Film Analysis Essay Research Paper HypothesisHollywood uses

Film Analysis Essay, Research Paper

Hypothesis

Hollywood uses Christian symbolism to convey meaning.

Introduction

As society continues to strive for integrity and the knowledge of other religions, Hollywood filmmakers strive to make equality in religious symbolism and faith but are unable to do so successfully. What we see in film we try to embrace and believe that it is all-real despite the fact it is only symbolic of life and religious beliefs. As we strive to see this, Hollywood continues to show us Christian symbolism to convey meaning and understanding towards the paranormal activity that we see in our lives.

The morals and values presented by modern filmmakers reflect the accepted beliefs of society today. Whilst reflecting on our accepted beliefs filmmakers who shape these beliefs by film also influence us. Despite the fact that societies standards of Christian symbolism has changed dramatically over the past three hundred years from exorcism and stigmata being a regular occurrence to it not occurring, film makers still continue to show us that these experiences occur often than what we perceive.

As a recent study into Hollywood vs. Christian beliefs three successful movies Stigmata, End of Days, and Exorcist, were analysised with regard to the hypothesis that a Hollywood film uses Christian symbolism to convey meaning. Throughout all three films Christian symbolism was used to convey the meaning that normal people are affected by stigma.

Films about Christian symbolism is in great demand and are dominate through the American and Australian film industry. The hypothesis – Hollywood uses Christian symbolism to convey meaning was tested in three movies. Exorcist, Stigmata and End of Days all deal with some form of Christian symbolism, which is not always the correct interpretation and can be detrimental to the pursuit for equality towards religion.

End of Days

It is a few days before the new millennium in New York City, and though most of its denizens are fixated on their party plans and the dreaded Y2K bug, an evil force stirs beneath the streets. After a mysterious earthquake and series of explosions, Satan (Gabriel Byrne) emerges from the subterranean depths, assumes human form and walks the city in search of his bride, which has been prophesized in the Book of Revelations. The woman he is in search of is Christine York (Robin Tunney), a twenty-year old woman who has been troubled by inexplicable religious visions all her life. In order to bring an era of darkness upon Man, Satan must consummate his relationship with his new bride between the hour of 11pm and midnight on the last night of the year.

However, standing in the way of Satan’s apocalyptic scheme is Jericho Cane, a former NYPD officer turned high-tech security guard. Having survived the brutal murder of his wife and child, Jericho (Schwarzenegger) is a complete burnout, an alcoholic on the verge of suicide who risks his life in the hopes of ending his own suffering. However, he finds a renewed sense of purpose when a mysterious shooting leads him and his partner (Kevin Pollak ) hot on the trail to uncovering one thousand years of religious prophecy and the darkness that threatens to engulf mankind for all eternity.

Through out this movie there is reference to Christian symbolism from the apocalyptic end that was to occur to the book of revelations that prophesied that Satan would reign again to the usage of people being crucified. End of Days continued to use a large amount of Christian symbolism to portray its message that faith is the best weapon against Satan; self-sacrifice is sometimes necessary to save others from their deadly fate. To save Christine York from the awful fate of having Satan s child and releasing evil on the world, Jericho killed himself, proving that self-sacrifice is sometimes necessary. Despite this the hypothesis is continually used to help the story move with crucifixion and speaking in tongues occurring to minor characters. Thus proving that Hollywood does use Christian symbolism to convey meaning.

Exorcist

Famous actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), who lives in a swank section of Georgetown, seeks medical help when her 12-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair), exhibits strange behavior. Doctors administer many tests but find no physical or psychological problem. Chris, an atheist, rejects the doctors’ suggestion of religious counsel. But when then now grotesque Regan begins moving furniture around the room by telekinesis and becomes so violent that she has to be tied to the bed, Chris seeks the help of Father Karras (Jason Miller), whose own faith has been weakening.

During his visits, Karras sees a grotesque looking Regan, who utters profanity in a deep voice and has serious convulsions. She cannot only open drawers without touching them and speaks English backward. The priest believes Regan is possessed and recommends an exorcism. Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) is contacted and arrives in the middle of a foggy night to help. Karras and Merrin enter Regan’s room to battle the demon and their own faith.

Exorcist was one of the most successful horror movies of the 20th Century and it still continues to scare people back to the church, to the extent that to utter the word Damien would scare someone back to the Church. Exorcist is not the stereotypica