Friday, November 20, 2009

Lunar Happenings

I guess there's a little movie about vampires, werewolves and forbidden love coming out this weekend. New Moon (from the Twilight Saga) is worthy of attention by parents and youth workers. In my web surfing today, two quotes that struck me from this LA Times article...
More than a week before its Nov. 20 release, "New Moon" had sold more than four times as many tickets as "Twilight" at MovieTickets.com at the same point in the sales cycle, with more than 1,300 sold-out performances -- including 900 midnight performances.
Then I read the following Facebook status update from one of our high school gals
my new moon frenzy is still goin! hyped up on monsters (the only energy i have) last night didnt get very much sleep but im ready to go see NEW MOON again! :) gotta love the twihards!
I am thoroughly intrigued by this cultural phenomenon. I blogged here and here about the books highlighting my enjoyment and concerns over the series. 2 thoughts I'm having.
  1. I believe this movie could potentially beat out Titanic as top-grossing film. I know that seems crazy. Many say the factor to put Titanic so far over the top is the amount of preteen and teen girls who, suffering from what was labeled "Leo-mania" went back 6-10 times to see the film. MTV has hyped this movie like it's going out of style. The amount of fan freakout from the "Twi-hards" is insane. I've been pretty surprised by the high level of 20-30 year olds (primarily females) who are completely hooked by the books as well. I don't know if it will happen, but I'll just say I won't be surprised if this sets some box office records.
  2. I wonder how many moms (or dads) and teen/tween daughters have set up "date
    Publish Post
    s" to go see this movie together? I know of a few. I hope there are a lot. I hope there is some discussion on the way home. I hope there are questions like the following:
    • Do you think there is an Edward Cullen (maybe not a vampire, but a guy that possesses his qualities) out there? What about Jacob Black?
    • Who do you think shows more respect to Bella?
    • Who do you think loves Bella more?
    • Where do you see yourself like Bella and different from Bella?
    • What message(s) do you think were being shared in this movie?
    • What are the messages you would say line up with your beliefs and how you want to live your life?
    • What are the messages you would say do not line up with your beliefs or how you want to live your life?
    • How would you say this movie defines love?
    • Do you think the depression Bella fell in after Edward left was healthy? Romantic? why?
    I hope this happens. I'm afraid far too many will simply let their daughters go watch with others and have no follow up for potentially valuable conversation. I'm afraid far too many will go on a "date", but miss the opportunity to model and encourage their child to "think critically" about the entertainment being taken in.
I'll go watch it. Probably this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to view it in a packed house; mainly because I will be there to observe the frenzy as well as the film.


1 comment:

TheThinker said...

Hey bro,

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."

Is the movie a reflection of our culture (not even dividing "the world" out) or its guide? A cycle in which it double-plays?

I wouldn't be surprised if most parents are dismissing this movie, the saga, and its kin as "something[s]" not too important and about which they have no real need to exercise godly wisdom...like a cellular phone bill for which they were overcharged, or making sure their children have lunch money this week (in fact, parents might be even more mindful of such situations because of the monetary factor...perhaps some parents are only thoughtful of such movies because of theater pricing these days...). That is to say, if you asked them, they probably haven't even thought of praying about if their children should watch such trash (and I'm not bashing this movie alone, it's just the one in the current spotlight, and which will hopefully be it and its kind's downfall) because it might dishonor our Lord. Maybe it's all just good fun, and we're being too serious.

If only the words of Isaiah 64 were our own...if that knowledge and faith pervaded the Assembly (may it be so).

If godliness with contentment is great gain then what's ungodliness with discontentment?

I'm praying for you bro. Our children need to wake up and rise from the dead. The Church is HIS Body and Christ Jesus is our head. May God strengthen you to impart the most important message given among men and which men far greater than we - and angels surpassing us in power - longed to understand. May all the discussion and questioning you initiate be led by the Holy Spirit toward His grace-filled conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment, that Christ's glorification in your and their hearts be the result. Stay alert and sober-minded. God be with you.

David