Are Sci-Fi Hits Like ‘Rebel Moon’ Faith-Based Films?

(ANALYSIS) There is something profoundly different about how sci-fi and fantasy movies deal with faith and religion and how traditionally “faith-based” films do. And that is, quite obviously, when you think about it, that these movies treat faith like fiction and fantasy, whereas faith-based fiction treats it as fact. It’s the same as how comic books like Superman treat aliens as “real” in their stories, but no one would actually pretend that these comics are making any truth claims about the existence of aliens.

Religion, Entertainment, NewsJoseph HolmesApril 29, 2024Joseph Holmes, Dune, Rebel Moon, sci-fi, films and TV, faith-based films, religion, news, Primary featureComment

‘Unsung Hero’ Brings Out Good And Bad Of Kingdom Story Company Films

(REVIEW) “Unsung Hero” is a testament to how the Erwin brothers have truly made a studio that can replicate the quality they’ve been able to establish in the faith-based film industry without them in the director’s chair. For those who love the kinds of films they make, this film should be another hit. For those who don’t, there’s nothing in here to change your mind.

Christianity, Film & TVJoseph HolmesApril 26, 2024Joseph Holmes, Christianity, films, film and TV, movies, movie reviewComment

‘Finding Faith’ A Well-Meaning — But Substandard — Faith Melodrama

(REVIEW) This movie feels like a throwback to how faith-based film’s used to be. The cinematography, music and editing are frustratingly substandard in a world where Kingdom Storybook Company has shown that care can be taken with those elements in a Christian film. Ultimately, I have hope that Great American Pure Flix will grow in the quality of its content.

Christianity, Entertainment, Film & TVJoseph HolmesApril 22, 2024Joseph Holmes, movie review, Christianity, marriage, film and TV, rechargeComment

New Moses Docudrama Heavy On Entertainment, But Light On Scholarship

(REVIEW) The average religious viewer will likely also find little offensively objectionable in the portrayal of the Biblical story. They take the story, with its miracles and supernatural elements, as if they all really happened. The flaws in Moses’s character are all ones that come from the Biblical accounts.

Need For Community: What the Church Should Do About Singleness

Christians are divided on how to address this growing issue. One camp sees this as a problem — something that needs to be solved by helping people get married. The other sees the problem as the privileging of marriage — and that it’s the church that needs to adapt to reflect such societal changes. Here’s what some books are saying about the issue.

‘Judaism Is About Love’ Shatters Stereotypes And Addresses Jewish-Christian Relations

(ANALYSIS) “Judaism Is About Love” is a new book that thoroughly and poetically shatters the misconception that the God of the Hebrew Bible is about law, while the God of the New Testament is about love. As a result, it creates healthy parameters for disagreement between Jewish and Christian believers.

‘Monkey Man’ A Faith-Based Action Thriller That Largely Lacks Punch

(REVIEW) There’s enough of the classic action formula and faith-based reverence in “Monkey Man” that fans of those things will find a lot to enjoy on their visit to the unique world that Dev Patel, making his directorial debut, has created. But the weaknesses are frustrating enough (and pervasive) that it’s likely they will also be glad when the visit is finally over.

Film & TV, News, Religion, Asia, hinduismJoseph HolmesApril 5, 2024Joseph Holmes, movie review, film and TV, Monkey Man, religion, faith, news, Hinduism, movie reviews, earthquakeComment

What The ‘Dune’ Sequel Doesn’t Understand About Religious People

“Dune: Part Two” has been a massive hit at the box office, making back the first movie’s entire ticket take on its opening weekend and narrowly beating the opening of “Oppenheimer.” And with a Rotten Tomatoes critical and audience score over 90%, many are already calling it one of the best sequels of all time. Here’s what the movie says about religion and those who practice it.

‘Arthur the King’ A Sweet, But Shallow, Drama

(REVIEW) Based on the book “Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home,” the movie version follows the true-life story of the comeback of professional adventure racer Michael Light, played by Mark Wahlberg, who is trying to win his first race after a humiliating previous attempt. What results is a movie that’s wholesome and sweet, yet ultimately shallow and formulaic.

‘Cabrini’ Biopic Visually Stunning (But Largely Boring) Toxic Outrage

(REVIEW) Angel Studios’ latest film “Cabrini” has haunting visuals and solid messages, but can’t seem to care about the real-life people the movie is based on beyond their status of victim or oppressor. The film follows Catholic nun Francesca Cabrini who, after witnessing poverty in the slums of New York, embarks on a daring journey to help hundreds of orphaned children.

Why Popular Faith-Based Films Like ‘The Chosen’ Aren’t Nominated For Oscars

Are faith projects such as “The Chosen” not considered for secular awards because of anti-Christian bias? While there is plenty of bias in Hollywood, the reason is a much more complicated one. Film critic Joseph Holmes delves into the issue in time for this Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.

How The 2024 Oscars Wrestle With A Post-Christian West

(ANALYSIS) This year’s Best Picture nominees at the 2024 Academy Awards showcase how our culture is wrestling with a post-Christian society, whether or not these films feature religion or not. While Hollywood has gained a reputation for being deeply secular — even anti-religious — after Oscar nominees over the past two years featured rather complex portrayals of religion.

‘The Chosen’ Finale Brings An Uneven Ending To One Of Its Best Seasons

(REVIEW) While the Season 4 finale was weaker in its character payoffs than I would have liked, it still is the strongest season overall since the first. The stories are more focused, the drama more intense, the characters gelling more and the filmmaking seamlessly skillful. It’s what keeps me and the audience coming back for more.

‘Ordinary Angels’ Reveals How Faith-Based Films Have (And Have Not) Grown in 20 Years

(REVIEW) “Ordinary Angels” is a welcome sign of how the baseline modern faith-based films have come a long way since their beginnings 20 years ago. Those who enjoy the formula will be happy at how the quality has increased and will get everything they’re looking for. Those who wish the industry would grow beyond that need to keep wishing – but will find the ride more enjoyable than 20 years ago.

Christianity, Film & TVJoseph HolmesFebruary 23, 2024Joseph Holmes, movies, faith-based films, films, ChristianityComment

What ‘God and Country’ Gets Wrong About Christian Nationalism

(REVIEW) A new documentary “God and Country” tries to warn against an American political movement that is corrupting both politics and Christianity — but its misrepresentation of the topic only makes its audience less informed and instead gives strength to the movement.

‘The Chosen’ Season 4 Part 2: A Darker Jesus Shines

(REVIEW) “The Chosen” remains one of the strongest pieces of faith-based content being produced these days. The fourth season is, on balance, one of the strongest to date despite some flaws. Hopefully, the groundwork being laid in these middle episodes will feel worth it in the future.

Inside The Gospel According To ‘Fargo’

(REVIEW) The series deserves applause for dealing with difficult social and theological topics and for the ways it gets them right. But its agonizing repetitiveness and its social and theological missteps need to be noted as well so that we make sure we can actually solve the problems it is so eager to critique.

Analysis, Christianity, Film & TVJoseph HolmesFebruary 12, 2024Joseph Holmes, Fargo, Christianity, film and TV, movies, film, review Comment

‘The Chosen’s’ Shocking Season 4 Premiere Proves A Gutsy Winner

(REVIEW) Overall, this new season of “The Chosen” is its strongest one since the first. If it can build on this with the rest of the season, then it’s possible — as hard as it might be to believe — that Season 4 might be its best to date. Season 4 of “The Chosen” is exclusively in theaters from Feb. 1-14 and later via streaming.

Do Movies Like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Poor Things’ Encourage Toxic Masculinity?

(ANALYSIS) The two biggest feminist films of 2023, “Barbie” and “Poor Things,” are poised to be heavy hitters at this year’s Oscars. And yet, despite the fact that both films claim to be overt pro-feminist manifestos, what both also have most in common is that they actually encourage the very toxic masculinity that they claim to be deconstructing. evangelicalism may hold the true answer they’re looking for.

‘Life In The Negative World’ Establishes A Sober Framework For A Post-Christian America

(REVIEW) The book establishes a sober and compelling framework for living in a changing world for American Christians that deserves to be read and wrestled with for anyone who wants to understand the age we live in.

BooksJoseph HolmesJanuary 24, 2024Joseph Holmes, book review, Christianity, religion, booksComment

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