Monday, July 9, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man And The Gospel - Review and Opinion

I've got to admit that I did like the movie. It was a reboot, but it also changed a few details to make the movie's story unique. I don't agree with all the criticism about the way Andrew Garfield portrayed Peter Parker. I think that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were excellent in their roles. I think that a newer spin was put on Parker. I think it fit the current culture much more to portray Parker as more confident and less socially awkward that the way he has been depicted in the past (especially from the 2002 film). If you haven't seen it, I suggest that you might like it and it's worth go seeing.  If you have seen it, here are some other articles that may be interesting to you.

Who Was That In The Amazing Spider-Man's Credits Scene?



Here are a good break down comparing the original Spider-Man trilogy with the latest movie

TR Review/Comparison: The Amazingly (Unnecessary) Spider-Man 

If the reports are true that perhaps the footage that was cut out the movie so that they can go into the sequels then I don't think it was unnecessary. A lot of loose ends were left tangling but it was set up for those to be tied up later. 

One of the best things about the character is that Spider-Man is selfless. He doesn't try to judge anyone such that they are are undeserving of his help or protection. He also grows as  a person. His getting powers doesn't just solve all his problems it adds to them. His Uncle Ben does not utter the famous line  "With great power comes great responsibility" in this movie. Instead the message is that if there is something you can do to help someone else, you should. I think this is the central message of the character. Is it a part of the Christian Gospel?

Yes, but it's a more watered down version of what Jesus said.


47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. - Luke 12:47-48

Notice that in both formulations, responsibility and talent are tied together. Jesus' words are in context of explaining a parable of a manager who has been put in charge of a task and how bad it looks if the master returns and the task is not being carried out. Go back and read the parable. It's not that the manager could not do the job. Like us, God does not give us stuff to do that we can't do. Instead God gives us talents and opportunities to do the things that he has commanded us to do and we are judged by what we do because it's not that we don't know.  If we are faithful carrying out what we know and can do, more power and responsibility is added to us and if we are not faithful we will loose what we have. Look at the context and notice that its not about salvation it's about rewards and just life here. The biggest difference I see between the ethics the Spider-man character is built around and the commands of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ is that Jesus is clearly not pointing to just responsibility but also our accountability to the one who gives us our powers and responsibilities.  It's not a minor difference. One one hand to do good but no real reason given for why. Jesus tells us why: We owe it to God.

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