Gran Torino (SteelBook Packaging) [Blu-ray]

Spoiler alert! Surprise twist. This movie was recommended to me and I like Clint Eastwood as director as much as actor so I figured why not. I bought rather than rented since the difference wasn't much and the friend urged me that I'd love it. He was so right. It was typical Clint, monosyllabic, irascible, old dude apparently hates the world but has secret wounds and deeper love or emotions than you'd ever guess, and he can't even see them. He acts like he is mean and gruffly tough, but he protects others from taking matters into their own hands and hurting themselves worse than if they'd never done anything. He appears to be going to do violence on their behalf but instead while arguing with the Priest and using Jesus' name in vain over and over; gives his life utterly to save them all. He falls back reminiscent of Charlton Heston in Omega Man; like Christ on the cross, his body lays spread out on the ground and the bad guys are all arrested and the good guys stayed good. Clint's character, like Christ, has taken on all their sins for them in that he is tainted, he has killed in defense of his country but can't be freed of it. So it is 'okay' if he dies for someone else. He will be redeemed thus, and save everyone else thus. In a sense he makes a way for the bad guys to be saved too as they can choose to use prison to change their lives (yes it is possible) or not, but at least they aren't all dead at the end. Oh what does Gran Torino have to do with it? The Clint character worked at the auto plant and built it himself and takes special care with it and the gang tried to force the neighbor kid to join the gang by stealing it. The Hmong neighbors shower Clint with presents for not having the kid arrested and the family insists that the boy work for Clint to pay for his sins. Clint tries to refuse, then tries to make the boy miserable, then finally teaches him how to work, how to learn, and how to get a job and keep it without having to go with the gangs. Again, he is a Christ character in that he lives what he teaches and he is a good teacher. Now, I realize many Christians would be offended that I say all this about a nasty tempered cussing and drinking man who mocks the Priest and God and uses Jesus' name in vain. I am bothered for instance that the character goes to confession at the end but doesn't confess that which hurts him the most. And as he gives his life, he prays Hail Mary out loud instead of Our Father. Despite some Roman Catholic's pious beliefs, Mary is NOT do-mediatrix with Jesus and has NEVER been declared to be so by any official RC authority. As a former student of a religious order within Catholicism, and a Lutheran Pastor's wife for 41 years; I can tell you that I personally find prayers to dead people offensive as scripture promises that 1. After death one time is the judgement (not after purgatory) and 2. In heaven there will be no more sorrow, sickness, or pain. Thus, no one in heaven has any idea of us on earth anymore. Many "Protestant" people talk about their loved ones in heaven watching over them but sheesh it ain't so or it would not be heaven for their loved ones. God watches over us and He is all we need. In heaven we will be so caught up in worship and praise we won't notice anything else nor care. Eternal bliss and ecstasy that has nothing to do with my filthy rags of righteous efforts. Jesus paid the whole price for me. So let Him take you directly to the throne of Grace and don't waste time and energy praying to Mary or any other dead saint or non-saint. don't cling to the idea of your loved one's watching over you. Trust in a REAL LIVE God who is always LOVING you and watching all of us all the time. He KNOWS it all and STILL loves you. You don't need to be afraid of Him finding stuff out and rejecting you. He knows already and loves you. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you more. The character in the movie does do more but it is implied that he gives up all his own efforts and just surrenders his life and that he does make whatever effort with the light he has, to get right with His Redeemer before he dies too. And there is scripture indicating that God judges according to the light we have. Now that is real mercy & loving sacrifice! The movie is an allusion and a type and shadow of that reality. I love seeing redemption themes in rough stories. I hope you will too. Even having read my review, I hope you will still watch it and see if I missed something. Thanks,

Great movie Clint Eastwood, neighbors can get along

Wonderful film covering many social issues

great movie another hit by Eastwood

A favorite

Loved this movie. Sort of a modern-day western and while the character was extreme in his ways, it's quite the meditation on the old-school American masculinity, with a very moving and reconciliatory outcomes.

Good movie. Wanted to watch again.

perfect