"Spiderman's search for Salvation saved scorching soul"
Ramesh C. Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard
Monday, May 07, 2007
"Spider-Man 3" (2007)
Picture and credit source:
http://www.imdb.com
Rated 'PG-13' for intense action violence! The runtime
is 140
minutes!
Maincast: Tobey Maguire - Spider-Man/Peter Parker,
Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane Watson, James Franco - Harry Osborn/New
Goblin, Thomas Haden Church - Flint Marco/Sandman, Topher Grace -
Venom/Eddie Brock, Bryce Dallas Howard - Gwen Stacy, Rosemary Harris -
May Parker, and J.K. Simmons - J. Jonah Jameson
Watch the TRAILER by clicking on the picture!
PLOT REVIEW:
“Spiderman 3” is an intriguing edge of the seat thriller that involves
many subplots where there is a battle among superpowers such as
Spiderman, Sandman, New Goblin, and Venom which eventually puts the life
of Mary Jane (played by Kirsten Dunst) at stake. The story revolves
mostly around Peter Parker/Spiderman (played by Toby Maguire), when he
allows pride, vengeance, and an unforgiving spirit to take over him and
gets possessed by Venom, an outer force that controls him to do evil and
distances him from those he loves creating a battle with is best friend
Harry Osburn/New Goblin who wants to destroy him at all costs. If this
battle is not enough, he still faces Sandman and Venom if he is to save
the life of Mary Jane where the movie comes to an unexpected conclusion.
CONTENT REVIEW:
“Spiderman 3” is an excellent movie to watch with your family, friends,
and foes! It is rated PG-13 for sequences of stylized violence and
addresses so many issues that human beings face daily in their lives
such as issues dealing with pride, vengeance, unforgiving spirit,
possession, relationships, forgiveness, friendship, dark forces,
submission, selflessness, sacrifice, and role of the church.
SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS – SPOILER ALERTS:
SPOILER ALERT I:
Peter Parker wants to propose to Mary Jane to marry her and his aunt
asks, ’A man has to be understanding and put his wife before himself,
can you do that?’
It is wonderful that this kind of message is in
the script in a day when divorces are rampant because of selfishness in
the marriage without selflessness. This reminds me of Scripture passages
dealing with marriage and the wife.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved
the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her
by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to
himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other
blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to
love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves
himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and
cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his
body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a
profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However,
each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the
wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:25-33, NIV)
This is not what Peter Parker does when it comes
to Mary Jane who is his girlfriend. If he cannot care for his girlfriend
and love her there is no guarantee that he will care for her and love
her if she becomes his wife.
SPOILER ALERT II:
Peter Parker is confronted out of nowhere by his best friend Harry
Osburn who wants to destroy him because he found out that Spiderman was
responsible for the death of his dad. A battle ensues and Harry almost
dies but recovers in the hospital. During the recovery process he loses
his short-term memory and cannot remember how he got into the hospital.
What he does remember is how good friends he is with Peter Parker and
Mary Jane.
He remarks to Peter Parker and Mary Jane, “It feels like I have been
gone a long time but now I am home”
This is a very interesting statement because
before the accident his mind was so filled with anger, resentment,
hatred, and vengeance that he lost himself until all that was erased in
the accident. Now he did not have those emotions and felt so free. This
shows us what anger, resentment, hatred, and vengeance can do to a
person when they let them control them.This reminds me of Scripture
passages dealing with anger, resentment, hatred, and vengeance:
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go
down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
(Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV)
In his anger against Spiderman, that is exactly
what the New Goblin had done by letting the sun go down with him still
angry and giving the devil a foothold.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:30-32, NIV)
Harry’s bitterness ruled him until he forgot the
memories that caused bitterness. When he forgot those memories, he felt
free.
“'Do not seek
revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your
neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:18, NIV)
“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over
all wrongs.” (Proverbs 10:12, NIV)
Only after he lost his memory was he covered with
love because he did not have opportunity to hate. At one point Harry
remarks to the nurse, “They are my best friends! I will give my life for
them”
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends.” (Romans 15:13, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT III:
Sandman loves his daughter and whatever he did he did for the sake of
the daughter. Eventually, he turns to dust.
This reminded me of Scripture dealing with dust to
dust!
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food
until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust
you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT IV:
A man remarks it goes to show that one man can make a difference.
How true that is that one person can make a
difference. We need to look no further than the movie, ‘One Night With
the King’ or read the Book of Esther to know that is so true. It reminds
me of the Bible verse in Esther.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your
father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to
royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NIV)
Deliverance for the Jews came as Esther was
obedient to her calling just as Spiderman was ready to help out when
there was distress anywhere.
SPOILER ALERT V:
Spiderman was given the key to the city at a parade by Gwen Stacy, a
model he had rescued who happened to be the Chief of Police’s daughter.
Spiderman later tells her to “Go ahead and lay one on me, they will love
it”
This is shocking coming from Spiderman especially since he was about to
propose to Mary Jane later on. Mary Jane saw Gwen kiss Spiderman while
thousands watched and left in disgust. When she is alone with Peter
Parker, she asks him, “When you kissed her, who kissed her, Spiderman or
Peter Parker? That was our kiss, why would you do that?”
This is such a powerful question and statement
made by Mary Jane. She is emphasizing to Peter that it was not just a
kiss. She had every right to be upset to see her boyfriend be kissed by
another girl. Yet, there are those who even sleep around with others
behind their boyfriend/girlfriend’s back which is worse than giving
someone a kiss even though both are wrong.
This reminds me of a verse from Proverbs!
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the
wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)
"Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow
in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let
them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your
fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your
youth. A loving doe, a graceful
deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be
captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an
adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife? For a
man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his
paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the
cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of
discipline,led astray by his own great folly." (Proverbs
5:16-23, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT VI:
Spiderman is filled with so much vengeance when he finds out that his
Uncle Ben’s killer is still out there, he allows the forces of darkness
to enter in. He actually made room for venom to come and take over when
he was tempted to take revenge. He feeds on that temptation and it fills
him with rage and malice covering over him. He uses that evil presence
to go kill Sandman. He then deliberately goes and destroys a new
photographer’s career, and uses another girl to get back at Mary Jane.
He even does not allow anyone to help him because he is covered with so
much bitterness.
In the same way, we can be overcome by forces of
darkness if we allow them space to enter. In other words, they need an
outing and will take it if we give them that opportunity. This reminds
me of Scriptures dealing with anger, vengeance, and evil.
“So Cain was very angry, and his face was
downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your
face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if
you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires
to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:5-7, NIV)
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave
room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will
repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you
will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:18-20, NIV)
If we allow revenge to take over us, we are
allowing venom of sin to control us and it will poison us. Once we let
it poison us we will be under its control. Parker’s aunt May even warned
Peter Parker about revenge after he told her that he killed the one that
killed uncle Ben.
She said, “I don’t think it is up to us to say whether someone lives or
dies! Revenge is like a poison that can take you on. Before you know it,
it turns you into something ugly!”
How true that is and we see what happened to the
red covered Spiderman turn to black covered venom and use his words to
hurt others including his landlord.
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless
evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8, NIV)
“But you have turned justice into poison and the
fruit of righteousness into bitterness” (Amos 6:12, NIV)
That’s exactly what Spiderman does as venom covers
him. Justice would have been to turn over Sandman to the authorities and
not kill him. It is as if Satan entered him because he gave Satan an
opening to work his evil in him. It reminds me of a verse during
Passover.
“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one
of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of
the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”
(Luke 22:3-4, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT VII:
Spiderman becomes so bad that the people are so disappointed in him. His
only girlfriend Mary Jane asks him, “What’s wrong with you? Who are
you?” Because he is possessed by the forces of darkness he does what is
evil.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand
against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in
the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that
when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT VIII:
Spiderman realizes how wretched he has become and needs the help of the
Savior. Originally, when he was being asked for forgiveness, instead of
giving the person forgiveness, he pronounces judgment on him stating,
“You want forgiveness, get religion”. In other words, he was not going
to forgive him. He must have remembered those words because he goes and
sits above a church chapel where the cross shows.
This is so significant because it reminds me of
Jesus who came to help deliver us from the forces of darkness. Jesus
died on the cross so we could be delivered. His cleansing blood was shed
on the cross to peel away the sin in our lives. It is as if the venom
has come off because of the reddest antidote covering us. Spiderman
knows only his sanctuary from this evil is in the church because he has
come to admit his wretchedness and shortcomings. Now at church he is
able to pull the ugly venom of him that tries to suck him in because
evil cannot stay where it is not wanted.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
(Romans 7:24-25b)
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of
the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans
8:1-2, NIV)
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians
2:13, NIV)
"The people living in darkness have seen a great
light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned." (Matthew 4:16, NIV)
“Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which
the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of
peace." (Luke 1:78-80, NIV)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, NIV)
“You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who
is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT IX:
Even as Spiderman struggles to get rid of the evil pervading him above
the church chapel, another person comes into the church and prays, “Sir,
I am humbled and humiliated and want you to kill Parker”
That’s what he prayed because he was filled with so much bitterness and
vengeance against Parker. This gave venom the opportunity to find a new
host when it could not stay on Spiderman anymore.
"You have heard that it was said to the people
long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother
will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his
brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22,
NIV)
SPOILER ALERT X:
Spiderman forgives Sandman as Sandman explains to Spiderman that he
never meant to kill his uncle even though Sandman does not think
Spiderman could forgive him. After the forgiveness Spiderman is relieved
and Sandman could rest too! Spiderman experienced forgiveness and a
second chance at church where he was now covered again in red symbolic
of Christ covering over his sins after the shower he had taken to remove
traces of venom.
It reminds me of verses on forgiveness and blood
of Christ!
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”
(Ephesians 1:7, NIV)
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever
grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave
you.” (Colossians 3:13, NIV)
SPOILER ALERT XI:
When Sandman tells Spiderman, “I did not want to do it! I did not have a
choice! I am not asking you to forgive, just understand”, Spiderman
replies, “We always have a choice”
Spiderman chose to forgive Sandman for killing his uncle.
Towards the end we also see Spiderman make the comment that when those
that come our way put us in intent battle, we have a choice and choices
make us who we are and we can alter those choices to do right!
How true that is because all of us have choices
and the choices we choose will determine our future and the way we live
our lives. Each of us makes choices and it is a choice whether we choose
to forgive someone or take revenge, whether we choose to serve good or
serve evil, whether we choose to serve God or Satan/Self. When we make
the wrong choices not only do we suffer but those around us suffer.
Scripture is full of wrong choices that were made and the consequences.
“The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit
from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit
from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not
touch it, or you will die.' " "You will not surely die," the serpent
said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will
be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the
woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to
the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate
it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were
naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for
themselves.” (Genesis 3:2-7, NIV)
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the
gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,
we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15, NIV)
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm
yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in
his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his
earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For
you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to
do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and
detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with
them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But
they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living
and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:5, NIV)
“No temptation has seized you except what is
common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide
a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Mark 14:38,
NIV)
SPOILER ALERT XII:
We see a sacrifice happening at the end of the movie which is shocking
and unexpected. This reminds me what Jesus did.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends.” (Romans 15:13, NIV)
“Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality
with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found
in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11, NIV)
Questions to Ponder:
1. Revenge is like a venom that poisons us and makes us restless
until the act of vengeance is carried out but it does not take away the
pain. What do you think is a better solution than taking revenge on
somebody and why?
2. What acts did you see Spiderman do when he was consumed with
revenge, hatred, bitterness, and malice that he would not have done
covered in red?
3. Forgiveness can be the hardest thing to impart on someone else
and yet Spiderman forgives the one who killed his uncle, why do you
think so and what are the benefits?
4. How can you ensure that temptation to take revenge does not take
over you and how can you fight temptation?
5. How did Spiderman fight venom stuck to him and what was the
outcome?
6. What is significance about the sacrifice that happened at the end
of the movie?
7. What are the choices you are faced with daily that are
temptations to do wrong and what choices does the Lord want you to make
for Eternity?
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