The film itself raises a number of significant issues – the question of dementia, the banality of evil and the requirements of justice.   If you were an Auschwitz guard who has killed many people, and then 70 years later are a doting grandad living a peaceful life with a large extended family, is it right... Continue Reading

The problem with fiction films that are said to be “some truth” based on something that isn’t even in the breathed-out Word of God is that you can’t mix light with darkness. Truth plus error still equals terror, and movie goers aren’t going to be able to unsee the imagery and the untruth about our... Continue Reading

Hinson’s new film is full of Trotter’s paintings, brought to life through the skillful addition of depth and animation, until it almost feels as if we’re walking through some of her landscapes. Experts on Trotter tell her story, and actors Michelle Dockery (of “Downton Abbey”) and John Rhys-Davies (of “The Lord of the Rings”) read... Continue Reading

Risen isn’t just thematically and historically accurate, it also succeeds as a film. Impressive cinematography captures each powerful scene…. Events unfold in front of a frantic, soaring score, adding even more depth of emotion to such stunning scenes. The pacing is spot on, between Roman questionings, the pursuit of fleeing Jews, and the contrasting peace... Continue Reading

“To be fair to Mr. Lucas, conceiving of the mystery of life in a dramatically plausible way is no small task.  The poets of old balked at it.  And yet like so many of his generation, modern technology has made the path of wonder look so easy, so mundane.  Technological advance has fostered the vain... Continue Reading

For all the drama, the artsy Grandma (rated R for language and some drug use) is emotionally arid. It seems writer-director Paul Weitz, who made his directorial debut in 1999 with the raunchy American Pie, put his energy into setting up several not-entirely-inaccurate Christian and traditional-value straw men and knocking them down. But instead of... Continue Reading

What strikes me about these and other films from Hollywood’s Golden Age are two things: First, Hollywood once made lots and lots of major films with major stars celebrating Christmas. Second, in each case, no matter how different the plot, there was always a common end-goal: marriage. From the outset, marriage is the assumed, unquestioned... Continue Reading

I believe there are good reasons for viewing this film. We can certainly respect its artistic and entertainment value. Galactic battle scenes and human drama are entertaining. But also, by seeing this movie, Christians can sharpen their understanding of both contemporary culture and their appreciation of the Christian faith, allowing them to see in antithetical... Continue Reading

After viewing the film, I was motivated to climb back into the pulpit this coming Lord’s Day and preach the power of the Gospel afresh with the aid and help of the same Holy Spirit that filled the Doctor. If this film does anything, it helps to safeguard the power of preaching for another generation, especially in... Continue Reading

Where Wonka’s gospel fails is that it is rooted in moralism. Charlie is acceptable because he is too poor to be spoiled, too hungry to let his stomach guide him, too weak to be obsessed over chewing gum and too impoverished to watch television all day. I know from my research on the story that... Continue Reading