An article I read recently asserts that churches can change Hollywood by buying block tickets for quality movies at local theatres. This can make a major difference at the box office, even to the point of being responsible for the success of the movie. Passion of the Christ would be an example.
In turn, Hollywood movie studios would be encouraged to put more of their money towards creating similar movies—it’s just good business. And the result is more movies that could enrich peoples' lives.
I suppose the question is: What movies deserve endorsement by churches? I know it’s difficult to find a movie that everyone would recommend, but I suppose the bottom line is: What message is the movie sending? I think the movie quality has got to be good, too, or it may get lambasted by critics.
For example, today I was reading an article about the latest DVD movie releases, which included one that was recently shown at a local church. Although highly recommended because of a Christian worldview, to Save A Life has not gotten great reviews by film critics in general. The newspaper movie critic used words such as 'lifeless' and 'combines the earnestness of an ABC After School Special with the chalky edge of Sunday School". Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 4.8/10 rating. Some of the comments at this site were positive, but generally, the consensus was that it would appeal to a limited, evangelical audience, perhaps not the general public. I haven't seen it, so I can't really give my opinion.It may be a 'good' movie, but would it be able to help change the types of movies coming out of Hollywood?
Can you think of any Hollywood - released movies recently that you would like your church to get behind and buy block tickets for?
That's a tough call. Even among my circle of friends we have such varying ideas of what constitutes an appropriate movie for Christians to watch, let alone endorse.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Sonya. Even in churches, different people like different things. And personally, I have often learned a deep spiritual message from movies that weren't intended for that. And sometimes I can't even decide how I feel. Matthew and I watched The Book of Eli a few months ago and I had to close my eyes and ears for some of the gratuitous violence, actually, for most of the movie, but then by the very end I was, like, 'YAY!' I still can't say if I would personally give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down.
ReplyDeleteAnd besides, things that are truly beautiful, truly TRULY Beautiful, will always have a narrow audience.
Oh, I agree with you both. I watched part of The Book of Eli, and then stopped watching it mainly because I couldn't handle watching the violence (or anticipating/dreading what was going to happen next). Then when I was told about the ending later, I wished I had pushed through. Oh well, maybe I'll finish watching it at a later date.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought Passion of the Christ was too violent to endorse. I've seen it once and never want to see it again.