Anyone watch "Christian Movies"?

  • Thread starter Thread starter commenter
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I watch them… with varying degrees of success…some are really poor and other’s are quite good. Just because they are Christian doesn’t make them worthy of being watched. I loved some like Song of Bernadette, Silence, the Passion of Christ, Gospel according to John etc. I have seen some ones that don’t appear to be Christian but really are, and I know a lot of the popular ones that I’ve probably seen and have gone way over my head are, but I never noticed. I like feel good movies where the good guy wins anyway.
 
When we happily consume low quality stuff like “Fireproof” then that is what “they” will keep serving up that lukewarm mash.

These lists should keep anyone busy watching both quality AND Catholic!!

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/tcra...ng-catholic-movies-from-hollywoods-golden-age

http://www.ncregister.com/info/top_100_pro_catholic_movies
I like the classic Catholic movies, Sound of Music, and LOTR. If I could move into an Austrian chalet, or a Hobbit village, I would do so. But I live in 2018 suburban USA. My parish is not like Bing Crosby’s Manhattan church.

I won’t criticize Fireproof until I see something Catholic, in a setting something like mine. The evangelicals deserve credit for trying.
 
I saw the end of an interesting historical one called Risen yesterday (had a freebie on a premium channel). The idea was that a Roman centurion who was present at the Crucifixion ends up with the 12, who are being pursued by Romans. He wants to know where Jesus went. I liked what I saw of it and may try to rent it (there’s actually a video store in the area still). As far as movies with a Christian moral tone go, it depends. I’m not a sentimental sort. Historical biography I like (so, lives of Saints for example).
 
ristians have developed considerable content in all forms of media. I occasionally watch the local Christian channel, which features recently made “Christian movies”. This fulfills 2 purposes: they provide entertainment which is a much better alternative to the anti-Christian media; and they communicate some Christian values. I endorse them for the most part, though question a few things.

The movie “Uphill Battle” (2013) is typical. It features Shelby Smith as a divorced single mom. There is a major spoiler I won’t mention in the plot, but it is totally predictable she ends up marrying another divorcee, which happens in some of these movies.

In concerns me that divorce/remarriage is treated far more lightly than divorce/remarriage would have been treated in Christian movies a few decades ago.

Another concern is that the movies seem to aim, over and over for the same demographic. The hero is usually female, in her 30s or so. Villains are usually middle aged males. If the man is not a villain, he is likely either very rigid, overworking/neglecting his home, or badly in need of redirection and advice from a wise woman. This is the same dynamic I find watching reruns of a quasi-evangelical show, “Touched by an Angel”, as well as the secular media.

I wish Christian movies, which do dare to differ from the secular culture in many good ways, would stop following the secular media, and their audience demographics, in terms of stereotypes. That said, I am glad they are making them.
for me, most Protestant movies are too often “believe” vs “non-believer,” with the non-believer usually getting punshed some how (like “God’s Not Dead”) or something else.

But it’s always believer vs non-believer.

Catholic movies are often far more complex, plot wise. Like “Ben Her,” movies on the Saints, “Lord of the Rings,” “Chronicles of Narnia,” etc.

We just don’t have enough good Catholic movies.

God bless
 
In my experience, explicitly Christian movies tend to be pretty cheesy, and they really beat you over the head with the “message.” They’re not exactly subtle. They also often have a defensive tone, which I’m not sure translates to good art.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top