C
Cat
Guest
Go see Ladder 49, the movie about firefighters.
We thought we were just seeing an action film. But to my surprise, we discovered a number of Christian themes, specifically Catholic themes. You will spot them, too. They aren’t hidden.
The Church had a major part in the movie. You might think from the previews on TV that John Travolta’s character is the “center” of Ladder 49. Not so!
I want other Catholics to go see this film and explain all the “Catholic” stuff to me that I missed, since I am a new Catholic (this year)!
The director, Jay Russell, has done other “family-friendly” films. For that reason alone, go see Ladder 49, to let Hollywood know that we support family films and want to see more.
The reason I originally went to see this movie was to drool over my favorite actor-hunk other than my husband, Robert Patrick (Terminator 2–Melting Man, also Doggett on X-files).
In real life, he’s a family man and a Catholic who wears 5 medals: St. Patrick, St. Florian, St. Christopher, a crucifix, and a cross!
While he was filming Ladder 49, he had his wife and kids’ names tattooed on his chest, over his heart! It would be kind of hard to have an affair with this guy, wouldn’t it? “Ummm, could you put a shirt on while we…?” All joking aside, what a talisman against Hollywood’s many temptations. A literal “engraving” of your loved ones over your heart.
There are a FEW s-words in the movie, but c’mon, these are firefighters from Baltimore! Very little bad language, considering the setting. No f-word, a few a-words. I don’t think there were any d-words. Just another example of the director’s sensitivity to God, since only God has the right to use the d-word? I’m fairly certain there wasn’t any misuse of the name of the Blessed Mother.
There are several scenes where the Sacrament of Reconciliation is…well, I can’t describe it without giving away plot! Sffice it to say that those involved get their “come-uppance” in a very funny way!
There is one incidence of the main character spending the night with his girlfriend; it’s not graphic. In fact, he commits himself to her afterwards with a symbolic act of turning his “claddagh” ring around. Too bad he didn’t do it before, but remember, these are tough firefighters, not seminarians. At least he commits himself to her and marries her. Once they are married, in spite of all the trials, they stick together and work through their problems, a great example.
There is divorce in the movie. The Captain, John Travolta’s character, talks about his divorce after only nine months of marriage to a woman that hated his firefighting job. Sounds like there were no children from the marriage, and sounds like he never remarried, in spite of being a very nice-looking guy!
There are lots of bar scenes. In fact, I thought the contrast between the bar scenes and the church scenes were interesting. I do not drink alcohol, but strangely, I wasn’t offended by these drinking scenes.
I would not recommend bringing small kids to the movie, because there are a couple of deaths of daddies, and an icky scene where a firefighter, a daddy, gets horribly burned. (It’s not graphic, except when he’s in the hospital, and even then, it’s not that bad.) I think a small child might get scared of the death and danger, although you know your children better than I do. I suppose some children might just be proud that there are such brave men in the world.
It is definitely a movie with heroes, and I personally would take mature young children.
There is a wonderful scene where a young girl is rescued that made me cheer. I won’t say why because it will give away plot, but there is a great deal of Christian symbolism in this scene. You’ll see and you’ll love it.
DEFINITELY bring your pre-teens and teens, or let them go with their friends. The movie has so many values, so many virtues, that they will benefit greatly from it.
We thought we were just seeing an action film. But to my surprise, we discovered a number of Christian themes, specifically Catholic themes. You will spot them, too. They aren’t hidden.
The Church had a major part in the movie. You might think from the previews on TV that John Travolta’s character is the “center” of Ladder 49. Not so!
I want other Catholics to go see this film and explain all the “Catholic” stuff to me that I missed, since I am a new Catholic (this year)!
The director, Jay Russell, has done other “family-friendly” films. For that reason alone, go see Ladder 49, to let Hollywood know that we support family films and want to see more.
The reason I originally went to see this movie was to drool over my favorite actor-hunk other than my husband, Robert Patrick (Terminator 2–Melting Man, also Doggett on X-files).
In real life, he’s a family man and a Catholic who wears 5 medals: St. Patrick, St. Florian, St. Christopher, a crucifix, and a cross!
While he was filming Ladder 49, he had his wife and kids’ names tattooed on his chest, over his heart! It would be kind of hard to have an affair with this guy, wouldn’t it? “Ummm, could you put a shirt on while we…?” All joking aside, what a talisman against Hollywood’s many temptations. A literal “engraving” of your loved ones over your heart.
There are a FEW s-words in the movie, but c’mon, these are firefighters from Baltimore! Very little bad language, considering the setting. No f-word, a few a-words. I don’t think there were any d-words. Just another example of the director’s sensitivity to God, since only God has the right to use the d-word? I’m fairly certain there wasn’t any misuse of the name of the Blessed Mother.
There are several scenes where the Sacrament of Reconciliation is…well, I can’t describe it without giving away plot! Sffice it to say that those involved get their “come-uppance” in a very funny way!
There is one incidence of the main character spending the night with his girlfriend; it’s not graphic. In fact, he commits himself to her afterwards with a symbolic act of turning his “claddagh” ring around. Too bad he didn’t do it before, but remember, these are tough firefighters, not seminarians. At least he commits himself to her and marries her. Once they are married, in spite of all the trials, they stick together and work through their problems, a great example.
There is divorce in the movie. The Captain, John Travolta’s character, talks about his divorce after only nine months of marriage to a woman that hated his firefighting job. Sounds like there were no children from the marriage, and sounds like he never remarried, in spite of being a very nice-looking guy!
There are lots of bar scenes. In fact, I thought the contrast between the bar scenes and the church scenes were interesting. I do not drink alcohol, but strangely, I wasn’t offended by these drinking scenes.
I would not recommend bringing small kids to the movie, because there are a couple of deaths of daddies, and an icky scene where a firefighter, a daddy, gets horribly burned. (It’s not graphic, except when he’s in the hospital, and even then, it’s not that bad.) I think a small child might get scared of the death and danger, although you know your children better than I do. I suppose some children might just be proud that there are such brave men in the world.
It is definitely a movie with heroes, and I personally would take mature young children.
There is a wonderful scene where a young girl is rescued that made me cheer. I won’t say why because it will give away plot, but there is a great deal of Christian symbolism in this scene. You’ll see and you’ll love it.
DEFINITELY bring your pre-teens and teens, or let them go with their friends. The movie has so many values, so many virtues, that they will benefit greatly from it.
