13 Going on 30

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13 Going on 30 shares a Biblical theme found in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.� It hits you later, of course, being distracted by the painful visual reminder of being a teenager in the 80’s. The movie gives only a few belly-laughs not already spoiled by the trailers, but it emerges as a lighthearted romantic comedy with a powerful message.

“And be not conformed to this world…� – After getting her wish to be one of the glamorous thirty-year olds in her magazines, Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) finds that she has changed. The caring, unsure, wish-I-was-popular 13 year old has been replaced by a self-loving powerhouse whose sole purpose in life is to climb higher up the ladder of success – no matter who she has to step on to get there. One full day at the office reveals that Jenna has isolated herself from family, stolen ideas from people, fired others unnecessarily, and is despised by most people in her life. Where did the sweet Jenna go? She finally touches base with Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo), her best friend from childhood, and learns about the 17 years she missed. She had been conformed to this world by pursuing the holy grail of everyone’s teen years, popularity and power. Her dream of becoming “thirty and flirty� was realized at the expense of those closest to her.

“…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…� -- With Matt’s help, Jenna undergoes a transformation back to the kind of person she used to be. By living her new life like a 13 year old, Jenna brings others in touch with something lost: childlike innocence. She makes friends with the young girls at her apartment complex. She suggests board games to her boyfriend instead of sex. She goes on walks, swings at the park, and eats Razzles with Matt. She goes back home to see her parents and even crawls into bed with them. While these activities might seem absurd to a 30 year old, Jenna allows the innocence of childhood to influence her adult life. Christ said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.� (Luke 18:17) Childlike faith and hope is often required for renewal. For the magazine’s redesign, Jenna’s pitches that they should put life back into the magazine by highlighting women who are happy, strong, smart, and vibrant. She encourages her coworkers to feel something they’ve forgotten by remembering what used to be good. That’s basically the motto of Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things above…� and Philippians 4:8, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.�

“…that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.� – Now it’s bold to assume what the perfect will of God is, but there are a few things in this movie that I’m absolutely sure are God’s will. First, love one another. Matt demonstrated to Jenna that love transcends hurt. Despite his heart being dashed to pieces, Matt willingly helps Jenna cope with her trauma and later (not to spoil the ending), keeps his promises to those in his life. Jenna demonstrates love to Matt by encouraging him in his photography, helping him to feel joy again, and respecting his decisions. After her friend Lucy turns against her, Jenna loves her enemy by refraining from hurtful words at an opportune moment. Christ constantly encouraged people to love one another and cited this principal as the second greatest commandment. Second, make regular changes for the better. A lifetime of mistakes cannot be fixed in a week, and Jenna grapples with that reality. The moment she tries to do right, something she did wrong in the past throws a wrench into her life. During a pivotal discussion, Jenna’s mother states that if she had never made any mistakes, she wouldn’t know how to make things right. Surprisingly (and a little unbelievably for a 13 year old), Jenna accepts this as part of her new reality and presses on to make things right. Phil. 3:13-14 states, “…but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…� Third, don’t put stock in today. Jenna’s reality at age 13 differs greatly from her reality at age 30. The hottest guy in school is now a cab driver. The geek next door is now a talented photographer. Money and fame don’t pay like she had thought they would. The value of friendship cannot be quantified. Like Jenna, we tend to get stuck in the moment, not realizing that we will have a different perspective five, ten, twenty years from now. Look up. Look ahead. Live today in a way that will make you proud tomorrow and for eternity. Look to the things of God which bring long term peace and blessing. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.� (2Cor. 4:18) Our lives are a breath, a whisper, and “poof� and we’re gone.

It’s not easy to fight the media, the marketing gurus who tell us what we want, negative cultural influences, and the hate in our own back yard. But, it can be done and the mind can be renewed. Like this movie proved, even if you can’t change the past, you can always start today.

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Man on Fire

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My husband loved this movie, but I found myself confused by its theme development. The movie held my attention for sure, with only a few minor lulls in the plot (lulls that were ultimately saved by switchbacks in the story). Dakota Fanning gives an incredibly believable performance, and Denzel delivers the goods as expected. There are also a surprising number of Biblical references throughout the movie.

Thematically, this movie jumps around. Like TV courtroom dramas, it exposes the realities surrounding a concept without making any particular judgment call. Ultimately, viewers must decide what they think about the subject matter. So what is the subject matter? Professional murder. In this movie, murder is a business, both for the good guys and the bad guys. The only difference is that the good guys have a conscience . . . sometimes.

When the bad guys murder…it is clearly wrong. Every bit of our moral fiber screams out against the injustice of using people as financial bargaining chips. Furthermore, the senseless murder of children whose parents can’t or don’t deliver forces us to cry out for justice against the evildoers. Forget mercy, “kill ‘em all,� as Pita’s mother puts it.

When the good guys murder…it’s gray area. Vengeance seems acceptable given the circumstances, but it doesn’t quite balance the fact that Creasy mercilessly kills people even after they cooperate. Furthermore, the bad guys of La Hermandad and the ring leader, La Voz, refer to themselves as professionals. They make this comment enough times to clue the viewer in to the fact that Creasy also considers himself a “professional� assassin. After Pita’s abduction/murder, he vows to do what he does best, kill everyone who participated or profited from the transaction. His best friend refers to him as an artist whose talent is death. But, still he suffers from guilt and depression because of what he does. So . . . is it wrong? The movie doesn’t tell you what to think.

Creasy as a Lost Sheep – The story plays with several Biblical images, including the parable of the lost sheep. In Matthew 15:13, Jesus refers to himself as the shepherd and to believers as the sheep in his fold. Jesus makes it clear that if a sheep wanders away from the fold, he will leave the rest of the flock to find the lost sheep. When we first meet Creasy, he drinks heavily, wanders from job to job, and seeks peace in Mexico where his friend lives. After accepting the job as Pita’s bodyguard, he rejects her attempts to get close to him, admits to the school Madre that he is “the sheep that got lost,� and even tries to commit suicide. In a way, Pita becomes the Christ figure for a time by seeking him out and touching his soul. Her vulnerability and childlike love awaken new life in Creasy, and she gives him a pendant of St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. After receiving the pendant, he reaches for the Bible instead of the whiskey bottle.

Creasy as the Hand of Justice – Much like The Punisher, this movie takes off into pure vengeance at the close of the first act (when Pita is kidnapped). With Pita presumed dead, only judgment remains. Creasy becomes the hand of justice for all the kidnapping victims by putting an end to the regime. He starts at the bottom with La Hermandad (the “brotherhood� of dirty cops) and works his way up to the top (La Voz, “The Voice,� the ring leader whose face is never seen). With the help of a courageous reporter and an AFI agent, he utilizes his assassin training to punish and destroy the entire organization. Much like the Angel of Death (see more on this in The Punisher review), Creasy executes judgment on evildoers.

Spoiler Warning—skip to the end if you haven’t seen the movie!!

Creasy as the Christ Figure – Creasy’s journey follows the path of the verse he quotes in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.� The Madre asks him if he ever sees the hand of God in the work that he does. He initially claims that he doesn’t, but then he does come to understand his “calling� to protect people as the movie progresses. Much like Christ as deliverer, he destroys the kidnapping organization and liberates the people from fear and abuse. Later, he makes a more personal sacrifice for Pita. He literally exchanges his own life for hers. Some simple visual connections include: Creasy walks uphill to save Pita (Christ walked up the hill of Calvary to the cross), he stumbles as he approaches the car (Christ supposedly stumbled under the weight of the cross, causing the Romans to force Simon of Cyrene to help – Matt. 27:33), Pita is set free (Christ forever set free sinners across the earth and throughout time – Rom. 8:1-2), Creasy looks up to a mountain just before he dies (Christ is transfigured, or changed, on a mountain before his death – Mark 9:23), Creasy dies in the car without being shot by the bad guys (Christ said that no one took his life from him, but he gave it up of his own free will – John 10:18), and when talking to Pita, he refers to his destination as “home� (Christ sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven today – Matt. 26:64).

Although this movie was entertaining, the message is extracted only after further thought and analysis. I had to review my notes to make any sense of it. Overall though, I could say that I enjoyed this movie.

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Ella Enchanted

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Ella Enchanted was a WONDERFUL little flick. I came out of the theater smiling all over. It was clean, interesting, and well developed. The character of Ella sets an excellent standard for women and girls everywhere. In a time when women’s empowerment couldn’t be stronger, the combination of faith and action that she displays encourages us to use that power wisely. She models the very example that Christ set for us during his time on this earth.

“Her gift made her obedient, but her heart made her kind.� – Ella champions the little man (and the big man—a.k.a. Giants) from the beginning. Herself a persecuted girl, she fights for all who suffer at the hands of others. Even as a child, Ella stands up for the outcast, Areida, who is persecuted for her race. Later, she outwardly opposes the evil Prince Edgar and his nephew, the naïve heir to the throne, Prince Charmont. Prince Edgar, taking advantage of Prince Char’s absence at school, has segregated and enslaved the races that once peacefully co-existed under the reign of Prince Char’s father. At a rally for Prince Char, Ella speaks out, opposing all that he and Edgar stand for. Then, when she meets Char face to face, she calls him on the carpet and challenges him to do something about it. Even her treatment of the “bad guy� is kind, and she makes a huge impact on his life. This kindness resembles Christ’s kindness to mankind when he came to earth. He taught that we should love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44), give to the poor (Matthew: 25: 35-40) and proclaim hope for the prisoners, the spiritually blind, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). Christ himself championed the cause of the little guys of the universe: us.

Submission with a Mission – Submission differs greatly from obedience. The fairy godmother gives obedience to Ella as a “gift,� and in truth, obedience can be a gift when it is used to bless others. However, when not properly understood, obedience can also be a curse to the kind soul who chooses to obey without question. Someone once said, “Anyone can make you obey, but no one can make you submit.� Submission implies that one wants to obey. Here are some examples: Hattie forces Ella to steal when she discovers that Ella’s gift is obedience. That is obedience without submission, and it causes harm to Ella. Later, Ella chooses to stay in Giant world at Prince Char’s request. In willingly submitting to his request, he is blessed as they enjoy a wonderful, romantic evening. Christ exemplified this concept when he chose to come to earth as a man. Christ “…made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant…and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.� (Phil. 2:8). Christ didn’t have to submit and give his life for us. He said so in John 10:18, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.� The key is that he wanted to, and he chose to bless all humanity through his obedience to the Father. That’s the supreme example of submission at its finest!

Faith in the Probability of Change – On her deathbed, Ella’s mother speaks promising words: “What’s inside is stronger than any spell.� Ella recognizes this concept in her dealings with Char, speaking one of the most powerful lines in the movie when Prince Char reveals his weakness. Even after Ella has encouraged him time and again to assume his power and use it for good, Prince Char states, “I’m going to ask my uncle to…� Could he have missed Ella’s point more completely? We want to say, “Are you totally stupid?� But Ella’s response is golden. She looks deep into his eyes, and says, “I think you’re going to be a good king someday…� This woman looks beyond all his imperfections and sees he will be a great king in the future, believing that change is not only possible, but probable. Later, she discovers that even she is capable of changing for the better. She only has to look inside. Christ also believes in man’s ability to change - through the promised Holy Spirit who comes to live inside every believer. In John 14:26, Christ says, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.� The Holy Spirit lives inside us to help us change, so that 2 Cor. 5:17 can be accomplished, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!�

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The Passion of the Christ

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I made a concerted effort to avoid e-mails, television shows, and newscasts regarding this movie, The Passion of the Christ. I wanted my “experience,� as many have called it, to be unbiased. Now, I have to admit I was biased going into it. I expected an unrealistic and sensationalistic film with performances that would not be convincing. However, it was the media and not the movie that was overdone. I was surprisingly convinced and enthralled throughout the film. Having read my share of books on the scourging of Christ, I took a greater interest in the way that Christ interacted with people. What I saw was a personal Christ who spent a great deal of time protecting the people.

Mary Magdaline appears much like a saint the first time we see her. She wears respectable clothing and supports Jesus’ mother. Yet, when the film exposes her past, we see a harlot facing judgment under the law. Beyond her sinful appearance, the shame permeates her eyes. That shame compels Christ to act. He does not act according to the law (which required death at that time), but according to his nature which seeks to protect and redeem the shame-filled heart. He draws a line in the sand and the accusers leave. He extends a hand to Mary, protecting her from death.

Mary the Mother of Jesus is presented as a strong woman, but it seems to defy any mother’s natural ability to endure pain. A woman of few tears, she bears the injustice of her son’s death as if she knows that a greater work is at hand. In this film, Jesus’ words on the road to Calvary remind her of his calling, and inspire hope in her fragile mother’s heart. I wondered at several points how she could endure such pain. Without saying so, the movie implies that Jesus spent a lifetime preparing her for what must eventually transpire. His message of hope protected her from the despair of appearances. His suffering was great, but his cause was greater.

Pontias Pilate, a man who refuses to hear truth, also receives protection from Jesus. Pontias Pilate questions Christ, hoping to be absolved of his requirement to deal justly with an innocent man. Pilate fears that Caesar will kill him if his refusal to condemn Christ results in a Jewish uprising. Jesus responds, “You have no power over me except what is given to you from the Father.� Jesus’ words imply that death is inevitable. In speaking these words, Jesus does not hold Pilate to a standard of justice. Instead, he chooses to protect the unbelieving governor by endorsing his own death sentence.

The Apostle Peter denies Christ amid a frenzied mob of angry people. The people want blood, and Peter is afraid he will endure the same torture and death as Christ. Jesus does not call him out during this mob scene. It would be easy for anyone to be angry and scream, “Yes, you are a follower of mine! I’ve spent months and years with you, and you pledged your allegiance unto death to me just last night!� But Jesus remains silent. He protects Peter from the crowd with his silence. Only his eyes convey a message, one that he had given Peter the night before, a message of courage and perseverance.

Simon of Cyrene, the man who helps carry the cross, also experiences Christ’s protection. At first, Simon tries to avoid the task because he fears being beaten along with Christ. Why wouldn’t the whips fall on his shoulder or the pieces of glass catch his leg? The soldiers do not hesitate to beat Christ when he is down. Simon responds in fear. Christ responds in love. Simon eventually makes a stand for Jesus and protects him from the guards, or so he thinks. He picks up the cross and carries the majority of the weight. However, the last moment of the scene shows Christ laying his arm over Simon’s arm just as the whip comes down. Again, Christ displays his great love and protects a man from what he fears most.

The Thief on the Cross seems to be Christ’s crowning joy throughout the movie. Simon of Cyrene tells Jesus, “It’s almost finished� as they approach the hill of Calvary. When Jesus arrives, more pain awaits him and he is nailed to the cross. But, when they lift the cross, he encounters the prize. The words of the believing thief infuse joy into Christ’s suffering eyes. It is as if Christ’s purpose is made complete in that moment—that moment when one person believes. He replies with great satisfaction, “This day, you will be with me in Paradise.� It strikes me that while man fears death, Christ celebrates it. Death is the place where God makes mankind whole, free from lingering sin and condemnation. It is where we can be protected from all hatred, all evil and all accusations of our unworthiness. This is the prize of Christ!

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The Punisher

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The Punisher will probably be a “love it� or “hate it� movie for most people. The critical comic book readers and those looking for an intense film on creative killing will likely hate it. But for those who enjoy a good testosterone “shoot-‘em-up� film with a delightful contrast of comic relief, The Punisher will deliver. It took three days for me to figure out whether or not I liked this movie, a difficulty that usually indicates that it challenged me in some way. Expecting a typical adrenaline-infused bloodbath film, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of truly comic moments and the unencumbered message on the harshness of punishment.

Castle as the Angel of Death - In true comic book fashion, the hero, Frank Castle, is an all or nothing kind of guy. His world is black and white, lonely, and beyond the human experience, for better or worse. As a spiritual application, I could find nothing more appropriate for comparison than the Angel of Death. Remorselessly, Castle executes judgment on those who have committed unnecessary evils, punishing them for their sins and for their unwillingness to change. This parallels the task of the Death Angel in the days of Moses and Pharoah, when the Angel executed God’s judgment on Egypt by killing the firstborn male in every Egyptian household (Exodus 11). Cold, hard, lacking feeling and mercy, the Angel of Death mowed down lives across the land with no more thought than we would have while mowing down the grass on a Sunday afternoon. It was just the job that had to be done. That’s the feeling we get from Castle. It’s his duty, his job, his mission, after the wrongful slaughter of his family.

Where is the Mercy? The unique thing about this film is that we almost detest the "hero" by the end of the story. The protagonist seems far worse than the antagonist, as Castle brazenly goes beyond “an eye for an eye.� He uses not only his own strength but also Saint’s own vices to ensnare and punish Saint, a nice Biblical touch (Psalm 9:16). However, Castle’s inability to show any level of mercy shakes the foundations of Hollywood filmmaking. Despite his neighbors’ attempts to coax him back to some sense of feeling, Castle remains emotionally dead and beyond reach. There is no lesson, no mercy, no change . . . but perhaps that is the point. There comes a time when punishment must be exacted on the evildoer. Judgment day is real.

The Duality of God – The Bible states in many passages that God is both just (Psalm 11:4-7) and merciful (Micah 7:18). A friend and I briefly discussed this concept after the movie, agreeing that this duality challenges our logic. How can a merciful God send the Angel of Death to unrepentant Egypt, persecute countless idolatrous nations, and throw unrepentant sinners into the Lake of Fire on judgment day? Only through his holy nature, which demands justice. How can a just God stoop down to Earth and Himself die a brutal death to give mankind the opportunity to be reconciled and live in peace with him forever? Only through his loving nature, which demands mercy. Both are incredible concepts, but the existence of both characteristics in one being is far more incredible.

Made in His Image - I discovered three days later why I had walked out of the theater liking this movie. It helped me see things from God’s point of view. He has given each of us the capacity to understand Him, because we are made in his image. The immediate desire for Castle to punish the bad guy proves that we have an innate sense of God’s justice: protection for the innocent and a lesson for the sinner. The frustration of watching Castle finish the job in the last five minutes proves that we have an innate sense of God’s mercy: not wanting the guilty to suffer more than is necessary to change his mind. It’s strange to have a sense of God’s character. It’s even stranger to imagine the intensity with which God must feel these two things equally and powerfully. If we feel it in part, He feels it in all of its fullness.

As I said, this movie isn’t for everyone. If you have a weak stomach, be sure to skip this one. But, if you can see beyond the violence to appreciate the message, it may be worth your $8.00. Be sure to listen for the three points in Castle’s letter: they are of paramount importance to the theme.

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