Movie Devotions: The King's Speech - Fulfilling Our Calling - Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1             As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

 As per our usual custom, our family went to the movies on Christmas Day. We’ve done this for several years because we enjoy the atmosphere at the picture house, as well as the blockbuster of a movie that we choose to see.

This year, we chose “The King’s Speech,” which is definitely not a blockbuster but it may win more than a few Oscars. It’s about the story of King George VI of Britain who suffered from a terrible stammer. Each time he was called upon to make a public speech, his stuttering took over and ruined his presentations. When his older brother abdicated the British throne, George was thrust into the forefront of the British Empire and had to make many broadcasts. When war came to Britain in 1939, King George had to rally the nation. Without the determination of his Australian Speech therapist, the new king would never have been able to do this and the encouragement that the British public needed in the darkest days of war would never have been accomplished.

The movie is fantastic and I heartily recommend it to everyone. There is some cussing involved but it’s used to express the utter frustration that the king experiences with his stammer. Both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush play their roles perfectly. This is a classic drama and a great representation of both these award winning actors.

King George fulfilled his calling to which he was appointed. He never chose to do this, but when called upon to lead his people, he put duty first and set aside his own preferences. He was one of the most beloved rulers that Britain has ever known and his own daughter Elizabeth epitomizes all that was best in him, as well as her devoted mother.

We are all given a calling in this life. We may not be called to be kings and queens of the nations, but are we expected to live our lives as heirs to God’s Eternal Kingdom. This means that as Christians our lives are meant to be significantly different from those around us. Our faithful calling is Christ’s vehicle to a fallen world and a faithless culture. If we set aside Christ’s desire for us in His work, then all that we accomplish in this life are our own preferences instead of the purposes that God has in store for us.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are all different and individual. Our backgrounds, cultures and influences over our lives are as varied as we are. Yet with all of our differences, You call us to that one sameness in You. Help us to cast aside our preferences and to carry with us Your purposes each day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Movie review: Clash of the Titans

Two words best describe this current blockbuster: too dark. I’m not talking about the battle of evil vs good, I’m referring to the failure of this movie photographically. There are too many shadows, dark spaces, and dim lighting that the film suffers. If I was editing the movie, I would have upped the brightness level by 5-10%. If you really can’t see the actor’s mouth, you really can’t hear what they’re saying.

Even watching it in 3-D had no charms for me. Compared to Avatar, COTT is like one of those bad Japanese sixties movies that is all effects and nothing in dialogue. The 1981 version is a far better movie to watch. It has more pace, character, and imagination.

So if I was classifying this movie, what would I give it? D for Dud. The movie producers can release the Kraken on me or send me to Hades, but it would be far too dark for me to see or care.

Movie Review: The Young Victoria

It’s about time that this historical royal love story was told in a way that reflects the devotion, charm, and wonderful love that Victoria and Albert once had for each other. Jean-Marc Vallee’s “The Young Victoria” is a beautiful movie which portrays the young queen’s romantic relationship in such a positive and alluring way.

The scenery, which mainly takes place in both Kensington and Buckingham Palaces, is breathtaking. The costumes are perfectly astounding, which makes this dramatic movie instantly comparable to anything that David Lean produced decades ago.

Whilst these things are essential to make a compelling and attractive movie, it’s the growing relationship between Victoria and Albert that keeps the audience enthralled. Emily Blunt was perfectly cast as the young Victoria and portrays the young princess’s frustrations and fears in ways that make the viewers want to cheer her as she faces down her opponents. Albert’s loving courtship and utter devotion to his future bride are utterly believable through Rupert Friend’s tremendous characterization.

The movie covers the early years of Victoria’s sixty three year reign and all of the political intrigue that occurred just before her coronation. The young princess is practically a recluse and prisoner in her mother’s home. She is used as a pawn between political foes and her ambitious relatives at home and abroad. Her uncle King William, remarkably played by Jim Broadbent, in the midst of his own spells of rancor and madness, tries to protect the young heir to the throne. His only wish is to live long enough for Victoria to reach the age of adulthood so that she will not be controlled by those around her.

In the midst of all this aristocratic skullduggery and Machiavellian machinations, young Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg comes into Victoria’s life and lovingly rescues her. It is Albert who makes Victoria strong by believing in her ability to successfully reign over her people. And it is this loving relationship which grows at a distance through the sharing of love letters that is beautifully portrayed in this film.

Some critics have panned the movie as being over-romantic and superficially sentimental. The audience that I experienced the movie with enjoyed the whole spectacle from start to finish. It’s a tear-jerker, but not what some would call a ‘chick flick.’ It’s an historical drama that brings to life the utter devotion and incredible love that Victoria and Albert shared.

If I was rating this movie, I would give it five stars for quality performances, historical settings, marvelous costumes, an excellent screenplay, and a wonderful ensemble of European actors. Miranda Richardson’s portrayal of Victoria’s mother and Paul Bettany’s charming and scheming Lord Melbourne are also highly commendable.

This remarkable movie's website can be found at http://theyoungvictoriamovie.com/