The television
movie commentator said, “People want to see movies
that represent who they are.”
Yep! We do.
We want to see clean, wholesome movies that
promote:
- Morality
- Family values
- Respect
- Individuality
- Positivity
Instead, the movie industry cranks out just
the opposite. What’s the problem? I’m not sure. It hasn’t been all that many
years ago that basically any movie that came out was okay for family viewing.
Box office favorites during my childhood included: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Swiss Family Robinson.
I don’t need to describe to you the non-values
that today’s movies promote. Today’s films are Godless, disrespectful, violent,
and full of sexual content. Rarely ever is the language clean. A “family unit”
can consist of all kinds of couples, triples, and cheating. Some marital
arrangements even include passive tolerance of aberrant behaviors. Movies
represent many divorces and immorality from singles, as well. When there are
children in films, they have nasty attitudes and talk back to their parents and
other adults. If there’s a school scene, there’s more of the same disrespect.
I realize we’re no longer in “Ozzie and
Harriet” days, and “Leave it to Beaver” was a very long time ago. When I was a
child, I never knew any woman who actually wore high heels and starched aprons
around the house. It was an unrealistic, idealistic picture of life, but it was
a positive one. When Beaver and Wally got into trouble, they learned life lessons.
The moral tone was good. Their parents may have disagreed, but they were
committed to each other, and the family unit was secure.
Today, even the remakes of classic films
are darker. I recently saw a frame-by-frame comparison of the new Beauty and the Beast movie with the older, animated one. I noticed
that the scenes’ coloring is darker—more like dark grays and navy than
daylight. (I haven’t seen it, and I can’t judge whether the whole tone is truly
more pessimistic. I don’t know. This is only an observation about staging and
lighting.)
Why the darkness? Why the gore? Why the
disrespect and immorality?
The Bible says. In the
last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with
divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth. . . . men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith (1 Timothy 3:1b-7,
8b). It sounds like a snapshot of today’s entertainment—that supposedly reflects who people are and what they want to see.
Not
me!
And,
I’m sure not many of my readers.
What
can be done to change things? (Before offering some ideas, I’m not sure we can
change Hollywood, but I do think maybe we can begin to influence culture—and
movies—in a positive, alternative way.)
Here are four ideas:
- Make sure your own entertainment choices are clean and pure. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me (Psalm 101:3).
- Patronize good, Christian films and watch the old classics. When there’s more of a market, there is more funding and availability of good films. It’s a win-win.
- Make your voice heard. For example, you watch a children’s movie with your kids, and you’re horrified to hear potty talk, innuendo, and crudeness. Write a note to the company. If every caring parent did this, there would be a huge difference in kids’ movies.
- If you’re talented in writing, acting, etc. make sure you use your talent for the Lord. His reward is greater than any secular acclaim—and it’s eternal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:20a, 33). Choose to only take part in clean, moral productions as well as Christian ones. The Lord will reward you.
After all, we want it to represent who we are.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your thoughts.