NASHVILLE (BP) – The new psychological thriller "Joker" is a "dangerous" movie that glorifies violence and could spark copycats, even if it does raise important questions about mental illness and society's downtrodden, say faith-based reviewers who screened the film. The Warner Bros/DC Films movie opens in theaters this weekend, revealing the backstory to the villain best-known as Batman's nemesis. "Joker," though, is not categorized as a superhero film. It's rated R for "strong … [Read more...]
Kendricks on movie making: One saved ‘better than 10’ Oscars
ALBANY, Ga. (BP) – Alex and Stephen Kendrick have enjoyed box-office success that few filmmakers ever will experience. Their movies “Fireproof” (2008) and “Courageous” (2011) both opened in the Top 4. Their 2015 movie "War Room" climbed to No. 1 in America on its second weekend. They've been interviewed by big-city newspapers and broadcast networks. But they don't judge the success of their movies solely on box-office numbers or public relations victories. They judge success, Stephen … [Read more...]
Pastor compensation studied by financial planner
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) – It happens often in Southern Baptist life: A church offers a prospective pastor a salary it thinks is reasonable, and the pastor – not wanting to appear greedy – begrudgingly accepts. But down the road, when tax season arrives or when retirement approaches, the pastor realizes he should have spoken up. It is a financial disconnect that Christian Messemer, a certified financial planner and a Ph.D. candidate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, hopes to … [Read more...]
Review ‘Ben-Hur’ a delightful remake of 1959 classic
When the first Ben-Hur trailer was released earlier this year, my concerns were the same as many other moviegoers and critics. It appeared heavy on action, short on story, and – aghast! – simply not a good film. But after watching the movie in recent days, I have good news for fans of the classic story: Those early concerns were simply wrong. Yes, the 2016 version of Ben-Hur (PG-13) does have plenty of action, but it also has a gripping screenplay to match it – with lots of great lessons, … [Read more...]
In Marvel vs. DC superhero battle, only one is family-friendly, watchdog says
LOS ANGELES (Christian Examiner) – Superhero movies remain as popular as ever among parents and children, but only one company – Marvel – is committed to making content for the entire family. So says the Parents Television Council’s Christopher Gildemeister, who argues in a new blog post that when comparing the two superhero companies – Marvel and DC – it is obvious which one does not care about catering to children. “Marvel has done an excellent job in assuring that its most famous … [Read more...]
Review: Is ‘Captain America: Civil War’ family friendly? (And what about that superhero vs. superhero worldview?)
CHICAGO (Christian Examiner) – There is a popular belief among Christian moviegoers about superhero movies, and it goes something like this: Superhero films are popular because all humans innately are looking for a Christ-like figure – that is, an otherworldly being that will save the day, defeat evil and uphold justice. In other words, even non-Christians are attracted to superhero movies because they, unknowingly, are looking for such a cosmic King. I hold to this belief, but what do we … [Read more...]
‘Risen’ ‘second chance’ portrayal of Jesus’ story
LOS ANGELES – Actor Joseph Fiennes says it’s natural to have questions about Jesus – questions that Scripture may not directly answer but are nevertheless fascinating to ponder and explore. For Fiennes, who plays the lead role in the biblically-inspired “Risen” – which opened Feb. 19 – such questions began as a child, when he was introduced to the story of Christ “It stuck with me and it’s had a huge effect on me,” Fiennes told the Christian Examiner, referencing not only the Gospel … [Read more...]