Huh? Wha..? Why in the world would I bring up this summer blockbuster? One that doesn't have any overt or even subtle biblical or theological references at all? The movie is nothing less than an action-packed and sensational roller coaster ride designed to pander to the masses.... oh, and make lots of money while it's at it. But hey, if God is everywhere, to deny that he can exist in a movie like this, is to deny that notion. For instance, Bruce Willis plays, as always, the reluctant, in-the-right-place-at-the-wrong-time hero, John McClane. I'm not going to go into the plot, but there is a theme I wanted to touch on. NY Cop John is sent to New Jersey to pick up a hacker. Somewhere between a large caliber rounds, screeching tires and the whump-whump-whump of chopper blades, he manages to have a heart-to-heart with said hacker, Matt Farrell played by Justin Long. "I'm not a heroic type", he confides to John. (I'm paraphrasing heavily here). "Heroes are overrated. It got me a divorce. My kid hates me. All I got was a pat on the back and 'Good job'. I was there. Who else was going to do it." What's not said...what John, in his subconscious humility says with his actions is that he wants to be a good father and protect his daughter. Outnumbered by heavily armed bad guys, a threat he barely understands, without any dillusions of glory.... that when all is said and done... he STILL defies the odds and gives into the overwhelming need to do the right thing. I understand that this sense of duty has been typical popcorn fare since moving pictures became entertainment...heck, since the invention of the written word... since people started to communicate. But that's just the thing. It's a recurring theme. If this movie is the epitome of what the masses want to see, maybe there's some hope in the notion that the masses want to see someone beat the odds and be good in a world filled with bad guys. Ok ok... maybe I'm reading too much into it. But am I? I don't think it's too much a stretch of the imagination that with any movie.. even a summer blockbuster, you can find a little God if you choose to see it.
