Star Wars

[Ryan .a]

Is it wrong to like the evil guys from star-wars or what about lord of the rings is it okay to like the evil forces if u have an oppinion i'ed love to hear it send me a private message my name's (Ryan .a) thanx and have a great day!!

 

[fishstix]

I guess I'd have to wonder why you like the evil forces. What are your reasons for rooting for the bad guys? Is this a reflection of your real life - do you cheer for the bad guys in real life too? Do you find stuff like gangs, bullies, etc. to be cool? Are you yourself into that sort of thing?

 

[James4210]

No don't, resist the dark side of the force... Have you not seen the result, having to wear a black cape and breathing mask.

 

[FranklinNoble]

My 16 year old has always loved the bad guys in movies. I don't know why. When it comes to Star Wars, he always idolizes the Darth Vader/Darth Maul types.

So far, he hasn't blown up a planet or anything, so I guess it's pretty harmless.

 

[Sketcher]

It really depends on how seriously you take it all. What is it about them that you admire? Is it something that is sinful?

 

[Jatopian]

I often root for the baddies in anime, because they always have the technology while the hero(es) are hippie-nature-life-force-New-Age-spirit people. I think that its wrongness depends on your level of infatuation.

 

[BlueBright]

In movies, the bad guy is often given power and talent and people are drawn to
these characters. The good guys struggle to do the right thing and their life
isn't as easy. They don't always have power (not secular power).

Ask yourself why you like the evil characters. Are you being tricked into liking
them because they seem to have power, strength and charisma? They get
power the easy way by hurting and exploiting others whereas good guys get
their power from God and from being obedient (they don't think they are gods
themselves and they depend on God). The strength of bad guys is a false
strength. Real strength comes from loyalty, kindness, and a true heart and
the guts to stand up against evil not simply give in.

God Bless!

 

[StAnselm]

I think you'd want to be careful. It can certainly be dangerous if it's pressed too far.

I remember the weird feeling i had while playing the Dark Lord in the Lord of the Rings board game. I'd do it again, but not too much.

This seems to be the great problem with role-playing games. But then, it must be an issue with all sorts of acting.

 

[Iron Lion]

i root for bad guys in movies and wrestling and games alot. why? its fun. Has nothing to do with religion or how I live my real life. This is just another thread with people taking things too far.

 

[StAnselm]

Oh, it has everything to do with religion, because religion has everything to do with life. We must bring every component of our lives under the lordship of Christ.

And if you're doing it just because it's fun, with no thought concerning how it relates to your faith in Jesus, just possibly it might be doing some spiritual damage.

 

[heron]

I always thought Sebulba was cute.

A good story will have depth and humanity in each character. What makes a good script, is a tension of ethical decisions that need to be made (as Gone in 60 Seconds...which disturbed me).

We relate to how others treat or misunderstand the bad guys, to their oppressed past, to their potential. If we didn't, the script was flat, written with too many cliches. Sometimes the bad guys get the witty lines.

Bad guys like Homer Simpson show the humanity in us, and explain our reasons for gullibility, insensitivity, ignorance, and greed. They help us work through our faults without preaching to us.

As BlueBright said (welcome here!), we are attracted to powerful people. Look at the phenomena of rock star groupies, presidential visits, women who fall for abusive men (or vice versa). We want to learn from them, how they got their confidence and influence.

In real life, a bad guy has potential for good.

Some of my favorite bad guys: Pinky and the Brain, Jim Carrey as the Riddler, Matt in Lizzie McGuire (who is so much a better brother than she is a sister; she's just the irritated protagonist)...hmm, I'm showing my expertise in kids' shows...

 

[BlueBright]

Rooting for the bad guys is wrong and whether it is fiction or reality is not the issue. Identifying with evil means you are turning your back on Jesus. Would you root for the devil in movies that starred him and then justify yourself by
saying, "Oh, I only root for the fictional devil that wreaks havoc, not the 'real'
devil." People who are defending rooting for bad guys are lying to themselves
and there are many forms of evil. Just because you don't go out and kill people
does not mean you are not affected. If watched a show where a woman was
raped would you root for the rapist? These bad characters in Star Wars are against goodness and if you root for them, you are turning your back on
Jesus....because often times ficiton does become reality...that is why people
produce propaganda. Don't be fooled into thinking it is harmless.

 

[BlueBright]

That does not mean we can't have compassion for bad guys and their lot
in life; that doesn't mean we can't hope they change, but we can't root for them and the evil they do. And good guys aren't perfect people without faults, but people who strive to be good and they do bad things too. I said people are
often attracted to 'false power' the superficial power of money and control; but
it is not true power. It is another way Satan lies to us. The real power is being
able to resist temptation and not need glory, money and power over others.


Thanks for welcoming me.

 

[JVD]

I won't comment on the good/bad issue.

I would like to comment on popular culture. I'm not a head-in-the-sand christian. I keep up with the news, and in general with the popular culture. But over the last decade or so I have weaned myself away from spending too much time watching these movies and shows. It really is such a huge time sink.

And then they not only take up your time when you watch them, they start to take up time later as you think about them and talk about them. When the contents of a movie or show become the subject of a conversation I know we have really become inane.

I know these things, (music, movies, TV), are a larger part of our youth and am sympathetic to that, but, if you are starting to wonder if there is something wrong with you taking the side of the baddies in a movie, perhaps it's time to focus more on reality and take a break from the fantasy world. After all, when you are in the fantasy world, you are losing a little of your life, that time is gone. Time when you could have been helping friends, family, the homeless, widows, children, etc.

If we spent as much time helping others with acts of kindness as we do watching TV or movies, we would be better people.

 

[heron]

This thread has held such a nice civility while showing so many sides of the story. Thank you for a refreshing, caring discussion! There's a lot to gain from each one of these posts.

 

[C.A.B.L]

lol i dont see anything wrong with it

 

[BlueBright]

I just wanted to discuss the second from last reply about movies and
fantasy and reality.

People also need time
to exercise, to go for a walk, and to spend time by themselves to reflect on things.

And reading a good book can be very therapeutic, both fiction
and non-fiction. Not all fiction books deal with fantasy. Many deal with
issues that help people get through difficult times and even fantasy
stories can have important moral messages. I never want to forget
fairy tales or Hans Christian Anderson stories or the story, "The Happy
Prince" because these stories help us see when we are immersed in
reality but can not see.

We also need time to read the bible and reflect on it. I think movies,
especially violent and sex-filled movies, try to steer us away from
reading the bible and thinking about God. Why do we care so much
about some guy with a red face and a light saber? Wome people think he is cool but they wouldn't think he was so cool if he was waving the double light saber at them.


We need to spend time helping others and it would be nice to see
people talk more and not spend time sitting side by side letting a movie screen do the talking for them. A book is a million times better than any
movie in my opinion. And there is nothing better than going for a walk at twilight.

I don't like watching many movies or TV because the messages are
bad and people are encouraged to be loose and immoral. The bad
guys are portrayed as more interesting than the good guys (JR vs
Bobby) and I don't think it is good for the mind to watch movies like that because they put disturbing images in your mind.

I love to watch, "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart and I love
watching Jesus movies and Moses.