A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
By Bill Crowder
This big-budget sequel to the previous Transformers movie has all the ingredients of a summer blockbuster. It has fast-paced action, lots of special effects, and a couple of kids trying to save the world. It also has the influence of Steven Spielberg all over it. It has everything you would want, except, perhaps for a compelling story or a satisfying conclusion (it leaves the door open for a 3rd installment in the series).
Perhaps the strength of the movie is in the effects. Many times, you watch a film and say, “Where did the $150 million go?” Not here. All the money is on the screen in special effects that are top-notch and believable.
The primary downside of the movie, for me, was the perpetual use of crude humor and sexual language that felt gratuitous. It just had nothing to do with the story, and was unnecessary. In fact, it would be valuable to note that, though based on kids’ toys, this is definitely not a children’s movie—not only because of the intensity of the action but also because of the amount of crudity used.
In terms of lessons and application, the story does speak to the important issue of what we are living for. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) wants to live for himself, go to college and enjoy being young—but fate and circumstances conspire to make him decide if he will continue to live primarily for self, or if he will sacrifice self for the good of others. His decision to sacrifice himself on several occasions becomes integral to the story line. This can offers us, as followers of Christ, a powerful reminder that we are faced with the same choices day in and day out. What do we live for? The challenge of the Bible to us is, as Paul said, “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:7-8). We are called to live for others and for Christ.
Filed under Writing and tagged with Movie Review.
