Quantum of Solace

"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Reign of God." Luke 9:62

In Quantum of Solace, we see a new James Bond like never before. In most of the previous 007 films, it seems Bond either has recurrring amnesia or is just a cold-hearted man who moves on way too easily after tragedy and loss in each episode. But this Bond is different.

Picking up an hour or so after the last film (Casino Royale), Quantum has James Bond (Daniel Craig) still brooding over the loss of Vesper, whom he loved all too briefly. While he doesn't admit it to anyone, Bond has forgiven neither himself nor the people who trapped Vesper and sent her to her death. This is where this 007 is different - more human, more real.

But real or not, Bond has a hard time forgiving. Not that we would want him to forget what happened, as the earlier Bonds seem to have done (when one Bond girl dies and a few scenes later, the British secret agent is bedding another one). Rather, James Bond needs to forgive and allow that forgiveness to make him a better bearer of justice in the world.

Sadly, throughout the film, Bond becomes, as M (Judi Dench) puts it, "a blunt instrument" whose only thoughts are of vengence, not justice. By thinking back on the hurt he felt, he allows anger and retribution ("an eye for an eye") to fill his head - and becomes a killing machine in the name of the law.

But once he looks ahead rather than behind, he learns that true justice does not require equal punishment, but rather righteous justice where killing criminals is not the answer. By mentoring a young woman Camille (Olga Kurylenko) on her own need for vengence, Bond is able to see the error of his own ways.

Jesus once said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Reign of God." (Luke 9:62) At first, this seems harsh, but what he was getting at was that those who live and brood in the past cannot see clearly for what lies ahead. If we constantly look back, we won't be ready to go forward (and the Reign of God is all about transforming our world today in hope for a better tomorrow).

James Bond is called to be a bearer of justice in the world as a secret spy. He is called to protect the innocent and stand up against those who oppress the defenseless and hurt the weak. He is called to set the captives free and make this world a safer, more peaceful place. There is much responsibility in this, and if he dwells in his anger and hatred, he is no better than the criminals he hunts down.

By the end of the film, 007 starts to learn this gospel lesson. This Bond is on his way to becoming the best Bond of them all. He has much to learn, but give it a few more sequels, and we may see a forgiving, compassionate, and courageous champion of social justice yet. For us, when we stumble, God gives us sequels and second chances to learn to love and forgive so that we, too, might be pillars of justice in our own world.

W.

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, so they may not become discouraged." Eph. 3:21

Politics aside, the movie W. is more the tragic story of a family than a political drama about President George W. Bush.

In this biopic of the president, the events surrounding the decision to go to war with Iraq in 2002 intermix with the memories and emotions of the commander-in-chief (played by Josh Brolin). Here we see how the younger Bush grew from a disobidient frat boy at Yale to a failed businessman and eventually the leader of the free world, all while trying to cope with the demands and expectations of his father, George Bush Sr. (played by James Cromwell).

This movie is, at heart, a father-son story, analyzing both Bushes' strengths and weaknesses, especially in regards to one another. Oliver Stone, who directed W., seems to say that Bush Jr. just wanted to have his dad accept that he was successful and right, and that every decision in his life was colored by this need for his father's approval.

Meanwhile, the elder Bush struggled with being able to show his emotions or express them to his son, except the feeling of "disappointment," which he conveyed to his son quite often.

Even when W. did something successful (such as owning the Texas Rangers or becoming governor of Texas despite the odds), his father never really seemed to care - which further made W. want to try harder to prove he was a success, even to the point of engaging in a war (spurred on, the movie claims, by the advice of people like Dick Cheney, played here by Richard Dreyfuss).

This was a sad story. If only Bush Sr. had shown his son more emotion or respect, would the younger Bush have ever become president or start the Iraq war? If only Bush Jr. would have reacted less aggressively towards pleasing his father, what else could have been different?

Realizing this line of thought leads to politics rather than a movie plot, let us turn our attention to what the Scriptures tell us about family relationships. In Paul's letters to the Ephesians and Colossians, the apostle speaks about families - and their role to love one another and be patient with one another. Fitting to this story, we read: "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, so they may not become discouraged." (Eph. 3:21).

We should read this passage not just as an avoidance of anger or violence, but also as a positive endorsement of love, respect, compassion, and openness in the family system. Today, Paul might tell us: "Fathers, be open with your children and speak with them about your love, so they may not become discouraged..."

How many families don't talk, leading children to an unhealthy sense that they need to prove themselves so they get noticed? How many parents discipline their children without also approving of all the successes and joys of their child? Imagine what good would come out of the family unit without all those roadblocks.

W. shows us one very prominent family's struggle with these issues, but they are just one of millions of people who endure the same things in their homes. And as this film shows us, just because we grow up does not mean these issues go away. Just because a son or daughter moves out of the house (or into the White House for that matter) does not mean these problems do not have be addressed anymore. The pains of our youth stay with us for a very long time.

Let us pray for more openness and dialogue within the family. Let us pray for more families to love one another as Christ loves each of us.

Eagle Eye

What drives you?

In Eagle Eye, Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) is a Stanford University dropout who was always compared to his more successful twin brother Ethan. He really has no motivation or enthusiasm, and goes through life as a corporate drone and oblivious to the infidelity of his friends. That is, until he is drawn into a major drama by an all-seeing, all-knowing computer called ARIA locked away in some government facility deep below the Pentagon.

Jerry is propelled into action only because he will either be killed or detained in prison for life if he does nothing. ARIA calls Jerry (using a very human voice) to tell him that, unlike his brother Ethan, he requires extreme circumstances to do anything.

The action and excitement of the film is great, but what caught me was this understated reason for getting Jerry into this mess in the first place: he cannot be motivated by reason, logic, or passion - but he can be motivated by dire circumstances. He needs that extra "umph" for him to get going. Otherwise, he would sit back and let the world happen to him (and complaining all the time, even though he is the only one responsible for his life's circumstances).

What is it that motivates us? Do we go through life, waiting for someone to entice us into action? Do we wait for events to unfold before we act to do something about them?

There are so many people like Jerry in this world, who wait for the world instead of going out to meet it. Are you one of those people?

So what should we be motivated by? Logic, sure. Reason, definitely. But as Christians, we ought to be motivated by the gospel message of Christ. If we believe Christ is our best hope in the universe, why do we ignore or procrastinate doing what he asks us to do? Why is it that emergencies, tragedy, or major world events are the things that motivate society to do good?

Had Jerry been motivated by other things, how much trouble could he have avoided? If we become motivated by the gospel, how much more can we avoid?

Ghost Town

"Just who is my neighbor?" - Luke 10:29

Bertram Pincas (Ricky Gervais), the central character in Ghost Town, really doesn't like people. He avoids conversations with co-workers, neighbors, or anyone he meets throughout his day. Pincas would rather spend life alone than meeting or talking with anyone.

But due to a seven-second brush with death during a routine colonoscopy, he ironically becomes the only living person that dozens of ghosts in New York can actually talk to.

For the rest of the movie, these ghosts (led by a pestering, tuxedo-clad Frank, played by Greg Kinnear) become the first real relationships that Bertram Pincas has had in ages. At first he resists these new people; then he accomodates them just to get them to go away; but eventually he learns to talk to them - and through them, learns to talk to the living (including a budding love interest, played by Tea Leoni).

In a world of six billion people, some of which might annoy or frustrate us, it might be tempting to block out all but a few friends.

Building relationships with people requires work and humility, two sacrifices we may not enjoy making. We might say we're too busy in our lives to concentrate on new friendships or even have the time to develop those networks. Even with the blessings of Facebook and online social networking, many still struggle to deepen the relationships we already have.

But no matter how busy or frustrated we are, humans were created by God for one another. God would not give life to six billion people unless He wanted us to live for each other.

Let us learn the lesson that Bertram Pincas had to die for seven seconds to learn. Let us start smiling, talking to, and building relationships with those around us - from the guy in the elevator to the new person at the office, from the woman behind the counter to our own estranged family members at the holidays.

And added to that, find opportunities to meet new people: join a local sports league, get involved in your church, or become connected to your community.

When Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself," someone once asked him, "And just who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In other words, your neighbor could be anyone. In the parable of Ghost Town, the same can be said: go and love your neighbor... a friend, an acquaintance, or the next person you meet today.

Henry Poole is Here

"Faith, hope, and love, these three remain. And the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor. 13:13

In the world today, beated down by work, pressure, and stress, many people can lose hope in the future, question their faith in God, and become isolated and individualistic, satisfied simply with a group of Facebook "friends" rather than interpersonal loving relationships.

Henry Poole (played by Luke Wilson), the central character in the film Henry Poole Is Here, is a young adult in that same rut.

And when a major health issue confronts Henry , he crumbles and retreats inward. We aren't sure what kind of health problem that Henry has, but we know that he is told he only has a little bit more to live. He didn't have much of a life before the diagnosis anyway. He went back and forth to work like a drone or a cog in a wheel. What struck me was how sad Henry was about losing his life, even through he seemed equally sad living in it all along. But God is never sad about our lives - God rejoices in our life.

And this film shows us that, no matter how far we run away or try to escape our troubles in life, God is always there, calling out to us, ready to embrace us upon our return, just as in the sotyr of the Prodigal Son in the New Testament.

Henry Poole Is Here is a heart-warming summer movie that gives a new face to Paul's infamous passage from 1st Corinthians: "Faith, hope, and love, these three remain. And the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). Seeing this film reminds us that all of us, including poor Henry Poole, are called to live in a loving community, called to hope in our future regardless of long we have on this earth, and called to believe more than our eyes can see.

From the previews, one might say that this movie is about miracles and water stains that look like Jesus, and we only need to believe in these signs from God. But I really don't think that is what people will get out of Henry Poole is Here. The catalyst for Henry was not a miracle on the side of his wall, but how that miracle brought people into his life - and those people were the very miracle Henry needed.

Ask yourself - what is it that God has given your life that cause others to take interest? Instead of shooing them away, how can we invite them even deeper into our lives - so that we can experience "faith, hope, and love" with others around us?

And many of us are probably overburdened with life or feel like a cog in a machine with our jobs, our homes, or our problems. We can probably associate with Henry Poole at one point in our lives or several. When we find ourselves in those situations, ask God to pull you out. But don't sit around lonely waiting for the Lord to answer.

Instead, look around you at others - friends and even strangers - and see the face of God. Through them, may you find faith in something profound, hope in your own future laid out before you, and the love of others for who you are.

Swing Vote

"...responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation." - Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2008 (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Swing Vote is a fun and heartwarming little movie that any red-blooded American would enjoy; but sadly, it has not done too well at the box office so far.

It resounds with a message not heard much since Jimmy Stewart filibustered his way through the Senate in Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in 1939.

In this film, Kevin Costner stars as Ernest "Bud" Johnson, a very simple man living in a trailer home with his daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll) in a small forgotten town of Texico, New Mexico. We come to learn that Bud doesn't care much about anything: his home is a mess, he neglects his job, he drinks himself silly, he oversleeps every day, and while he seems to love his daughter, he doesn't put much effort into being a decent father.

When Molly asks him to vote on election day, he doesn't even bother. Wanting to make up for her father's loss, she sneaks into the polling place to vote for Bud. Unfortunately, the power goes out at just the right moment and, long story short, Bud is given the opportunity to cast his ballot again - and this vote will decide the entire presidential election.

Who wins or loses, who the candidates are and even what they stand for is secondary to a larger theme in this film: apathy has no place in our culture today.

Swing Vote is the story of an apathetic man's conversion to a life of thinking and caring - about himself, about his family, and about his country.

Apathy infects a lot of people around the world. There are those who don't seem to care much about anything that doesn't affect them personally, and even that isn't a sure thing either. Bud might seem a little extreme, but apathy affects almost everyone. I have been guilty of being apathetic about my health. But apathy doesn't do anyone any good. Just because we don't have an active role in something doesn't exclude us from thinking and caring about it.

In this election year, the Catholic bishops of the United States have released a special document called Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. In it, the bishops state "...responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation."

In other words, apathy has no role for anyone, especially a follower of Christ.

We must get active with the world around us, not because it's some sort of American requirement or because the Catholic bishops are making us feel guilty. Rather, we must get active because our Christian faith demands action on the part of any believer. Jesus did not tell his followers "sit back and do nothing," but told them to get active, make a difference, and change the world.

Participation in the political process, action in the local community, and involvement in important issues that affect us and the world around us are all ways we can rid ourselves of apathy. Bud's journey from apathy to action is an example we can all follow.

So what can we do? Check out the Faithful Citizenship website developed by the staff of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/. It's a great first step in a process that can make a real difference in our nation and in our world.

Mamma Mia

"Honey, I'm still free... Take a chance on me... Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see? Gotta put me to the test... Take a chance on me!" - Lyrics from Take a Chance on Me by ABBA

Commitment is something many people fear, and often times run away from when life gets rough or uncomfortable.

Mammia Mia is a story about long lasting commitments, and how we all struggle with them.

In this film, young Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to commit to a future together with her fiancee in a picturesqe wedding on a Greek island where she and her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) have lived all their lives. This is one commitment story, but the real drama takes place around the commitment (or lack thereof) of her mom and her three former lovers.

Sophie has invited her mom's three lovers (played by Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard) to the wedding, in hopes of finding out who her real dad is. Back twenty years ago, Donna and these three men had their own problems with commitment, which ultimately resulted in a confused mess where all rejected it in favor of their own comfortability.

And finally, when the three men find out about the possibility of being a father, another commitment struggle faces them: are they ready to commit to being a parent or being together again with the mother?

All of us can understand their struggles because everyone has faced commitment questions in their lives at one point or another, and in various degrees of seriousness. Whether it's commiting to a job or a task, or commiting to a relationship, marriage, or vowed religious life, we all make these important decisions throughout our lives.

When we are first faced with commitment, we might be foolishly ready to agree, finding out later that we should not have rushed in so willingly. Other times we avoid commitment altogether, but find ourselves miserable because we never took the chance. There isn't a full-proof method on how to handle commitment because it all depends on the circumstances and on our own selves.

Our faith calls us to discernment before making any decision in life. St. Ignatius of Loyola called his followers to spend long hours in prayer, contemplation, and discernment before engaging in any major commitment in their lives.

What if we took a breath before "taking a chance" (as the ABBA song goes)? What if we discerned first before making rash decisions on commitment?

Chances are, we would probably make better choices. And for some, the discernment might need to be longer than for others, but after that period, we can confidently make a decision and accept the consequences of that action (or inaction).

Throughout the movie, young Sophie discerns her own life, seeing the results of her mother's poor choices and lack of commitment, and in the end of the film, makes her own mature choice on her commitment to her fiancee. Let us all pray that we have the courage to make good choices, and that we will discern well beforehand.