Post by galen on Oct 6, 2017 2:53:53 GMT -6
I will be discussing only "Christian" films here (including films where that label is debatable). First off I will say that I have watched far too many films in general including many with heavy R rated content, it's been a battle for me. Had more success in controlling what I watch recently. Anyway I'll just talk about some films (with comments on a few that I haven't seen and I suspect I'm unlikely to add to my film tally). Add your comments or thoughts about movies. I have referred to three Christian review sites a lot recently (they all do film in general) for advice regarding acceptability of movies (Dove, Plugged In, Movieguide) in some cases they have conflicting views with a classic example (not seen the movie) being Happy Feet 2 where Dove gave it their "All Ages" seal and praised it as a cute wholesome movie while Movieguide gave it their most unacceptable score (-4/abhorrent, the scale goes from -4 to 4 and they slammed it as a piece of climate change, evolutionary, homosexual propoganda) but generally they are all in the same ballpark. I know there are many other Christian review sites.
The End of the Spear-The greatest faith based movie IMO, the story of Jim Elliot who was martyred by a savage tribe in Ecuador but managed to sow seeds which eventually led to Jesus transforming the tribe.
Passion of the Christ-Questionable with mixed views among Christians. Some can't stomach the gruesome violence, some see it as an authentic and couageous portrayal of what His final hours must have been like, others have pointed out that the film has dubious Catholic theology. I watched it when it was released and I was just beginning my journey, it did bring aspects of His sacrifice for me home, haven't really looked into the theology claims or watched the whole movie since. Obviously Mel Gibson is a Catholic whose general life has been far from Christian, he may have turned a corner recently. Sequel to the movie planned centered around the resurrection, think the rapture will probably quickly see all movie production halted and maybe even completed movies not showing anymore or being released. Hollywood's days should quickly wrap up anyway with the utter chaos.
Hacksaw Ridge-Mel's latest, another bloodbath of a film with debatable Christian content. The film's hero Doss courageously goes on to the battlefield despite honoring his religious views around not bearing arms and saves many lives as a medic. He was a Seventh Day Adventist however, a sect whose views I have trouble lining up with Biblical Christianity from what I know of them.
Courageous-Probably readers will have seen this if you're into faith movies. Story of four policemen seeking to clean up their surroundings by starting at home. Plenty of humor, some violence
War Room-Directed by the Kendrick brothers who also did Courageous, a story about a women who under the guidance of an older mentor learns the importance of prayer and keeps her family from falling apart. Plenty of funny bits as well. Haven't seen any other Kendrick movies, maybe heaven has a screening room where I can catch up.
Anything Left Behind (Kirk Cameron's 2, Nicolas Cage) Haven't seen, does anyone have any comments? I suspect the latter Hollywood version, while faithful to the story was made by unbelievers to capitalize on the popularity of the book.
Final-The Rapture-The sole rapture movie I have seen. Very scary by Christian movie standards it shows the event from the perspective of four people in different parts of the world and uses flashbacks to show how they piece together what has happened.
Mom's Night Out-I've long thought more faith based comedies should be made. This is the only one on my list and I basically watched it because it was a faith based comedy. Middling quality, starts out fairly boring with a group of Moms planning an evening out leaving their husbands to look after the kids, gets more interesting when it turns to chaos and confusion surrounding several mix ups.
Home Run-The story of a pro baseball player with addiction issues and ghosts of the past who finds meaning and faith from coaching a kids team after his life starts falling apart. Not quite a home run but very good.
Silence: Martin Scorcese's latest, he's a legendary prolific director with a range of films, largely morally terrible, he explores spirituality from a Catholic perspective in a few including this one. But it's questionable, very violent and ultimately shows apostasy. In 17th Century Japan catholics are suffering for their faith and two young Portugese Jesuits hear a story that their mentor has turned his back on God so they undertake a journey to try and win him back into the fold. Suffering for faith is shown quite graphically. Scorcese made a film in 1988 called "The Last Temptation of Christ" which was out and out blasphemous. I highly doubt he's saved but he may know enough to work things out after the rapture.
Grace Card-Average movie with two mismatched cops working together, one Christian, one anti, but events ultimatley bring the latter one to faith.
The Ultimate Gift-Very touching movie about a self centered young man who has to complete a series of challenges to receive an inheritance from his rich deceased Christian grandfather who he had contempt for. He is ultimately transformed and shown what life is all about.
The Noah and Moses movies: Haven't watched either, both made by atheists and severely distort the stories with Noah being portrayed as a homicidal enviromentalist and from what I understand of the Moses film it's left ambigous as to whether God is part of the story or just in his mind). Cash grabs for gullible Christians.
The Hiding Place: Story of Corrie Ten Boom, a middle aged Dutch spinster who was sent to a concentration camp in WW2 for protecting Jews. She latter became one of the great voices of God in the 20th Century although the movie only concerns her sheltering the Jews and latter capture and imprisonment.
The Sword and the Switchblade: Story of a notorius Puerto Rican gangster Nicky Cruz and his conversion.
The Miracle Maker: Great animated story of Jesus life for all ages, utilizes a range of animation styles
The Prince of Egypt: Animated Exodus story which I found dull for some reason
Gifted Hands: Story of Ben Carson and his journey from angry teen from a broken home to world renowned neurosurgeon.
God's Not Dead: Not seen which might surprise you. Was put off by a review by Ken Ham who suggested it endorses theistic evolution and the big bang although many conservatives love it and don't seem to see those issues in it.
Heaven is for real: Story of young boy who passes out on operating table and claims to have gone to heaven, claims have been questioned by many Christians who find his description of heaven unbiblical. Not sure what I believe regarding this.
Machine Gun Preacher: Controversial, story of a rough biker who has a religious experience and figures God has called him to go to Sudan and liberate the children who are being forced to become child soldiers. He does use violence against the children's oppressors though, provoking interesting questions surrounding end justifying means. More violent than any of the films on the list apart from the two Mel Gibson ones and also has language that would earn an R rating on its own.
The Narnia Movies: Not great adaptations IMO. The latest one (Dawn Traeader) was the best. They seem to have given up part way through.
Luther: Inspiring bio of title character.
Risen: Centurion charged with guarding the tomb seeks to unravel mystery of disappearance and encounters the risen Christ.
Ben-Hur: Filmed three times, have not seen recent one but seen 1925 and 1959 version. Jewish man betrayed by his Roman friend, sentenced to hard labour, comes back after rescuing a powerful man from a shipwreck, seeks revenge, ultimate encounters Jesus.
Nativity Story: Have seen but a bit of a blur in memory, don't think it stood out.
Amazing Grace: Also a blur, despite having seen it.
Might think of more later.
The End of the Spear-The greatest faith based movie IMO, the story of Jim Elliot who was martyred by a savage tribe in Ecuador but managed to sow seeds which eventually led to Jesus transforming the tribe.
Passion of the Christ-Questionable with mixed views among Christians. Some can't stomach the gruesome violence, some see it as an authentic and couageous portrayal of what His final hours must have been like, others have pointed out that the film has dubious Catholic theology. I watched it when it was released and I was just beginning my journey, it did bring aspects of His sacrifice for me home, haven't really looked into the theology claims or watched the whole movie since. Obviously Mel Gibson is a Catholic whose general life has been far from Christian, he may have turned a corner recently. Sequel to the movie planned centered around the resurrection, think the rapture will probably quickly see all movie production halted and maybe even completed movies not showing anymore or being released. Hollywood's days should quickly wrap up anyway with the utter chaos.
Hacksaw Ridge-Mel's latest, another bloodbath of a film with debatable Christian content. The film's hero Doss courageously goes on to the battlefield despite honoring his religious views around not bearing arms and saves many lives as a medic. He was a Seventh Day Adventist however, a sect whose views I have trouble lining up with Biblical Christianity from what I know of them.
Courageous-Probably readers will have seen this if you're into faith movies. Story of four policemen seeking to clean up their surroundings by starting at home. Plenty of humor, some violence
War Room-Directed by the Kendrick brothers who also did Courageous, a story about a women who under the guidance of an older mentor learns the importance of prayer and keeps her family from falling apart. Plenty of funny bits as well. Haven't seen any other Kendrick movies, maybe heaven has a screening room where I can catch up.
Anything Left Behind (Kirk Cameron's 2, Nicolas Cage) Haven't seen, does anyone have any comments? I suspect the latter Hollywood version, while faithful to the story was made by unbelievers to capitalize on the popularity of the book.
Final-The Rapture-The sole rapture movie I have seen. Very scary by Christian movie standards it shows the event from the perspective of four people in different parts of the world and uses flashbacks to show how they piece together what has happened.
Mom's Night Out-I've long thought more faith based comedies should be made. This is the only one on my list and I basically watched it because it was a faith based comedy. Middling quality, starts out fairly boring with a group of Moms planning an evening out leaving their husbands to look after the kids, gets more interesting when it turns to chaos and confusion surrounding several mix ups.
Home Run-The story of a pro baseball player with addiction issues and ghosts of the past who finds meaning and faith from coaching a kids team after his life starts falling apart. Not quite a home run but very good.
Silence: Martin Scorcese's latest, he's a legendary prolific director with a range of films, largely morally terrible, he explores spirituality from a Catholic perspective in a few including this one. But it's questionable, very violent and ultimately shows apostasy. In 17th Century Japan catholics are suffering for their faith and two young Portugese Jesuits hear a story that their mentor has turned his back on God so they undertake a journey to try and win him back into the fold. Suffering for faith is shown quite graphically. Scorcese made a film in 1988 called "The Last Temptation of Christ" which was out and out blasphemous. I highly doubt he's saved but he may know enough to work things out after the rapture.
Grace Card-Average movie with two mismatched cops working together, one Christian, one anti, but events ultimatley bring the latter one to faith.
The Ultimate Gift-Very touching movie about a self centered young man who has to complete a series of challenges to receive an inheritance from his rich deceased Christian grandfather who he had contempt for. He is ultimately transformed and shown what life is all about.
The Noah and Moses movies: Haven't watched either, both made by atheists and severely distort the stories with Noah being portrayed as a homicidal enviromentalist and from what I understand of the Moses film it's left ambigous as to whether God is part of the story or just in his mind). Cash grabs for gullible Christians.
The Hiding Place: Story of Corrie Ten Boom, a middle aged Dutch spinster who was sent to a concentration camp in WW2 for protecting Jews. She latter became one of the great voices of God in the 20th Century although the movie only concerns her sheltering the Jews and latter capture and imprisonment.
The Sword and the Switchblade: Story of a notorius Puerto Rican gangster Nicky Cruz and his conversion.
The Miracle Maker: Great animated story of Jesus life for all ages, utilizes a range of animation styles
The Prince of Egypt: Animated Exodus story which I found dull for some reason
Gifted Hands: Story of Ben Carson and his journey from angry teen from a broken home to world renowned neurosurgeon.
God's Not Dead: Not seen which might surprise you. Was put off by a review by Ken Ham who suggested it endorses theistic evolution and the big bang although many conservatives love it and don't seem to see those issues in it.
Heaven is for real: Story of young boy who passes out on operating table and claims to have gone to heaven, claims have been questioned by many Christians who find his description of heaven unbiblical. Not sure what I believe regarding this.
Machine Gun Preacher: Controversial, story of a rough biker who has a religious experience and figures God has called him to go to Sudan and liberate the children who are being forced to become child soldiers. He does use violence against the children's oppressors though, provoking interesting questions surrounding end justifying means. More violent than any of the films on the list apart from the two Mel Gibson ones and also has language that would earn an R rating on its own.
The Narnia Movies: Not great adaptations IMO. The latest one (Dawn Traeader) was the best. They seem to have given up part way through.
Luther: Inspiring bio of title character.
Risen: Centurion charged with guarding the tomb seeks to unravel mystery of disappearance and encounters the risen Christ.
Ben-Hur: Filmed three times, have not seen recent one but seen 1925 and 1959 version. Jewish man betrayed by his Roman friend, sentenced to hard labour, comes back after rescuing a powerful man from a shipwreck, seeks revenge, ultimate encounters Jesus.
Nativity Story: Have seen but a bit of a blur in memory, don't think it stood out.
Amazing Grace: Also a blur, despite having seen it.
Might think of more later.