What a weird dichotomy today was for yours truly. First, I overslept and missed church. Then I edited the novel adding something cool in the the 2nd draft. Next went to see "Son of God" (2014: directed by Christopher Specers, staring Diago Morgado) at the local Bonney Lake Multiplex with my mother. Then I capped the day off by I watching the 2014 Oscars broadcast. And now obviously I'm doing this post.
So what was the highlight of the day? Probably working on the 2nd draft of the epic fantasy novel. This is my opus we're talking about here. ANY work I do it pushes it that much closer to completion--and I'm all for that! What I'm working now is special. Don't know yet if I can pull it off, but I know in my heart it has the potential to be my greatest work of all-time. This epic fantasy novel I'm working on now is where it ALL began for me. Someday, if the Lord tarries, I hope to show it to the world.
The low-light of my day came by me sleeping in until 11:45 a.m. and totally missing church. Not good. No star on my star chart today. Feel bad about that especially since on Saturday I talked to my mom and it was agreed we'd go to Calvary's 9:30 service, then catch the 12:30 showing of "Son of God" at the Bonney Lake Multiplex.
So how was the movie, "Son of God"? I thought the first third of the movie was really slow, and I wasn't engaged in it. But the second half of the movie was ok. Not the way I would adapt the story of Jesus, BUT this story didn't defame or degrade the narrative as recorded in the four books of the gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I did especially like how the writers of this story chose to end "The Son of God"; the resurrected Jesus comes back and talks to his disciples a couple times--even about the coming the Holy Spirit, and then ends with the disciple John exiled on the island of Patmos, where Jesus comes to visit him. During John's exile on the island of Patmos he received the vision which comprises the book of Revelation, and some of Jesus' ending words in the movie are actual written in the book of Revelation. I thought that was a very classy, and creative way of ending the story so good job there credited writers of "Son of God": Richard Bedser, Christopher Spencer, Colin Swash, and Nic Young.
Once Jesus was captured and started getting beaten, my mom started crying. And that's when it hit me: it's hard to screw up and not make a moving movie if you base it on events that happened in the bible. The story of Jesus' trial, beatings, the crucifixion is deeply moving, so if you stay true to the bible, you can't go wrong.
I was kinda disappointed by how the screenwriters of "Son of God" failed to show the devil's role in life and ministry of Jesus. Before Jesus' ministry began, the Son of God was taken out into the wilderness and tempted by the devil, and scripture records that once Judas at the bread at the last supper Satan entered him. None of that is the movie, "Son of God", so I felt a whole spiritual dynamic was missing from the movie.
Still, Diago Morgado did his depiction of Jesus just fine. He honored the Lord with his performance, and gave a stirring depiction of the Savior that is worthy of inspiring faith in the Son of God.
The "Son of God" movie was put out by a major studio, 20th Century Fox, and proves that Hollywood and Jesus can coexist. And by that I mean when Hollywood puts its money behind spiritually uplifting films they do have the power to do the well and treat the source material with the honor and respect it deserves.
Why bring up respect? Well, for starters I think that's one of the main reasons so many Christians will go see the "Son of God" movie, they wanna see if their beloved source material will be done well by those making the movies, or if they'll bastardize and by doing so influence those not familiar with this bible story and mislead them.
Their is room for SOME creative licence when doing a biblical adaption. But this is a tricky two edged sword: go to far insult the church goers, don't go far enough and strictly by what's written in the bible you risk producing a boring product. I think the trick is to treat the bible story with respect. Try to honor the Lord in what you're doing--especially if you're making a movie based of stories or elements in the bible. I know when I wrote "A King for God's People?" and "The Rival Kings of Israel" I had to take SOME creative licence. Yet I still tried to remain true to the story of Saul and David's rise to ascendancy in becoming the 1st and 2nd kings in Israel's history.
And as for the effect I saw from others in the Bonney Lake Multiplex where I watched the "Son of God" movie. Well-p, my mother started crying when Jesus started suffering, and after the movie about half of the 40 or so in the theatre applauded what they had seen. Now I suspect that of this 40 in the theatre, all were active Christians who either came to have the the fires of their faith fueled further, or to see how Hollywood depicts the holy.
As for the Oscars? Came in a little late, so I missed Ellen DeGeneres opening monologue and a couple of the first awards. But from what I did see of Ellen Degenres made me think she is one of the worst Oscar hosts EVER and should NEVER be asked to host the show again!!! The pizza gag was a ridiculous waste of time, and Ellen didn't have any funny cracks at all! Is she always like that? I know she has her own talk show... so I ASSUMED she could facilitate and keep the event moving nicely. Not the case, at least from what I saw.
This year I wasn't too jazzed about many of the nominated films so I was rather, "Who cares?" about the whole event. Yes, I did like David O. Russell's "American Hustle" but I wasn't ecstatic about it. And some of the other movies like "12 Years a Slave" and "Gravity" I could care less about. I don't think I'll even bother seeing either one of these movies when they come out on cable; both fail to engage me at the premise level. Would have like so see "Man of Steel" nominated for more awards, as I think that was my favorite movie of 2013. Hopefully 2014 will have a stronger selection, because 2013 was very underwhelming.
Still, Hollywood is SOOO loaded with talent that just watching the Oscars even in a depleted year my year still yearned to work with those pros. I have sooo much respect for the movie-making talent in Hollywood. They are so capable of making movie magic, they just need stronger stories and better decision making by heads at the studio level. I have no doubt about the talent. It's just the direction that talent is heading that scares me.
Remember all the flack Mel Gibson got back when his "The Passion of the Christ" staring Jim Caviezel as Jesus) came out in 2004? I vaguely remember someone in the crowd even throwing blood at one of the screenings. That's taking it was too far and acting waaay outside the bounds of good taste. I kinda feel sorry for Mel Gibson. He put himself out there when he made this movie, and afterwards his life unravelled. I'm so glad he tried though. That's right Mel Gibson had faith, and he used his power and talents for the kingdom, to show people how much Jesus really did suffer on their behalf. Thankfully "Son of God" didn't have nearly half the blood and torture that Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" had.
To this day I find that the best and most moving depiction of Jesus, His ministry and life came from the 1977 mini-series, "Jesus of Nazareth" (Robert Powell staring as Jesus). I can still remember modelling clay watching that movie as boy, and I credit that as being one of those capstone moments where the Lord saw what I was doing and blessed me because of it.
Movies of Jesus are important. They help crystallize and form our opinions of the most important person to ever grace the face of this planet. Jesus is the Son of God, He is the author and perfecter of our faith, He is our propitiation in the face of a Holy God, the sacrificial lamb who came to fulfill the law on our behalf so we can be reunited with a Holy God. Not enough and be said, and lauded on Jesus for what he did. I'm a believer and my worldview on EVERYTHING comes the lens of Jesus completed work on the cross.
I have never seen Jesus face to face, nor have I ever had a dream or revelation where I could see Him directly. But I believe in Him, and place my eternal salvation in His hands, and what He accomplished long before my birth on behalf of all mankind.
Truth be told I got a lot more reading the bible and studying Jesus' life, then in watching a portrayal of it on film. There's just so much there. Like how can the main villains of the story be the religious elect of the Jewish people. Read the gospels for yourself and you'll find that Jesus' biggest adversaries where the priests and people in high religious authority. I still shake my head with disbelief at how religious people in the know could seek to slander someone who was healing people in their midst. Bind people who could now see. Crippled people set free. Sick people made well. Unapproachable, demon possessed people who were now in their right mind. All because Jesus did the Holy Father's will and came down to us.
Jesus. Worthy of being center of movies. Worthy of being in Hollywood. Jesus: a life worthy of being studied. A life worthy of being emulated and considered. Can't say enough good things about Jesus. He is the pride of the Jews, not their shame. Jesus is the greatest Jew that will ever be. And because He is a Jew and the law was given by God to the Jews, us true, bible believing Christian will always love the Jewish people, even the ones that do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord. I just wonder what that is? If the Swedes or Slovaks had someone like Jesus in their heritage I'd be all over that.
Now I recognize that Hollywood is filled with a lot of people with Jewish heritage who practice their form of Judaism, yet do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord--and I love them all! As a Christian I have a love in my heart that transcends all sects of Judaism. In fact how they practice their faith intrigues me, and is something I don't wanna ever tamper with or infringe upon. I, E.C. Henry la-ove the Jewish people.
It takes the Holy Spirit to bring people to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I have no interest in arguing someone into the kingdom. Rather, I just want to love them the best I can, and give credit where credit is due. Ah yes, the Holy Spirit; the 3rd and oftentimes the most neglected of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Truth be told I am just as capable as acting as wickedly as the high priest who so cruelly enacted a plan to kill Jesus. But by God's grace He gave me a 2nd chance when I was on the edge of suicide back in the fall of 1990.
I've also come to the realization that I'm not going to change who I am for the sake of making it as a screenwriter. I'm not going to sell my soul to the devil. I am going to keep trying and praying to the Lord for Him to open a door for me so that I can sell some these scripts and stories that I've worked so hard on. And yes, I have worked VERY HARD on them.
Jesus is Lord. And no matter how ungodly I think Hollywood has gotten, movies like "Son of God" do sow seeds of hope in my heart. Hope that Hollywood can make a good, reverent, biblical adaption when it sets its mind and talents to do so.
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