| The Island Awaits You |
| One of the things that science fiction is excellent at is social and philosophical criticism, yet put in a parable form. Why in parable (or metaphorical) form? Perhaps Jesus said it best himself. Matthew 13:13 & 15 "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand...For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." When "you know" in your heart, you'll "get it", but if its made apparent from the very beginning, you'll reject it before thinking it through just as a knee-jerk reaction. There has been plenty of science fiction that has been critical of slavery, discrimination like racism and sexism, and even critical of Christianty and some of the tenents it is based on. (See the original Star Trek series, episodes The Apple, The Cage, etc). "The Island" is one such movie that is critical of Christian theology, though you might not have caught the meaning of "the parable" if your "heart" is not ready to see, (So, I'm about to spill the beans, so to speak). (Plot spoiler warning) If you haven't seen The Island, and you want to, then don't read the rest of this as I'll be 'spoiling the plot' as it were. As you probably know, The Island is a movie about a fellow who creates a cloning facility where clones are created for wealthy clients in order to harvest needed organs from them. The clones are kept in the dark regarding this info and are told that there has been a viral contamination in the world and must remain inside the facility, but they can win a "lottery" and "go to the island", a supposed paradise where one can live outside where its beautiful. One clone finds out the truth, tells another clone, and they escape to the real world. The 'creator', Merrick, sends a hired gunsel (who doesn't want to know too much) to bring them back under Merrick's control. The gunsel's specialty is dammage control. People have called The Island a distopia, but really its a utopia where people fighting for their lives and personal freedom win in the end. It is Christianty that is the distopia, since 'the creator' ends up enslaving everyone or destorying them and even destroying the earth in the "end of times" in Christian theology. |
| (so, you like parables, do you?) |
| Merrick:
The "Creator", who created people and kept them in the dark for his own covert purposes. Built the facility 'Eden' for is created people to reside in with their 'eyes-closed' regarding the truth. His first lines in the movie, "You're special. "You have a very special purpose in life. You've been chosen. The Island awaits you." His last lines were, "I brought you into this world... and I can take you out of it." |
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| McCord: He's the wise 'serpent' who possessed the fruit of forbidden knowledge. He leaked enough info to Lincoln Six-Echo (Adam) to get him to asking 'the creator' if this is all there is, just sitting around waiting to go to the island. McCord: "Jeez, why do I always have to be the one to tell the kids there is no Santa Claus?" Lincoln Six-Echo: "What's God?" McCord: "Well, you know, when you want something really bad and you close your eyes and you wish for it? God's the guy that ignores you". |
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Ewen McGregor and Scarlett Johanson playing the roles of Lincoln Six-Echo and Jordan Two-Delta, (the metephorical Adam and Eve). They are the metephorical Adam and Eve, fighting to escape the "surely die that day" promise. |
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Djimon Hounsou playing the role of Albert Laurent (a parable Satan). Laurent's (Satan's) specialty is dammage control. He doesn't ask any questions, he just does what the boss tell him to do. He later changes his mind, betrays 'the creator', and helps the metaphorical Adam and Eve find freedom. Laurent to 'the creator': "When my father was killed, my brothers and I were branded, so everyone would know we were less than human." (An allusion to Satan in the Koran?) |
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| God knows what's on your mind. |
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| Test for Christians: Which of these two is the villian of the movie? |
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| Jordan Two-Delta (Fought for her own freedom, contrary to the will of her creator) |
| Merrick ('The creator' that has covert reasons he didn't share with his creations, kept them in a gilded cage and filled their heads with "paradise" dreams.) |
| Quotes from the movie: Lincoln Six-Echo: I think they're going to kill you. Jordan Two-Delta: I'm going to The Island. Lincoln Six-Echo: Jordan, there *is* no island! McCord: I know you're new to this whole human thing, but... backpacks for boys, purses for girls. Ya understand? Jordan Two-Delta: We're not idiots. McCord: Well, excuse me, Miss "I'm-so-smart-I-can't-wait-to-go-to-the-Island!" Merrick: What's troubling, you, Lincoln? Lincoln Six-Echo: It - it's just... all right, Tuesday night is tofu night, and I'm asking myself "Who here decided that everyone likes tofu in the first place, and what is tofu anyway?" And why can't I have bacon? I line up every morning, and I'm not allowed any bacon for my breakfast. And - and tell me - let's talk about all the white. Why is everyone wearing white all the time? It's impossible to keep clean, I'm walking around, I get - I always get the gray stripe, I never get any color, and I hand it in to be cleaned, and - and someone cleans it and fold it neatly back in my drawer, but who? Who is that person? I don't know. I just - I wanna know answers and I - and I wish that there was more. Merrick: More? Lincoln Six-Echo: Yeah, more than just waiting to go to The Island. Construction Worker: [after Lincoln and Jordan had fallen from the building, he grabs Lincoln] Jesus must love you! [then helping Jordan] Construction Worker: I *know* Jesus loves you! Lincoln Six-Echo: What's "God"? McCord: Well, you know, when you want something really bad and you close your eyes and you wish for it? God's the guy that ignores you. Albert Laurent: When my father was killed, my brothers and I were branded, so everyone would know we were less than human. [he holds up his hand to show Merrick] Albert Laurent: I've said and done things I'm not proud of, but sooner or later you realise, killing's a business. So... when did killing become a business for you? Merrick: Oh, no. It's so much more than that. I have discovered the Holy Grail of science. In two years, I can cure children's leukemia. How many people on Earth can say that? Albert Laurent: I guess just you and God. But that's the answer you want, isn't it? McCord: Jeez, why do I always have to be the one to tell the kids there is no Santa Claus? Lincoln Six-Echo: What's sex? Tom Lincoln: Wait ? you're a virgin? You've been kicking around with *her* and you're a... a v-v-virgin? Well, I won't spoil the surprise. Boy, are you in for a treat. Lincoln Six-Echo: You still think there's an Island? Merrick: [putting microsensors in Lincoln Six-Echo's eyes] Don't worry, it's painless. Lincoln Six-Echo: [in pain] It hurts. Merrick: [nonchalant] Not really. Lincoln Six-Echo: Yeah, it does. Merrick: No it doesn't. Lincoln Six-Echo: Yeah, it really, really does. Merrick: [after all microsensors went under Lincoln Six-Echo's eyes] The microsensors will move along your optic nerve. They will be uploading readings over the next 24 hours, after which you will pass them through your urine. Now *that* might hurt. |
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