New Cultural Approach for Conservative Christians: Reviews, Not Protests [re movies]

The NYT ^ | Dec. 26, 2005 | John Leland

[summer]

At movieguide.org films are rated for quality and acceptability. "Brokeback Mountain" gets three stars but is considered "abhorrent."

Like other reviewers of "Brokeback Mountain," Steven Isaac was impressed by the quality of the filmmaking. But for Mr. Isaac, who reviews movies for the conservative Christian organization Focus on the Family, the movie, about a love affair between two male ranch hands, posed other critical challenges.

"When Ang Lee brings his considerable talents to a film that promotes homosexuality, which I believe personally hurts our culture, you get a movie that sells its message more effectively than one by someone less talented," Mr. Isaac said in a telephone interview. In a review that acknowledged the film's virtues, published on the Focus on the Family Web site pluggedinonline.com, he objected that it portrayed the characters' tribulations as consequences of an intolerant society rather than of "the destructiveness of acting on homosexual temptations."

...As the Office for Film and Broadcasting of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops put it, "While the actions of Jack and Ennis" - the film's cowboy lovers - "cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true." The office originally rated the movie "L," for limited, signaling that it was suitable for adults who can evaluate it from a Catholic moral perspective. But it changed the rating to "O," for offensive, so readers would not think the movie's treatment of homosexuality was "an acceptable Catholic moral position..."

This critical ambivalence represents a change in the way conservative Christians engage popular culture, said Robert Johnston, a professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical institution, in Pasadena, Calif. Until recently, he said, Christian groups would have ignored a sexually explicit movie like "Brokeback Mountain" except to protest it....

[summer]

As the Office for Film and Broadcasting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops put it, "While the actions of Jack and Ennis" - the film's cowboy lovers - "cannot be endorsed, the universal themes of love and loss ring true."

I thought this was an interesting article. (BTW, I have not seen "Brokeback Mountain" and my post here is not a review nor endorsement of any movie!) I just thought this alleged "new sophistication" re films -- on the part of Christian conservatives -- as reported in the NYT, was quite a leap for the NYT to make.

[summer]

Also from the article:

"... evangelicals as a group are becoming more sophisticated in their interaction with popular culture. There's been a recognition within the evangelical community that movies have become a primary means, perhaps the primary means, of telling our culture's stories. ..."

Reflecting this new approach, Christian media have increased their cultural coverage and influence lately...

[summer]

FYI.

[Cicero]

"Twisted, laughable, frustrating, plotless, and often boring"

That doesn't make it sound too appealing even for the perverts in the audience. If that's the new Christian sophistication, more power to it.

[Sam the Sham]

"We learned from 'Last Temptation of Christ' that if it wasn't for the protest, the film wouldn't be remembered today," Mr. Shepard said. "Our expectation is 'Brokeback Mountain' won't do as well in the heartland, but protest would bump that up."

Good point. The successes of TPOTC and Narnia have shown us that we needn't be outsiders protesting. We can be players within. Why shouldn't we have more clout than sodomites ? We can fill movie seats. They can't.

For Hollywood it is a matter of letting them see that picking fights with us is bad business. If they wish to continue to make "Saved", "Alexander", "De-Lovely", and "Kinsley" money let there be a natural shakeout in the industry.

The reality is that Bareback Mounting will not make more than 10 million. That is a box office flop. It is not the business of Hollywood to make flops.

[lawnguy]

It's all about economic clout. Mel Gibson completely caught them off guard, and they still don't know how to respond.

If I were in the movie business, I would do two things:

I would hire someone respected by the mainstream of the society and have them advise me.

I would tell all those in my employ to shut up. I don't care about your politics but keep it to yourself. Do not in any way insult or condecend to my audience.

I wonder if some rich guy will ever get that movie studio started?

[MineralMan]

"I wonder if some rich guy will ever get that movie studio started?"

Start writing to the televangelists. Some of them have bags of money. Maybe you can get one of them to finance it, but I doubt it.

[sgtbono2002]

I dont understand the hype of this movie. Heterosexuals should be sickend by it and homosexuals want to see the real homo action ,Penetration. Its just a soft porn homo movie as far as I can make out. They couldnt pay me enough to watch it.

[Ligeia]

I have Ted Baehr's MovieGuide site bookmarked. I was looking forward to THE NEW WORLD Jamestown drama but it earned an 'abhorrent' rating so I'll pass.

To read reviews, scroll down at the site then click on the movie title link. His movie reviews are quite detailed and very helpful.

[coydog]

Even the diehard gay/lesbian activists of my acquaintance are referring to the film as "Bareback Mount 'em", which says something of the general reception the film is getting even in Canada.

[Ligeia]

I wonder if some rich guy will ever get that movie studio started?

The billionaire helping fund NARNIA is giving it a shot:

In 'Narnia,' Tycoon Seeks Blockbuster With a Message [Philip Anschutz]

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

This critical ambivalence represents a change in the way conservative Christians engage popular culture, said Robert Johnston, a professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical institution, in Pasadena, Calif. Until recently, he said, Christian groups would have ignored a sexually explicit movie like "Brokeback Mountain" except to protest it....

I am appalled at Christian groups that view the movie in order to review it. That is a certain level of approval. They aren't out their reviewing pornography -- yet! The movie should have been ignored or only talked about in order to warn Christians to not view it because of content. Basically this means we have largely lost the battle and that REAL Christianity is more endangered than ever. God will protect His church no matter what, but the days of majority values and principles are over thanks largely to friendly fire and appeasement.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

But they had to view it first before they could give the review. My Bible still says stuff about guarding what we put into our minds and hearts. A review, even a bad one, is a statement that it is prefectly Christian to go see the movie as long as you just don't enjoy yourself.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

It is one thing to choose a plan of ignore (or content warning) over protest. It is quite another to become consumers of filth. They didn't need to see the movie to know it was inappropriate for Christians. Shame on them.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I dont understand the hype of this movie. Heterosexuals should be sickend by it and homosexuals want to see the real homo action ,Penetration. Its just a soft porn homo movie as far as I can make out. They couldnt pay me enough to watch it.

You response the the proper response. Too bad "Christian" organizations feel the need to see the movie. They are foolish or corrupt or both.

[BW2221]

It's interesting how Hollywood wants to push its values on middle America, even if it's obvious a film will lose money. Not many heterosexuals want to pay to see a film with "two guys going at it." Or, even watch it for free.

To hear Hollywood, you'd think Aids was the only disease in the world.

[StayAt HomeMother]

For in-depth movie reviews I recommend;
http://www.screenit.com/search_movies.html

It is very specific about what you will see and hear on the screen. The details are at the bottom, however, so you can skip them if you want to be surprised.

For some movies you are even warned about bright flashes of light on the screen and "bouncy, handheld footage" in case you are prone to visually induced motion sickness.

Even Naria has "sex and nudity" comments. (Tumnus and a male centaur are shirtless "as normal" and the White Witch and a teenager show a little cleavage.)

[goldstategop]

Michael Medved and Debbie Schlussel are providing conservative film reviews for the broader public and Jews. Its good to see conservative Christians following suit. Review of culture aka artistic criticism is too important to be left to the Left.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[driftless]

"boring"

That is its biggest fault. Even if one could get past the stomach-gagging main theme, how could a love story set in the West be watchable by the average red-blooded, straight American male? American males have traditionally hated all love stories, heterosexual or homosexual, absent any violence or gratuitous nudity. And the big thinkers in Hollyweird expect us to flock to a flick depicting two male homosexual sheepherders? They must be out of their tiny minds.

[harbinger of doom]

As a Christian I find that comment....chocked full of truth and humor.
Can't help but chuckle.