Well. School has begun. Again. And I really don't want to be here. But I've gotta get it done. I just gotta. And it will be so. Because it must be so. That's why.

I went and saw The Exorcism of Emily Rose last night. I didn't go voluntarily, that's for sure. I had suggested going to a movie to my roommate and his brother, and that was what they wanted to see. I told them I didn't want to, but by the time we got to the theatre, I didn't really have much choice. So I went.

To tell you the truth, I was impressed. I won't lie -- I got scared. I closed my eyes many a'time throughout. There were a few moments where all I could think was, "What the heck am I doing here?!" But I made it. With my bladder intact. And I have to say, it was actually a decent movie.

After the movie I was telling my roommate (who, by the way, didn't find the movie very scary, for some odd reason) that movies like that disturb me, or affect me, more than other "horror" movies because they involve something I believe very much in: the supernatural, angels and demons, good vs. evil, God and Satan. Whereas with other horror movies, the plot is so ridiculous I don't give it much thought. I think I was affected a lot by this movie for the same reason, or in the same vein, as I was affect by The Passion of the Christ -- there were moments where I really didn't feel like I was watching a movie. At least, not in the traditional I-pay-my-10-bucks-and-get-entertained-for-a-couple-of-hours sort of way. It was much more real and believable than that. It felt, at times, very personal, like I could relate to what was happening (not that I've been possesed by six demons recently, or anything). It didn't help that this movie was based on actual events (though they are no doubt still in question).

Of course, I had some 'theological issues' with it. It was very Catholic (which is obvious, considering the emphasis on Exorcism -- duh!). But with that came the emphasis on Mary and on iconic props (such as using the Crucifix to physically affect the demons). I'm not a big fan of that stuff. Must be the Protestant in me or something...

But I think the movie did a lot of things right. I think it did a good job of showing the reality of evil, that Satan is real and alive and active. I think a lot of people will leave the theatre with much to think about, simply because the film was done well enough, and handled the topic seriously enough, as to give the idea of the supernatural credibility. That really impressed me.

I also really liked how they talked about why it is our culture wants to explain away everything with science/medicine, while other cultures still very much hold to the idea that some things can't be explained away.

I was disappointed, though, that they didn't really show God's power over evil very well. Granted, the point of the story, as the film itself stated, was to show that Satan is real. But it was discouraging to see the priest "lose", or fail at, the Exorcism. Though now that I think about it, this verse pops into my head:

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting."
(Mark 9:28-29)

Anyway. Interesting movie. Made me think. Still, not for everyone -- much as The Exorcist wasn't for everyone, either (although, just so you know, this one is a lot less graphic than The Exorcist was).

As for other aspects of my life -- school is alright. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not feeling very excited about it. I want to be done with it. It doesn't help anything either that I would rather be in Ontario with Ashley than in B.C. without her. That is definitely no fun. None at all. Nadda. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Sigh. Life is stupid sometimes.