 | The Matrix (1999)
|
|
End of Days (1999)
 |
The movie (starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger) has an apocalyptic theme that centers around the idea of
Satan (Gabriel Byrne) attempting to take full control of the world.
Near the end, after a countless barrage of gunfights and explosions,
Arnold and the woman he is projecting enter a church, knowing that Satan
is hot on their trail. The scene turns very powerful as Arnold, holding
a huge gun in his arms, looks around the church and sees various images
and statues. He throws his gun on the floor, closes his eyes, and opens
his arms (crucifixion?) and prays, "Please help me."
Without giving too much away, Satan is defeated -- not by
violence -- but by "a more excellent way." (Rev.
Duane Partin) |
|
| The Phantom Menace
(1999)
|
|
Dark City
(1998)
|
[Dark City] tells the story of a man who
literally wakes up to discover he has no memories, that he doesn't
know who he is. He lives in a gloomy city controlled by a bunch of
creepy guys in long leather coats. It sound silly but it is really
very good. The final scenes depict an apocalyptic showdown between
the hero and the Strangers and then the city appears, floating in space
and wreathed in light. There is a strong influence by apocalyptic
literature, especially Revelations. (submitted by Mike Clark,
Hamilton, Canada) |
|
|
Armageddon
(1998)
|
| Face Off (1998)
|
| Deep Impact (1998)
|
| The Postman
(1997)
|
"The Postman" is a Kevin
Costner movie that is set in a USA of the future. The country has come
through a major war and has been broken up into small, isolated and
scared communities. A private army terrorizes the communities. Into this
scene a wanderer stumbles across the uniform of a USA postman and a mail
bag. He starts to deliver mail and pretends he is the representative of
a new government. A whole new postal service is started that gives
people real hope as they reconnect with loved ones in other places.
(submitted by Alan Missen) |
|
|
Contact (1997)
|
"...although we know earth is no
longer central, the visual magic of this shot suggests our home planet
is still very important. If for no other reason, this makes the shot
supportive of human meaning making and anthropomorphic affirmation in
the manner of classic apocalyptic." ("Anti-feminism
in Recent Apocalyptic Film" by Joel W. Martin, Journal of
Religion and Film, 2000.) |
|
See "Armageddon
at the Millenial Dawn," Conrad Ostwalt, Journal of Religion
and Film, 2000. |
|
|
The Fifth Element
(1997)
|
|
Anaconda (1997)
|
|
The Relic (1997) |
|
The Devil's
Advocate (1997)
|
| Independence
Day (1996)
|
| Jerusalem
(1996)
|
This movie has the aura of an Ingmar Bergman production, with
a series of twists and turns in the plot and thought-provoking
motifs. It is based on the novel by Selma Lagerlof, and portrays
Swedish peasant life around the turn of the 20th
Christian
viewers of this movie will likely be interested in the themes
of: mainline versus apocalyptic-sectarian faith, authority and
power, discerning the truth, suffering and sacrifice, love and
forgiveness. I highly recommend Jerusalem because of theological
grist for the the mill that it provides. (submitted by The Rev.
Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson) |
|
|
12
Monkeys
(1995)
|
|
Waterworld
(1995)
|
| Natural
Born Killers (1994)
|
Prison riot as apocalyptic destruction of
evil. Mickey and Mallory leave there, make their final sacrifice, and
end the violent cycles of their own upbringing and societal influences.
(For a kind of 60's hippy utopia!) |
|
|
The Lion King
(1994) |
|
The Stand
(1994)
|
The flu virus destroys all but 1% of the
world's population. The remaining people divide themselves into two
camps. |
|
The Game Show Crucifixion in Las Vegas which serves
to bring the "evil people" together for their apocalyptic
self-destruction at the Hand of God. (DVD pt 4 ch 17 & 18) Stu:
"I saw a pale horse..." |
|
|
The Seventh
Sign (1988) |
|
RoboCop (1987)
|
Images and commentary on a future world
where technology holds promise as well as danger. |
|
|
The Day After
(1983)
|
An atomic bomb is dropped on Lawrence,
Kansas. |
|
|
Return
of the Jedi (1983)
|
|
Metropolis
(1982)
|
| The
Empire Strikes Back (1980)
|
| Apocalypse Now
(1979) |
| Star Wars
(1977)
|
|
The
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) |
|
The
Poseidon Adventure (1972)
| Reality is turned "upside down". The way out
is up to the bottom/back to the front. |
| "Everybody is dead who was above us when the ship
turned over. Now they're underneath us. It's up to us to get out of
here." |
|
| Godzilla, King of
the Monsters (1956)
|
"Godzilla is the chaotic horror of
the nuclear age set in the ancient sea-monster myth." (Hollywood
Jesus visual review) |
|
