Remember the Titans
A summary can be found
HereTypically here I would place contradicting reviews on whether the content of the movie was spiritually edifying or not. Unfortunately, most people believe this is a ‘feel good’ movie. A basic overview of reviews can be found
here. Even pluggedinonline.com, which typically takes any negative content and degrades films quickly, had little to say other than it is a good story with a few mild swear words.
I have a very biased view of this movies spiritual content because I grew up in a youth group where it was often used to support my youth pastors point, and rightfully so.
There is so much to take from this movie that it was hard to choose an aspect to write on. I chose friendship in particular the relationship between Julias and Bertier. There relationship starts with this conversation.
Bertier: Listen, I'm Gary, you're Julius. Let's just get some particulars and get this over with.
Big Ju: Particulars? Man, no matter what I tell you, you ain't neva gonna know nothing about me.
Bertier: Listen, I ain't running any more of these three-a-days
Big Ju: Well, what I got to say you really don't wanna hear 'cuz honesty ain't too high upon your people priorities.
Bertier: Honesty? You want honesty? Honestly, I think you're nothing. Nothing but a pure waste of God-given talent. You don't listen to nobody man. Not even Doc or Boone. Shiver push on the line everytime and you blow right past 'em. Push 'em, pull 'em. do something. You can't run over everyone in this league and everytime you do you leave one of your teammates hanging out to dry, me in particular?
Big Ju: Why should I give a hoot about you? Huh? Or anyone else out there? You wanna talk about the ways you the captain?
Bertier: Right.
Big Ju: You got a job?
Bertier: I got a job.
Big Ju: You been doing you're job?
Bertier: I been doing my job.
Big Ju: Then why don't you tell your white buddies to block for Rev better because they have not blocked for him worth a blood nickel, and you know it! Nobody plays. Yourself included. I'm supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team? Nah, nah what I'm gonna do is look out for myself and I'ma get mine.
Bertier: See man, thats the worst attitude I eva heard.
Big Ju: Attitude reflect leadership, captain.
By the end of the movie they are calling each other brothers and it is quite obvious that they are true friends. These characters are two very different people that come from very different backgrounds. I think sometimes I fall into the trap that I want friends that are just like me when in reality it seems Jesus loved people that were his opposite. (Holy God…friends with sinners and tax collectors. A bit of a difference) Julias and Bertiers relationship made me more aware that friendships between radically different people can work and sometimes are more enriching and truth speaking than an other friendship.
In response to my thoughts on Boondock Saints
I have to admit that I do not know where to begin. I am a fan of the movie, as you already know, obviously since it was my movie you watched. I suppose I will start with the critiques of this movie that were given. The first that you listed said that it was "Mindless Violence." I feel that this critique may describe this movie to some degree, but that is a criticism that could be lodged against almost any movie containing any violence at all, so I will move on. The second critique of the movie was very hight praise for the movie, but I am curious about some specific points. For instance this critic claims that there was "no unnecessary violence at all," and though I think that the violence was part of the story and so some of it can be understood, I think the claim that there is no unnecessary violence at all is a bit much. The next part of that critique that I would like to respond to is the part that says "A great movie about religion, justice, seeking your path and the good of mankind..." I think I would have to disagree with this point because though religion is brought into it, it raises some very controversial issues for instance does God ordain people to kill in this world. I have a large problem with this, being that they are claiming that the Christian God is ordaining this, because I feel that God does not do this. We have also seen this claim abused so many times in history and the outcome has always been disastrous. By saying that this is a movie about justice, my question is whose justice? For it seems to me that this is a very scary view of justice, that a couple men who feel that God has spoken to them, can arm themselves and take out those who they deem "evil" and this is seen as justice. So in regards to the part about finding ones path for the good of humankind I really fear for humankind if thats the sort of theme that this movie is trying to give to us, I however do not see this at all.
Now Kerry on your critique, I agree with you that the quote you mentioned about fearing the indifference of good men, for this is not only a great cause of atheism when Christians do it, but you could argue is in part to blame for most of the worlds problems in at least some part. Now the other quote that you mention that of saying that Never shall innocent blood be shed, yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river," I have some issues with this statement as well in that I feel that it is not up to us to determine who is worthy of death and who is not. I feel myself to be a pacifist and so I feel that even capital punishment is wrong and that even our courts are unfit to hand out judgments on who deserves death and who deserves life, for as a wise wizard once said
"Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends." ~ Gandalf the Grey
So In conclusion I will say that I believe that the indifference of good men is a terrible thing and that we should always be striving to move towards action to help those in need, for we are called upon to do that as God's people. But to say that this is a positive way to make a difference in the world I have a large problem with. I feel that you and I are ultimately agreeing on this point and I will re-iterate something that you have already stated that we must all go out and make a difference but we must make sure that the difference we make is in line with everything else that God has called us to be and do in this world.
I hope that is what you were looking for. I know that I wrote more than I said that I would, and I could have said much more than that even but I will stop for now. It was a good question that you raised and I look foreword to responding in the future.
Blessings.
~Chris
