THEMES
Give a major theme/idea/message of the film. Discuss what you think the film’s point was (in relation to this theme) – and then comment on whether or not you think Scripture agrees with the way the theme was presented. Employ at least 1 Bible verse to make your point. Remember to use the Scripture in context. Again, feel free to comment on and disagree with other peoples’ ideas; feel free to explore other themes than the ones mentioned already.
I might be wrong but I think there are to themes. The first them is fight for what's right, and the second theme is love and care for ones closest to you. An example for the first theme is basically the whole of the story. Brandon was fighting for his family and his house, but I think it was kind of hard to figure out Tommy was fighting for. I believe he was fighting for his old friends family. Tommy's friend, Manny died in a serious bombing. So both brothers were fighting for something really important and I believe that drived me to watch that movie. An example of the second theme is also a big part of the story too. The second theme appeared near the end of the movie, when Brandon beat Tommy. When Brandon was holding Tommy in a lock, Brandon was saying, " It's okay, It's going to be okay Tom. Just tap out, just tap out. I love you Tom! I love you Tommy! Then Brandon took him to the locker room, then the movie ended. But there is just one question I have, Why was Brandon saying I love Tom, all that stuff when he was wrestling him? It just bothers me, I cannot image someone saying that when someone is trying to hurt or potientally kill you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts... I wish I knew who you are. Make sure you post with your name.
DeleteI think he was saying I love you Tom because Tommy's shoulder was dislocated and Brandon needed the money for his family and he did not want to lose. He said that to tell Tommy that he's sorry he has to hurt him but he loves him and, how Brandon said "I love you tommy...". it sounded like he really didnt want to hurt him anymore but he knows he has to inorder to keep his house. So he may have said that to let Tommy knows what ever happens he forgives and loves him.
DeleteAnonymous is a.j. Lloyd
ReplyDeleteBut if Brandon loved Tommy so much, why didn't he let Tommy win or give him the money to pay Tommy's friend, died. To me, Tommy's reason to win was a better thing to fight for
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what your saying, but honestly they both were fighting for the money for good reasons. Tommy was fighting to win to help a friend and Brendon was fight to win to save his house. We both have our opinion, but honestly I don't think you can't say who's idea was best because they both measure out in the same level as each other, meaning one is not better than the other idea.
DeleteI am just saying what Tommy was winning for seemed a whole lot less selfish, than what Brandon was trying to do. I knew they were both using the prize money, but it is the way they use the money. Brandon was using the money for his family, while Tommy was using the money for another family. Tommy had bigger problems then Brandon, and still he doesn't use the money for himself. Instead he uses it for another family, who has less needs then him.
ReplyDeleteI understand what your saying, but look at from Brendan's point of view, would you want to win the money to save your family or give it to someone else to save their family? or look at it from Tommy's view, would you want to win the money just to give it to someone else or to get your life in order?
DeleteThe theme that most stood out to me during this film was forgiveness. Both Brandon and his father want Tommy to forgive them. Forgiveness resolves the conflict at the end of the story. I was hooked throughout the whole story because I wanted everyone to forgive each other. If no one forgave it wouldn’t be a very good story. I think the main point of the film was that sin can build up in our lives but it all can be forgiven. I don’t really know if the person who wrote this film was a Christian but after I saw this movie, I saw that it kind of related to Christ’s story in a way. Jesus wiped our sin away when He died on the cross. He forgave us. During the Lord’s supper in Matthew 26:28 Jesus says, “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus died in order to forgive us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emma. They all had legit reasons to be frustrated with each other, and if they hadn't forgiven each other their family would have been torn apart and a major point of the movie would have been ripped away. If Christ hadn't forgiven us and didn't sacrifice his life for us, we would all go to hell. No matter the amount of pain and hurt it's important to at least attempt to reconcile. I think it took a little bit of time for Tommy, and Brendan to realize this, and their dad made the first move. Once they started to open back up I think their built up emotions flooded over and they realized it was a good time to start fresh with each other. Luke 17:3-4, "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
DeleteI agree with the comments above, that the theme is fighting for what you believe is right. Both brothers were there for good reasons and both honestly needed the money. This was basically the whole plot of the movie and I think if they didn't have such strong reasons as to why each should win they wouldn't have driven themselves all the way to the finals. I definitely think scripture agrees with fighting for what you think is right. Multiple times in the Bible there are stories of people fighting for what they is right. Such as the story of the battle of Jericho, when Joshua believed in his cause to fight and he had God on his side, and was able to win the battle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fiala that one of the main themes of the story is forgiveness. The grudges in the story were getting really tense. The movie also shows that hating someone will not make you better off. Hatred does not bring happiness. It eats away at it. The grudge that Brendan and Tommy had with their father, it was not for the better. The both of them became angry and depressed after a long argument with their father. But when they forgave everyone, it was like a lead bag was taken off of them. They could once again be joyful, they can once again love others. I also agree with Fiala that this is a christian message. Matthew 6:14-15 says in order to receive forgiveness from God, you have to forgive others. How can you receive forgiveness when you condemn? How can you have satisfaction when hatred boils in your heart? You can only have peace when you have forgiven.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that forgiveness is a big part of the theme, I just think it is not a theme. It is a big part of the movie, it is just not big enough. Think about it. How many times did they forgive in the movie? Only about 2-3 times at the most right? I am pretty sure fight for what is right is the theme. Because that is what the two brothers are doing. Fighting for what is right. Tommy fought a needy family, while Brandon fought for his oqn family. I think forgiveness did not happen enough for it to be a theme for this movie. If it happened twice as much, it probaly would have changed a little bit of the plot. Maybe having the mom still alive or maybe even just the two brothers. If forgiveness happen more times, it for sure would be a theme of this movie
ReplyDeleteI think that forgiveness is a theme, but I think lack of forgiveness is a bigger one. I didn't see much splitting Tommy and Brendan apart, except for the stubbornness of Tommy, but when I look at the relationship between the dad and the two brothers, I think the gap between them is bigger and more interesting. The dad's sin created a barrier between them that, as the movie showed, was very hatrd to erase.
DeleteI don’t believe that forgiveness is the theme, but I do know that it is one of the bigger parts of the major theme. I believe the major theme is “effects of sin on relationships and families”. The dad’s sins (getting drunk, drugs) messed up the relationship between each and every member of his family; therefore, they all grew up hating each other. Because the brothers are sinful they were not willing to understand and forgive each other, at least in till the end where Brandon literally knocked his point of view into Tommy in a fight.
DeleteIn the movie, a theme they address over and over again is that once you hurt someone in any way, it is hard to gain their trust back, as Tommy and Brendan find it hard to forgive their dad being a drunkard. As their dad tries to fill the gap between each of them and himself, the brothers repeatedly turn away. In the Bible, though, God forgives us all the time, like it is no big deal. Matthew 6:14 says: For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. That is what makes forgiveness one of the main themes in this movie.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Wonderful connection to Matthew 6. Well done.
DeleteI agree with you Erik. The theme of broken trust lied between the sons and their father, but also between them. Their was obviously tension between them for Brendan leaving his mother and brother many years ago. When they met along the beach, they didn't come out and say it, but you could tell they were communicating to each other that they had lost faith in the other. But the Bible tells us to forgive all the trespasses that are made against us. When they forgave each other, it was a step in the right direction.
DeleteI agree with what you said Erik yet I think the theme in the film wasn't lack of forgiveness, but hatred. Throughout the film Tommy and Brendan definitely had difficulty getting along, yet the only thing they could agree on was their mutual hatred for their father. The film ended with Tommy and Brendan resolving their relationship yet when the movie ended it never really showed a resolution, or restoration between the father and his sons. The father desperately wanted to be forgiven and restore his relationship with his sons throughout the movie, yet the movie never showed the sons accepting their fathers apology and forgiving him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meyer about hatred being part of the theme, but all these themes are all just one word. Correct me if I am wrong but I think a theme is a statement not just a word.
DeleteI wonder if a theme of the film is submission? In MMA there is a great deal of "submission moves", and the goal of a fighter is to cause their opponent to submit.
ReplyDelete1. What does submission mean?
2. Does the Bible have anything to say about submission? Where?
3. Do any of the characters need to "submit" to bring healing about in their lives?
This question is for anyone that is game to give it a shot.
Interesting, I guess if I got in more detail on my comment above about the major theme being "the affect of sin in relationships and families" submission would also be a big part.
DeleteSubmission means to give in to something, usually something greater in power, knowledge, ect.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not onto thine own understanding.
I believe that the character that truly needs to submit is Tommy. He calls to no one. He loves no one. He refuses to receive love from anyone. He needs to give in and give up; his life style is damaging him and his family.
Submission means the act of yielding to power or authority.
DeleteHebrews 13:17 says, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. I think both Tommy and Brandon needed to submit even though their dad was and still is a terrible person. But what they need to realize is that they are no better then there dad, a matter of fact, they might even be worse. It says in Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. No one is perfect accept for Christ.
Submission is the action or fact of yielding or accepting to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person. I don’t think that Tommy lost because he submitted, I don’t think that Brendan was a superior force. I think that the brothers came to an agreement and that is what settled the fight.
Deleteto go even further with what I said I think hatred is also one of the bigger sins in this story, causing it to become a larger theme. In 1st John 3:15 it says "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murder has eternal life in him." this verse explains that it is wrong to ate and it is equivalent to murdering someone. In the film Tommy and Brendan should have forgiven their father instead of hating him throughout the whole movie. Because by doing this, the people creating the movie showed that the brothers were committing a bigger sin than the father probably ever did.
ReplyDeleteI think that I agree with a lot of people that forgiveness was a very key theme throughout the movie. Tommy was very broken and throughout the movie he gets progressively worse until the end when we see him finally show forgiveness to his brother and his father. In Matthew 18:21 Jesus is asked by Peter how many times he should forgive someone who wrongs him. Jesus replies saying "I tell you not seven times but seventy seven times...." This passage is saying that the amount of times you need to forgive someone who has sinned against you, never ends. I think that forgiveness is showed very dramatically and passionately at the end of this movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily that the major theme is forgiveness. There are many other themes in the movie, but the overarching theme was definitely forgiveness. The brothers are digging themselves deeper and deeper holes as the movie progresses. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 talks about how the body has many parts and all of the parts are needed for the body to function. I related this passage to the theme of Warrior. Their family body was in disarray and as individuals they could not make the body function. But, when they all forgave each other, they came together and allowed the body to function.
DeleteMost stories themes are just the basic good verses evil, but this movie is not. Neither side of the story is bad. I think the main theme in this story is broken relationship. Every character has trouble with some one, Tommy and Brenden with each other, the father and his sons, Brenden and the economy, etc. Throughout the story it is just showing how to deal with, get through, and overcome these struggles. It is hard for them to do these things, and I feel like some of these problems are very real problems and struggles we go through. We have friendship issues, money problems, and family struggles. We all need to learn to get through this stuff and if the story changed and they were christians, I think this would be a lot easier for them. But we are. We can trust in God and have comfort in knowing that God will help us and always be by our side.
ReplyDeleteI like Emily and Rebekah's idea of forgiveness being the theme. The characters all had trouble forgiving each other but they needed to overcome their anger and remember that they are a family, and familys should love each other ansd stick together. In the end they all forgave each other and became reunited in their relationships. We can learn by this not to hold grudges against others, but to forgive. In Colossians 3:13 it says, "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the LORD has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." This verse is saying that we should forgive each other, because God has forgiven ALL of our sins and we should try to show grace, love , and forgiveness to others, even though we can not even compare to God's love for us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Benjamin is saying and the forgiveness theme in the movie. Each character had a specific reason as to why they would not forgive another character and that stubbornness just grew as the movie went on until the very end. I think a boiling point was when the father came to Brendan's house. He was practically begging Brendan for forgiveness, but Brendan was so surrounded in a wall of hatred that he didn't even hesitate when he shut the door in his father's face. Ephesians 6:4 says,
Delete"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." This shows the father and his sons' situation really well. He did not bring up Tommy and Brendan with discipline and instruction from the Lord, he was a drunk. So they have a right to be at their father but they should understand that he is better and need to forgive him. Just like how God forgives our sins everyday, no matter how bad they are.
Submission used in this context of fighting would be to tap out and tapping out is saying that the guy your fighting is better and I have lost. 1 peter 3:22 touches on submission and is saying that everyone in heaven is under God's submission, even the angels. Submission in this verse means that you understand your position under God and you respect/give reverence to him. I think that both of the sons need to submit to their father and to God to turn their life around because if they submit to their father they are saying that they will give respect and reverence to him and put the past behind them and move on.
ReplyDeleteSubmission is giving up or tapping out in MMA. When you tap out in MMA you are accepting the fact that the other fighter has put you in a position where you are helpless and can't do anything to get out of a certain move. Submission to God is when you tell God you are a sinner, you are in need of forgiveness and you can't do it on your own. I think Tommy needed to submit to brendan which he eventually did when he tapped out in the ending scene.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Trent. Tommy needed to submit to someone in his family. He needed to give in and his heartened heart needed to chock on reality. He needed others to help him get through his life . He just couldn't make it by himself no matter how hard he tried to exclude people from his life. Here is a Bible verse talking about how we need other people to get through our life.
DeleteEphesians 2:1-5 says, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
I don't think I'm understanding totally what your saying, But tommy needed to take a chill pill and know that it was time to quit. Quit the whole fight between the two brothers. Sometimes you just have to forgive or you might just crash and fall, and when there's no one to catch it's over. And we must understand after you forgive it's like the whole world have lifted off your shoulders.
ReplyDeleteAlmost like when Jesus Forgave the ones who crucified him
ReplyDeleteIn this movie was kind of hard to tell what the main theme is, but some of the things that I saw kind toward the end of the movie was love and forgiveness. In Colossians 1:13-14 it says: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”. That verse states that God has forgiven us, so that means that the scenes in the movie that have forgiveness agree with the bible. Most of the movie the dad was trying to love his boys, but they were not willing to accept that love until the end of the movie. In the bible it says to put on love so it does line up with the movie in little ways. Another theme that I saw was that living a life where you don’t know who to trust, or love can be difficult.
ReplyDeleteI think that the theme one of the main theme's in the plot is to never give up or lose hope for ex. Brendan was being the best husband and dad he could be he put family and relationships first and he made sure that he protected his family and provided for them even in the movie if it means having three jobs and fighting. Another theme would be who is the strongest in all different ways mentally, physically, and I think in the fight it shows how Brendan could take lots of beating (the quote from the movie) "I don't know how one man can take so much abuse, what's keeping this guy up" and I think that's a great question what is keeping us up well some it could be sports, others entertainment, and God for some of us. The Bible verse I chose was: Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who strengthens me. And the last theme would be forgiveness you can see more about it on question #5 where I commented, but I really like this verse and how it expresses forgiveness from God, but it can be a whole different story when we forgive. My Bible verse about forgiveness: 1 John 1:19: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ReplyDeleteI think a huge point of this film was fighting for what you believe in. the dad was intent on reconciling with his sons and he fought to work his way back into their lives. Tommy was a complicated character to me. He seemed very hardened but also very vulnerable at the same time. He was focused on winning the tournament and nothing was going to stop him. But he also fought for his fallen comrade's family to support them in their hard times. Also, Brendan fought for his home. He was not about to sell his house and pay from teaching wasn't going to cut it. So, even after deciding with his wife they didn't want their kids to grow up with a father who gets beat up for a living, he was so determined to keep the house he resorted to MMA. Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." I think the Bible wants us to persevere to the best of our ability and fight for what we believe in. And that's what Tommy, Brendan, and their father did.
ReplyDeleteI really like what A. Peterman said. All of the characters were fighting or struggling for different things. The dad was wanting to gain a relationship with his boys and start over their trust. While tommy was trying to forget about the past and be a star in the MMA, and Brandon was trying to earn money for his family.
Delete.
ReplyDeleteI liked how in this movie you could not go wrong on who who wanted to win. I think that the theme in this movie is Forgiveness, it's important to forgive. I dont think its the main theme. I think the main theme is family. Brendan and Tommy were brothers who didn't trust each other. Also the dad, The brothers did not trust their father. At the end you see family coming together which I enjoyed. Also Brendon was fighting for his family.
I think this overall theme of this movie was the fall, redemption, and forgiveness. The fall was when Brendan was lying. Tommy was doing drugs and when their dad was drinking. Redemption and forgiveness was at the end when Brendan told Tommy to tap out and he carried Tommy off the ring. But I don't quit know what Brendan said to his father but his father was smiling so.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Nathan about the fall, redemption and forgiveness theme. They all had their moments of the fall; Brendan lying and being suspended from work and Tommy and the pop with the drugs. The redemption part is a little harder for me to figure out though. I know the end of the movie was definitely the major part of redemption. Although it might not of happened yet in the film, Brendan or Tommy hadn't gone to their father and put the past behind them and try to have a relationship. Forgiveness was seen all over the end of the movie, 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." They all confessed their sins to each other in a way that is vaguely seen.
DeleteI’d say another theme is to love your enemies. In this case, Brendan’s enemy was his dad, and later Tommy too. His dad has made his and Tommy’s lives miserable when they lived with him. He was an alcoholic. Tommy kept a big secret from to Brendan by not telling him about his mother’s death because he left his family with his wife. Both of them have did something really bad to Brendan, but he no longer treats them as enemies at the end of the movie. Brendon told Tommy that he loved him and led Tommy through the crowd as if he was also a victor. Brendan never told his father that he truly forgives him, but you can tell by the way Brendan looked at his dad when he won that the grudge is over. They are now one family. This is a very biblical message because Matthew 5: 43-45 says that you should love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you are closer to God.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion of what the main theme is, are the enduring family bonds. First, you have Brendan with his wife and kids, he does everything for his daughters while he is struggling to pay for many things. Then you have Tommy coming back to his dad for help even though he says he still doesn't love him. When their pop is drunk, Tommy is there and comforts him. And lastly, the brother bond, when Brendan sees his brother he asks him to meet up with him to talk at the beach. Brendan wants to make up with his brother, but Tommy is a little more stubborn. Later in the ring, we see the family bond come through as they walk out together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Morgan. Its all about regaining that strength and patching the holes. Even though, every one has their grudges and problems with drugs or trust or money, they come together in the end.
DeleteI agree completely with this statement. People say, "At the end of a hurricane theres a rainbow." I think that means that after the storm (hard times) something always good comes from it like in this instance where there family goes through tremendously rough times and after that "hurricane" they find more trust and love in each other.
DeleteI think the point of this film was to convey that family will always be there for you and you just have to forgive and forget. I think the major themes were forgiveness, family, and love. I think forgiveness is a big theme because there is so many spots in the movie where someone had to forgive someone or someone needed forgiveness. A great example of this is when Tommy, the "ex" Marine, made his dad really sad and want to drink and do drugs again because he was so depressed and when he saw his dad that way he got so emotional and started to realize "this is my dad, I love him." and he started to show that in that scene. Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Luke 6:31 says "Do to others as you would have them do to you." So if I want to be forgiven I should forgive others. Family was a big theme for me because in many scenes Brendan was not only providing for his family and trying to keep their house but he was also remaking those bonds with his brother and his dad. All of this relates to love.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel that all of those themes are very important. In the bible first Corinthians 13 says: "For love is patient, love is strong,... it is not proud it is not self seeking it keeps no record of wrong....." I think that the part in the bible that says love keeps no record of wrong is very key throughout the movie. Tommy and Brendan don't show this kind of love to their father at all. They hold all of his past sins against him. I think that the point where we finally see Tommy and Brendan both show true love for each other is in the final seen where Brendan says he loves Tommy. Tommy shows this love back by tapping out. During this scene theres a moment where we see the boys' dad standing in the crowd and he's looking at his sons and he nods his head. I think this is where he is finally seeing a model of how love should be and is realizing how close his family really is.
ReplyDeleteThe movie was really focused on the fact that the family, and their disbelief in each other. But together they fixed it. And by fixing it they have brought their family back together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel and her different theme. Concluding this blog, I think we need to be careful what we watch because we might think that a violent movie has good theme, but it really has bad ones. Or we might use it as an excuse to to watch a violent movie and say " But It has a good theme" when the theme is actually really awful. Bad movies and content are everywhere, and we should try our best to avoid it.
ReplyDeleteAnother theme I would also like to address is love. I think this theme showed great power in the story because you could see the overwhelming amount of love the father had for his two sons. The scene that was very sad to me was when the father showed up at Brendan's house and he saw his grand kids that he has never met. I thought that seen really showed me that the father had realized that he made a mistake in his life and he stilled loved his family. Also love showed up in the film when you found out that Tommy was going to give the prize money to his best friends girlfriend. Tommy showed a huge amount of love for his friend and his wife in that way.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, I love the theme of love that you addressed. Another time you saw the theme of love is the love that Brendan had for his family and wife. He risked his life for his family to have money and keep the house that they've made memories in. That shows the love he has for his kids and how much he wants a good future for them. He also risked his job and ended up losing it. Parents will do anything for the ones they love.
Delete