Films released by church-based organizations rarely succeed, but TBN, a group which calls itself a Christian organization, has been trying hard recently in releasing some Apocalypse-based movies. This organization may deserve some compliment for its efforts.
In spite of my compliment for their effort, I still think that TBN's recently released film "Megiddo" (2001) is enjoyable but rather shallow and cartoonish. The film's numerous special effects and computer-generated animations, which are reminiscent of images in John Milton's "Paradise Lost," does not remedy the film's cartoonish nature. The film does not have the necessary artistic depth because of several reasons. One of the reasons is the comic book-like simplistic character development of various characters (especially Stone Alexander). But the fundamental flaw of this movie is its lack of exploration of the real nature and danger of the devil. I am not a theology expert, but I was told by priests and ministers that the devil is so dangerous because it attacks our mind and soul, not using scary monsters or modern arsenal of top-notch weapons, but using evil spiritual powers. I was told that the devil is not just a cartoonish monster portrayed in this film. It is so dangerous because it is a supernatural being with no physical form to be destroyed (or confined underground like the devil in this film). Fiery special effects cannot fully portray the devil's work because the devil's battleground is our soul and mind, which are very difficult places to be portrayed cinematically. Even though it shares some of the imageries with this film, "Paradise Lost" is an artistic accomplishment far superior to this movie because Milton successfully described in psychological and philosophical detail how the devil attacks our soul.
This film tried to depict the struggle between God and the devil and the Biblical Armageddon with numerous fireworks and computer-generated animations. However, "Megiddo," the end product, merely looked like a super-charged version of Marvel Comics or Arnold Schwarznegger action films. The struggle between God's army and the devil's army, as described in the Bible and in literary works like `Paradise Lost,' is a battle which may occur--or may have occurred in the past or may be occurring at this very moment--in the spirit world, a dimension totally distinct from our physical universe. The nature of this struggle may be far beyond the power of human perception and comprehension. The struggle may not follow the laws of physics. How can a movie director depict such a struggle even with the help of computer animation and expensive special effects? What the director is doing is to cinematically depict a struggle which may not be able to be captured on film.
Other than the film's fundamental difficulty of trying to cinematically capture the struggle in the spirit world, the film's script has many flaws which make no sense whatsoever. For example, when the FBI came to arrest President David Alexander, why was the president protected by only four or five Secret Service agents? I have seen President George H. Bush in San Jose, California and recall that he was protected by dozens if not hundreds of Secret Service agents. Also, at the end of the film, why did Chancellor Stone Alexander invite many of the world leaders to come to Megiddo with their tanks, jet fighters and infantrymen? I do not understand the practical need to indulge in such an expensive undertaking. Maybe he just wanted to enjoy the sight of all those tanks and jets assembled in one place. But wasn't he too old to play soldier? Moving so many men and equipment costs outrageous amount of money. If he wanted to meet all the world leaders, the chancellor could have simply asked them to come to Megiddo without their tanks and jet fighters. Lastly, why would an intelligent man like President David Alexander think that he could single-handedly penetrate the defense perimeters of the enemy's armed camp and assassinate the enemy's commander-in-chief (i.e. his own brother)? Every intelligent human being knows that armed camps are heavily guarded around the clock by numerous sentries. Maybe President Alexander is really an accomplished ninja! There are numerous other flaws in the script which make no sense. All these logical inconsistencies contribute to the film's comic book-like nature.
Moreover, I was disturbed by the film's right-wing isolationist message. The film's depiction of the United Nations and European Union as nests of the devil reminded me of Bible-inspired paranoid conspiracy theories voiced by some American right-wing groups. By depicting the rest of the world as demon-controlled, is TBN advocating the takeover of the United States by right-wing groups who call themselves `Christians?'
I do not think that this film was very successful in portraying the Biblical Armageddon. Cinematic portrayal of such an immense, supernatural struggle is an impossibly difficult project which may never be successful. Nevertheless, I still would like to compliment the director and producer of this movie for their valiant attempt.
In spite of my compliment for their effort, I still think that TBN's recently released film "Megiddo" (2001) is enjoyable but rather shallow and cartoonish. The film's numerous special effects and computer-generated animations, which are reminiscent of images in John Milton's "Paradise Lost," does not remedy the film's cartoonish nature. The film does not have the necessary artistic depth because of several reasons. One of the reasons is the comic book-like simplistic character development of various characters (especially Stone Alexander). But the fundamental flaw of this movie is its lack of exploration of the real nature and danger of the devil. I am not a theology expert, but I was told by priests and ministers that the devil is so dangerous because it attacks our mind and soul, not using scary monsters or modern arsenal of top-notch weapons, but using evil spiritual powers. I was told that the devil is not just a cartoonish monster portrayed in this film. It is so dangerous because it is a supernatural being with no physical form to be destroyed (or confined underground like the devil in this film). Fiery special effects cannot fully portray the devil's work because the devil's battleground is our soul and mind, which are very difficult places to be portrayed cinematically. Even though it shares some of the imageries with this film, "Paradise Lost" is an artistic accomplishment far superior to this movie because Milton successfully described in psychological and philosophical detail how the devil attacks our soul.
This film tried to depict the struggle between God and the devil and the Biblical Armageddon with numerous fireworks and computer-generated animations. However, "Megiddo," the end product, merely looked like a super-charged version of Marvel Comics or Arnold Schwarznegger action films. The struggle between God's army and the devil's army, as described in the Bible and in literary works like `Paradise Lost,' is a battle which may occur--or may have occurred in the past or may be occurring at this very moment--in the spirit world, a dimension totally distinct from our physical universe. The nature of this struggle may be far beyond the power of human perception and comprehension. The struggle may not follow the laws of physics. How can a movie director depict such a struggle even with the help of computer animation and expensive special effects? What the director is doing is to cinematically depict a struggle which may not be able to be captured on film.
Other than the film's fundamental difficulty of trying to cinematically capture the struggle in the spirit world, the film's script has many flaws which make no sense whatsoever. For example, when the FBI came to arrest President David Alexander, why was the president protected by only four or five Secret Service agents? I have seen President George H. Bush in San Jose, California and recall that he was protected by dozens if not hundreds of Secret Service agents. Also, at the end of the film, why did Chancellor Stone Alexander invite many of the world leaders to come to Megiddo with their tanks, jet fighters and infantrymen? I do not understand the practical need to indulge in such an expensive undertaking. Maybe he just wanted to enjoy the sight of all those tanks and jets assembled in one place. But wasn't he too old to play soldier? Moving so many men and equipment costs outrageous amount of money. If he wanted to meet all the world leaders, the chancellor could have simply asked them to come to Megiddo without their tanks and jet fighters. Lastly, why would an intelligent man like President David Alexander think that he could single-handedly penetrate the defense perimeters of the enemy's armed camp and assassinate the enemy's commander-in-chief (i.e. his own brother)? Every intelligent human being knows that armed camps are heavily guarded around the clock by numerous sentries. Maybe President Alexander is really an accomplished ninja! There are numerous other flaws in the script which make no sense. All these logical inconsistencies contribute to the film's comic book-like nature.
Moreover, I was disturbed by the film's right-wing isolationist message. The film's depiction of the United Nations and European Union as nests of the devil reminded me of Bible-inspired paranoid conspiracy theories voiced by some American right-wing groups. By depicting the rest of the world as demon-controlled, is TBN advocating the takeover of the United States by right-wing groups who call themselves `Christians?'
I do not think that this film was very successful in portraying the Biblical Armageddon. Cinematic portrayal of such an immense, supernatural struggle is an impossibly difficult project which may never be successful. Nevertheless, I still would like to compliment the director and producer of this movie for their valiant attempt.
