Red 2 is the second installation of the comic book mini-series turned movie franchise. The film cast consists of Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones.
Storyline in a Nutshell
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is a retired CIA agent who is thrust back into the spy and espionage business after someone labels him a dangerous international terrorist. He must find a way to clear his name and stop the villain (Anthony Hopkins) of the film from annihilating a country for revenge.
Biblical Principles to Look for in the Film
Most people are familiar with the story of Esther. Though this film has an Esther-type character (Mary Louise Parker), the biblical philosophy of this story is centered around another person – Haman. Haman is similar to the villain in the film in three ways:
1) His hatred for an entire nation because of the acts of a few.
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence… And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. —Esther 3:1-2, 5-6 KJV
2) He enlisted the help of others, unbeknownst to them, to aid him with his plan to exterminate a nation.
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. —Esther 3:8-11 KJV
3) The device and plan he set into motion to destroy the nation that fuels his wrath, it is used against him to his demise.
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. —Esther 7:9 KJV
The Red 2 villain was so blinded by his anger and hatred that he was willing to kill millions of innocent people to get his revenge on the transgressions of a few. For Haman, it was the transgression of only one. Yet, he was determined to kill a nation.
Moral of the Film
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. —Ephesians 4:31 KJV
God urges us to find a way to forgive. Sometimes it is hard to forgive wrongdoings that are done against us. Wrath is a reactive emotion to our pain, shame and anger. Love is a proactive one. Both emotions have a ripple effect on other people’s lives. In both the story of Haman and the movie Red 2, the most powerful emotion is victorious — love.