Friday, July 17, 2009

Finish the story before looking ahead.

I don't know what I was expecting but I was a little disappointed by the newest Harry Potter movie. I heard it was very good, maybe the best yet. As the movie started I was caught up in the action. I was moved by the characters. The story was compelling. It had the making of a classic. Then it fell flat as it came to the finish line.

As the movie whimpered to its conclusion I couldn't quite believe it was going to end. I was waiting for more. Then it just ended. You could tell that this franchise was now becoming more interested in making money than making good movies. It ended setting the stage for its sequel rather than standing on its own as a classic movie.

It made me think about our Christian faith. A lot of us think about faith only in terms of what it means for our afterlife. We live as if it only kicks in after we die. The truth is that Jesus calls us to live life as if each day matters in itself. Heaven is simply the icing on the cake after a life that is complete and well lived. We are called to live in the here and now and not worry about what comes next. That's the formula for a good life.

It's the formula for a good movie too. I wish the Harry Potter people knew that. I think they forgot. In the past I couldn't wait to see it again. I will be able to pass on this one.

Cal

2 comments:

Denise said...

Sorry you were disappointed my friend.

Timothy said...

To be fair, it ended pretty much where the book does. I mean, there was a little bit more of a denouement in the book, but I think it's unfair to criticize one entry in a story that was originally conceived as a multipart epic for ending a little abruptly.