CINE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

Transcription

1 CINE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

2 HOW TO USE In my book Jesus Goes to the Movies, I unpack a theological framework and guide for viewing movies, as well as 50 films for fostering spiritual discussions. These CINE Discussion Guides are the ongoing conversations beyond the book. If you re a pragmatist and you didn t buy the book because you want to start using these discussion guides as soon as possible, I would encourage you to go back and read through the theological guide to get a firm foundation for how to better incorporate films into your ministry and how to discern truth and beauty in the movies. The purpose of these guides is not to tell you what to watch; this is about how we watch any movie, using our minds and hearts to discern truth and beauty. I ve been able to find all the movies in this guide on Netflix, itunes, Amazon, or Hulu, or in theaters. Other streaming film sites include YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Fandor, and Mubi. If you can t seem to find a film, I d recommend looking at your local library or an independent movie rental store (those still exist!). Here are some practical tips for guiding a spiritual conversation about movies: Always preview the film. Before you show any of these films to young people, watch them yourself. Know what you re getting into, and be aware of some questions that could work best for your group. Know the boundary lines for yourself and your group. Make sure you honor parents and Jesus about all else. You don t want to inadvertently lead someone into sin because you weren t aware of their boundaries or temptations. Communicate with parents beforehand. If you re watching a movie with children or teens, explain to the parents what movie you re going to watch and why. Ask yourself: Am I willing to have a 60-minute conversation defending this film s merits? If not, pick another movie. Read about the films at review sites. Check out my film reviews at Cinemayward.com or check out various other reviews at RottenTomatoes.com and MetaCritic.com, aggregate sites that collect many reviews of new and upcoming films. Focus on listening during the discussion. Spend 20% of your time talking and 80% of your time listening. Have the group share stories, perspectives, opinions, and ask questions. Be prepared with more information. Have the Internet ready and available to look up information about the film and filmmakers. Use IMDB.com as a resource for trivia or background info. Don t force a discussion. Sometimes your conversation will last 3 minutes; sometimes it could go for 3 hours. Allow the Holy Spirit to be the guide. Pray. Before, during, and after the movie, pray for clarity, wisdom, discernment, and awareness of God s presence. 2 The Youth Cartel, LLC

3 For any movie, you can try to understand the worldview being presented in the film. How does the film its story, characters, and message answer these questions: 1. What is the character and nature of God? Does God exist? If so, what is this God (or gods) like? How does the spiritual realm interact with the physical? 2. What is truth? What is really real? Where is our source of knowledge and meaning? What authority or authorities exist in our world to guide us? 3. How and why was the world created? Did it spring up from natural causes, or was there a creator? Is it ordered and structured, or chaotic and random? Was there a purpose behind this creation, or was it all coincidence? Is our world unique and beautiful, or one of a billion planets in the vast cosmos? Is there is a spiritual reality or only physical? 4. What is the nature and purpose of humanity? Are people evolved animals, highly complex living machines, or created beings bearing the image of God? Are people inherently good or evil? Do they have souls? 5. What happens after we die? Do we cease to exist, or is there an afterlife? If we go on beyond death, what is the nature of this existence? Who determines our destiny: God, ourselves, fate, chance? 6. How do we know what is right and wrong? What gives us our moral compass? Is morality transcendent and universal or personal and contextual? Who or what determines justice and mercy? Who is the hero of this story and who is the villain? 7. What brings salvation? Do human beings need salvation? What is the nature of sin and redemption? Who or what is the savior (or saviors)? Who is saved, and how are they saved? What are we saved from, and what are we saved for? 8. What personal commitments or values are consistent with this worldview? This is the so what? question, where the rubber meets the road. If I have answered the previous seven questions, how does that impact my decisions, my relationships, and my purpose in life? The goal for understanding the film s worldview is just that: understanding. C.S. Lewis puts it this way in his excellent little book on literary criticism: We sit down before the picture in order to have something done to us, not that we may do things with it. The first demand any work of any art makes upon us is surrender. Look. Listen. Receive. Get yourself out of the way. (There is no good asking first whether the work before you deserves such a surrender, for until you have surrendered you cannot possibly find out.) We have to surrender our own expectations and preconceived notions before we can truly experience a piece of art. We can engage with the art before us once we have stopped judging it based on its worldview or our own preferences. However, Lewis is not saying we must blindly and passively consume all films or all messages a film offers. Receiving is not consuming. Instead, he encourages using our imagination and critical thinking skills to truly read a piece of art, to see it for what it actually is instead of passively allowing it to soak into our souls or mindlessly disengage from it due to apathy or skepticism. A posture of receiving means having open eyes, open hands, open minds, and open hearts. It requires humility and grace, a generosity and willingness to listen. Using a film is merely seeing a film for mindless entertainment or just because it looks cool, selfishly manipulating the viewing experience for our own welfare or comfort. There s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying or being entertained by a film, but using slips into something utilitarian and potentially harmful, exploiting the film as unhealthy escapism and indulgence in our basest desires. Using is taking the film and forcing it to work for us, regardless of original intent or the film s value. Practice receiving, not using. Seek to understand, not judge. 3 The Youth Cartel, LLC

4 Finally, one question you can ask for any of these movies in the discussion guide, as well as any other movie you watch: Where is Jesus in this story? Watch with wisdom, discernment, humility, and joy! DEPTH AND MATURITY RATING This is my rating system for the spiritual depth and maturity level of the films in this guide. Like any rating system, this is entirely subjective and personal what might be simple and accessible for you may be challenging or complex for someone else. The lower the number, the more accessible and entertaining the film will be. As the numbers increase, so does the complexity and the viewer caution, discernment, and discretion for the film. A higher numbered level doesn t necessarily mean a better film or that more spiritual discussion will stem from the film. It simply means that film will require maturity, thoughtfulness, and preparation in order for discussion to take place. Many of the Level 4 and Level 5 films have difficult content in them: scary scenes, violence, language, or sexuality. Others are simply so different in tone and style from the typical North American blockbuster that an audience might find an initial viewing boring or difficult. Remember: I would encourage you to watch a film before you choose to show it to a young person or small group for a discussion. But we have to acknowledge that sometimes this simply isn t possible an example would be heading to a movie s midnight premiere with your small group. Still, if you have the opportunity, know what you re seeing before you see it. Check online reviews from wise and discerning Christian film critics; see Cinemayward.com for more resources and reviews. Most importantly, be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves when choosing to watch a film (Matthew 10:16). Know when you need to turn a movie off because it s crossing a line for you or your group. Seek Jesus in each movie-watching experience: Where is Jesus in this story? 1 = The Wading Pool. Accessible for almost any teen or young adult, these films are entertaining and delightful. (This doesn t mean there aren t spiritual insights to be explored.) These films will be enjoyable for the widest audience, and can be beneficial without a serious discussion involved. 2 = Touching Your Knees. These are fun films with some important themes and key truths to point out. These contain a bit more emotional weight rather than mere entertainment. May contain content for older viewers, but still entertainment-driven. 3 = Up to your Waist. These films are a great balance between art and entertainment. They re both fun and enriching, accessible yet thought-provoking, and are great for most younger viewers. 4 = Up to Your Chest. This getting into some spiritual depth and complex filmmaking, and requires some thoughtful minds and careful discussion. The viewer may need to be in a focused mindset and environment to fully engage with the film. 5 = The Deep End. This is a leap of faith, a challenge to tread the spiritual waters. These are difficult films for discerning viewers. Each will take time to process and viewers should be mature teens or young adults in order to fully appreciate the experience. Viewer discretion and careful discussion is advised. 4 The Youth Cartel, LLC

5 WHO WROTE THIS Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, youth worker, and film critic. The author of three books, he has written for numerous ministry publications, including Leadership Journal, YouthWorker Journal, Immerse Journal, The Youth Cartel, and LeaderTreks. Joel has been serving in pastoral ministry since 2006 and lives with his wife and three children in the beautiful green-and-grey of the Pacific Northwest. You can read his musings on film, theology, culture, and leadership at his film website, Follow Joel on COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this curriculum may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. All rights reserved worldwide. The Youth Cartel, LLC info@theyouthcartel.com Born in San Diego 5 The Youth Cartel, LLC

6 HERE IS THE BASIC FORMAT FOR CINE DISCUSSION GUIDES: Film Title (Year of Release, Director) MPAA Rating, Movie Length, Depth and Maturity Rating Synopsis: A short outline of the basic plot elements, including key characters and points of interest. Topic and Themes: A list of subjects and themes this film addresses. Activity: A fun, film-related activity, game, or exercise to get people moving and thinking. Discussion Questions: A list of 6-10 discussions meant to foster a spiritual discussion about the film. These can be used for a small group, a one-on-one conversation, or even for a family. Dive Deeper: Some Bible verses and action steps to take after seeing the film. This section sometimes includes relevant background info about the film and filmmakers, such as quotes or spiritual beliefs. Caveat Spectator: Meaning, Let the viewer beware, this section addresses the film s difficult content and cautions viewers to use discretion and discernment in proceeding. 6 The Youth Cartel, LLC

7 CINE CHRISTMAS MOVIES ELF

8 ELF 2003 JON FAVREAU PG 97 MIN LEVEL 1 DISCUSSION GUIDE DISCUSSION GUIDE DISCUSSION GUIDE DISCUSSION GUIDE SYNOPSIS A man adopted and raised by elves at the North Pole goes on a quest to find his birth father, leading him to new adventures in New York. TOPIC AND THEMES Family, love, adoption, joy ACTIVITY Make your own Buddy the Elf Spaghetti: Get a wide variety of sugary food, making sure to have lots of candy and syrup. Cook up a large pot of spaghetti, then have each person create their own version of Buddy s suger-laden spaghetti meal. (Note: be aware and careful of food allergies, and plan accordingly so everyone can participate.) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What is your favorite line or scene from this movie? Who is the real Buddy the elf or the human identity? How do you know? By the end of the movie, who is Buddy s real father his biological one, or adopted one? How can you tell? Does the film show adoption as a positive or negative thing? Why? What does Buddy s character reveal to us about joy? What is the source of his happiness and excitement? Based solely on Elf, what is the true meaning of Christmas? Does this line up with the Christian vision of Christmas or not? DIVE DEEPER In Ephesians 1, Paul writes, [God] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will Many people focus on the word predestined and have all sorts of theological debates about free will versus God s sovereignty. But there s another important word here: adoption. God chose us and brought us into His family. This is a beautiful picture of love, compassion, and grace, revealing that God chooses us to be His children, adopting us as His sons and daughters. The verse says this choice brought Him pleasure; this was His will and desire. He didn t choose us out of obligation or necessity He chose us in love. How can we begin to view the church as a family of brothers and sisters? How does the picture of adoption affect your view of God s character? 8 The Youth Cartel, LLC

9 CAVEAT SPECTATOR There is some mild language throughout the film. The men in the mailroom get drunk. Buddy does get into fights with a few characters. 9 The Youth Cartel, LLC