REVIEW: ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ is dark … and redemptive?

by Michael Foust | Oct 18, 2019

The Disney film ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ opens this weekend—the second chapter in a modern retelling of the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story.

Aurora is an optimistic and kind young woman who is queen of the Moors, a magical land where fairies roam and plants obey orders.

She’s also an idealistic leader who believes her subjects can broker peace with Ulstead, a bordering land inhabited by creatures—humans—who have long been at odds with the Moors.

Yes, Aurora is a human, too, but she was raised by fairies. She even considers an evil fairy named Maleficent to be her fairy godmother.

Aurora, it seems, is the ideal queen to bring the two sides together—a notion that is bolstered when Philip, the son of the king of Ulstead, asks her to marry him.

But then Maleficent forbids the marriage. And then she goes on an out-of-control rampage destroying parts of the Ulstead castle and apparently killing the king, too.

It appears the two kingdoms will be at war—forever.  

“Love doesn’t always end well,” Maleficent says.

The Disney film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (PG) opens this weekend, starring Angelina Jolie (Kung Fu Panda series, Salt) as Maleficent, Elle Fanning (Maleficent, Astro Boy) as Aurora, and Michelle Pfeiffer (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Queen Ingrith of Ulstead.

The movie is a sequel to the 2014 movie Maleficent, which was loosely based on the 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. Both Maleficent films, though, add major plot twists the box-office original did not. 

Much of Mistress of Evil is thematically dark, even though you’ll leave the theater feeling upbeat (More on that below, if you’re curious). Visually, the film is stunning, thanks to colorful landscapes, a larger-than-life castle, cute and other-worldly creatures and CGI effects that make you feel like you’re there.

But that realism has a tradeoff for young children: Much of the film will be too violent and too disturbing for young children, if not for a few older ones, too.

Warning: moderate/major spoilers!

(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Moderate. Maleficent, with black wings and black horns, may scare children. The film opens with a nighttime scene in which Maleficent corners two men who had snuck into her kingdom. Maleficent—who can control nature—uses tree roots and vines to capture them. Later, we hear someone call her a witch. We watch her shoot green lightning-type bolts from her fingers at people. We see someone shot (with a crossbow) and fall into the ocean. Winged creatures that look a lot like Maleficent rally to go to war with the humans. We watch as fairies are locked in a room and many of them killed with a red powder in what looks like an attempted genocide. A secondary character dies; we watch his spirit leave him. The film ends with a major battle, although it’s not bloody or ultra-violent. Finally, alien-like creatures fill the film. Most of them are cute, although some are quite ugly. Sensitive children might have nightmares after seeing them.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Minimum. Aurora and Phillip kiss two or three times.

Coarse Language

None.

Other Positive Elements

BothMaleficent movies spotlight Maleficent’s relationship with Aurora. In the second film, Maleficent makes many applause-worthy decisions as a parent/godmother.

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

The film showcases magic, even if we don’t see cauldrons and broomsticks. Maleficent uses magic for bad and for good.

Life Lessons

Redemption is always possible: This film captures that theme beautifully, even if we see a lot of carnage along the way.  

Self-sacrifice makes the world better: The film’s final five minutes include a plot twist affirming this message.

Looks can be deceiving: One major character—to outsiders, at least—appears good, when, in fact, she is evil and self-centered.

Peace requires selflessness: The two kingdoms failed to live in harmony because of a lack of trust—and in some cases, hatred. Eventually, they come together. 

Worldview/Application

The world of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is one of good and evil, although Maleficent herself seems to have the greatest power in that universe. She controls nature and is told, “In your hands you hold the power of life and death—destruction and rebirth.” (Although, oddly, we hear characters talk about a “christening.”)

It’s an unbiblical worldview that may be worth discussing with children on the ride home.

The film’s core plot, though, has little resemblance to the original story. Evil people don’t stay evil, and supposedly good people turn out to be bad. The film’s final few moments even have a redemptive ending.  

Unfortunately for families with small children, though, we have to wade through a ton of scary scenes and ugly creatures to get to that moment.

What Works

The animation. The ending. The chemistry between Maleficent and Aurora.

What Doesn’t

The story. It lacked the charm of the best Disney movies.

Discussion Questions

1. What lessons about life does the character of Maleficent teach us?

2. Is peace always possible? What is required for peace between nations? Between individual people?

3. Why was Queen Ingrith filled with hatred? 

4. What does the movie teach us about redemption?

Entertainment rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG for intense sequences of fantasy action/violence and brief scary images.

Photo credit: Disney

On Single-Issue Voters

by Brian Hobbs | Oct 8, 2019

According to a new LifeWay Research Poll, “around 1 in 12 (8 percent) say they are single-issue voters, while 80 percent say their support for a candidate depends on several issues.”

The poll was “sponsored by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (and) explored the perspectives of American evangelicals on civility, politics, media consumption and how likely they are to engage with views different from their own.”

Let’s take a moment to think about single-issue voters. This concept has most often been associated, in American politics, with the abortion issue. The survey results said, “half of evangelicals by belief (51 percent) say they will only support a candidate who wants to make abortion illegal.”

One of the aspects that the poll did not directly appear to address was single-issue voter positive-versus-negative, as one ethics expert put it. In other words, some people are “single-issue voters” in that a candidate being incorrect or in disagreement on one lone issue (e.g. abortion) can disqualify someone from their consideration. But they are not “single issue voters” in that the candidate being right or in agreement on that issue does not automatically qualify that person for consideration.

Translation: If you’re wrong on that non-negotiable issue, I cannot in good conscience support you. If you’re right on that issue, depending on other factors, I may or may not support you.

I would consider myself in this latter category. I am a single-issue voter in that being life-affirming (for the born and unborn) is a must; not to affirm life is disqualifying for me.

You may or may not agree with this frame of thinking (I would be happy to hear you out). But consider this analogy. If a would-be pastoral candidate is qualified in many areas but fails in one or two key areas (as defined by Scripture), it can disqualify him entirely from consideration. One truly toxic factor can poison the whole well.

Thinking beyond this seminal issue of abortion, the poll revealed that many do not share this issue as the top priority. “When asked which three public policy concerns are most important to them, evangelicals by belief today are more likely to choose issues like healthcare (51 percent), the economy (46 percent), national security (40 percent) or immigration (39 percent), than issues like religious liberty (33 percent), abortion (29 percent), providing for the needy (22 percent) or addressing racial division (21 percent).”

Whether you are a single-issue voter or not, as the 2020 Election looms larger, every professing Christian can learn to show more patience with fellow believers, as we parse through the urgent issues needing attention this election cycle and beyond.  

DHD: Six takeaways from the Jean-Guyger courtroom hug

by Chris Doyle | Oct 4, 2019

Greetings!

The biggest news in social media this week is the hug in court. Of course, it involved more than that, but as Baptist Press reported on Oct. 3, “18-year-old Brandt Jean offered forgiveness and Christ to Amber Guyger, the woman convicted the day before of murdering his older brother Botham in 2018.”

For this week’s DHD, I give six aspects involving this dramatic, unexpected scene in court.

1. Courtroom forgiveness

I will go over what Jean said to Guyger, but what is at the heart of this scene is what nobody ever expects to happen in a courtroom trial. A victim or a family member of the victim forgives the accused.

It’s a powerful moment and difficult for humanity to fully comprehend. However, this is not the first time forgiveness in a major public court case has been offered.

Rachael Denhollander gave a powerful statement during the Larry Nassar trial early last year. This is the case of the former USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused hundreds of young gymnasts.

“I pray you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt, so you may someday experience true repentance and true forgiveness from God, which you need far more than forgiveness from me — though I extend that to you as well,” Denhollander said to Nassar during her testimony.

Many also remember in 2015 when members of the Emanuel African Methodist Church Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. forgave shooter Dylann Roof for the lives he murdered during a church service.

2. Asking God for forgiveness

Jean displayed wisdom and humility when he spoke to Guyger in court this week.

“I forgive you. And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you,” Jean said during the sentencing hearing. “I love you just like anyone else. I’m not going to say I hope you rot and die just like my brother did, but I personally want the best for you. … I think giving your life to Christ would be the best thing that Botham would want you to do.”

If you are familiar with 1 John 1:9, you can hear Jean reference this verse when he spoke.

Jean presented the Gospel this day, not only to Guyger, but to everyone in the courtroom and to anyone watching the video. Who knows who was influenced by the Holy Spirit through this moment?

3. Forgiveness in action

And then the hug. Jean asked the judge if he could hug Guyger, asking “Please, please?”

We don’t see the judge in the screen but hear her reply, “Yes.”

Jean comes down, and it’s apparent how much Guyger desires forgiveness and to be consoled.

For me, it was hard to only watch the video once.

4. ‘He was taught to forgive’

Baptist Press also reported comments from Jean’s mother, Allison, who said his forgiveness is a reflection of his upbringing.

“What my son did was a true reflection of what we’ve practiced all our lives. That’s what he’s been taught, to forgive,” she told NBC 5 after a Wednesday worship service at Church of Christ Dallas West where Botham had been a worship leader. “My son (Brandt) is 18-years-old, and he will have to live with the loss of his brother for all his life, so he needs to move on. I think that was the beginning of the cleansing and a new beginning.”

This demonstrates how important it is for children to be raised in church and to be taught Christian virtues.

5. Those who misunderstand

Many have spoken against what happened in that Dallas courtroom. Many have offered different interpretations of Jean’s act of forgiveness.

What I know is Jean demonstrated Jesus Christ, and just as Christ forgave many, including me, we should do likewise. That’s all I will reflect from this moment, nothing else.

6. The judge’s presentation of the Gospel

And then, to top off the unconventional courtroom events, Judge Tammy Kemp comes over to offer Guyger her Bible and then shares the powerful message of John 3:16.

This video from Court TV is an amazing presentation:

DHD: Six takeaways from Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’

by Chris Doyle | Sep 27, 2019

Greetings!

I decided to have this week’s DHD focus on Ken Burns’ phenomenal eight-part documentary series “Country Music.” I watched each episode over the last two weeks and was amazed how well it was presented and by the education it offered. I said earlier this week that “Country Music” is so good it should be worth getting college credit hours after watching it.

Here’s six takeaways I got after watching “Country Music.”

1. Carter family/Jimmie Rogers

There are many who were instrumental in founding American Country Music. Ken Burns did about as good of a job as anybody would in highlighting the major contributors. But all country music experts will say country music got its origin from The Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers

The Carter Family, made up of A.P, Sara and Maybelle, brought the Gospel Music flavor to country music. Jimmie Rogers was responsible for the bar songs and the more secular sounds.

They were presented well in the series, and I enjoyed learning about the Carters’ and Rogers’ influence.

2. Hank Williams

“He made you think he was singing straight to you,” said Bill Malone, country music historian, about Hank Williams.

“Hank Williams had the guts to put into words what we were all thinking and feeling but were too embarrassed to say,” said Fred Foster, record producer.

Country music started with mostly positive messages in its songs. The first one to sing about “real life” was Hank Williams. He put country music on another level and helped usher in the “Golden Era” of country music.

He lived a rough life and had a turbulent marriage with his wife Audrey. Many of his sad songs came from his life experiences. Many will say they related to Hank’s music. Everybody will say country music owes its prominence to Hank Williams.

3. Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton’s life was another great presentation in the series. One of the most significant element in the whole production was Dolly Parton sharing how she wrote “I Will Always Love You,” which gained recent fame by Whitney Houston in her movie The Bodyguard.

Parton said she wrote the song as a negotiation piece with Porter Wagoner who had Parton as a regular performer in his TV show. Parton wanted to do her own thing, and Wagoner would not let her.

What amazed me about how Parton handled this issue is she did not get aggressive or difficult. Instead, she wrote “I Will Always Love You” to help resolve the conflict with Wagoner. The first time Wagoner heard the song, he conceded and gave Parton his blessing to move on.

The documentary then showed Parton’s first performance of “I Will Always Love You.” Whoa! This definitely succeeded Houston’s connection with the song.

4. Kris Kristofferson

There are so many fascinating stories in the series, but one that was a major education for me was Kris Kristofferson’s life. I had no idea how much influence he had in country music. I learned he was responsible for writing “Me and Bobby McGee,” which was made famous by Janis Joplin.

Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar with an education at Oxford and was an army officer. But he gave all that up and moved to Nashville to become a janitor at a recording studio. From there, he wrote many songs that blew people away.

5. Dramatic deaths

The deaths of the prominent country music performers are sprinkled throughout the series. Hank Williams’ tribute was powerful, as the Burns’ series ended that episode with granddaughter Holly Williams singing Hank’s song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

The coverage of Patsy Cline’s death was very emotional. Next to Dolly Parton singing “I Will Always Love You,” this segment is the most memorable.

And then the scene of Vince Gill singing at George Jones’ memorial service… oh my!

6. Gospel is needed

I can’t help but think how much the Gospel is needed in the lives of many in country music. I almost think of how sad the Book of Judges in the Old Testament is when I reflect on some of the people mentioned in this series.

Many, I’m sure, are or were Christians, and there is a glimpse of the Gospel, especially when Holly Williams mentioned how her grandfather knew about the redemption that Christ offers, which led to him writing “I Saw The Light.”

But I am also convicted of knowing I need to be more active in sharing the Gospel with people and knowing how so many need to know about the powerful mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.

REVIEW: ‘Abominable’ is a touching film about grief, healing

by Michael Foust | Sep 27, 2019

The DreamWorks animated film Abominable opens this weekend, telling the story of a girl who sets out on a quest with two neighbors to return a yeti to its home.

Yi is a busy young woman living with her mother and grandmother in Shanghai, China.

During the day, she makes cash doing odds jobs—taking out trash, walking pets through the city, and babysitting small children

At night, though, she lays in bed, thinking about how things used to be when her father was still alive. Sometimes, she even sneaks up on the roof to play his old violin.

“She misses her dad,” her grandmother says. 

If only Yi had a close friend.

Perhaps a mythical hairy creature would help her cope. And that’s exactly what happens.

One night while playing a favorite tune on the roof of her apartment building, Yi sees a huge, white-haired creature hiding in the shadows. It is a …. yeti.

With an armed helicopter chasing this beast, Yi helps it hide, and then bandages its wounds and feeds it.

“I don’t know where you come from, but you sure don’t belong here,” she tells him.

Can Yi help the yeti find his home before he is captured and killed by researchers?

The DreamWorks animated film Abominable (PG) opens this weekend, telling the story of a girl who sets out on a quest with two neighbors to return the yeti, named Everest, to his mountainous home. (You guessed it: He’s from Everest.)

It stars Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Yi, Albert Tsai (Coop and Cami Ask the World) as her friend Peng, and Tenzing Norgay Trainor (Liv and Maddie) as another friend, Jin. 

Abominable is similar to other child-meets-creature-and-learns-lesson movies of the past, including E.T., Pete’s Dragon and Home. Although it may not be as entertaining as those other films, it’s still pretty good, and it’s filled with positive messages about healing from grief. Moviegoers who have lost a family member recently will share Yi’s pain. 

The yeti—in case you’re not up to speed—is the mythical creature that supposedly lives in the snow of the Himalayan Mountains. He’s often called the Abominable Snowman.

In Abominable, Yi and the Yeti have similar needs. They’re each lonely. They’re each running away from something (she from reality; he from the bad guys). And they’re each longing for something significant (her—a closer relationship with her family; him—his home in Mt. Everest).

The movie is mostly family friendly, although it does have a few worldview elements that will concern some parents (more on that below). 

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Minimal/moderate. The movie opens with Everest being chased by the bad guys. (They had captured him and stored him in a research lab.) He escapes and then is hit by a car, but survives. Everest growls several times in the film, but he’s mostly a lovable creature who just wants to play. (He’s a yeti child.) Those bad guys don’t give up and chase Everest throughout the film with tranquilizer guns. We see unmanned drones corner Yi and her friends. The film’s ending might frighten sensitive children. (Yi is pushed off a tall bridge and is presumed dead, but survives.)

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Minimal. Jin’s popularity among teens girls is a running joke. We see him preparing for a date.

Coarse Language

None. Two instances of “oh my gosh.” One “you idiot.”

Other Positive Elements

Yi’s mother and grandmother truly care for her. They’re also patient with her when she is frustrated with life.

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

The grandmother jokes that she only plays basketball “for money.” Everest the yeti is magical.

Peng and Yi say they learned that the stars are “ancestors who watch over us.”

Yi, while on her way to Mt. Everest, stops at the Leshan Giant Buddha, a Mt. Rushmore-type sculpture of Maitreya (or the Buddha yet to come). 

Life Lessons

Friendship is a blessing: Yi needs a friend, and she finds it in Everest and two neighbors.

Arrogance is not attractive: Yi’s neighbor/friend, Jin, considers himself a lady’s man who dresses like he belongs in a boy band. He’s also self-centered.

Grief is a process: The movie doesn’t tell us how long Yi has been without her father, but it implies it’s been several months, if not longer. Yi carries around a picture of her father in her violin case. She acknowledges she’s stayed busy to suppress the pain—and has yet to stop and cry.

Children need a family: Yes, teens sometimes act embarrassed around parents, but Abominable affirms the necessity of the family structure, including that of a mother and father. (Her dad formerly played the violin for her.) 

Worldview/Application

First, the good. Abominable, much like Pete’s Dragon, can teach children a simple lesson about our world: Science can’t explain everything. “Yetis don’t exist,” Jin tells Yi. But in her world, they do. Similarly, in our world, people often reject the existence of God, pointing to (supposedly) scientific evidence. Kids innately know better.

Now, for the problematic. Abominable isn’t as overt in its unbiblical worldview as Moana or Coco, but it’s still there. We learn that Yi’s father longed to take her to the Leshan Giant Buddha statue, and then we see it up close, as she takes her time exploring it. (“What’s that?” my 11-year-old son asked. “A false God,” I told him in a two-second movie explanation.) We also hear Peng say that stars are “ancestors who watch over us.” Except for that one line, little-to-nothing else is heard about traditional Chinese religious beliefs.

Everest the yeti is magical, and he is able to control nature—including the growth of flowers and other plants—simply by closing his eyes and humming. (His body glows, too.) We are told he “talks to nature.”

If you take the children, then be prepared for a worldview discussion on the ride home.

The film’s message about grief is a good one. Yi learns to celebrate her father’s memory and to rely on friends and family members for healing. Of course, the Bible has much more to say on the topic (Psalm 34:18, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) that is worth exploring.

Sponsors

Little Debbie, Luigi’s Italian Ice, Bearpaw, Yogurtland, FAO Schwartz and East West Bank.

What Works

The animation. The scenic landscapes. The education in cultural differences. (Grandma cooked dumplings that looked different than anything I’ve eaten.)

What Doesn’t

Everest’s magical powers. Yetis are Jedi-like? (So, that’s why we never seen one, huh?)

Discussion Questions

1. What helped Yi heal emotionally?

2. What does the Bible say about grief and healing? Do people heal from grief differently?

3. What was the movie’s message about social media? About arrogance? Was Jin likeable?

4. Is there someone you need to reach out to who is grieving? 

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Abominable is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.