I confess I’ve finally managed to watch Spiderman 2 with May Chin only last Friday (better late than never even then it was not easy to get decent seats). It was one of the things I wanted to do when I returned and just before I start my whirlwind season of ministry again. I loved the movie and there were quite a number of moments where the heart and mind was thoroughly engaged and there’s lots to think and talk about as well. I like the little slogan in the Eis Webzine’s Two Films, Two Questions: “Don’t just see films, talk about them, think about them” Here’s the 2 questions for the webslinger movie! (Thanks to Si Johnston)
1. Society teaches us that we are the centre of the world; consequences beyond ourselves are of little to no importance. Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) realises that his ‘lifestyle choices’ are coming at a cost to others around him. Raimi’s summer hit then becomes just as much about in(ner)security, personal turmoil and identity crisis as it is about a web-slinging superhero bringing salvation for New York. How does Peter Parker’s (Toby Maguire) schizophrenia mirror Christian life in contemporary culture?
2. ‘With great power comes great responsibility’, warns Dr. Octavia (Alfred Mollina) before he suffers at his own hands. Today, on both a personal and international level, power is an oft abused commodity. But interestingly, even in the film; redemption is born out of sacrifice. Should Christians ever work at becoming powerful? In what concrete ways can they / should they remain responsible?