This is my first movie review on the blog. I have to first start off by stating that I knew nothing about this movie except that Denzel Washington was a guy who had the last supposed Bible on earth after some catastrophic, post-apocaliyptic event. When I saw the trailer, I really wanted to see it, but if you know me, I rarely spend cash on movies in the theaters. I missed out on this one. It was a great movie.
Now I need to preface this with 2 disclaimers: 1 - This is not a Christian movie. For anybody who thinks they are walking into either something cheesy or something that was made by and for believers in Christ, do not be misled. I want to also make it clear that it is probably a good thing it wasn't a Christian movie because it turned out way better than some of the garbage the Christian community dishes out, yet still had a positive message. 2 - I will not be ruining anything about the movie's plot and twists except for perhaps the occasional scene explanation and impact it had on me, but there are no real spoilers here. That being said, you should still watch the movie before reading this post.
OK, now that that is dealt with, let's move on.
I have to say that I was not ready for the opening sequence, whether it be the title or the first action scene. Denzel is proving time and again that he is probably the best actor of our time. The fight scenes were intense and the dialogue was put together well. It wasn't as serious as I thought it would be - it had more of a comic book feel. It also was not so ridiculous that you'd expect neoweapons and orange hair in almost every scene.
The message was incredible. It revealed the truth about the Bible, in which believers in Christ have come to know as God's Word. It showed the ability to misuse Scripture for evil or power. It showed the power of God's commands without even showing the words on the page. In one powerful scene, Denzel quotes Psalm 23 from memory and I am pretty sure it is the most powerful reading of it since it was penned. The context in which he quotes Scripture, and the calamity he is under makes for quite an impressive application. Basically, Denzel threw down... big time.
Honestly, there are going to be haters. There are going to be people who don't like this movie for many reasons. But for me, this was the movie of the year, and I missed the chance to see it in theaters. Grab this one on Blu-Ray ASAP, and if you hate it, you can hurl insults at my opinion.
The movie also reminded me of why I read the Bible. I read it to hear from God. Many people, including myself have forgotten that aspect and have filed it under the "to do" list of the day. They think they will be holy or earn brownie points if they read a certain amount of Scripture a day. But really, the Bible is a love sick Father reaching out to communicate His love with His people, longing to speak with the ones He came to save. The Bible is the major way God speaks to people - through His Word we also confirm things He has said in sermons, prayer, and everyday activities. It is the most important piece of literature ever written, and I think that is why we lose sight of what it is all about. Because we turn it into a relic. We emblazon names and traffic translations that fit our worship style. We judge people with it instead of letting it convict our hearts. We use it as decoration instead of letting it sharpen our lives.
As a good friend of mine Jim Rudd once said, our Bibles aren't meant to get dusty, they are meant to get dirty. Let that one roost in your soul.
And hey, if you don't believe in Jesus or aren't really sure what you think of Him, I hope to you I have never used the Bible as a tool of judgment when it should of been a tool of grace. I also hope that the people who have done that to you did not draw you so far away that you would never give it a shot or pick it up to read it again. If you are interested in starting somewhere to read, I would suggest Psalms or John. And if you ever have a question, fire me an email: dan2thecross@gmail.com
God bless and Live Brave.
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