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with comments by David Bruce

INTENSE
Subject: interesting movie Pledge
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
From: Marla

I agree with the intensity of the movie. Every image is focussed, so one thinks that there is an important clue hidden in it. That started to bother me quickly, as I could never see a big picture, but only what they chose to let me see. It is a movie I think I would prefer on video, so I can study things for myself. BUT I think people should be warned that it has no clean ending, no clear solution, which makes it very uncomfortable to see.
Marla

ABOUT THE LETTERS IN GATTACA
Subject: Gattaca
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
From: Marie Ranieri

Gattaca is definetely the best sci fi film I've ever seen. Transformation is indeed the key notion of the film and each main male character is trying to resemble someone else. The theme of the double is really essential here. Vincent manages to change identity thanks to Eugene's DNA. What is interesting to notice is that the very word GATTACA is solely made of the letters A, T, C, G which correspond to the nitrogen bases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine) which partly constitute the nucleotids which DNA is composed of. As a consequence, the very place Gattaca stands as a microcosm representing this whole society which has come to consider DNA as the only way to judge people. Andrew Niccol is something of a genius !!!
Marie Ranieri

GODZILLA, ULTRAMAN AND EIJI TSUBURAYA
Subject: Original_Godzilla
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
From: Lance

i was baffled by your site the time i found it. i thought, 'what the heck...'. but i think it's pretty interesting, as a christian and a fan of japanese pop culture. but still, i i happened to have the good blessing of being able to go to japan not long ago (and took a photo of a godzilla statue, under which was written a quote "i can't think that that godzilla was the last one". i love both godzilla and gamera. in any case, while in japan i had the good fortune of watching a documentary on the first production of a godzilla movie, with eiji tsuburaya in the center. and here is the most interesting part: emblazoned on eiji tsuburaya's grave was a cross, which brings me to Joe A's comment on Ultraman. Actually i came across your site when trying to find out if tsuburaya was a christian. now that i think of it, yes, Ultraman did make the sign of the cross to fire his specium beam, and the pastor of the japanese church i went to once showed at church a scene from ultraman, pointing out that ultraman comes into the body of a dead man to make him a superhero, which probably sounds like the holy spirit coming into the body of us, wretched humans to make us 'superhumans'. so was this symbolism real or was it just imagined by us christians? also, though this is probably a coincidence, my favorite ultraman is ultraseven, seven being God's perfect number. Finally, can anyone tell me if Tsuburaya was really a Christian? And Joe A., I'll definitely visit that ultraman site.
Thanks!! Lance

OLDER FILMS?
Subject: Movies with Christian content
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
From: George John

Hi, Your Website does not deal with older movies such as Tolkiens "Rapture (1991), the more recent Omega Code or even old favourites such as Ben Hur? Why is that? It would surely make your reviews more complete then it is now, where only current and upcoming movies are reviewed. For Christians like me overseas ( Malaysia) it is extremely difficult to get access to these movies. Is there a catalogue shop in the USA where I can get these movies by post?
Thanks and keep up the good work.

Response: Sorry about that. Perhaps I will get to the older films some day.

HOW YA GONNA WIN AGAINST THE "LEAKS'?
Subject: hi david Mythras
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: rick

Been reading a lot the past few days on the validity and history of Christianity. As I was reading about previous "Messiahs" before the time of Jesus, it also occurred to me that The Story was being told over and over again and I wondered at the possible significance of that. The argument that Truth "leaks" out into every culture is profound, fascinating and also incredibly resiliant. Were I a major debunker of Christianity I would cry foul... if even the innacurracies and myths are "signs" of Jesus' truth...well, how ya gonna win against that one? How funny such a take on history would be so deeply profound ( and perhaps expected of a loving God) while at the same time so suspiciously convienent... best regards.. rick

MISSION SUPPORTED BY HIS LOVE
Subject: Gladiator
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: ted dailey

To me, i felt that Maximus was played Jesus once he was told by his father, (God) Marcus Arralius, about what his mission was. His support of love for his family and his persistance to give Rome ("the mob") the dream back was what motivated him to save Rome, dispite the efforts Commudus made to make him fail. Although Maximus was loyal to his Mystisism, I felt that Maximus went through a change in questioning himself by killing all those men in the areana. Here, i think he took the side of Proximo, and realized that he had to take the part of the Rouge to survive in the beggining. We see him as a rouge the whole time he is known as "Spaniard"....but when he decides to stop killing, he becomes known as the "Genral", back to his old peaceful and content self. Even when he faces death, the warrior with the mask, he is able to see truth of innocence in the man's bloddy face, and shows mercy. I think he was in control the entire time, defying Commudus at every chance, and with the love and loyalty of his family, his men, the crowd, Marcus Aralius, Proximo, Lucilla, and Quintis, they all took a part in supporting his mission/sacrafice to save Rome. *Also, we see the spectrum of the shadow (commodus) and light (Maximus) as one person with two opposite sides when they both die at the same time...

FROM A MEWTWO FANATIC (OH NO!)
Subject: Pokemon
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: Jerint

Heh...yep, I'm a Mewtwo Fanatic. After reading your review of MSB (Mewtwo Strikes Back), I was glad to find ONE christian site that didn't totally trash the movie. I'm so happy. ^___^ BUT - and I'm not really blaming you, because Kids WB are satanic (in MY eyes) - Mewtwo is not supposed to be evil.

I'll try to explain it as best as I can. About a month before MSB came to Japanese theaters, a small, one hour Radio Broadcast was aired; called "The Birth of Mewtwo". It told the story of baby Mewtwo, and how the Scientist (Dr. Fuigi, though his name's not given in the American version) really was creating clones so that he could bring his daughter back to life. She was hit by a car at age 8, and scince then Fuigi has been trying desperatly to recreate her. Sakaki (Giovanni, head of Team Rocket) agreed to help, but only if they took Mew DNA (an ancient and powerful Pokemon) and made another, better Mew.

Anyway, AiTwo (Dr. Fuigi's Daughter) and Mewtwo contact eachother through their tubes, and Ai teaches him about the outside world; how to count, how to speak human, etc. But, AiTwo dies. Now, this part is really sad, 'cause Mewtwo starts crying, and he doesn't know what Tears are, and just the way he says it is heartbreaking. ^__^;; Anyway, up to when Mewtwo is born.... Fuigi tells Mewtwo that he's from Mew, etc. But then Mewtwo asks if Mew is his father or mother. Fuigi says that's mew's neither. So then Mewtwo says (and I'm so MAD that they didn't include this), "If it's not Mother, and it's not Father, then is it God? Am I here because of the will of God??" But Fuigi just says that this is the greatest achievment in human history. "I'm not here because of God... only because of humans... then what is my worth?"

And THAT, ladies and Gentlemen, is the TRUE story of Mewtwo. Not the mamby-pamby Americanized one (no offense). Mewtwo was angry that he had no worth, and that's what drove him to prove his own worth. "This is not a decleration of war; rather, it is revenge against those who created me!!!" You should see the Japanese version sometime, because it has alot more moral, and they don't conflict at all (unlike the American Version).

Mewtwo rules! Muwahaahaaa

A GREAT FILM
Subject: review The Pledge
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: Stephen

My wife and I saw "The Pledge" last evening. It was an entertaining movie. It was much better than the normal hollywood bushwah with blazing guns and mindless sex. The way that director Penn showed the victim, in quick, almost single frame, was tasteful and just as shocking. I knew the bad guy was going to get it in the end, but I thought that Jack Nicholson would do the getting in a blood bath. The ending was a surprise. The bad guy was punished by the fires of Hell and so was the detective, punished by his obsessiveness. I felt sorry for the detctive who promised his soul's salvation to find the murderer. His torment at the end was punishment for a broken vow. A great movie

ANALYSIS OF THE MOVIE
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
From: Florian

I believe that what we see during most of the movie is Jacob's spiritual journey before he actually dies at the end of the movie. He doesn't know that he's dead (or dying). He's actually in such desperate denial of his death that he creates to himself the illusion that he has survived and come back to NY (the "flashbacks" he sees are what is actually happening at that time). But soon, spirits come to tell him that he's dead and that he should accept it. Of course, he refuses to believe it. That is pretty obvious in the part where he is in the "X-ray room" and one of the "doctors" tells him "this is your home, you're dead", and then Jacob replies defyingly "I'm not dead! I'm alive!". Then, we see the doctor with no eyes stick a syringe through Jacob's forehead (painful)... Jezzy is a depiction of his life temptations and his refusal to die. Through this spiritual journey, he encounters the spirits of his friends (especially Paul), but they can't help him, because they themselves are going through the same nightmare.

In order to free himself from this nightmare (which he created himself), he must accept his fate and make peace with himself. He finally achieves it, with the help of angels (Louis, Michael) and his son's spirit.

In my opinion, there is no real drug in the movie. The "drug" (the "ladder") they are referring to is just a metaphor of what triggers wars throughout history (greed, anger, hatred). In every war, we are "brother against brother" (as quoted in the movie). The more you go down the "ladder", the more you come close to your primal state (anger, fear, aggression for survival), the more likely you're going to start a war. That primal state can indeed be like a drug. When Jacob realizes that, he suddenly understands that he's dead and that war (caused by the aforementioned primal state of hatred between men) was the cause of his death. At the same time, he realizes that his attitude (refusal to accept his death) was also part of that primal state. At last, he accepts to make peace with himself, and Gabe 's spirit comes to take him "upstairs" (up the Ladder!).

This is really a great movie. An effective message of peace and spirituality.
-Florian

A MOVIE TO SEE
Subject: bringing out the dead
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001
From: brian hunt

i recently saw the movie "bringing out the dead" with nicolas cage. at first i did not really know what it was trying to say to me, so i watched it again, and realized that, at least to me, it represents Jesus' decention into hell. if you watch it, pay attention to the days, it will say what day it is, and pay attention to what n. cage does on those days. there is a part, on friday, when cage takes a pill given to him by a drug pusher, which begins his real journey into his hell. after the last scene, with the peace, and white glow of cage, he seems to represent Christ ascending into Heaven. perhaps all of this chaotic synopsis will make more sense after the movie. if you would like, i will email you with much greater detail from the movie. but you are a very smart, and busy, man, so i don't want to take up much of your time. if you need to respond, i am more likely to get it if you God bless you and enjoy the movie...sometime down the road.
peace, brian hunt

Response: Yes send what you have I would be very interested -David

MOST SPIRITUALLY SIGNIFICANT FILM
Subject: Shawshank Redemption
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001
From: "Steven Michael"

Dear David:
I have attached a Word97 (Document.doc) review of the Shawshank Redemption. I feel it is fits in very well with the ideas of your web site. I hope you like it. I have submitted at several movie sites around the internet for possible publication--Jerry at speedtech@usa.net liked it at put it up at his web site--his web site was mentioned or featured (as was hollywoodjesus.com) in the Wall Street Journal article.
THANKS for your very kind consideration :-) Steven Michael

Response: I have posted your review. Thank you. It is very good. -David

SOOTHING AND UPLIFTING
Subject: "Traffic"
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001
From: David Buckna

Finally saw the film "Traffic". Wow! Did you notice the cross on the wall in one scene (near the end of the film) when the daughter speaks in front of a group, with her parents in the audience? Was it a church or church hall? Did either of you think the backstop frame (with netting) in the final scene [at the baseball diamond] resembled a large cross? It sure did to me! And what was the song played? Very soothing and uplifting.
David

Response: Yes I did notice. It is a story of a father who discovers the meaning of grace for his daughter. -David

THERE'S MUCH FOOD FOR THOUGHT HERE
Subject: Green_Mile
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001
From: Janet

I realize that by now, comments on this movie may be few and far between. Though I saw in it theaters, I continue to watch it on our DVD, and never fail to sit quietly for a while afterwards, thinking about what I've seen, and what I feel as a result.

I have read through the many comments (and responses thereto), and agree that this is a fine movie, that there is clearly a parallel between John Coffey and Jesus Christ, etc. What moves me most, however, is not only the fineness of the story itself, but the fact that there are people in the world who still care enough to create such stories, and others who produce movies based on such stories. I don't know if Stephen King believes in God (but I surely would love to have a conversation with him on the subject!), but I think he does ... or he is incredibly skilled at understanding those of us who do.

"The Green Mile" awakens in us a need to examine our beliefs, and the way in which we behave during our lives. Most of us fall somewhere between John Coffey and "Wild Bill," on the scale of human nature, and we're contented with ourselves. Sometimes our contentment is not a positive thing, but rather has a lulling affect that keeps us from speaking up when we see a child heading towards trouble, when we know a friend could use a helping hand but we're just too busy ...

If it accomplishes nothing else, the movie give us pause to ask if we couldn't be something more. If we shouldn't be something more.

PUBLIC CONFESSIONS?
Subject: Left Behind
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001
From: Apollo

Are the casts who play Carpathea, Brad Johnson, and Chloe saved? I know in the end it is only for God to know, but do you know if they made any public confessions?
From, Apollo

Response: Does it matter? Why is this important to you? -David

AGENTS OF SATAN
Subject: Ninth Gate
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
From: "Guru"

After looking into the Whore of Babylon, I believe that it was the blond girl, not the Telfer woman. Her face in the engraving for one thing, but at the point that she had sex with Corso, she was cementing his allegiance to Satan. The Whore fornicated with the kings of earth and heaven in an attempt to control them. Corso was at a point where he had all the power to destroy the engravings and she anchored him to the side of Satan. Telfer is more represented by the eigth card where the message is that virtue is conquered. Her chateau is a house of debauchery and at her mansion Corso for the first time actually does bad things, the least of which is letting her be killed. The Girl turns to him and says "I didn't know you had it in you". The Telfer woman was a competitor for the powers of Satan, not his accomplice.

The agents of Satan are everywhere in the movie. Even the Baroness's secretary is depicted in one of the engravings holding a club. This explains her watching Corso peculiarly as he left the first time. Perhaps it was she who knocked him out, but under the direction of a higher power possibly invoked by Balkan.

WALKING OUT
Subject: Magnolia
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
From: MB, San Jose, Ca.

I've seen the movie twice and there is still more to get from it. I suppose everyone will see it through the filters of their own belief system, but it is difficult for me to understand how anyone could walk out five or fifteen minutes after the start and then condemn it as vigorously as I have seen many people (read Christian fundamentalists) do. Are they not aware that their Lord and Savior, Jesus, spent hours praying in Gethsemane while his loving "followers" slept? Why could these modern day "followers" not spend three hours watching the story develop? Seeing the transformation and redemption, and love, at the end? Some people waste enormous amounts of energy waiting, with their heads in the sand, for the next world when the only world available to them, right now, is this one, here and now.
MB, San Jose, Ca.

Response: You are so right. -David

LIKED IT FORST TIME
Subject: Movie Review Powder
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
From: Meow

I really liked the movie the first time i saw it. It represented the character that he was portraying. The movie was very moving and powerful in the sense of how a person who is miraculously gifted and yet tormented. In the movie nobody understood what he was going through and i feel a sense of connection. I don't really know why some people comparing Powder the character to Jesus. A movie can touch people, but pls don't compare reality to movies, coz it's two different things. Probably u have a different representation of the movie - i guess. Sean Patrick Flannery portrayed this movie intelligently well and the rest of the cast. Powder is a special individual who can broaden people's thoughts and spirituality. This movie is memorable and has a lot of life lessons.

WHAT DAGGETT SAID
Subject: Re: angels in the Bible.........one more time, please....
PROPHECY
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
From: JOE

Thank you David for your fast reply...one more question....in the movie THE PROPHECY "Daggett" says: (quote) "It is perhaps the strangest passage in the Bible in which he (St. Paul) writes: Even now in Heaven there were angels carrying savage weapons"....is this REALLY in the Bible and if so, where????? thank you thank you thank you & keep up your GOOD work!!!!
- JOE -

Response: No it is not. It is a very strange line. -David

NO ONE HAS AN EXCUSE
Subject: No one has an excuse Mithras
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001
From: Chuck

I have just finished reading Ceasar to Christ by Will Durant and was excited by all the pagan faiths he identified that had some parallelism with the New Testament, especially the teachings of Paul. Because of this excitement I searched for Mithraism and found your site.

I am convinced that if one looks at the timing of the development of these pagan faiths, the state of the Roman Empire, the condition and lifestyle of the people, the infrastructure of roads and relative safety of travel, and the great need for hope, that one has to be convinced a central supernatural being had to orchestrate the events.

We are told that God has planted the knowledge of Him in all our hearts. The concept of a Saviour being born of a virgin, living a perfect life, convicted unjustly, cruelly crucified, and resurrected would simply be too much for a handful of people to convince the world. No one would accept the concept of a blood sacrifice as an atonement unless the belief already existed for centuries. It is amazing how God prepared the Oriental (and Roman) world to receive His Son. He didn't appoint His Son (or Pual) to blend the pagan faith into the ultimate pagan solution. He conditioned men's and women's hearts so that when Jesus came, people were ready to believe. How else can you explain the explosion of the Christian faith throughout the expanse of Europe and Asia? When the Apostles each went their way into the world to disciple the nations, the nations were prepared.

Tradition tells us that, except for John, each disciple died a martyr's death, steadfast in his faith that died was our atonement for sin. John's greatest ministry was in Turkey, the same area Paul spent most of his time ministering and they ageed in doctrine.
Chuck

PAGANISM?
Subject: paganism? Chocolat
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: Guy

Did Hollywood Jesus see the same movie as Roger Ebert? He said it was "about a war between the forces of paganism and Christianity, and because the pagan heroine has chocolate on her side, she wins." Is she a witch, a pagan priestess? And what's all this about a showdown on Easter Sunday? Surely Ebert doesn't have more Christian perception than Hollywood Jesus, does he? Or maybe he's just over reacting to the culture wars? Help us to understand.
Guy

Response: It is about legalism. The heroine is a type of Christ who comes to break up the rigidity of religion. If enjoying pleasures like chocalote is paganism, then I am a pagan. -David

EDGE OF MY SEAT
Subject: Vertical Limit
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: Sharon

Have seen this one three times - put me on the edge of my seat - in a safe place. I'm not usually a risk taker.... But I have always enjoyed hero types, just like any other person. I would highly recommend this movie, I took my parents. (I am 49). After watching the rough walkin' and talkin' heros many might feel these peple were too laid back but the humor, adventure and love portrayed here as well as the idea that some subjects (ghosts of our past) are hard to face - (we'd rather 'climb a mountain') - God is in control and He chooses the time wisely when we must face our challenges and change our lives.

UPDATE
Subject: updated Jesus film stats
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: Rob

Hi David, My name is Rob and I work as a recording technician for the Jesus film in Vancouver Canada.(I travel the world recording languages.) Couldn't help but notice you stats on the film are soarly out dated. Thought I would give you an official update. Please feel free to post this information.

As of January 01/2001 The Jesus Film Has been recorded into 638 languages world wide. It has been shown in 234 countries. It has been shown on television in 167 countries. 4,102,847,593 people have viewed the film since 1979 (This includes multiple viewings) 128,873,719 people have indecated decisions for Christ as a result of the film. These are the stats we have been able to track. The real numbers are higher.
Hope this info is usefull to you, Rob

Response: Thank you. I appreciate the update more than you know. -David

SATAN'S WORK
Subject: Pokemon
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: "David"

As a result of recent concerns about . I am brought to the conclusion that satan certainly is at work and exerting great influence in provoking some Christians to take on a vendetta which makes them, and by association all Christians, appear ridiculous and stupidly fanatical.
God bless, David

JOHN WATCHING THE MOVIE
Subject: Green_Mile
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001
From: Clay

The close-up on John's face with the light of the movie projector behind him has to be one of the best cinematic shots in all of hollywood. JC in his last days on earth seems to be feeling the grace of god on his shoulders. The light of god has shone upon him and he seems to know it with the gentle smile that appears on his face as he listen to the song, "Heaven."

GODZILLA FROM THE RAVEN
Subject: Original_Godzilla
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001
From: RAVEN

Godzilla in a simple form of spirit and reality. God and Godzilla in Ravens mind both are Evermore. Quoth The Raven both Evermore just like the bible the movies will never end. And in a way both are kind, both have a son, both have wrath, both have additude, and finaly both rule God King of All-Godzilla King of Monsters. P.S. please no posting of email address thank you and Godbless
THE RAVEN

SNATCH -GOOD WINS OVER EVIL
The Snatch
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
From: "helen charrier"

This is another story supporting our belief that good overcomes evil. Turkish has the appeal of innocence (no blood on his hands) in the midst of the criminals and the greedy and he is sensitive. The bad guys get what's coming to them (was it Divine Intervention, or circumstance?) I felt it was an original experience and learned lots about this English gangsta environment; however, I tasted a little of the flavor of "Pulp Fiction" in the mix but it was still charming and funny and enjoyable. I can't wait until it goes to video because some of the dialogue needs to be put on "rewind", in order to be completely understood.

REVIEW
Subject: Crouching_Tiger
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
From: Janet

Star Wars in Chinese? (with subtitles) That was my first impression of Crouching Tigers...but there was a deeper message that I can't quite get my arms around. Visually stunning; the violence is more choreography than gore. Strong women (literally) roles--they seem to possess head, heart and physical strengths. The "love" storyline is engaging--sexual themes are minimal--some hot n heavy encounters, yet no nudity. Spiritual themes seem secondary to the martial arts sequences...(more than once I felt like I was watching a human version of a video game.). But there is a strong "good conquers evil" message with a mystical side. I love the wise older characters who try to mentor the young in the paths of goodness. There is even an attempted message of non-violence in this movie despite the fight scenes. American filmmakers could take a clue from this--it is possible to produce an action movie without blood and guts.
Janet

HOWEVER...
Subject: Godzilla
Original_Godzilla
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
From: "SLC"

You are all obviously very intellegent people who seem to have given this subject a lot of thought and a lot of you have some interesting ideas, however, they are wrong. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee people. The word is "Godzilla". . ."God" zilla. Think about it. Oh, and Xan, please, please, please get some help in a hurry because you don't sound very happy. Sorry, no e-mails, my carma can't take it.

CHRISTIAN HERALD ARTICLE
Subject: Christian Herald Article Newsletter 20
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
From: Tim Ellison

Hi Dave, Just read your article in Christian Herald about visual language and I could not agree with you more. I work with kids and with my groups I try each week very hard for them to have something visual to take home with them each week that points to the truth we are trying to teach them about that week. Can you recommend Christian websites/ministries who take this visual culture seriously?
Thanks Tim Ellison

THANKS
Subject: Thanks Newsletter 20
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001
From: Fred

I enjoyed your article -item 1 in your newsletter which was published in the Christian Herald in Britain 20/1/01. I am a Christian who is hoping to get a message over through film - BBC films are interested in one of my screenplays at the moment. It's difficult to get Christian people to see working in the media as a mission - seems too 'worldly' to many yet they complain about the standards of films currently available! Christian Herald also introduced me to your website for which I'm very grateful.
God bless you and your ministry, Fred

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