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suk dik

I share your mixed feelings about this movie to a point. It is beautiful, although I have no idea why you worked in a reference to Watchmen. It is pat in many places, including the disappointing revelation of the "mystery men" and their tired, retread intentions.

However, you seem to have watched this movie with a sort of Christian phobic, Left Behind chip on your shoulder.

Play well in the Bible Belt? And what is "Christian uplift"?

If you knew anything about Christianity (Remember, you brought it up) you would know that this movie is NOT Christian or uplifting, or any combination thereof.

From a Christian perspective, this movie is just another anthem dedicated to the new paganism. Man will do anything to deny the possibility of a creator outside of time and space meddling in his affairs. Now that the theory of evolution is in its last death throes, we almost always get saved by the good, ascended or whatever, aliens.

Personally, I enjoyed Mr. Cages performance and thought the plot and suspense were carried forward well in the first half of the movie. From there, however I share your disappointment if for different reasons.

@mk:

"the theory of evolution is in its last death throes"

Huh? What are you talking about? How could you bring the law of evolution into this discussion? Or and by the way, do you believe in the theory of gravity? I didn't think so...

Obviously you, mk, have a reality separation anxiety. You know, reality has an anti-Christian bias.

Dream on about your heavenly buddy and I will go and check out this movie now.

this movie has,certainly, some biblical background. in a way it trys to "deliver the message" but in a really mixed up way......
"John" seems more like in between science and religion, as he says in the movie "I believe in the possibility.."
the whole evil vs. good is not very well specified.

@kgene

Gravity is not a theory.

If you read my post, you would know why I brought up evolution.

The point of my post was to point out that Sara Schieron's assertion that this movie has Christian themes that will play well in the Bible Belt is wrong.

By the way, nowhere in my post did I state what my own beliefs are.

I appreciate your comments so much, Thank you!

Well...I appreciate the comments besides "suk dik," which is more offensive on the level of grammar than content. Though, perhaps that's just how Anonymous tests the sign in system?

I have this idea, argue with me if you like: I think the big experiences in life happen on such a magical level that we spend hours, days, years using our various methods of expression (words, images, sounds, etc) to share them. Our experiences may be somewhat universal, but our expressions are gratefully unique.

This said, Knowing seems to be aiming at something universal using images (tree of life, the sun/space capsule, angels) that have been handed down by various spiritualities and artistic mediums. I mentioned Watchmen in the review because I see that film as a recent touchstone for a sort of production design that's both precise and original to another source. While production design in Knowing is original to the film, it still refers to other imagery: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Pagan, or Hindu--take your pick. This imagery speaks to a universalism and that's the kind of stuff that unites us! Call me sentimental...

The gently ambiguous nature of the images used in Knowing could be taken for Christian imagery, hence my "Bible Belt" comment.

Ultimately, though, the involvement of this imagery and the dialogue about science and faith can't be anywhere near as divisive as Nicolas Cage's accidentally funny performance. I mean, he carries his baseball bat after one of the mysterious interlopers and, to show he's serious, he hits a tree with it. When it happened I let out one of those laughs that you can't control. You know, the kind that makes you cover your mouth and look around to see if anyone noticed. That's not quite what we'd call effective drama, but it's still a great dialogue starter!

AWFUL! DREADFUL! Worse than the Wickerman, Cage has outdone himself. I really like Nicholas Cage, but he should fire his manager for putting him in these horrible movies.This movie was so stupid I actually walked out before it was over. I guess it doesn't help that I despise science fiction. Oh, and I am a Christian so I was offended by the whole premise of the movie. Don't waste your money on this one!

this had to be one of the worst movies i have ever seen. i wasted two hours of my life and not to mention 20 bucks. sucked, horrible, terrible how else can i describe it. do they look at these movies before they release them to the public. maybe they should

HELLO PEOPLE....This is a MOVIE! Lighten up. I am a christin, a Pentecostal christian to be exact. I think this film can open up questions and make viewers think about the future. Of course it is not a Bible based theory, but it let me see how the end of the world may be. We already know our earth will be destroyed by fire. I have never thought about the end-time fire being from the sun, but I guess it is a possibility. All I know is I'm not gonna be here to find out!

In a strange twist of fate, I only saw the very end of the movie, from when the child tells the dad that the aliens say he (Nick Cage) can't go. What was with the rabbits? I mean, the kids put them down and ran towards the tree without a look back. I thought, OK, the kids are now the Adam and Eve of this new world. Are the rabbits going to be the food and fur? Or, are the rabbits bizarre symbolism of the fact that the kids are going to mature and breed (like rabbits)?

Okay while everyone here is crying and bitching about this movie being christian or non christian I have a different idea. If you were to remove the last 15 seconds from the film (where the children are running through grassy alien fields) it could be easily interpreted as a prequel to Dark City.

Man...when will people wake up and see that God is trying to show them something. He's trying to spare your very souls, but your too busy arguing and missing the point. All of mankind is confused about the truth, but the truth has been written for over 2009 years. Stop ignoring it. Seek after it and it will be given unto you.

ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER I don't care about this was about christianity or not but i know one think. I liked this movie, i loved it. I enjoyed the whole movie. i kept me on the edge of the seat all the time and i think it was worth my money that i paid. By the way, Nicholas cage was brilliant as always. I think everyone should watch it.

ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER I don't care about this was about christianity or not but i know one think. I liked this movie, i loved it. I enjoyed the whole movie. i kept me on the edge of the seat all the time and i think it was worth my money that i paid. By the way, Nicholas cage was brilliant as always. I think everyone should watch it.

Movie was great until someone tried to put a new age spin on a Christian theme by adding every single kind of element in the universe under one umbrella at the end of it.

Vodka Penne is good. Chicken Marsala is good. Macaroni and cheese is Good. Pizza is excellent. Chinease food can be good too. Would you ever decide to mix all of these together to make one specific food? That would be awful. Thats exactly what happened at the end of this movie. The chef through everything together.

Christ is the way the truth and the life on the van towards the end of the movie was the only great part of ending. The rest of the ending was horrible, confusing, and just very originally STUPID.

It really came off this way. The writer had an amazingly great idea of a movie to captivate you. Got to a point where he did not know how to finish it. Got addicted to some really heavy drugs. Heroin, Coke, LSD, and massive amounts of booze and some weed and wrote down whatever came to his lost mind and soul while under the influence of these drugs and decided it was a great ending.

I truly feel sorry for the people who watch this movie and find nothing wrong with it. The ending was awful. Mankind will do anything to push God away and this is another example of it. The people who actually enjoyed this ending more than likely voted for Obama. I can ALMOST gaurentee that I am right on that.

I was reading all the silly comments in here, trying to interpret the **** people posted and came across this last post by "unreal". I must know, what the **** does being a Christian have to do with being a Republican or voting for Obama? Saying this, my theory is that you a weak, white conservative who is scared that a man of color is running your country. Remember that a man of color is the God you oh so love. Barack Obama and Jesus of Nazareth both came from the same continent. I wanted to know if this movie was enjoyable but people are so worried about Christianity vs. Non-Christianity that they themselves stop acting Christian. Why don't you let it go? It's a movie, not a script for the end times. If you love God so much and feel people are turning away, get this. People turn away because of people like you. You condemn and don't embrace. So what if someone voted for a liberal candidate. That doesn't make them any less Christian. And you make others view Christianity as a religion filled with bigoted, stiff, and cold people. Your opinions on religion don't matter and make me want to hide my face. I feel ashamed to follow a religion that hosts people like you. I still love Jesus and believe he's the only way to Heaven, but the religious part is clouded by cold-hearted, rude and out-of-touch people who don't think before they talk. So Mr/Ms. "unreal", please get real with God and your fellow man because right now, you are nowhere near doing what Jesus would do.

haha, hit a nerve did I? Obvious black man who voted for Obama.

I do a very very good job at loving others, and I am the complete opposite of religious... I simply care VERY much about distorting simple Christian views and hurting God and I did not hurt God by my post. Christ needs to get the credit.

I said NOTHING about color or race, nor did I say I have a problem with an African American running the country. Nor do I care AT ALL whatsoever what color anyone is.

Obama will be out of office soon enough anyway with all his radical ridiculous bills, over spending and unmoral ways to save money(cut soldiers medical insurance and make them pay for it on their own) The point I was making is, the only people that would find nothing wrong with the movies ending would be someone as yourself who hasn't made up his mind yet on what side of the fence he belongs on. What is true, and what isnt. What makes God jealous and what doesn't. Or someone who just thinks God is a spare tire.

If your mother spent day and night serving people. Caring for children giving to the poor, and someone came around and stated that she was a whore, and that she was being a petafile with little children publicly making her image trashy .. If her entire story was warped, and people were being strayed away... Even people who knew your mother.... you wouldn't defend it? How could you not?

The real problem is people turn away from God because God/Christ doesn't conveniently fall into THEIR box. People do not want to be wrong and the true life of Christ shines light on their darkness exposing their wrongs... We are commissioned to stand strong for God. If Jesus did what you are doing now and not caring for Gods way and being ignorant and racist, He would be sinning. He wouldnt have sacrificed His life for all of us and died on the Cross to be raised from the Dead. only to come back in the future to take us back again. NOT ALIENS...

Democrats are for abortion. Democrats want gay marriage... Democrats believe in cloning. If you as a Christian can possibly not be bothered by that, you need to get right with God because you do not even know what God cares for.

Less Christian? No, but ignorant. Its like being black and supporting a KKK organization. Its an oxy moron. You can NOT love CHRIST and support things that want to destroy Him. Get strait man, read some word...This wasnt a debate, this was simply stating the obvious. Movie was good... Ending was awful. Dont try to take Christian aspects twist them and not get any rebuke from it. I should have left the Obama thing out, but I recently was watching Fox News and heard more outrageous ideas that he wants to do and it aggrivated me. Other than the OBAMA comment, I am in no wrong....

Start reading the Gospel of John... Pray about it and get back to me...

UNREAL out...

What is with the rabbits? They are satrting a new world with a few kids and white rabbits???

I hate to make this board a shouting match, however "unreal", the fact that you watch a biased news channel shows your ignorance. I am right with God. I know where i fall short and daily repent and work to change my short fallings. As religiously eloquent as you may think you are, you are far from a scholar. Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to the Lord what is His." he is condoning following your country's political leaders, no matter how unjust they are. Caesar murdered and pillaged and yet Jesus said this is a man you must follow and obey while you are here. However, give your life to God and be spared the fate of this fallen man. I choose to follow my political party because it doesn't shape me as a human being nor does it prevent my access to heaven; I was secured that right when I gave my heart to the Lord, the day I could make that conscious decision. I also am no NOT a democrat. I am a moderate conservative, however I did not vote for Mr. McCain because I felt that his VP choice was incredibly ignorant. Proof of that is how Mrs. Palin is still getting in trouble with the GOP. As for Obama's spending, he is trying the best he can to fix eight years of damage your Republican party created. This failing of the banking system didn't happen during his term, remember that. It was during Bush's terms that the country fell apart. Compare Bush's approval rating at the end of his term and Obama's current approval rating. You'll see the victor. And there were no Christian views in the movie; the ending was more reminiscent to a mix of Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses views. If you take time to learn about other religions beside sticking to your flawed dogma, you'll learn a few things, MAN. I'm not blasting Christianity (there're too many people doing that now); I am, however, calling you on some rigid views you have. When you align harsh comments with Christianity, people see this and view as radical. Why do you think more citizens have claimed no religion? If we went out there and greeted with love instead of harsh words, people would turn towards God. Also, it would be best to keep politics out of religion because that is a sure-fire way to push people away. Lastly, I may only be a young man, but I have seen alot and been through alot and know what it means to have and hold Christ in my life. So don't tell me how I need to embrace God; I do. You need to embrace some new views in your life, stop being so judgmental of everyone different around you. If you loved instead of going on the attack, I wouldn't have started this conversation at all; I would have praised you for your kindness. I'm not a hater and I accept anyone and their views. I know, however, that if I live my life honestly people will notice. When I say I went to church and had a great time, they'll want the same feeling. That is how I bring people to Christ, just by being honest. They know I am not perfect, but see Christ in me and know that Christ will accept them too, regardless of political views, background, ethnicity, etc. So, bro, you can see that I have laid it out honestly. I'm no superficial Judas who will betray my faith as quickly as redeem its rewards. I wish you blessing and hope we can both learn from this conversation. God has obviously blessed and you, but God bless you some more good luck with gathering the lost souls. It's hard but if we press in and show love and kindness, we'll help Heaven claim the lives' of many millions more.

Well ladies and gentleman this has been a very interesting review. I believe it did come to quite a shouting match. Anywho I am somewhat of a religious buff so I will shed a little light on this movie. Has anyone ever heard of Chariots of the Gods? It is centered on the hypothesis that many ancient civilizations' technologies and religions were given to them by space travelers who were welcomed as gods. It was written by Erich von Däniken in 1968. Very interesting concept because most ancient peoples had more than one god and that includes the hebrews. They were more referred to as angels but were given names such as Gabriel and Michael in the english languages. There were also angels that were called the watchers that actually mingled with humans but these stories are in the lost books or secret books, such as the book of Enoch or the Secrets of the book of Enoch. (Enoch was the only other person taken other than Elijah. He lived in the book of Genesis right before the flood. Genesis 5:22-29) These watchers in the Book of Enoch gave man fire which could be related to the Chariots of the Gods Question. Anyways another interesting concept is at the end of the movie they run to a tree, supposing this is the tree of good and evil they must be in some sort of New Garden of Eden. Also if you look more closely to the space ships you will see that there were more than one that refers to either another Noahs Ark or the Rapture couldnt really tell you know one shall be taken the other shall be left. I do know however that the end will not be caused by the Sun. Revelation and the book of Daniel are pretty dang clear on what will happen to the earth. (Read Revelation and you will see what happens and also that we will never leave the earth. Revelation Chapter 21) I believe the rabbits are the animals taken such a new Noah story. I apologize I tend to get sidetracked I like movies such as these that are different. I dont believe any of it but it was an interesting concept. Does anyone else have anything to say that they thought was different and can tell that this is just a movie. Remember we live in this would but are not of it. You see, none of us choose our end really. A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convinient at the time. This will not suffice. Remember that. Another interesting thought on the whole Obama issue.

The space ship also looked like a burning bush, and the aliens also looked like angels. They were deliverd to an Eden. They also chose children which makes any known history gone. All there is left are stories from the children. I am telling you this has Chariots of the Gods Written all over it as well as the Lost books or secret books. What do you all think. I am very interested.

watch the movie at www.bliyda.com

Interesting: Very good post; you made me think. I loved the movie too and I also "realized" the spirituality and the message. I saw Angels wings on the whispering men and my son did not. I think the kids, and probably kids in the other spaceship things, were brought to a new planet to start over. I think that John and his dad and all the other good people left on the old earth died and went to heaven. The bunnies wer on Calebs ship, but there were probably other pairs of animals on the other ships. Everyone has different interpretations. And I can't think of another movie I have seen recently that has caused this kind of furor.

It was a two-hour long Scientology infomercial. Don't go see it. Besides.. doesn't make sense. Maybe the aliens had the technology to be able to predict that our sun was going to have a "super flare".. I'll give the writers that. But to be able to predict the date and place and amount dead in airplane crashes, 9/11, and a subway train disaster. Gimme a break! This is a direct rip-off from a nutzy book written by a kook called "Chariots of the Gods". Plain and simple. Don't waste your money.

My thirteen year-old son and I walked out about halfway through. I believe this was the first movie I have ever walked out of, though I have to admit it was his wish not mine. I probably would have stayed to the bloody end. Here's the punchline: by the time we left, there were only two other people left in the theater, and those two were right behind us. That's right, the last half of that film played to an entirely empty house.

The religious crap had almost nothing to do with it, it just scared the daylights out of us. i thought we were going to see an action thriller, not a horror film.

I would have said this was much more akin to a Jehovahs Witness propaganda film. Remember they believe in a number of chosen people, and a new heaven / new earth.

Not only was I diappointed and depressed by the ending, but I felt cheated and manipulated. The film was made out to be a race against the numbers to save the world, but really I have just paid to watch an advert.

Nicholas Cage, what have you done??

I left the religion I was raised in, Jehovah's Witnesses but didn't manage to escape until I was almost 30. Too bad my entire family is so retarded that they can't see how ridiculous it is as well. I will tell you that the movie was not a JW propaganda movie, JW's believe that the earth will never be destroyed. They believe it will stand to time indefinite, and that they are going to live on it forever. The only "chosen" are the ones they believe are going to rule them in heaven (also a completely ridiculous concept... amazing that there are still members of that 144,000 partaking every year, when is the number going to be filled up?) I do feel the book was definitely a take off on Chariots of the Gods.

I meant to say, the movie was a take off on Chariots of the Gods

I believe that it primarily speaks the truth of what is to come... both about the fact that we all will eventually die and the world will end. And amidst it we need some to be our salvation, since ultimately we can't rescue our selves. Believer or not we know that. The movie amplifies that even our most advanced efforts cannot save us and we need someone to take us out of the miry clay. the movie promotes a lot of question that i think will lead to the truth...

I believe that it primarily speaks the truth of what is to come... both about the fact that we all will eventually die and the world will end. And amidst it we need SOMEONE to be our salvation, since ultimately we can't rescue our selves. Believer or not we know that. The movie amplifies that even our most advanced efforts cannot save us and we need someone to take us out of the miry clay. the movie promotes a lot of question that i think will lead to the truth...

This movie was incredibly full of symbolism and reality images, many of which can be found in the Urantia Book. The capsule in which the children were encapsulated with the beings "of light" is straight out of the Urantia Book. Just an incredibly moving movie, especially if you are familiar with the Bible and The Urantia Book. Beautifully done, beautifully written and so full of universal truth.

This movie has nothing to do with "The Chariots of the God's"... the children were not running toward the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", they were running towards the "Tree of Life"... In the Urantia Book it mentions that if there ever came a chance that the Earth would be detryed, every human would be transported off the planet to a new one. That's taken out of context, but nevertheless it is mention as such. The way it was done in the movie was so incredibly close to the description in the Urantia Book it was very, very moving.

What is Universal truth? There is one truth. Christ Died.. and rose from the dead....He will come again and take all that believe in Him.

If you can find one shred of factual evidence proving Christ did NOT DIE, DID NOT RISE FROM THE DEAD... than you can go along with your universal truth.

You gotta stand for something, overwise you will fall for anything.

No other person or God has died and overcome death. NOBODY...

Ending was awful. Id rather watch a dumb movie with a good ending, than a good movie with a dumb ending and this was the latter. It was great until the ending.

Man, I just detest the bickering classes, with all this 'it was Christian' 'it was anti-Christian' crapola. Describe the movie, don't give us your
bunk personal beliefs and peeves. When the heck are
we going to get to a place where I can read a few movie reviews w/o finding pea-brain RANTS about
'our pres is a black man - dig it' and the rest...
Political, religious, etc. Anyone wonder why those
subjects are often last on the list when in a social situation? References - fine, but don't hit the rest of us over the head with your screwy upbringing/religious/______ (fill in the blank)
diatribes. There are other sites for flamers.

It was an OK film, but I have to admit, IT WAS SCARY!!! I am more of a chick flick person (don't ask why I watched a scifi film) but it was cool... My opinion is undecided...
and ps, my real name is not joe.

Sometimes I can't stand critics. This movie is brilliant and moving, and whether or not it is "Christian" is beside the point. (Do some people simply hate all possible artistic references to Christianity? What bigotry!) This movie can be seen as a Christian allegory, I suppose, or an argument for atheism. After all, humans are rescued by aliens, not God, unless you see the aliens as angelic servants of God. I personally find the movie both sobering and exhilarating. To witness the destruction of the planet (how many filmmakers actually envision that without rescuing the planet at the last moment?--see The Day the Earth stood Still, e.g.)and yet also the rescue of the human race at the same time. Holy crap! Mixed in with themes of determinism, chance, free will, justice, salvation, loss, separation, immortality, hope, etc. This doesn't happen often in film. When I went to see the film, the audience actually clapped and cheered at the end. What is it exactlyl that "critics" are looking for in films these days? Does anyone know?

Thanks to Sara Schieron
Yes Really it is a reality of universe. Beleive it or not that is the law of our universe! I am not defending about the technical issues of the film but the point of views which are mentioned at the film are very common between christian and what has mentioned at Qoran. Film obviously is mentioning whatever is said in Bible & Qoran. note the ideas saying about 1-Life is not created in random. 2-Death is not the end. 3-Anything happens are a should at the universe without any ability to change it by humanbeing!.

The movie is an athiests dream and another attempt by Hollywood to demean Christianity. There is no allegory in the movie. It takes what is presented in the Bible and alludes to the fact that it was all aliens. Ezekial saw an alien in a spaceship instead of God. Angels are aliens and Adam and Eve were two children dropped off by the tree of life. What the movie attempts to do is give meaning to athiests otherwise meaningless existance. And Mac29, people will stop posting their 'peeves' when Hollywood stops making movies that are blatantly anti-faith.

not the first time I have read a comments page and been absolutely bewildered by the comments posted...seriously the only people who liked this would be the ones who voted for Obama!..anyhoo the movie was enjoyable beautifully shot and excellent f/x...I have a new rating system to think about...I think everyone should take an intelligence test every year that will determine what movies/books/tv/music they are allowed to be exposed to, so I don't have to hear morons who barely have a grasp on reality try to explain why they did or did not like a particular piece of media. Especially those who thought the last great movie was the passion and or paul blart mall cop.

Get over yourselves the movie was deliberately allegorical heavy handed and unoriginal of course. I have to take great comfort in the idea of random choice, if someone has determined my life and the universes' future, they made some awful mistakes

To those asking about the rabbits, let me clarify.
They took a male and female rabbit with them. The other children taken certainly took a male and female of other animal species.

Think "Noah's Ark" only spread among hundreds of ships across the globe.

i think the movie was awesome and the actors were
like nicholas cage was great and the best actors and rose byrne also lara and caleb my favorite part was when lucinda ahd bloody fingers it look kinda wierd and also that this movie may become real cause god promise that we wont died in water we all going to died in fire. i dont have anything to say .

i love this movie i think the directors did a good job doing the movie with the coolest actors and they should be in a other movie of how the is ending.also i belive the movie what is happening.

my feelings is that we should be prepare of gods coming and we should be nice to others and preach others about god.