Posted on 01/19/2006 1:25:07 PM PST by moviewatcher
Unless Christians themselves are the driving force behind the projects, Hollywood appears at a loss when it comes to creating entertainment that touches on faith. They either end up with unfair, bigoted depictions on one hand or bland, ill-defined “Touched by an Angel”-type portrayals on the other.
But there is evidence beyond the two monster moneymakers cited above that it doesn’t have to be this way. To overcome its religious stalemate with mainstream America the entertainment industry could, as it has so many times in the past, borrow a page from the African-American community.
“Black-targeted” entertainment has always shown greater respect for Christ than more generally-marketed material. Even as gansta rappers offer up paeans to benjamins and hoes, momma and Jesus always remain sacred (think Kanye West rapping “God show me the way…Jesus walks with me” in one song and “There’s a party/who’s invited/you, your friends, and my ****” in another.)
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
What I can't figure out is why the Christian community doesn't make its own movies. All that's required is to form a production company, hire talented folks to write and make the films, and the talented actors to act in them.
If the films are successful, it'll be a money-generating proposition, as well as a tool to spread the word.
It's one thing to whine about what Hollywood is doing. It's another to do something about it by making better movies. Surely good movies with a Christian theme would be popular, since this is a country primarily made up of Christians.
So far, most of the Christian-themed movies I've seen have been pretty lousy. The "Left Behind" movies are awful as movies, whatever you think about their scriptural basis. They've been box office disasters.
There's an opportunity here. Why doesn't someone take it?
That's easy...you get three Christians together, and you have at least half a dozen opinions about who Christ is.
There have been efforts but they have mostly been disaster because of poor screenwriting, acting, editing, directing, or any combination thereof.
The "Left Behind" series of books had the is very popular yet the movies suck because the storyline doesn't flow smoothly and the acting is 2nd rate at best. The books talk often about prayers and the individuals' spiritual transformations to Christianity, yet the movie seems to be afraid of being "too churchy" and edits them out.
I'm hoping the folks who made "End of the Spear" ARE taking that opportunity. We'll see when it opens tomorrow.
$14 a box popcorn helps the bottom line.
"What I can't figure out is why the Christian community doesn't make its own movies."
They do. My wife and I just saw "love comes softly" and it was very moving. It's production values leave something to be desired. At one point they are standing in the rubble of a burned down barn and all the wood was perfectly good lumber painted black.
We went through half a box of cleenex though, beginning about 10 minutes into the movie and progressing pretty much to the end.
"They do. My wife and I just saw "love comes softly" and it was very moving. It's production values leave something to be desired. At one point they are standing in the rubble of a burned down barn and all the wood was perfectly good lumber painted black. "
And that's the problem. You can't get a movie like that in the theaters. It's gotta be good, all around.
"The "Left Behind" series of books had the is very popular yet the movies suck because the storyline doesn't flow smoothly and the acting is 2nd rate at best. The books talk often about prayers and the individuals' spiritual transformations to Christianity, yet the movie seems to be afraid of being "too churchy" and edits them out.
"
You're right. I've read the entire series and have viewes all the films so far. I thought the books were a bit wooden. They didn't live up to my expectations for novels, but I read them anyhow. The movies, on the other hand, were just execrable. Virtually unwatchable, and not because I'm an atheist. I have a very broad range in film-watching. Sad.
"I'm hoping the folks who made "End of the Spear" ARE taking that opportunity. We'll see when it opens tomorrow.
"
True. I'm going this weekend to see it. I hope it lives up to its promise.
We have a nine foot screen. Even though it was wide screen, I made the comment to my wife that it had the feel of having been designed as a TV movie.
That said, I think that as theaters fade into oblivion (and they most definitely will), they will lose their hold on what movies get viewed as much as The internet has destroyed (and is destroying) the MSM's hold on what news we get.
We are most definitely entering interesting times.
Mel Gibson had a heck of a time getting his movie distributed until he made a stink.
The whole process has been dominated by liberals so they are biased against putting a christian movie through their system.
Christians will change things, although the movie engine turns slowly as does the political engine, the education engine, the medical engine, etc. etc. etc.
That's what happens when you have had liberal control for 100 years.
Tomorrow in all theaters is a great Christian movie...A TRUE STORY..."POINT OF THE SPEAR". It's about 5 issionaries who lost their lives in Ecuador in 1955.
This shouyld set all box office records. PRAY FOR THIS MOVIE.
"Distribution.
"
So, form a distribution company as well. Start buying theaters, too. There are always theaters for sale. This is the United States of America, a capitalist nation.
Why cannot Christians form companies to make, distribute, and screen movies? I fail to see any reason it cannot happen.
Again, since a large majority of Americans profess to be Christians, I'd think it would be a sure thing. All those folks who have stopped going to the movies. If they had movies they wanted to see, they'd go.
I'm sorry, but this seems to me to be one of the simplest things there is. There's lots of talent out there, plenty of money looking for investments, and a huge audience.
Sorry, but I sometimes think it's more fun to whine about Hollywood than to do something.
"PRAY FOR THIS MOVIE."
Actually, going to the movie will do more good, doncha think?
You didn't get my point. I said this would happen but because climate is so dominated by liberals (who have had decades to build their capital, branding, etc.) it will take time.
Mel Gibson just made $500 million. Other christians are also building their capital. You will see the christian film market grow in prevalence and quality in coming years.
MEGA DITTOS
"TBN has made some excellent movies recently, one of my favorites being 'Megiddo' which recently aired on TBN.
"
Oooh....I saw it. I'm sorry, but the acting was just horrible and the dialog was even worse. I don't think it's a winner. I haven't seen it listed in any theaters near my large city, either.
Bombast is not a big seller, in my opinion.
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