Maleficent

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images

Appropriate for: Ages 10+

Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy  

Length: 97 minutes
Year of Release: 2014

(Family discussion questions for this movie can be found at http://christianperspectivereviews.blogspot.com/p/maleficent-discussion-questions.html)

It seems the fairy tales have tricked us yet again.

Maleficent retells the story of Sleeping Beauty—except this time, the tale does not begin with the birth and christening of Princess Aurora. Rather, it begins with a young fairy named Maleficent. Maleficent isn’t your average fairy, however. She is the size that any human child would be at her age. Horns, similar to a ram’s horns, grow from her head, and a pair of beautiful feathered wings extend from her back. Maleficent is beautiful, kind, and good. She takes care of her home, the Moors—a fairy-land full of mysterious and magical creatures. She is practically a princess herself.

One day, a young human boy strays into the Moors from the neighboring human kingdom. Maleficent and Stefan meet and become friends. As the years pass, their friendship turns to love. Although Stefan tells Maleficent that their love is true love, Stefan leaves one day to pursue his dream of becoming a great man in the kingdom. While they are apart, the kingdom begins attacking the Moors in order to overcome the magical realm. Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) is powerful, however, and she defends her home, fatally wounding the king in a great battle. On his deathbed, the king promises his crown to anyone who can overcome Maleficent. Hearing the king’s promise, Stefan returns to Maleficent only in order to betray her, his desire for power darkening his heart. He takes her wings to the king, receiving the crown in return. A few years later, Maleficent, overcome by her hatred of Stefan and her desire for revenge, curses Stefan’s newborn daughter to an eternal sleep that will begin on her sixteenth birthday. This death-like sleep can only end if the princess receives true love’s kiss—something that Maleficent knows does not exist. But, as Maleficent watches this young princess (Elle Fanning) grow, she realizes that she made a terrible mistake: Aurora’s gentle and joyful spirit may have been the only thing that could unite the kingdom of the fairies and the kingdom of humans. Maleficent must undo the evil that she caused.

There is no profanity to speak of in this movie, and the romance goes no further than a couple of innocent kisses. This flick’s biggest concern for families is certainly the violence. Although bloodless, there are two main battles in this film that are relatively intense for a PG film. The battle scenes are comparable to the battles in Disney’s 2008 film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, only a bit darker and a bit more intense. This movie also has a smattering of magic throughout, which can only be expected in a Disney fantasy movie. Although you could consider the magic to be “dark” at times—especially Maleficent’s curse on Aurora—it is clearly presented as evil. Therefore, I would not consider the element of magic in this film to be any more harmful than the magic in the Narnia movies. Several frightening images also make an appearance in this movie, including a scary wolf, a fiery dragon, a character suffering from burns in several places, a pair of glowing green eyes, and the transformation of a crow into a man. Although these violent and frightening elements don’t quite earn this movie a PG-13 rating, I would definitely not recommend the film to families with children under the age of ten. However, be aware that this movie might even be too much for even some sensitive thirteen-year-olds.

On a positive note, however, Maleficent is a touching story that examines the consequences of hate and revenge, showing us the corrupting nature of a selfish love of power and the danger of acting in anger. This movie also shows the power of love. Not your average mushy boy-girl love, the love of a pretty face or of charming words. No, this flick differentiates between selfish love and selfless love, championing the latter over the former. This film paints a picture of self-emptying love—a love directed at a pure and joyful heart.

While examining the nature of true love, this movie also examines the nature of the heart. It does so by presenting Maleficent as both a hero and a villain. Like many other recently released Disney films—including Oz, the Great and Powerful and Frozen—Maleficent touches on the mysterious battle that is continually raging on within every human being. It shows how the heart has the shocking tendency toward terrible thoughts and actions. By God’s grace, however, it also has the capacity for goodness, truth, and beauty. This element of the flick is the perfect material for a family discussion on the nature of man. It reflects the words of Paul in Romans 7:15-25 when he discusses the battle between his sinful nature and the Spirit. In verses 22 and 23, Paul writes, “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me” (NIV). Maleficent examines this mystery: how one person can be both villain and hero. It shows that the biggest battles are not fought out on a field but in the deepest parts of the heart.

Because of these redeeming elements, the brilliant acting, the exciting plot, and the beautiful cinematography—not to mention a great soundtrack—I would definitely recommend this movie, especially to families who love a bit of action and adventure and who are looking for a good movie to discuss.

Rose in Bloom

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Appropriate for: Ages 10+

Genre: Classic Romance Novel

Length: 344 pages

Year of Publication: 1876

In this beautiful and satisfyingly romantic sequel to Eight Cousins, Louisa May Alcott follows the sweet, young, nineteenth-century heiress, Rose Campbell, through the experiences that bring her from girlhood into womanhood. In the opening chapter, Rose returns to America with her uncle and friend, Phebe, from two years abroad. These two years have brought changes in the two young women as well as in the seven cousins back home on the “Aunt-Hill.” As Rose becomes reacquainted with her seven cousins—now nearly all young men—she discovers that some have changed for good and others for ill. She also discovers that several of her aunts have been speculating about her marriage to one or the other of her handsome cousins in order to keep her fortune in the family. When one of the young men actually falls in love with her, Rose must learn how to handle the love of a young man and how to read the feelings of her own heart. She also learns to discern what makes a man a true gentleman. This new element of romance brings new struggles and joys to the life of twenty-year-old Rose. However, through these struggles and the other new experiences of this young, ambitious woman, the bud that was once the little girl from Eight Cousins begins to bloom, becoming a woman of true virtue.

As Rose in Bloom is one of my favorite books, I struggle to find a true cause for criticism in the abundance of beauty that this book offers. However, one objection that I wrestled with when I read this novel for the first time several years ago was the prospect of Rose marrying one of her cousins. This being generally unheard of in my day and age, I was initially rather scandalized at the thought. One must not ignore historical context, however. In the nineteenth century, the marriage of cousins was not yet unacceptable. Please, before you read this book, drill this fact into your brain. Otherwise, the entire story will be ruined for you.

In addition, it must be noted that the subject matter of this book is slightly heavier than its predecessor, Eight Cousins. Most of the young characters are now in their twenties and, therefore, face the trials and temptations of young adults. One of the young men in particular struggles with alcohol addiction, bringing an element to this book that is more serious than any seen in Eight Cousins. This cousin is also described smoking. However, Alcott gives her heroine, Rose, an admirable distaste for this young man’s way of life and examines the true ugliness of such a life without discipline. This novel also sees the tragic death of a character—another element that makes this novel less of a children’s book and more appropriate for young adults.

From a Christian perspective, another objection to this novel is the absence of Jesus Christ from the lives of the characters and other small ways in which Alcott’s transcendentalist worldview shows through. Although Rose and her relatives often refer to “God” and “being good,” they seem to have no strong foundation for their desires to “be good” other than to please and help each other. The characters also speak and act as if they can make themselves good. To the Christian, however, humans are sinners and need Jesus Christ in order to be truly good. Good works cannot save anyone; they are only the fruit of a life changed by Christ. As long as the reader understands this, however, Alcott’s discussion of “being good” is not harmful. Instead, she explores the lives of her characters in a way that expands the reader’s understanding of what a truly beautiful and virtuous life looks like—an image that would be nearly spot-on if Christ had not been left out of the picture. (For more discussion on the concept of goodness, see my 2010 blog post “Be Good.”)

Despite these few objections, I strongly recommend this novel to any ambitious young reader looking for a good classic romance. Obviously, this genre of novel would generally lend itself to young ladies rather than to the boys, but I would caution parents against giving this book to a lady who is not old or mature enough for romance—even though this romance is very innocent and lighthearted. Miss Alcott handles Rose’s romance tastefully and offers wholesome advice to her readers through the medium of this little book; however, I would still not recommend the Eight Cousins sequel to children under the age of ten due to the more mature elements and subject matter mentioned above.

In closing, I think I can easily say that Rose in Bloom is one of the most refreshing and heartwarming romances that I have read in a long time. Written in Alcott’s intelligent, humorous, and engaging style, this book presents a beautiful image of true womanhood, true manhood, and true love. In addition, I have found that this is a novel worth reading over and over again because, although it is as sweet as sugar, it is wholesome at the core and good for the soul.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action/violence.

Appropriate for: Ages 13+

Genre: Superhero Sci-Fi Action Adventure

Length: 142 minutes

Year of Release: 2014

(Parent/Teen discussion questions for this movie can be found at http://christianperspectivereviews.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-spider-man-2-discussion.html)

In the opening scenes of the latest installment of The Amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is graduating from high school. As he enters a new chapter in his life, Peter also contends with new challenges and new struggles. One of his biggest struggles is his relationship with his high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). The problem is that they love being together, but the memory of Captain Stacy’s last words to Peter continually haunts poor Spidey: “You’re gonna make enemies. People will get hurt. Sometimes the people closest to you. Leave Gwen out of it.” Along with this tension in Peter’s relationship with Gwen, Peter makes some discoveries regarding the truth about his parents and faces new villains connected with the infamous Oscorp. These are no ordinary villains, however; they are friends turned foes—a fact that makes Peter’s role as Spiderman both bitter for him and dangerous for the ones he loves.

I’ve overheard some people criticizing this movie for being so unrealistic. If you go to see a movie with the word “Spiderman” in the title, however, you shouldn’t be expecting realistic. Also, it’s based on a comic book, so it won’t exactly be scientifically accurate. Nevertheless, this is a good thing to note: if you don’t like superheroes and genetically mutated villains, you will not appreciate this movie.

Along with the superheroes and genetically mutated villains comes quite a bit of violence and destruction which certainly earns this movie its PG-13 rating. The violence is no worse than it was in the previous Amazing Spider-Man, however. In addition to some disgusting bad guys and a couple gross-looking characters, this film also has some foul language and misuses of the Lord’s name. Although I would not say that these negative elements are enough to keep families from watching this movie, the language and violence are still present and would not be suitable for sensitive viewers. As a result, parents must be discerning as they consider this film for a family movie night. I certainly would not recommend the movie for kids under thirteen. 

Although I definitely found this Spider-Man to be a lot more emotional than the previous film, I actually enjoyed it more than the first movie in some ways. I appreciated that this movie showed Peter struggling with some very real problems—even while he’s battling genetically mutated Oscorp employees—and making some really tough decisions. The audience sees him try to do what is best for his girlfriend, persistently pursue the truth about his parents, and reach out to a hurting friend from his childhood, even though it ends up costing him dearly. Although this movie certainly doesn’t attain “happily ever after” for our favorite web-slinging dude, Peter does mature through his experiences and he recognizes his important role of bringing hope to the people of New York. Peter himself even learns to hold on to hope even when the future seems bleak.

Although I found the theme of hope in this film to be refreshing, the source of the hope for the characters in this movie seemed so flimsy to me. The movie tells its audience that we can find hope in our fellow humans and in ourselves when, in truth, humans are a mess and Christ alone is our source of hope. This movie recognizes that every life comes to an end, but it ignores what comes after that end, saying that the only thing that matters is what a person does in this life. As one of the characters says, “Fight for what matters to you, no matter what. Because even if you fall short, what better way is there to live?” Without God and without Christ, though, what does that even mean? What difference does it really make?

Despite the failings in the worldview of this movie, I still highly recommend this film to families with older kids. Maybe when you watch it, talk about the movie’s worldview. Bring up these questions about hope, and examine Peter Parker’s source of hope. Think about the fact that maybe Spidey needs a Superhero of his own.

Eight Cousins

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Appropriate for: All ages

Genre: Children’s Novel

Length: 292 pages

Year of Publication: 1875

Set in nineteenth-century Boston, Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins—originally published serially—follows a year in the life of young Rose Campbell. Rose, a sweet and delicate thirteen-year-old, is an orphan. She never knew her late mother, and her father recently passed away, so she is now subject to the care of her aunts and uncles and the attention of her seven boy cousins. There is a problem, though: Rose is dreadfully afraid of boys. How will she ever manage among a throng of young, energetic lads? The efforts of her great aunts to restore her to health and happiness being fruitless, her legal guardian, Uncle Alec, takes over Rose’s “bringing up” upon his return from overseas. Uncle Alec, a bachelor and a seafaring doctor with innovative views on raising children, makes a deal with the aunts: they must give him a year to try his best to bring Rose back to health and happiness, and, if his methods prove ineffective, he must hand her over to someone else’s care at the end of the year. As Rose soon discovers, Uncle Alec’s methods may actually be more practical than anyone ever imagined—and boys may not be as bad as she thought. Through numerous adventures with her uncle and seven rambunctious cousins, Rose learns what true happiness is and begins to recognize what it means to be truly rich—rich not in money and possessions but in virtue and love.

I wish they still published books like this. Sure, it may feel a bit moralizing at times, and the plot may not be exactly riveting, but this book has some beautiful elements that make it worth more than all contemporary children’s books put together. One objection I do have to this book is the absence of Jesus Christ in the lives of the characters. While Rose and other characters often talk about “being good,” they speak as if they have the ability to “be good” on their own—as if they can purify themselves. In the Christian worldview, however, humans are subject to the sinful nature. Without Christ, no one can be delivered from that nature. (For more discussion on the concept of goodness, see my 2010 blog post “Be Good.”)

Despite the absence of this foundational concept, I still find it refreshing to read a book that champions morals, virtue, the beauty of family, and true friendship. The children in this book actually respect their elders, and Alcott clearly praises the adults who are active in the lives of the eight cousins. This book shows that, even in an imperfect world with imperfect people, families can still thrive.

Eight Cousins easily falls in the category of wholesome children’s literature. Although I would rank this book somewhere below The Chronicles of Narnia, it’s right up there with works like the Little House series, Little Women, The Secret Garden, and the Caddie Woodlawn books. In comparison to many modern works of fiction for children, this book has a lot of meat in it. It’s not just air and sugar like some contemporary works. It has substance. Although the reading level of this novel may be somewhat advanced for younger children, I highly recommend Eight Cousins to readers of all ages. Parents, read it aloud to your young kids. Teens, why not give it a shot? It may not be a thrilling story, but it is beautiful. It will make you smile—and maybe even laugh out loud. If you give it the time of day, you’ll find yourself caught up in the lives of some lively and lovely characters and falling in love with Alcott’s witty and engaging voice.

The Book Thief

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material
Appropriate for: Ages 13+
Genre: War Drama
Length: 131 minutes
Year of Release: 2013

(Parent/Teen discussion questions for this movie can be found at http://christianperspectivereviews.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_4279.html)

The Book Thief is the story of a girl who is hungry for words. Set in the midst of a Germany filled with Nazi propaganda, the movie begins with the world on the brink of World War Two. Young Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse) is the daughter of a communist woman who is at odds with the German government. For the protection of her children, Liesel’s mother brings her two children to the home of foster parents. After her brother dies during the trip, however, Liesel alone is delivered to the home of Hans and Rosa Hubermann (Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson). Now Liesel faces the challenges that come with new parents and a new home. Her new mother has the temperament of a thunderstorm, and Liesel’s illiteracy becomes the brunt of the children’s ridicule at her new school. Her life, however, is sweetened by the friendship of her loving foster father, Hans, and her kind next-door neighbor, Rudy (Nico Liersch). When Hans discovers Liesel’s desire to learn to read, he promises to help her, and books soon become a source of beauty and wonder in her life. Not until her home becomes the refuge to a hunted Jew, however, does Liesel learn the true value of words.

Although I have done my best, this summary utterly fails to capture the essence of this touching story. Despite the death and sadness that fill this film, the screenplay paints a picture of humanity that reminds viewers of the vacuum in the human soul that is ever hungry for beauty and goodness. The film reminds us that, although all humans must die, not all humans are defeated by death. Furthermore, The Book Thief makes an attempt to communicate the idea that humans are special and that words are a powerful gift. As a character says to Liesel, “Every living thing, every leaf, every bird, is only alive because it contains the secret word for life. That’s the only difference between us and a lump of clay. A word. Words are life, Liesel.” Unfortunately, however, the film fails to distinguish humans from any other living, breathing creature. It fails to explain why words have so much power. Although The Book Thief shows viewers hope in the face of death, it does not give them a source for that hope. Without bringing God into the picture, the hope that Liesel finds in books and words is shallow and fake. Without referring to God’s powerful word in Genesis one and the “breath of life” that he breathed into mankind, the movie’s distinction between clay and humans seems superficial. The characters fail to recognize that words are not God. In truth, God made words. Therefore, words are not life; rather, the Word of God is life.

From a moviemaking standpoint, this movie is beautifully made, professionally acted, and accompanied by a breathtaking soundtrack. Philosophically, this movie dives into some incredibly deep topics, addressing them in ways that are utterly genius. The very fact that this movie deals with some nitty-gritty topics, however, makes this film inappropriate for young children. The dreary and depressing aura of the film, along with the recurring depictions of death and war, would be simply too frightening for children who are too young to understand the movie’s central themes. In addition, the presence of Death as the narrator of the film could also be disturbing and slightly gruesome to more sensitive viewers; however, this element is not overdone and, therefore, not repulsive. Although there are a few misuses of the Lord’s name in the film, I found them relatively inoffensive compared to the content of other contemporary films and, therefore, would consider language in this film to practically be a non-issue. The film also deals with the element of young love quite tastefully, not only painting a heartwarming picture of friendship but also showing viewers a beautiful image of the love of family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would highly recommend it to families with teens. Whether you want to have a good cry or are looking for a movie that will spark a profitable discussion, this is definitely the movie for you.