"Solomon’s Dilemma"
Watch:
What You Need To Know:
The narrative structure of THE SONG needs work. For a long period of time, there’s no conflict. Once the first turning point finally arrives, however, the movie starts to get more dynamic. This leads to a satisfying ending. The good news is that THE SONG makes a lot of good, strong moral points. THE SONG also helps people understand that the wages of sin is death and that God is always ready to forgive us if we only ask for His help.
Content:
(CCC, FR, Pa, BBB, L, V, S, N, AA, DD, MM) Very strong Christian worldview with a little bit of a legalistic perspective in a story about the sins of the father vested on the children, namely adultery, with a lot of sexual and drug temptations and many quotes from Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon in the Bible, plus many good, strong moral points are made; one obscenity; some violence, including pushing another performer and breaking their violin, destroying the windows in a rustic chapel, and image of a hanged man’s feet, and man tries to scratch tattoos off his arm with bloody results, but not very physical; sexual content includes two cases of adultery (implied sex), and a woman is a major seductress; minor male nudity; intense alcohol use to get drunk; no smoking but intense drug use, with the lead popping a lot of pills implied and also in one scene where he goes off the rails; and, tons of tattoos with many promoting occultism, singer promotes occult concepts, weird picture of Virgin Mary behind the villain.
More Detail:
THE SONG tries valiantly to bring the wisdom of Solomon to the current generation. Regrettably, the beginning is slow to get going, but the plot gradually builds to a nice, uplifting, emotional ending that affirms faith. However, the story involves adultery and substance abuse, so caution is warranted. THE SONG is not a movie for children.
The movie opens with long quotes from the Bible while focusing on a singer named David King, who commits adultery with his best friend’s wife. This results in the friend hanging himself. David repents, however, and, years later, David’s son, Jed, becomes a country singer.
Jed falls in love with a beautiful country girl named Rose, whose father is very protective. Jed tries to do the right thing, but, since he’s in love with Rose, he starts making up love songs that propel his career.
Soon, Jed’s manager teams him up with a dark-haired, New Age, highly tattooed singer named Shelby. Shelby tries to seduce Jed from the first time they meet. Spending more and more time on the road annoys Rose and gives Shelby the time to work her seductions on Jed. Eventually, Shelby gets her way and soothes Jed’s conscience by getting him on drugs and adultery. Both of them go on a downward spiral. Will Jed ever return to faith and values? Can he return to his wife and son? Is there any hope?
THE SONG gets off to a slow start. It’s also narrated throughout by the protagonist, who quotes from Ecclesiastes and briefly from the Song of Solomon. This is usually a no-no. Thus, the narration is off-putting at first, but it’s accompanied in the beginning by a nice montage with no dialogue showing the life and mistakes of the protagonist’s father. Of course, the father is supposed to represent King David and the protagonist is supposed to be Solomon.
For a long period of time in the movie’s first act, however, there’s little conflict in the life of Jed, though he does square off with Rose’s ex-boyfriend in two funny, winsome scenes. So, the movie’s first real turning point doesn’t occur until later, when Jed finally meets the seductress. Once the first turning point happens, the movie starts to get more dynamic. Eventually, it leads to a satisfying, dramatic and emotionally powerful ending that redeems the movie, not just the characters.
THE SONG should be commended for bringing to life some of the godly wisdom of Solomon and for dealing with the sexual sins that are rampant in our age. It has a strong Christian message, which tends, like Ecclesiastes, toward a little too much legalism. For example, both Ecclesiastes and the movie end with Solomon’s message to “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The movie’s last shot, however, is Jed putting the finishing touches on the cross at the top of a small church he’s built near his country house. Thus, accepting the free gift of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus Christ is the way live a godly life and keeping God’s commandments because God’s writes them on our hearts.
THE SONG is more cutting edge than most Christian movies, but it makes a lot of good, strong moral points. It helps people understand that the wages of sin is death, and that God is always ready to accept us and forgive us if we ask for His help. However, caution is advised because of the adultery and substance abuse in the movie.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” – Jesus Christ, John 14:6.
“Repent and believe the Good News” – Jesus Christ, Mark 1:15.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness – Jesus Christ, Matthew 6:33.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
- Content: +3Share:
- Content: +1