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?
bump
On the other hand, there is a terrific "black" Christian movie out there, "The Gospel." It has the same feel as "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," which was as good a real-life portrayal of Christ-like forgiveness that I could imagine.
Because of the "Passion" and "Narnia," I think Christians too quickly think Hollywood can turn out anything Christian and make money. It won't happen. Like anything, you still have to have a good story and good acting.
Good article. I've noticed this phenomenon in "black-oriented" films myself.
I saw "Diary of a Mad, Black Woman" and was struck by the simple fact that all of the characters went to church, and the heroine wouldn't have sex with her beau outside of marriage. These things weren't lampooned and they weren't presented as controversial, they were just part of the story of a Christian woman overcoming betrayal.