​Please note: The following text contains spoilers. Viewer discretion is also advised – National Treasure is rated ‘PG’. For more details on the film’s content from a Christian perspective, read Focus on The Family’s review from Plugged In:

https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/nationaltreasure/
 
Who would have thought that producer Jerry Bruckheimer, famed purveyor of high-octane, cinematic thrill rides such as Con Air or Top Gun, would ever turn his eye to cinema of the family friendly variety? But in the early 2000s, Bruckheimer did just that, in partnering with Disney to deliver the wildly successful, first instalment of the never-ending Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and National Treasure – an action-adventure extravaganza. Whilst the latter draws logical comparisons to the Indiana Jones franchise, this is arguably nuttier and sillier than anything Mr. Spielberg has ever devised and put to film.

For starters, it features *the* Nicolas Cage as a ‘historian’, treasure hunter and amateur cryptologist named Ben Gates, who, throughout the course of the film, steals the Declaration of Independence (he prefers to say “borrowed”), because he believes that displayed upon it is a coded map, which will lead him to untold riches. Now if I believed in gambling, this is the sort of film in which I’d encourage people to place high bets on where they think the ridiculous, plot-by-numbers is going to take them next – for they themselves might be led to quite a treasure. And yet, in spite of the film’s various weaknesses, it frequently extolls and promotes virtues of real worth: choosing generosity over greed or being quick to forgive those who wrong you.

Perhaps the film’s most important principle, however, is that of its warning towards those who may be obsessively drawn towards treasure, or in our reality, materialism, voiced by Ben’s father, Patrick Gates (Jon Voight). As the film’s moral compass, Patrick frequently reminds Ben (and by extension, his companions) not to “waste your life” by pursuing a treasure which so many of his family’s predecessors have squandered their life searching for, thereby neglecting family and that which is generally most important in life. Of course, Ben finds a way to twist Patrick’s arm, otherwise the film’s glaring lack of adventure would be irritating, and it most certainly wouldn’t live up to its name. But Patrick’s reservations aren’t unfounded – he has a job, a house, family and responsibilities which require his attention. Unlike Ben, Patrick understands that life cannot simply be one long, obsessive treasure hunt – it isn’t at all honouring to the people around you, or yourself. In fact, it isn’t honouring to God.

The Bible teaches that humanity is not to be preoccupied or obsessed with the things of this world. Rather, we are His creation, and our eyes are to point heavenward, looking to Him for His leading and guidance for our lives here on earth. So, when we lose focus of that which is important - a relationship with the Most High God - we replace it with inferior substitutes and thereby dishonour God’s holy name. We might not ever intend to do this, but how are we to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NLT) if we’re fixated on something else entirely? It simply isn’t possible. In His Word, God teaches that He is the One who alone deserves our utmost attention.

Whilst Ben Gates has no discernible faith or belief in God, the film’s screenwriters donate small sections of the film to taking the character of Ben on a journey, from being wholly obnoxious and ignorant of other people, to a place in which he discovers first-hand through the actions of his former associate, Ian Howe (Sean Bean), that the tireless pursuit of substance is entirely corruptible, when Ian betrays Ben and attempts to take his life. Throughout the film, either men’s methods of obtaining various artifacts are artfully juxtaposed against one another: Ben’s reasoning and methods for ‘borrowing’ the Declaration of Independence are honourable (he’s trying to save the artifact it from damage or destruction), whilst Ian’s is wholly criminal, exemplified in him caring very little for those who he hurts in the process, just as long as he can become rich. Such experiences lead Ben to protect others, rather than his own interests – thereby putting the discovery of the treasure at risk, but not the safety of his family and friends. He chooses not to make an idol of the treasure or his profession, and instead focusses upon that which is truly important.
 
It’s as if Ben comes to discover a sense of the biblical position upon wealth, throughout the course of the film’s story. For example, he comes to learn that there is a dangerous lure to wealth (Mark 4:19, NLT) – one which promises much in terms of materialistic contentment, but fails to mention the emotional and spiritual cost, too. Enough is never truly enough, for Ian fails to see that whilst securing the treasure for himself promises monetary gain in the immediate, he will never truly be satisfied. Money doesn’t last forever, and a desire to gain more of it will only lead Ian to steal other artifacts too. He believes that he will be satisfied if he gained more of what he is chasing, but the Bible also teaches that “Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15, NLT). Instead, our life is measured by whether or not we can profess to belong to the One who made us. We are called by God to be in friendship with Him – who through “His divine power”, “has given us everything needed for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:2-4, NRSV). It is in God alone, that we can have the longings of our heart fulfilled. Not in treasure, or even in the ‘good’ things of this life. No. In Him alone. For if we turn from our sin, draw near to Him in faith and live a life dedicated to Him, we can rest in the knowledge that everything we need is at hand: “God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NRSV). Ben chose not to allow his desire for riches corrupt him, whilst Ian did not. And in the end, Ben found everything he wanted and more. But how much more does God wish to give to those who turn from their sinful ways and towards Him? So much more: His gift of salvation (the promise of eternal life in Heaven), relationship with the God of the universe and His constant presence with us, every day. Now that might not be a national treasure, but it is a worldwide treasure, on offer to all, today.
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Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch National Treasure? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.

If you feel able to, ask them what they think about the film’s view of obtaining treasure on such a large scale – do they align more with the views of Ben or Patrick, in the pursuit of wealth? Ask them what they think of Patrick’s initial reasoning for not wanting to pursue searching for the treasure – did he have a point in regard to it becoming an unhealthy obsession? Do they believe that Ben was obsessed with finding the treasure, or was he just passionate? Should Ben have been more like Ian in his methods and reasoning to find the treasure, or was he right?
 
Later prompt them to consider their own view of possessions and wealth.
What do they believe to be the thing that brings fulfilment and happiness in their life? Go on to share that Jesus offers us all the lifesaving, life-changing gift of salvation, because God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, made a way for us to experience fulness of love, joy, hope and peace in Him – everything that humanity needs and more. But not only that, He gave us that which we cannot buy: the gift of salvation for all who repent for their sinful errors and turn to follow Him. For God wants us to be able to receive in Him all that we need (including salvation) and more, which is found in relationship with Him alone. Take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them – noting that God is the One we need over ‘things’, because He saves us from the grip of darkness now, but also in eternity too. Then, invite them (if you feel prompted to by God) to consider accepting Jesus into their life today.

Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
 
Dear Lord, as I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen.
 
National Treasure is currently available to stream through Disney+.
 

Please note: The following text contains spoilers. Viewer discretion is also advised – season one of Person of Interest is rated ‘15’. However, the specific episode written about below, “No Good Deed”, is rated ‘12’ (no Christian reviews are currently available for season one).
 
Yes, I can indeed confirm that this week, I have broken the sacred rules of the Faith & Film Blog in choosing to dive into a single episode of the long-running, Sci-Fi television show, Person of Interest. However, I can assure you that it was not done so without precedent. You see, whilst my family and I are lovers of cinema, we also enjoy short-form entertainment that’s quick and easy to digest, but occasionally leaves something intellectually stimulating for us to chew on – a criteria met by Person of Interest and then some.

The brainchild of Jonathan Nolan (brother to cinematic favourite Christopher Nolan), Person of Interest is a high-concept television show which artfully transcends its initially simplistic vigilante formula (think The Equalizer but more high-tech), by offering up challenging questions and entering into discussions of an ethical, philosophical and perhaps even spiritual nature…

​When described this way, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the show wasn’t especially ‘fun’, but Nolan and his creative team never forget to thrill us with countless, nail-biting scenes of hand-to-hand combat, or increasingly ridiculous feats of undercover espionage, too. At its core, however, Person of Interest tracks the adventures of John Reese (Jim Caviezel, The Passion of The Christ) and Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) - an ex-CIA operative and reclusive billionaire computer programmer, respectively. In his days as a software engineer, Finch was contracted by the United States’ government to design, build and implement technology which could detect perpetrators of acts of terrorism, before they carry them out. But with great power, comes great responsibility, and Finch predicted that the government would abuse/misuse his gift to the world. And he was right - for whilst the machine identifies those who pose a serious threat to national security by producing their social security numbers, it can also predict acts of violence committed by or against ordinary people, too. Those included within the latter category are deemed “irrelevant” by the government and cruelly left to their fate. But Finch and Reese can’t ignore the numbers and the subsequent crime statistics by simply turning a blind eye to people’s suffering. Instead, the pair team up and take a stand for the helpless, by using their very particular set of skills…
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Generally speaking, the show is told in a simple linear structure: the machine alerts Reese and Finch to a new ‘person of interest’, the pair then investigate to determine whether they are the victim or perpetrator (easier said than done in their case), which is then closely followed by a pulse-pounding finale in which justice is neatly served with effortless cool. Such a format, whilst ultimately satisfying, could easily become tiresome, which is why Nolan intersperses the narrative with flashbacks containing information which is pivotal to the current plot, or that which develops the principal characters further. In the case of the flashbacks spread throughout “No Good Deed”, however, they serve to illuminate the show’s mantra: everyone is relevant, and everyone is worth saving.
 
The episode’s primary plot is Finch and Reese’s tailing of a spy who is currently working for the NSA and targeted for elimination. But when the spy is revealed to be coming dangerously close to discovering the Machine, it causes Finch to consider his relationship to this dangerous creation, and his once misjudged approach to the ethical implications of the work himself and his business partner, Nathan Ingram (Brett Cullen), were about to embark upon:

Ingram: (about the Machine) “Thought you would have turned this thing off by now. We turn it over (to the government) tomorrow”.
 
Finch: “I'm keeping it online as long as possible”.
 
Ingram: “The world has been spinning for 5 billion years without your machine, Harold. I'm sure it will be fine for one more night. Honestly, I'll be glad to be rid of the thing.”
 
Finch: “This ‘thing’ has already saved countless lives”.
 
Ingram: “You mean countless, relevant lives”.
 
Finch: “We had to draw the line somewhere”.
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Ingram: “Everyone is relevant to someone”.
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​This is one of those small, much savoured and tender character moments – one which carries on the through-line of the series’ main, thematic concern: Finch, Reese and others all desire that those who find themselves in mortal peril would be saved, because to them, these would-be victims have intrinsic worth and are valued by their families and friends. Even the villains themselves are deemed worthy of saving, which leads Reese to regularly wound, but not kill them. It’s a moving sentiment - one which the series believes wholeheartedly. It’s also one shared by God: “God wants all people to be saved. And he wants everyone to know the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4, ICB). Through sending Jesus to die for you and for me, God showed that He not only had a plan for widespread salvation, but that He had every intention of seeing it brought to fruition – the act of His children, His creation, being drawn back into friendship with Him. And this, the Bible teaches, was done out of God’s unfathomable compassion and love for people who were in need of a spiritual Saviour: “But God has shown us how much he loves us — it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8, ICB).
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​Even though we might not deserve God’s saving embrace or ever respond to it, Jesus still took upon himself all of our sin (the mistakes you and I have all made in God’s eyes) and destroyed its power forever, thereby making a way for us to be able to choose forgiveness, His all-embracing love and to be in friendship with Him and His Father, if we ask for it. This wasn’t completed just because He could, but because He loves us more than we can ever know. After all, a loving father would do anything to save their children from danger, wouldn’t he? And God saw that we were in dire need of being liberated – from the weight and shame of our mistakes which so often weighs us down, but also the unavoidable reality of eternal death itself. For Jesus himself once said, “unless you believe that I am who I claim to be (the Son of God), you will die in your sins” (John 8:24, NLT), and thereby become doomed to spend eternity in separation from God. But if you and I choose to follow God for the rest of our life, abandoning our wrongdoing, and “openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead”, “you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, NLT). And that’s something we can trust in completely, because Jesus has already taken the punishment which we deserved because of our sins, when He died in our place all those years ago. Today, we need only ask for the forgiveness of our sins and walk into friendship and freedom with Him.
 
So, whilst we read and know that God’s plan of salvation is perfect and ever dependable, we learn that Reese and Finch are often forced to accept that even they have limitations and sometimes fail to save those whom they care about. People die, and there’s nothing they can do about it. Even with the machine working at full force, they cannot account for stray bullets, or those who are perishing in other countries besides theirs. Yes, they might manage to save a large number of people, physically speaking, but they can’t save many or any, quite like God can, in the spiritual sense. For God tends to the evil, sick, wounded conditions of our hearts – Reese and Finch, however, can only tend to our physical wounds. Person of Interest does serve a great purpose though, in that it illuminates the truth that God deems all of us relevant and important enough to be saved, for whilst the scope of those who can be saved in this (albeit entertaining show) is limited by our defined realms of possibility, God is not limited by anything or anyone – salvation is made available to all worldwide, through Jesus, and so there is good reason for Christians to pray for those who do not yet know Him. And whilst Person of Interest and its central conceit is a work of fiction, we can tell others that God’s unwavering desire to love and save others, isn’t – for we can tell them, because of Jesus, “today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NLT).

Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Person of Interest? Use the TV show’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.

If you feel able to, ask them what they think about this episode and it’s view on people’s intrinsic sense of worth and value. Are all people worth saving? Should Jon and Finch save everyone? Ask them what they think about the line “everyone is relevant to someone” – do they agree or disagree? Do they consider themselves to be relevant or important to someone? What about to God? If they answer yes or no, on either question, ask why.  
 
Go on to discuss the lifesaving, life-changing gift of salvation which is made available to all. Say that God, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, showed His great love for us, by making a way for anyone to choose to be saved from eternal destruction when they ask for forgiveness and turn from their mistakes. Emphasise that God is merciful, because we do not deserve to be forgiven and saved. But through sending Jesus to die for you, He lets us know that we are worth saving.
 
Now take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them - then invite them (if you feel prompted to by God) to consider accepting Jesus into their life today.

Prior to watching the episode (or entire season) for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film or TV-watching experiences:
 
Dear Lord, as I watch this TV show, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen.
 
Person of Interest – Season One, including the episode “No Good Deed”, is currently available to purchase through Amazon Prime Video. ​
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​Please note: The following text contains spoilers. Viewer discretion is also advised – this film is rated ‘U’. For more details on the film’s content from a Christian perspective, read Movie Guide’s review: https://www.movieguide.org/reviews/citizen-kane.html
 
Mr. Bernstein: “There's a lot of statues in Europe you haven't bought yet.”
 
Charles Foster Kane: “You can't blame me. They've been making statues for some two thousand years, and I've only been collecting for five.”
 
As the first Faith & Film blog post of 2021, dear readers, I must begin as I mean to go on - telling the truth no matter the cost. So, I have a confession to make: Previous to writing this article, I had never seen the ‘cinematic landmark’ that is Citizen Kane. For years, I’ve carried this fact as a sort of low-level secret shame when interacting with fellow film buffs. It’s utterly ridiculous I know, since all it means is that I haven’t seen what is frequently touted as being the ‘greatest film of all time’. But when you put it like that, perhaps it’s indeed right to call into question my credibility as a film enthusiast – but that’s ultimately for you to decide in the comments below. However, such shame no longer has a hold over me, as I recently dedicated a wintery afternoon to immersing myself in the remarkable, if troubling excess of Kane’s mansion Xanadu, and the startling relevance of comments made regarding the importance of integrity in journalism, and the validity of always printing objective truth amongst the headlines. The star of the show, however, was of course Kane himself, played with steely determination by Orson Welles. Larger-than-life and ultimately a tragic character, Kane possesses a “longing”, “hungry soul” described in Psalm 107:9 (NKJV), which led me to reflect on the only One who can satisfy a person’s deepest longings: Jesus Christ.

​Challenge:
 
Why not prayerfully invite a friend or family member who doesn’t yet know Jesus, to watch Citizen Kane? Use the film’s themes to ask them what they thought of the film, if they spotted any links to Christianity and what they might think of the Gospel’s response to this subject.

If you feel able to, ask them what they think about the film’s view of amassing great wealth – is it good or bad? Healthy or unhealthy? Ask them what they think was the reason for Kane’s downfall. Why do they think he is unhappy and lost, towards the end of the film?
Do they believe that a person can be truly happy through having all the possessions they could want, or are other things more important?
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Prompt them to consider Kane’s loneliness – everybody leaves him when he becomes obsessed with ‘things’ and treats those closest to him as such. Do they think it’s possible that he could find happiness elsewhere? Go on to discuss the lifesaving, life-changing gift of salvation, saying that God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, showed His love for us, to make a way so that nobody would have to live apart from Him in hell, for eternity. Instead, God wants us to be able to come to Him for what we need, so we might enter into relationship and eternity with Him. Take the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel message with them – noting that God is the One we need over ‘things’, because He saves us from the grip of darkness now, but also in eternity too. Then, invite them (if you feel prompted to by God) to consider accepting Jesus into their life today.

Prior to watching the film for yourself, however, take a moment to pray that God would speak to you through the film. If you feel comfortable, pray this prayer over all of your future, film-watching experiences:
 
Dear Lord, as I watch this film, I ask that you would be present here with me. Highlight to me anything within it that is honourable, anything that can be used in conversation for your Kingdom purposes. Amen.
 
Citizen Kane is currently available to stream through BBC iPlayer (UK only).
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