.
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with comments by David Bruce

EIGHT DAY
Subject: Eighth Day
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001
From: Tom Karwaki Pastor, Littlerock (WA) UMC

Eighth Day is a great French film available at Blockbuster. It's about a businessman who is losing his wife etc. and ends up finding himself, fun etc. through a relationship with a developmentally disadvantaged person. Great Genesis scenes...
Tom Karwaki Pastor, Littlerock (WA) UMC

NOT FAITH AFFIRMING
Subject: The Messenger
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001
From: Mary Jo

Dear David,
Your site is really great. Movies and television are powerful mediums that can rapidly influence our thoughts about life. I would like you to consider removing The Messenger from your list of Faith Affirming films. I rented it last night with two friends and we all thought viewers are left with a terrible empty feeling at the end of the film. I looked through your readers' comments about the film and many agree that the scene of Joan's dialog with her conscience leave the audience with doubts about her visions. The audience is led to believe that her actions may have been revenge for the death of her sister. How is this Faith Affirming? Although the movie had many inspirational scences, it felt very dark at the end. We need light, not darkness right now.
Mary Jo

STING OF OFFENSE
Subject: Newsletter_26
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001
From: "Scott Carter"

Dear Kristen,
I don't think you are being fair. You are assuming that there is no legitimate reason to question the prudence of seeing R rated movies. This is indicated by the theme of your questions: Are you are free thinking Christian? Are you a believer who has discovered that it is best to keep your mouth shut to keep your church membership intact? Are you a believer that does not go to church due to the intolerance you feel? Imagine the questions slanted the other way and you would feel the sting of offense.

Please be a little more tolerant with others. Consider Paul's admonition, "...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virue and if there is anythign praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." I have been to PG movies where oral sex is suggested, so there is ample reason for people to be a little short fused about R movies.

Having said that, I am glad that there are folks like you who will view all the movies and review them for the rest of us so that we can make decisions that comport with our family needs and own level of liberty and personal discipline. I saw Amistad after reading a Christian review and then watched it with my children two times more. It was very good and we were all deeply moved by it and grateful for it. So, please be a little more open minded and a little more sympathetic with the rest of us and please keep up the good work.
Sincerely, Scott Carter

Response: Thank you for your kindness. I appreciate that. -David

GREAT SUPPLY OF SPIRITUAL IMAGERY
Subject: Tomb_Raider
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001
From: Don

My wife and I went to see Tomb Raider on it's opening night, and we left very satisfied with it. While I have not played the game (tsk-tsk), I admit to not having the same perspective as most Lara Croft fans. However, looking at the movie objectively and without a lot of expectations left me very impressed. It was both fun and substantial.

My best summary of what the movie was meant to be is a female Indiana Jones saves the world while experiencing resolution of her own inner struggles.

Tomb Raider is loaded with spiritual imagery. Aside from the overt stuff like a visit to a Buddhist monastery or visions pointing the way toward a goal, there are many scenes in which a subtle hint points toward something beyond the obvious. For example, when Lara decides to go off and save the world, her usual plain t-shirt is replaced by one with a red cross painted on it reminiscent of the garb of the crusaders. Also, later in the movie she sheds some of her own blood in the process of stopping the evil. Her sacrifice is very messianic in tone, even to the extent of overcoming the ultimate temptation in that sacrifice.

As for possibly objectionable content, I couldn't find any. There was a couple of shower scenes, but very tastefully done and with a certain sense of humor. (Spoiler alert!) The second one sent groans through the audience when they realized it wasn't Lara. Overall, the director did a great job of putting in some sensuality without any excessive overt sexuality. Another interesting point this movie brings to bear is the existence of a secret society bent on the acquisition of world power through secret knowledge. This is none other than gnosticism, which was one of the early heresies that Christianity dealt with in its early years. It's interesting to see how this selfish desire for god-like power is overcome by good.

I've been waiting to see a review of the movie at hollywoodjesus, but with none there I figured I'd put in my two cents. I'd be interested in reading some other in depth thoughts about the movie.

MY COMMENTS
Subject: Tomb_Raider
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001
From: Mark Gibaud. George, South Africa.

Angelina herself was very good in her part, very sexy, and she came across very independant which was what that part demanded (When she lifts those eyebrows of hers...very sexy!).

The plot carried, wasn't brilliant, but it carried.

The other actors were good (especially the sidekicks), 2 dimensional, but good because they didn't exactly have too much to work with. What did not suffice in my opinion, was the music. Music is of absolute paramount importance in an action movie like this, and these choices didn't cut it. The tunes playing when Lara is doing her stuff in full flight did not contribute to the atmosphere at all (with the exception of the alternative piece when she's on the sled going into that temple joint), and this slightly ruined those scenes for me...

There was no Prodigy - Climbatize when the bad guys break into Croft Manor (as the teaser suggests). Personally, I would've liked a soundtrack more geared towards the alternative/heavy metal side since this tone fits well with action 9/10 times.

On the whole though, I will watch it a second time purely because I totally ADORE that accent...not to mention the body!
Mark Gibaud. George, South Africa.

PATTY'S FAVORITES
Subject: favorite films that impacted my life.
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001
From: Patty

Ben Hur The transforming power of love..and the difference Christ makes in a life

Driving Miss Daisy I think Morgan Freeman showed a true Christian in every since of the word....his humility and his loyalty and pure love. People that walk like that change the world in ways they never really realize.

Amistad... a powerful evangelistic message in the midst of a tragic enslavement and hardship. Effected me greatly...

To Kill a Mockingbird - a very human and powerful lesson in judging someone wrongly and right prevailing against seeminly insurmountable odds...the kind of lawyer everyone would hope to have defending them.

Braveheart- One of the most powerful films I have ever seen..Mel Gibson was much like King David. Being of Scottish ancestry..this movie affected me deeply in ways that I can't even express. A very human and very courageous battle for Justice and Freedom.

SPIFFY FILM
Subject: Spiffy Movie InGodsHands
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001
From: Serinity

Hey I just want to say I LOVE "In God's Hands" it is the best movie, it was sooo good I even bought it hehe!!!! Oh and Matty Liu is a total hottie
- Serinity

BAMBI
Subject: Original_Godzilla
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001
From: Ron

I just found your site and I am impressed. Your the first sight that has anything on it relating to Bambi meets Godzilla. The first time I saw this short, I thought it was the best film I had ever seem. I have a question for you, Where can I get a copy of Bambi meets Godzilla, the full version, uncut. I have only seen it once or twice. My wife and sons think I am nuts.
Thanks Ron
rpetrasek3@home.com

BEYOND THE BLUE FAIRY
Subject: AI AI_Artificial_Intelligence
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Dotcom

This film is simply a re-telling of the story of Pinocchio. It goes beyond the obvious references of the Blue Fairy. Consider the bear (Jiminy Cricket), being captured for money, caged and in show business (the lure for Pinocchio), going to Rouge City (Pleasure Island), searching underwater for the Blue Fairy (searching for Geppetto/the whale). I watched the cartoon the same day as the movie, and couldn't believe the parallelism. What a disappointment. (This is the second time Spielberg has retold a classic. His Jurassic Park 2 was a re-telling of King Kong. It had no resemblance to the book.)
Dotcom

BAGGER VANCE CHARACTERS BASED ON A HINDU EPIC POEM
Subject: legend_of_bagger_vance
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Steve Fridsma

Hi, David -
This potential spoiler may shed more light on the question of "Who is Bagger Vance?" I recently read a story which quoted author Steven Pressfield explaining that the two main characters are derived from a Hindu epic poem the "Bhagavad-Gita" (sort of an "Odyssey" or "Ilead" for India) considered "the great epic of India." http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/gita/bg-eg-hp.htm

In a paraphrase of the poem by William Q. Judge, the subtitle of the Bhagavad-Gita would translate into English:

"The Holy Song of God Himself, who, at the beginning of Kali yuga or the dark age, descended upon earth to aid and instruct Man."

In the epic, avatar "Bhagavan Lord Krishna" leads and guides a young follower named "Arjuna" and explains the mysteries of war and life, declaring that he will "feed the lamp of spiritual wisdom." I may be reaching, but it's interesting that some of the key scenes of transformation for Hardy and Junuh involve lamps. The first chapter of this document is translated, "The Despondency of Arjuna." which pretty much describes Rannulph Junuh when Bagger Vance comes on the scene. I read a bit of the poem and a bit of commentary.

Bhagavan = "Bagger Vance" = Supreme Personality
Arjuna = "R. Junuh" = Follower

The names are uncannily similar and are an obvious reference.

At first, discovering this connection disappointed me as a Christian, having strongly sensed the person of Jesus Christ in the character Bagger Vance. This revelation may disappoint some of your Christian readers.

But I came to realize that just because the author may not have intended to depict Jesus specifically, God is certainly there, despite perhaps coming around to it from another direction. All truth is God's truth! Who do we claim "descended upon earth to aid and instruct humankind" who "is right there beside us and has always been there" who "feeds the lamp of our spiritual wisdom" who "desires for us to find our one true authentic swing", our God-destinies, and who is present when we are absent from our bodies? So, to me, it is still Bagger Vance reflecting the Holy Spirit and the way He reaches out to us: sometimes nagging, sometimes playful, sometimes gripping, sometimes nudging, sometimes direct, sometimes permissive, sometimes urgent, sometimes patient, always loving and wise.
Steve Fridsma
The Culture Code
CentrePointe Church

AN EYE OPENER
Subject: Blow
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Roxanne

Dear David, When I first heard of your site I thought "here we go, some more proselytizing," but that isn't your angle at all. Your page is an openly honest and objective way to view the world around us. I commend you for your great work. As far as the movie Blow goes I really enjoyed it. I'm a bit biased on this one because I'm a great Johnny Depp fan. Nevertheless, the movie really opened my eyes to how an everyday individual can get sucked into greed and corruption and what it can lead to. All that glistens is definitely not gold. I'm sure George Jung has had a lot of time to pay more attention to more spiritual matters and has come to realize the things in life that are most important. I do hope he is given a chance to make amends. We have all done wrong at some point in our lives and we too wanted that chance. Keep up the good work.
Roxanne

IT WAS FREAKY
Subject: hello Powder
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: trink Fairy

hello i liked the movie but it was freaky. i noticed that when powder went to the hospital the actress Geri grainer was there. i wanna see more of her on your web page. ties a cool actress!! thanks

GREAT MUSIC -DISCONNECTED ENDING
Subject: O_Brother_Where_Art_Thou
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Pete

While I enjoyed this flick, especially the music and the cinematography, I found the relationships in the film to be shallow, especially the relationship between Ulysses and his wife. As a result, the ending feels disconnected and you wonder why Ulysses spent all this time pursuing something that seems so shallow.
Pete

USE OF THE TULIP
Subject: AI AI_Artificial_Intelligence
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Mike Parnell

David, I have been wondering about the choice of words to imprint David to Monica. The one that jumped out at me is tulip. The word tulip is a an acrostic for Calvinist theology. The letter T represents total depravity. The letter U represents unconditional election. The L represents limited atonement, while the I signifies irresistible grace. The P symbolizes the perseverance of the saints.

How this relates is that the humans in the film are all caught in their totally depraved mind. This phrase does not mean what many hold that it does. According to John H. Leith, the phrase means that humans are blinded by sin. The humans in the film are blinded by the sin of hatred toward the mechas because they would endure even after the humans were gone. This truth is evident by the ending with the advanced mechas finding David. The idea of unconditional election means that those who are the elect are those who are redeemed. Redemption comes in the form of the re-creation of Monica. Monica is re-created and freed from her grief, which is sin that blinds her from the love of David. The limited atonement speaks to the limit of redemption only for the elect. Those who are chosen to be re-created are those who are elected. The irresistible grace means that the unconditional love of Christ cannot be ignored. David holds that unconditional love and it is so great that Monica cannot ignore it. The perseverance of the saints is the belief that those who are elected are responsible for their actions after election takes place. In other words, fulfillment of their task is the role of those who are elected. Monica's task was to love David. Here blindness to that, because of grief, kept her from fulfilling her role. The love of David, which is agape, speaks of her unconditional election. David loves her unconditionally and her choice as Mommy is an unconditional choice. The love of David is limited to her. David does not love Henry in the same fashion that he loves Monica. David loves Monica and that love is irresistible. His love cannot be stopped. In the end, Monica achieves her purpose. She perseveres to the end and does declare to David her love.

It may be that the film is speaking more about the redemption of Monica than it is in the fulfillment of David. David is the means in which redemption is offered to Monica. His love brings her to the point of being able to be free of her grief over Martin's illness. The wound of the illness, and near death, acts to blind her. She only sees David through the eyes of being a wounded person. The lens she views David is always the distorted lens of Martin. Martin proves his true colors by the way he treats David. When the grief of Martin's illness is gone, then the distorted lens is gone. David is seen for what he is: a person who loves and longs for the return of love. David, you don't know how much I am grateful for what you do in your ministry. Just to be able to take a few minutes and write some rambling thoughts about a film is one of the great gifts that you provide for me. Thanks and may God continue to use you to spread his message to the world.
Mike Parnell

WHY STOP AT THREE?
Subject: Pay_It_Forward
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001
From: Pete

I enjoyed the movie, but was left with a lingering question. Why stop paying forward after three time? Christian love means continual self-sacrifice on behalf of others.
Pete

R RATED MOVIES
Subject: Newsletter_26
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001
From: A

Dear Sir:
I enjoy reading your movies reviews because I also enjoy analyzing movies, and books. It is a difficult question you asked about whether "R" rated movies were appropriate for Christians to watch. Although many movies have very uplifting themes; and provide insight into the mind, and motivations of nonchristians, I think I would have to say like Paul that "everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial." I understand your point of view, Christians aren't supposed to live in an Ivory Tower, and close our eyes to the world. I too have experienced your feeling of bewilderment when I've heard well-meaning, kind and wonderful people say their children cannot go trick or treating because it is a Pagan Holiday, or collect Pokeman cards because they're Satanic! One of the most insightful books I've ever read, Night, was "antichristian" because of the main character's statement that God was dead, he could not be alive and allow the horrible atrocities passing before his (the boy's) eyes during the Holocaust to happen. Did this book's theme hurt my appreciation and love of The Hiding Place, a Christian book about the Holocaust? No rather it strengthened it, because the descriptions of the former's horrors, and sense of hopelessness, caused the forgiveness and hope in the latter to become more real to me, more meaningful.

However I would have to respectfully disagree with you in regard to the statement you made about Jesus saying that "it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out." It reminded me that it was also said "that whatever is pure, and pleasing...think on these things." I believe that in this regard, certain views in movies could eventually be adopted such as cynicism, or sex before marriage being acceptable, or various other views causing a Christian to err in this command.

Thank you for such an interesting website. I will continue to visit it in the future, and am sure I will continue to find high quality, enjoyable reviews. In regard to myself, I am a 20 year old college student who is considering becoming an English teacher. That's such a difficult thing to tell someone you are writing to. Immediately you start to wonder how many grammar mistakes you've made, and if your email sounds half intelligible. Thank you again for all the time you invest reviewing movies so well.

I would appreciate if you would not post my email address for privacy reasons.

Response: Thank you for your kindness. I appreciate that. -David

ONLY OPEN MINDED CHRISTIAN WEB SITE
Subject: Newsletter_26
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001
From: Stephen

Dear Bruce
Thanks so much for your great website. It has to be the only open-minded christian site on the web. I think that your R-Rated christians article was spot on. I think it is ironic that a belief system founded by such a tolerant, loving God has spawned such an intolerant, bigoted and hateful church.

It seems to me that christianity, as interpreted by us humans, has caused this world almost unfathomable pain over the centuries, from the massacres of millions of natives by so-called christian explorers and missionaries in Africa, North & South America, and even my home of Australia, to the holocaust and today's victimization of homosexuals. We then have the cheek to trumpet loudly (and embarrasingly) about some nudity in a movie! I would think that there are greater concerns - maybe I have my priorities wrong!

Christians tend to think that movies that challenge their (our) system of beliefs and personal standards as a direct attack, trying to undermine our faith. Where is the great appreciation of our hallowed right to freedom of speech? How come it is fine for christians to protest loudly at anything gay, anything nude, anything with a different opinion, and as soon as something or someone attacks the "church" it's just not fair? Are we that insecure in our faith that as soon as someone sends a little fire our way we run for cover, screaming persecution? We don't even know the meaning of that word!

Jesus is our example - and he is not only my Jesus and your Jesus, he is Jesus of the world, and even Hollywood Jesus! In the bible, which I believe to be wholly true, Jesus seems to only ever have a crack at the alleged christians. He gets on fine with the sinners, the prostitutes, thieves, and scum of society. He is their friend FIRST. Their is no judgement made, no sly remarks regarding their lifestyle. His example spoke loudest - people were inspired by his life, his "realness" and his love. It was the so-called christians who copped the angry, righteous Jesus, because they were hypocritcal and judgemental.

The moviemakers of today, like Speilberg, Lucas, Scott, are the Da Vincis and Monets of our time. These are great artists who, I believe, history will judge to be among the greatest artists of all time. And as soon as some content issues arise in a movie, we christians not only shut it out of our own minds, we persecute each other for being unholy and not Christ-like. We are depriving ourselves of life-changing artistry that can impact our lives. A film like American Beauty can change your life - it did mine - or you can get bogged down in moral constipation at the content. As the movie itself says, look deeper. There are rubbish movies out there which exploit and degrade, but I think when we ignore movies, and, for that matter, music, merely for having a different point of view, we are potentially robbing ourselves of experiences which could enrich our christianity.

Sorry for the ramble - it is great to have an outlet for my opinion, which, it seems, is the most controversial thing since anything! It is good to know that there are like-minded people out there. Remember, God can use anything to speak to us, whether it be a donkey or the bible or a movie or a song - I recall that He created everything!
Keep up your inspiring work.
Regards Stephen
Melbourne, Australia

Response: I totally agree! -David

WINDMILLS
Subject: Moulin_Rouge
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001
From: Brent Young

I've enjoied everyone's comments on the Spectacular, Spectacular film. There is an element that is purposefully put in many of the shots that has not been addressed. That is the windmill. It is so obvious in many shots, it even has a sound effect durring Satine's speech about how she can never love. It is the peril that separates the divide, the gauntlet that has to be run to enter the Moulin Rouge and the backdrop for many of Satine's songs and speeches. Is Baz making an allusion to Cervantes? Tilting at windmills? Is Christian, like Don Quixote, trying to right incorrigible wrongs? Is this only an illusion brought on by clouded thinking? In the end the Moulin Rouge dies and falls into decay, but the windmill remains. Your thoughts?
Brent Young

LEFT ME UNSATISFIED
Subject: left me unsatisfied AI_Artificial_Intelligence
Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2001
From: Darrel Manson

I'm one of those who wasn't as thrilled with AI as I'd hoped to be. Not because I expected it to be cute, but because at the end it tried to be. I might have liked it better to end with the Sartean Hell of constant unfulfilled hope at the bottom of the sea. It would at least have been thought provoking and something I could fight with. In stead he gets his moment of heaven and then is ready to dream for eternity. Better films dealing with what it means to be human are The Truman Show and even the somewhat light-weight Bicentennial Man.
-- Darrel Manson
><>Artesia Christian Church ICQ 5624184 ><>Artesia, CA http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch01198
First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then you win
-Gandhi

A THREATENING MESSAGE
Subject: Jesus Gary Busey
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001
From:

I would like to speak with Gary. I have been a Christian for about a year and a half now. I have more than curiosity as to how this famous hollywood actor became a Christian. I would like to share some insights with him. I share many, too many of his "exploits". These "expoits led me in a roundabout but direct path to The Lord Himself. I speak of no other the Jesus, the Son of God. Also, I am an actor and a writer (aren't we all). I am keeping a log of my life over the last 1 1/2 years. If you would be so kind, I would like to speak to Gary.

My address is: Steven xxxx
1234 xxxxx Lane
Louisville, KY xxxxxx
(502) xxx-xxxx
xxxx@juno.com

Please resond, in the Name of The Lord. Steve
P.S. I wll send this message daily until I get to speak with Gary Busey. Count on it. Don't worry, I'm not a "crackpot". I just want to share Jesus with Gary.

Response: If you write me everyday I will report you. I have your email address and I traced your routing numbers. Please reconsider your threatening actions "in the name of the Lord." I do not have any way of communicating with Gary Busey. Do not email me ever again. -David

A SENSE OF REDEMPTION
Subject: Bad_Lieutenant
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001
From: Dave

Hi Friends, I find comments by Simon S. Remark in http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/bad_lieutenant.htm to be intereting. However, I do not agree completely with his perspective on the movies that he listed.

I did not like DOGMA at all because of the complete misconception of Kevin Smith's notion about Christianity. It has hints of Catholicism (i.e. Linda Fiorentino's baptizing the water to make it holy.) It fails because it did not demonstrate a true knowledge of Christianity. For example, Angels cannot be killed by bullets, or have their wings cliped. They can never become human - that's why they are angels. The whole bit about Alan Rickman's character trying to save Jesus from the cross is beyond comprehension. It's as if Smith is saying Christ never needed to be crucified. And even if "Kevin Smith is right. God does care about humans. And God is very involved in the human condition. God is ever ready to love and care for you," it's not strong enough to support the movie. God is not Alanis Morrisett wearing shorts and doing hand stands.

There has to be a reverence for God. It is lacking in Dogma. God is not a fool. I felt that he is portrayed as one in this movie.

As for CHASING AMY, as Simon Remark said, "accepting people for who they are, no matter what they've done in the past, and loving them unconditionally," I would wholeheartedly agree with this statement. But, let me ask a question, would God accept Amy as the way she is, a lesbian? Even if she is straight, would God accept her promiscuity? There is a fine line between what we accept and what God accepts. God does not and never will accept homosexuality. He never has and he never will. He did not create mankind to be homosexuals, bi-sexuals, or overtly sexual. It's true that we are sexual beings, but only within the confines of marriage. Yes, we may accept the fact that Amy (or anybody we know) is a homosexual. But, we have a duty to try to change her orientation. This does not mean that we don't love her unconditionally. We should love Amy as God would have love her. But, to not tell her the truth according to the Bible is not love. Telling her the truth and what God expects, a monogamous heterosexual relationship, IS love.

As for LEAVING LAS VEGAS, there's got to be more than "she accepts him for who he is, he accepts her for who she is. They love each other unconditionally." Acceptance of an individual's self destruction is destruction in itself. What would you say if your daughter or mother becomes a prostitute and your father or brother tells you that he wants to drink himself to death. Would you say, "well, good for you! You just be your own self and get herpes and AIDS and go ahead and drink yourself to death!" It would be absurd for any individual to truly be so inhumane and watch the other individual destroy themselves. This is not love. Love is to tell the other individual that we care enough about them to want to help them. If they refuse, then we stay back and let them come to their natural course. But, we should never accept it.

As for MAGNOLIA, I would agree that there are a lot of points that the filmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson, was trying to make. The most important point that I see is that every character in this movie is trying to come to grips with him or herself about their situation. They all seem to want to do the right thing, to be good and to be truly accepted and be loved. Even though they are all intrinsically flawed, they were all seeking redemption. It was as if they had to do something before they can go on with their lives. I like that theme. It is, I believe, very Christian.

I have not seen BAD LIEUTANENT yet. But, from what I have read, I believe that it may be one of the best movie for a Christian. Seeing sin at its "finest" may be hard. But, we have to always ask ourselves one question: are we better than the bad lieutenant? Not according to Christ we are not. I am planning to see it. I will let you know what I think about it. Thanks for reading.
God Bless, Dave

CRIED SEVERAL TIMES
Subject: AI AI_Artificial_Intelligence
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001
From: Paul

Although not a particularly effusive person, I came close to crying several times in this film and again when reading your wonderful analysis.

This film has many precendents and influences: D.A.R.Y.L. is also about a child-robot who not only wants to be a real boy, but in his case believes that he is, and is devastated to learn otherwise. But A.I. (no offence to Barret Oliver, who played Daryl beautifully) is an altogether deeper and more sophisticated treatment of this theme.

There are remarkable precedents also in Blade Runner, about life between mostly degraded humans and sentient, sometimes rebellious androids in a terrifying, decadent future American metropolis. In both Blade Runner and A.I., an android meets his human maker personally and is disappointed. Is this future (followed, as in A.I., by extinction of our species) what the human race is heading for? Don't trust an overoptimistic assumption if you arrived too late to see your local cinema's own previews of coming attractions. This film is a cult classic, and by following so closely in its footsteps Spielberg et al. have much to live up to. I think they contributed worthily to the same themes and genre.

A memorable sermon by one of my favorite clergymen almost twenty years ago contrasted this film, in which robots aspire to human status, with "The Stepford Wives", in which humans are forced to become robots. If you think that perceiving the humanity and worthiness of those who are different might not be the will of God, the latter film's contemplation of the consequences of doing the reverse might clarify the picture.

One of the most moving episodes of AI occurred at the end, in which David was allowed to live (or re-live) a single day with his mother, and found it rich enough to satisfy all the aspirations that had driven him literally for millennia, also opening the audience's eyes to the preciousness of life and relationships. Thornton Wilder had proffered such a scenario to very edifying effect in his drama "Our Town." It says something about the value of our "threescore years and ten" set against an eternal destiny.

David, our host, you are too humble. You should have been the first to point out the meaning of the name you share with the film's hero. It means "beloved." How ironic that name became during the course of the film! I agree with the contributor who said that intelligent children should not be kept from seeing it. It was the behavior of David's young peers toward him, who was made simply to love and be loved, that spoiled everything for him. This happens every day among children themselves when they don't think.

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