Van Helsing - DVD Movie Review
Van Helsing was a decent action adventure movie set in the late fictional 1800's. It takes a main character, Van Helsing, from Dracula and reinvents him as a superhero or superspy. Instead of fighting supervillians he fights creatures from fiction and folklore, namely Mr. Hyde, vampires, werewolves, and even Frankenstein. The blending of these characters reminds me of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in general, a very compelling idea (a sort of what if X meets Y type scenario).
Van Helsing doesn't have powers per se, but does state that he has some innate ability to sense evil. More on this later. Instead, he relies on the latest in science and folklore remedies. He is a secret agent "employed" by the Catholic Church to combat these evil forces (reminescent of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense in the movie Hell Boy, that was employed to "bump back" on the creatures that go bump in the night).
He is helped along by a friar who provides some comic relief and super devices (a la Q of James Bond fame), and a beautiful heroine who he is also trying to keep alive.
The action and special effects are generally well-done. The acting was tolerable, or at least didn't get the way of the picture which is probably the sign of good acting.
The story doesn't completely make sense in that Van Helsing is described as having lived for hundred's of years and supernaturally empowered while missing his memories, but how this arises is never fully explained. His connection to Dracula is explained but not his origin.
Some interesting undertones and world view influences that emerge include:
1) Van Helsings ability to sense evil. He describes it in relation to the creature of Frankenstein which is hideous and pursued by both Dracula and people. The former to use for his evil purposes and the latter to destroy. In any case, Van Helsing states that he does not sense any evil in Frankenstein and thus refuses to kill him, even though that would be the safest thing for the world to keep him from falling into Dracula's hands.
Theologically speaking we are evil in that none of us fully embody the goodness of God apart from Christ. On the positive side Van Helsing refuses to take life carelessly. On the negative, he is leaving the execution of creatures to his own standard, supposedly supported by his license to kill from the Catholic Church.
2) The Catholic Church is portrayed positively and negatively, which is consistent with the popular perception of the Church. On the positive, it is involved with stopping evil and protecting mankind. On the negative, it is seen as overly restrictive (as the friar embodies a rebellious Catholic in that he curses and fornicates) and cold (in how they treat Van Helsing and their sentencing of Frankenstein to death). On the neutral side, it is portrayed as ecumenical showing Buddhist monks working with Catholic monks to develop weapons to fight the evil.
From my perspective the portayal has some accuracies and inaccuracies. The Catholic church imagines itself more spiritually important than it is. Its practices are often overly restrictive or falsely pious (i.e. celebacy, priesthood). Its ecumenical work is a more recent phenomenon which some might see as positive, but which biblically is dangerous. Ultimately, the Catholic church's teaching veils the true gospel and is a false representative of true Christianity.
3) The issue of eternal destiny is touched upon at least in regards to a particular family. The beautiful protagonist is part of a family line whose eternal destiny is tied to killing Dracula. Kill him and the whole family, dead or alive, is in heaven, else they are out of heaven presumably hellbound. Theologically speaking our destiny is NOT dependent on what our ancestors or descendants do. They are interdependent in the sense that they influence one another but ultimately it is resolved person by person.
The bad theology might have been forgiven or ignored except for a heavenly vision at the end when the family is having a joyous reunion in what one assumes is heaven. I'm not sure if this was added to give the Hollywood happy ending or because they are confirming the theology of the characters and the significance of their actions (i.e. they really saved a whole family line for heaven).
4) The movie presents Frankenstein as life apart from God. And thus it is a special secret that the forces of darkness want to get, control, and use. I guess the idea is that you will be like God able to create life.
This idea has a very important analogy in the field of genetic research. People have been and continue to press toward the creation of life as a goal. Can man make life apart from God? There is cloning and genetic engineering where normal procreation is modified for human purposes.
Though I have not delved into this topic too much, my initial thoughts are that man deceives himself. If man succeeds in creating life it is only because God taught man and enabled him to do so. Unlike the popular idea of evolution which is life arising from natural and random processes (which is ridiculous), this would be life arising from natural and intelligent processes. In most of these cases, we have man making use of existing biological mechanisms to do something. It would be much more impressive to create life through completely unique mechanisms. For example, create a silicon-based life form.
Regardless, man in trying to create life apart from the direction and wisdom of God will undoubtedly unleash pain and suffering upon these creatures and/or mankind in general. God will not be mocked. Man will reap what he sows.
5) A question raised by the movie is whether or not Frankenstein is legitimate life. The Catholic church in the movie vote no and want it destroyed, Van Helsing votes yes and lets it live. The correct theological answer is that as far as the revelation of God is concerned it should be treated as legitimate life. Frankenstein clearly acts like a person, even quoting scripture. Their may come a time where man mixes human and animal parts. If that happens, what protection should the life have? That is unclear. There is scripture suggesting God's desire to keep things in their intended place and order. Prohibition against bestiality is one example. I would argue that the "chimera" should not be created to begin with. If it is, without clearer direction I would err on the side of life and protection.
Van Helsing doesn't have powers per se, but does state that he has some innate ability to sense evil. More on this later. Instead, he relies on the latest in science and folklore remedies. He is a secret agent "employed" by the Catholic Church to combat these evil forces (reminescent of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense in the movie Hell Boy, that was employed to "bump back" on the creatures that go bump in the night).
He is helped along by a friar who provides some comic relief and super devices (a la Q of James Bond fame), and a beautiful heroine who he is also trying to keep alive.
The action and special effects are generally well-done. The acting was tolerable, or at least didn't get the way of the picture which is probably the sign of good acting.
The story doesn't completely make sense in that Van Helsing is described as having lived for hundred's of years and supernaturally empowered while missing his memories, but how this arises is never fully explained. His connection to Dracula is explained but not his origin.
Some interesting undertones and world view influences that emerge include:
1) Van Helsings ability to sense evil. He describes it in relation to the creature of Frankenstein which is hideous and pursued by both Dracula and people. The former to use for his evil purposes and the latter to destroy. In any case, Van Helsing states that he does not sense any evil in Frankenstein and thus refuses to kill him, even though that would be the safest thing for the world to keep him from falling into Dracula's hands.
Theologically speaking we are evil in that none of us fully embody the goodness of God apart from Christ. On the positive side Van Helsing refuses to take life carelessly. On the negative, he is leaving the execution of creatures to his own standard, supposedly supported by his license to kill from the Catholic Church.
2) The Catholic Church is portrayed positively and negatively, which is consistent with the popular perception of the Church. On the positive, it is involved with stopping evil and protecting mankind. On the negative, it is seen as overly restrictive (as the friar embodies a rebellious Catholic in that he curses and fornicates) and cold (in how they treat Van Helsing and their sentencing of Frankenstein to death). On the neutral side, it is portrayed as ecumenical showing Buddhist monks working with Catholic monks to develop weapons to fight the evil.
From my perspective the portayal has some accuracies and inaccuracies. The Catholic church imagines itself more spiritually important than it is. Its practices are often overly restrictive or falsely pious (i.e. celebacy, priesthood). Its ecumenical work is a more recent phenomenon which some might see as positive, but which biblically is dangerous. Ultimately, the Catholic church's teaching veils the true gospel and is a false representative of true Christianity.
3) The issue of eternal destiny is touched upon at least in regards to a particular family. The beautiful protagonist is part of a family line whose eternal destiny is tied to killing Dracula. Kill him and the whole family, dead or alive, is in heaven, else they are out of heaven presumably hellbound. Theologically speaking our destiny is NOT dependent on what our ancestors or descendants do. They are interdependent in the sense that they influence one another but ultimately it is resolved person by person.
The bad theology might have been forgiven or ignored except for a heavenly vision at the end when the family is having a joyous reunion in what one assumes is heaven. I'm not sure if this was added to give the Hollywood happy ending or because they are confirming the theology of the characters and the significance of their actions (i.e. they really saved a whole family line for heaven).
4) The movie presents Frankenstein as life apart from God. And thus it is a special secret that the forces of darkness want to get, control, and use. I guess the idea is that you will be like God able to create life.
This idea has a very important analogy in the field of genetic research. People have been and continue to press toward the creation of life as a goal. Can man make life apart from God? There is cloning and genetic engineering where normal procreation is modified for human purposes.
Though I have not delved into this topic too much, my initial thoughts are that man deceives himself. If man succeeds in creating life it is only because God taught man and enabled him to do so. Unlike the popular idea of evolution which is life arising from natural and random processes (which is ridiculous), this would be life arising from natural and intelligent processes. In most of these cases, we have man making use of existing biological mechanisms to do something. It would be much more impressive to create life through completely unique mechanisms. For example, create a silicon-based life form.
Regardless, man in trying to create life apart from the direction and wisdom of God will undoubtedly unleash pain and suffering upon these creatures and/or mankind in general. God will not be mocked. Man will reap what he sows.
5) A question raised by the movie is whether or not Frankenstein is legitimate life. The Catholic church in the movie vote no and want it destroyed, Van Helsing votes yes and lets it live. The correct theological answer is that as far as the revelation of God is concerned it should be treated as legitimate life. Frankenstein clearly acts like a person, even quoting scripture. Their may come a time where man mixes human and animal parts. If that happens, what protection should the life have? That is unclear. There is scripture suggesting God's desire to keep things in their intended place and order. Prohibition against bestiality is one example. I would argue that the "chimera" should not be created to begin with. If it is, without clearer direction I would err on the side of life and protection.
posted by A Forgiven Man at
9:41 AM
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