What Dreams May Come

[Donone]

I would be interested to discover your thoughts about "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding and Annabella Sciorra in 1998.
It deals with the afterlife and the tragedy of accidental deaths and suicide. I loved the scenery and the gentle way it portrayed God helping people get used to the afterlife. I did not care for the reincarnation ending but the issues of love and family were powerful.

[Barry]

Interesting movie and beautiful presentation.
While I have very different views of the afterlife (which will need to be revised extensively within the next 45 years lol), what I did like about the movie, was the incredible love that it took to "go to hell and back" for someone else!
Philosophically interesting in that it painted "thought" as what is really real. This made "hell" explainable in regards to consequence of thought as opposed to having a very "mean" God who just enjoys sentencing people forever to the deep fryer.
It presented in my own mind a philosophical dilemma, however.
Notice that is was the love of a mere "man" who was willing leave heaven risk everything and in an attempt to save the one he so dearly loved. While commendable for sure if saving in this scenario were plausible then why had the whole of the problem not already be fixed by God (or the powers that be in the movie scenario). Did the character played by Robin Williams need to go to heaven to show everyone there what real love and sacrifice means?
It brings to mind Matt. 5:43-48. We don't show God how to love unconditionally he shows us.

Don, I'm just analyzing the hell out of this movie :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
Sorry could not resist, as a dear friend of mine recently told me, "It's official Barry, you are twisted" LOL

Anyway Don,
It was a really great movie that makes you think and it had a interesting view of "thought" or consciousness. It was beautiful and had a message of love and sacrifice.
Whoever has not seen it should and hope that I didn't spoil it for anyone.
Glad you brought it up.
Did you have some additional thoughts about it bro?

Barry

[Amie]

It is my favorite movie. I'm with Don as per the reincarnation ending, but, I shrug it off with "God can do whatever he wants", lol!

I like how Barry framed it as "consequence of thought", cool. I don't think though, that the man going to hell to retrieve his wife necessarily means that God isn't doing it ;). As well, the love between these two characters could have been God showing his uncondional love to them. "Gaaaa Barry!" (<---Napolean Dynamite's voice)

I wonder often whether the afterlife would be a continuance of thinking like displayed in the movie, or if God finds a way to reach into "hell" to pull everyone out.

After going through the confusion that the man feels, realizing that he is dead, I thought it was relieving to have the dog as the first thing he recognizes :).

I loved the way the movie shows that people continue to be human, even in "heaven". Nothing brought this home more than Robin Williams' character yelling "Sh111t!" as he jumped to the next hilltop! haha!

Amie

[Barry]

I liked the Dog being there too!
Nice touch.
Barry

[Donone]

Have you read George McDonalds sermons. He and others present a case for redeemed creation, including animals. I liked that about the movie. Barry, you did go deep in the thoughts about where God is in all this, and of course, the Cuba Gooding character tried to make the creator benevolent but kind of absent. That is the best hollywooooood!!!! can do. I would hate to think I would spend some time getting my face stepped on glued into a crowd of other faces.
Assumming some form of thought/corporeality, I loved the idea of running fast and not getting tired, I loved the fact that children who are accidentally robbed of a long life and not feeling deprived. I lost my best freind at age 25 to a heart problem. At his funeral his friends where sure he was organizing a tennis tournament there. Bottom line, though, in terms of God and our future, I am convinced He is a lover of beauty, and a lover of love. Thats why I am hanging around this site and you hopeful believers.

Don

[Barry]

Don you have IMHO touch upon a great point here!!!!

What Hollywood at it's best did convey concerning many of the issues that you bought up is that God has it covered!
What about the person robbed of their childhood? Don't know but God has it covered!
What exactly happens to us when we die? Don't know but God has it covered!
This they IMHO did a pretty good job of creatively finding solutions for in this presentation of the afterlife.


Don, it's great to have you here!
Barry

[Amie]

Don,

Does McDonald have anything available online to read? What are some of his books?


I would hate to think I would spend some time getting my face stepped on glued into a crowd of other faces.

LOL!! Me too!

What I liked the most about the movie's representation was that affection was still present. He petted the dog, hugged his wife, etc.

Amie

[Donone]

Amie,

The Christian Classics Etherial Library has three sets of sermons called Unspoken messages that can be downloaded. Many websites are dedicated to keeping his fantasy literature before a new generation. He was a huge influence on CS Lewis and Tolkien. Brilliant thinker.

Don

I am in total agreement that God has it covered, I just want as many details as I can have now, for I am curiouser and curiouser.

[Barry]

I am in total agreement that God has it covered, I just want as many details as I can have now, for I am curiouser and curiouser.

Me too bro.

[Amie]

I am in total agreement that God has it covered, I just want as many details as I can have now, for I am curiouser and curiouser.


I want to know God's thoughts, the rest are details

lol! You know what they say about "great minds"!

Thanks for the info, I intend to read it!

Amie

[christyG]

Have any of you seen Firefly with Kevin Costner. It is also a movie that deals with life after death. Pretty good, but then again I have a little crush on Kevin Costner:o :D .

Christy

[Amie]

Christy,

Yes I saw that one! I liked it. It was one of those happy endings - that still wasn't perfectly happy, know what I mean? I don't mean that in a bad way - it's a lot like life. The character makes it through his ordeal. Deep stuff.

Amie