Planes - Flying Above it All

Planes – Flying Above it All

 

DisneyToon Studio’s movie, “Planes” is a marvelous surprise and treat for those wishing to show their children how to treat others that treat you wrong. It is a good lesson in dealing with bullies and those that wish to trick you.

Planes takes place in or should I say above the world of Pixar’s “Cars”. The mechanical devices rule the world once again. Cars, Planes and Ships are alive and have personalities.

Dusty Crophopper is a simple cropdusting plane that has dreams of being something more, a world class racer!!!! He dreams of flying in the “Wings Around the Globe Rally.” In the evenings his friend, Chug the fueling truck helps him practice while reading the book, “Air Racing for Dummies”. Dusty has a secret, he is afraid of heights! He wants to fly low and fast instead of low and slow.

Dusty Crophopper does try out for a race and just misses qualifying for the race by a fraction of a second! Then he is notified that one of the planes that qualified cheated and used non-approved fuel, much like an athlete using steroids. This means Dusty gets to race!

In preparation for the race Dusty asks for help from a “retired” navy war plane, Skipper. Skipper does not fly anymore but will not say why. He refuses at first to help Dusty but watching how hard Dusty works and seeing Dusty’s heart he relents and shares his knowledge and stories of battles he fought in the war.

Once Dusty gets to were the race will start the other planes in the race make fun of him. Cropdusters are made for flying low and slow so how can Dusty win? No matter who laughs at him Dusty keeps trying. The winner of the past 3 races, Ripslinger is particularly rude and abusive. Rip thinks it is funny that a cropduster is flying in the race and is also bothered by the fact that Dusty is there at all. Dusty is just not one of the in crowd, one of “them”.

While on the way to his hanger Dusty sees an English flying legend, Bulldog in his hanger. Dusty praises him for a move he did in a past race and wishes him luck. Bulldog teases him by offering to tell him how he did the move. Then Bulldog says only a fool helps others that they are racing against. It is every plan for himself. Dusty also meets other planes and all but one, El Chupacabra (indoor racing champ from Mexico) makes fun of him or ignores him. Dusty and El Chupacabra become friends because nobody else wants either of them around. Nobody believes either of them have a chance to win.

Dusty returns all the negative comments with words of praise of the other racers abilities. He never returns their harsh words with rudeness or anger. He just stays true to himself and keeps on trying to do his very best.

At the end of the first leg of the race Dusty is in last place because he will not fly high enough to stay out of the bad weather. Near the end of the second leg of the race Dusty chooses to come in last to help save the life of Bulldog who has engine problems. With that he earns the respect of Bulldog. The third leg leaves Dusty still at the back of the pack.

Just before the forth leg Ishani (who Dusty likes) flirts with Dusty and shows him around India, her homeland. She shows him some railroad tracks and suggests if he follows them he will be able to fly low, saving him from his fear of heights. Her advice puts him in first place but almost costs him his life! At the end of leg four he realizes that Ishani intentionally gave him bad advice that put his life at risk! He sees that Isani has a new propeller that is only available to Ripslinger and his team. She tricked him to get the propeller. He confronts her. Instead of attacking her or making threats he tells her that he will never trust her again. Dusty’s first place position makes Rip upset. The fifth leg Dusty stays in first place making Rip even angrier and now Rip starts making plans to take out Dusty for good.

The sixth leg of the race is over the Pacific Ocean and they are depending on radio contact and GPS location devices to guide each plane safely to the next destination. Dusty is still flying low making him a perfect target for Rip’s two sidekicks who swoop down from behind and above to knock off Dusty’s radio/GPS antenna. This leaves Dusty without direction and unable to call for help. Getting low on fuel two fighter jets come upon him demanding he identify himself. Dusty tells them he is lost and low on fuel, the jets take him to their ship, the USS “Flysinhower” to refuel and get a new antenna.

Once on the Flysinhower Dusty sees it is the unit Skipper was with. He looks on a wall that honors all past flyers and realizes that all the stories that Skipper told him were lies. Skipper only flew one mission, not the many he spoke of. Dusty flies off the Flysinhower angry, confused straight into a major storm he was told was coming. He refuses to listen to the advice of the other planes and Skipper to fly high to get over the storm. He crashes into the waves and has to be rescued. He is damaged and thinks he is beyond repair because he can’t obtain all the parts he needs in time to win. He is demoralized by Skipper’s “lies”.

Dusty is dejected and hopeless. Skipper comes in and tells him the truth about why he only flew one mission. Skipper was a trainer and was taking some of his trainees on a “simple” patrol mission when they were attacked and all but Skipper destroyed. Skipper asks Dusty if he would have listened to him if he knew the truth. Skipper also tells Dusty that he has learned more from Dusty than Dusty learned from him.

Still angry and feeling hopeless Dusty has surprise visitors. El Chupacabra, Bulldog and many of the other planes Dusty befriended or treated kindly show up with a new parts. Even Ishani shows up giving him the propeller that Rip had given her for tricking him. Dusty learns he has inspired many others by his determination, willingness to try and good sportsmanship. His attitude when treated wrong and willingness to help others has earned him the respect of all but a few of the other top racers. Dusty is fixed up and approved for the seventh and final leg of the race!

During the seventh and final leg of the race Dusty is allowed to fly because it was proven his radio was tampered with by another racer. Still because he did not technically finish the sixth leg of the race he has a harsh time penalty and must leave much later than the other racers. He has no real chance of winning the race.

One by one Dusty passes the other racers. Many cheer him on, glad he is doing well. None slowdown and allow him to pass just to let him win. He earns his place in the race rightfully. Soon there is only one racing plane ahead of him, Ripslinger and his sidekicks are aware of his progress and are not happy about it. Rip tells his minions they are out of camera range where dirty tricks will be caught. Rip and his team fly around to get behind Dusty. Rip pushes Dusty, who is flying low, as usual into the ground! Just as it looks like they will make Dusty crash and get away with it, Skipper comes down from the clouds and knocks them off Dusty!

Skipper goes after Rip while Dusty gets rid of the two troublemakers. Dusty and Skipper are ahead of Rip for a few moments when Rip uses his “skyslicer” propeller to rip through Skipper’s tail. Dusty slows to check on Skipper and wants to stay with him. Skipper tells Dusty he is fine and to go win! Dusty sees that Rip is now too far ahead for him to catch up in the short distance they have left in the race. His only hope is to fly high where tailwinds will give him the extra speed he needs to win. This is what Skip had told him to do early in the training. So up Dusty goes higher than he ever has!

Dusty does swoop down from the clouds to win! Rip is shown to be the coward and bully he is. Those that worked with Rip or who just joined in on the teasing learned a lesson in humility, kindness and true friendship.

I take away three related Biblical lessons this movie. First is treat others as you want to be treated. Second is turn the other cheek. The third is Love your enemies.

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law of the Prophets.

In other words treat others the same way you wish to be treated. Do you want people to torment and trick you? To you want people to lie and endanger your life? Of course not! Then do not do it to others! Simple and good way to look at things. Let’s take this thought just a little further. Think of what happens if you make a mistake and realize it.  Would you want forgiveness and a second chance? When you do something right or complete a hard task do you wish recognition? I do and am sure you do as well.

Matthew 5:39

I (Jesus) tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you in the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

This is the hardest thing to do and understand. Many people think this means to be a doormat and let people walk all over you. For some it is why they will not be believe in Christ. They think Christianity is a religion of weakness.

I believe this is saying do not return anger or violence if you have another choice. Yes, we are to protect ourselves. It just means do to jump to violence or rage as the first response.

Matthew 10:16

. . . be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Snakes are hyper aware of what is going on around them. It is how they survive! They are quick to run away and can respond fast when attacked. Also snakes are associated with Satan/evilness. I take that to mean we are to be prepared to run when we can or protect ourselves and those around us when necessary.

Doves are a symbol of peace and gentleness. It was a Dove that found the olive branch that showed Noah that the flood waters had receded. When Jesus was baptized God descended “as a dove” and declared, “This is My Son with whom I’m well pleased.” I take this to mean we are to hold out the olive branch of peace when we can. We are to choose peace first.

I think this verse means be balanced in your response to people and situations. Be ready to run or fight as necessary using the wisdom God gives you but always act in ways that can hopefully end in peace and restoration of relationship.

Proverbs 25:21-22

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

It is simple! Be nice to people even when they are mean to you, this will just make them angry and confused. God will reward you if you do!

Bulldog was arrogant and rude to Dusty at the beginning. “You want me to help you? Ya right! It’s every plane (person) for themselves!” Dusty could have been rude in return. Instead he walks away and continues to stay true to himself. He later sees Bulldog in danger, falling from the sky. Dusty falls back and guides a blinded Bulldog to a safe landing, saving his life. Dusty did not have to do that! Bulldog was confused and reminded Dusty of what he had said about every plane for himself. Dusty said, “Where I come from you never stand by and watch someone fall from the sky.” Dusty’s actions then lead to great reward later when Bulldog and others turn around and help him after his crash.

This thought leads to the next verse.

Matthew 5:43-48

You have head that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors (the most evil and corrupt people of that time) doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It is natural to love those you know and hate/fear your enemy and those you don’t know or understand. God calls us to love those that attack us so we may be more like Him. He does good things for everybody, good and evil people. We are to reach beyond our circle of friends and the natural tendency to stick with those like us.

We group ourselves by ethnicity, interests, professions and beliefs and reject those not in our “group”. God says move on and reach out! So the Catholics and Protestants worship differently. They both worship the same God! Baptists, Lutherans, Methodist or Charismatic what does it matter! Sit quietly in your seat the entire sermon with your hands holding your Bible or raise your hands calling out Amen when touched by the sermon! Does it really matter? NO it does not! Black, White, Yellow or Brown skin means nothing to God and should mean nothing to us.

When we talk to someone from a different ethnic, socioeconomic, or religious background we learn and grow. Our lives are enriched and made better and so is theirs! When we connect with someone that has different interests and knowledge base than we do our world is expanded by added knowledge and a different way of looking at things.

I take great encouragement from this movie. I’m reminded to treat others fairly even when they mistreat me. I’m reminded to reward kindness and when someone is loyal to me I should be loyal and extra kind to them.

Fly high above the bullies and troublemakers! Strive to be the best person you can be!

Do not assume just because a movie is made for an audience of children there is nothing in it of importance for us adults to learn as well.