(REVIEW) The film ‘Redeeming Love’ is based on the hugely popular 1991 Christian romance novel by evangelical author Francine Rivers that loosely retells the biblical story of Hosea. Unfortunately, this adaptation combines the worst parts of faith-based films, romance films and gritty dramas into a hilarious Frankenstein’s monster of a misfire.
Read More(REVIEW) “Don’t Look Up” is a new Netflix movie that has generated some controversy for its straightforward message encouraging the world to care about climate change. While mostly ineffective, it raises questions about God’s involvement in the end of the world.
Read More(REVIEW) Coming of age film “The Hand of God” intertwines the life of a young Italian boy in the midst of tragedy and famed soccer player Diego Maradona. Both create mystical stories of hope tied to faith and strange miracles.
Read More(REVIEW) “American Underdog” is arguably the best shot movie and worst written movie by Christian filmmakers the Erwin Brothers, prompting one to ask if faith-based films will ever overcome their bad writing problem.
Read MoreThere’s an excess of Christmas movies to stream this holiday season. We’ve compiled a list of 12 of the best faith-based Christmas movies to enjoy.
Read More(REVIEW) Fans of “The Chosen” TV series shocked the entertainment industry by rocketing the tiny Christmas special — which is essentially a Christmas carol show with a short Christmas-themed episode of “The Chosen” attached to it — to over $10 million at the box office its opening week.
Read More(REVIEW) The latest Hollywood blockbuster “Dune,” a space opera based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, is essentially a philosophical thought experiment that asks, How would Islam adapt and change thousands of years into the future on a distant desert planet? By projecting into the future, the film highlights our present reality.
Read More(REVIEW) New biopic “King Richard” shares the origins of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams through the eyes of their father, Richard. It’s a heartwarming story of strength, athleticism and family but often gets too hung up on its protagonist to feature its proper stars.
Read More(REVIEW) The new documentary “The Jesus Music” interviews iconic Christian artists like Amy Grant, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith and more. It’s a fun documentary, but its nostalgia overshadows many more important discussions on the current state of Christian music — for Christians and non-Christians alike.
Read More(REVIEW) The horrifyingly addictive Netflix Korean thriller has become the number one television show in more than 90 countries. But beyond the surprising visuals and horrific violence that touch on an array of themes, the show also has something to say about religion — specifically Korean forms of Christianity.
Read More(REVIEW) The movie “God’s Not Dead: We The People” is another very bad entry in a very bad franchise. But the real issue is that no one is making movies that express the experiences of the Christian conservative audience in ways that are high-quality, nuanced and productive and encourage the best angles of those people.
Read More(REVIEW) Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker has been broadcasting “The Jim Bakker Show” since 2003, nine years after his release from prison. Today, it reflects an empty shell of his former glory, featuring prophetic apocalyptic preaching.
Read More(REVIEW) A new Ken Burns documentary on PBS tells the story of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, including his friendship with Malcolm X and faith journey to Nation of Islam and then Sunni Islam.
Read More(REVIEW) New biopic “Respect” shows the trajectory of the life and career of “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Through personal strife and career hurdles, Franklin’s Christian faith remained at the center of her life. The movie shows both how it influenced her style and saved her more than once.
Read MoreNBC’s “Manifest” has been a top trending show on Netflix for weeks. Its faith themes — including a primary focus on a New Testament Bible verse — have enriched the show and focused on themes of redemption.
Read More(REVIEW) A new documentary by the BBC on Hillsong Church reveals new insight into the global evangelical church network’s celebrity culture, sex scandals, and questionable financial dealings.
Read More(REVIEW) Netflix’s latest reality series about a highly successful businesswoman who left a strict Orthodox Jewish community is hilarious at times and binge-worthy but adds to the narrative that religion is oppressive. Meanwhile, Orthodox Judaism is attracting more young people in the U.S. than previous generations despite religion’s overall decline.
Read More(REVIEW) A new PBS documentary on the life of Pope Francis that premiered on June 20 presents an hour long overview from his childhood to his papacy. It paints Francis as a reformer of the Catholic Church and a pope who cares greatly for other people.
Read More(REVIEW) The movie “The Divine Ponytail” packs a lot in just 91 minutes and doesn’t ignore Roberto Baggio’s Buddhist faith and how it helped motivate the former Italian soccer star at the World Cup and beyond.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Chosen” season two is not as strong as its first season. It rushes scenes and narrative arcs and lacks the multi-episodic drama of the first season. But these weaknesses don’t strike to the essential strengths of the show: a show that portrays a Jesus and disciples faithful to scripture and embraces creativity in the art form.
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