Disclaimer - I will take a uniquely female perspective that neither Steve nor the male character who speaks the truth behind the story brings forth. Proceed at your own risk.
King Kong wasn’t really a movie that I had been planning to run right out and see, but after reading Steve’s comments, it sounded more interesting. Specifically, he commented, “If you want to see a movie that portrays sacrifice in a way that reflects the true consequences of the choice to love someone more than yourself, watch King Kong.” So, since I am a sucker for a good love story, I decided it would be a good Friday night pick.
I never knew that there was an amazing message hidden within a seemingly far-fetched tale of a huge gorilla terrorizing the streets of New York. But beneath the outrageous premise of this movie is a beautiful story of the transforming power of love.
As one of the main characters states as he gazes down at the lifeless body of King Kong, who had just died fighting for love and the existence he knew he was meant to live out without compromise, “Twas beauty that killed the beast.” How true. For it was the beauty of a woman and the beauty of love that took the king of the wildest beasts in the jungle and uncovered something more. It uncovered a heart that could love, a heart that longed for and responded to the beauty of a woman. Yet amazingly, Kong retained all of his other qualities. He retained a fierceness that made him a formidable opponent to everything from dinosaurs, to man, to machines and guns. He retained his majestic appearance and countenance. And in the end, he retained his calling – to fight and live out his days as a king who succumbed to no one. But it was a calling now enhanced and refined by this transforming love. It was truly beautiful. And that beauty, beyond just the beauty of the woman - is what overcame the beast.
And just that would be enough...but what about the other side of the story? I couldn’t help but notice a transformation in the very woman who revealed the beauty that killed the beast.
Anne was an absolutely gorgeous woman. A true beauty. But others, from her elderly mentor on Vaudeville to the many rough-edged sailors on a grungy barge, noticed something more. There was a beauty in her spirit and her carriage. There was something special. Others noticed it.
The only problem was that Anne didn’t see it. Or, perhaps more accurately, she didn’t believe in it. She didn’t trust it. And she didn’t trust herself. And she didn’t trust others. With a past where everyone she had ever loved had let her down, she had shut down. She would only let herself go so far, and then she would stop and go no further. She would only love so much, and then she would love no more, trust no more. And that was her existence. But:So then you can see that when we speak about the essence of a woman – her beauty – we don’t mean “the perfect figure.” The beauty of a woman is first a soulish beauty. And yes, as we live it out, own it, inhabit our beauty, we do become more lovely. More alluring.
– from Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge
So the choice a woman makes is not to conjure beauty, but to let her defenses down. To choose to set aside her normal means of survival and just let her heart show up. Beauty comes with it.
-from Captivating
And that, I believe, is precisely what happened to Anne. She made a choice. She experienced strength from an unlikely source, and she began to let her heart show up…
To experience the strength of a man is to have him speak on our behalf…We long for the protection masculine strength offers…We long for someone strong to stand between us and the vicious assaults of the enemy…The strength of a man is first a soulish strength – a strength of heart. And yes, as he lives it out, owns it, inhabits his strength, he does become more handsome. More attractive. As the fruit of an inner reality…
- from Captivating
As Anne’s beauty began to reveal the inner reality that resided in the heart of the beast, she began to trust not only him, but also herself. She let go of fear, and she took off on an amazing adventure with reckless abandon.
You could argue Anne was let down in the end. After all, the beast died, and he took his inner reality – the strength of beauty within the beast - with him. But I don’t believe it. I believe he left behind a whole new beauty in what he unveiled in this woman. He had unveiled the fullness of her beauty.
Although the movie ends there, I like to think Anne didn’t waste her beauty or let it fade. I like to think she continued to reveal her full beauty and the full presence of her heart in order to find and treasure her next adventure.
And I like to think I will do the same.
7 comments:
This relationship would never work.
Beasteality is illegal where I live.
Such a shame. :(
this movie just came up over lunch at work today. and i told someone i had little desire or intent to see it. still feel the same way. but i'm glad you enjoyed it. :) see you soon...
Yes, Mel, their house is a really good possibility for me, and I am excited on a lot of levels. I hope to call them to get back in next week with some friends who can give me some practical input, and then I will decide from there. For now, I am starting the sad process of selling my house, but I am finally ready, so here it goes.
Am I the only one who HATED this movie? I formulated a blog entry in my mind during it entitled "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should," but haven't had time to write it out - if only I would've had my laptop in the theatre, I would've been able to entertain myself and update my blog at the same time. It was well shot, great story, great acting, but at least an hour too long! One more dinosaur, one more bat, one more plane... I thought it would NEVER end!
The line at the end is amazing and the story has a good point, but It was excruciating to sit through.
Kind of like life Mr. Wright...kind of like life.
One of my favorite scenes from "The Simpsons" is when the family visits a carnival, and you see Homer and Marge walking, and Homer's shirt is orange and crusty (not his normal white). Marge turns to him and says, "Homer, I didn't say you couldn't deep-fry your shirt, I said you SHOULDN'T deep-fry your shirt."
Aaron- to each his or her own, I guess. I really loved it. Although I agree that the action scenes could have been cut (did we need every breed of dinosaur to launch an attack?), the message was powerful enough to me and to where I am right now in life that I left feeling touched. But, I understand your thoughts. I - like Elaine in Seifeld - felt this way when I watched The English Patient. If I hadn't been at the mercy of someone else for a ride home, I would have run screaming out of the theater.
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