Tag: The Bible

  • Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

    Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

    The ninth film from Quentin Tarantino is now playing, and it’s filled to the brim with everything you love or hate about his movies. When Once Upon a Time In Hollywood was first announced, we admittedly feared the worst. A Tarantino film about the Manson murders? Gulp. But the end result is guaranteed to surprise…

  • Traverse City Film Festival 2019: Top Films

    Traverse City Film Festival 2019: Top Films

    After a leave of absence of reviews from last year’s Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) even though I was there, I return with short reviews of the most impressive films that I saw this year. I have only reviewed films that are scheduled for distribution now or later this year. So rather than write about…

  • The Green Pastures

    The Green Pastures

    Whiteness in America, Michael Eric Dyson writes, is the result of “breaking down or, at least to a degree, breaking up ethnicity, and then building up an identity that was cut off from the old tongue and connected to the new land.” Whiteness takes many forms; it informs, establishing a social stronghold, and when that…

  • ‘District 9’ Reminds Us of God’s Call to Love the Alien

    ‘District 9’ Reminds Us of God’s Call to Love the Alien

    For as long as I can remember I have been captivated by the mysterious myth of aliens from outer space. In grade school I was as excited to talk to my friends about them as I was to talk about comics, TV, music, even girls. Anytime there was a TV show or movie based on…

  • Is the Theology of ‘The Shack’ Heretical?

    Is the Theology of ‘The Shack’ Heretical?

    Heresy. Is there any word more feared among Christians? No one who takes their faith seriously wants to be accused of teaching false doctrine and leading others astray. Scripture takes false teaching seriously. Second Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their…

  • Birth of a Nation

    Birth of a Nation

    Few films arrive with as much controversy as Birth of a Nation. A promising run on the festival circuit (complete with a standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival) gave way to scandal when disturbing details emerged about writer/director/star Nate Parker’s past. The movie is here now, but is it any good? Birth of a…

  • Copperhead

    Copperhead

    For the most part we in the Northern states look upon the Civil War as a tragic but noble and necessary episode to preserve the Union. And most of us rank Abraham Lincoln as one of the greatest, if not the greatest of U.S. presidents. But we gloss over how much opposition to the war…

  • Strength in Weakness: The Trials of Humphrey Bogart

    Strength in Weakness: The Trials of Humphrey Bogart

    Ever hear a story about someone famous that talks about their limitations or past failures and makes you feel better about being you? I remember hearing that Albert Einstein had failed math in school as a kid. That encouraged me to work hard academically and stop worrying about not making it. Too bad the story…

  • Risen

    Risen

    Most Easter seasons of the last decade, Hollywood has given those of the Christian faith a movie or TV special/series with a biblical theme — the more money to make. This year there are actually two, Risen and The Young Messiah. And I suppose you could also count Miracles from Heaven in that group, although…

  • The Hateful Eight

    The Hateful Eight

    There are few filmmakers as polarizing as Quentin Tarantino. Some celebrate him. Others revile him. Now Tarantino is back with his latest film The Hateful Eight — a fitting title considering this is the eighth film of his career. Listen to this month’s podcast as we ask: Is there truth in the works of Quentin…