Batman: the Dark Knight, is a movie that explores the aspects and roles of both the “official Hero, and the “outlaw hero.” It is the story of two “knights,” or heroes of sorts. It is about Batman, the outlaw hero, fighting off a crazy murdering psychopath and how he loses everything in the process because he pushes the criminals into retaliating back  by paying the Joker to kill and terrorize. The other character is Harvey Dent, who is the “official” hero, and he similarly loses everything to the Joker, but instead of pushing forward like Batman, he goes insane and starts killing people.

Harvey Dent from Batman the Dark Knight is, at the beginning of the movie, an official hero. Harvey Dent is in fact, a nearly perfect image of an official hero.  He is the district attorney for Gotham City, and is known by the city as “Gotham’s White Knight.” His job is to do the same thing that The Batman does, which is to catch criminals.  Harvey Dent’s physical appearance even gives off the sense of a bright shining hero with his young healthy person, his blond hair, and even his honest blue eyes. However, he also has some “outlaw hero” in him. He breaks the rules when he lies to the city and he says he is Batman so that the Batman has a chance to catch the Joker, or when he takes one of the Joker’s men and threatens him in an alley, which he does when he finds that the Joker has threatened the love of his life. He says near the beginning of the movie when defending Batman that, ">When their enemies were at the gates, the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to protect the city. It wasn't considered an honor, it was considered a public service.” When Rachel says, “Harvey, the last man who they appointed the Republic was named Caesar and he never gave up his power.” He replies, Okay, fine. you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” Which is a foreshadowing of what is going to happen. Later in the movie, when Harvey Dent loses Rachel, his girlfriend, he lets the Joker convince him that he should have revenge, and so Gotham’s “white Knight,” is turned into a villain. At the end of the movie he dies and they cover up his murders so that Gotham doesn’t lose hope in Harvey Dent’s initial fight against the crime in the city. He does both the things that he says a hero does. In reality he becomes the villain and kills people, but in the eyes of Gotham, when batman covers up for him, he dies a hero and is remembered for his noble cause.

Bruce Wayne, or as he is known by the criminals of Gotham city, Batman, is an “Outlaw” hero. Bruce Wayne is witty, intelligent, and dangerous. He is childish in the fact that he seems to enjoy his little game he plays by pretending to be a snobby, selfish, unintelligent playboy by day and The Batman by night. Robert B. Ray says that an outlaw hero has a distrust of society, which is shown by the fact that Bruce Wayne doesn’t think that Gotham’s police force is adequate enough to take care of Gotham without The Batman. So, just like an outlaw hero does, Bruce Wayne decides to take the law into his own hands to try and stop crime in Gotham city. One thing that suggests that maybe Batman might wish that he was able to fight crime lawfully is when the Joker says, “Don't talk like one of them, you're not. Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me. They need you right now. But when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper. See, their morals, their code... it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you, when the chips are down, these... these civilized people will eat each other. See, I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve.” So it brings up the question of whether or not Batman really wants to fight crime masked and secret, but by the end of the movie he makes the decision of being Batman and taking not glory, but hate, because Bruce Wayne, or Batman, is there for the people, not for himself.

           

What is the difference between Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent? In the movie, they are almost partners of sorts. Harvey Dent is the “White Knight,” and Bruce Wayne is the “Dark Knight. They help each other when Harvey protects Batman from Gotham by telling Gotham that he is Batman, and then Batman saves him from the Joker after that. Even their appearance is symbolic, in that Harvey has blond hair, blue eyes, and Bruce Wayne has dark hair and green eyes. Also the same thing is dearest to both of them, and that is that is that they are both in love with Rachael Dawes. When she dies however the two men have very different reactions. At the end of the movie, Harvey Dent’s statement, “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” comes true when it happens to both him and Batman at the end of the movie. Harvey sees himself become the villain at the end of the story by threating and killing people, but in the same breath, when he dies by falling off a building, The police commissioner Gordon, and Batman decide to cover up Harvey’s crimes so that all the good work he did doesn’t get erased, therefore, Harvey dies a hero in the peoples’ eyes. Batman makes a choice and decides to take the blame because as he puts it, “I can do those things because I'm not a hero, not like Dent. I killed those people. That's what I can be. I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be. You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me. Set the dogs on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.” Batman decides to take the heroic blow because he is the not the “official white,” knight, but the “outlawed dark knight.” One interesting thing is that Batman also has the both of Harvey’s said possible ending for a hero, he dies a hero, “he stops being Gotham’s secret hero Batman by taking the blame for Harvey’s actions, and he lives long enough to see himself become the villain in the eyes of the people. This gives an interesting spin on the “official” and the “outlaw” hero.

Extraordinarily Ordinary

Although the beloved Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” was filmed years ago, it is still a favorite of young and old. This movie was released in 1946 and is set in the time of the Depression when most families were poor. Generously, George Bailey, who is the hero, finds ways to help others. Listening to and answering prayers, the God of Bedford Falls is loving and infinite and fits with the biblical world view. Throughout the movie, man is show as made in the image of God and having free choice. In the movie, good and evil both have consequences.

As “It’s a Wonderful Life” starts, God is shown in heaven receiving prayers for a man named George Bailey, who is loved and cherished, but who has something terribly wrong with him. How does this God respond? What kind of a God is he? God calls an angel named Joseph to help him and tells him about George’s situation and that He is planning to send the angel Clarence to help. Immediately, the audience perceives that He is a compassionate God, one who hears and answers prayers. He knows everything about George. Choosing the quirky angel, Clarence, although he is a second-class angel and innocently naïve, God shapes his plans through others even if they are imperfect. Upon hearing the prayers, God does not fix the problem in a bolt of lightning, but he teaches George that He knows best. God, in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is loving and infinite and correctly portrays the real God of the universe.

Compared to the biblical world view, which is that man is made in the image of God, man is fallen, and man has free choice, “It’s a Wonderful Life” shows an accurate view of man. George Bailey, hero of the story, is fallen—a good man—yet fallen. Mr. Potter, enemy of George Bailey, is an evil man and is also fallen. Although the characters of the story are imperfect, they are significant, which is one of the main themes of the movie, and this portrays the biblical world view that they are made in the image of God. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many others. When he’s not around, it leaves an awful hole, doesn’t it?” Clarence asks George. Living in a small town, working at the Building and Loan, and leading a simple life, George Bailey is an ordinary man, but his choices affect so many others in a positive way. Constantly throughout the movie, the characters’ actions and choices, namely George’s, affect the story, their lives, and others lives in both small and huge ways. Without George’s choice to rescue Harry from drowning when they were kids, Harry would have died and would never have gone to war and saved every man on his transport. They all would have died. If George hadn’t chosen to marry Mary instead of traveling the world, which was his dream, she would have become an old maid, living a dismal life. Repeatedly, George’s choices affect his and others lives more than he could ever imagine.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” there is good and there is evil and good and evil both have consequences. Good and evil in the story are paralleled by George Bailey and what kind of place Bedford Falls is and Mr. Potter and what sort of place it would have been if George had had not been born. Generously giving to others, sometimes from his own pocket, George Bailey is a good man and is dearly loved by many. While George is good, Mr. Potter is an evil, rich, cowardly man who cheats people, cruelly steals from George, and only cares about doing “good” business. He is sorely hated. Named after George Bailey, Bailey Park is a nice neighborhood with pretty homes owned by poor, hard-working people who are decent, friendly, and have a sense of community. If George had not been born, Bailey Park would have existed in Pottersville as a neighborhood that looked like a dumpster with houses plopped in the middle of it. Paralleled by George Bailey and Mr. Potter and each of their own towns, there is a distinct difference between good and evil. For each action that is taken in Bedford Falls, there is a consequence. Completely lacking morality, Mr. Potter’s choices led to many peoples’ sadness as they lived in his slums, while George’s choices of kindness and love led to the story’s happy ending. There is good and evil in Bedford Falls, and there are consequences for actions, which follows the biblical world view.

Absolutely loving and entirely infinite, the God in “It’s a Wonderful Life” follows the biblical world view. Possessing free will, the people in “It’s a Wonderful Life” make choices that are significant and affect the circumstances, which follow the biblical world view. In the film, man is fallen. In the movie, good and evil exist and are paralleled by George Bailey, who is the hero, and by Mr. Potter, who is the villain. A person may not be winning glory in a war, sitting in an important meeting in a skyscraper, or exploring the world, but each human life is significant. “It’s a Wonderful Life” has a wonderful message that just as George’s extraordinarily ordinary life touched many others, every person can affect others with either love or hatred.

A Truly Wonderful Life

The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is best known as a Christmas movie starring James Stewart. How can a movie that is about a man who doesn’t get to follow his dreams, who is stolen from, who is ordinary, and who considers killing himself a happy movie? Surprisingly, George’s story is one of love and the importance of any person and their effect on the world.

The God of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is all-knowing, personal, and loving, which seems similar to the God of the Bible. “Dear Father, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way. I’m at the end of my rope. Show me the way, oh God.” Praying to God, whom he calls “Father,” George Bailey receives an answer, which makes God personal. The answer to his prayer comes in the form of an angel named Clarence who shows George what the world would be like without him. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” God knows George’s full-life story and everything that ever happened to him and how much George’s choices have affected people in a good way.

In “It’s a Wonderful Life” man has free choice. George Bailey, who has many bad things happen to him still makes good choices. Even though George dreams of going to college and traveling the world, he unselfishly makes the choice to stay in Bedford Falls and help people after his father dies. When Clarence comes he shows George what would have happened if George had never been born and made the choices he did. Harry would have died, his old boss would have gone to prison, Mary would have become an old maid, and Potter would have taken over the town.

Evil, in Bedford Falls, is portrayed by Mr. Potter’s choices, especially, just as evil is a choice for every man, which follows the biblical world view. Absolutely evil, Mr. Potter seeks to take control of Bedford Falls. Stealing eight thousand dollars from the Building and Loan, he hopes to put them out of business and see George go to jail. Mr. Potter is a great example of what sin does to people—it corrupts. Mr. Potter was a lonely, bitter old man.

Fully loving and all knowing, the God of “It’s a Wonderful Life” fits into the Christian world view. In this movie, man has free will to choose right or wrong, which is how human nature works. The most significant message of this movie is how people’s choices affect others, either for good or for bad, which shows George has a truly wonderful life.

The Not So Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The “Wizard of Oz” is a movie based on the book by Frank Baum. The Land of Oz is not governed by the same rules and principles at those express in a Biblical world view. In Oz, the Wizard rules, but he is not like the God of our world. Unlike the Biblical view about the nature of man, which says that man is sinful and has choice, the Wizard of Oz shows man without any choice. Similarly, evil in the story does not reflect a biblical world view.

Contrary to the God of the Bible, the Wizard of Oz is neither infinite nor personal. Although in the beginning of the story the Wizard is inaccurately portrayed as great and wonderful, we find out later that he is not great or powerful, and he is just a man who acts great and helps no one. Hiding from the people of Oz, the Wizard does nothing without payment, and he does not keep his promises. The Wizard also cannot give Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, or the Lion what they need and tells them that they already have what they need.

In the Land of Oz, the nature of man is very different than what is the Biblical world view. For example, the Bible says that man is created in the image of God, and is special because of it. While in the Land of Oz, we find out the Scarecrow’s take on life by some of his song lyrics. “I would not be just a nothin,’ my head all full of stuffin’.” As you can see, the scarecrow measures his worth by his knowledge. Also, the biblical view says that man has choice about his actions. The Lion says that it’s his fate to be a sissy, which means he doesn’t get to decide whether he’s brave or not.

Suffering and evil are caused by the witch who lives in Oz. This is different from the biblical world view because she’s the only source of evil. But in the Bible it says that man’s choices also lead to suffering and evil. Therefore, in the movie, once the witch is dead, that means that all is good. There’s no requirement for a savior. In fact, the Wizard God is not the savior. Man is. In the end of the story, the witch is killed by Dorothy, who does it on her own strength.

In conclusion, the Wizard of Oz is the not the hero. The heroes are Dorothy and her friends. Overall, the movie portrays a world view that is not biblical. It has a very different view of God, of man, and of evil.

The Seemingly Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Somewhere over the rainbow lies a land with a wonderful wizard, where there are no troubles, and where all your dreams come true. Or so you thought. The movie “The Wizard of Oz,” based on the books, which were written by Frank Baum, was released in the late 1930s. If we carefully examine “The Wizard of Oz,” we will see that the wizard represents the god of Oz, although there are some differences between the wizard and our God. Presumably, Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion represent man. Throughout the movie, the despicable witch represents evil.

The god of Oz is the wizard, who is seemingly great and wonderful. Although the wizard is known as great, and Dorothy and her friends sing of “all the wonderful things he does” the wizard is later revealed to be a disappointing man--only a man. Absolutely different from our God, the wizard is not loving or infinite. Yelling at Dorothy and her friends in a deep commanding voice, the wizard has no compassion for the distance they’ve traveled, calls them degrading names, and forcefully tells them to “go away and come back tomorrow.” Because of his deep commanding voice, the wizard might be pictured to be an infinite, omniscient God, but his words betray him. Asking them what they want, he demonstrates that he isn’t all-knowing. He doesn’t know them either. When we look closely we can easily see that the wizard isn’t as great and wonderful as everyone thought.

In the land of Oz, man is represented by Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion. The Bible tells us that man is made in the image of God, which gives us worth and significance to him, but that isn’t clearly found in “The Wizard of Oz.” “I would not be just a nothin’ my head all full of stuffin’ my heart all full of pain.” Singing these words, the scarecrow tells us that he believes he is worth nothing because he believes he has no brains. Intelligence gives him value. When the tin man sings that he’s an empty kettle he shows that he believes he’s a piece of junk because he thinks he has no heart. Remarkably difficult to uncover, the view of choice in Oz is not always free will as in the Biblical world view. Fate affects the circumstance more than the individual actions of the character and when action is taken it is usually an accident. Blaming his cowardice on fate, the lion sings, “When you're born to be a sissy” and “a fate I don’t deserve.” When Dorothy kills the witches both times she whimpers, “Oh, I didn’t mean to.” Repeatedly she insists that Toto didn’t know what he was doing when he bit Ms. Gulch. Unlike the Biblical world view, “the Wizard of Oz” doesn’t consistently show a view of free will.

Representing evil in Oz, the witch correctly portrays evil, but the view of evil is tainted because of the imperfect misgivings of the wizard. Evil comes from another source, which is the witch, as well as the wizard. Because the wizard isn’t holy, this view doesn’t follow the Biblical world view which is that evil comes from another source outside of God. In the Bible, sin leads to pain suffering, and death, but only occasionally in Oz. Predictably, the witch dies in the end and “evil” is overthrown, but the wizard, when accused of being “ a very bad man” never repents as he isn’t “that bad.” He was “acceptable.” The view of evil is skewed because of the imperfection of the wizard.

Representing God in Oz, the wizard portrays a different kind of god than our God. Within the story, Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion represent man. The witch represents evil. The most significant thing about “The Wizard of Oz,” which is still an entertaining movie, is that it doesn’t follow the Biblical world view. Although, if you don’t study it closely you might not discover this.