Saturday, March 10, 2012

Tribulation Force, the Movie, Parts 9 and 10

Fred Clark has lumped together Parts 9 and 10 because Part 10 is only about 5 minutes and 43 seconds, and moves into credits about the half-way mark.

So, let's start with Part 9, and let me give credit where it is due. They don't have the lip synching right, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was before. It's just enough to be slightly distracting, not enough to drive me crazy.

We resume where we left off, in the church hospital with Chloe, Ivy, and the burn victim, who actually looks slightly better, but is dying. He puts his life in God's hands and dies. Chloe tries to pray and starts crying. Ivy is touched. She covers him over and gives Chloe a comforting hug. She sees the peace in his eyes as he died and recognizes that he found God. Clearly, she is on her way to being saved.

In Jerusalem, a crowd has gathered. Men in keffiyahs, women in head coverings, people in modern garb and, of course, many journalists with cameras. Carpathia is introducing Rabbi Ben-Judah, "the world's leading authority on rabbinical teachings and the ancient scriptures." Nicolae praises Ben-Judah for his honesty and careful research on all conclusions. Ben-Judah will speak in about an hour, but Nicolae will not be there for the announcement because pressing UN business calls him back to New York.

It is not clear why he takes off just before the presumed announcement that he is the Messiah. Yes, I know, plot necessity. His absence makes it harder for him to interfere with the real announcement. Presumably in the context of the movie, for Nicolae to introduce the Rabbi and the Rabbi to proclaim him the Messiah would be too obvious a setup. Better to be out of the way when the announcement occurs so he can pretend to be surprised by it.

Buck gets a call from Rayford on his huge cell phone. They make some vaguely conspiratorial comments, and just as the conversation ends, the Antichrist claps Buck on the shoulder. (No vision of him in his full ugliness, like Rayford had). For an Antichrist, Nicolae is remarkably gullible. He still appears to accept at face value Buck's assurance that he was at the Wailing Wall trying to discredit the Witnesses just as he was broadcasting what was about to be their proclamation of Jesus as Lord. Does he actually believe this, or is he just playing with Buck before closing in? He tells Buck this is the real reason he is here, and he is sure he will find this announcement (wink) fascinating. He apparently is not afraid of dropping hints that he knows what is going to happen. Buck remains, nervous, not knowing what is going to happen.

Ben-Judah steps up and announces that he has determined the identity of the Messiah. Everyone is watching. Buck watches and films from the crowd. Nicolae and his cohorts watch from the briefing room of the plane. Rayford watches in some back room on the plane. Chloe, Ivy and Pastor Bruce watch in Bruce's office at the church, apparently taking a break from their hospital work.

He carefully enumerates the messianic passages in the Bible and ancient rabbinical writings. (Um, clever editors may be able to twist the Bible to predict Jesus as the Messiah, but I am sure it is not foretold in ancient rabbinical writings). He says there are 109 distinct prophecies the Messiah must fulfill. The Messiah will be proceeded by a forerunner. (Um, who is this forerunner to Nicolae were are talking about?) He will be pierced with out breaking a bone. He will come of a rare bloodline and will visit Egypt as a child. He will be rejected by his own people. I have discussed before why there is no reason whatever for a rabbi to believe that any of these passages tell us anything at all about the Messiah.

Nicolae watches this smiling in satisfaction. Hattie stands beside him, supportive, with her hands over his shoulders. I should add that in the draft of the speech that Buck and Rayford read, the Rabbi explains after each prophecy how it applies to Carpathia. (Well, at least pierced without breaking a bone part. We don't actually get to hear the rest). Shouldn't Nicolae be getting suspicious that Ben-Judah isn't explaining how all this applies to him? Or does he think the Rabbi has just deviated from script to build suspense? Either way, the Rabbi then starts to deviate from the script. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, betrayed by a close friend for 3o pieces of silver, he will have supernatural powers, he will die, be buried and be resurrected. As the Rabbi deviates more and more from script, Carpathia and the others show increasing consternation. Steve Plank tries to use the plane's communications, but Ray has removed some piece from the mechanism, so there is no connection. Nicolae sends for his cell phone.

Rabbi Ben-Judah proclaims Jesus Christ the Messiah, urges his audience to believe, and says, "Please forgive me for doubting." All our RTC friends rejoice. Nicolae sees it is too late, but when he gets his cell, he goes ahead and says to cut off the broadcast. The speech on the screen is replaced by a sign that GNN is experiencing technical difficulties. (Given the large number of media people there, aren't all the other networks broadcasting the same thing? And honestly, GNN has now cut off two broadcasts from preachers in Jerusalem for technical difficulties. Won't people start getting suspicious?)

Ivy is in tears. Together, she and Chloe pray the magic words, and Ivy is saved. I must say, I like this. Even when people start being attracted to a new religion (or whatever), it usually takes them some time to make the commitment. What a shame they didn't do the same for Chris. (I will also note that this church obviously does not put much stock in baptism. They certainly don't see it as a sacrament that washes off the taint of original sin and makes salvation possible. They don't even seem to feel the need to do it as a ritual reaffirmation after taking Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Saying the magic words is the sacrament that matters).

In Jerusalem, the crowd seemed pleased by the Rabbi's announcement when he made it, but now they are showing signs of consternation. Buck goes up to the podium and warns the rabbi he may not be safe, but Ben-Judah is ready for his 72 virgins.

In the cockpit, Rayford sends his copilot out so he can say a brief prayer of thanks to God. He looks at the mysterious locket from his wife, and then does what his copilot did before; he puts up pictures of his raptured wife and son. End of Part 9.

There isn't much to Part 10, but it begins with Nicolae in the briefing room, decidedly unhappy about this turn of events. He chases Hattie out, sweeps the papers off the table, and knocks over a chair. He shakes his fist at God and sounds off like a villain in a trashy melodrama saying, "Curses, foiled again." He says, "This is not the end! This is my time! My will be done!" Fred believes he is expressing his anger at God for God's betrayal. You see, the Antichrist is supposed to be triumphant for the next seven years. In letting him lose this round, God has broken his end of the bargain. I suppose that could explain why he was so easily taken in by Buck. Assuming he was invincible for the next seven years, he assumed that treachery was simply impossible. But now that he has learned otherwise . . . well, it doesn't bode well for our heroes.

The final scene is in the New Hope Church, with the congregation filling the pews, many of them holding candles. They are singing a hymn of praise, with Ivy sitting in the front row with Rayford and Chloe. Buck, our hero, returns in triumph. The other characters hug him (first Pastor Bruce, then Chloe, then Rayford, the Ivy, for what it's worth). Buck takes his place in the pew next to Chloe. This ending reminds me a lot of the end of the first movie, with Buck returning in triumph from being born again and escaping the Antichrist's brainwashing, returning to the church, and giving Chloe a hug.

The credits follow.

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