SpringWidgets Fandango.com Boxoffice Top 10 Fandango?s Top 10 Box Office Movies!
SpringWidgets Spiritual Insight in Movies All other considerations aside, how spiritual is a movie? The scale rates from profoundly spiritual (5) to not at all spiritual (1). Courtesy of HollywoodJesus.com.
In
response to requests for additional resources and information I have opened
the Hollywood Jesus store.
-David Bruce
POP CULTURE FROM A SPIRITUAL
POINT OF VIEW
BOOKS
on
GOD & FILM
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page and follow directions. Easy.
Vaux presents
an excellent study book for groups or individuals, focusing on themes
from life that can influence getting more from movies than simply entertainment.
Each chapter focuses on a single theme, with several
related films (and many more listed in an appendix). Faith reflections
come from the author's knowledge of the Bible and experience as a professor
of theology. At the end of each chapter are questions for
group discussion.
Savior on
the Silver Screen examines nine movies about the life
of Jesus - ranging from the traditional to the provocative and
explores how the image of Jesus in each reflects the time and culture
in which the film was produced. The selections encompass silent, foreign,
epic, and musical films. Both entertaining and insightful, Savior on the
Silver Screen is structured for easy use in classroom,
small group, and individual settings and includes rental information
and practical tips for using the book. For each film there is an introduction,
pre-viewing and post-viewing questions, and a discussion of its major
features.
Christianity
and the Arts: "This is a reader-friendly text... he poses questions
designed to stretch and challenge even the most progressive Christian.
Tatum is at his best when he hints that modern filmmakers
are similar to the early Christians in their struggle to understand the
biblical presentation of Jesus as both divine and human. The theological
reflections provide a basis for a dialogue between Christianity and modern
culture. A first-rate book!" Paul Verhoeven, director of Starship
Troopers and Robocop says: "A fascinating analysis of all the Jesus
movies that have been made since the beginning of cinematography. Barnes
Tatum makes clear that writers and directors were as
much influenced by their own backgrounds and times as they were
by the gospels."
I have always enjoyed Prof.
Jewett. I have a friend in Chicago, who writes reviews for HJ, who took
his class. I highly recommend this book. "Robert Jewett presents
an original and fascinating entry into Pauline theology through the use
of contemporary classics. Each major Pauline theme is
paired with a companion film. By pointing out both similarities
and divergences between the two, Jewett adds to the understanding and
appreciation of both media." --Richard A. Blake, S.J., teacher and
film reviewer.
After an
illuminating chapter on the relation of honor, shame, and grace in Paul
and in the modern cinema, Jewett explores these themes as they are depicted
in the films
The Prince of Tides, Babette's Feast, Forrest Gump,
Mr. Holland's Opus, Groundhog Day, Babe, Edge of the City, The Firm, Unforgiven,
and "Shawshank Redemption.
A Biblically-based,
entertaining and inspirational book that explores Christian values in
the early Disney animated features (all those produced during Walt Disney's
lifetime, from SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS to THE
JUNGLE BOOK) with additional chapters on Mickey Mouse and Donald
Duck. Each chapter concludes with a set of provocative questions appropriate
for consideration or discussion by all ages. Foreword by legendary Disney
animators, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Unique, engrossing and inspirational
reading for adults, families, study groups.
Drawing on
a number of methodologies and disciplinary perspectives, this book boldly
goes where none has gone before by focusing on the interplay
between Star Trek, religion, and American culture as revealed in
the four different Trek television series, and the major motion pictures
as well. Explored from a Trek perspective are the portrayal and treatment
of religion; the religious and mythic elements; the ritual aspects of
the fan following; and the relationship between religion and other issues
of contemporary concern. The subject of religion/myth/spirituality has
long been a favorite of Trek scholars and fans; this book gives the subject
the serious treatment it deserves.
The motion
picture is an art form that has significantly influenced human culture.
Films can shape our perceptions-from relationships and careers to good
and evil. They are often a window into the human soul, a glimpse that
can be both terrifying and holy. In view of the increasingly powerful
role that movies play in our cultural dialogue, Robert K. Johnston, professor
of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, has written a
book to guide Christian moviegoers into a theological analysis of and
conversation with film. Among the more than 200 movies Johnston cites
are American Beauty, The Apostle, The English Patient,
The Godfather, Life Is Beautiful, The Sound of Music, To Kill a Mockingbird,
and The Truman Show.
Jesuit scholar,
Lloyd Baugh, extends the fascination of artists throughout the ages with
the person of Jesus Christ to contemporary cinema, tracing the treatment
filmmakers have given Jesus from the early days of the
medium up to the present day.
This is the kind of
that makes you think and wonder. It's my kinda book. An incredible book
with 12 fascinating chapters, such as: 'The Problem
of Bodies in Alfred Hitchcock Psycho', 'The Christian Allegorical Structure
of Platoon', 'Hollywood and Armageddon', 'Star Wars: A Myth for Our
Time', 'Space Aliens as Sky Gods' etc.
Films are
not only a powerful form of
influence for the society in which we live; they are a vehicle for social
and personal exchange. This book gives delightful insights on many popular
movies. Gire truly finds the Spirit of Christ in each detail that moved
him as an audience member. The author simply dares us
as readers to focus our attention on the possibilities of seeing Christ
in films. Gire gives examples and suggestions about how to experience
God in the media.
It looks
at the Christian influence of six directors.
John
Ford
(Irish Catholic neighborhood in Maine)
Alfred Hitchcock (Mother: Irish Catholic. Father:
Church-of-England) became an American Catholic.
Martin Scorsese went from a tough Italian neighborhood
in Lower Manhattan to a prep seminary and Catholic high school in the
Bronx
Brian DePalma went to Presbyterian and Quaker
schools in affluent sections of Philadelphia and identifies himself as
having grown up a Presbyterian.
Frank Capra and Francis Coppola
absorbed a kind of ethnic Catholicism through their Italian heritage,
an embarrassment to Capra and a source of great pride in Coppola.
Have you
ever wondered what the various religious sensibilities of certain directors
were? What about Robert Altman, Ingmar Bergman, Charles
Chaplin, Francis Coppola, Alfred Hitchcock and others? Is there
a passion play in Psycho? Is there a Jesus figure in
Cool Hand Luke? How do you approach religious interpretation of
film? What is film Hierophany?
He teaches
at Philips Graduate Seminary and in this book he analyzes more than fifty
popular films such as, Dirty Harry, Robocop 2, Pretty
Woman, Thelma and Louise. I have turned to this book more times
than I can remember. "Brandon Scott has a rare sensitivity to understand
that our new ideas about media are incubated not in libraries but in darkened
theaters scented with the aroma of popcorn. His book is a vital connection
between the Gutenberg world and the information society that is replacing
it." -Gary Rowe, Senior VP, Turner Educational Services, Inc.
Explorations
in Theology and Film brings together theologians, biblical scholars, film
and media specialists, and experts in language and literature to consider
the potential of film to contribute to contemporary theological discussion.
The first part considers introductory questions covering methodological
and theoretical issues. The next and most substantive part of the book
is devoted to an evaluation of particular films, including Dead
Poets Society, the Terminator films, Awakenings, The Piano and
the films of Martin Scorsese. In the third part
the importance, as well as the pitfalls of the exercise are subject to
critical scrutiny. The book also contains an extensive bibliography and
annotated resource section.
Miles (historical
theology, Harvard Divinity School) looks at 15 recent
popular films, including Thelma and Louise
and Paris is Burning, and analyzes the ways in
which they question norms of religion, race, gender, class, and sexuality.
She examines Christian fundamentalism in popular film,
images of Christ in film, and religion and values
in the movies.
Reel
Spirituality :
Seeing
and Believing : Religion and Values in the Movies
