gdqm-52593
Joined Jan 2024
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gdqm-52593's rating
I did not want to watch this movie as I don't do horror AT ALL, so I delayed a while until I was ready to watch with my friends. I expected over the top horror and grossness. There was some of that.
What I did not expect, however, was a culture-defining movie that paves the way for a new era of Hollywood storytelling. I haven't seen characters this allegorical and metaphors this powerful since the golden days of cinema in the 1950s. Characters in this movie are similarly larger-than-life. Granted, most are despicable, but they masterfully represent whole sectors of society at large as we experience it today.
The dialogue is multi-level, opening up interesting metaphysical questions.
And there is also death...and resurrection... and vengeance.
It's all great stuff. If you are tired of where we've been and want to go to a new place in movies, which is what movies were originally intended to do, then don't be afraid of Unicorns.
What I did not expect, however, was a culture-defining movie that paves the way for a new era of Hollywood storytelling. I haven't seen characters this allegorical and metaphors this powerful since the golden days of cinema in the 1950s. Characters in this movie are similarly larger-than-life. Granted, most are despicable, but they masterfully represent whole sectors of society at large as we experience it today.
The dialogue is multi-level, opening up interesting metaphysical questions.
And there is also death...and resurrection... and vengeance.
It's all great stuff. If you are tired of where we've been and want to go to a new place in movies, which is what movies were originally intended to do, then don't be afraid of Unicorns.
Moss as psychopath? No, just turned out to be wrong tone. We are tricked into thinking that Moss is some kind of diabolical emotionless mastermind. But turns out she's just stupidly sympathetic to the wrong side. Her hatred for the good guys doesn't make sense. Don't get it. What was the aim of this series. It is pro-something... and gives too much voice to the wrong characters.
Annoyingly boring back story that as a viewer you just don't care about because its irrelevant to the plot and to her character (though this may just be attributed to her terrible acting). Enjoyed Josh Charles' acting though!
Annoyingly boring back story that as a viewer you just don't care about because its irrelevant to the plot and to her character (though this may just be attributed to her terrible acting). Enjoyed Josh Charles' acting though!
I attended Hillsong Church in Sydney for 6 years and this is a very accurate portrayal and quite insightful. The writers have obviously done their research, and it's quite surprising how on point they are! The thinly veiled George Aghajanian (HS general manager) character (Eli) is particularly accurate. It must have taken some good research to reveal the type of person he is, considering how guarded they can be.
The series also depicts Brian Houston (Cal) very well, highlighting his struggles with drugs, money, power, infidelity, and his overall disingenuousness. They did well to show the 'wizard' behind the curtain. I guess this is the problem with all rich 'celebrity' pastors, where eventually their growing hubris gives them a self-rationalised clear conscience to break ethical and Biblical boundaries. Congregants are isolated and marginalised as the money raising intensifies and people at the top get rich. Eventually this same hubris brings them tumbling down.
There is also the exploitation of staff, volunteers and Hillsong College students, which has led to a revolving door of burned out, disillusioned assistant pastors, leaders and church members.
Don't get me wrong, Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are a real true blessing (so maybe don't binge-watch this?). Technically, any church that has a membership of over 1500 people is a "megachurch", but if you happen to be a member of a charismatic megachurch this series will help you be more critical and less naïve; simply because of the large amounts of tax-free money changing hands with no external accountability.
It should also motivate you to question and hold to account the ethics of any large Pentecostal/Charismatic church (regardless of size) that mimics/models the methodology of Hillsong. Question your Pastor's motivation and ethics. Check the percentage of tithing actually going directly to the needy and not just 'building funds' and hidden tax-free fringe benefits for elite leaders and payments to/from your pastors to reciprocating guest speakers.
Definitely worth watching but please don't let it turn you off finding a good, ethical Bible-based Pentecostal/Charismatic church to attend!! But if you are already attending one as a congregant and you feel you are either being marginalised, disconnected or exploited, then you should probably find another church.
The series also depicts Brian Houston (Cal) very well, highlighting his struggles with drugs, money, power, infidelity, and his overall disingenuousness. They did well to show the 'wizard' behind the curtain. I guess this is the problem with all rich 'celebrity' pastors, where eventually their growing hubris gives them a self-rationalised clear conscience to break ethical and Biblical boundaries. Congregants are isolated and marginalised as the money raising intensifies and people at the top get rich. Eventually this same hubris brings them tumbling down.
There is also the exploitation of staff, volunteers and Hillsong College students, which has led to a revolving door of burned out, disillusioned assistant pastors, leaders and church members.
Don't get me wrong, Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are a real true blessing (so maybe don't binge-watch this?). Technically, any church that has a membership of over 1500 people is a "megachurch", but if you happen to be a member of a charismatic megachurch this series will help you be more critical and less naïve; simply because of the large amounts of tax-free money changing hands with no external accountability.
It should also motivate you to question and hold to account the ethics of any large Pentecostal/Charismatic church (regardless of size) that mimics/models the methodology of Hillsong. Question your Pastor's motivation and ethics. Check the percentage of tithing actually going directly to the needy and not just 'building funds' and hidden tax-free fringe benefits for elite leaders and payments to/from your pastors to reciprocating guest speakers.
Definitely worth watching but please don't let it turn you off finding a good, ethical Bible-based Pentecostal/Charismatic church to attend!! But if you are already attending one as a congregant and you feel you are either being marginalised, disconnected or exploited, then you should probably find another church.