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| Thoughts on devotion, new Bond and new Trek | | Posted By: Stephen Woolston on July 12, 2013 - 10:00 PM | With news that Sam Mendes is on board to direct Bond 24 (link), it's curious to note how many people are already declaring the as-yet unmade film will be brilliant or a disaster. It's a classic case of projecting one's best hopes or worst fears and becoming convinced one's thoughts are real. They're thoughts shaped out of acquired preferences, learned tendencies for either polarity or non-polarity response and generalizations about what names like 'Sam Mendes' equates to. Here's the thing that interests me: it's a curious by-product of devotion. SKYFALL and STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS are two great examples of highly successful films which have attracted bitter criticism from a large number of franchise fans. It takes devotion to get that upset by making the Enterprise eight times larger than it used to be. (By the way, it's not twice as big: it's twice as long; and twice as tall and twice as wide). It takes devotion to an expectation of who James Kirk is to get that upset by his new-found juvenility. Here's my untested theory: When a franchise has been going as long as James Bond, it will attract many fans who are devoted to a favourite film, a favourite actor, a favourite style or a favourite era. The greater the devotion, the more difficult it becomes to please. If you're utterly devoted to GOLDFINGER and the Sean Connery 007 films (as am I), Bond 24 faces the double bind that if it's too much like GOLDFINGER it'll be rip-off and a pastiche and they should have left the GOLDFINGER thing alone; and if it's nothing like GOLDFINGER, it'll just not be like the heyday of Bond films, i.e. GOLDFINGER. I used to joke that the only people who thought SKYFALL was the best Bond film ever (we mustn't forget the comic book guy emphasis on the word 'ever') were those who also added, "and I'm not even a fan of James Bond films, normally". I thought that last little bit of the declaration was the telling sign. I told myself it was the James Bond film for people who don't like James Bond films. Of course, that was just me falling for the illusory reality of my thinking. See, we all do it. But here's the thing. History teaches us that it takes an outsider to re-invigorate a franchise and not get locked into the more-of-the-same thing that trapped directors like John Glen. It takes someone free of the past to create the future. Prior to SKYFALL at least, there were a lot more people not yet converted to Bond than ones devoted. That's the bigger sea to go fish in. If James Bond is going to survive another fifty years, it has to keep fishing in new seas, not old ones. It has to convert new fans, not just entertain old ones, many of whom have become grumpy and impossible to please. Like a snake, it occassionally has to shed its skin to grow new skin. It's the outsider directors who know how to fish in those new seas. Abrams may have alienated a proportion of devoted Trek fans but he's probably converted many more new ones. And it may be to his films, not the original series, that these new fans become most devoted. Mendes is seemingly achieving the same with 007. I'm still devoted to the old Sean Connery films with classic John Barry scores. But, y'know, that time is past. Do we continue by pastiching that era? I might not be a great fan of 'new Bond'. SKYFALL didn't convert me. Bond 24 may or may not do so either. But I've got my Bond films to treasure. It's no disrespect to the past to create a new future. And it doesn't help anyone when a franchise dies of entropy. That's why franchises like Bond and Trek need people like Mendes and Abrams, even if they're not creating their works for old school die-hards like me. | | |
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FAQs
Daily devotions is a spiritual discipline that helps us get to know God, that ensures we stay connected to Him (John 15:1-8), that teaches us truth, that provides a place for worship, and that functions as a daily shelter in the midst of the storms of life.
What is the value of devotion? ›
Devotion, means full of care,hope, and most of all love. Devotion = one portion endurance, one portion tenacity, one portion patience, and the largest portion is love. Devotion is doing even when we don't feel like it.
How to have an effective devotional? ›
10 Tips To Improve Your Devotional Life
- FIND A QUIET PLACE. A devotional is time between you and God. ...
- READ TO UNDERSTAND. Read the Bible in a version you can understand. ...
- CONSIDER THE CONTEXT. What is going on 'behind the message'? ...
- DIGEST THE CONTENT. ...
- APPLY THE TEACHING. ...
- READ COMMENTARIES. ...
- MEMORISE SCRIPTURES. ...
- WRITE NOTES.
Spending time with the Lord through daily devotional reading helps you apply Biblical principles that will be useful in life. Whether you need wisdom, comfort, direction, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness, God's word is always available.
What does devotion mean in life? ›
: the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity : the act of devoting. the devotion of a great deal of time and energy. b. : the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal.
What is the power of devotion? ›
Devotion is a way of transforming your emotion from negativity to pleasantness. Just see, people who have fallen in love do not care about what is happening in the world. The way they are, you think they are unrealistic. It is just that they have made their emotions pleasant, so their life is beautiful.
What is the point of devotion? ›
And so they inspire and motivate. Devotions help us worship God with enthusiasm and love. Daily devotions reach into places of encouragement, inspiration, motivation, worship, enthusiasm, and love.
What is the significance of devotion? ›
Devotional practices can create a sense of community and strengthen relationships among believers, both with the divine and with fellow adherents 2. Devotion can also be expressed through acts of service, self-sacrifice, and the pursuit of moral wisdom 5.
What is the power of daily devotion? ›
The Power of Daily Devotionals
It's a dedicated, quiet time, free from the pandemonium of daily life, where one can immerse themselves in prayer and introspection. Devotionals invite you to pause, breathe, and listen for the whispers of God's guidance amid life's cacophony.
What is a good devotion? ›
A devotion is a quiet time that you spend praying, reading God's word, and reflecting on your relationship with Him. You might also choose to sing hymns, meditate, or write in a journal during your devotion time.
Here are some things to do throughout the day to spend your time more intentionally with God.
- Start Your Day With Him. ...
- Pray Intentionally. ...
- Write Down Things You Are Thankful For. ...
- Notice Your Complaints and Turn Them Into Praise. ...
- Enjoy God's Creation. ...
- Love Others. ...
- Love Yourself.
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O servants of the LORD, 2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God! 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.
What is the goal of a devotional? ›
The purpose of this time is simply to quiet our hearts before the Lord and have fellowship with Him. Our daily devotions are not necessarily meant to be a time of in-depth Bible study, but instead a time to simply draw closer to the Lord through meditation in His Word and communion with Him in prayer.
What is true devotion to God? ›
True devotion lies in worshipping without placing any demand before Him. Like a mother feeding her child without the child asking, He who is more than a mother will give what is needed to us.
What does devotion lead to? ›
You grow spiritually
Devotions are a great place to find inspiration in your spiritual journey. Different readings cause you to reflect on the Word of God and encounter thoughtful teaching on important spiritual topics. Devotions also encourage you to spend time in prayer.
What is the advantage of devotion? ›
Devotions are a great place to find inspiration in your spiritual journey. Different readings cause you to reflect on the Word of God and encounter thoughtful teaching on important spiritual topics. Devotions also encourage you to spend time in prayer.
