tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post6308123005270776312..comments2024-03-01T21:01:15.174-06:00Comments on Biblical Christianity: Seven Pounds: impressions and reflectionsDJPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-59699659228632371922009-04-29T02:14:00.000-05:002009-04-29T02:14:00.000-05:00Just saw the movie. Agree, remarkable performance...Just saw the movie. Agree, remarkable performance but a very sad movie.CRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912897040503058967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-22351300394344340672009-04-24T10:53:00.000-05:002009-04-24T10:53:00.000-05:00I'm late on this because I took a break from f...I'm late on this because I took a break from following your blog during the election season... Rob & I saw this movie too, and I agree with you about Smith's performance - he is a consummate actor. <br /><br />I also agree that it was a senseless tragedy. It's too bad that the character felt he had to atone for his own sins (which is obviously not possible) rather than trusting in the Gospel. The love story was touching but once we realized what Smith was going to do with the jellyfish, it just became sad.<br /><br />Verification word: foodiest.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16546522204947671457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-85787855271300284502009-04-20T14:21:00.000-05:002009-04-20T14:21:00.000-05:00Hm, good question. But I'd say no... the movie doe...Hm, good question. But I'd say no... the movie does stress that the blind guy can see, the dying lady's heart beats just fine, etc.<br /><br />I'm sure we're meant not to notice the angles I bring up. This is Hollywood, after all. It's all about what it makes you <I>feel</I>.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-37538196398579373212009-04-20T14:19:00.000-05:002009-04-20T14:19:00.000-05:00Haven't seen the movie, but from what's been writt...Haven't seen the movie, but from what's been written here, could it be said that the 'hero' represented compassion as it is too often seen--as being about what one gives up rather than the good it may do?<br /><br />Reminds me of what C.S. Lewis wrote about the differences between "love" and "unselfishness" in one of his essays.jazzact13https://www.blogger.com/profile/17437006437523413659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-47118558313083735942009-04-20T14:12:00.000-05:002009-04-20T14:12:00.000-05:00Ok, you've just convinced me to avoid this movie. ...Ok, you've just convinced me to avoid this movie. I was leaning that way already (since I haven't rent it yet) but Will Smith being in it kept the possibility open. I'll just avoid <I>senseless</I> trajedies, thank you.<br /><br />Where are the dramas like Braveheart and Last of the Mohicans where one's death was sad yet meaningful (not to mention self-sacrificial)?Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285043747501470199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-88724167422852380212009-04-20T12:38:00.000-05:002009-04-20T12:38:00.000-05:00You nailed it in my opinion. Smith delivers a won...You nailed it in my opinion. Smith delivers a wonderful performance. I especially enjoyed your comments on his acting inside of acting. BUT, the film fails at its central aim, and communicates a very perverted idea of how to obtain freedom from guilt and sorrow. While it was much more entertaining to me than the director's other work, <I>What Dreams May Come</I>, it is still tragically misguided.<br /><br />On a tangential note, have you read <I>The Road</I>? (I noticed it recently on the Desiring God staff reading list.) It's gaining credibility in my area as communicating a message of love and hope in the face of decay and depravity, but upon reading it I was significantly disappointed. Similar to <I>Seven Pounds</I> it had artistic merit, but an ultimately hollow or (in my opinion absent) foundation for hope. If you have read it I'd love to see a review. If not, no worries.Andy Dollahitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575945592447351602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-13628690907938323262009-04-20T11:33:00.000-05:002009-04-20T11:33:00.000-05:00Watch it last night my wife and i agree that it wa...Watch it last night my wife and i agree that it was a very sad movie also.P.D. Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885909266458802577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-9405820238931746742009-04-20T10:14:00.000-05:002009-04-20T10:14:00.000-05:00I'm glad I read your review. I was wondering what ...I'm glad I read your review. I was wondering what the deal was on this. I wonder no longer, and can cross it off my watchlist.Matt Gummhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14698469400042045105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-24583473603274500682009-04-20T10:06:00.000-05:002009-04-20T10:06:00.000-05:00Another excellent observation. Thanks, Mike, I'm g...Another <I>excellent</I> observation. Thanks, Mike, I'm going to incorporate that in the article.DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-79544939230159455862009-04-20T10:03:00.000-05:002009-04-20T10:03:00.000-05:00Great review. I just watched this movie last nigh...Great review. I just watched this movie last night. All I really have to say is that I am glad that Jesus' sacrifice was not for those he deemed "worthy" of dying for. <br /><br />This movie really does make you think though...b/c Ben is a hero on the surface but when analyzed further he's really a self consumed jerk.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034192017775511612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-62585359621762020602009-04-20T09:46:00.000-05:002009-04-20T09:46:00.000-05:00Thanks, very good observations.
Thomas is a very ...Thanks, very good observations.<br /><br />Thomas is a very sympathetic character; Smith does him so well, I think you can't <I>not</I> feel for him — until you start to think about it, and weigh it objectively and morally, as you did. How he used his brother, his best friend - then Dawson's character.<br /><br />And goodness, what if it echo-effects? If he feels it's moral for <I>him</I> to handle his grief that way, what if Dawson's character does? What if she reasons that he murdered himself for her, after she'd won his heart (pun noted but not intended)... so it was her fault?<br /><br />What if she's consumed with the same remorseless guilt as he?<br /><br />Should she murder herself, and give her (his) heart to someone else?DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9313009.post-14261274048651132802009-04-20T09:40:00.000-05:002009-04-20T09:40:00.000-05:00My wife and I watched it last week, too...and came...My wife and I watched it last week, too...and came to the same conclusion.<br />I also noted that Smith's character was trying to play God - determining who was good and who was bad - who deserved his "gifts". Ultimately, for us, the character was unlikable because of his consuming selfishness paraded about in the clothes of sacrifice.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01691903503808634501noreply@blogger.com