Inception

"I had a terrifying dream as I lay in bed and the images and visions of my mind frightened me..." Daniel 4:2

We all dream - and what lies inside those imaginations can captivate, inspire, or frighten us as we wake again. This fascination with the world within our mind is why a film like Inception captures movie-goers.

At its core, Inception is a heist movie; however, the landscape is not a Vegas casino or a New York bank - but rather, the deepest layers of the subconsciousness.

The film follows as dream-heist thief Dom Cobb (Leonardi DiCaprio) embarks on what he believes to be his final mission: instead of stealing thoughts or secrets, Cobb and his crew will do the impossible: put an original idea into the mind of another person - and do this so covertly that the target will never know anyone was ever inside his head.

To do this, Cobb's team will have to go very deep - to create a dream within a dream within a dream, for a process called "inception." But Cobb, a troubled man who is dealing with the loss of his wife and family, is also taking his own injured memories and dreamscape onto the journey - causing even more havoc for the heist.

Inception reminds us that our minds our complex places - and to pay attention to our dreams, which are our unedited, unrehearsed stream of consciousness.

In our lives, we often mask our true feelings and thoughts in the presence of others. We do not let others see our fear or insecurities. We do not share with others our deepest secrets or sins. We do not allow others to get close enough to see our pain or anger. Instead, we project a confident, unflappable version of ourselves into our reality - hoping that these projections might keep us safe from others' reactions or judgment.

Our dreams, however, do not have such sheen and polish. They are raw collections of our most real thoughts. As Nebuchadnezzar, king of Bablylon, reported to the prophet Daniel in the Scriptures: "I had a terrifying dream as I lay in bed, and the images and the visions of my mind frightened me." (Dan. 4:2)

Dreams can indeed frighten us, especially if the person God created us to be is far from the illusion that we have created in reality. We can hide all we want from our fears and secrets, but God knows our innermost thoughts when we do not confront and work through them.

On the other hand, as Inception shows us, our most creative and wonderful ideas can emerge from the mind God has given us. Without dreamers, we might still be living in the dark ages. Without dreamers, we would have no art, music, science, or technology. As much as our minds are places of raw emotion, they are also factories of great inspiration.

In the Scriptures, the patriarch Jacob and the king Solomon are moved to action through their dreams and young men like Joseph and Daniel use their dreams to help others deal with their nightmares. In the New Testament, Mary's husband Joseph also has dreams - that inspire him to protect his family and make a home for his son Jesus. In our own age, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a nation where all people are treated equal and shared that notion with us all when he declared, "I have a dream..."

But just as we mask what lies within our minds, we can also stiffle inspiration and vision - and cut off the dreams of what could be. We can make a thousand excuses for closing the door to our dreams - choosing the status quo of reality over the possibilities of something wonderful.

And when we look to confront those raw emotions or open ourselves to visionary possibilities, we don't have to do it alone. In the movie, Cobb is joined in the dreamscape by a right-hand man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an actor/communicator (Tom Hardy), an architect/designer (Ellen Page), a sleep-inducer (Dileep Rao), and a financier (Ken Wantanabe). The architect, whose name Adriadne evokes the story of a woman of the same name from Greek mytholology who led the hero Theseus out of a dangerous labyrinth, does the same thing for Cobb here: she accompanies him on his own dark journey and encourages him to release the guilt and anguish which he masks for everyone else. This reminds us that God gives us others in our lives to help us through those difficult tasks of unpacking our mind and allowing ourselves to be who God intended us to be.

Like Cobb, we need people around us who will help us. Whether that be family or friends, colleagues or fellow believers, let us surround ourselves with good people. Without them, just as in the movie, we might be lost forever in "limbo" - unable to make it through reality or simply living life without action, inspiration, or joy.

What lies in our minds can frighten us, as it frightened Nebuchadnezzar, but it can also remind us who we truly are and who God hopes for us to be. And when we wake from this slumber, let us be open to accepting ourselves and taking hold of our dreams to build the kingdom of God.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

"So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, your body clothed in righteousness, and your feet fitted with a readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Eph. 6:14-16

Are you ready? The Sorcerer's Apprentice asks that question of its young titular hero, Dave (Jay Baruchel), and we, the audience, are left to wonder: is this apprentice truly ready for what lies ahead?

Based on the Mickey Mouse animated short film in Fantasia (1940), this new live-action version once again explores the discovery and training of a young, inexperienced student to take on the mantle of defending the world against the powers of darkness.

Mentored by the millennium-old sorcerer Balthazar (Nicolas Cage), Dave must step into his role as the Prime Merliner - a distant descendent of King Arthur's wizard Merlin who has the potential of vanquishing evil.

However, when we find Dave, he is just a college student studying physics in New York City, not quite ready to be on his own in the world in his academic career, let alone any magical one. Balthazar encourages this young man to step up to his destiny, but Dave maintains he is far from ready to take on such a role.

At one time or another, we have all been in Dave's shoes. Whether with our relationships, our career, our prayer life and church participation, or even with the smallest tasks, we often claim we're just not ready to go there yet. Perhaps we feel unprepared or unworthy of whatever we're called to step into, but no matter - we often use "readiness" as the excuse for inaction.

But when we rely on the notion (sometimes true, often false) that we are unready for the next step in life too much, dangerous things can happen. In society, there is a growing fear of commitment - and this rears its ugly head in marriages and within families. Men and women put off the sacrament of marriage, citing readiness as the reason. Or even worse, they take the leap into marriage but then aren't ready for the hard work that relationships require to succeed.

In the Scriptures, notable figures such as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jonah claimed they weren't ready for God's call. But to each of them, God encouraged them and challenged them to put aside any fear of readiness - and charge ahead.

In The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is Dave ready for the challenges that await him? Perhaps he requires more discipline and confidence, but Balthazar believes in him and his readiness. The same goes for us: God believes we are ready. When will we believe God's judgment?

St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, challenges the community to be ready for a nonviolent battle - not with people, as Roman soldiers might do, but with the powers of evil in the world: corruption, selfishness, lies, persecution, hatred, violence, and apathy. He tells them, "So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, your body clothed in righteousness, and your feet fitted with a readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Eph. 6:14-16)

This last point St. Paul makes, about faith, is important is bolstering our readiness. We fool ourselves when we believe we must face the world alone - and for that, yes, we will never be ready. By ourselves, we are powerless against the struggles of the world. But what seperates a believer from others is their faith that God will never leave them alone.

When we take a stand against the powers of evil in the world, we do it with a community of faith. We do it with our friends, our family, our colleagues, and our church - and through that unity, we are doing it with God and the powers of heaven.

On his own, Dave could not vanquish evil. But with Balthazar by his side and the support of his friends and loved ones, he was more than ready to take on the coming storm.

So whatever task or new adventure lies before us, will we be ready? If we have faith in God and believe in the power of community, nothing will ever be impossible for us.

Despicable Me

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me."
John 10:27

While many animated movies follow the life of a hero or heroine, Despicable Me takes another route by showcasing the adventures of the villain.

Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) is the world's #2 supervillain, frustrated that he is no longer on top thanks to the criminal acts of an up-and-coming young mastermind named Vector (Jason Segal), who has stolen the Great Pyramid of Giza. Of course these acts of villainy are more mischievous than morally evil - and with that thought in mind, we can move on with the movie.

But the competition between Gru and Vector is not the real story, just as our competitive experiences in life (at work, at school, in society) aren't really that important to God. This plotline, while amusing, distracts from the real issues at hand: leadership and discipleship.

Gru is the leader of an army of yellow minions, whose relationship with their master is one of servitude. And when he encounters three young girls selling cookies at the door, he suddenly decides to adopt them - but not out of concern for their well-being or a genuine appreciation of children, but because he needs them for his nefarious master plan.

This type of leadership gets Gru absolutely no where. To lead by force, coercion, or dependency only amounts to more frustration since no one is really contributing out of choice or love.

When Jesus spoke about leadership, he used the example of a sheep-herder: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd is one who lies down his life for his sheep. A hired man, who is not really a shepherd and whose sheep is not his own, sees a wolf coming and runs away from the sheep, allowing the wolf to catch and scatter them." (John 10:11-12) Here Jesus points out a comparison between good and bad leadership... a leader must not only invest in his disciples, but he must also love them and, if necessary, lay down his life for their sake.

In order to do this, Jesus says, we must get beyond ourselves. We must get to know and connect with others, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable before those who might follow us. "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me." (John 10:27) True leadership, according to Jesus, is about a genuine relationship.

Throughout our lives, we are thrust (sometimes unwillingly) into leadership roles. Whether we are a teacher, a supervisor, a project leader, a corporate executive, a chair or member of a committee, an elected official, or someone who leads their friends on a night to the movies, God gives us leadership opportunities at some point. What kind of leader will we be when the time comes?

We may not have a multitude of minions at our beckon call, but when people follow us in one way or another, we are given a great responsibility - like the good shepherd. Will we be so shocked that people are following us that we take advantage of their trust and selfishly charge ahead? or will we be open to vulnerability and engage people in mutual collaboration?

Let us all pray that we might find the strength to emulate Jesus and take on the mantle of the good shepherd when the time comes.

Predators

"For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood enveloped me..." Jonah 2:4

Predators is basically a cinematic cage match - between a team of extraterrestrial creatures and a collection of the most dangerous humans on earth. For fans of this science fiction franchise (myself included), it is a welcome return to a great monster movie experience.

At the heart of all monster movies is the feeling of being cast deep into a frightening world. "This has got to be hell," remarks one of the characters in Predators as he looks around at the alien landscape in which he and the other humans have been literally dropped.

Of course this sentiment seems fitting, considering who these people are. The leader of the group, Royce (Adrian Brody), is a mercenary killing for money and sport, while the rest of the crew include an American serial killer, a Mexican drug cartel enforcer, a Sierra Leone death squad officer, a Yakuza assassin, a Russian commando, as well as the black ops sniper Isabelle (Alice Braga). Deep down, many of them feel that this alien situation is just punishment for their crimes on earth. It might as well be hell.

In a way, if this is indeed punishment, it is quite fitting for this band of killers: for a group of people who preyed upon the fears of their own people and who felt no remorse over murder at their own hands, they must now face what it is like to be hunted down by something even more menacing than they could ever imagine.

Making us, the audience, connect with these criminals reminds us that we are all sinful people. To varying degrees, we stumble and fall in our lives, causing us to fall deeper into sin. But what matters most to God is how we crawl out of our sinfulness, how we reconcile with those we have hurt, and how we resolve to do better in the future.

In Predators, most of the band of killers are not interested in penance. Their focus is on survival in an alien wilderness. In a way, when we, too, fall into sin, we can make hundreds of excuses to avoid true reconciliation - claiming that surviving the day-to-day grind is our first priority.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet Jonah thought much the same way. He wanted to hide from his sinfulness and prejudices - and in the process was cast into the deep to be swallowed by a large fish. Finally, in the belly of the monster, he understood - and in the worst situation imaginable, cried out to God for forgiveness: "For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood enveloped me. All your breakers and your billows passed over me... But I, with resounding praise, will make a sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will pay, for deliverance is from the Lord." (Jonah 2:4,10)

When we find ourselves in the midst of sin, what do we do? Do we wallow in our misfortune? Do we avoid facing our victims? Do we forget it, hoping others might forget, too? Do we focus on surviving, regardless of who we hurt along the way?

Or do we seek out goodness, compassion, and humility, vowing to put right our wrongs?

In Predators, each of the characters (including one of the alien creatures) has an opportunity to made amends for their crimes. Some take that gift, while others squander the moment. In our own lives, God gives us plenty of opportunities - from sacraments to chance encounters - to ask for forgiveness and to do good towards those we might have hurt. When the time comes, what will we choose to do?

The Last Airbender

Finding God amidst all the bad press...

The reviews for M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, The Last Airbender, have been horrible - to say the least. It scores a whooping 7% amongst film critics on Rotten Tomatoes (which means that only 7% of all major reviewers thought the film was better than average).

After seeing the movie (and agreeing with most of the critics that this was, in fact, a poorly acted and directed film), I was tempted to ignore this film on my blog. I thought: If few people liked the movie, why even bother writing about it?

But this thought process reminded me of a story in the Book of Genesis, where Abraham walks with God and asks him to spare Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction if there are at least ten good people within the city (see Gen. 18:20-33). And since there are indeed people out there who did like the movie (including someone who went with me), I will not destroy this movie in this Spiritual Popcorn review.

At its core, The Last Airbender tells a captivating mythological story of a time when the earth is divided into four groups of people, each connected to one of the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. With the guidance of an "avatar," these four nations are balanced and at peace with one another. But when the most recent "avatar," Aang (Noah Ringer), runs from his newfound responsibility - the earth comes off-balance, peace is eradicated, and nations rise up against each other in war. For 100 years, Aang disappears - and in that time, the Fire Nation destroys the peaceful monks of the air, subjugates the simple people of the earth, and goes head to head with the arctic tribes of the water.

The movie picks up the story when Aang reappears after a century of absence. His journey is to reconcile people together by gaining mastery over all the elements (since he was raised by the airbenders before he ran away, his only tool at this point is controlling the wind). Meanwhile, the Fire Nation seeks to destroy any hope of reconciliation - for this will mean a surrender of their power and a retreat to equality with the other nations.

So, despite some bad acting, poorly executed CGI and 3D effects, and an unfortunate script, the core of The Last Airbender is one of peace and reconciliation, of balance and equality. In our own world torn by war between the West and the Middle East, this story needs to be told.

This movie reminds us to pay attention to prophets of peace in our own time and place. Throughout history, the world has had a hard time accepting prophetic voices - from the prophets of Israel and Judah in the Hebrew Scriptures to nonviolent revolutionaries in modern times such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, and Mother Teresa. In many cases, like the Fire Nation in the movie, people have tried to kill and silence those voices, fearing what might happen if people actually listened to their words and followed their actions.

So beneath the bad press and underwelming reaction among fans for this movie - there lies a message of peace and harmony.

It is like the analogy Jesus made in the Gospels: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of seeds but when fully grown, it becomes the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush and the birds of the sky come and rest in its branches." (Mt. 13:31-32).

At its core, The Last Airbender possesses a profound truth, but without looking deeper, beyond the critics and the naysayers, one might miss this mustard seed. God speaks to us at all times - in both good movies and bad ones, in both good life experiences and even in the worst of days.

This movie reminds us not to disregard any opportunity for God to share his word with us. Let us pray that we will always seek to find him - no matter how bad the reviews are or how dark our worst day might be... for God is always there.

The Karate Kid

"He who is attacked by the spirits of darkness needs only to apply himself vigorously to prayer and he will beat them back with great success." - Bernard of Clairvaux

The more things change, the more they stay the same. With the 2010 reboot of The Karate Kid, the same issues have come to the forefront just as they were in the 1980s versions of the series: bullying and self-discipline.

Whether it is Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita) in Southern California in 1984 or Dre (Jaden Smith) and Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) in China in 2010, these themes seem to be timeless experiences from one decade to the next.

The new version of the movie opens with Dre and his mother (Taraji Henson) relocating from Detroit to Beijing - and Dre having a difficult time fitting in with his new Chinese peers. Perhaps to counter Dre's American brashness (most likely a coping mechanism for the boy), a group of young Chinese boys led by Cheng (Zhenwei Wang) decide to target Dre for bullying and intimidation - not unlike the experiences "Daniel-son" had twenty-five years earlier.

The Karate Kid movie spends a significant chunk of the film exploring Dre's experiences of loneliness, fear, frustrations, and helplessness - perhaps as a way to remind us that these emotions are not the overdramatic reactions of childhood - but that they are real and that they can have lasting effects on those who experience them.

But when all seems lost for young Dre, we get to meet Mr. Han, an unassuming janitor who swoops in at just the right moment to protect the boy from the bullies who attack him.

Not only does Han serve as a protector, but he also becomes Dre's trainer - not just for self-defence but for self-discipline. Before teaching him any fancy moves or cool kung fu, Han gives him the tools to calm his emotions and to center himself in contemplation and silence.

Whether we are a student experiencing bullying in school or an adult faced with pressures and insurmountable challenges ahead, we can all relate to Dre - and we can all use a bit of Mr. Han in our lives.

Bernard of Clairvaux, a wise monk living in the middle ages, once said, "If we know how to use the weapon of prayer well, we shall come off conquerers at last, for prayer is more powerful than all the devils." He continued, saying, "He who is attacked by the spirits of darkness needs only to apply himself vigorously to prayer - and he will beat them back with great success."

What Bernard was saying was that before we can react to our troubles - be they bullies, finances, or pressure - we must learn self-discipline. We must not conquer the situation when we are angry, upset, or frustrated; instead, we must first spend moments in quiet contemplation. This pause before action runs counter to most people's advice - but it is something that is practiced around the world and across the centuries. From Buddha to Jesus Christ, the great masters of prayer have known this incredible lesson.

If Dre reacted immediately, it would have been disastrous for everyone. It would have also led Dre to start down the path of violence for the sake of vengeance. But Mr. Han knew better. Instead, he led him up the mountaintop of prayer - and even with Dre at such a young age - he provided him the training needed to center himself and calm the storms within. Only then could he truly react to the threat that lay before him.

Let us pray that the next time we encounter trouble, we take a moment to breathe and reflect, meditate and contemplate, pray and discern. Then, as Bernard of Clairvaux has predicted, we can beat back whatever haunts us with great success. God be with you on that journey.

Toy Story 3

"When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, think like a child, and reason like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside childish things..." 1 Cor. 13:11

If you ever owned and loved a toy as a child, Toy Story 3 (just like its two predecessors) will surely move and delight you. This is a movie that can touch anyone who remembers their younger days playing with their favorite toys.

Entertainment Weekly even ran this column in a recent issue, noting the number of men (not to mention the ladies) who have shed a few tears after watching the film this summer:

Message to men: Yes, it's okay to cry at 'Toy Story 3'

So what is it that moves so many people to tears? I believe that part of the charm of these films is that they do exactly what we once did in our imagination: they give life, personality, and a backstory to cherished yet inanimate objects.

Do you remember your own favorite toy? What did you love to play with when you were younger? For me, I had a great collection of dinosaur toys. I used to play countless hours with my tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and stegosaurus. I recall making a pterodactyl fly off my bed and an apatosaurus thunder through my backyard.

St. Paul probably didn't have a bucket of dinosaur toys when he was a kid, but he, too, reflected nostalgically on his younger days in his Letter to the Corinthians: "When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, think like a child, and reason like a child." (1 Cor. 13:11a). When we were children, life looked a lot different. The world was in front of us and the wind was at our back. However, St. Paul continues: "But when I became a man, I put aside childish things..." (1 Cor. 13:11b).

Maybe that's why Toy Story 3 has caused so many adults to shed a few tears. Perhaps people see themselves as Andy, who in this film, has become a young adult heading off to college - "putting aside childish things."

In the movie, even the toys, especially Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), have a hard time moving on from Andy. The film takes them on an adventure through a day care center - trying desperately to get back home to those glory days of childhood. But life is moving on for everyone.

Perhaps we cry at Toy Story 3 because we regret having to move on. We miss those innocent days when we could create a whole new world with our toys. Or maybe we wish we could inject a little fun, lightheartedness, and laughter into our busy, serious, and workaholic-ridden world. When we leave the theatre after seeing this movie, we wonder if we'll ever see those days again.

Our faith teaches us that, YES... we can have that joy once more:

As teachers of the next generation, we can share the fun and laughter with someone younger than us - a child, an infant, a tween, or a teenager. Perhaps we can even play with some of the same types of toys we once loved...

If we find ourselves working long hours and feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, we must take a retreat and find time to rest (to "keep holy the Sabbath") - to laugh, to play, and to be in the company of good friends.

Should we feel the pressures of the real world closing in on us (from oil spills and sickness to economic hardships and global violence), we can escape for a moment into our imagination. St. Ignatius of Loyola encourages us to use our imagination to pray and to grow closer to God.

If you feel that your eyes watered during Toy Story 3 (or for that matter, while watching Toy Story 1 and 2), then stretch your imagination, take a Sabbath break, and/or laugh and play with those younger than you. Even though St. Paul talks about "putting aside childish things," always remember that Jesus also said, "Unless you become like children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:3). So find that inner child - and play, escape, and imagine once more.

Who knew that my favorite dinosaurs could lead to the kingdom. Imagine where your memories might take you, too.