Despite the range of possible interpretations inherent in apocalyptic literature, people have always wanted to see definite predictions in the text. But if we interpret these texts in ways that predict events with accuracy and certainty, deep philosophical questions arise about causality and determinism. There are two extremes when it comes to the nature of causality: determinism and randomness.
Determinism postulates that every event has directly antecedent causes. If we comprehensively knew the current state of all things, we could predict with certainty all future events.
On the other hand, some postulate that the fundamental nature of reality is randomness. Things just happen and what we see is some form of "average" product of the randomness.
The contemporary apocalyptic thriller, Knowing, directed by Alex Proyas, tackles these themes head-on. The central character, John Koestler (Nicholas Cage), is a scientist who, since losing his wife in a disaster some years before, struggles with the question of whether there is any inherent meaning in the events that occur (based on some form of determinism) or whether what happens is random and arbitrary.
Knowing opens in 1955 in a school where students are participating in a competition to come up with a celebration of the opening. Lucinda Embry (Lara Robinson) wins the competition when she suggests the school bury a time capsule with drawings of what the children think the world will be like in 50 years time. Lucinda's image is a page full of seemingly random numbers that she writes frenetically and is not able to finish because she is interrupted. She goes missing and is later found in the school's gym frantically scratching the remaining numbers on a closet door.
Fifty years later, in the same school, the students remove the time capsule on the anniversary of the school's opening. John Koestler's son, Caleb (Joshua Long) is given the envelope containing Lucinda's page of numbers. He opens it and takes the page home because he wonders whether it is a puzzle that can be solved.
His father, John, notices a pattern in some of the numbers that consist of the date and number of deaths of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. John gradually realises that the numbers are the details of the major disasters that occurred from the 1955 up until the present day. Thus begins an edge-of-your-seat thriller as John tries to uncover the meaning of the numbers that indicate a significant disaster in the near future. Adding to the suspense is growing belief that all this has something to do with his son -- particularly when Caleb begins to hear voices and see strange men trying to make contact with him.
Knowing is a tense, gripping, roller-coaster ride to a profoundly religious conclusion that postulates a hope of redemption for a devastated earth destroyed by the ultimate natural disaster. Viewers who are culturally literate will notice numerous allusions to religious and biblical themes. In many ways, the future vision of Knowing is bleak with only some being saved. But that mirrors the biblical themes of the destruction of heaven and earth with those who hear the call being rescued to populate a new earth.
Knowing is an intriguing film based on an intriguing premise. We are living in a world which seems to recognise the fragility of the planet and the realisation that we may be nearly at the point-of-no-return when, if we don't change the way we relate to the earth, there may be no earth to relate to. There is no hope unless salvation comes from outside the planet. It is the knowing that is important -- to be saved, you need to know the right person. That is far more important than knowing the details of the future which are not as predictable as Knowing suggests.
Positive Review
'Knowing is among the best science-fiction films I've seen -- frightening, suspenseful, intelligent and, when it needs to be, rather awesome.' - Roger Ebert/Chicago Sun-Times
Negative Review
'Isn't prophetic ... just pathetic.' - Joe Neumaier/New York Daily News
Content Advice
disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong language
AUS: M
USA: PG-13
Agree with you on this one, Steve. Most critics - with the notable exception of Roger Ebert - have been less than kind to "Knowing" and To Nic Cage - who struck me as quite appropriate in his role as the father. As a fan of director Alex Proyas (I think he ranks up there with another great Australian film director, Peter Weir, who often explores very interesting territory in his films.) I was keen to see how Proyas would incorporate Biblical themes into the film. I found "Knowing" did not disappoint; it is an intriguing and interesting film with a couple of stunning CGI set pieces, but what stood out for me was its "daring" use of Biblical apocalyptic concepts at the centre of the plot - and the fact that it did not pull any punches about them at the climax as I thought it inevitably would. I have a very strong suspicion that this is the reason for the disdain many critics have for it. (Of course a couple of the people I went to see it with were also less impressed than me). There is no Christ figure in "Knowing" but it is one of the most effective portrayals of Christian themes in a film in a long time.
ReplyDeletemarkg
I've read many reviews that it is an attack against Christianity, and I strongly disagree. I am a very passionate Christian and I loved this movie. People are saying that it suggest the idea that aliens are our saviors. I don't see that at all. The way I see it, its just a sci-fi way of portraying the prophecies of the Bible. The Bible says that angels will come down and warn us that the end is near. Is that not what the "aliens" were trying to do in this movie? When the rapture happens, only "the chosen ones" who "heard the call" (the people who listened to God's word and accepted it) will be taken up to reign over a perfect kindgom (the field in the end? WITH A GIANT TREE OF LIFE PERHAPS?). Clearly, the end reveals to us that the beings were not aliens, they were angels. The light radiating from their backs formed wings just subtle enough to be noticed. Not to mention, they FLEW up. The Bible tells us that after the rapture happens, it will be, almost literally, HELL ON EARTH. Hell is an eternal fire. On earth, it would not be eternal, but it would involve a fire. AKA, the super-flare destroying the earth. The only thing that stoops me is how at the end, John's family hasn't been taken up. I mean, they should be one of the chosen ones, right? But then I figured, I don't think the directors wanted to make this film "TOO" Christian. Having his family become taken up by the "aliens" as well would have made it incredibly clear to everyone what their underlying message was. Many people would have complained. Regardless, I thought it was a phenomenal movie and is definitely spiritually inspiring more than it is discouraging.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous
ReplyDeleteWhile I disagree with some of your biblical interpretations, I think you are absolutely correct in saying that the movie is not anti-Christian. In fact, for those who know the Bible's culture, the movie is saturated with biblical symbolism.
I have to comment on 2 quotes said here by the reviewers....
ReplyDeleteThis one..
"The way I see it, its just a sci-fi way of portraying the prophecies of the Bible. The Bible says that angels will come down and warn us that the end is near. Is that not what the "aliens" were trying to do in this movie?"
And this one...
"I think you are absolutely correct in saying that the movie is not anti-Christian."
The problem that both of you aren't understanding is that if you believe that the angels portrayed in bible could actually be aliens, as the movie suggests, then there is a strong possibility that Jesus wasn't the son of God, but was just an Alien himself.
Aliens and Religion will never mix. There are simply many ways to counteract just about anything a religious person says if they ALSO believe in Aliens.
I have to comment on 2 quotes said here by the reviewers....
ReplyDeleteThis one..
"The way I see it, its just a sci-fi way of portraying the prophecies of the Bible. The Bible says that angels will come down and warn us that the end is near. Is that not what the "aliens" were trying to do in this movie?"
And this one...
"I think you are absolutely correct in saying that the movie is not anti-Christian."
The problem that both of you aren't understanding is that if you believe that the angels portrayed in bible could actually be aliens, as the movie suggests, then there is a strong possibility that Jesus wasn't the son of God, but was just an Alien himself.
Aliens and Religion will never mix. There are simply many ways to counteract just about anything a religious person says if they ALSO believe in Aliens.
Hi Thor
ReplyDeleteI think you are taking the movie too literalistically. It is a piece of fiction with strong allusions to Christian belief. You need to see the movie as a richly nuanced story rather than a statement of fact.
Regards
Steve
The movie was good entertainment and I love sci-fi movies as much as the next person. But I take the word of God very seriously. These images of angels looking like aliens and the scenes of revelations all out of order. The rapture should take place taking all up all true believing christians, then seven years of hell pretty much along with the anti-christ, ect. These movies always hinting that martian looking aliens always creating life or saving life is like creating a false idol. The true savior is Jesus Christ and we need to remember that. All this imagery can confuse people and lead them far from the truth. Like I said it was entertaining as a sci-fi movie, but there was nothing biblical about it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the movie. Yes, indeed, it ECHOED Biblical themes of the end times. It wasn't meant to BE the Bible or a comparative lecture on Christian doctrine. The way I see it: it's a story. Human beings have loved stories since the beginning of time. Christ Himself spoke in parables - or short stories - that exemplified the point He was making. Christian's don't need to get upset, nor do non-Christians by what was or wasn't included in the movie: one group worrying if it was "doctrinally" correct, the other group fretting that it too "religious". I'm a Christian. I enjoyed it for what it was. I just enjoy movies. The movie wasn't billed as a Christian movie, so for those of you who are concerned that it's going to mislead someone - get over it. If we'll just do our business as Christians - be Christ with "skin on" to each person we meet, i.e. love the the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and love our neighbor as ourself, then things will work out exactly as they're supposed to. Meanwhile, take some time and go see a good movie!
ReplyDelete