Author: Higher Things

by Stan Lemon

[Spoilers follow…]

The final installation of the Spider-Man Trilogy opened on May 4th, which is supposed to wrap up a number of plot lines from the first two movies, particularly Peter and Mary Jane’s relationship and Harry’s burning desire for revenge. Spider-Man 3 has a lot to live up to, after the first two movies. Unfortunately, the only expectation Spider-Man 3 lived up to was the initial box office revenues, breaking the record previously held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (another bad sequel) with a whopping 59.3 million dollars.

The third movie introduces three villains and more fight scenes than any of the previous movies. It’s also tainted with numerous convenient twists that allowed the director to end in a hopelessly romantic clash of duos and a fallen bad-guy-turned-hero. Take, for example, the revelation made by Harry’s butler, who appears out of nowhere, to let him know that his father died by his own hand. This sudden turn of luck for Peter Parker can be coined as nothing more than a convenient addition to the story line.

Amidst bad dialogue and a poor storyline, cinematographically, the movie leaves much to be desired. The first two movies were excellent examples of action-packed CGI, with Spider-Man flipping through the air doing incredible moves with special attention to detail. I’m honestly not sure if that attention to detail was in this latest installment, because every time a fight scene came the camera was moving too fast to see what was going on. Worse yet, the problem wasn’t just the CGI – the scene with the police officers searching for Sandman in the semi-truck was equally challenging to watch.

While Spider-Man 3 didn’t live up the reputation of its predecessors (a growing trend for Marvel-made movies) it does have something to teach us about sin. Much of the movie focuses on a gooey black substance that oozes its way out of a meteor and absorbs itself into Peter Parker. This substance amplifies Peter’s anger and his pride, consequently he becomes more concerned with himself than those around him. This substance, in a nutshell, is sin which becomes even more vividly so as Peter struggles to rid himself of it – conveniently on the bell tower of a cathedral.

Eddie Brock a.k.a. Venom, played by Topher Grace, is overtaken by this same gooey substance. In the final battle scene, we see Spider-Man trying to persuade Venom from the substance, to reject it and turn from it. Instead, Eddie Brock confesses that he likes being Venom, he likes being evil, and he has no desire to separate himself from the substance which ultimately permeates his very being. In the end Eddie dies, clinging to his sin – actually grasping after it – refusing to let go.

Sin isn’t much different than this gooey substance, it permeates our existence, defining who we are and what we do. And we revel in it. Some even continue to cling to it even when faced with their own death. The Lord doesn’t leave us with just the gooey black death though, He leaves us with His Son who takes away our sin so that we might live in grace by the forgiveness He won for us on the Cross.

Forgiveness is another underlying theme of Spider-Man 3, we find Sandman (conveniently the new killer of Parker’s Uncle Ben) telling Spider-Man “I’m not asking for your forgiveness, just your understanding.” Here Sandman’s got forgiveness all wrong. He’s less concerned with reconciliation than he is with sympathy. This is the very antithesis of the Christian faith. Our Lord doesn’t sympathize with our sin, He simply eradicates it – forgiving it all. What good would sympathy have done for Sandman anyhow?

Earlier in the movie Aunt May testifies that with forgiveness “you start by forgiving yourself”. Again we have a poor understanding of forgiveness, the same understanding that Sandman has. For Aunt May and Sandman, forgiveness works inside of themselves, its an action on their parts. We know this is not true, the Lord works forgiveness when and where He pleases, whether it be at the font or on the altar or in the words of your Pastor, and we sit as passive receivers of this gift.

Peter Parker is caught up in this worldly understanding of forgiveness too, which goes hand-in-hand with his struggle against sin (the gooey stuff). Just as worldly forgiveness doesn’t resolve anything, so the movie ends with a dead friend, an unmended relationship, and a super-hero still seeking purpose and meaning in life. Then the credits roll…

Fortunately for you and I, who have been forgiven once and for all in the waters of Holy Baptism, there’s more than just the credits at the end of the movie.

Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross at Calvary, winning forgiveness, life and salvation for all. He defeated that gooey black substance in order that we wouldn’t be left to fend against it ourselves, like Spider-Man. In the end, our purpose is found in Him and our meaning in the gifts He gives us daily and richly for our nourishment. So when the credits roll it’s not the end of the movie, but the beginning of eternal life in heaven above.

by Kim Grams

The week before the finale:

When I go to church, I’m there for the Word and Sacraments.  I don’t expect to be entertained by a rock band at the altar or something resembling the American Idol finale.  HOWEVER, when I want to be entertained by watching something like American Idol, it’d better knock my socks off.  

We’ve had Kelly vs. Justin, Reuben vs. Clay, Fantasia vs. Diana, Carrie vs. Bo, Taylor vs. Katharine, and now Blake vs. Jordin. I’m getting a little jaded.  It’s hard to be moved or excited year after year.

For the finale, I want some spectacular vocalistic (my word) feats.  I want power notes that give me goose bumps or a rockin’, upbeat song that makes me want to dance.  I don’t want boring ballads or your grandma’s favorite song.  NO Bee Gee’s.  Please.  (If Lutherans believed in purgatory, what level would that be?  Making solo artists sing songs in falsetto that only work with the group of people who originally sang it?  What were the producers thinking?) 

He’s hip, fresh – there’s never been a contestant like him. The beat- boxing is fun, plus he can actually sing.  Sanjaya getting voted out was a blessing for Blake.   All those screaming, crying girls don’t just stop voting.  They need someone else to “crush” on.  Add the Sanjaya votes to the Blake votes and that’s a lot of votes.  

What’s good about Jordin: 

She’s young with lots of personality, but sings like a seasoned pro.  If she wins she will be (I think) the youngest American Idol winner.  For sheer power vocals, she’s got it in the bag.  It helps her to be up against Blake, because her style is similar to that of Melinda and Lakisha.  People who like power singers or don’t “get” the beat-boxing thing will vote for her.  And when they showed the clips of her visit home, she had quite a few screaming, crying fans of her own.   

For the first time, I’m undecided on who gets my vote.  Melinda was my pick to win, but I did think she might “skew older” with the votes.  I like both Jordin and Blake for different reasons.  It will come down to song choice and who has the best vocals THAT NIGHT (I almost never vote by single performance, but by body of work).  And, after 5 previous finales, I want the “Wow”. 

The day after the Finale, 2 hours before the results:

Here’s what it comes down to:  Blake will be great in a studio, but he’s not a power singer.  He’s also like Taylor – as much fun to WATCH as to hear.  On his first song (Bon Jovi’s “Shot Through the Heart”), the Kodak Theatre ATE HIM ALIVE.  He did that number WAY better the first time.  Being a repeat, I already knew what to expect, and how cool it was earlier in the season.  Round two’s Maroon 5 song, “And She Will Be Loved,” was better because the BAND wasn’t so loud.  Blake has clear, smooth vocals.  Kinda like Keane.  I liked Keane.  Good performance, but not amazing. 

Jordin’s voice fit the venue better.  I liked the Christina Aguilera song, which I was unfamiliar with, so I’m not comparing it to the original.  I’m glad she sang at least one non-ballad.  We already heard the Martina Mc Bride song earlier in the season – she did it great both times.  All in all, solid singing – and I do judge vocal quality.  But I’m not blown away, having seen this all before.  Round 1 goes to Jordan; Round 2 I’d call a tie.  Neither one has made me jump out of my seat. 

Round 3.  Blake sings.  Halfway through his performance, I know two things: first, this song is NOT in his comfort zone of song style; second, it IS in Jordin’s and if she knocks it out of the park, she will win the competition on this one “song-writing competition” selection.  (I pause the DVR during commercial, since we’ve caught up to live time, to explain this “how Jordin will win on this song” theory to my kids).  As Jordin prepares to sing, I’m yelling, “C’mon Jordin – bring it!” at the TV. 

Halfway through her performance, I know two things: one, I have goose bumps, I’m crying, and something in this finale has finally had the “Wow” factor; and two, if Jordin does not win after this we need to get more music education back in the schools, because she clearly stomped Blake on this song. 

And now the big question: Are there more screaming, crying girls voting, who may not be as savvy on vocal quality (or have WAY more time than me to vote) . . . OR are there more voters who recognize vocal excellence and will vote on the merit of the singing.  My pick has won in every single finale, with the exception of Reuben and Clay (and I STILL think there was a problem with the voting – come ON; look at the album sales!!!)   

5 minutes after the Finale results:

Jordin won and all’s right in the music world.  And I only had to sit through 2 hours of filler!  Loved the performances with current American Idol contestants and previous winners, along with some famous people.  They should cut the other solo artists (Bette Midler with a song that was old when I was in high school 20 years ago?) and the golden Idols (which my kids loved, but I thought were just painful).  They need fast-paced finale that’s exciting and zips right to the results. They don’t need Tony Bennett, Gwen Stefani or Green Day.  Idol Winners ARE big stars now. They are the ones I want to see on the show – for one hour, not two.  And this season I won’t have post-Idol withdrawal – tomorrow, So You Think You Can Dance premieres and I’m ready to get on the phone for my favorites. See Mom?  All those dance lessons and high school choir tours DID pay off! 

Kim Grams is a writer and pastor’s wife who lives in Scottsbluff, NE