Biblical perspectives on contemporary cinema
Friday, November 16, 2007
By the time you're reading next week's CT at the Movies newsletter, you might be a bit groggy after getting up at 4:30 a.m. to catch one or more of those pre-dawn day-after-Thanksgiving sales, getting an early (literally!) jump on your Christmas shopping. Some of those deals are nearly impossible to resist; been there, done that a number of times.
But while many of us are diving into the holiday shopping season, a charismatic character who goes by the moniker "Reverend Billy" is telling us—indeed, yelling at us—to slow down and perhaps even opt out altogether. Rev. Billy is not an ordained minister and doesn't even call himself a Christian, but he is definitely a man on a mission: To tell us that we shop way too much, buying far too many things we don't need.
Rev. Billy and his "congregation," called the Church of Stop Shopping, are in-your-face and often lack tact and diplomacy—sometimes having to be escorted off various premises by security for their loud and annoying tactics. But their message is one worth considering: Are we too consumer happy? In essence, Billy and his posse are asking one simple question: What Would Jesus Buy?
And that's the title of a new documentary from producer Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and director Rob VanAlkemade—a film that will at least get you to think about your own spending habits. We caught up with Spurlock and VanAlkemade at the recent City of Angels Film Festival, and got their thoughts on the film. Said Spurlock, "We've become blind to what's important in our lives. We've lost sight of the true message of Christmas."
For the child in all of us, the true meaning of Christmas includes a measure of wide-eyed wonder, which comes through loud and clear in the charming Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, featuring Dustin Hoffman as an eccentric 243-year-old owner of a magical toy store who is ready to step down and hand the reins to a successor. Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Zach Mills, who plays the 9-year-old narrator, are stellar in this good-but-could-have-been-better family film.
Our other new review this week is the visually stunning and incredibly graphic Beowulf, in which director Robert Zemeckis uses the same animation techniques—a combination of live performance and CGI enhancements—he popularized with The Polar Express a couple years ago. Based on the ancient epic poem of the same name, Beowulf is a "wow" of a film that more than earns its PG-13 rating ... and perhaps could have been a soft R.
Our third review this week, Love in the Time of Cholera, will post Monday morning, Nov. 19, so be sure to check the site at that time.
Getting back to the topic of what Jesus might buy during this holiday shopping season, I'd like to think he might give a thumbs-up to Amazing Grace, which released to DVD this week. The film, depicting the 19th century abolitionist William Wilberforce and his mentor John Newton (who wrote the classic hymn for which this biopic was titled), is one of the year's better movies, and certainly among the most redeeming. Bob Beltz, one of the film's producers and a student and fan of Wilberforce, wrote an exclusive commentary for CT Movies about how Wilberforce changed the world—and about how we can too.
Finally, Reel News examines the recent spate of politically-charged movies—and how audiences are pretty much ignoring them at the box office.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
See you at the movies,
Mark Moring
Editor, CT Movies
To reply to this newsletter: ctmovies@christianitytoday.com
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REVIEW
Beowulf
The ancient epic poem about a hero who battles monsters is brought to life with the most modern of technologies—with a bit of biblical imagery and truth added to the story.
by Brandon Fibbs
Rated PG-13
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REVIEW
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
An often charming, nostalgic tale with much to say about wonder, belief, and death, but something's lost in translation.
by Todd Hertz
Rated G
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COMMENTARY
What Would Jesus Buy?
With Christmas shopping right around the corner, this edgy new documentary merges "Christian" forms with an anti-consumerist message.
by Brett McCracken
COMMENTARY
What I Learned from Wilberforce
With this week's DVD release of Amazing Grace, one of the film's producers says the film's protagonist taught him much about how to change the world.
by Dr. Bob Beltz
REEL NEWS
Political Films Voted Out
A slew of recent politically-charged movies flounder at the box office. Plus: Two Oscar-winners join Scott Derrickson's new sci-fi effort; more casting news for Star Trek; Bee Movie sued; and more.
by Josh Hurst
SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS FROM THE MOVIES
Steel Magnolias: Dealing with a Child's Death
from PreachingToday.com
Click here for a complete listing of our recent articles.
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The holiday movie season is upon us. Which film are you most looking forward to?
- Aliens vs. Predator
- Alvin & the Chipmunks
- August Rush
- Beowulf
- Charlie Wilson's War
- Enchanted
- The Golden Compass
- The Great Debaters
- I Am Legend
- National Treasure 2
- Stephen King's The Mist
- Sweeney Todd
- Walk Hard
- The Water Horse
- Other
Vote here, and see how your answer compares to others'.
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Some uproar has begun about The Golden Compass, coming in September. How upset about it are you?
- Very: 33%
- Somewhat: 28%
- Not at all: 26%
- The Golden WHAT?: 12%
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Amazing Grace, DVD
The acclaimed story of William Wilberforce, chronicling
his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in
the late 18th century. Inspired by a true story.
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VeggieTales Holiday Double Feature, DVD
This Christmas season, you can enjoy two timeless
VeggieTales classics, "The Toy That Saved Christmas" and
"The Star of Christmas." Plus two hours of bonus features!
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The Perfect Stranger, DVD
When a successful attorney receives a mysterious
invitation to "dinner with Jesus of Nazareth," she
accepts, thinking it's an intriguing prank.
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Buzby and the Grumble Bees, DVD
Buzby is back in the garden for another adventure with
Hermie and his friends. This time, Buzby is the one
helping others see the value of behaving well!
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Batman Begins
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