February 2007 – Hollywood hits, misses Christian themes range from clear to fuzzy
Hollywood is marketing to Christian audiences now more than ever before as evident from the faith-based movies that are storming the box office.

Amazing Grace and The Last Sin Eater, both films with overt Christian content, are set to release this month. In early January, Thr3e, a film based on a thriller novel by Christian author Ted Dekker, made its way to the big screen just weeks after MGM released Rocky Balboa, the sixth and final installment in the Academy Award-winning Rocky film series.

Writer, director and actor Sylvester Stallone said Rocky Balboa is “very Christian in its tone” while Motive Marketing promoted it as being “infused with faith and values and a family-focused plot.” Others called it a powerful allegory of faith. (See review and interview below.)

However, to AFA Journal, Rocky Balboa was an enjoyable movie and an admirable attempt to present an inspirational story of faith and family, but some of its content is a poor picture of Christianity and likely to offend a family-oriented audience. Similar conclusions were drawn about the new faith-based release Amazing Grace. The film is being released by Samuel Goldwyn Films, the motion-picture company that brought the successful Christian movie Facing the Giants to theaters in fall 2006. But unfortunately, the Christian story line of Amazing Grace has been polluted with objectionable language.

Therefore, both Rocky Balboa and Amazing Grace prove there is still something missing in the relationship between Hollywood and Christianity.

While Hollywood has had some sort of spiritual awakening in terms of the story lines it is now pursuing, the heart of Hollywood still lacks a true understanding of Christianity, and perhaps Christians are to blame. (See AFA Journal 11-12/06.)

Are Christians doing a poor job of communicating what Christianity is to the culture? If so, then it is unreasonable for Christians to expect Hollywood to get it right when what believers are demonstrating is wrong.

For example, many – but certainly not all – of these faith-based movies seem to equate Christianity with the idea of overcoming adversity. Apparently, if a movie tells the story of a down-and-out underdog who makes a comeback, then it seems the film has some type of spiritual significance.

While Christ is certainly strength in times of weakness, there is more to the Christian life than courage, boldness and endurance. Christianity involves repentance, salvation, commitment and the pursuit of holiness. It’s not about Christ being a Band-Aid for the bumps and bruises life brings; it’s about Him. And Christians are called to make that known to the world, including Hollywood.

However, an unclear understanding of Christianity does not justify the objectionable content and the watered-down Gospel still found in these “family-friendly” and “faith-based” movies. Commend what is good in the industry while recognizing that the heart of Hollywood is burning for the real Truth that comes from those who know it.

Amazing Grace
To the big screen comes a heroic picture of historical value, political might and evangelical faith.

Amazing Grace is the story of William Wilberforce, an English reformer and anti-slavery pioneer who was motivated by his Christian faith to work relentlessly to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain.

He was elected to Parliament when he was 23 years old. After becoming an evangelical Christian, he considered vacating his parliamentary seat in pursuit of humanitarian efforts.

However, the influence of his mentor John Newton, former slave trader and writer of the age-old hymn “Amazing Grace,” convinced Wilberforce that he could best serve others by introducing legislation to Parliament. So Wilberforce dedicated the next 42 years of his life to the abolition of slavery.

Amazing Grace follows Wilberforce through his 20s and 30s and delivers a compelling story of dedication, commitment, zeal, fervor and faith. To realize the historical and cultural impact of a fellow Christian is poignant, and Amazing Grace drives home this point in a way that becomes personal.

Described as a “historical epic,” Amazing Grace is a high-quality production but occasionally slow in its story progression and often confusing in its chronology. It is rated PG for thematic material involving slavery and some language, specifically 15 to 20 profanities. In addition, it includes drinking, gambling and some immodesty characteristic of the time period.

However, it is also important to note that Amazing Grace is not being pushed as a family-friendly film suitable for all ages. The Dove Foundation gave it’s seal of approval to the film and recommends it for ages 12 and above.

For educational materials created by Walden Media and for additional information on the film, visit www.amazinggracemovie.com. Amazing Grace is set to release in theaters February 23.

The Last Sin Eater
Set in 1800s Appalachia among a community of Welsh immigrants, The Last Sin Eater takes an edgy, slightly uncomfortable, approach to the Gospel presentation of salvation.

The 10-year-old character of Cadi Forbes is the focus of the film as she continually seeks redemption from the terrifying Sin Eater – a man supposedly called by God to take on the sins of the deceased and save them from damnation. Cadi believes the Sin Eater can remove the burden of a secret sin that is tormenting her, and in her quest for peace she and a friend uncover a sinful past that is haunting their community.

Thanks to a man of God who suspiciously, yet boldly, lurks around the mountain community, Cadi learns of Jesus Christ – the real Sin Eater – and shares Him with the community.

The Last Sin Eater is full of overt Christian elements and contains a redeeming message about the changing power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Veering strongly from the stereotypical contents of an evangelistic drama, the film addresses the issues of sin, forgiveness and salvation but is lacking in its depiction of repentance – which, along with some other elements in the film, could raise theological questions.

In addition, the film is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of violence. Specifically, there are several frightening scenes involving the Sin Eater, and there are multiple acts of violence that include beatings, shootings, injury, blood and even death. Death, suicide, hate and fear are pervading issues.

The Last Sin Eater is creative and twisted yet engaging and redeeming as it takes an eerie look at the stronghold of sin that is destroyed by freedom in Christ.

This new Fox Faith film was directed by Michael Landon Jr., written by Brian Bird, and based on a novel by Francine Rivers. It is to open in theaters February 16.

Thr3e Reviewed by Ed Vitagliano
Based on the novel of the same name by Ted Dekker, the movie Thr3e is an interesting whodunit that focuses on crimes committed by a psychopathic killer and the young seminary student who seems to have been drawn into the murderer’s world.

Promoted by Fox Faith Movies, the storyline for Thr3e does delve into some serious questions concerning the nature of evil, the capacity for our own involvement in it, and the effects of sin on our humanity. A Biblical worldview is clear throughout the film which was released January 5.

The movie is too dark for young children, and parents should be careful with pre-teens. Thr3e is well acted and suspenseful, and the finish contains a satisfying twist to round out a solid, although not stellar film.

Thr3e is rated PG-13 for suspense and thematic elements but has no profanity.

The Goal (DVD only)
From independent filmmaker Darla Rae comes The Goal, an inspirational drama about perspective, perseverance, passion and patience. The film tells the story of two athletes, Steve and Jason, who are on the fast track to professional success when tragedy strikes. United by their passion for sports, Steve and Jason slowly find inspiration and hope through their discovery of a sport called quad rugby.

Based on a true story, The Goal has a redeeming message and is likely to challenge others to be optimistic in the wake of adversity. There are some overt elements of the Christian faith, but mild vulgarities and profanity are used, some women wear low-cut shirts, and there is a bar scene with drinking. Some of the acting is weak, and there is a low-budget quality to the film that is often choppy and unrealistic at times.

Resurrection of Rocky weak on Christian claims
He’s rising up, and he’s back on the street – for the sixth time, to be exact. Fictitious legendary boxer Rocky Balboa recently returned to theaters for one final round following 16 years of retirement.

Rocky Balboa is the final farewell to an icon that was birthed by actor Sylvester Stallone in 1976. Unhappy with Rocky V as an ending to the film series, Stallone felt God moving him to write a sixth screenplay as a personal reflection of his own life, specifically his spiritual journey.

The new ending is good, but Rocky Balboa is basically a predictable remake of the first Rocky and leaves the viewer longing for more. In the film, Rocky is a retired boxer who grieves over the loss of his wife, works to build a relationship with his son and reminisces about the glory days of old. A computer-simulated fight broadcast on TV reignites a passion in Rocky to return to the boxing ring for one last fight as a washed-up champion who faces mental and physical risks.

The story is inspiring and engaging and offers valuable lessons about the importance of family, love and character. There are several overt Christian elements of faith, including prayer, Scripture reading and Biblical references, interspersed in the film as well as a pervading theme of undeserved kindness.

But unfortunately the film is not so family-friendly and misses the heart of Christianity. It’s intended to be a picture of self-sacrifice but it is unclear if Rocky is really fighting for anything other than himself. The film comes across as a feel-good victory for an underdog who finds happiness in doing charitable deeds. One could draw spiritual conclusions from the story, but the faith and values are not as overt as expected – although Stallone’s intentions to include them are respectable.

The boxing violence and gore are handled in a modest fashion for a film about a brutal sport, but the movie is tainted with approximately 21 profanities and vulgarities, including one use of “gd,” as well as smoking, drinking, profane rap lyrics and a scantily-clad woman with a Web site tattooed to her chest.

The Web site, which is shown twice on the woman’s chest and is the center graphic on the floor of the boxing ring, actually links to an online gambling site where visitors can play casino games for fun or real money. Nothing prevents a minor from going to the site, lying about his age and registering to play.

Whether or not this was an intentional part of the movie is unknown, but the promotion of a gambling Web site, along with the other objectionable content, disqualify the movie as family-friendly.

Stallone speaks
AFA Journal spoke with Sylvester Stallone by phone. Here is what he had to say about his film, his family and his faith:

AFA Journal: Do you consider yourself a Christian?
Sylvester Stallone: Oh, very much so. I was born a Catholic and raised in very serious Catholicism and went to several schools in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia – all Catholic schools.

AFAJ: What have you learned from trials in your own life, and is the film a reflection of that?
SS: The film is a reflection of the hard times and the hard lessons that I’ve learned. You have to really not go through life thinking that the world revolves around you, but [know that] you are a product of God. You have to give thanks and look for help and instruction and wisdom and really adhere to the teachings of Christ. Otherwise, you will make an abundance of mistakes. And even if you do make a mistake, God will forgive you if you really atone for those. So I felt as though the more I found myself being led astray – which I was for many years – once I started to focus on giving myself over to these ideals and believing that Jesus is being channeled through me … that the script of Rocky Balboa, like the first one, was a divine gift from Him.

AFAJ: What do you hope audiences take from the film?
SS: That you’re never alone and your strength comes from your belief in God and you put others before yourself; that self-sacrifice is the noblest of all virtues, I believe, and it’s very Christian in its tone.

AFAJ: Will your future projects reflect the same Christian values supposedly in Rocky Balboa?
SS: Yes, they will reflect the same Christian values. Of course, they may be packaged a bit differently because each story has its own tone to it. I am supposed to get involved in doing a Rambo, which also deals with a story about Christianity set in the Far East.