Saturday, 12 April 2014

Noah by Susan L.

  H and I went the Circle theatre. Its a local movie house that was established in the 1920's. They redid the interior a while ago but kept the original fold down seats. As a nod at modern needs, they installed acrylic cup holders. It is a green operation, only generating one bag of garbage a week. Pop is sold in bottles, cardboard boxes hold the popcorn. Nearly everything is recycled. The staff wait at the exits to take the trash from patrons; making doubly sure everything goes where it is supposed to. They even have a BYOB (bring your own bowl) policy and offer a discounted rate for the movie goer's favourite snack. The price to get in is very reasonable, less than half of what it costs to attend the show at one of the multi-theatre franchises. The owner also does a lot of fund raising where an item for the local food bank gains admission, or a portion of the proceeds will go to different not-for-profit organisations in the community. It is one of a handful of independent theatres left in Canada.
  We saw "Noah". It was a fantastical adaptation of the Genesis story. Yes, it wandered a bit from the actual scriptures but what Hollywood rendition of any Bible legend doesn't?  Any movie leaves something to squawk about, some shortcoming, some weakness. I am sure there has been an outcry against it. I like to think it gets non-believers to watch a Biblical tale. May the Lord bless this opportunity and those who will exit the theatre seeking more. Lead them, Lord, to Your Son.
  Next week they are showing the "Son of Man", the story of Jesus. H and I are going for sure. May the theatre be full! Amen!
  "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." Is 35:5-6

5 comments:

  1. Oh Susan - I think this is the first time since I've been following you that I have to disagree. I thought "Noah" was a travesty. I can't remember when my soul was grieved more from a movie. The only thing they really got right was the name, and maybe the ark. Oh my. I didn't see anything that gave any glory to God. Nothing about sin, redemption, righteousness. They didn't even get the number of souls in the ark right. And the fallen angels are demons. They did not come to "help" but to destroy the redemptive plan of God by breeding with human women. (They will not be forgiven.)

    I saw "Son of God" movie as well. Although I felt they could have done more, it just irritated me from time to time. But Noah was heart breaking. I cannot see how that movie would draw anyone to God, called the Creator in the movie. Both God and Noah seemed cruel and a bit crazy.

    I certainly join you in prayer that some good will come from it.

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  2. The movie Noah was certainly not a depiction of all the details in the Bible. For those who are interested in those specifics, read Genesis 6-9. I think it would be too much to expect a commercial movie to deliver it - that's why people make historical documentaries. But I think this movie gives food for the imagination, which sometimes helps us see beyond mere facts.

    At the time of Noah, God had not yet revealed Himself as Yahweh, or as Jesus. All that these ancient peoples knew of Him was that He had created their world and themselves, and this information was passed from generation to generation in stories. The movie very clearly has all groups of people acknowledging the Creator - God is very much present. God's glory is portrayed in the magnificent earth He created and in the powerful flood. Sin is depicted in the fall of mankind by disobedience in the garden of Eden, in the resulting murder of Abel by Cain, in the greed and wickedness that spread through the peoples, and in the arrogance of the leaders toward the earth and other tribes. Righteousness is reflected by Noah, who only wants to discern God's Will and do it. God's holiness, not cruelty, is in the torrential flooding which wiped out every living thing that breathed air - and how frightful and horrible it must have been. Redemption is in the inhabitants of the ark - God's plan to not entirely destroy His creation.

    My response to the violence and destruction that this movie shows is to wonder if it is as much a reminder of what is to come in the Battle of Armageddon as it is a movie about the past. The fight between good and evil is still not over - and it is found in every Hollywood movie.

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  3. Thank you both for your insightful comments. The best part for me was the depiction of the Creation story, the celebration of all the wonderful creatures that share this tiny ball called earth with us. The greatest travesty is how we have failed our God in caring for His garden.

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  4. Did you notice the "creation story" was of evolution?

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  5. I viewed it as snapshots of all the astounding and wonderful creatures God made in the sea and land. God did start with the creatures of the ocean, then birds, followed by cattle and creeping things. Gen 1:21,24.
    This could be an endless discussion. Yes, the movie wasn't completely scriptural. It wasn't advertised as such. I knew that going in. Still, all things God can use for His glory. Christ is the Redeemer after all.

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