Movies

“Beyond the Mask” is a Colonial Tale of Action, Romance and Redemption

Tami Gomez
3 Jun 2015
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beyond the mask

A tale of redemption, “Beyond the Mask” opening in theaters on June 5th takes place in eighteenth century England and the American colonies. The story revolves around William Reynolds, played by Andrew Cheney, who was an assassin for the East India Trading Company. After years of dangerous and often immoral work, Reynolds goes to his commander, Charles Kemp, played by John Rhys-Davies, and tells him that he cannot continue to work for the company any longer. Kemp seems to take it well and allows Reynolds to leave. However, he makes sure that Reynolds will not live beyond that night by […]

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Kevin Downes on Faith, Freedom and Fatherhood

Ann-Margret Hovsepian
1 Jun 2015
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By the time the Vietnam War ended in 1975, more than 3 million people had been killed. This summer, fifty years after the start of the war, millions of people will remember loved ones who either fought (well over 500,000 American military personnel were involved by 1969) or lost their lives while fighting (at least 58,000 Americans). On July 1, 2015, producers and brothers Kevin and Bobby Downes will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War — and honor the troops who served — by releasing “Faith of Our Fathers,” a film that celebrates faith, freedom and fatherhood. The […]

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Kevin Downes

Humorous and Heart – Wrenching “Little Boy” Explores the Power of Faith

Tami Gomez
1 May 2015
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“Little Boy” is a movie set in World War II era small-town America and centers around the trials facing a little boy named Pepper Busbee. Because of his small stature, the neighborhood bullies nickname him “Little Boy.” The film begins with James, Pepper’s loving father, being sent off to fight in the war. In an effort to cheer up, Pepper goes to a live show featuring his favorite superhero, Ben Eagle the Magician. In the show, Pepper is chosen to go up on stage and use “magic powers” to make a bottle move across a table. To Pepper’s astonishment, it […]

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A.D. is Continuing God’s Story

Finley Walker
1 Apr 2015
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Back in 2013, millions tuned in to watch “The Bible” miniseries. And now the story continues! “From executive producers Roma Downey (“The Bible”) and Mark Burnett (“The Bible,” “The Voice”) comes an uplifting spiritual journey through the later chapters of biblical history. “A.D. The Bible Continues” picks up where the smash hit miniseries “The Bible” left off, continuing the greatest story ever told and exploring the exciting and inspiring events that followed the Crucifixion of Christ” (nbc.com/ad-the-bible-continues). The life, death, and resurrection of Christ are most the crucial events of all human history. They radically shifted everything and continue to […]

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A Strange Way of Judging

Jonathan Linebaugh
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strange way of judging

“There are two kinds of righteousness.” This phrase from Martin Luther identifies a motif in Victor Hugo’s, Les Misérables. The story of Jean Valjean is at once a literary masterpiece and a thunderbolt of social commentary. The massacre of the students involved in the June Rebellion and the agonizing existence Hugo portrays as the life of the poor function as a narrative unveiling of the injustice of Restoration France. The book is, in Hugo’s description, a “sad story” and the title tells the truth: it is about Les Misérables – the sufferers, the “wretched of the earth” as the musical […]

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“Old Fashioned” is a Heart-warming Romance for the Ages

Finley Walker
2 Mar 2015
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Going in to see this film with my wife, I was not sure what to expect. The trailers looked hopeful, but what kind of title is “Old Fashioned”? Then, as the reel began to roll, my doubts were soon replaced with captivation. Indeed, “Old Fashioned” is a much-needed and much-welcomed breath of fresh air in the atmosphere of filmmaking — sacred and secular alike! It is inspirational, artistic and chock-full of beautiful imagery and symbolism. As a believer, there are only a handful of romantic films that I can confess to liking. But this humble independent film breaks cultural expectations […]

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old fashioned

Intersecting Lives Grapple With Faith in “Do You Believe?”

Keisha McDonnough Virtue
1 Mar 2015
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Until recently, we seem to have had a bit of a barren wasteland in film with respect to overtly Christian movies. This trend seems to be shifting with the release of “Do You Believe?” produced by the makers of last year’s sensation “God is Not Dead.” It is definitely an encouragement for Christians looking for godly entertainment that such movies are gaining traction. With the huge spiritual travesty that was “Noah” and “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” it has never been more important for Christian moviegoers to vote with their dollars — and their attendance.   Intersecting Lives Opening in theaters […]

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Thinking Through “50 Shades of Grey”

Richard Marks
30 Jan 2015
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In the very near future the movie “50 Shades of Grey” will be in the theaters. This movie is based on one of the leading best-selling books of all time by the same name. Termed “mommy porn” or “romance porn” by some in the church, the book is attacked as well as defended by Christian women. Many women I have spoken with defend the book and downplay its erotic BDSM sexuality and highlight the romance and love expressed in the story, while other women see it as another form of pornography. Is it pornography? Before we can go on, we […]

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“Unbroken” Delivers Christian Themes

Tami Gomez
30 Dec 2014
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With movies out like “Noah” and “Exodus,” many Christians are growing wary of Hollywood’s attempts at spirituality and with good reason: those movies butcher God’s Word. When word got out that Angelina Jolie was producing and directing a film based on a book in which faith plays a large role, many were skeptical that she would actually stay true to the original story. After having watched the film “Unbroken,” it is safe to say that Jolie did not skimp on the Christian message. Spoiler alert: if you don’t want to know too much about the movie, just skip ahead to […]

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The Year of Bible Films And What’s Next

Stanley Goldenberg
26 Nov 2014
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Many of us have complained about the worldly Hollywood movies. But as the saying goes, “It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” The year of 2014 experienced a record number of faith-based (i.e., Bible-based, Christian) films in theaters, many of which delivered powerful, life-changing messages — truly “lights in a dark place.” Even Hollywood and the secular press called 2014 the “Year of the Bible films.” Many of these films were successful at the box office such as “Son of God” (budget $22M, gross $60M), “God’s Not Dead” (budget $2M, gross $61M), “Noah” (budget $125M, gross $101M […]

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