This Friday, theaters all over the country will be graced by Legion, an action picture in which God becomes so angry at humans, He sends legions of angels to earth to clean house, exterminate us, and kill the second coming of Christ. So a major motion picture posits that both Angels and God are down for murdering Jesus.
I fully expect two things from this movie: 1) There will be some sort of "twist" ending where it turns out God isn't really behind the baby-murdering plot. 2) It will not be a good movie -- I don't need more than the release date to make that determination. Legion is nestled in the middle of the box office dead zone, too early for summer blockbuster, too late for Academy Awards.
This movie's existence raises a lot of questions, though, most of which can't be answered (If God wants a baby killed, why didn't He just not create the baby to begin with? After the attempted murder of His son, won't God's Thanksgiving dinners be awkward?) But the biggest questions Legion raised, for me, is: Why bad-guy angels? Why now?
It's not just Legion. Bayonetta features different varieties of weird, birdlike angels as deadly foils to sexy librarian Bayonetta -- they're basically the opposite of Kid Icarus. And then there's the Hell's Angels Motorcycle (but I guess they've been around for awhile), and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are pretty bad too. Am I forgetting any more evil angels?
Traditionally, angels have been portrayed as sitting on clouds, playing harps, and generally being smiley and helpful to all. I'm not sure why, at this point in our culture, we've decided they need to be outfitted with AKs and set loose to destroy humanity. Could it be that we've accepted moral relevance so completely that things we previously regarded as all-good can only be taken seriously if they're shown doing evil? Or is it just an attempt to do something different -- like the vampire hero of the Twilight series. Has the idea of purity and goodness in popular culture become hopelessly cliched and old-fashioned? Like, are there any modern equivalents to pure-hearted heroes like Superman, or must every protagonist be troubled, morally conflicted and all broody and stuff?
And speaking of angels with guns: We had a big argument this morning at G4 about this subject: Are angels with guns cool or lame? I say, "lame," because angels wouldn't need a gun, what with the supernatural power and all. On the other hand a baby with a gun is cool, because, I mean, where's he gonna point that thing?? What about you? Are you going to check out Legion? Do you have any thoughts on why angels are, all the sudden, turning into villains.
For more information about angels, read the Bible. For more information about Angels who carry guns, check out flash game Guns and Angels.
Comments
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LarcenousLaugh
I have sneak peek tickets for it tonight. I'll throw a small critique in the morning hangover tomorrow when I get a chance. I don't have high hopes for it, but I like Paul Bettany, and any movie that showcases an old "Betty White" type lady who freaks out, curses, and then crab walks up walls seems like a great way to spend a thursday night.
Drebin_893
Oh and angels with guns are lame. Unless they have heaven guns. Yay American Dad.
Drebin_893
There are some arguments going around asking questions such as "if god had the luxury of pure omnipotence, why doesnt he just will satan, the concept of evil, and the concept of displeasure out of existence (see implodinggoat's first post)?
I think we have the right to question god's omnipotence in the first place. Because in the bible it so says it took god 6 days to create our plain of existence and 1 day to rest (a day to rest? does that mean god has a limit, therefore meaning he's just excessivly powerful and not omnipotent?) Now, there is a good chance i could have no idea what im talking about. I've only read the bible once, and I kinda skimmed a little bit, and i'm not religiously afilliated (although next year i'm gonna take a bible as lit class, i still find the story to be fascinating). So anyone willing to elaborate a little more?
On a note more relating to the post, i see this use of angels and godly figures as a blatant shift in the moral grounds of society. With all of our recent technological advancement the question that used to answered with a loving, forgiving god are being answered with cold, hard science. This is further creating an increase in people questioning their religious standpoint causing them to question their faith. That is a horrible thing, faith is one of the most powerful things that can bond a society together and now were losing it.
On a note about the movie, like hell i'm gonna see it (no pun intended). I save my money for movies i know are gonna be good, and i havent seen anything to covince me of that.
Brad_Grenz
Angels have always been God's badass enforcers. That's a pretty old idea in literature and film as well.
Also, Angels with guns aren't that cool. They should wield flaming swords and spears of light and stuff like that.
Disturbed_Shifty
This movie looks so stupid. If you want to watch a good movie about angels, watch The Prophecy. Great movie. Just don't watch the sequels.
TangoAlphaLima
Morning discussions at the G4 studio sound fun. My vote's for baby with gun.
the guy who keeps on getting banned
Why does'nt god just blow up earth then make a new one if it's so cool and powerful.
KilledFirst
Angels Killing us = evil, when did you have this epiphany? Read the Bible, GOD has never had a problem killing or torturing(Testing mans faith as the Bible calls it) man.
And for that matter didn't God let MAN kill his son, so why not allow the angels to do the same?
Angels are the hands of God, so they do what gods hands would do; CRUSH YOU!!! (Splat)
slackersphere
do u seriously think that this movie wouldv been oscar worthy, johnson, really?! lol
alienxtr
phategod you are wrong,an Angel is not the most evil Being in the Universe but it is the most feared Being in the Universe...the Angels are the most powerful weapon of God :D
RastaRicky
Interesting Post Imploding Goat. First I ever heard of The Cathars.
kampfer_sama
I'll hold off on my condemnation of Legion until the full story is known. I'm not expecting much since the previews don't show promise. Constantine did a pretty good job of incorporating interesting angelic characters into the story.
implodinggoat
On a side note your query "If God wants a baby killed, why didn't He just not create the baby to begin with?" is very valid and demonstrates the public's common misconception regarding the concept of omnipotence. The concept of fighting an omnipotent being is ludicrous since such an entity could simply will you out of existence with a single thought. This is the basic concept behind what philosophers refer to as "the problem of evil" which basically queries why a just God would create evil to begin with accordingly it is a popular justification for atheism.
One may counter that the existence of evil is necessary in order for meaningful free will since an individual could not truly choose to be good unless they could also choose to be evil. However; this argument is ineffective against suffering which is not the result of human action such as the recent earthquake in Haiti. As a Deist I respond to this problem by asserting that such suffering is necessary to drive natural selection and hence allow for the evolution of rational beings such as man. Furthermore I posit that evolution is also necessary for free will to exist since mankind would be little more than God's favorite pet if God invoked divine intervention. For example one might seem well justified in arguing that God should eliminate displeasure and hence if he existed he should intervene on behalf of the people of Haiti; but by the same token if I should have a desire to scratch my ass then it would seem God would be compelled to scratch my ass for me since that would also serve to eliminate displeasure and that seems less than Godly. Besides if God took care of all our problems for us we would have little opportunity to act morally.
The problem of evil is a more potent challenge to Judaism, Christianity and Islam since these religions entail that God is all powerful and perfectly good; but for some reason he allows Satan an entity of pure evil to exist while God could easily will Satan out of existence with a single thought. Accordingly I find the concept of Satan absurd since the nature of omnipotence entails that defying the will of an omnipotent being is a logical impossibility.
Behold My Face
IDK, im somewhat religous, not a fanatic or anything, and a philosophy interested college student, I dont feel strongly toward this movie, from what I'm aware atheism is becoming a more open, and not as closeted of an idea as of late years cause of internet communication (Good for them), so I can understand more media like religulous (hope I spelled it right) and legion would be viable marketplace options as moral relativism grows. However I just dont find such things as the Da Vinci code, Legion, or Assasins creed storyline (loved the rest) very interesting. They just seem a little dull at times. I haven't tried bayonetta yet, but the bad guys look a little bland as compared to the interesting DMC creatures.
I know I should be offended, but really myself, and most other christians I associate with don't care what other believe, Im living my own life not others. Just a little after thought to those who would flame christianity, that we are not all the same.
lightningsabre
This has been done, sorta, but in a gigantic proportions in the form of Evangelion. 14 year old kids in skin tight outfits fighting various forms of gigantic monsters called "angels".
gamermoney
on a related note, the legion shirt on ps home grew wings and looks kickaz
aploex
if they were evil they would be demons
and if any have read the Bible at all, Leigon was more then one demon, who were then sent into a herd of pigs..
so whats the point of this movie? to provide a new twist to the idea of angels?
although if this movie was supposingly taking place near the apolclypse, then theis would be the final days..
silentkiller223
i'll probably check it out...
implodinggoat
Well Satan was supposed to be an angel before he decided he was an Ubermensch so I can see using a fallen angel sort of antagonist; but having the Judeo Christian God indiscriminately slaughtering mankind seems a tad out of character.
If you were going to go with a plot based around God turning on mankind I think it would be best to base it off of the Cathar theology. The Cathar's were a popular christian sect in the 11th century which believed that the true and just God first made mankind as a pure spirit (a soul without a physical body) while the God who made the physical world was in fact evil and made the world in an attempt to alienate mankind from its true spiritual nature. As you can imagine this fascinating and controversial philosophy was less than popular with the Catholic church, so the church systematically destroyed their churches and their scriptures while exterminating tens of thousands of Cathars by burning them at the stake or otherwise torturing them to death. Unsurprisingly the sect died out.
pipspoolcleaning3
After seeing many many trailers for this movie I have to wonder, isn't it only the main angel with a gun? And didn't he in the trailer remove his angel like powers or something in an ally (it looks painful for him because he screams a lot while doing it)? It only makes since that he would try and outfit himself and the people around him with whatever man made weapons that were available since he apparently opted out of being an angel. Also, I can imagine them saying that God took away his powers for going against his orders. And none of the other attacking angels seemed to have any guns, they all had maces and stretchy arms and stuff like that. I can see where your coming from on angels not needed guns but I didn't see any toting em in the trailer.
Now is this movie going to be any good? I don't know, I don't have high hopes for it but it looks interesting enough to warrant a look-see. But a very interesting article none-the-less Stephen.
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