Blog / Book of the Month / Justice League (2017) Zack Snyder & Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Kenneth Branagh - Movie Review

Justice League (2017) Zack Snyder & Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Kenneth Branagh - Movie Review

Posted in 2017 / Pastor Ted Giese / Movie Review / Radio Interview



Justice League (2017) Zack Snyder & Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Kenneth Branagh - Movie Review

Justice League (2017) Directed by: Zack Snyder
Writers: Chris TerrioJoss Whedon (screenplay by), Chris TerrioZack Snyder (story by) Gardner Fox (Justice League of America created by), Stars: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, J.K. Simmons, Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Diane Lane, Ciarán Hinds, Run Time: 120 min Rated: PG (Canada), PG-13 (MPAA) for sequences of sci-fi violence and action

Murder on the Orient Express (2017) Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Writers: Michael Green (screenplay by), Agatha Christie (book by) Stars: Kenneth BranaghDaisy RidleyLeslie Odom Jr., Tom Bateman, Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Olivia Colman, Willem DafoeJohnny Depp Run Time: 114 min Rated: PG (Canada), PG-13 (MPAA) for violence and thematic elements

Listen here for audio of radio interviews about films from a Christian perspective with Pastors Ted Giese and Todd Wilken on IssuesEtc.org where Christianity meets culture.

In this conversation we review both Justice League (2017) and Murder on the Orient Express (2017). We talk about the reboot of the DC character of Superman in Man of Steel (2013) and how Zack Snyder’s approach to the character complete with marketing which encouraged Christian pastors to draw a comparison between Jesus and Superman in their preaching makes such comparisons fair game when looking at this new film. Especially when thinking about the “resurrection” of Superman in Justice League as compared to the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection that first Easter morning. News flash one of these things is not like the other.

In the back half of the interview we talk about Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous who-don-it murder mystery Murder on the Orient Express. We look at examples of where and how Branagh diverges from the book and a peculiar injection of religious imagery which crops up at the end of the film. There are major spoilers (we give away the end of the story in order to talk about that injection of religious imagery) in both this conversation, and in the conversation we have about the Justice League. Have a listen and enjoy the show.     

Rev. Ted Giese is lead pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; a contributor to The Canadian Lutheran, Reporter; and movie reviewer for the “Issues, Etc.” radio program. Follow Pastor Giese on Twitter @RevTedGieseCheck out our Movie Review Index!        


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