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Christianity Today Movies, 2009, reviews |

Knowing

Review by Peter T. Chattaway | posted 3/20/2009 08:41AM

If you've seen any of the trailers, then you'll probably have a good idea what to expect from the first hour or so of Knowing, the latest mind-bending bit of speculative fiction from Alex Proyas (Dark ...

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Jeremiah Liang

Posted: October 13, 2009 8:15 PM

Everything about the movie appears to be in ryhme with the endtimes themes of disaster - man made and natural. However, the menacing figures of the stange men, who later revealed themselves to be aliens at the end of the film, does convince me that these are not angels. Remember that Satan is an angel of light and there are various interpretations of the Bible that indicate in the the endtimes, the world will witness deceiving spirits disguised as angels (false Christs, prophets working signs and wonders). The biggest clue why the aliens are not from God or benign is that they would not take Koestler/Cage with them, only the special children. Which benign God would forsake his creation, whether adult, child, gifted or non-gifted? On its merit as a movie, I think it is quite exciting. My 5-yr old son saw it and I had to explain what was in line and what was out of line with Biblical truth.

Shuron

Posted: August 01, 2009 4:00 PM

I wanted to comment on the contrast between God and aliens too. It seems as if the movie wants us to believe aliens are in fact angels. When I read the Bible angels just appear, they don't need ships, why decieve? The earlier commentors may want to refer to the Nephilim spoke of in Gen 6:4-8 and read of the great deception that will decieve many. Rev 3:10 & Rev 19:20. There are also great reads on this subject by: Lynn A. Marzulli, and Melanie Wells. I can't help myself I work for the library. I was a bit confused about Nick's character when he went to help the survivors of the plane crash it was a bit unbelievable, he was just a professor at MIT not first response. Also on the train he looked to be the sole survivor with the lady he covered. It reminded me of the movie unbreakable with Bruce Willis. Thanks for this forum

Barb	Posted: July 30, 2009 3:11 AM

Wow. These comments are amazingly diverse. It shocks me that some of them advocate, "if you're a christian you shouldn't see this movie". I think William has it right. The whisperers were angels not aliens. This doesn't blast the creation story but encourages belief in a creator. Life isn't random. There is purpose and there is an end. Just because it didn't play out like the Left Behind series doesn't mean it didn't use the Bible as a resource. When you view this movie and consider the whisperers as angels, the redemption between Nicolas Cage's character and his father/family/death of wife, the letting go of his son, his revelation that the universe isn't random but determined...I'm impressed that this is a Hollywood movie. I fail to see the demonic here. But at the same time, for simply viewing it as a movie: it's long, some bad acting and the music was overly dramatic.

William

Posted: July 27, 2009 9:47 AM

Have you people ever read the book of Ezekiel? Before you dismiss the concept of Angels traveling in spaceships, take a day and read a modern translation of the book of Ezekiel. Don't dismiss the possibility and what the simple minded interpretation of man was Thousands of years ago. Instead, try and comprehend what Ezekiel was seeing based on what he knew of the world at the time he was seeing it. Then, I think it will become more clear to you. The way I see if, if Christ came tomorrow and landed on the white house lawn in a spaceship, I wouldn't worship him any less. No one--not any man knows--until the day comes.

Eowyn

Posted: July 23, 2009 3:33 PM


"Knowing" was viscerally gripping, suspenseful, engaging, and thought-provoking. Its worldview arguably can be interpreted as being compatible with the Christian biblical view, although in the end, it remains an enigma. What I don't understand is why most secular movie critics gave this movie such a low rating. Prejudice?

Stacey

Posted: July 19, 2009 2:30 PM

I totally agree with adam's comment. This movie disturbed me on many different levels, especially when we had were shown biblical elements and then were forced to digest the sci-fi spin. So are we to believe God took a back seat to the aliens? How insulting. I know this is just a movie but the media has such influence. What about the white rabbits and kids and the tree in the clearing? How subtle was that? I did however love the action and CG effects. And I love Nick's acting.

mahew

Posted: July 19, 2009 12:38 PM

What the? This movie is pure scientology propaganda! It's obvious how the cult has made its way into a world of money, where they are capable of making such a movie... I dont even understand that a christian movie site would make a review of it!? Whats next? The neo-nazis start making action-romance-thrillers with subliminal messages? Aliens put us all on this earth... Jesus christ, theese scientology idiots should be sent to some kind of rehab center for the mentally ill! I think I'm gonna be sick.. Burn your copy, before you start finding black stones and aliens under your bed! (f.y.i - im not a christian)

adam	Posted: July 18, 2009 10:58 PM

Personally I discourage any believer of the christian faith from viewing this film. It takes biblical theology and combines it with science fiction, that completely contradicts Gods word. For example at the end of the film, a (new) Adam and Eve are chosen from this earth and placed on another planet to start a knew world by aliens, arousing the question of where we came from? God or aliens???? i was really shocked at the ending; it does a great job of drawing your interest, making you wonder if the "whisper people" are messengers of God or what, but in the end it is quite clear.

Anonymous

Posted: July 12, 2009 12:12 AM


Pretty Interesting movie. VERY surprised where the story led and how it ended. This movie kind of reminded me of The Invasion and The Day the Earth Stood Still.

LovinGod

Posted: July 11, 2009 5:35 PM


Way to go Richard Hunter -- just to be mean -- hopefully you will get something good out of this Christian site.

jokerSmile

Posted: July 10, 2009 11:22 PM


The whisper people are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

Richard Hunter

Posted: June 29, 2009 8:29 PM


The Whisper People are aliens coming to take children to a new planet because the Earth will be consumed by a solar blast, Nicolas Cage's son is one of the chosen Ha Ha I ruined it b's

Charly P.

Posted: June 29, 2009 2:30 AM


El problema de éste tipo de films, es que para aquellos que no tienen una fe fundamentada en la verdad, o que no se toman en serio la búsqueda de la misma, pueden llegar a ser conflictivos y desorientadores. Por cierto, tampoco las cuestiones que se plantean acerca del determinismo o el azar como posturas filosóficas no son tratadas con la seriedad y el rigor científico que requieren.

Bogdan Dumitru

Posted: June 21, 2009 6:27 PM


Darrin, my brother.. Those are not aliens. I can't believe you don't see it. Open your eyes... WIDELY as the heart of your Creator! If one has to understand more, one would do so. One would find with ease what he seeks in this heavenly ours remaining. God bless you all!

Michael

Posted: June 02, 2009 11:47 PM


If you are a "born again" Christian this movie is not for you. Other reviews that have been written may lead you to believe this one has righteous or biblical values. It is deceptive to think one could use this movie as a reason for witnessing the truth to others. Born again believers be aware that this one was born from a base of darkness and not the true Light of the world. Stay away.

Dan	Posted: June 02, 2009 9:23 AM


This was about 3/4 of a good movie. Cage and Byrne were quite good. Family-in-the-face of disaster, excellent. But the ending was rather lame, frankly: a paradise planet populated by children and bunnies? C'mon! The discussion of determinism was philosophically naive, but that's par for the Hollywood course.

Tom	Posted: May 04, 2009 3:59 AM


This movie is more Mormon than Christian. It has many Christian concepts and ideas, but there is a huge Mormon undertone that is quite alarming. The movie itself is quite well made and entertaining.

Jim	Posted: April 26, 2009 9:55 PM

No wonder the world is drifting away from God and our Lord Jesus Christ. This movie takes the bible and turns it into a work of fiction by referencing the prophecy in Ezekial Chapter 1 as encounters with aliens. Anyone who is not a beleiver will walk away from this movie with increased doubts about the Word of God and in this era of science and technology very likely to believe the alien angle to be possible. Though mildly entertaining, this movie is a masterpiece of putting doubt in an unbeliever's mind. Don't be fooled into thinking this 'spiritual movie' is harmless. If one soul is lost as a result of this movie it is a tragedy.

Stubi

Posted: April 25, 2009 12:11 AM


Hi, Just saw the movie tonight. Wow An intense one for me and my husband. I do not know about the rocks as of yet (some pondering to do) but I was wondering about the numbers that Caleb wrote before his Dad took it from him ? What if any are their meaning ? any ideas ?

ssc	Posted: April 24, 2009 1:34 AM


I found the movie very entertaining and the disaster scenes very realistic and compelling. The story kept me intrigued and curious to learn more. Good acting, especially the two children. I would recommend it because it was worth the admission fee.

Edgar Villada

Posted: April 22, 2009 8:22 PM


There´s no Christianity in this movie. It´s science fiction, not mythology. In the movie they show that Angels and God himself were in reality extraterrestrials who watched humanity from the very beginning and because of their technology looked divine to the eyes of ancient civilizations. That´s what it makes this movie so great.

Imelda Indonesia

Posted: April 21, 2009 6:29 PM


through this movie, there is an opportunity to let us to start discussing within family member, about the last days, our faith, and how will we live our live from now on. 2 Peter 3: 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

Snapdragon

Posted: April 18, 2009 2:18 PM


Wonderful movie - great special effects! This is a phrophetic movie and those with a Christian based background will get it - others don't and think "aliens". They mistake the Whisper People who are only "guides". Go see this movie - it's awesome and the ending - WOW!

Matt Miles

Posted: April 18, 2009 1:56 AM


I don't understand how free will plays into this movie at all. Without giving anything away, I'd say that no one in this movie makes an actual choice. There's no free will, which makes for a weak story. That's sad, too, because I wanted to root for it as soon as the themes of faith were brought up. I think the message got lost in the effects and the noise.

Andrew

Posted: April 12, 2009 8:11 AM


Saw the movie last night with my family. This movie is awful!!!! It is an attempt to spritualize Eric von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods". The plotline could have been written by L. Ron Hubbard. Was it secretly financed by the Church of Scientology? Christianity Today's review totally blew it but not warning people of the dark spiritual side of this movie and its blatant anti-Biblical theme.

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