Movies remain a cheap and easy way to relieve stress. Two hours in the dark watching a superhero fight crime or a ferocious mother resist aliens somehow restores our sense of perspective. Laughter also remains an effective means of lightening our load. We walk out of theaters thinking, Maybe I’m not alone. Perhaps my problems aren’t so insurmountable after all.
The two biggest films of last summer took us to another time and place. The Dark Knight (which I mentioned last issue) and Wall-E portrayed characters who face overwhelming odds. Batman must face the chaos unleashed by the Joker, but the dark knight also confronts his own demons. What compromises will he make for a victory? The Dark Knight offers a contemporary take on an old ethical dilemma. If people share a life raft (with only limited space), who should be thrown overboard? When stress causes us to consider moral shortcuts, The Dark Knight reminds us to take the high road even during trying times.
Wall-E merges elements from Noah’s ark and the garden of Eden and takes us back to humanity’s first couple: They inherit a fallen world that literally has been turned into a garbage dump. Pixar’s instant classic challenges us to get off the couch and nurture our planet. What irony when an animated film dares us to “get active,” yet Wall-E equates caring for creation with enduring love.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 raises adult issues for ’tween viewers. In this engaging sequel, Lena, Tibby, Bridget and Carmen have moved on to college. On summer break, they each explore the world—from summer stock in New England to archaeology in Turkey. In New York City, Tibby deals with the implications of losing her virginity and possibly becoming pregnant. Perhaps her stress can ease the anxiety for teens who don’t know in whom to confide about such intimate issues. Youth workers may find Ann Brashares’ young-adult series a helpful icebreaker.
Traitor tackles the problem of terrorism in original ways. It juxtaposes a dedicated Christian cop with two divergent proponents of Islam. Don Cheadle commands our attention as Samir, a Muslim bomb maker who can’t bear the thought of killing innocent people. This taut thriller challenges us to think differently about “the other.”
Finally, U2 3D offers an exhilarating, eye-popping seat at the band’s stadium show. Adam Clayton plucks his bass above roaring fans. Bono delivers emotional pleas to co-exist, but the special effects only enhance the meaning of U2’s rousing songs. Whatever troubles viewers bring with them will fade away in heavenly anticipation of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Turn it up to 11!
