Posted on 03/02/2005 9:13:56 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
Colson's List of 50 Insightful Films
This list was compiled in 1997. Not all films are suitable for all audiences; see the notes with each for disclaimers.
Films with a Christian Theme
1. Chariots of Fire (1981, PG). Inspiring story of a young Scottish runner who is willing to put obedience to God before an Olympic gold medal.
2. A Man for All Seasons (1966, G). The inspiring story of Sir Thomas More, the 16th century Chancellor of England who was beheaded by Henry VIII because he would not compromise his beliefs. More is played by Paul Scofield, whose last lines in the film are: "I die his majesty's good servant, but God's first."
3. Shadowlands (Both the 1985 version, no rating, and the 1993 version, rated PG.). Flawed but interesting films about C. S. Lewis and his marriage to Joy Davidman.
4. Sergeant York (1941, not rated). A young man is converted to Christ, and then must decide whether killing in the context of war is authorized by the Bible. Based on a true story.
5. The Robe (1953, not rated). A Roman centurion who carries out the crucifixion of Christ becomes one of His most fervent followers. A dramatic tale of heroism and sacrifice.
6. I Confess (1953, not rated). A Hitchcock drama about a priest who hears a murderer's confession--and then is himself arrested and tried for the crime. One of the most inspiring portrayals of Christian faith on film, this movie depicts a priest who is willing to give up even his life before betraying his vows.
7. Ben-Hur (1959, no rating). A young Jewish man who lives at the time of Christ battles the Roman Empire and ultimately becomes a Christian.
8. Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1973, PG). A lovely film about St. Francis of Assisi.
9. The Hiding Place (1975, not rated). The true story of a Dutch woman named Corrie ten Boom whose family hid Jews from the Nazis, and were themselves sent to concentration camps when the Nazis discovered what they were doing. A tremendous example of Christian courage. NOTE: The film depicts the brutal reality of life in a concentration camp.
10. Saving Grace (1986, PG). A new pope finds himself locked out of the Vatican by mistake one day, and goes incognito to a small town run by a local thug. A sensitive and amusing film that illustrates the New Testament meaning of servanthood. Produced by Robert Wise of "The Sound of Music" fame. NOTE: Attempted seduction scene, one child is killed through an accident.
11. Les Miserables (1935, not rated). The redemptive Victor Hugo story of Jean Valjean, who is sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread, and becomes a Christian through the sacrificial love of a bishop.
12. Tender Mercies (1982, PG). A down-and-out country singer turns to Christ. An on-screen baptism is beautifully depicted.
13. Repentance (1987, PG). This film was banned in the Soviet Union. Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "Repentance is the movie that destroyed Communism. This ... magnificent movie exposes the evils of communism ... while lifting up the suffering Church and the triumphant, eternal Church of Christ Jesus." (In Russian with English subtitles.)
14. Cry the Beloved Country (1995, PG-13). Set in the 1940s, the film is about a black South African minister whose son has been accused of the murder of a white man. A Christian worldview is portrayed throughout. NOTE: Implied murder, implied prostitution and fornication.
15. Inherit the Wind (1960, no rating). If you want to understand why our cultural elites think Christians are poor, ignorant, and easy to command, watch this film. Based on the 1925 Scopes "monkey trial," this film depicts Christians as ignorant, intolerant, and hypocritical.
16. The Brothers Karamazov (1958, no rating). Is it possible to be good without God? This film correctly says no.
17. Dead Man Walking (1995, R). A nun becomes the spiritual advisor to a death row inmate. Contains a very strong conversion scene. NOTE: A murder and rape are shown at a distance, two corpses (one unclothed) are depicted. Some obscenities and vulgarities.
Films with Moral Themes
The following films are worth watching for their serious and inspiring treatment of moral themes, or because characters face moral challenges and rise above them.
18. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939, not rated). A Frank Capra classic about an idealistic young senator who takes on corrupt politicians.
19. It's a Wonderful Life (1946, not rated). A classic Jimmy Stewart film about a depressed man who is reminded on Christmas Eve of how much he has to be grateful for.
20. Casablanca (1942, not rated). This classic is set in Morocco during the Second World War. Unlike the characters in "The English Patient," Rick and Ilsa sacrifice personal happiness for honor.
21. The Winslow Boy (1948, no rating). Based on a true story, the film depicts the sacrifices an entire family is forced to make when the son is wrongly accused of theft at school, and the father decides to fight for the boy's honor.
22. High Noon (1952, not rated). A good man stands alone against the forces of chaos and evil. A landmark Western.
23. Shadow of a Doubt (1942, not rated). In this Hitchcock thriller, an ordinary young woman realizes her uncle is a murderer and must decide what to do with that knowledge.
24. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1955, no rating). A Hitchcock film in which an ordinary man on vacation is thrust into a crisis and forced to make difficult moral choices.
25. North by Northwest (1959, no rating). In this classic Hitchcock film, an advertising executive is the victim of mistaken identity, and must ultimately choose between his own safety and helping his country.
26. War of the Worlds (1953, no rating). The antidote to 1996's Independence Day. When aliens attack, who you gonna call? This film says you call God, and he will answer.
27. War and Peace (1956, no rating). Hollywood's version of the Tolstoy novel about three families caught up in Russia's Napoleonic Wars.
28. Twelve Angry Men (1957 version, not rated). A jury explores issues of justice and race.
29. The Sound of Music (1965, G). A family is willing to sacrifice everything rather than join the Nazis.
30. In the Heat of the Night (1967, no rating). A classic film about a black New York detective who travels to the South to help solve a murder and becomes a victim of racial bigotry. NOTE: Adult themes.
31. Rudy (1993, PG-13). The true story of a young boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. A film that celebrates having a dream and working at it. Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "The film presents a moral view of character, the need for prayer, the sovereignty of God, and a positive view of the human spirit." NOTE: Some foul language and a skewed depiction of Catholicism.
32. Sense and Sensibility (1995, PG). The story of a couple willing to give up private happiness for honor. Based on the Jane Austin novel. Beautifully filmed.
33. Mr. Holland's Opus (1995, PG). A film that celebrates the glory of teaching, and of how one person can make a difference in the lives of others. NOTE: Some mild obscenities. No sex, nudity, or violence.
34. Spitfire Grill (1996, PG-13). The characters and their stories serve as springboards to lessons about forgiveness and the possibility of healing and restoration. The film was financed by Gregory Productions, the film-making arm of the Sacred Heart League. NOTE: Mild violence and mild foul language, references to rape and child abuse.
35. Stand and Deliver (1988, PG-13). Based on a true story, a new teacher in a rough urban school refuses to believe his students cannot learn and excel. NOTE: Rough language, violence.
36. Braveheart (1995, R). Set between 1280 and 1314, the film is about the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace who leads his people to freedom from England. Christian film critic Ted Baehr writes: "The movie is a rallying cry for the supremacy of God's law and [His] judgment of those who unjustly govern their fellow man." NOTE: The violence of war is graphically depicted, brief nudity, two discreet sex scenes.
37. Schindler's List (1993, R). A Holocaust drama about a German businessman who helps Jews escape the death camps. The film shows what one individual can accomplish in the face of great evil. NOTE: Contains profanity, graphic violence, and nudity, as well as some anti-Christian references.
Other Worldviews and Philosophies The following films provide insight into other philosophies that help us understand ideas that shape the world in which we live:
38. Star Wars (1977, PG). Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "Pagan worldview of impersonal, monistic force empowering man and controlling circumstances." An introduction to New Age monism.
39. Annie Hall (1977, PG). Woody Allen's magnum opus anticipates the self-centeredness and therapeutic culture more than a decade before anyone else. NOTE: Contains scenes of sensuality, some crude language.
40. Days of Heaven (1978, PG). A brother and sister end up on a farm in Texas in a world with no meaning or purpose. Terrence Malick, a philosophy instructor turned filmmaker, made this film to be a window of insight into existentialism. This movie shows what is wrong with a world that excludes God.
41. The Dark Crystal (1982, PG). Two muppet-like creatures attempt to return a crystal shard to the castle containing the Dark Crystal. If you want to see how Hollywood sneaks New Age spirituality into children's films, here's a perfect example. Use the film to teach your kids how to be discerning.
42. Gandhi (1982, PG). A carefully Westernized introduction to this famous Indian, who used passive resistance against India's British rulers.
43. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989, PG-13). A man kills his mistress, and then remembers the lessons of his childhood in a Jewish home. The film illustrates the true struggle of conscience: that without God, man has to "kill" his conscience or go mad. NOTE: Adult themes.
44. Jurassic Park (1993, PG-13). Rampaging dinosaurs are used to promote evolutionary arguments. NOTE: Violence may be too intense for many children. Some profanity.
45. Contact (1997, PG-13). Based on a novel by the late Carl Sagan, this film about SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) raises all the Big Questions of life. Portrays worldview of evolutionary scientific materialism. Ted Baehr writes: "A beautifully produced, sophomoric film which will give pseudo-intellectuals much food for thought while . . .offending the Christian moviegoer." Excellent for discussion. NOTE: Rough language, some nudity, implied fornication.
Children's films with a strong Biblical worldview
46. The Chronicles of Narnia (1989, not rated). Based on the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis (3 volume set).
47. The Lion King (1994, G). This animated film is a reminder that we cannot flee either our responsibilities or our troubles; we must face them head on. We also see a father willing to sacrifice his life for his son.
48. The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963, PG). An example of what the Disney Studios were capable of before the forces of political correctness took over. A heartwarming, turn-of-the-century tale of a Scottish veterinarian who loses--and then regains--his faith in God.
49. Beauty and the Beast (1991, G). This animated film echos the Biblical teaching that what's inside the heart is more important than outside appearances.
50. The Secret Garden (1993, G). Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "this profound story has been treated by many as a Christian allegory of death and new life through the power of love." NOTE: In one scene, the children are depicted chanting a magical spell around a bonfire.
2003 Movie Recommendations From Chuck Colson and the Wilberforce Forum
December 1, 2003
Following is a list of films, new and classic for young and old, that the Wilberforce Forum staff who work with Chuck Colson to produce “BreakPoint” have recommended over the years. Also see “Colson’s List of Fifty Insightful Films.”
Martha Anderson, Director of Administration, Wilberforce Forum:
I Want to Live! (NR, 1958), starring Susan Hayward as Barbara Graham. Based on the real-life story of Barbara Graham, sentenced to die in California’s gas chamber in the late fifties for dubious charges, Susan Hayward’s gut-wrenching portrayal of a woman as much a victim as a victimizer challenges your beliefs about the death penalty and the workings of our criminal justice system.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images): The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King (in theaters December 2003). Classic fantasy adventure based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien; mythical kingdoms wage fight for good and evil.
12 Angry Men (NR, 1957). Directed by Sidney Lumet; starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Jack Klugman, Ed Binns, Joseph Sweeney, George Voskovec, and Robert Webber. 12 Angry Men focuses on the lonely one-man battles of a protagonist whose ethics alienate him from the rest of jaded society. As the film opens, the seemingly open-and-shut trial of a young Puerto Rican accused of murdering his father with a knife has just concluded and the twelve-man jury retires to their microscopic, sweltering quarters to decide the verdict. When the votes are counted, eleven men rule guilty, while one—played by Henry Fonda, again typecast as another liberal, truth-seeking hero—doubts the obvious. Stressing the idea of “reasonable doubt,” Fonda slowly chips away at the jury, who represent a microcosm of white, male society—exposing the prejudices and preconceptions that directly influence the other jurors’ snap judgments.
84 Charing Cross Road (PG, 1986). Directed by David Hugh Jones; starring Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins. Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) and Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins) are lifelong friends who never meet in this unique comedy-drama based on a true story. Hanff and Doel are separated by three thousand miles of ocean and joined by a passion for old books. Their relationship begins when New Yorker Hanff orders a copy (“unabridged, please!”) of Pepys’s diary. Doel, as polite and soft-spoken as Hanff is loud and overbearing, fields the request from his book shop in London. For the next two decades they correspond without ever actually sitting down for tea and crumpets. If you love books and love movies, you’ll doubly love 84 Charing Cross Road.
Mariam Bell, National Director of Public Policy, Wilberforce Forum:
The Count of Monte Cristo (PG-13, 2002). This film captures all the wonderful elements of a good story—love and fidelity, betrayal, exploitation and evil, adventure, mystery and intrigue, revenge, and redemption. I especially like the fact that the actor, James Caviezel, who played the main character refused to participate in a more tawdry “love” scene because of his personal faith. As a result, the movie lacks the traditional gratuitous sex scene.
Nigel Cameron, Dean, Wilberforce Forum/Director, Council for Biotechnology Policy:
Gattaca (PG-13 for brief violent images, language, and some sexuality). This film stands above others that also address bioethics, approaching Frankenstein and Brave New World. It’s a masterpiece. And, like them, while it tells a great story, it is written to get across a message. It’s about genetic information—how it can be used, and may very well soon be used, to enable us to treat people according to their genes. Those with weak, defective genes are assigned to menial tasks. Those with “good” genes get the big breaks.
Luther (PG-13 for disturbing images of violence). This film captures the historical significance of the life of Martin Luther. It was produced by the same company that brought Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace.
Gina Dalfonzo, Staff Writer, BreakPoint Radio:
Notorious (NR, 1946). One of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest movies, and certainly his most romantic. Ingrid Bergman is a Nazi’s daughter, recruited to infiltrate a group of her father’s friends who are up to no good; Cary Grant is her mysterious contact. A powerful study in pride, jealousy, moral compromise, sacrifice, and the desire for redemption, with one of the best endings I’ve ever seen in any movie.
My Fair Lady(G, 1964). Strong, complex characters; a witty and literate script; gorgeous costumes; and some of the best songs ever written. Even the sets are great! (I’ve always wanted to live in Professor Higgins’s house, with all those floors full of bookshelves.) This story of a self-centered misogynist who learns a thing or two from his spirited female student is must viewing for all ages.
Catherina Hurlburt, Associate Editor, “BreakPoint” Radio/Managing Editor BreakPoint WorldView:
Spartacus (PG, 1960). If you haven’t seen this yet, you must (especially if you have seen this year’s It Runs in the Family, what may well be Kirk Douglas’s last film—you’ve got to see him in his prime). Russell Crowe and Gladiator? Please.
October Sky (PG, 1999). This is just simply a great movie for a family film night. Jake Gyllenhaal, Laura Dern, and Chris Cooper gave great performances. Homer (Gyllenhaal) is a coal-miner’s (Cooper) son who, inspired by Sputnik and spurred on by his teacher (Dern), takes up rocket science and enters a national science fair. And what an inspiration to get your kids to study: a true story of one young man’s journey from a national science fair to NASA today. It’s based on Homer Hickam’s book Rocket Boys, to which he has written two follow-up books, The Coalwood Way (Dell, 2000) and Sky of Stone: A Memoir (Delacorte, 2001). After watching this with your kids, visit Hickam’s website.
Rope (PG, 1948). This Hitchcock movie was filmed on one set, and each shot ran continuously for up to ten minutes without interruption. But aside from the cinematography, the storyline, one of three films based on the 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case, opens up so many points for discussion about human dignity. Pay particular attention to the words of Rupert Cadell (Jimmy Stewart) near the film’s end.
Doctor Dolittle (G, 1967). This classic musical will entertain the children without provoking them to imitate the bathroom humor of the modern-day versions with Eddie Murphy.
The Elephant Man (PG). This film, based on the true story of John Merrick (played by John Hurt), a nineteenth-century Englishman who had an extreme physical deformity, has an amazing message about human dignity and worth. This is possibly one of Anthony Hopkins’s (who plays Dr. Frederick Treves) best performances.
Remember the Titans (PG for thematic elements and some language). Here’s a film every high school student should watch: a struggle to bridge the racial divide and make men from boys. In 1971, T.C. Williams High Schoolin Virginia was integrated. A black football coach (played by Denzel Washington) tries to smooth the transition and help his players take the lead.
Radio (PG for mild language and thematic elements). Some critics called this film syrupy, and that may be true, but with all the cruelty that goes on in middle and high school, this film’s worth watching with the kids. Again based on a true story, a high school coach begins mentoring a mentally disabled man who goes by the nickname “Radio.” In the process, a town reconsiders what really matters, and one football player in particular changes his ways, from being a tormentor to becoming a friend.
I love war movies that are patriotic. Two I recommend are U-571 (PG-13 for war violence), about a crew of American submariners who during World War II take heroic measures to capture the German Enigma machine to break the code—particularly sobering when, at the end of the film, the names of real American submariners go across the screen. The other is We Were Soldiers (R for sustained sequences of graphic war violence, and for language), the only film appreciative of Vietnam war soldiers that I’ve ever seen. A great performance by Mel Gibson, who plays Lt. Colonel Hal Moore, showing what it meansto be a great leader: humility and sacrifice.
Holes (PG for violence, mild language and some thematic elements). This is a fun film to watch, to try to piece together the storylines and the relationships of the characters. It includes messages of redemption, truth, and esteeming others more than oneself. Though more appealing perhaps to boys, even my daughter (who also joins Stephen McGarvey—see below—in praising Finding Nemo) loved this film.
The Rookie (G). There is something about baseball movies—The Natural, Field of Dreams—that seems to make for a good story. This one’s based on a true story as well, about a high school coach who realizes his childhood dream: playing major-league baseball. And he learns that, as great as that is, it doesn’t fulfill him the way his family and community do.
Frequency (PG-13 for intense violence and disturbing images). This film is about a cop who, through a radio link, reconnects with his father—across thirty years.
Drumline (PG-13 for innuendo and language). Here’s one for the band kids. Seriously, not only was this fun to watch, it spoke of the need to maintain integrity and the importance of education to better oneself.
Stephen McGarvey, Interactive Media Editor, Wilberforce Forum:
2003 has been a disappointing year for me as a regular movie-goer. This, I guess, makes the year’s exceptions to the usual blasé Hollywood fare all the more notable. My comments about these films are directed toward adults. As with anything, parents should always be cautious when it comes to deciding which movies to allow their children to view.
Bruce Almighty (PG-13 for language, sexual content and some crude humor) was an excellent comedy about a guy who thinks God has messed up his life. So God appears to him and asks Bruce if he wants to give the job of Supreme Being a try. Bruce, of course, granted all of God’s power, thinks he could do a better job of running his life. The results are predictable yet hilarious. At first Bruce seems to get everything he wants, but the chain reactions from his powers soon start to get him, and the rest of the world, in trouble. And God doesn’t allow him to mess with anyone’s free will. So the one thing he wants most, the love of his girlfriend, he is powerless to obtain. The final lesson that Bruce learns is something you don’t often see in films today. I won’t ruin it for you here but, an article on Boundless.org by Marshall Allen gave this aspect of the movie a great review if you want more information.
Another unique and funny movie this year was Pixar’s Finding Nemo (G). You have to hand it to the folks at Pixar. Although they have pioneered some amazing technology in the area of computer animation, they haven’t forgotten the importance of a great story and interesting characters, a lesson that George Lucas and the Wachowski brothers seem to have forgotten. Both touching and funny, Nemo tells the story of a little fish who is taken away from his ocean home to be added to a dentist’s aquarium. Nemo’s nervous father sets out to find him and bring him back.
Largely overlooked was last year’s Nicholas Nickleby (PG for thematic material involving some violent action and a childbirth scene) based on a Charles Dickens novel. A great story, top-notch acting, and colorful characters make this film, set in nineteenth-century England, well worth viewing. After his father’s death Nicholas, the title character, sets off to find his way in the world while at the same time providing for his mother and sister.
This year’s best movie to date, however, is Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language). Based on the seafaring adventure novels of Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander, joins Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend Dr. Steven Maturin on one of their many adventures. Although some might find this film a bit too “artistic,” and the subtleties involved may not play well to the masses, this movie is filmmaking at its finest. Director Peter Weir captures the spirit of O’Brian’s larger-than-life characters while avoiding the many pitfalls of converting a book into a movie.
Anne Morse, Senior Writer, BreakPoint Radio:
Goodnight, Mister Tom (NR, 1998). This is about an evacuee in London being sent to live with a crusty old man in the countryside during World War II. Think Heidi with a boy. (Yes, someone tries to take the child away). With a fairly happy ending, the film explores death, loss, love, sense of community.
Pat Nolan, President of Justice Fellowship:
Lilies of the Field (NR, 1963). Sidney Poitier received an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Homer Smith, an itinerant Baptist handyman who stops for water at a convent in the Arizona desert. There he meets five Catholic nuns who have come all the way from East Germany, escaping from the communists, to settle where they feel God has called them. The Sister Superior, Mother Maria (Lilia Skala, also nominated for an Oscar), is certain that God has sent Homer to them to build a chapel in the wilderness. Homer just wants water, but after many tests of wills, and of faith, he ends up building a house of worship for the Lord. This is a heartwarming film and not a bit saccharine. My family and I love to watch it.
To Kill a Mockingbird (PG, 1962). An endearing portrayal of the passage from childhood innocence of a young girl in the Deep South as she sees good confront evil in her little home town. She witnesses the ugliness of racial prejudice and violence evidenced by the behavior of some in her community, as well as the dignified courage of both an African-American man falsely accused of rape and of her father, lawyer Atticus Finch, who defends the young man. Gregory Peck earned an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Finch. Watch closely for Robert Duvall’s film debut as Boo Radley, their reclusive neighbor.
The Reivers (PG, 1969). This film adaptation of a Pulitzer winning Faulkner novel of the same name is set in rural Mississippi. Grandfather Lucius Priest, AKA “Boss,” (Will Geer) leaves for a funeral. He entrusts his new Winton Flyer (the only automobile in town) to his caretaker, Boon Hogganbeck (Steve McQueen) with instructions to keep the car in the garage. Boon convinces Boss’s eleven-year-old grandson to take a joyride with him to Memphis. Unbeknownst to them, the family’s black coachman stows away in the back of the car, and they embark on a series of adventures that involve a horse race, a visit to Miss Reba’s brothel, and a night in jail. The photography is beautiful, particularly the slow-motion final heat of the horse race, with beautiful narration by Burgess Meredith describing the thrill of a young boy atop a thoroughbred at a full run. When Boss confronts them with their misdeeds, his grandson’s shame and remorse are palpable. Boss doesn’t whip him but gives him a wonderful lesson in manhood: “A gentleman always accepts responsibility for his actions, even if he didn’t instigate them, but only acquiesced in them, didn’t say ‘no,’ though he knew he should.”
Rat Race (PG-13, 2001). I laughed so loudly during this hilarious comedy that my daughter slid down in her seat out of embarrassment. Directed by Jerry Zucker who also brought us Airplane and Naked Gun 2 1/2, this film has wild chase scenes, slapstick comedy, sight gags, impossible situations, and zany characters played by Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, Rowan Atkinson, Paul Rodriguez, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Casino owner John Cleese informs them that they are invited to participate in a race: The first to reach Silver City, New Mexico, will receive the $2 million cash prize. To make things interesting, there are no rules, which leads to the commandeering of a bus of Lucille Ball imitators, a run-in with neoNazis, a jeep climbing a radar tower, and a cow dangling from a hot air balloon. But this is all a cover for the real game: An eclectic group of high rollers are betting on which of them will win the cash.
Kim Robbins, Wilberforce Forum Research Associate:
Double Indemnity (NR, 1944). This late Billy Wilder classic film noir is filled with wonderful repartee, while it explores one man’s descent into crime. The film also highlights the strength of friendship despite wrongdoing. Starring Fred MacMurray, E. G. Robinson, Barbara Stanwyck, and Porter Hall.
The Lion in Winter (PG, 1968). For those interested in seeing a great movie that will enhance your knowledge about Western civilization, rent this witty drama about Eleanor of Acquitaine and King Henry II. The family is filled with all sorts of intrigues as Henry decides which son to succeed him to the throne. This is one family in which you wouldn’t want to belong. Starring Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, and Timothy Dalton.
King Lear (NR, 1984), the version starring Laurence Olivier. This is William Shakespeare’s tale of folly of parental favoritism, greed, and lust for power. It’s a timeless classic.
Guys and Dolls (NR, 1955) is a rousing musical where the gamblers (degenerates) meet reformers (Salvation Army-esque). Yes, the characters break out into song and dance, but there is some redemption thrown in amongst the dancing and dice. Starring Marlon Brando, Vivian Blaine, Frank Sinatra, and Jean Simmons.
BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!
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It's a good list.
Some of his synopses are a little odd.
Very interesting thread. Thanks for posting, am bookmarking.
Shadowlands is my favorite film of all time.
I'd personally add Hotel Rwanda to a more recent list. It is quite analogous to Schindler's List, and also shows the true story of a person who decided to do all he could to save lives in the face of great injustice.
ping
Shrek -- one individual can shrug off the yoke of totalitarian oppression.
The Iron Giant -- missile defense can save small-town America from destruction.
So, for those who like gladiator movies, "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (with an appropriately large cast) is good. ("Gladiator" was a poorly remade rehash.)
Please add me to the list and thanks.
The 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice (A&E) is possibly my favorite movie of all time. I admit that it's a chick flick, but it's got an excellent story, great acting, beautiful scenery, and good morals. It sticks quite well to the book, only deviating as absolutely necessary to change the media type from book to film.
I would add..
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)
300 Spartans (1962)
Zulu (1964)
Tarzan and his Mate (1934)
True Grit (1969)
Barabas (1962)
Boys Town (1938)
Cromwell (1971)
Ikiru/To Live (1954)
Attack (1955)
There are many more but it is still better for children to read than to watch. It is better for adults too.
The key scene to me was when Nemo was in the fish tank, and the pelican was telling about his father's exploits while searching for him, and Nemo said, "My dad took on a shark?", and the pelican replied, "I heard he took on three."
A lot of good movies on this list. I need to bulk up my library...
Actually, I really do like Robinson Crusoe on Mars--it's one of the few science fiction films that acknowledges--reverently--the existence of God, and it's just a lot of dang fun, semi-cheesy effects and all.
I guess "The Last Seduction" won't make this list . . . despite its gripping portrayal of the lengths a boy will do to get out of a dead-end life Upstate.
I agree it's much better to read especially something like "Lord of the Rings" which is much more Christian than the movie.
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