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Werner
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Oct 30, 2009 11:18AM
On one of our other threads a few weeks ago, we floated the idea of a discussion thread devoted to TV and movies (I know, Goodreads is a book-discussion site --but these media appeal to some of the same interests as books, and the two often influence each other!). So, here it is! This is the place to discuss the big and little screens in Christian perspective (and the topics for discussion don't have to be drawn only from Christian films and TV).
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I am revealing my old fogy age here, but years ago Hollywood make good movies based on Christian themes.King of Kings; The Ten Commandment; The Robe; and Ben -Hur plus any number of less known works.
Are the Hollywood film makers so afraid of offending some atheist groups that they will no longer make such films and address some themes?
Walden Media is not afraid to make Christian-based movies. Sadly, most of Hollywood is atheist and/or actively anti-Christian. CT Movies Today had a good article on 2012 that was 'entlightening' - http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctm...
Thanks for that link, Jon! That article deals with the reason (which some producers openly admit) that Hollywood doesn't attack Islam the same way it does Christianity: fear of violent retaliation. (That's a whole subject in itself, and one worthy of discussion.)The book Hollywood vs. America, by Jewish film critic Michael Medved, includes a discussion of the bias of much (though not all) of the Hollywood establishment against the whole Judeo-Christian tradition. Since it was written in the 90s, his examples aren't very current, but the general picture today is no doubt pretty much the same.
Just thought I mention here that Turner Classic Movies is running Ben Hur Thursday from 9 to 1 (Central Time).
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Just thought I mention here that Turner Classic Movies is running Ben Hur Thursday from 9 to 1 (Central Time)."I love that movie! I need to get that on DVD or BluRay (is it out yet on BluRay?).
I tuned in to watch it last night...only movie I've planned to watch in weeks. A spring storm moved through Nashville and knocked the cable out in the middle of the movie. Predictable. I just got my internet back up a few minutes ago...cable bundle. Sigh.
Mary JL wrote: "I am revealing my old fogy age here, but years ago Hollywood make good movies based on Christian themes.King of Kings; The Ten Commandment; The Robe; and Ben -Hur plus any number of less known wo..."
I really enjoyed the new version of Ben-Hur. I would recommend giving it a try.
I am busy watching Diana Galbaldon's Outlander series at the moment and loving it. This year I have a watched a lot of books I have read, turned into movies or series
Anne wrote: "I am busy watching Diana Galbaldon's Outlander series at the moment and loving it. This year I have a watched a lot of books I have read, turned into movies or series"I like watching books turned into movies and TV series. Generally I think the book is better, but not always. And I like when the movie or series changes or expands on the story. It is fun to see a new perspective. If the story is exactly the same, I find myself less likely to like the movie/TV version if I have read the book first because it is not how I pictured it when reading the book. But I have rarely had a movie or TV series ruin a book for me. Books usually have so much more detail that I enjoy them even if I know the ending from the film version.
Because my wife and I are spending every spare minute packing and moving to a new house (in the same town --we hope to be moved by Nov. 3), and because we hardly ever watch movies in theaters anyway, I haven't seen the recently released movie Gosnell, a dramatization of the real-life crimes, 2010 arrest, and trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who's currently serving life in prison for three counts of first-degree murder of born-alive infants and one count of manslaughter in the death of a female patient. (He was also convicted of an array of lesser charges, and subsequently convicted on Federal drug charges.) The background of the case is described in this article in The Atlantic (one of the few Big Media outlets that covered the case at all in its early days, though increasing online publicity about it finally broke the news blackout before the trial ended), though it was written before he was convicted: https://www.theatlantic.com/national/... . Nevertheless, I felt it's important to bring the movie to the notice of the group, particularly because of the repeated and continuing attempts of the abortion lobby to prevent it from being made, to suppress and censor mention of it in the media, and to keep it out of or remove it from theaters. (This article reports on these suppression attempts: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the... .)The film's screenplay is by noted author Andrew Klaven, and stars Dean Cain. Here are a couple of links to further information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3722234/ and https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gosn... . The trailer can be viewed here: https://www.google.com/search?ei=0O7Q... ; and the film's website is here: http://www.gosnellmovie.com/ .
I just watched the movie God's Not Dead 3: A Light in the Darkness last night. It is the newest of these movies and was recently released to DVD. There were a few points I didn't agree with in the first movie, but I still enjoyed it enough to buy a copy. Overall they are really good movies and deal with issues right out of current events. I would recommend them all.
I think the TV show "God Friended Me" is an excellent show, which is rare these days. I would encourage anyone to check out the first season. It just wrapped up.
Robert wrote: "I think the TV show "God Friended Me" is an excellent show, which is rare these days. I would encourage anyone to check out the first season. It just wrapped up."Here's the link to the official God Friended Me website: https://www.cbs.com/shows/god-friende... . There's also a Wikipedia article about it, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Fri... ; but the episodes guide there probably contains multiple spoilers.
Robert wrote: "I think the TV show "God Friended Me" is an excellent show, which is rare these days. I would encourage anyone to check out the first season. It just wrapped up."I watched most of the first season. The show is certainly not perfect in it's portrayal of morality or Christianity. However, it does show Christianity in a pretty positive light, which is certainly rare on TV these days, and the overall feel of the show is very uplifting. It is all about helping other people. So if anyone is looking for a positive show to watch, it is indeed a good one to try. Just don't be surprised that it, like nearly every show these days, contains homosexuality, cohabitation, etc.
If anyone is prepared to watch something a little more graphic and in parts depressing, I saw Unplanned in theaters and it was very well done and incredibly powerful and motivating.
Here are the links to the website (https://www.unplannedfilm.com/ ) and trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBLWp... ) for the movie Unplanned, which I haven't seen myself. Despite orchestrated censorship (https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/... ) of its advertising and the usual vilification campaign by Big Media, the film has been a box office success, with ticket sales of $17.7 million so far.
While I have never heard of the movie "Gosnell," I did see "Unplanned" and really liked and admired it. I have seen the classic films mentioned in post #2 and love all of them.
I have seen and loved the first two God's Not Dead movies, but I haven't seen the third one yet.
I also loved the movie "The Hiding Place" based on Corrie Ten Boom's book.
The "Patterns of Evidence" documentaries are very informative. My husband and I saw the first half of the "Red Sea Miracle" which examined evidence for what path the Hebrew slaves took in their exodus from Egypt and for which part of the Red Sea the crossing took place. The second half will be in theaters in May.
Does anyone subscribe to Pureflix? I don't yet, but I am thinking seriously about doing so.
I'll definitely echo Beverly's praise for The Hiding Place (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073109/ ), which was made under the auspices of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. The God's Not Dead movies (which I confess I haven't seen --I know, I live under a rock! :-) ) were produced by the Christian production company Pure Flix. Here's the link to their subscription service, which Beverly mentioned: https://www.pureflix.com/ . Since I don't have much time to watch TV/movies, I don't subscribe, but others might be interested.
Readers of this thread might also be interested in some or all of the posts on this one: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... , though it's a much shorter thread so far. It's focused on historical films made from a Christian perspective, or about Christian subjects.
It's not precisely a Christian movie but actually has a Christian theme for those who'd be interested in something unusual.In 1952 a science fiction movie staring Peter Graves was made it's titled Red Planet Mars.
Be sure you get the 1952 Peter Graves movie as many movies have a similar title..
I want say much about it but if you can find it I think you'll find it interesting. The Christian under-theme would assure it couldn't be made today simply as sci/fi.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "It's not precisely a Christian movie but actually has a Christian theme for those who'd be interested in something unusual.In 1952 a science fiction movie staring Peter Graves was made it's title..."
Here's the imdb link to the movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045073/ . (There's also a Wikipedia entry, but I don't link to those because they generally contain spoilers.)
I bought the DVD some years ago. I haven't looked but it may be available on YOUTUBE or something.
It actually is apparently available in its entirety on YouTube, at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OXYL... . Since YouTube is a respected site, I'm guessing this isn't an illegal, pirated copy --copyright laws are designed to protect content creators' "commercial interests," so material that's no longer commercially available (unless at secondhand) is generally held to be exempt. If the movie is no longer being distributed or sold because of its age, that exemption would apply.
I think it's all on the up and up. I found an old movie I'd been searching for there a while back.
I watched a Christian movie called Hacksaw ridge twice, it's based on true story and I think it's very inspiring.
Beverly wrote: "While I have never heard of the movie "Gosnell," I did see "Unplanned" and really liked and admired it. I have seen the classic films mentioned in post #2 and love all of them.
I have seen and lo..."
Did you sign up for PureFlix? I don't have Internet at my house but if they had a DVD option I'd sign up! My mom gave us her login to try it out from our hotel recently and I liked it because I homeschool but I'm not sure how much grown-up content there was in all honesty.
I am looking forward to seeing Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family books turned into a Christian TV show this year! I've never read them but am going to read the first soon. I also am hearing a lot of buzz about a Francine Rivers book, Redeeming Love (which I also haven't read!) coming out as a movie this year. We need good, clean, wholesome Christian entertainment more than ever!
S.K. wrote: "I am looking forward to seeing Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family books turned into a Christian TV show this year! I've never read them but am going to read the first soon. I also am hearing a lot of ..."I have not read any of those books yet, but I love both of those authors! I would love to see a movie and TV show based off of their work!
S.K. wrote: "Beverly wrote: "While I have never heard of the movie "Gosnell," I did see "Unplanned" and really liked and admired it. I have seen the classic films mentioned in post #2 and love all of them.
I ..."
Sorry it took so long to respond. I haven't visited this group in a while. I have not signed up for Pureflix yet, mostly for financial reasons. It is a streaming service, but I think that they put some of their programs on DVD or Blu-Ray after they have aired.
S.K. wrote: "I am looking forward to seeing Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family books turned into a Christian TV show this year! I've never read them but am going to read the first soon. I also am hearing a lot of ..."I have read Redeeming Love, several years ago. It was a fabulous book. I can only hope the movie will be as fabulous.
The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples.
Joshua wrote: "The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples."My oldest daughter and her husband are big fans of The Chosen, Joshua!
My husband and I just finished watching a good black and white movie today, "Sergeant York". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e10ro...I didn't realize it was a biography!
Sergeant York is a 1941 American biographical film about the life of Alvin C. York, one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I. Directed by Howard Hawks and starring Gary Cooper in the title role, the film was a critical and commercial success, and became the highest-grossing film of 1941. ~https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergean... ~
Last year my family and i saw 'I Heard the Bells' (2022). A movie about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.I heartily recommend it! I think it is probably the very best recently made movie i have seen to date.
This is the plot summary from imbd.com;
Known as America's Poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow leads an idyllic life...until the day his world is shattered by tragedy. With a nation divided by Civil War and his family torn apart, Henry puts down his pen, silenced by grief. But it's the sound of Christmas morning that reignites the poet's lost voice as he discovers the resounding hope of rekindled faith.
Joshua wrote: "The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples."May I suggest you read this? https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch....
Katherine wrote: "Last year my family and i saw 'I Heard the Bells' (2022). A movie about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.I heartily recommend it! I think it is probably the very best recently made movie i have seen to ..."
I very much enjoyed this movie as well!
Jessica wrote: I very much enjoyed this movie as well!"I'm glad to hear it! I thought it an excellent movie.
It was the first movie effort of theater company 'Sight & Sound'
They have another movie set for release next year that looks promising.
'A Great Awakening'
Storyline
Exploring the friendship between renowned preacher George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, and Whitefield's impact during the pivotal Great Awakening religious movement.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33305882...
Katherine wrote: "Jessica wrote: I very much enjoyed this movie as well!"I'm glad to hear it! I thought it an excellent movie.
It was the first movie effort of theater company 'Sight & Sound'
They have another mov..."
Cool, thanks for the heads up!
Just as a note to keep comments here "on topic," movies or TV productions are often based on books (and some books are novelizations of movies); but the book and the filmed adaptation, or the film and its novelization, are two different things. This thread is strictly for discussing movies and TV, as such; it's not a place to link to your reviews of novels, even if the novel in question has several adaptations, or a recent one. (However, you can link to your reviews on the book-related threads!) Hope this is helpful.
Werner wrote: "Thanks for that link, Jon! That article deals with the reason (which some producers openly admit) that Hollywood doesn't attack Islam the same way it does Christianity: fear of violent retaliation...."Katherine wrote: "Jessica wrote: I very much enjoyed this movie as well!"
I'm glad to hear it! I thought it an excellent movie.
It was the first movie effort of theater company 'Sight & Sound'
They have another mov..."
I agree. Hollywood is not much on correct Christian films.
Katherine wrote: "Jessica wrote: I very much enjoyed this movie as well!"I'm glad to hear it! I thought it an excellent movie.
It was the first movie effort of theater company 'Sight & Sound'
They have another mov..."
Do you have to pay to see this movie?
Werner wrote: "Joshua wrote: "The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples."My oldest daughter and her husband are big fans of The Chosen, Joshua!"
Werner wrote: "Joshua wrote: "The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples."Dallas Jenkins told one interviewer that “95% of the content [of The Chosen] isn’t from the Bible.”11 This means that The Chosen is almost completely man’s word—not God’s Word.
The Chosen writers do not hesitate to add their own ideas and opinions to actual Bible events. For example, Mary Magdalene backsliding is not in the Bible; Matthew portrayed as autistic—not in the Bible; Jesus rehearsing His sermon on the mount—not in the Bible (John 12:49-50; John 17:8). With future episodes yet to be written and future seasons to come, how far afield will the writers of The Chosen take their creative liberties to recreate and reimagine God’s Word?
My oldest daughter and her husband are big fans of The Chosen, Joshua!"
Joshua wrote: "The Chosen is an outstanding tv show about Christ and his disciples."
Nancy wrote: "Do you have to pay to see this movie?"Nancy, which movie were you asking about, I Heard the Bells or A Great Awakening? The latter won't be released for showing in theaters until April 3, so I'm guessing that yes, you will have to pay to see it in that venue. According to a Google search, there are apparently several venues where you can watch I Heard the Bells for free.
Nancy, in message 45, after the one sentence you quoted from my message 35 above, you either didn't type a mark at the end of the quote, or there was a typo in it (that happens to me too at times!). So the program italicized everything that you wrote in reply, and makes it appear that I wrote it. Can you use the little green "edit" link below your comment to correct that? (The program won't allow me to do that for you.)
