After Earth: Fear of Disapproval

This blog is dedicated to Mooty Vision.  The movies reviewed here will discuss themes in them that parallel Christian and Biblical ideas and how our culture relates to them. Enjoy.

AFTER EARTH

Before the internet, there were in the music world what we called "One Hit Wonders".  These guys would have one song that was phenomenal.  Never to be repeated.

M. Night Shyamalan is the cinematic version of the that. He made the incredible "The Sixth Sense" that was a box office and critic sensation.  His follow-up film, "Unbreakable" was watchable thanks to another excellent performance by Bruce Willis.  But everything has gone down hill from there.

The last big flop was "The Last Airbender" which was so terrible that the previews included absolutely no dialog.  For good reason.  (Actually, I think "The Happening" may have followed up after that but it was equally bad.  I mean Bonfire of the Vanities bad).

So when Will Smith signed up to do a scifi actioner and studios started to promote, no mention of M. Night Shyamalan was ever included on any of the trailers.  But for scifi geeks like me and Will Smith fans everywhere, we had hoped that the Fresh Prince could do what Bruce Willis had done for M. Night's first few films.

Sadly, our hope was in vain.

the FLICK

The plot is simple (and silly): earth is made uninhabitable by man.  So man leaves for Nova Prime and is promptly attacked by an alien species that creates the Ursa, a genetically created beast that hunts by literally smelling your fear.  Will Smith is the first ranger to learn how to kill his fear and therefore be invisible to the Ursa.  This phenemena is called "ghosting."

Smith's son, both literally (Jaden Smith) and in the movie (Katai), wants to be a ranger. In fact, he's desperate to become a ranger because he fears his father's disapproval.  Smith Jr is denied entrance into the Ranger program just before dad comes home.  He and dad then set out into space to get him and other recruits more training.

The ship crash lands on the most dangerous planet in the known universe...Earth.  Of course it has been made completely uninhabitable by man and now it is completely covered with luscious vegetation, thousands of birds, and teaming with wildlife.  Wait...what?

Of course, Smith and Smith are the only survivors but the elder Smith is badly hurt (of course) and only little Smith can save the day (of course).  What follows for the remainder of the movie is one impossible danger, followed by another impossible escape after another (a HUGE pet-peeve of mine).  Oh, and there is one Ursa loose on planet Earth that escaped from the crashed ship.

Ultimately, the movie is about fear.  Jaden is full of it.  The Ursa hunts him because of it.  You know he will conquer it in the end.  But the kids greatest fear is not conquered and the ending proves it.  Jaden defeats the Ursa and saves dad.  But the final screen, poppa Smith stands to salute his son, the ranger.

Mini-Smith still fears his fathers disapproval and only feels comforted when his father stands and salutes his respect.  Fear is only misplaced by work-based approval.

the FAITH

M. Night missed a golden opportunity here (as he has done in most of his movies).  The movie is about fear and the decisions you make because of it.  Jaden's fear was never the Ursa but dad's disapproval.  And approval came only through performance.

I've heard this before.  In church.

It goes something like this: When we obey, we earn God's smile.  When we fail, we earn God's frown.

I have heard it plainly stated that way and it has been my experience that it is often treated that way.  The idea is that your performance measures your acceptance before God.  The more you obey, the bigger God smiles.  Say your prayers, read your Bible, go to prayer meetings and don't kick old ladies and God is happy, happy, happy.

But is that what God is really like?  Prior to faith, what do we bring to the table.  Nothing.

We start our Christian life through faith in Jesus and repent of sin.  It is the same way we live our life in Christ.  One step faith, one step repentance.  What could we earn from God that Jesus didn't already earn for us?

Let's put it this way..
We suck. We're broken.  Everything we do is dead because we are dead.  We can't save ourselves so the Father sends the Son to save us.  Jesus lives the life and all the righteousness we should do for us.  Then he dies the death that we deserve.  When we come to faith, we are believing that those two things really happened and that they are credited to our sin-debt account.  Jesus removes our negative balance but also adds to us his righteousness.

If our sin-debt is erased, how can God frown in disapproval?  If Jesus gives us his righteousness, how can we earn God's smile when we obey?

Should we then disobey since it doesn't affect our standing before God?  God forbid!

Should we labor in righteousness so that we may earn God's smile?  God forbid!

Our righteousness comes out of a heart of gratitude for what God has done.  There is no pride when we obey!

Our desire to avoid sin comes out of new heart, mind and will that hates sins knowing that Jesus died to rescue us from slavery to sin.  There is no despair when we fail!

The Fathers love is not based on our performance.  There is one who performed perfectly.  No need to save ourselves and others when the work is already done.