Warrior ( November 14, 2011)

Rating: Null/10 (16 March 2012)

I went to see "Warrior" with my two sons, not knowing exactly what to expect. Knowing it was about two brothers who end up fighting each other, I thought it might contain something useful for them to see.
Many times movies can move me emotionally, sometimes I may tear up, but in this movie I wiped tears away from off my cheek.
I did wonder if the writers were the "older brothers." Or, since it was released on September 11, was there some subliminal message between American "brothers" with terrorists being the younger brother.
Warrior brothers does not seem like it should be synonymous. Brothers fighting goes all the way back to Cain and Abel. "And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thous doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:6-7) In "Warrior", fallen countenances are seen. Sin (destructive things) can be seen ruling over the lives of the brothers and the father.
Tommy had an alcoholic father with all the dysfunction that brings. His mother left his father; Tommy went with her, while Brendan stayed with his father. Brendan also stayed with his father so he did not have to move away from his girlfriend. Tommy and his mother moved across the country; she got sick, she did not have health insurance, she got Tommy to rub her body in oil (praying for healing from God, and she died). I guess Tommy felt everyone betrayed or abandoned him; father, brother, health care assistance, and God. He went to the Marines. In battle, his brothers mistakenly fired on him and those he was with - killing everyone but him. He lost his "best brother" and ran to desert the military, only to run upon brothers in need and was able to save lives. Yet, he fled and took on his mothers maiden name to avoid military court martial.
He got dealt bad hands. There is not a lot you can do sometimes to change the cards you are dealt, you can only change how you respond to the cards you are dealt. Tommy's countenance fell. It fell toward his father, his brother, health care affordability, God, and his military service.
He had a lot to deal with. Like Cain, Tommy was wroth and his countenance fell. In the ring, fighting against his brother, he appeared much like Cain. "...and it came to pas, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." (Genesis 4:8) Brendan had issues with his father and with Tommy. Brendan could not trust to allow his father into his life and expose his family to the pain his father caused him. Brendan had evidently gone to college and he was teaching at a high school. He had married and had children. He had bad hands dealt, also. His child had a heart problem, he had medical debts, his house was underwater, and when he sought to make extra money in a "questionable" way his "brothers" (school administration) suspended him without pay. The principal of the school and his students personally wanted to stand with him - but their hands were tied professionally.
Brendan needed money to keep supporting his family; Tommy needed money to support his killed marine "brother's" wife and family.
The father is watching both his sons fight in the ring.
I did not want to see either brother win in the ring against each other. I did not want to see brothers fight. How can brothers win when they seek to win at the expense of other. It is like a boundary, that if you cross it, you uncover your brother - you kill him.
In "Warrior", Brendan won the fight in the ring. A lot of questions remain unanswered. Did the military police take Tommy and court martial him? What kind of relationship would Tommy, Brendan and their father have? Was money and both brothers' needs put above their brother relationship? Can one or both brothers say, "I'm not going to fight you? You're my brother?" Since Adam and Eve, we are all brothers in humanity. Also, since Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel, and later Seth, we are either Sons of God, or sons of men. There will always be two lines of brothers, though there are many subclasses. (blood brothers, military brothers, frat brothers, professional brothers, etc.) Within the subclasses, you can have either Sons of God, or sons of men.
Jesus is the firstborn Son. He is the elder brother who was willing to die to give all humanity the opportunity to become His brothers and sisters.
"The Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) Cain was a liar and a murderer. He slew his brother.
Jesus spoke of Abel as being righteous. (Matthew 23:35) Cain is referred to, as "of that wicked one, and slew his brother." (I John 3:12) Every man is born with "sin lying at the door, with its desire unto you..." (Genesis 4:7) Every man must rule over him.
"Warrior" was intense. I cried. I left heavy.
I thank God for my elder brother who gave a knock out punch - the winning blow - to the adversary of all men.