Under God

Hooray for Holywood

By David Waters

Seven of the 10 movies that received "Best Picture" Academy Award nominations Tuesday, including front-runner "Avatar," were also among "The Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2009," according to the Web site SpiritualityandPractice.com.

But Hollywood apparently is in no danger of becoming Holywood, at least not according to Baptist Press. Only two of this year's Oscar-nominated films made BP's cut in "2009's Best Movies from a Christian Perspective." "Avatar," the leading contender for an Oscar, actually made the Baptists' list of "Worst" movies.

One moviegoer's spirituality is another moviegoer's hokum, I suppose. But the variety of faith-based reactions to nominated films like "Avatar," "The Blind Side," and "Up" is another indication of the alternative realities inhabited by religious liberals and conservatives.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat chose Avatar as "the spiritual surprise of the year" for "creating an alternate world where the 'interconnectedness of all beings' is celebrated, and the natural habitat is revered,"

Phil Boatwright, on the other hand, felt less than connected to "Avatar's faintly camouflaged dictums concerning war, the military and the abuse of the environment. While the film's effects are impressive, the content isn't. Along with the profanity and excessive video game-like violence, the film is anti-war, anti-military and anti-human. That's too anti for me."

Baptist Boatwright felt totally connected to "The Blind Side" -- a "Best Picture" nominee that didn't even rate a mention by SpiritualityandPractice.com. Boatwright: "The movie isn't "cynical or profane, the leads aren't dysfunctional, and what's this, could many of the main characters actually be Christians?"

One Oscar-nominated film did make both faith-based lists. "Up."

According to the Brussats: "An animated feature about a memorable cross-generation friendship that is also a probe on the true meaning of adventure."

According to Boatwright: "My favorite film of the year . . . Though there are tearful moments, they are adroitly handled, giving the story and characterizations depth and feeling. There's great wit and heart in this production -- that's the type of film that enriches little ones as well as accompanying loved ones."

Finally, something about which all Red and Blue Americans can agree: "Up" is a wonderful and spiritually uplifting movie.

So what gets your nomination for the most spiritual movie of 2009? Is Hollywood going spiritual on us, or have the best films always had deeper meanings?

By

David Waters

 |  February 2, 2010; 1:17 PM ET  |  Category:  Today's Topic Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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Sort of like 75% of Americans have read either a Dan Brown or Left Behind novel, but no one's done both?

Except Disney knows how not to turn anyone off.

Posted by: WmarkW | February 2, 2010 2:21 PM
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Is "spiritually literate" a compliment?

If so, I cast my vote for the one movie of the year that celebrates traditional marriage, and rivals Dante's Divine Comedy in its depiction of the path from sin to redemption. I am speaking, of course, of "The Hangover."

Posted by: orthodoxheathen | February 2, 2010 3:05 PM
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I hate to break it to everyone but "Avatar" is not that deep a movie, spiritual or otherwise. Fun yes, but not that deep.

Posted by: jhtlag1 | February 2, 2010 4:47 PM
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When I saw "Avatar" with a Christian friend of mine, I told her that if she ever wanted an explaination of what Pagans believed, watch that movie again. While it wasn't a perfect representation (as a sci-fi movie, it used elements from a variety of Earth-centered paths and combined them into one), it was close.

The point is that to the Na'vi, Ehwa wasn't a "Goddess" removed from the world. She was, literally, the planet under their feet, the flora and fauna, and the Na'vi themselves. They had a literal connection with Ehwa and the life on the planet. People accuse Pagans of "worshipping the creation and not the Creator." For us, it's the same thing. You cannot have the dance without the dancer.

You're also forgetting about the moral choices the Humans face when confronted by an alien species in "District 9".

Posted by: Athena4 | February 2, 2010 5:53 PM
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P.S. with regard to parents in rest homes, my mom did go to a rest home, but it was not a first resort, it was a last resort. After six years with only eight and six (off and on) months away, I was at the end of my rope and ready to go my separate way.

My brother could have intervened but did not. Something about dad's idea of "if you can afford it, get out'. I was sharing the rent the last three years.

A last resort is much different than a first resort, and I was ready to give up, whereas my brother was never ready to give.

Not everyone is selfish.

Posted by: cmarshdtihqcom | February 2, 2010 6:37 PM
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sorry, wrong thread.

Posted by: cmarshdtihqcom | February 2, 2010 6:38 PM
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Posted by: ytrfyetityjytoeyhfjytug | February 3, 2010 9:43 AM
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I enjoyed both Avatar and Up very much.

I found both very uplifting, but I wouldn't consider Avatar a spiritual film at all. It was really a very formulaic Sci-Fi film. Heck, they even called the sought-after mineral "Unobtanium", which is a joke name meaning "unobtainable non-existant material." In other words, even the writers of the film weren't taking themselves seriously, which is a big plus when it comes to science fiction.

Up was great, my kids loved it. My young daughter was so pleased when she saw the house had landed by the falls. "Look, the little housie is happy, she's where she wanted to be."

Vote for Up. Avatar was just fun. Up had a message.

Posted by: ZZim | February 3, 2010 11:10 AM
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Avatar is a very spiritual movie since nothing but Intelligent design could create a world like Pandora and nothing but a miracle could create Unobtanium.

Posted by: edbyronadams | February 4, 2010 6:18 PM
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Saw Avatar this evening. Great effects, so-so story line. Basically it is a sci-fi version of "Dances with the Wolves" but the Indians win this one. And I thought cigarette smoking was banned by Hollywood? Not much in the way of lifting the human spirit in the movie and thumbs down on having any spiritual value.

Thumbs up for "UP" for having spiritual, moral and ethical value.

Posted by: YEAL9 | February 5, 2010 12:35 AM
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