The Movie Oracle: The Celestine Prophecy (2006)

The gods are coming back?

Dionysos, god of wine: Yes, we are! Long ago the gods grew weary of man's problems and "outsourced" our duties to upstart religions. But retirement got boring and now we're turning once again to the mortal realm, and finding it a very different world. Where to begin getting in touch with this new culture? With movies, of course!

Athena, goddess of wisdom: And other things. I look out for social issues, Dio for aesthetics. Apollo goes for the intellectual, Ares for action, Hera for family values, and so on. Each god gives their unique view on today's cinema and society.

Monday, December 8, 2008

The Celestine Prophecy (2006)


Two thumbs up, one thumb down

Athena: It's nice to be told your little intuitions are meaningful, and that the universe is conspiring to help you. And in many ways it can be helpful to believe that, whether or not it is finally true. The real test, though, is whether you can apply it without falling into self-absorption. And this movie is one big invitation to self-absorption. Did you notice that not one of the characters stopped to help the local Peruvians with their poverty or political turmoil? In the end, this movie is inspirational and may start you out on a beneficial path, but to face the hard questions something more substantial is needed. Thumbs down.

Dionysos: The characters are thin and the plot is familiar. As cinema, this movie is a disaster. But I do appreciate the Nine Insights themselves. You don't necessarily need wine to see the world as it truly is, aglow with radiance. The Greeks worshiped me for taking away their cares. This is one more way to do it. Why not see where it leads? Thumbs up.

Psyche: I agree with Athena that the reality is not nearly as rosy as this movie portrays. In my bittersweet love affair with Eros, I endured hardship and disillusionment. But I also learned that love is a power that grants meaning even to suffering. Honestly, this movie could be a lot worse. For example, it doesn't simply focus on money, like The Secret. It actually encourages warm and loving behavior between humans. Simplistic? Yes. Hopeless? No. Thumbs up.

The Celestine Prophecy is based on the bestselling novel by James Redfield. A young teacher, laid off at his school, finds himself adrift. Synchronicities lead him to Peru where a small group has unearthed a set of ancient scrolls. Meanwhile, the powers that be try to suppress the scrolls' prophecy at gunpoint.
Director: Armand Mastroianni
Cast: Mathew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jürgen Prochnow
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 4% fresh

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Get it from The Celestine Prophecy

DID YOU KNOW? The myth of Psyche and Eros is well-known as an ancient allegory of the soul's journey. The name Psyche itself means "breath" or "soul."

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