The Meaning of Faith as portrayed in M. Night Shyamalan's Films

My own Opinion | 08/04/04 | Brad Derouen

[bradactor]

I don't know how many of you have seen this author's films-M. Night Shyamalan-who has done "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," and recently "Signs." His movies are really about deep faith, even though he uses the technique of horror and suspense to get across the conflict necessary to portray a shift to faith or good overcoming evil. I heard Michael Medved on the Laura Ingraham radio show the other day say that he is actually a conservative. The movie "Signs," which I just saw Saturday was a brilliant example of this. Although he used the theme of invasion of aliens and crop circles as his background, the main thrust of the film was about how important a deep faith in God is, even for a preacher who turned away from God and then goes back to his faith. I just thought I would mention the film as well as the author in case some of you were thinking of seeing this film. It is one of the most original films I have seen so far this year. Of course, "Sixth Sense" is one of my favorite films. Well, this is off the subject of politics but it is about faith and that is important as well. Brad

[ambrose]

Why are you posting spoilers?

[goodieD]

I was kinda wondering whether to see this, since the only movies I go to are Mel Gibson flicks and stuff like The Omega Code. Couldn't really get the gist of the film from the trailers.

[Paul Atreides]

The movie was very good. Suspenseful, creepy, chilling, and suprisingly respectful of Christianity. A few vulgar words but no blood and gore. It is reminiscent of The Birds.

[Paul Atreides]

Go see it!

[anymouse]

Wasn't this posted about a month ago?

[Spiff]

My wife and I saw Signs yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The moral of the movie was a breath of fresh air in today's ultra-polluted movie environment. It is great to see the topic of FAITH being portrayed in such a positive way in a mainstream movie. Unfortunately, they are trying to stealth the faith message to the masses and are portraying the movie in the trailers as pure suspense/sci-fi/horror. Some shallow movie-goers will be disappointed that this movie dies not deliver what they expected.

[Paul Atreides]

When I saw it yesterday, there was a couple there with their two early-teens daughters. The girls were laughing during scenes that were not funny (although, the film does have its humorous spots) and whispering during other parts. This is an adult movie. You are correct in that some will be disappointed. I am not one of them. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it as well!

[jlogajan]

This movie was unintentionally a stunning example of the contradiction in religious faith.

The theme returned to over and over was whether you believed there was someone out there looking after you or not.

The unspoken yet unavoidable corollary is that the same entity "looking out for you" is also the one throwing the arrows at you in the first place.

No religion satisfactorily deals with this contradiction. They dance around it. This movie didn't even mention it -- it couldn't mention it. That would turn it into the theater of the absurd. Religion's dark secret remains undiscussed.

[jlogajan]

Ping to the Brit. :-) Yeah, I know this film won't be released in the UK until Sept 13. But you might enjoy the advance (not advanced, ha ha) discussion. It was an enjoyable film, despite some weaknesses which I can't detail without a spoiler alert.

It did fall down in the same way all religious themed films always fall down -- the contradiction of God as protector, while ignoring the fact that God is "protecting" us from his alter-ego.

[CyberAnt]

Since you're an athiest, I will disregard your idiotic remarks about God. How can you have any opinion about HIM, when you don't know HIM?? That's like trying to describe the personality of a person you've never met!! How stupid is that??

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

No religion satisfactorily deals with this contradiction.

Calvinism.

[bradactor]

I have no idea if this was posted before or not, but the movie "Signs" opened Friday and from what I saw on Yahoo was #1 at the Box Office. I look for this film to a hit for the right reasons given the circumstances we are in today since 9/11, etc. I thought it was more relevant now also given the so called stock market debacle where people are again learning to shift their attention to the GOD, higher forces, whatever term you wish to use.
Seems like we are coming into not only the "Age of Responsibility" as President Bush proclaimed but the age of spiritual awareness and faith, given who we have in the highest office and circumstances in the world today which seem to be almost a payback for the moral depravity we saw under the previous occupant of the White House.
Brad

[JediGirl]

Since you're an athiest, I will disregard your idiotic remarks about God. How can you have any opinion about HIM, when you don't know HIM?? That's like trying to describe the personality of a person you've never met!! How stupid is that??

Just like you 'know' him based on alleged conversations with this big guy in the sky? You're opinion about this god is based on a leather bound book, parchament, whatever while those who are areligious, can look objectively at the 'nature' of various gods, because they're not so enamored with this higher power. They can see the acts that his 'dictated' religious text has inspired, what it stands for, without trying to mush it up so that it fits with the rest of everything in that book. They can point out the errors and contradictions.

It's best when they remain open to all possibilities, however. Do we KNOW there is no god? No, but if there is, I believe the Christians, Islam, et al. have it all wrong - religion as we know it now is man-made for man's comfort. I can't say there is no god, just like I can't say we're not some space creature's experimental universe -- I leave all possibilities open for legitimate and hopefully eventually verifiable information.

[JediGirl]

well, that sucks. You didn't have to post what the pastor ended up doing. Spoils it for those of us who haven't seen it. Put spoiler somewhere in the title.

[JediGirl]

I look for this film to a hit for the right reasons given the circumstances we are in today since 9/11, etc. I thought it was more relevant now also given the so called stock market debacle where people are again learning to shift their attention to the GOD, higher forces, whatever term you wish to use.

Organised religion: Man-made for man's comfort. Be spiritual, but don't be spiritual because you need comfort and something to make you sleep a little better at night.

[CyberAnt]

Like I said, how can you have any opinion of HIM, when you don't know HIM!!

[JediGirl]

By reading what he allegedly inspired.

[bradactor]

Dont' worry this is the last non political post I will put on Free Republic. If I spoiled the movie for you, I apologize. I was very moved by this film but apparently since we seem to have cyncial whiners aboard I will go back to my vow of silence. More than likely some of you would not go see it anyway if you knew what it was about. If you have seen any of the previous films by this individual you would know. His theme is pretty apparent in all of them considering what he believes. In light of the cynical nature of mankind that I felt is contributing to the darkness and retribution we are experiencing right now, this movie was a beacon light. It also had intelligence and originality which his other films did as well.
Anyway, again, I apologize for spoiling the film for some of you.
Brad