Ken Jr

Yesterday I was standing in front of the Redbox vending machine in McDonalds, trying to pick out a DVD before the five people behind me became impatient. I was very fortunate to have Bright Star catch my eye. I was looking for something romantic but not fluffy or overworked and this film fit the bill perfectly.

The story follows the life of John Keats and his love of three years, Fanny Brawne. I’m no expert on Keats’s life so I can’t comment on the accuracy of the film. I can say that the attention to detail in regards to the script (where I felt like I needed an unabridged dictionary at times to look up archaic phrases) and the period costuming will insure that this film becomes a staple for English teachers struggling to give their students a more lively feel for the life of one of the most renowned Romantic poets.

The story is simple and beautiful. Very little “drama” in the usual cinematic sense occurs. We simply observe two characters who happen to fall deeply in love and yet are unable to be together. The film is subdivided by the various obstacles that keep them apart: money, sickness, distance and finally death. Despite all of this tragedy the film and its story remain quite beautiful. Pure love isn’t bemoaned as an inescapable prison, a vexing problem that the plot must work out. Love is instead something to be observed and wondered at. Like Keats’s poems the value isn’t in being able to figure things out immediately, but enjoying the sensation of being immersed in the story. Very few films seem to have this level of artistic sophistication. If you watch the film be prepared for moments where nothing “significant” is occurring. Take in the scenery and the atmosphere, because every little detail forms a world that lets modern audiences look into the lives of people who thought about life and love in ways that are still very uncommon.

If you are looking for a quality “date-night” movie I wholeheartedly suggest Bright Star. Even if you aren’t a literary buff you will find the characters to be memorable and the story immensely meaningful.

For part 1 of my thoughts on Wisdom of Solomon, click here.

Well, reading Wisdom of Solomon has definitely been a pleasure. I can’t say that I ended up agreeing with all of the author’s thematic points (he seems to be indicting the Egyptians contemporary with him by recalling the history of the Exodus) or all of his theological inquiry (where his interest in greek philosophy may have led him astray, see especially 8:19-20 on pre-existence). I can say that the book as a whole was a very good look into inter-testamental Jewish attitudes and beliefs.

I really enjoyed reading chapter 12 of Wisdom of Solomon. The author makes a very bold defense of Israel’s conquering of the Promised Land and then (verses 12-18) launches into an amazing poetic argument for God’s complete sovereignty. I really like how here and throughout the book the author is comfortable with proclaiming God’s immense hatred of sin and his sovereignty over human affairs (often expressed as wrath) while also proclaiming God’s continuing, steadfast and totally undeserved mercy. God’s perfect justice and ability to rightly punish are held up as definite truths and at the same time God has the freedom to be merciful and compassionate towards those who have scorned him.

Idolatry and Ideas Post-Exile

A large part of Wisdom of Solomon is a polemic against idolatry. I thought that the denunciation of it given in Isaiah (44:6-21) was harsh, but this treatment is definitely harsher in almost every way (longer, more comparisons, more irony). Eventually this discussion of idolatry loops back around to the Egyptians. The author retells the story of the Exodus with many creative flourishes (poetic license, not all bad). For someone living within the midst of a conquered and displaced people group it is interesting how ready he is to use the themes of Exodus. There is definitely a sense that even though the Jews have been able to return to the Promised Land there are still promises to be completed. While I wouldn’t rule out a very political message of triumph over foreigners, Wisdom of Solomon still seems to be more aimed at convincing Jews and Gentiles of the superiority of the Jewish religion and of the inevitable justice that God will provide for those who choose to follow him. Whether such vindication occurs in the present moment or in eternity does not seem to be a concern: simply knowing that it will occur is enough.