary, but 3 years ago, “winds of change” hit not only my mother’s life, but my life as well.  The mantle has been passed on to me, and I feel the weight of that calling every single day.  Events like yesterday are bittersweet and painful.  But in a way, my dad will always be with me.  Because I will always remember his love, integrity, leadership, meticulousness, and humor; as Kimberly put it: “Memories never die.  In our hearts, they’ll always live, and never say goodbye.”

Kevin

The story behind a beloved Christian song

In 2015, I bought the CD “God Will Make a Way: The Best of Don Moen”.  I have listened to it dozens of times, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  But something I didn’t know about it until just recently is that in the lyrics guide there is a description of how Christian singer/songwriter Don Moen came to write the beloved song “God Will Make a Way”.  At the beginning, we are told parenthetically that these words are from a devotional book also called “God Will Make a Way.”  I was so impacted by the story behind this song that I wanted to share it with you.  

“Late one evening, Don Moen received a phone call with devastating news: his wife’s sister had lost her oldest son in an automobile accident.  Craig and Susan Phelps and their four sons were traveling through Texas on their way to Colorado when their van was struck by an eighteen-wheeler truck.  All four boys were thrown from the van.  Craig and Susan located their sons by their cries – one boy was lying in the ditch, another in an area wet from melted snow.  Nearby was his brother who landed by a telephone pole.  All were seriously injured, but when Craig, a medical doctor, reached Jeremy, he found him lying by a fence post with his neck broken.  There was nothing Craig could do to revive him.

When Don received the news of this tragedy a few hours later, he recalls, “My whole world came to a standstill, but I had to get on a plane the next morning and fly to a recording session that had been scheduled for several weeks.  Although I knew Craig and Susan were hurting, I couldn’t be with them until the day before the funeral.  During the flight the morning after the accident, God gave me a song for them: ‘God will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He works in ways we cannot see.  He will make a way for me.’  The song was based upon Isaiah 43:19 NASB – ‘Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?  I will make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.’”

The song would bring comfort to Craig and Susan when all hope seemed lost.  It touched the hurt in their hearts with hope and encouragement…When Jeremy’s friends learned that he had accepted Jesus into his life before he died, many of them began to ask their own parents how they could be assured of going to heaven when they died.  The accident also prompted Craig and Susan into a deeper walk with the Lord as well as into new avenues of ministry.  Craig began teaching Sunday school at their church and Susan became active in Women’s Aglow, sharing with various groups her story and the Lord’s provision in her time of sorrow.

She has since said, “The day of the accident, when I got out of the van, even before I knew our son was dead, I knew I had a choice.  I could be bitter and angry or I could totally accept God and whatever He had for us.  I had to make the decision fast.  I’ve seen fruit come as a result of that choice.  If I had to, I’d do it again.  It’s worth knowing others will go to heaven because of what happened to Jeremy.  God really did make a way for us!”

Soon after “God Will Make A Way” was recorded, people from around the world began to write and call, sharing with Don how they had experienced similar tragedies.  All of the calls and letters had one great theme – God had made a way for them when all hope seemed lost!  God had carried them through a shattering situation, and by His grace, they were emerging with stronger faith, renewed hope and increased courage on the other side of heartache and loss.”

Last month marked three full years since my dad passed away.  He was only 60 years of age.  Stories of loss like the one I’ve shared today affect me deeply.  I know the heart-wrenching agony and excruciating pain that comes when you have to face the death of a loved one much sooner than you ever thought you would.  But, just as that last paragraph stated, I can attest that God has indeed made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way at all.  He has done this through His mighty power and grace.  I marvel at God’s faithfulness.

Kevin