Evan Almighty Creates a Flood of Controversy
What cost $170 million, holds 1200 animals and opens this weekend? If you guessed Evan Almighty, you’re correct! Let me first say that when someone wants to spend that much money to re-create a Biblical story (I’m not saying it’s Biblically accurate), I think it’s pretty cool. After all, any time equipment was rented, cast was selected, crew was hired or locations were secured, someone was talking about the Bible! That can’t be all bad.
Christianity Today has gone overboard (sorry, can’t resist) in promoting Evan Almighty. I think I’ve received 4 or 5 e-mails from them this week plugging the movie, offering reviews and interviews, and in general, doing their best to encourage me to go see the film. I probably will today or tomorrow. Reviewer Carolyn Arends acknowledges the theology isn’t perfect, and the humor is sometimes more bathroom laughs than divine comedy. But she believes the film illustrates clearly the truth that “God’s harshest discipline is animated by His love,” and that we are all “chosen” to be in relationship with, and obedient to, our Creator.
Thumbs up from Christianity Today!
On the other hand, the American Family Association is jumping ship, saying it is not “reserving space” for this weekend’s release. (That’s a rather ironic statement considering they dedicated a page on their website to a rather extensive review of the film.) Their objections? The main one is the lack of explanation that it is the love of Christ in us that creates the power to do good, which reviewer Rebecca Grace says, causes Evan Almighty to present a false view of the gospel. In her words, the choice to see Evan Almighty “could become a decision with eternal significance.”
Thumbs down from American Family Association!
So who’s right? Am I going to go hell because I go watch Evan Almighty? Or am I showing Hollywood that I’ll support stories from the Bible, even if they’re not theologically accurate?
Again we are given a chance to vote on what Hollywood will do with its money and talent. Voting is a very personal thing. I bring my own deep and dearly-held convictions to the voting booth with me. I will listen to what others say, I will educate myself, and I will seek God’s wisdom, but in the end, it’s a personal choice. Make your choice, and tell me what it is.
I will defend your right to agree or disagree to the bitter end.
I must admit, I had problems with the origins of this movie. And this is besides the fact that God promises to never again flood the earth. Here it is and judge for yourself:
Columbia Pictures have bought a pitch from two unproduced writers called The Passion of the Ark for a reported $2.5 million, according to Variety.
Writers Bobby Florsheim and Josh Stolberg’s modern-day tale of an unmarried man approached by God to build an ark to save the world from a second flood whetted the interest of all major studios, including Warners, Fox, and U. But it was Neal Moritz’s Col-based Original Films shingle that prevailed, with Original exec Ori Marmur bringing in the red hot spec.
“We knew we wanted to do something mythological,” said Florsheim, adding, “and so we looked at everything from the Easter Bunny to Noah. And we thought, ‘Hmmm. Bunnies. Animals. Noah. This could work.’ “
June 23rd, 2007 at 12:31 am
I saw the film and thought it had some really good messages in it. The flood in which they refer to, is not another flood for ruin. In fact it is an undoing for an unethical congressman!( I didn’t want to give anything away here, so I tried to be vague)
June 26th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
For the sake of the debate, lets say that they found a REALLY, REALLY big boat. It is imbossible to take all species two by two. Lets look at some numbers of KNOWN species.
287,655 plants
1.5 million fungi
10,000 lichens
1,190,200 invertebrates
58,808 vertebrates
5-10 million bacteria
1.5 million
Grand total = 8,046,663 (low estimate)
Two by two = 16,093,326
Must have been a really huge boat equipped with a modern lab to house the bacteria and fungi….
Please, lets not loose our sense of reality!
June 27th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
i think that Bruce Almighty is funnier than Evan Almighty but both are good movies. I guess i am more of a Jim Carrey fan.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:58 am