Grey, The (05/15/2012)

Rated R for violence/disturbing content including bloody images, and for pervasive language.

Starring Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney, and Frank Grillo

Directed by Joe Carnahan (The A-Team, Smokin’ Aces and Narc)

I’m now afraid of flying, snow, rivers and wolves…o.k. maybe I’ve always been afraid of wolves, but The Grey is absolutely terrifying.

In The Grey, Liam Neeson leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. Battling mortal injuries and merciless weather, the survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements – and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt – before their time runs out.

We have to start with the man who is Hollywood’s latest (and oldest) action star. Yeah, Liam Neeson is a late bloomer. This 60 year old has had some pretty intense roles in the last few years: Unknown (2011), The A-Team (2010) and of course Taken (2009). And he is fantastic in this one. Whether he is battling depression, his “friends” or the wolves, he has a commanding presence in every scene.

The rest of the cast is just as good and bring to life some very interesting characters. Yeah, I said it. In a movie that could have been just about a pack of ferocious wolves, The Grey develops each character and you quickly love or hate them. Liam Neeson’s character is developed even deeper through his narration and flashbacks, both beautifully done.

As far as the pace goes…let’s just say I needed a nap afterwards. I’m not kidding, I was emotionally drained. There are scenes when you know something bad is going to happen and other times you are just starting to relax when something bad happens. Either way…something bad happens. Director, Joe Carnahan knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat.

As you might expect, with all those “bad things” happening, there is plenty of action.

Finally we have to talk about the wolves. Carnahan gives us the perfect amount of wolf screen time. There are scenes where we see the wolves in full view and other times where all we see is their eyes or their breath…and all three are equally terrifying.

The only real negative was the language. With over 150 F-bombs, I just can’t give it a “Worth Buying,” but with a very intense story, great cast and some scary special effects, it is “Theater Worthy” for sure.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity, but plenty of conversations about it. The R-rating is for the violence/gore and profanity. There are several scenes where a man is attacked by wolves and a lot of blood is shown. The plane crash sequence is also intense and disturbing. As far as profanity goes, like I said earlier, there are over 150 F-words and several other milder words.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: In one scene Ottway is screaming out at God demanding that He do something “now, not later.” After a few seconds of staring into the open ski he says, “[Screw] faith. Earn it.”

What do you think Ottway believed about God in that moment?

Have you ever doubted God?

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: Have you ever prayed for something and it did not happen? What were you praying for? Be prepared to share a personal story.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

What is Paul telling us in verse 7?

In verse 8 he says he pleaded or begged three different times for the Lord to take it away, why did God not answer the prayer the way Paul wanted it answered?

What do you think “My grace is all you need” means?

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: How did Ottway react when God didn’t answer his prayer the way he wanted it answered?

How should you and I react when God doesn’t answer a prayer the way we wanted it answered?

What is the greatest thing we can learn from “unanswered” prayers?