(REVIEW) If words like “radio silent,” “compound” and “too good to be true” didn’t give it away. In the cult setting, “Opus” explores celebrity worship, creativity, culture as a mouthpiece of movements and the public fascination with true crime. It explains all the reasons why we love consuming cult content — it’s just ultimately an unfulfilling watch on its own.
Read More(REVIEW) “Shadow of God” is stuck between several different possible movies and doesn’t commit to any of them effectively. It could have been an entertainingly self-aware exorcism movie, but it has too few scenes where it embraces that winking glee for the cliches. It could have subverted the cliches with its own original ideas. Even if its ideas weren’t original it could have made up for it with thoughtful and nuanced dialogue to explore familiar ground.
Read MoreFor millions of Chronicles of Narnia fans, the term “Stone Table” represents a series of events that explicitly defined the Christology that C.S. Lewis placed at the heart of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” If news consumers want to understand the importance of reports about superstar Meryl Streep providing the voice of Aslan, then these dramatic Narnia moments are a good place to start. Some of these recent headlines provided a hook for this week’s “Crossroads” podcast.
Read More(ANALYSIS) For more than 50 years ABC — with very few exceptions — has offered “The Ten Commandments” as the network's featured film for Holy Week. In fact, nothing says “Easter” like a showdown between Moses, the 13th century BCE Hebrew prophet, and the pharaoh Ramses the Great and the gods of Egypt.
Read More(ANALYSIS) People might disagree whether Jesus is King, but he certainly is ruling the box office this Easter season. America loves movies and it loves Jesus. As a result, it’s s safe to say both will be with us for a very long time. You might say it’s Jesus’ world, we’re just living in it. That’s true to Christians at all times. But for now it’s also true when it comes to dominating the U.S. box office.
Read More(REVIEW) This is why a crowdfunded series ended up reaching box office heights. People don’t watch this series because they love it. They watch it because they love Jesus. The show, through its artistry and creativity, helps people see Him more clearly. It succeeds because film has a unique power: It can offer pure experiences that go beyond words.
Read More(ANALYSIS) While the Thai Buddhism depicted in “The White Lotus” is not completely realistic, there are several authentic ways to engage deeply with Buddhism, ranging from offering donations to short meditation retreats to ordination as a monastic. The series depicts an American woman who is interested in joining a yearlong meditation program at a temple, even though they do not offer such programs.
Read More(REVIEW) A few flaws aside, “The Chosen: The Last Supper Part 2” is easily the strongest middle chapter of the popular series by far. This only makes me more excited for the final episode just as Easter approaches. If they can land that, “The Chosen: The Last Supper” will truly be the best season of the show to date — and another sign that the faith-based film industry has truly come of age.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The math is bright red: The “Snow White” reboot was a box-office bomb in week one and things went straight downhill in week two. It’s possible that, if Disney gets honest about the production and promotion costs, this movie could be the biggest and most painful elite Hollywood bust of all time.
Read MoreUnder the direction of Trevor Nunn, “The Score” serves up a fascinating dynamic between the king, who harbors his own musical ambitions, and Bach. Over time, despite their contrasting personalities and roles, a mutual respect does develop — despite their religious differences, lifestyles, ambitions and motivations — between the men, culminating in Bach composing a musical offering inspired by Frederick.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Many have spent years studying and teaching Japanese anime, exploring how its narratives intertwine with cultural, philosophical and religious traditions. One of the most compelling aspects of Japanese anime is its ability to merge thrilling action with deep spiritual and ethical questions. It’s this mix of Buddhist and Shinto traditions that have helped make anime the very popular storytelling form it is today.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As a rule, I am not a fan of sequels — other than movies that complete a cycle of stories that exist in some existing form of literature (think “The Lord of the Rings”). I am also not a fan of live-action remakes of classic animated films.
Read MoreWalk through the doors of St. Peter’s Church in the English town of Shipley, in West Yorkshire, and this Anglican house of worship can sometimes result in a very unexpected sight. Forget rows of pews leading down to a main altar. Instead, you’ll find a WWE-style ring featuring wrestlers acting out Bible stories to the delight of those watching.
Read More(REVIEW) “Daredevil: Born Again” picks up years after the original show ended and a year after blind lawyer Matt Murdock stopped his activities as the masked vigilante "Daredevil" due to a tragic incident. Murdock continues his fight for justice as a lawyer while former crime boss Wilson Fisk is elected mayor of New York, putting the pair on a collision course. Some of the magic is definitely back.
Read More(REVIEW) The show impressively manages the difficult task of being a sword-and-sandals adventure fantasy that balances the needs of a faith-based and action-adventure audience. The story of David and Israel’s relationship with God is central, and the story creates a world that feels grounded, while still existing among giants and magic as relayed in the Hebrew Bible. The action is good while keeping itself PG-13, and the story is exciting while keeping it faithful to the Biblical themes.
Read More(ANALYSIS) While many ask if Foxworthy does "Christian comedy," he said he never considered that career path, since “if I do that, the only people I talk to are Christians.” However, he added: “I do think humor is one of the attributes of God, and I don't know that a lot of people are freed up to see God in that light.”
Read More(REVIEW) When the characters discover the monkey can kill people, they start trying to figure out how it works, to discover its rules so they can play the game and win. But the monkey doesn’t have rules. The characters who cause the suffering in this movie are the ones who try to impose order and meaning on these meaningless death. And it’s when characters accept death and its pointless randomness that the carnage stops and reconciliation occurs.
Read More(REVIEW) The film’s best elements still chaff under faith-based genre tropes. The genre that Kingdom Story Company has conquered so successfully is built on an audience that highly prizes good messages and family friendliness. Both of these are good things. But that has often rewarded tropes that work against the genre being both truthful or beautiful. These have often become more noticeable as the quality of the movies have otherwise improved.
Read More(ANALYSIS) James Mangold’s film “A Complete Unknown,” nominated for eight Oscars, captures the elusive, enigmatic quality of Bob Dylan in the early 1960s: The years he emerged as a major musical and cultural phenomenon. A scant few years after he came to New York from Minnesota, and legally changed his name from Robert Allen Zimmerman, Dylan transformed American music. Especially “unknown” and baffling is Dylan’s religious and spiritual identity.
Read More(REVIEW) The film follows Roya Mahboob, an Afghan woman whose passion in life is giving young girls a chance at a better life by teaching them computer programming. She decides that the only way to gain popular support for her endeavors in a patriarchal society is to start a women’s robotics team and win global competitions. But this will be harder and more dangerous than she suspects. It may go without saying, but the movie has a worthy message based on inspiring real-life people.
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