Movie Review: Spiderman 3 -- A Sermon on Steroids

Introduction

In May of this year, Spiderman 3 was released as a mammoth summer blockbuster . The DVD came out a few weeks ago. Invariably, the third installment stays true to the swinging, combat, special effects loaded structure of the previous two movies. However, Sam Raimi, the director-writer, and Ivan Raimi, co-writer, try to impart a message of forgiveness, loyalty, doing right, and reconciliation which though good, overloads the story until it is a preachy sermon on the subject.

General Overview

Spidey 3 picks up where Spiderman 2 left off: Peter Parker is basking in the glory of being the famous Spiderman and, finally, getting his girl, Mary Jane (MJ). Quickly, his world is disrupted, first, by the fact MJ breaks up with him and, second, by the mysterious substance from space. To top it off, Harry is trying to kill him, the city is in danger from the Sandman, and he (Peter) is struggling to keep his job at the newspaper and to rid himself of the evil space creature. Peter now has to fight not only the evil that has attached to himself but also the city's criminals.

Preach it, Preacher

To commence, the movie was more than a tad too long in telling the story. From the beginning, the film starts on its positive messages. Peter is cocky in his Spiderman success. So cocky in fact that he is blind to MJ's pain (she lost her starring role in a stage play). Lesson number one: don't get so caught up in your own glory that you fail to communicate with and aid others in their struggles. "A man's pride brings him low" (Proverbs 29:23).

Next, the filmmakers show us the negative side of revenge as both Harry and Peter contend to redress the death of their father and uncle respectively. Also, Peter who is struggling with the lost relationships with MJ and Harry, now finds out that his uncle's killer is still on the loose. Meaning that the man he interposed retaliation on in the first movie was the wrong guy. Lesson number two: Justice cannot be satisfied by revenge and it only destroys more than it rectifies. "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," [ Deut. 32:35] says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

In this state, the martian creature from outer space attaches to Peter and his suit, transforming him into a darker version of himself. With this creature, he has more power but he is also more cocky, prideful, smooth with the ladies and down-right annoying. Lesson number three: If it is black goo from outer space, don't touch it! But seriously, "do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its evil desires" (Romans 6: 12).

Peter is freed from the goo and it, in turn, attaches to another man turning him into the creature Venom. In an attempt to kill Spiderman, Venom and the Sandman kidnap MJ. Peter and Harry are reconciled, working together to save their friend. In the end, Harry is killed, having taken the death blow from Venom in Peter's place. Lesson number four: The ultimate sacrifice is to die for someone you love. "No greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

A desperate struggle ensues as Peter battles Venom. The man, Eddie, entrapped by Venom "likes to be mad" as he puts it. He actually relishes the evil that has inhabited him. Peter finally extracts Venom from Eddie but in his love for the creature, Eddie joins it in its final destruction. Lesson number five: Giving into one's sin leads to destruction. "He who pursues evil goes to his death" (Proverbs 11:19b).

Since Venom is taken care of, Peter goes after the Sandman. He comes face to face, then, with his uncle's killer. Instead of a mad rush to destroy this man, Peter has a brief conversation with the Sandman, hearing the true tale of his uncle's death. The Sandman doesn't expect Peter to forgive him but a moment later, Peter tells him, "I forgive you." Both are then freed: one from guilt and the other from revenge. Lesson number six: Forgiveness is pretty powerful stuff and should be used instead of revenge. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).

Finally, Peter and MJ are reconciled and, the audience is led to believe, take up their relationship where they left off--in love. Lesson number seven: Never give up on a person, no matter how badly they may behave or inconsiderate they may seem. "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8a).

Conclusion

The above lessons are excellent and it is hard to find a film today which displays this kind of biblical truth. The problem is that this is a story, not a sermon. The multiple morals weight down Spiderman 3. Every story has a lesson or two to be learned but it doesn't beat the audience over the head with it. Never should a story bombard its audience with its lessons. Instead it should subtly and beautifully allow the audience to discover the lesson on its own. The lesson is a treasure to be found.

Spiderman 3's story is also old. It's the same one audiences experienced in the other two: Peter Parker struggles with his identity, his relationships, and the evildoers; in his relationship with MJ, every two steps forward result in three steps back. The tag line for this movie is: "the greatest battle lies within." Jesus summed up the law by stating that mankind is to love God with all his heart, mind, and strength and to love his neighbor as himself. This was his essential message, as the writers of the Westminster Confession showed, but Jesus varied the message through parables, stories or sermons. The Spiderman trilogy can be summed up with the quote from movie #1: "With great power comes great responsibility." Sadly, Spiderman 3 over uses this mantra and the result is a less than satisfying story.

--HM

A Series on Love: The Final Part--"The Greatest Commandment"

Jesus was asked during his ministry what the greatest commandment was. His reply summed up both the law and the prophets: "The most important one is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:29-31, NIV).



Love is the glue that holds Christians together. Though we differ on numerous theological points and hail from different denominations, the common thread is that our Heavenly Father loves us, His children, and we love him. By this love, the world will know we belong to God.



Indeed, the unconditional love we have experienced should shape our every action toward and interaction with believers and unbelievers alike. If God loves me despite my sinful nature because of Christ, then I am to overflow with love for others: love as I have been loved.



We have been adopted, called Children of God and not treated as our sins deserve. Our Savior then tells us to love God and love others. That's it, man's chief purpose in a nut shell. This is the "most excellent way" (1 Cor. 13:1).



The glory that comes to God, the joy, the reward, because we obey this, the greatest of commandments is overwhelming. God is glorified because in our love we point to Christ and his atoning work on the cross. The joy comes from the fact that the more we love, the greater the glory to God. And the reward is summed up in the rest of the passage from the Gospel of Mark. The young man who had asked Jesus about the greatest commandment replied, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:32-34).



--HM

A Series on Love: Part 4 - - "What Manner of Love"

Adop'tion, n. Webster's 1828 edition of the "American Dictionary of the English Language" defines adoption as: 1. (T)he taking and treating of a stranger as one's own child; 3. God's taking the sinful children of men into his favor and protection.

I ought to know the definition by heart since I participate in both definitions. My wife and I adopted Grace, our youngest of five, from China; God adopted me into His family.

One year ago, Grace, initially a stranger, joined her four siblings when she returned with my wife and me from China. She benefited quickly and her future soon outweighed her past.

When our jet from China touched down on U.S. soil, Grace became a U.S. citizen with all the rights and privileges thereof. Grace more importantly secured the full rights and privileges of being a child in the Miller family, as if she had been born into the family like her biological sister and brothers. My wife and I promised never to abandon our children and always to be there. Grace has been placed in a forever family.

As a Miller, Grace plays with her siblings and has begun to create relationships with extended family. She participates in dinner around the supper table, family devotions and simple routines. We expect that Grace will continue to love the outdoors, be home-educated and continue in close relationship to her brothers and sister.

My wife and I treat her no differently than her brothers and sister; we love and disciple her in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Over time, we are convinced that Grace will learn, by God's grace and mercy, what it means to be a "Miller," to love God and love others.

Then, when her mommy and daddy pass from this earth to their Lord, Grace will share in the estate of her parents equally along with her sister and brothers. She is a co-heir.

Many years ago, probably before time began, God chose me for His family. Like Grace, I did nothing to deserve this adoption. Like Grace, I was totally unaware of the great love and sacrifice for me. Unlike the adoption of Grace, my adoption cost the life of Jesus Christ, God's only Son (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8).

Like Grace, I share the same Daddy as many others (some call Him, "Abba"-Romans 8:15). Like Grace, I have many siblings (Hebrews 2:11). What a joy that with my adoption, my Daddy saw fit to provide brothers and sisters so that when we get together, we can celebrate the life we've been given here on earth, freed from our past (sins). What comfort to know He will never leave me or abandon me (Hebrews 13:5). I have been placed in a forever family (Psalm 68:6).

What comfort to experience His Spirit, Who provides truth within (John 14:26) so that I can know my Daddy better and over time know what it means to be a "Christian" or follower of Christ. What joy that my Daddy sees fit to discipline me so that I become more like Him (Hebrews 12:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18) and promises that when I see Christ, I will be like him (1 John 3:2). What joy to anticipate the life to come with my big brother, Christ, with whom God has made me a co-heir in his kingdom of heaven (Romans 8:17) and invited me to share in His great feast at the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." - 1 John 3:1

--CM

A Series on Love: Part 3 -- "The Greatest Action"

Paul starts his discourse in 1 Corinthians 13 in a most interesting way. He begins with, "And now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 13:1). From there, he launches into what many Christians call the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, defining love:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Love is the greatest choice or action (since making a choice leads to action). Peter declares that "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8b). Jesus explains to a confused Nicodemus who has just exclaimed, "How can this be?" by telling him, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Love, no matter what the commercials, advertisements or Valentine Day cards say, doesn't mean never having to say you are sorry. Love means acting as if the other person was you. We all love ourselves; that's pretty easy. I want to make sure I get the best piece of pie, I get all the presents I want, I get served first. However, Christ commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To turn it around, love means making sure the other person is comfortable, the other person gets what they need, the other person enjoys the event. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

Paul wrote to Philemon in regards to his run away slave, Onesimus, who has since become a Christian. The reason for the letter is to entreat Philemon to welcome back his slave as a brother. In his argument, Paul calls on his brother to accept Onesimus on the "basis of love." Even though Paul could have "ordered you to do what you ought to do" because of Christ, he appeals on the groundwork, on the footing, on the foundation of love because an action without love is nothing and love, as Peter pointed out, "covers a multitude of sins".

Love is the first of the fruits of the Spirit. Love accepts and prays for the enemy. "Love never harms its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Paul began 1 Corinthians 13 with a unique statement and ends with the culmination, the summary of love: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (v. 13).

--HM