How Movies Helped Save My Soul: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films

Rating:
Summary: If Only Your Soul Were Mine
Review: Let me start off by saying that without Gareth Higgins' asides and parentheticals, How Movies Helped Save My Soul would be half as long and a third as funny. I love it when editors allow the writers unique voice to come out, and Cara Baker has outdone herself this time around. However, the personal style that Gareth uses points out too well the major downside to this book. Namely, the title is How Movies Helped Save MY Soul, with the emphasis clearly on the author.

Higgins takes us on a mad cultural, philosophical, and somewhat inspiring journey deep into the heart of Hollywood, searching for anything he can find that is redemptive or redeeming about the films he loves. Along the way, he explores his very Biblical worldview, which can be stated simply as, "If God created everything, then how can we divide things into sacred and secular compartments?" And indeed, I agree that glimpses of grace and Christ abound in virtually anything you can mention. However, as is often the case with this worldview, sometimes experiencing Freedom in Christ can get in the way of explaining that freedom.

To be more specific, Higgins sees God and Christ-imagery in every movie he loves. Unfortunately, many of these movies are seen by mainline evangelical Christianity as abhorrent and unredeemable. Mentioning films like Eyes Wide Shut, American Beauty, and The Exorcist immediately puts less open-minded Christians on guard; regardless of the fact that many don't even know why they think these movies are taboo. And thus, the message is lost in the choice of media.

Communication, we are taught, is not the message sent as much as it is the message received. And when you explore issues using films and books that people cannot see past, they miss the message, and you are left largely preaching to the choir, which avails no one. Perhaps that is why the book has reached the heights of being listed as one of the top tomes on DiscerningReader.com's "Books To Avoid" list.

Unfortunately, the choice of movies is defined by Higgins' personal tastes more than a definitive objective viewpoint. That would be the major flaw in this otherwise enjoyable book. Rather than being an exploration of Christian themes and worldviews in the movies, like William Romanowski's Eyes Wide Open, How Movies Helped Save My Soul is more of Gareth Higgins movie diary - personal reflections on spirituality and spiritual views in the movies HE loves. He even admits in the chapter on The Matrix (which seems horribly outdated in light of the recent conclusion to the trilogy) that he missed the spiritual overtones of the movie until a friend pointed it out and he watched it again. Too often, Higgins stretches a little too far searching for a reason to watch his favorite films again and again. Although I admit I will never see the story of The Exorcist the same way again, Higgins repeatedly falls back on personal reflection rather than clear-cut examples.

Higgins own words convict him, "This book, for what its worth, is my gift to you. It's just a collection of my thoughts, which are no more or less valid than yours..." As I said before, a film diary.

Would I recommend the book? Yes, to one and all, and especially to Christians who strive for safety in all things - the God we claim to serve was NOT a God of safety. Just be warned before you pick it up, it's more a biography than a proof text. As long as you keep that in mind, you can feel free to enjoy it for what it is.

Rating:
Summary: If Only Your Soul Were Mine
Review: Let me start off by saying that without Gareth Higgins' asides and parentheticals, How Movies Helped Save My Soul would be half as long and a third as funny. I love it when editors allow the writers unique voice to come out, and Cara Baker has outdone herself this time around. However, the personal style that Gareth uses points out too well the major downside to this book. Namely, the title is How Movies Helped Save MY Soul, with the emphasis clearly on the author.

Higgins takes us on a mad cultural, philosophical, and somewhat inspiring journey deep into the heart of Hollywood, searching for anything he can find that is redemptive or redeeming about the films he loves. Along the way, he explores his very Biblical worldview, which can be stated simply as, "If God created everything, then how can we divide things into sacred and secular compartments?" And indeed, I agree that glimpses of grace and Christ abound in virtually anything you can mention. However, as is often the case with this worldview, sometimes experiencing Freedom in Christ can get in the way of explaining that freedom.

To be more specific, Higgins sees God and Christ-imagery in every movie he loves. Unfortunately, many of these movies are seen by mainline evangelical Christianity as abhorrent and unredeemable. Mentioning films like Eyes Wide Shut, American Beauty, and The Exorcist immediately puts less open-minded Christians on guard; regardless of the fact that many don't even know why they think these movies are taboo. And thus, the message is lost in the choice of media.

Communication, we are taught, is not the message sent as much as it is the message received. And when you explore issues using films and books that people cannot see past, they miss the message, and you are left largely preaching to the choir, which avails no one. Perhaps that is why the book has reached the heights of being listed as one of the top tomes on DiscerningReader.com's "Books To Avoid" list.

Unfortunately, the choice of movies is defined by Higgins' personal tastes more than a definitive objective viewpoint. That would be the major flaw in this otherwise enjoyable book. Rather than being an exploration of Christian themes and worldviews in the movies, like William Romanowski's Eyes Wide Open, How Movies Helped Save My Soul is more of Gareth Higgins movie diary - personal reflections on spirituality and spiritual views in the movies HE loves. He even admits in the chapter on The Matrix (which seems horribly outdated in light of the recent conclusion to the trilogy) that he missed the spiritual overtones of the movie until a friend pointed it out and he watched it again. Too often, Higgins stretches a little too far searching for a reason to watch his favorite films again and again. Although I admit I will never see the story of The Exorcist the same way again, Higgins repeatedly falls back on personal reflection rather than clear-cut examples.

Higgins own words convict him, "This book, for what its worth, is my gift to you. It's just a collection of my thoughts, which are no more or less valid than yours..." As I said before, a film diary.

Would I recommend the book? Yes, to one and all, and especially to Christians who strive for safety in all things - the God we claim to serve was NOT a God of safety. Just be warned before you pick it up, it's more a biography than a proof text. As long as you keep that in mind, you can feel free to enjoy it for what it is.

Rating:
Summary: very personal
Review: loved it - lots of food for thought. I'm completely in agreement with higgins - there's more spiritual insight in some films than in a lot of sermons I've heard. it's great to read someone that's so gifted in articulating what i'd only sensed on seeing a film. Very brave to write such a personal book - and freely acknowledges his own fallibilty. Disrespect to 2nd reviewer - very easy to be arrogant in cyberspace.
Hope there'll be an update in 10 years time

Rating:
Summary: got a lot out of it. served it's purpose and more.
Review: Reading How Movies Helped Save My Soul first made me realize that I need to see more movies, and that I would enjoy having meaningful discussions about such things as movies. Pure entertainment; the author would strongly disagree when talking about movies. In his book, Gareth Higgins helps to prepare your mind for an enlightening and possibly life-changing experience when seeing a movie. It is an insightful book that is meant to challenge Christians to really look at the significance of movies. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to challenge their intellect and stimulate their minds when seeing a movie. The author likes to have a ten minute block of silence once a movie is over with to allow the movie to process in his head. I think that is a good idea, for we all too often will jump to the conclusion that a movie is good or bad. Without going any further, we fail to appreciate all the time and work put into this piece of art. It is entertainment, but can be much more meaningful and significant. I enjoyed this book, and will enjoy it again, once I see more of the movies the author discusses. This is a book you can enjoy over and over again and actually put to good use.

Rating:
Summary: Make your movie-going more meaningful!
Review: Reading How Movies Helped Save My Soul first made me realize that I need to see more movies, and that I would enjoy having meaningful discussions about such things as movies. Pure entertainment; the author would strongly disagree when talking about movies. In his book, Gareth Higgins helps to prepare your mind for an enlightening and possibly life-changing experience when seeing a movie. It is an insightful book that is meant to challenge Christians to really look at the significance of movies. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to challenge their intellect and stimulate their minds when seeing a movie. The author likes to have a ten minute block of silence once a movie is over with to allow the movie to process in his head. I think that is a good idea, for we all too often will jump to the conclusion that a movie is good or bad. Without going any further, we fail to appreciate all the time and work put into this piece of art. It is entertainment, but can be much more meaningful and significant. I enjoyed this book, and will enjoy it again, once I see more of the movies the author discusses. This is a book you can enjoy over and over again and actually put to good use.

Rating:
Summary: Discover the Impact Some Movies Can Have on Your Life
Review: The awards season is in full swing. Already we've sat through acceptance speeches at the Golden Globes and the Grammys. The Oscars, grand poomba of all award shows, is fast approaching. So this is the perfect time to pick up a book about movies!

HOW MOVIES HELPED SAVE MY SOUL: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films, by Gareth Higgins, is the newest addition to a growing number of Christian books dedicated to exploring religious themes in film. Brought to us by Relevant Books, an upstart publisher with its finger planted firmly on the pulse of 20-something Christians, this book displays the innate comfort post-modern Christians have discussing movies and their power to positively influence personal lives. This is notable because many older Christians can remember a time when mainstream moviegoing was widely recognized as taboo.

As one might surmise from the title, Higgins' approach to the subject of movies is as much about memoir as it is criticism. Some of his earliest memories are of his dad taking him and his brother to the movies, beginning his lifelong love of the big screen: "Film is so wrapped up with the fabric of my life that, along with the community of friends and family with whom I'm blessed to travel, I simply cannot explain myself without it."

Like listening to a veteran bibliophile list off his or her favorite books, it's daunting to realize how many movies Higgins has viewed in his relatively short lifetime. If I got started right now I'm not sure I'd catch up! Thankfully, I don't have to catch up and the encyclopedic roster of movies Higgins has seen is clearly an asset to this book.

Higgins chose to sort through his ideas about movies by organizing his thoughts into chapters on big themes such as Justice, God, Community, Brokenness, Outsiders, Death, Fear, and so on. In each chapter he presents a relatively detailed critique of two or three movies he thinks best explore the subject at hand. What follows varies from chapter to chapter, but it generally involves lists of additional suggested movies and his musings.

This book is a much-needed departure from what has been, until recently, the standard format for Christian movie criticism --- counting all the bad words. Perhaps such simple criticism does have its place, but Higgins does an excellent job of pointing readers to the ways movies, even those with bad words, can reveal striking portraits of grace and faith and hope:

"Who among us has not felt at least in microcosm the anguished courage of a William Wallace in Braveheart, or identified with the last minute redemption of a Lester Brunham in American Beauty, or suffered the torment of a Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II, on realizing that what we thought we controlled was actually controlling us? Film, in the final analysis, can do for you what all great art does --- irritate and heal, challenge and affirm, inspire and sadden. It can, in the case of a film like Magnolia, truly give you more life, or as in Wings of Desire, make you believe in God, or as with The Wizard of Oz, tell you the truth about your own existence."

HOW MOVIES HELPED SAVE MY SOUL is weak when it strays from its understood mission. Far too often it leaves both movie criticism and memoir and turns into a soapbox for Higgins' ideas about community and the death penalty and the institutional church and whatever else he's inspired to preach about. Loose writing also creates the cumulative effect that Higgins is rambling at times, as opposed to providing tangible insight.

The most helpful chapter in the book is the first, titled "Dr. Higgins' Rosetta Stone." In it he gives a brief primer on how to move from being a passive moviegoer to an informed amateur critic with the ability to mine movies for all they're worth. Some of his suggestions are probably a bit too involved for most would-be amateur critics (I don't know many who would spend the money and time to subscribe to and read "a decent, intelligent but accessible film magazine" as he suggests), but many more of them are excellent and simple ways to make moviegoing more interesting and beneficial.

This book could be a great tool with which to start your own movie club. People get together and talk about books, so why not do the same with movies? I'll bring the popcorn!

--- Reviewed by Lisa Ann Cockrel