Culture Change
Is The Rush To Make “Faith Based” Movies Creating A Market For Schlock?
It's happening. Just as I've been discussing over the last year, the rush of studios to release "Christian" themed films is causing them to pick up some junk (can I say "crap?"), thus screwing it up for future filmmakers. This is from a review by William Lobdell in the Los Angeles Times about the film "Conversations with God". Granted, it’s not a strictly "Christian" film, but it falls in the faith-based category. He says dislikes it so much he wants to ask God:
"When are the majority of movies with overtly spiritual themes going to rise to industry standards? 'Conversations' has all the tell tale signs of a religious film that keeps your basic moviegoer away: stilted dialogue, overwrought music, the subtlety of a daytime soap. In the wake of 'The Passion of the Christ' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' aren't you afraid that too many films like 'Conversations' will send your flock running in the direction of 'Saw III'?"
Good point, and hard to argue. What do you think?
It's probably safe to say that Simon & Andrew were two of the best fishermen of their time, even while fishing in their own strength. Look however, what happened when Jesus told them where to throw their nets. William Lobdell wants the majority of movies with overtly spiritual themes to rise to industry standards. It's true that Hollywood has had decades to sharpen their skills and crafts. Even with all that time and experience look at some of the garbage they've produced. While as a screenwriter I understand the need for a artist to see his work succeed. However, we need to draw on the strength of the one who tells us where to cast our nets, to provide the world with movies & entertainment that will show the "industry standards" what real standards are.
What's a "Christian" or "religious" film? Can an inanimate object or work of art really be labeled "Christian?" Isn't that when we get into trouble - trying to label things?
Jesus didn't call himself a "Christian" or a "religious guy" - he just talked about his relationship with his Father. Maybe we're afraid to just show the love of Jesus - afraid that people won't understand God's love when it's shown. So we feel compelled to tell it - in words that can't be mistaken.
Jesus spoke in parables: "the Kingdom of heaven is like..."
There are filmmakers who are trying to SHOW the Father's love, but they're fighting against a Christian culture that wants them to TELL the Father's love.
Frankly, our flock aren't running to see any films - haven't been since The Passion of the Christ and the Chronicles of Narnia. That doesn't mean they're not interested - it just means to me that they're not all interested in the same things. We can't give Christian filmmakers a formula. There isn't one that fits all. But if we can encourage them to SHOW and not TELL, we'll be headed down the right road.
Good point... but. I would think that if the movie industry were really interested in knowing what will attract Chrisitans the way that Passion did, they might ask those who would know ... like ... well... YOU for instance! Then it would be quite easy to tell them... NO NO... not that one, it's cheesy... I have a few I'd recommend that might attract the crowd, the money, and the reviews!