First off, I’m a fan of the graphic novel. I read it before I saw the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was layered far deeper than what was able to be contained in the movie. The classic “the book was better” line applies. However, I did like Zach Snyder’s adaptation. His personal fandom kept him true to the graphic novel and I appreciated it. The “non-squid/fake alien” ending was alright with me. It worked and made sense bringing the world together out of fear that Dr. Manhattan would strike again. 

I did not like the artistic license to make the movie more graphic in terms of sex and violence. The story contained enough already and the message was strong enough without that excessive display. 

Obviously, on moral grounds, there was so much wrong in the story. It displayed “heroes” who allow the end to justify the means. This is becomes true for all vigilantes who don’t submit to the civilizations code of laws (flawed though it may be), but is really driven home in the Watchmen story. That is the message, “Who watches the watchmen?” These watchmen and our own law enforcement and armed forces are all flawed, sinful human beings. And as more power is given to them, those flaws are even more evident. Therefore the nobel cause of Justice is perverted because sinful man can’t truly dispense it. Even other superheroes who have their own personal code of crimefighting fall into this trap because the nobility of the cause of Justice is overwhelming in the face of the great need. Violence and death usually results and becomes the Comedian’s joke as he embodies cruelty with the license to end cruelty. Ironic humor. Yet, when he faces it on the scale of Ozymandias’ design, he is overwhelmed.

Where’s the redemption in a story like this. The nihilism and the corruption of man is hopeless without a Savior. Someone must redeem man from his own destruction. It is not found in the classic philosophers (ala Ozymandias) for that would lead to the murder of 15 million people–an unacceptable price for peace. It can only be found in God himself. The Just One. Yet his plan to bring peace involved self-sacrifice. And it is that display of Love that draws us back to God and allows us to be transformed from the earthly man with his corrupt desires and sinful ways to the godly man who loves his enemies; enemies who still bear the image of God despite how hidden it has become. It is only in this environment where people are transformed that hate turns to love, vengence turns to mercy, revenge turns to forgiveness, and war turns to peace.

• Ghost Town
• Slumdog Millionaire
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Synechdoche, NY
• Juno
• American Splendor
• Trade
• Amelie

The Old Mouse 

There was an old mouse who went for a walk every day. The old mouse did not like children. When he saw them on the street he would shout, “Go away, horrid things!”

One day the old mouse was taking his walk. All at once, his suspenders broke, and his pants fell down. Some ladies came by. “Help, help!” cried the old mouse. But the ladies screamed, “Your pants have fallen down!” And they ran away.

The old mouse ran home and cried, “Help me!” But his wife only said, “You look silly in your underwear.,” and gave him a hit on the head.
The old mouse began to cry. Some children passed by. “Poor old mouse,” they said, “we will help you. Here is some chewing gum. It will hold your pants up very well.”

“Look!” cried the old mouse. “My pants are up! This chewing gum is great. These pants will never fall down again!”

Those pants never did fall down again. And after that, the old mouse was always kind to children when he went for his walk.

Who would have thought to use chewing gum to keep their pants up.  Children are so resourceful.

Much talk has revolved around the issue of global warming and it is almost taken for a fact that industrialization affects our planet (and thereby our neighbors) in drastic ways. I have just finished Michael Crichton’s book, State of Fear, in which he dramatically deals with environmental fundamentalism, political posturing, and pseudo-science. He raises questions concerning the conclusions made around the whole global warming issue and believes we know surprisingly little to make such bold claims. In the last chapter, his characters present some thoughts on how to get some hard facts from the science in a field which is astonishingly complex. So, how does this relate to how we live out our Christian lives?

“The biggest cause of environmental destruction is poverty. Starving people can’t worry about pollution. They worry about food. Half a billion people are starving in the world right now. More than half a billion without clean water.”

As a Christian it is our responsibility to show love to our neighbor by offering food to the hungry. Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day. What can you give? I would suggest a simple start. Sponsor a child with Compassion International for $32/month. By working to end poverty you may also save the planet.