Michael. A Hollywood Jesus visual film review.

Title Search: Advanced Search

SpringWidgets
Fandango.com Boxoffice Top 10
Fandango?s Top 10 Box Office Movies!

SpringWidgets
Spiritual Insight in Movies
All other considerations aside, how spiritual is a movie? The scale rates from profoundly spiritual (5) to not at all spiritual (1). Courtesy of HollywoodJesus.com.

Blind Side, The (2009)
Planet 51 (2009)
Twilight Saga: New Moon, The (2009)
Red Cliff (2009)
Messenger, The (2009)
Oh My God (2009)
2012 (2009)
Pirate Radio (2009)
Box, The (2009)
Fourth Kind, The (2009)
Men Who Stare at Goats, The (2009)
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by S...
Christmas Carol, A (2009)
Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)
Amelia (2009)
Antichrist (2009)
Astro Boy (2009)
Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant...
Saw VI (2009)
Motherhood (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox, The (2009)
Ninja Assassin (2009)
Old Dogs (2009)
Princess and the Frog, The (2009)

Armored (2009)	12/04/09
Brothers (2009)	12/04/09
Everybody's Fine (2009)	12/04/09
Last Station, The (2009)	12/04/09
Serious Moonlight (2009)	12/04/09
Transylmania (2009)	12/04/09
Up in the Air (2009)	12/04/09
Single Man, A (2009)	12/11/09
Invictus (2009)	12/11/09
Lovely Bones, The (2009)	12/11/09

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The S...	12/23/09
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parn...	12/25/09
It's Complicated (2009)	12/25/09
Sherlock Holmes (2009)	12/25/09
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond...	12/30/09
Case 39 (2010)	01/01/10
Crazy on the Outside (2010)	01/08/10
Daybreakers (2010)	01/08/10
Leap Year (2010)	01/08/10
Youth in Revolt (2010)	01/08/10

center>

Riding the wave of the popular angel craze comes this mixed up film. Although the writers of this film make use of the Bible's Michael the archangel they make sure that he is not a stereotypical angel.

MICHAEL
(1997)

Review by David Bruce
Wen master HollywoodJesus.com

Although the writers of this film make use of the Bible's Michael the archangel they make sure that he is not a stereotypical angel. He's overweight. He smokes. He's a sloppy eater. Because of this, and the fact that he hides his wings, most of the people in the film are unaware that he is an angel! But, the audience knows -we are allowed to see his wings right from the start. He is on a mission to help some self debased tabloid writers to rediscover life, passion, love and their dreams again.

The movie was not a big hit. Perhaps, the vulgar conduct of Michael with women kept it in check. It offended believers and confused others. But, then again, what do you expect when you cross saintly Michael with Mr. "Saturday Night Fever". The film gives us a angel who attracts groups of women in a bar with his sensational dancing and then catches the attention of the older men with his Bible story preaching in which he recounts his battle with Satan. "Battle" is his favorite word. He even goes head to head with a charging bull and wins!

Michael is not about flashy miracles, signs and wonders. In fact, he is literally sacrificing himself for others (the shedding of feathers). He reluctantly brings a dog back to life. This is very much in line with how God works in the world. There has only been one burning bush and very few other flashy miracles. Instead, God works with us daily through everyday relationships and situations just as Michael does in this story.

When humans die, according to the Bible, they do not become angels as seems to be implied with Jean Stapleton's return at the end of the film (or, is she?). But, more accurately what the film points to is this other spiritual dimension that is beyond the material universe to which we are all destined. We will all die and we will all face our maker someday!

VISITOR RESPONSES

ALTERNATIVE TO TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE
From: Powers [please do not publish my email address]
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000

This was a very entertaining movie. The most interesting thing for me about the movie "Michael" was the way Hollywood treats the idea of an angel and what is a spiritual experience. Since Hollywood seems to worship self, and has no sacrament other than sex, they found it impossible to have an angel who did not have sex. For Hollywood, as for most of us, that is the closest thing we have to a spiritual, transcendent experience.

TRAVOLTA MADE A GREAT ANGEL
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000
From: Louise

I thought this movie was great. Though I don't believe angels smoke or dance in bars, I do believe as the book of Hebrews tells us that "some have entertained angels unaware". John Travolta was fantastic in this part, when he walked out into the field with the dog, and his angel wings lifted into the air it was beautiful. I wish someone would tell me where I could purchase a figurine of "Michael" ( as played by John Travolta). I could watch this movie a hundred more times and not get bored! As a defender of all my family, the word "battle" sure is fitting. Is it little wonder that my sister looks at me in a strange way and asks "Are you sure you're not Michael?" thanks for a wonder film and thanks to a great actor!
Louise

MICHAEL IS OZ
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999
From: Phil

Michael is a retelling of the wizard of OZ
Tornado at the Beginning
Dorothy with a Dog
Hurt looking for a heart
Etc.

THANK GOD FOR ANGELS
August 14, 1999. I loved this movie. Michael is a warrior angel, not some simpering white robed, gold haloed do gooder. He is God's top angel, and like any top gun he has his faults. He has been sent on a mission, but he is going to enjoy the perks along the way, especially since he states this is his last visit to
earth. That part is hard to believe,since I can't imagine God using his number one warrrior to cure a bunch of misfits, but who am I? I can't help but be drawn to these mysterious creatures we call angels, especially hollywood versions of them. I sure hope that angels have been there for me, because I have had rough times, and got through them, even when I didn't think I wanted to. So I like the thought of angels, and obviously so do alot of other people.

ENTERTAINING, BUT LACKED SPIRITUALLY
June 27, 1999. I believe, based on entertainment value, it was an entertaining movie. Spiritually, it lacked any value. ?Linda

ANGELS CAN BEHAVE JUST LIKE HUMANS
My name is Susie and my e-mail address is stormchaser_2000@hotmail.com. My comments on the movie are that from what I was able to see of it is that it was funny and entertaining. To me it was an effort to bring angels to life, to be put to life like us humans are. It was a good effort to bring us to realize that if angels were to come to earth that they too can behave as us humans do.

From unknown: I have seen the movie several times and feel that it was an excelent movie!

Click to go to the Michael of the Bible.

FOR THE STORY OF MICHAEL AS IT IS IN THE BIBLE CLICK THE PICTURE.

MOVIES WITH ANGELS IN THEM:
CITY OF ANGELS
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY
PROPHECY
PROPHECY 2

INSIGHTS ABOUT ANGELS:
ANGELS AND HOLLYWOOD
ANGELS IN THE BIBLE
GABRIEL
MICHAEL
SATAN HAS FALLEN

Free
Hollywood Jesus News Letter
Sign up here

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Are you ready for one heckuva ride?

The Da Vinci Code Adventure
On the Trail of Fact, Legend, Faith, & Film, by Mike Gunn,
with Greg and Jenn Wright

It directly tackles Dan Brown's text, taking both fans and casual readers well into the next leg of Brown's compelling and fascinating theological exploration— and this is what Brown is really after. He wants us to question the text of his own novel, too. CHECK IT OUT

iTUNES VIDEO HJ REVIEWS
Video iPod Format (m4v aka VodCast)
1. Open iTunes
2. Open “Advanced” on iTunes tool bar
3. Click “Subscribe to Podcast”
4. Copy paste:
http://www.outsidethewalls.com/
vodcast/programs.xml
in dialogue box and click “OK”

500 MOVIE CLIPS

The Eclectic Collection
Just $99

OVER 500 Royalty-Free Mpeg1 NTSC MOVIE CLIPS for use with PowerPoint Presentations, etc