Seven Pounds

[Serenity432001]

I just watched seven pounds starring Will Smith on DVD and thought it was an excellent movie.  Just curious if anyone else saw it and what are your thoughts? 

[mandalee65]

I think you're the first person I've heard mention it. I thought it looked interesting based on the previews, but haven't watched it myself just yet.

[gospel]

I just watched seven pounds starring Will Smith on DVD and thought it was an excellent movie.  Just curious if anyone else saw it and what are your thoughts?

Engaging story line because it keeps you're wondering what he's about and what he's up to, but otherwise
Not giving away the crux of the plot, in the end this movie is trying to impose a secular humanist worldview, under the guise of unselfish altruism. 

With that in mind and knowing you saw it and thought it was great.
Me and wife thought that the Will Smith character was arrogant and self righteous, somewhat encompassing the mindset and worldview of governmental bureaucrats.
Though the end result of his actions were laudible We did not think he was such a great guy, a role model and someone that should be emulated.
The movie celebrates the notions of self condemnation, self guilt, oppressive mourning and critical judgemental  assessment of  other people.

Interesting to watch one time for the performances but a BIG thumbs down on the point of the story   

[marc]

I'm the last person on the board to ever talk about secular humanist worldviews and the like, but I have to admit that gospel summed up my thoughts on the movie pretty well.  I've hesitated to comment, because everyone on this board and the other board I post on loved the movie.

I don't want to give the movie away, so I'll hide what I'm about to say.  If you want to read it, highlight the rest of the post.

While it's true that giving yourself for someone else is the highest thing you could do, the motive for this being guilt of still being alive bothered me.  To me, the way you go on has to be living to the fullest, finding meaning in the small things of live and making sure your live is worthwhile.  Finding a meaningful way to die is surrendering to sorrow.  Life does go on, and each of us go on with it and our lives interact with others in ways that change everything, every moment, every detail of the way it goes on.   

Sorry to ramble, but while I think that dying for someone else is a noble thing, I'm not sure that it is something to be planned out as if this were our life's work.  To me, dying altruistically almost seemed selfish when portrayed this way.

But I may be making too much of this.

[gospel]

Marc Bravo on your post!
I like that highlight technique...ingenious!

[OldDad]

We just watched it last night.  It was an emotionally engaging film, but ultimately unsatisfying.  We're asked to believe that a man who is destroying himself because of guilt and self-loathing is somehow able to accurately and clearly discern who "deserves" a break.  At his core, Ben Thomas is incredibly selfish and self-centered, and when given a shot at redemption through love, shows himself to be a coward.

I had read a review where Will Smith's character was called a "Christ figure."  What a load of malarkey.  Whoever wrote that has no understanding of grace, mercy, or Romans 5:8.

In the end, Seven Pounds was mawkish diversion, and I was happy when it was over so I could watch The Office rerun.

[gospel]

We just watched it last night.  It was an emotionally engaging film, but ultimately unsatisfying.  We're asked to believe that a man who is destroying himself because of guilt and self-loathing is somehow able to accurately and clearly discern who "deserves" a break.  At his core, Ben Thomas is incredibly selfish and self-centered, and when given a shot at redemption through love, shows himself to be a coward.

I had read a review where Will Smith's character was called a "Christ figure."  What a load of malarkey.  Whoever wrote that has no understanding of grace, mercy, or Romans 5:8.

In the end, Seven Pounds was mawkish diversion, and I was happy when it was over so I could watch The Office rerun.

I understand that Will is a practicing Scientologist...that would explain the world view

[Johnb]

I try to just be entertained when I watch a movie and not read to much into it.  I thought it was a good movie.  Not a great one just a good one.

[k-pappy]

I tried to watch this movie on the airplane trip back from Seattle...staring at the wall or watching the passangers sleep was more entertaining.  Needless to say, I did not watch very much of it...

In Christ,
KP

[lightshineon]

 I do not know if I liked it, was so strange, but also creative.

[Serenity432001]

Spoiler alert.  I don't know how to do the invisible ink thing so if you haven't seen it but will watch it do not read this.   For those who have seen it and have commented here, I really did not see him the way you all have described him.  I did see someone who realized he had done something very stupid and it cost 7 lives and he understood how his actions can effect hundreds of folks and he wanted to make amends for that so the way he chose to do it was to pick out 7 people and change their life drastically for the good.  I just really don't see that as selfish and self-centered.  Sure, it makes him feel better about himself but its actually loving and serving others as well.  Anytime, I love and serve someone else I feel better about me but, I certainly don't want to let that keep me from loving and serving. 

The Bible does say No greater love have man than who would lay down his life for him doesn't it?  So, is what he did really a bad thing?  He didn't just kill himself for no reason.  He did this to save lives.  Would it had been any different had he jumped in a burning building?  Not imo.

Anyway, I do appreciate all the comments because I do like to read others reactions.  Our differences is what makes us interesting.   

[lightshineon]

 What killed him was it death by a Giant Jelly Fish? It has been awhile, cannot remember if octopus, or Jelly Fish. I think it was bad, because accidents happen, and we do not find atonement by works. Jumping from a burning Building like in 9-11, was different because it was burn alive or jump. Now I am for organ donation, and it says so on my Drivers license. Though I think I will hopefully be dead in God's timing not my own when you know they take the Ole heart. God will provide that for the suffering, when need be, by me or someone else. It is a matter of faith, and God's timing.

[Serenity432001]

What killed him was it death by a Giant Jelly Fish? It has been awhile, cannot remember if octopus, or Jelly Fish. I think it was bad, because accidents happen, and we do not find atonement by works. Jumping from a burning Building like in 9-11, was different because it was burn alive or jump. Now I am for organ donation, and it says so on my Drivers license. Though I think I will hopefully be dead in God's timing not my own when you know they take the Ole heart. God will provide that for the suffering, when need be, by me or someone else. It is a matter of faith, and God's timing.

I'm not sure what kind of fish it was that killed him. 

I wasn't comparing it to the folks on 9-11 who jumped OUT of a burning building but rather someone who might would go IN a burning building to save someone else and then they themself would perish.  Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend. 

Its one thing to say we don't find attonement by works and yet another to just realize that what we do does matter.   For instance, his action of texting while driving cost seven people their life.  Now he can't bring them back but he can spend the rest of his life seeing that his actions produce positive results rather than negative which is what he set out to do.    No ones perfect and we all make mistakes and are in need of a Saviour.   We certainly can't do enough "good" to save ourself or anyone else but as we follow Christ example I feel that we do start to see what it is that really does matter and how being a follower of Jesus is about loving and serving others.