“God’s Gang,” which follows a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim and a Hindu in their efforts to, as the show’s publicists put it, “unite the world through peace and adventure,” has a global team behind it. Its creators are spread across 15 countries and its audience boasts an even bigger reach. The first episode alone, which dropped last November, attracted over 10 million views.
Read MoreThe movie follows FBI agent Harper Lee who uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to catch a serial killer, played by Nicholas Cage). On her way, she discovers her own connection to the serial killer which forces her to confront her own past to hopefully take him down. The film, directed by Oz Perkins and released by Neon, offers up intrigue — but ultimately goes out of its way to glorify evil.
Read More(REVIEW) “Fleur de Lis” is a sharp-witted and endearing animated hijinks-adventure sitcom with a Christian worldview and a controversial way it’s made: using artificial intelligence. Faith-based films and TV shows are not known for their innovation. Between the running gag of faith-based knockoffs of secular content (such as “Revelation Road” being a knockoff of “Mad Max”) and otherwise playing it fairly safe with its inspirational drama formula.
Read MoreThe Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from former reality TV star and Christian activist Josh Duggar regarding his conviction for downloading child sex abuse material. The nation’s highest court made no comment or notes on its decision to decline. Instead, the court just listed Duggar’s case as one in several petitions that were denied.
Read More(ANALYSIS) When Pope Francis addressed a group of top international comedians on June 14, he called them artists and stressed the value of their talents. To many Catholics, this meeting came as a surprise. Traditionally, the themes of detachment, sacrifice, humility and repentance appear far more frequently in religious writing and preaching than the spiritual benefits of a good laugh.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Exorcism” is a beautifully shot and smartly conceived meta-take on the exorcism genre. Unfortunately, instead of developing or paying off its ideas, it abandons them in favor of an unreflective string of the very cliches it spent the rest of the movie deconstructing. Russell Crowe stars as Anthony Miller, a washed-up actor out of rehab trying to reconnect with his troubled daughter.
Read More(REVIEW) It seems like everyone is making a Jesus movie these days. “The Chosen”, the multi-season TV series about the life of Jesus, is in its fourth season. Mel Gibson is still working on his “Passion” sequel. Oscar Isaac is playing Jesus in an upcoming animated movie. Within that lineup, one of the most innovative portrayals is a humble film made by a non-profit that depicts Jesus doing his ministry entirely through sign language.
Read MoreIt appears that Emily Harrison — creator of the “Dear Christian Parent” website — is some kind of religious countercultural radical. By the way, for me “radical” is a compliment when discussing matters of digital-screen culture. The question is what brand of faith-based radical she is, since her Substack’s “about” page offers classic nondenominational-era language: “Believer in Jesus. Wife. Mother. Writer & Speaker on kids and screen time. ScreenStrong Ambassador.”
Read More(REVIEW) “Sound of Hope” highlights an important issue and improves on many of the problems in the typical faith-based film industry. But the problems it does retain from the genre heavily weakens what could have been a truly wonderful theatrical experience. For those of us who’ve been waiting on faith-based films to match their secular counterparts for a long time, “Sound of Freedom” definitely gives us something to hope for.
Read MoreThe documentary “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” takes fans behind the scenes with the great singer-songwriter as his most recent album, “Seven Psalms,” was being made. But the two-part, 3 ½-hour film, released earlier this year and now streaming on MGM+, also tells Simon’s life story, weaving together footage of past interviews and performances with his reflections on what it all means now. It also delves into his Jewish faith and identity.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This is the question that I have been thinking about ever since Memorial Day: What role do movie theaters play in God’s glorious and fallen creation? Yes, that’s a strange question. Let me explain. Back in my professor days when I taught Introduction to Mass Communication 101, I explained the whole “technology shapes culture” equation (again, think “the medium is the message”) by asking a series of questions.
Read MoreThe speakers that took to the stage at MIT this past week addressed a series of issues surrounding AI, including how it impacts a number of areas such as communications, entertainment, healthcare, politics, climate change and the military. In fact, speakers talked about the numerous potential pitfalls in a world where AI is becoming more ubiquitous.
Read More(REVIEW) There are a lot of positive — dare I say “Christian” — values in the show. So much that I’d say anyone with a beating heart will find themselves weeping as they watch them play out — even if only despite themselves. Observing the cynical, broken Hellians that Charlie Morningstar finds and helps to reform and embrace being their better selves, can’t help but bring tears to your eyes.
Read More(REVIEW) The new series “3 Body Problem” is a secular show that wrestles with how the failures of the secular project have threatened the modern world and wrestles compellingly with nonreligious answers on how to solve them. Hollywood has recently begun to spotlight the evils of overtly atheist regimes. This year, “3 Body Problem” takes on Maoist China.
Read More(ANALYSIS) There is something different about how sci-fi movies deal with 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,” but no one would pretend these comics are making any claims about the existence of aliens.
Read More(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.
Read More(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.
Read MoreFamed movie director Martin Scorsese — known for mob movies such as “Goodfellas” and the “The Departed” — signed a deal with FOX Nation to produce and host an eight-part docudrama series on saints. The series, according to FOX, will explore the “remarkable stories of eight men and women who risked everything to embody humanity’s most noble and complex trait — faith.”
Read More“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.
Read MoreThe Oscars were held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel returned as host for the fourth time, joined onstage by an all-star list of presenters. Did any faith-based films win? Here’s a look at this year’s winners.
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