Let me be clear. This is not a movie review blog, but lately the movies have been speaking to me. Like almost everyone else with young children, I went to the movies this weekend. We took them to see the Thunderbolts. I had low expectations because I had never heard of the Thunderbolts before I saw the promo. I was fully expecting to fall asleep in the comfy recliner chairs at the bougie movie theater my husband and children prefer. I was presently surprised.
The movie was good. I laughed. I almost cried, and I marveled. I love any movie that makes me think, and this movie made me do just that. Here are my preliminary thoughts.
Even the tiniest story matters. In a comedic bit making fun of John Walker, the disgraced Captain America, the characters all tell terrible stories about their childhoods. Inevitably one of those stories becomes the inspiration for the name of the new the superhero team. This is a reminder that nothing in your life is insignificant. It all matters. Even if you don’t value a particular part of the story, someone will. So please, share your story, no matter how insignificant you think it might be. Someone needs to hear it.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. In this movie, there are people with supernatural abilities and political power. Unfortunately, they do not all use their powers for good. When one character discovers his full potential, he becomes the villain. Another character implies that there are bad people, and worse people, and it is clear that she might be one of the worst. Her quest for power is the basis for the entire movie, and it definitely comes back to bite her in the end.
May is Mental Health month and this movie is about that and so much more. I am a firm believer that every story is a love story and the Thunderbolts is an excellent example. One character loved his daughter. Another loved power. One character was learning to love himself. One was learning to love others. It taught me that love isn’t always about letting in the light. Sometimes, love looks going down into the dark with your loved ones and fighting your way out together.
The Gospel According to Gabrielle 