tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post3488231711767994220..comments2024-03-28T10:26:20.408-04:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: Gran Torino -- A MeditationRobert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-67625801757660258302009-09-21T12:57:43.818-04:002009-09-21T12:57:43.818-04:00That's funny, I stopped by my parent's at ...That's funny, I stopped by my parent's at lunchtime and asked if they'd like to come over and watch Gran Torino. Turns out they saw it Saturday night- the night before we did. Dad said it was weird, but he liked it (Mom was napping). David McAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-20852719820136841362009-09-20T23:48:37.302-04:002009-09-20T23:48:37.302-04:00I finally saw this movie, and plan to veiw it with...I finally saw this movie, and plan to veiw it with my 80+ year old Catholic parents.<br /><br />"One flaw: the movie's spiritual impact was seriously diminished by the revelation that the Eastwood character was terminally ill. The question lingers, would he have taken this course of action had he been healthy (as was Jesus)?"<br /><br />There's a flaw in this criticism- The Bible makes it very clear Jesus knew well he was doomed and probably pondered his mortality every day. David McAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-29880404781601564572009-09-16T21:10:46.218-04:002009-09-16T21:10:46.218-04:00Steve,
You do raise an interesting point. One ca...Steve,<br /><br />You do raise an interesting point. One cannot say -- but the willingness to give his life so another might live is intriguing.Robert Cornwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-37532892896270344162009-09-16T20:17:23.512-04:002009-09-16T20:17:23.512-04:00Bob, Eastwood once again turned the "myth of ...Bob, Eastwood once again turned the "myth of redemptive violence" on its head. Redemption was received by self-sacrifice. <br /><br />One flaw: the movie's spiritual impact was seriously diminished by the revelation that the Eastwood character was terminally ill. The question lingers, would he have taken this course of action had he been healthy (as was Jesus)?Stevehttp://www.clergyunited.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-57014800990820431562009-09-14T20:33:47.530-04:002009-09-14T20:33:47.530-04:00Ps.. actually Christianity Today listed this movie...Ps.. actually Christianity Today listed this movie in its top 5 (it have been #2) on the list.. so its gotten some Christian press. The R rating of course is an issue for some. It is God's timing you mention this movie b/c my dad randomly asked me about it yesterday and how much he liked it. <br />ChuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-84384607437482795332009-09-14T20:30:37.816-04:002009-09-14T20:30:37.816-04:00I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie.. great pick. Great r...I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie.. great pick. Great redemption story. Clinton dieing to redeem the boy was a fantastic Christ like image. <br /><br />ChuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-42922621572110889702009-09-14T08:44:13.021-04:002009-09-14T08:44:13.021-04:00Mack, thanks for adding in that part about how, at...Mack, thanks for adding in that part about how, at least outwardly, Walt remains unchanged. He was a straight shooter, so to speak.<br /><br />And Jim, you're right there is a certain resistance in church circles to watch a movie such as this, but it has so much power that we may need to find a way to use it.Robert Cornwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-5795607348369052262009-09-14T02:09:39.459-04:002009-09-14T02:09:39.459-04:00At a recent UK meeting of Theological College staf...At a recent UK meeting of Theological College staff we watched Gran Torino together and then shared in an hour's discussion. Much of our discussion reflected your comments, Bob. Our problem was how to use such a powerful and 'good' movie as a teaching aid in church! The language would be a serious challenge to its being heard and understood. Yet in church, as much as anywhere, it has important things to say around its treatment of racism, exclusion, welcome of the other, the redemptive power of friendship that grows out of and strengthenes human love......<br />Thanks for the post.jim Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942153453907435828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-81052040885020544982009-09-13T22:53:53.031-04:002009-09-13T22:53:53.031-04:00Great post. I completely agree with your analysis...Great post. I completely agree with your analysis of this fantatic movie, which was sorely overlooked because it did not conform to certain norms of what constitutes an "Oscar-worthy" film.<br /><br />It's worth noting also, that while this is a redemption story, Walt became a savior figure in his self-sacrifice but was not fundamentally altered. In other words, by the end of the film he was still a grouchy, drinking, smoking, at least comically racist old man. His was redeemed where he was; he was not turned into what Hollywood or the other elites deem an "acceptable" figure. Of course, I think this is a large reason why it was so well-recieved by all but the big awards shows.<br /><br />Just thought this was worth mentioning. I appreciated that this film did not try to apologize for the character, but still found value in him.pastormackhttp://www.pastormack.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com