PC Elites Effectively Squash Christian Movies

March 16, 2003 | Dr. Tom Snyder

[Simi Valley Tom]

The politically correct elites have effectively squashed recently released Christian movies such as Pierce Brosnan's EVELYN and Ron Maxwell's poignant Civil War epic, GODS AND GENERALS.

They have been helped along by apathy among Christian and conservative activists, who apparently think that, simply because an anti-Christian bigot like Roger Ebert condemns a movie, that must mean the movie is no good. Thus, instead of ignoring the vitriolic comments from politically correct, leftist film critics in the secular media, Christians and conservatives have abandoned family-friendly, Christian-friendly movies like EVELYN and GODS AND GENERALS, and, hence, helped to feed the lie that family-friendly, Christian movies can't make money.

Apparently, judging by recent box office figures, conservatives and Christians would rather go to lewd comedies like BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE and inane, disgusting, leftist political propaganda like THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE, rather than uplifting movies like EVELYN or GODS AND GENERALS.

Despite what the know-nothing critics may say, these movies are entertaining and, as in the case of GODS AND GENERALS, historically informative.

It's still not too late to show your support for GODS AND GENERALS, which has been described by one conservative critic as the best, most truthful historical epic ever made. It's still running in some theaters across the nation. Let's make sure that, next week, GODS AND GENERALS surpasses DAVID GALE at the box office.

[Paleo Conservative]

I've seen "GODS AND GENERALS," but I hardly think it is "family friendly".

[gcruse]

"Go see a movie for God!"

It just gets weirder.

[Simi Valley Tom]

A similar thing happened last fall to JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE, which should have blown RED DRAGON out of the water. Is anybody paying attention to the Culture War that's going on in Hollywood? By the time he's 17, the average person will have watched and listened to at least 40,000 hours of movies, television, videos, and popular music, but only about 2,000 hours with his parents, 11,000 in school, and less than 1,000 hours in church if he attends every week! Thus, supporting good movies and television programs may be more important to winning the Culture War than supporting your local church!

[Bismark]

I think it was very family friendly, in that it can be used to teach values such as bravery, honor and love to our children. War is not evil by itself.

[Russell Scott]

Mostly teenagers and young adults go to the movies. These types of movies will do well when they come out on cable/sat., and video/dvd.

[laconic]

I love history and was hoping for a movie about the Civil War like Gettysburg, also produced by Maxwell. Instead, Gods and Generals was four hours of boredom spiced with two good battle scenes and endless, dithering dialogue. It didn't succeed because Maxwell didn't use a film editor and it ended up a baaad movie.

[Eva]

I have been proposing a sin tax on movie tickets to help ameliorate the damage done to young minds by Hollywood and the entertainment industry. This sin tax would go well with the other sin taxes that are being touted in California by Hollywood celebs on everything from fast food to SUV's.

[Amerigomag]

These types of movies will do well when they come out on cable/sat., and video/dvd.

I for one was hesitant to attend an almost four hour movie at a theater.

On the other hand I am waiting anxiously for the nearly 6 hour DST/DVD release.

[Theo]

"Go see a movie for God!"

Classic example of a Straw Man Fallacy.

[Cicero]

I never heard of Evelyn.

A Google search turned up this:

http://www.mgm.com/evelyn/

[dts32041]

Just what we need god see a movie with Bobbie KKK byrd and his idea of chirstianity.

[Theo]

If the Christian movies are going to compete with secular movies they are going to have to improve. The American movie-going public demands either violence, sexual exploitation or quality. If ANY movie fails to deliver one of those three attributes it is doomed to fail.

That's absolutely untrue. "G" movies on average provide the highest profit for film producers, "PG" provide a bit less profit margin, and "R" provides the smallest profit margin.

It's true that some PG movies (and even some G) have violence and/or sexual exploitation, but it's just not true to insist that in order to be successful a movie must have those attributed.

[Old Professer]

The word is quash; squash is a plant, squish is what you do to bugs and the two don't mix.

By the way if you live in Simi, drive by 2319 N. Tracy and let me know what the old homeplace looks like, will'ya?

[Theo]

I saw "GODS AND GENERALS" and thought it was wonderful. Having studied literature may have prepared me for the language/dialog, much lf which was taken verbatim from history texts....

[Lyford]

I never heard of Evelyn.

Neither had I. The article implies (though doesn't state) that Roger Ebert panned it. Which is untrue - he gave it three out of four stars, a pretty good review. I suspect that this was a case of studio failure, failure to promote at all...

[savedbygrace]

From Merriam Webster Online:

Main Entry: squash
Pronunciation: 'skwäsh, 'skwosh
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle French esquasser, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin exquassare, from Latin ex- + quassare to shake -- more at QUASH
Date: 1565
transitive senses
1 : to press or beat into a pulp or a flat mass : CRUSH
2 : PUT DOWN, SUPPRESS (squash a revolt)
intransitive senses
1 : to flatten out under pressure or impact
2 : to proceed with a splashing or squelching sound
3 : SQUEEZE, PRESS
- squash·er noun

[wontbackdown]

This website is trying to convince Hollywood to make movies that conservatives and Christians can enjoy.

http://www/patriotmovies.com

[KrisKrinkle]

Let's make sure that, next week, GODS AND GENERALS surpasses DAVID GALE at the box office.
___________________________________________________________

I don't know anything about DAVID GALE, but I do understand that in the time it takes to show GODS and GENERALS twice, they can show a lot of other movies three times. Ticket prices being the same for all, that's going to make it hard for G&G to show up well based on the Box Office.