Another Test - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

When I heard that the first Transformers movie was coming out about two years ago, I was pumped! I even got together with my four brothers and planned a sweet movie night. Unfortunately, all I had after the movie was a bad taste in my mouth and a few images that I wished I could delete from my mind. My primary issue with the movie was its portrayal of the female protagonist. Her only purpose in the film was to serve as eye candy to feed people's lust. I can't remember if any of the reviews of Transformers 1 made a big deal out of it, but they sure haven't missed it with #2!


Here's some quotes from a couple of reviews I read: (warning - crude content)


http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/23/review.transformers.revenge/index.html

"Here's a sample of what Bay throws at the wall in the hope of generating some
stray laughs: small dogs humping. Hysterical middle-aged women. Autobots with
effeminate voices. A miniature Decepticon dry-humping Fox's leg. John Turturro
improvising. Tasers. A cowardly Latino. A short Arab. Snails. None of these
things is funny. Not in this movie, anyway. The truth is, Bay is a rotten fit
for this assignment; he's much too self-important to recalibrate his approach
for the younger audience this material demands. Memo to Michael: It's a toy
movie. Your audience is predominantly teen and pre-teen. My kids don't need to
see your salivating soft-porn fantasies or your reactionary militaristic
politics."

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/06/24/f-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-review.html

"The funny stuff also gives us a chance to appreciate the stone-cold Fox. True,
she's mainly here to serve as wet-dream fodder for the picture's predominantly
male demographic — we first see her in tight jean cutoffs, provocatively
straddling a motorcycle like something out of a Maxim photo spread. But she
brings a saucy edge to Sam's spunky trailer-park dreamgirl. And, after she
blithely dissed this movie in a recent EW interview, you have to love her even
more."

I hope this aids you in discerning whether or not this movie will bring you to glorify God in Christ Jesus and promote your sanctification. I have decided that this movie will not be an aid to me. Here are a couple items that did not influence my decision and a couple that did,


Non-influencers:


#1 - An expectation that Hollywood will produce God-honoring films did not influence my decision - It does not shock me when Hollywood produces immoral movies. I won't be leading any national protests to make the film industry "Family Friendly." But we do need to use discernment since Hollywood can turn a kid's cartoon into an immoral film. However, our depravity is so pervasive that I thank the Lord that He gives common grace that enables Hollywood to produce some decent family films.


#2 - The moral base provided in these reviews from CNN.com and CBC.ca did not influence my decision - I chose these reviews to act as a shocker, to reveal that the unregenerate can pick up on the immorality in this film (how much more then should we?). The Word of God and His Spirit provide far superior wisdom and light to guide the Christian in this decision than any review ever can.


Influencers:


#1 - Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Here is a clear command from Christ. This is what we are NOT to do. If someone can sit through this movie and not break this commandment, he is a better man than me.


#2 - Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Here is what we ARE to do. It will be hard to fit Transformers 1 or 2 through this grid. Paul gives us some strong motivation to "practice these things" - "the God of peace will be with you" if you do!

#3 - The example of femininity portrayed in Transformers is not biblical - This is not the model that fathers want to see their daughters follow, that young men want to use to find a wife, that women want to follow to be a wife or that young women want to follow in general. Scripture gives a completely different model that produces God-glorifying femininity. For example, in Titus 2 Paul instructs Titus to encourage the women to be reverent, self-controlled, lovers of their husbands and children, pure, kind, hard workers in the home and submissive to their husbands. This is the model we want to follow.