Modern Ark

We saw the movie "Evan Almighty" recently. We weren't really sure what we were going to see, but were pleasantly surprised. It was a modern film in the sense that there was an ecological slant for protection of this planet. That was good. Amongst a whole lot of subtle comedy motifs there was the common story motif of a father not giving time to his family and a wife carrying that burden, which was resolved somewhat by the ark project.

Different theologies came to bear as well, because the character God played a part. There was creation theology, visually helped by the latest in technical imaging to bring in a multitude of pairs of animals from all parts of the world. For that reason alone it was worth seeing the movie. Divine providence seemed to be well handled, leaving a reasonable amount of choice with the human characters, but nevertheless it was God who won out in the end, saving crowds of humans and animals and still permitting a manmade disaster.

And the ark that the family built, to biblical dimensions, was sensational in its visual dynamics and scale. It took up a row suburban blocks (the multiple mortgage commitment never posed a problem throughout the movie), and there was some fun stuff with the (patiently waiting) exotic animals during its construction. Reality just had to be set aside.

When the flood came everybody in the effected area was saved. Such was the theology of grace presented in the movie, but the tsunami-like body of water must have killed thousands in its wake as it travelled to the sea. But one shouldn't think of those things.

It was a very local flood, so the leading question had to be: Why did so many exotic (non-local) animals have endanger themselves in this way? The trip was short and their dispersion afterward was left completely unresolved. But what the heck. They were like precious gems adorning the whole visual extravagance.