tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post115988826371284453..comments2023-11-03T06:08:32.801-07:00Comments on Deep Thoughts: Prosperity put-downs/a not-so-new trendAaron D. Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16286503917552301877noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1159983035496915092006-10-04T10:30:00.000-07:002006-10-04T10:30:00.000-07:00Good one Pete! I love the conserving water critiqu...Good one Pete! I love the conserving water critique. You make an excellent point.Aaron D. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16286503917552301877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1159972903331565452006-10-04T07:41:00.000-07:002006-10-04T07:41:00.000-07:00Aaron,I had foolishly forgotten that you are alway...Aaron,<BR/>I had foolishly forgotten that you are always right and for this very reason, I definitely want you ( not that dumb Paul guy ) on my team next time we play Trivial Pursuit. Haha!<BR/>Anyway, I can already tell that the scene you describe was improperly criticized and agree about your right to criticize the critic. He doesn't exactly strike me as an Ebert level critic, but at least he tried.<BR/>I like your "baby with the bath water" comparison, but living in the U.S.A, there's probably more people concerned with the conservation of the water than the baby.<BR/>Pete<BR/>P.S. It's too bad that the director didn't hire us as the lead actors. That critic would have been using the term Oscar-worthy if he had.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1159972119816310132006-10-04T07:28:00.000-07:002006-10-04T07:28:00.000-07:00Pete,Thanks for your comment. I agree that the cr...Pete,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment. I agree that the critic has a right to like or dislike a movie based on his or her own reasons. But, since a critic so easily dishes out criticism, I think it is perfectly valid to criticize a critic. While I share some of the concerns of the critic (such as presenting the idea that everything will turn out the way you want it to if you pray a few good prayers), I think he overstated his case by comparing the film to "name it and claim it" theology. I think that American Christians are so disillusioned with "prosperity doctrine" that we've thrown out the baby with the bathwater. Also, if you see the movie, I think you would agree with me that the critics comments about the "narrow is the gate" scene as "twisting Jesus' words" totally missed the point of the scene, which was comic relief, not a theology lesson. Of course, you don't have to agree with me as long as you understand that I am always right.Aaron D. Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16286503917552301877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23067594.post-1159933485987204902006-10-03T20:44:00.000-07:002006-10-03T20:44:00.000-07:00Aaron, First and foremost, you have to realize tha...Aaron, <BR/>First and foremost, you have to realize that you are dealing with a professional movie critic which means that you won't agree most of the time if you have good tastes in movies. I can't count the number of times I have seen a film lauded and couldn't even stay awake during the movie or the other way around.<BR/>That being said, I have found that the one thing critics do have a talent for picking out is poor acting. It is subjective, mind you, but a great performance stands out even in a stupid movie. Of course often times, the blame should fall mostly on the poor directing, and the more skilled movie critics can blow a whistle on that pretty well too ( in my opinion ).<BR/>As far as the critic blasting the movie goes, I think he was trying to say that the movie gives off a feel that if you take a walk in the woods and have one or two good prayer sessions than everything in your life will turn out perfect. While I understand that God is perfectly able to turn any and all situations around for the better I can see why the critic sees this as a little too cliche. As much as Job was blessed in the end, he went through an unmatched dark season and one of the most celebrated men in the Bible, David, had an extremely tumultuous life in his struggle to do God's will.<BR/>I see this critic give a nod to the content ( towards the end ) while questioning the skill in presenting it. Think of it this way: Every time you hear a sermon you very likely appreciate the content, but ( if you're like me ) you may see problems in the presentation that makes the difference between a decent Sunday sermon and a Billy Graham crusade. As a christian movie, this is a sermon, and it is the critic's job to dissect it. At least he was honest with us about what he felt about it. He could have lied and said that it is the best movie ever simply because it is a christian movie. <BR/>But of course, that's all just my take on it, and we're each entitled to our own I guess. Glad you enjoyed it, I plan to see it very soon.<BR/>PeteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com