Comments on: There Will Be Blood http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:06:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: alissa http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-260004 alissa Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:35:35 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-260004 JohnV: Aside from being as close to a cinematically perfect film as I've ever seen - acting, cinematography, writing, directing, everything hangs together with precision and excellence - and a note-perfect adaptation of a novel by one of the most acclaimed writers working today, No Country for Old Men is a really tight and scary examination of people's ideas about the involvement of God in human lives, with excellent commentary on nihilism and fate. Do I agree with the characters' conclusions? Not really. But that doesn't detract from the fact that there are a lot of people who see the circumstances in the world and don't see God's hand at all. I believe that the grace of God enables me to believe in His presence even when the world is coming apart at the seams. JohnV: Aside from being as close to a cinematically perfect film as I’ve ever seen – acting, cinematography, writing, directing, everything hangs together with precision and excellence – and a note-perfect adaptation of a novel by one of the most acclaimed writers working today, No Country for Old Men is a really tight and scary examination of people’s ideas about the involvement of God in human lives, with excellent commentary on nihilism and fate.

Do I agree with the characters’ conclusions? Not really. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that there are a lot of people who see the circumstances in the world and don’t see God’s hand at all. I believe that the grace of God enables me to believe in His presence even when the world is coming apart at the seams.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: JohnV http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-259627 JohnV Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:44:51 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-259627 Alissa: what did you find good about No Country for Old Men? I saw nothing but a crazy guy who likes to kill people with lots of blood chasing another guy who found a bunch of money plus a depressed sheriff. I don't get it. Alissa: what did you find good about No Country for Old Men? I saw nothing but a crazy guy who likes to kill people with lots of blood chasing another guy who found a bunch of money plus a depressed sheriff. I don’t get it.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Michael Martin http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258367 Michael Martin Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:01:50 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258367 Marvin writes about this movie: <I>"Here’s one piece of advice: Don’t go."</I> I agree. Movies such as this are produced to make money and to promote a particular point of view. No dollars for these people and no dollars for their point of view. That's my position. :!: Marvin writes about this movie: “Here’s one piece of advice: Don’t go.”

I agree. Movies such as this are produced to make money and to promote a particular point of view.

No dollars for these people and no dollars for their point of view. That’s my position. :!:

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Night Train http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258283 Night Train Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:03:10 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258283 After reading this review, and his recent "analysis" of Muslim countries views toward America, I think Marvin is badly in need of a vacation. After reading this review, and his recent “analysis” of Muslim countries views toward America, I think Marvin is badly in need of a vacation.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: Fusion http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258204 Fusion Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:48:37 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258204 lol, sorry i couldn't help but laugh when i read the review. Just because the subject matter doesn't meet your approval doesn't make a movie terrible. It is always good to understand your opponent's argument and stance, then make up one's mind for oneself. lol,
sorry i couldn’t help but laugh when i read the review. Just because the subject matter doesn’t meet your approval doesn’t make a movie terrible. It is always good to understand your opponent’s argument and stance, then make up one’s mind for oneself.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: John M. http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258172 John M. Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:50:56 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258172 Hmm.... Based on Alissa's comments, I think I'm still going to try it. I can always walk out if it gets boring. Hmm…. Based on Alissa’s comments, I think I’m still going to try it. I can always walk out if it gets boring.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: alissa http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258124 alissa Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:38:44 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258124 Er, that said, the vast majority of American film-goers (and probably foreign film-goers, but I can't speak for them) do tend to watch movies with their brain turned off. It's not a good practice, but alas. So I do agree that for that kind of film viewer, There Will Be Blood (or, indeed, most good films) could lead them into lazy thinking - i.e., "All evangelists & entrepreneurs are bad", instead of "some evangelists & entrepreneurs are bad". "Unexamined" assumptions, as you say. Er, that said, the vast majority of American film-goers (and probably foreign film-goers, but I can’t speak for them) do tend to watch movies with their brain turned off. It’s not a good practice, but alas.

So I do agree that for that kind of film viewer, There Will Be Blood (or, indeed, most good films) could lead them into lazy thinking – i.e., “All evangelists & entrepreneurs are bad”, instead of “some evangelists & entrepreneurs are bad”. “Unexamined” assumptions, as you say.

Report comment to moderator

]]> By: alissa http://online.worldmag.com/2008/01/03/there-will-be-blood/comment-page-1/#comment-258086 alissa Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:45:32 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/01/03/the-3e-cliche/#comment-258086 I couldn't disagree more (though I don't think it was as good as No Country for Old Men), but I definitely saw it as a story about people in initially positive situations who go literally mad with power, rather than a generalization on business, capitalism, or religion. And that's what makes the movies fun: we all see the same thing, but come away from it with wonderfully diverse opinions. I couldn’t disagree more (though I don’t think it was as good as No Country for Old Men), but I definitely saw it as a story about people in initially positive situations who go literally mad with power, rather than a generalization on business, capitalism, or religion.

And that’s what makes the movies fun: we all see the same thing, but come away from it with wonderfully diverse opinions.

Report comment to moderator

]]>