Let's be careful in judging
| Posted On: 05/16/09 01:02:10 PM |
Age 21, MO |
I think that it is important to note that Plugged In never ignores the occult/vampire issue. The review has statements like:
"But there's enough negative undercurrent even in this first outing (the books get darker as they progress, so presumably the movies will follow) to justify some pretty serious conversations afterwards for those families that decide to defer their better judgment—WHICH WOULD NORMALLY PUSH VAMPIRE FLICKS OUT OF BOUNDS"
"Accepting, FOR THE MOMENT, the idea that vampires can exist in a fantasy world..."
The review does not deny these negative spritual elements, however, they are not the focus of the review. Any mature Christian should be able to identify these dark elements and there have certainly been plenty of reviews that focus on that aspect of the film. That is not Plugged In's purpose here. The article's purspose is to give a wholistic review of the film. This means examining other elements that are more subversive and potentially destructive than the issue of vampires.
For example, I appreciate that Plugged In picked up on the film's destructive glorification of "heedless and headstrong young love." It also highlights the main character's damaging decisons to ignore wisdom in favor of her "heart." Sure, we can dismiss this review because of a legalistic, narrow approach that is willing to throw the baby out with the bath water. Sure we can pick the parts of the review that we disagree with and ignore the context of the article. Or, let's hear the Plugged In article for what it is. A wholistic and valuable tool for those of us who are ready to examine other cultural elements in the film beyond the simplistic and obvious.
Click here to reply to this post
|
Expected better from Focus & Plugged In...
| Posted On: 02/16/09 02:45:24 PM |
Age 29, MD |
"At a time of rampant biblical illiteracy, urging parents to immerse their children in the Word of God would be a good alternative.**"
To the above, I say a hearty "Amen" !!!
But as for the Plugged In review, when it says: "Family is a big part of what nurtures Twilight's love. Edward's coven—family—of vampires is a loving one. Each member is committed to protecting the others, even Bella when she becomes part of them through her relationship with Edward."
...my mind has to wonder, if this was a movie about a homosexual family, would the critic write with the same enthusiasm? Remember, sin is sin. I am very disappointed with this news. Focus on the Family and Plugged In Online, I expected better from you.
Click here to reply to this post
|
Blurred Distinctions
| Posted On: 01/13/09 02:35:31 AM |
Age 36, NEW ZEALAND |
Non Christian friends had been raving about the books and subsequent movie which prompted an intense reaction by my spirit. Now without having seen the movie I have been giving a great deal of thought to the whole issue of vampires, starting with consideration of the lines that vampire fantasy crosses. Vampires may be fictional per say, but people who ritually drink blood in Satanic ceremonies most certainly are not - think Jim Doors. It doesn't take much to recognise that many of qualities possessed by vampires can be directly attributed to Satan and so I do wonder in my heart of hearts if we are naive to believe that vampires are quite as fictional as they are made out to be. Therefore I'm going to keep stay focused on what is true and pure and I'm not going to dance at the edge of the cliff of darkness, pretend or otherwise.
Click here to reply to this post
|
Mainstream Christian
| Posted On: 12/15/08 04:15:18 PM |
Age 32, IN |
Dabbling in the occult will never strengthen your witness (Eph 5:11). I understand your point, but Christians should be very distinct from the rest of the culture . . .not blend in and look exactly like it! Praising and supporting a film that deals with the occult is dangerous for the lost and the "saved".
Click here to reply to this post
|
Seven reasons to shun this vampire tale
| Posted On: 12/14/08 08:48:34 PM |
Age 50, TX |
Seven reasons to shun this vampire tale
www.crossroad.to/articles2/08/twilight.htm
Click here to reply to this post
|
Re: Mainstream Christian?
| Posted On: 12/11/08 07:27:11 PM |
Age 18, OR |
If you were asking in relation to what I posted below, then this is what I meant:
Someone who strives to live his life in a moral way based upon biblical principles while not alienating the rest of the world. The movie reviews are a big blessing to people like this because then they have a way of deciding if a movie is worth seeing or not. MOST Christians out there (especially college age) have friends that are not Christians who invite them to go see movies like this all the time.
And I think that these are the types of Christians that are going to do the most good when it comes to being a witness to other people. Being dogmatic and slamming a movie because you "think" that there is amoral content in the film doesn't win respect. Obviously there is a line that all Christians must not cross but this movie doesn't come close to it.
Click here to reply to this post
|
- To the contrary...
| Posted On: 02/16/09 04:17:07 PM | | Age 29, MD |
"Obviously there is a line that all Christians must not cross but this movie doesn't come close to it."
Yes, it does, as I've posted below.
Click here to reply to this post
the twilight "update"- a MOVIE review
| Posted On: 12/11/08 03:32:35 PM |
Age 31, TX |
My comment to your update is that FOTF did what a movie review should do which is, as you stated, "analyzes this cinematic swill and its relative merits and demerits"-that is the job of a movie reviewer. If you want a social or spiritual commentary on the film then THAT would be where you warn of it's content being unsuitable for Christian viewers. I think their review was more than reasonable.
It's like Christians that praise Christian films based solely on content. You can have wonderful, uplifting content in a film with terrible production value, badly written (albeit well intentioned) scripts and inadequate acting. Christians sometimes do not understand the difference between content and quality. If Christian filmmakers could stop leaving quality filmmakers to the secular world then perhaps their films would be seen by audiences outside of Christian circles and the world might have greater opportunity for films with more approvable content.
Click here to reply to this post
|
is fiction wrong? what about Narnia?
| Posted On: 12/11/08 10:22:09 AM |
Age 29, TX |
I don't have a problem with fiction such as Toy Story. Bible Man is a little violent for my taste, but I'm not going to bash it. Fiction does not equal lies, but a fictional movie can certainly present lies such as "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause" or "Polar Express" that push the boundaries of mere fiction to teach lies to children. However, there is a great difference between a fictional story such as talking toys or super heroes then other issues that are based in satanic religion or sin. Twilight is certainly based on satanic religion (read how the author came up with the stories, from apparent spirit contact with "Edward.") It is also not without sin elements. The Narnia series is ALSO based on other religions which is why when we were given the whole BBC DVD series and the book series my husband threw them out! I really like Narnia but he is right, the pagan religious themes have no place in "Christian" literature. Our children should not be looking to them for "spiritual truth" or comparing them as many are with Twilight to Christ/the church/ect.
Click here to reply to this post
|
- Narnia and oppinions?
| Posted On: 12/11/08 03:45:12 PM | | Age 31, TX |
I do understand wanting to filter what your children see. But throwing Narnia away b/c it may be based on other religions? If someone had not told you that would you have come to that conclusion on your own after seeing the film? And what if someone told you the exact opposite? If you had been told that the very same movie was solely a Biblical metaphor would that make the same movie okay? I don't think most children would get the religious implications anyway. It might me metaphorical but it is still fiction.
Click here to reply to this post
ridiculous
| Posted On: 12/09/08 10:59:32 PM |
Age 25, TX |
What is it with so many Christians attacking every single thing that does not follow in with their worldview? I don't believe in vampires, I don't believe in werewolves, and yet, I find redeeming things with Meyer's works. Rarely do we see a character in a novel written for teenagers who strives to live a moral life, even when the character himself is not living? Edward Cullen may be a vampire, but drinks only the blood of animals. He may be a vampire, but he refuses to do anything sexual with Bella until they wed in the forth book. And even then, nothing is explicit. I would much rather find my teenage cousins reading the Twilight saga than reading Gossip Girl, or the hideous books available in the Christian book market. You want to complain about bad books - complain about those that are poorly written, poorly edited, those that should not have been published for their sheer disregard for the English language. Complain about how your children aren't getting a proper education because they're being taught by parents whose sole educational experience was their own. Complain about how the CWN wants you to brainwash your children into following their worldview and not allow your children to think for themselves. Oh, right, sorry. Thinking for oneself is a sin. Sheesh.
Click here to reply to this post
|
- Agree
| Posted On: 12/13/08 01:46:05 AM | | Age 28, FL |
Does anyone in their right mind believe in vampires or werewolves? I cannot believe we're actually slinging mud over something that doesn't exist. It's pure fiction, which is the point. Like many ignorant, close-minded Christians Ms. Schlueter doubtless finds no value in any books beyond the Bible, listens to no songs but hymns, reads no publications but tracks, and certainly would never set foot into an art museum--all those naked statues, dart-filled soldiers, and bucolic scenes glorifying the earth. Christians as a whole have abandoned the arts or think "art" is horribly written Christian romance or made-for-TV quality movies like "Fireproof" or "Facing the Giants." Apparently no one required her to read "Dracula" in high school.
Click here to reply to this post
- Disagree.
| Posted On: 02/16/09 04:13:52 PM | | Age 29, MD |
What is it with so many non-Christians attacking every single thing that promotes a Christian worldview? As I've posted elsewhere, yes, there are people who live as closely as they can the lifestyle of a 'vampire'. You see, they see such "art", and for whatever reason, they identify with it to the point that it overtakes their lives and draws them deeper and deeper into darkness (whether you believe in it or not).
P.S. Thinking for one's self is not a sin. Rather, it is what leads one to become a Christian in the first place. The rest of the world is caught up in the group-think mentality, busy promoting and enjoying the sin they live in, all the while lamenting that they do not understand why the world is filled with the evil that it is.
Click here to reply to this post
- Ridiculous?
| Posted On: 12/10/08 03:09:43 PM | | Age 39, TN |
To be fair to Ingrid Schlueter, I think she has been outspoken about the so-called "Christian fiction" that is on the shelves. This is the first article I have read on the subject of Twilight. I was already very concerned about this as I have heard from several college students who are raving about a vampire and how wonderful he is and how they would love to marry someone like him because he's not your "normal" vampire. My question is why would Christian young women be interested in watching a vampire movie? Why would they be interested in reading a vampire book? I get facebook comments from young ladies who are very caught up in this movement. I guess I'm too old to understand. Thanks Ingrid. I'm in agreement with you.
Click here to reply to this post
- "Plugged In is no "Truth Project"
| Posted On: 12/10/08 12:54:46 PM | | Age 32, IN |
I recently just completed a phone conversation with a representative from "Plugged-In". The one question that I really wanted the answer to was this; Does "Plugged-In" adhere and subscribe to the same values, morlas, ethics - biblical worldview , that Focus on the Family has worked so long and hard for over the years? I was assured that the answer to that question was yes - BUT, how can the same organization that is calling for a return to a biblical worldview (THE TRUTH PROJECT) write a review for families/children reagrding the movie without ever giving a warning? Isn't the Truth Project, which I am a part of, diabolically oppose any subject matter that would deal with the occult? Would Dr. Dobson, Dr. Tackett, or Dr. Daly take their children/grandchildren to see this movie? And, then proceed with a family roundtable discussion about the "positive family aspects" of the film? I think that answer would be a resounding NO! This movie sensationalizes the occult - how does a Christian family come away from this film or the books with anything but confusion and a distorted worldview. This type of film and relevant culture discussion is exactly what the Truth Project is trying to combat. Steven Issac, the author of the review, acted irresponsibly when posting this review. Go and listen to Eric Barger, Brannon Howse, Ingrid Schlueter, and Jan Markell to get some more perspective.
Click here to reply to this post
Read More Feedback
|
|
|
