Posted on 06/10/2006 9:08:39 AM PDT by TenthAmendmentChampion
Why should parents be forewarned about a Christian film with no sex, violence or raw language?
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has placed a PG rating on forthcoming film because it has a Christian message.
Randy Sharp, director of special projects at the American Family Association, said the rating that reviewers gave Facing the Giants was for "thematic elements."
Not only was the rating unwarranted, Sharp said the reasoning behind the rating was just as offensive.
"The MPAA gives a warning to parents about content that may be found offensive," Sharp told CitizenLink. "Usually, a PG rating would include violence or sexual content or profanity. There is none of that during this movie, so the MPAA has basically said, 'We're going to warn parents that it has a Christian theme — and it may be offensive.' "
Sharp said the MPAA has equated Christianity and the Christian message with sex, violence and profanity.
Bob Waliszewski, Focus on the Family's top media reviewer, said the sticking point for the MPAA does appear to have been the film's mention of the Gospel.
"There really isn't anything in this movie that would warrant a PG rating the way we're used to seeing it," he said. "There's nothing. Apparently, it's just because of the conversations about Christ that the coach has."
On a practical level, Waliszewski said he is "kind of glad" the PG rating was placed on this movie — it is one that deserves to be seen and might not get the audience it deserves with a G rating.
"That's because a G rating, for a lot of teenagers, is the kiss of death — 'Oh, I can't go see that!' " he said. "Having a PG rating, although unfair, may actually be a blessing in disguise."
Facing the Giants is described as "an action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure."
The dialogue can be inspiring: "For the rest of your life, you will remember today. I want you to remember that you held nothing back. You did not lose heart. You did not stop fighting. You did not quit."
Waliszewski said the movie essentially is about overcoming the feeling of failure.
"The high school football coach of a Christian school feels like a failure," the youth culture expert said. "He and his wife aren't able to have children, so he feels like a failure. His team isn't a winning team, and some of the best players are transferring to other schools — he just feels like a failure all the way around. But there's a certain point in the movie where he starts thinking rightly about what success really means and what it takes to be successful."
He said it's cinema well worth seeing when it debuts nationwide this fall.
"This is an incredible movie that I highly recommend," Waliszewski said. "I don't do that very often."
Facing the Giants is also an unusual film, he added. For one thing, the movie was not a Hollywood creation — but was produced by a Baptist church near Atlanta.
"They filmed it for $100,000 — that's typically the catering bill for most Hollywood films," Waliszewski said. "People volunteered their time or worked for less. But the interesting thing is — this is not a cheesy movie. This is a movie that, after they see it, people are going to say — 'It’s good.' "
It is time to quit patronizing Hollywood.
It is nuts. But not unexpected from those who loathe and fear Christianity.
Er..., Albany, Ga. About 150 miles from Atlanta in SW GA. Pronounced al BEN ee.
I'm going to go see it.
I'm taking my eleven year old son to see this movie.
Well, thank goodness we're being protected from that vile religion, Christianity. Now, perhaps, we won't be exposed to all those beheadings...oh, wait, that's Islam. Ok, now we won't be exposed to live sacrifices. Oopes, that would be some of those Voudoun and witchcraft groups.
So I gotta ask, do movies about other religions receive similar warnings and ratings?
I thought not.
Offensive to atheists, homos and Democrats.
Let these elitist prix continue showing every bit of their hatred and intolerance of what is Good, Christian, and American, then the faster people will summarily reject them!
Pronounced BAB-Tist ....../giggle
Still waiting for the MPAA to put a "Warning: contains homosexual themes" label on movies.
Waiting ....
Christian churches should do exactly what the Baptists in Atlanta have done. Instead of decrying the fact that Hollywood is Godless, ignore the offal they produce and self-produce films as they were made when directors still had souls. Christians shouldn't whine and complain, and then give their money and support to the pagans.
That would be helpful. What a mistake it was to see "The Crying Game." Good movie up until about 50 minutes into it.
MPAA ratings are an entirely subjective, voluntary affair. It's really only what a group of people think it should be rated. There are no objective rubrics used that I'm aware of. Many have gone before and tried to topple the MPAA's stranglehood on the rating system, but none have succeeded.
btt
I decided a long time ago to back up my beliefs with my actions and have no regrets. I don't see many movies but I don't miss them.
Some say they have a right to express their opinions and views using their "art" and they may but also have a right to express my opinions and I do by withholding support from them.
If I judge the movie offends family values, my moral code, it's Christian and just generally liberal, I stay away. I don't sponsor Hollywood's liberal directors, actors, producers, etc.
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