TIME BANDITS (1981)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Written by: Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin
Studio: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Starring: David Rappaport, Kenny Baker, John Cleese
Rated: PG

About the film:
A young boy joins a band of dwarves on a time-traveling adventure. The dwarves have stolen a map showing the location of “time holes” from The Supreme Being which allows them to escape through time so they can plunder to their heart’s content.

Movie Quote:
“No one created me! I am Evil! Evil existed long before Good. I cannot be unmade. I am all-powerful.”
Evil Genius (David Warner) in Time Bandits (1981)

Bible Quote:
“I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and created evil: I the LORD do all these things.”
Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)

Commentary:
As we look at the above quote from Time Bandits, we see that it is full of lies. Contrary to the claims of Evil Genius, evil is not all-powerful. It can be “unmade.” It did not exist before good. And as the scripture from Isaiah informs us, evil was purposely created… what’s more, it was created by God.

That may seem a bit contradictory and even blasphemous to say but because the Word of God declares it to be true, we must accept it and try to understand what it means. As we delve deeper into the nature of God we find that it isn’t contradictory at all.

Evil exists because we have a kind, fair, just and loving God. We have a God who did not want His children to be mindless robots or puppets which could be controlled by the pulling of a string. He had to create the possibility of both good and evil… so He could then grant us the free will to choose between the two.

The ultimate expression of love that we can give to our Creator and our God is found in our faithfulness to always choose good, thus fulfilling His greatest desire.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4 (NIV)

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What would life be like if God had not given us free will? Would you freely give up your free will in order to live in a world without evil? Why or why not?
2. How does Romans 12:21 apply to this film? And how do we practically follow its exhortation in our lives?

Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com