Jan/Feb 2001

Media Source

A commentary by Bob Liparulo

Are Christian Films Getting Better?

In the 1970's, the evangelical community developed a novel way to reach the masses. The faithful would ask their unbelieving friends to attend church with them--but not for a service and not on Sunday morning. Rather, it was to watch a Christian movie.

"No preaching," the faithful would say. "Just entertainment." More often than not, however, the film was a nauseatingly bad, scare-you-to-heaven thing like 1973's A Thief in the Night and its three sequels. Yeah, the tactic pulled people through church doors and perhaps sparked talks about what it all means, but a lot of people just walked away thinking, Is that the best Christians can do?

Don't feign ignorance. You know that in most of the arts Christians are playing catch-up with our secular counterparts, in terms of sheer product quality. In his wonderful (if invective) book on the subject, Addicted to Mediocrity, Franky Schaeffer writes, "Whenever Christians...have attempted to 'reach the world' through the media--TV, film, publishing and so on--the thinking public gets the firm idea that, like soup in a bad restaurant, Christians' brains are best left unstirred."

What a shame. I can't imagine that Jesus ever said "good enough" when he was making a table or chair. Shouldn't Christians, with what we know about Imago Dei and for Whom we ultimately do everything, be setting the standard of excellence? Indeed, aren't we commanded to? In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul writes: "And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best" (Col. 3:23, The Message).

So, how about it? Are Christian movies finally living up to that mandate? If we look to one of the most recent offerings, Left Behind: The Movie, the answer is no. Christian movies are still not as good as they should be. Not even close.

This is a painful call to make. We want to encourage our brothers. We applaud their efforts to reach the world with the message of Christ. But don't we also want those efforts to reflect the majesty of our Subject? We take for granted that many of the Renaissance artists we admire today, even with 500 years between us, worked to glorify God. Think Michelangelo, think Milton. They created lasting masterpieces because they were doing it for Him. Why should we expect less?

As it is, Left Behind has the look of a TV movie--and not a particularly good one at that. I have no complaint with the actors--including Kirk Cameron (as Buck Williams)--who all deliver impassioned and generally believable performances. And except for a few awkward moments when Christian pop songs rise up melodramatically, the soundtrack is rich and well-paced. The script, directing, overall production value--now those are another story.

A handful of script problems result simply because some stories that work perfectly well in prose come off as trite, maudlin or goofy on the screen. Viewers who haven't read the book--or who want a movie that stands on its own--will scratch their heads raw over some of the plot points. The opening sequence in which an air attack on Israel is mysteriously foiled has little relevance to the rest of the story, especially considering its over-the-top dramatics. How Nicolae is able to control the minds of everyone except Buck is left unexplained. The main characters' too-sudden conversions to Christianity are unbelievable, as is their quick apprehension of the bad guys' sinister scheme to take over the world. The list goes on.

Compounding my disappointment is the way the Lalondes are distributing Left Behind. Having already released it straight to video, they are planning to pump it into theaters in February. At the end of the video, Kirk Cameron requests that viewers ask their churches and local Christian businesses to "sponsor" the film at area theaters--at a price of $3,000 per screen.

My problem is this: The Left Behind book series is an enormous success in the mainstream market. Many, many readers buy it unaware that its authors are Christian, that its publisher (Tyndale) is a religious publishing house, that its message is primarily Christian. They buy it for a good read and enjoy it for its depth of characters and suspense. All the while, they are being introduced to a Christian worldview. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, readers may travel the same road as the characters, from disbelief to belief because their guard hasn't been raised by the proximity of an obvious sermon.

Church sponsorship of theatrical showings spoils all that. Suddenly, it has gone from being a great thriller with a Christian message to being a Christian message couched as a thriller. Big difference. Shoehorning Left Behind into theaters like this smacks of those A Thief in the Night days when Christian movies could do no better. And you better believe the film version of a book that has sold 25 million copies could have found a better (and more traditional) distribution channel.

A lot of people will say: "At least it's Christian. Give 'em a break." And I agree--except for the "at least" part. We shouldn't have to settle for that alone. We should be able to say: "Wow! What a dynamite movie. And it's Christian, too!"

Bob Liparulo is a free-lance author and reviewer and a contributing editor to New Man.

Good Reads

* Healing Brokenness The Wounded Spirit by Frank Peretti (Word). Shudder at the thought that beloved Christian novelist Frank Peretti and vile-meister Marilyn Manson could be kindred spirits. But it's true. In a recent Talk magazine interview, Manson confessed: "What about the outcast, pimply-faced white teenager who gets beat up in school everyday? That's what I was. There was no one there to stick up for me." And in his latest book, The Wounded Spirit--his first work of nonfiction--Peretti says, "I still remember those individuals who made my life a living hell, day after day after day, during my childhood." The result of such constant ridicule, he suggests, is a wounded spirit--a deep aching for acceptance that festers and grows until it either gets soothed by kinder hearts or ruptures into violent, antisocial behavior. The Wounded Spirit is Peretti's rallying cry for us to recognize that bullying isn't innocent fun or some mettle-strengthening rite, it's idiotic and it lacerates to the soul. Peretti segues smartly from wrenching autobiography to social commentary to practical advice for the brutes, brutalized and spectators that star in this tragedy. That his suggestions will fall on a good number of deaf ears simply validates the necessity for this message. Bottom Line This wrenchingly honest look at the price of bullying is a must-read.

* Good Medicine I Exalt You, Oh God by Jerry Bridges (WaterBrook). To know Him is to love Him. As true and important as the axiom is, few of us can find the time to delve deeply into any one subject. Bridges, who proved his ability to discern and communicate godly wisdom in The Pursuit of Holiness, has answered this dilemma by focusing each day's reading on one of God's traits, making the text short, clear and concise, and wrapping it up with a vivid prayer. Like taking medication, it's effortless and potentially lifesaving. Bottom Line Requiring about the time it takes to get dressed, each of these devotions packs a day's worth of godly inspiration.

Sound Picks:

* War Cry Heart of a Champion, Carman (Sparrow). Much of Carman's appeal comes from his brazen warrior attitude. His songs are battle cries to stand against Satan, to fight like Genghis Khan for God. The lyrics conjure images of tireless soldiers, the rhythms often seem to come right out of Spartacus. Heaven knows, we need that kind of never-say-die spirit to endure these days. This double-CD set marches out two dozen of Carman's most-loved songs--"America Again," "Addicted to Jesus," "R.I.O.T."--and six new ones that are too good to be forgotten B-sides saved for just such a release (unlike "new" songs on other greatest-hit compliations). Bottom Line God's musical gladiator does it again.

* Jesus Lovers Ardent Worship, various artists (Ardent Records). These three live praise recordings from three divergent and increasingly popular groups (each sold separately) offer the best of the "feels like you're there" music scene. However you like your praise and worship--be it the acoustic sound of Satellite Soul, the jamming rock of Skillet, or the clean, hard-hitting vocal style of All Together Separate--these CDs will propel you into a swaying, hand-clapping crowd of Jesus lovers. Bottom Line Well-produced live praise that rocks soft or hard, depending on which one you pick up. Video Views: The Penguins are Coming!

* Animated Do-Gooders 3-2-1 Penguins! (Big Idea Productions). If you have kids and don't know how funny and educational the VeggieTales videos are--well, shame on you! Here's your chance to make amends. The creators of those adorably raucous vegetables have just introduced a new series of animated do-gooders called 3-2-1 Penguins! The first episode, Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn, follows four toy penguins--Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel and Kevin--who come to life and zip around the galaxy to teach two kids that having to be first all the time can lead to a heap of trouble. As with VeggieTales videos, 3-2-1 Penguins! teaches sound biblical lessons with such high production value and tongue-in-cheek humor that parents will enjoy it as much as their kids do. Bottom Line Break out the wallet, Dads. Here's a new video series your kids just gotta have.