A Good (Christian) Movie Is…
There’s a curious phenomenon about films. The ones the critics hate are usually the ones the audiences love. Case in point: The Bee Movie. I went to see it with my friend Jen and her kids - I really liked it! Some of the jokes were a little on the corny side and the idea of a bee suing humans is a little out there, but I liked it. Jen’s kids loved it. It’s already on their Christmas list. The critics? Not so much.
Bella, a film that won awards at the Toronto Film Festival, has been lambasted by critics. It’s either too-pro-life or not-pro-life-enough. The quality of the movie has been denigrated because the director admitted that a lot of it was unscripted.
But people like it. And therein lies the mystery. Who do you believe? How about Chuck Colson? He wrote a nice piece about the film and its strength as a film.
If you’ve seen the film, do you agree with Colson that Bella works as a movie, or do you agree with its critics? Let us know.
This movie absolutely works. Chuck Colson is correct in saying that this is not a preachy movie. It is a wonderful story that is beautifully done. It is powerful and moving. This is type of movie that gets to the heart. That is exactly the type of movie that we need when we talk about the need for a change of heart for our country and culture on matters of family, children, life, faith, etc. This movie represents a tremendous opportunity for people to “vote” for the type of movies they’d like to see produced. It is hopeful and uplifting and moral and clean. For those critics that haven’t given this movie great reviews, you can see a cynicism and a world-view that doesn’t allow for such things. That’s sad.
As great as this movie was to see the first time, it is even better the second. It is like “It’s a Wonderful Life” in that the first time you see it there are all kinds of things that happen that you don’t recognize the significance of until the end. Then the second time you see them all in context. That made the second time even more incredible.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Hey everyone - I received this email from a friend whose church is very involved in promoting Bella - I assume the info in it came from the company that produced Bella - it is worth passing on - maybe the webmasters of this blog can even make it a featured entry:
If the movie “Bella” does not get high box office scores this weekend (people watching it in theaters) it will be taken out of theaters. We need to mobilize everyone we know to watch this film Fri-Sunday (Nov 16-18). Why?
As many of you have heard, the movie “Bella” has been changing and literally saving lives across this nation. The story is about a young woman in NYC who decides to not have an abortion after experiencing the unconditional love of a friend. This movie has won the critically acclaimed “Toronto Film Festival” (People’s Choice Award) which launched many Oscar winning films (Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Amelie, Chariots of Fire, Hotel Rwanda, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and Grand Prize at the Heartland Film Festival (the biggest family-friendly film festival in the world). The story behind this film is a miracle, Christ-centered and we as God’s people need to get
behind this movie and do all we can to help.
There are 86 markets showing Bella this weekend. The goal is to mobilize at least 300 people to watch Bella in each theater/screen in your market. By having 300 people watch at each theater, we reach the near $3, 000.00 minimum goal per screen which will keep Bella in theaters.
There is more to this email, but the main thing is to a.) Go out to see the movie. b.) take others with you. c.) encourage others to go as well.
Thanks!
November 16th, 2007 at 10:54 am
What a beautiful film Bella is. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. You’ll love the gift God gives us in children. The kind of movie that makes you want to run home and hug your kids. One of the best films this year to hit the theater. See it this Thanksgiving at the theater!
November 21st, 2007 at 12:23 am