World Trade Center: The Movie

I had the privilage of taking my wife on a dinner and a movie date tonight. We went to see the new movie about two police officers who were trapped in the World Trade Center rubble on September 11, 2001. I am far from a movie critic, but here are my initial observations:

1. This movie was not what I expected it to be. I expected it to be a wide lens view of the events of September 11. However, it was very narrow in its scope. Most of the movie is about two cops and their families.

2. This movie was very moving and contained a powerful message. The main message of this movie was about not taking our families for granted. When they were trapped, these guys just wanted one more chance to hug their wives and children and tell them how much they loved them. We all grow overly familiar with those we love. We need to be shaken sometimes. We need to be reminded that life is short. We need to do a better job of living each day as if it were our last.

3. I liked the stark reality of this movie. It had an authentic humility about it.

4. Jesus makes two appearances. Not only does he get some airtime, but he holds bottles of water (how much did Osarka pay Oliver Stone for this?). If you like bottled water, you better hurry and stock up because now that everyone knows Jesus is into bottled water, it is going to be selling like hotcakes.
The context: As these two cops are trapped and about to die underneath 20 foot of rubble, they try to keep each other awake. While one goes in and our of conciousness, he sees Jesus. The implication is that he is very close to entering Heaven.
On a serious note: we need to think deeply about this. If Karis (my daughter) were old enough to have theological conversations, my questions would go something like this: Karis, did this movie give any reason to believe that this cop was a Christian? Did this guy possess an obvious faith in God's promises? According to his own words, what was this cop's greatest treasure. What did he most want in what he thought were his last moments?
Sadly, this movie was another instance of our culture's core theology: Justfication by death. This movie portrayed the false belief that all "good" people go to Heaven.

5. Tell someone you love how much you care about them. Pick up the phone or walk into the other room right now. Life is short.