November-December 2007 – A wintry mix 
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner, and the film industry is providing a number of entertainment choices for the faith-based community. Some good. Some bad. Some, well, just OK. Whether it’s a sweet love story set in the Old West or an insightful documentary proving the claims of Christ, the reviews below will help families make wise media choices this winter.

Saving Sarah Cain
From Believe Pictures and 20th Century Fox comes the DVD release of Saving Sarah Cain. It’s the story of Sarah – a big-city newspaper columnist whose life is turned upside down when she becomes the legal guardian of her Amish sister’s five children.

Rather than moving to an Amish community and raising the children among their people, she decides to take the kids back to Portland with her where their personal experiences secretly become the topic of her columns and give her the sought-after break she has been looking for to save her writing career. But she soon realizes her self-indulgent way of life is forcing the children to compromise who they are and what they believe. Once Sarah’s secret is exposed to the children, she must make a choice between self-ambition and love.

Saving Sarah Cain is a fun and sweet story with a good message about putting others before self and staying true to one’s faith. It’s also a real reminder of how easy it is to be conformed to worldly ways, which unfortunately taints parts of this film.

For example, there are some mild sexual references and innuendos in the film, as well as a great deal of immodesty in dress and some comments about infidelity. One woman in the movie is very sensual and much attention is given to her body. There are two implied profanities. God’s name in vain and the word “freaking” are each used once.

While it’s not intended to be a “Christian” movie, it’s still unclear as to whether or not Sarah’s redemption is Gospel-driven or self-motivated, leaving the viewer wondering what real redemption is about.

Saving Sarah Cain is based on the book The Redemption of Sarah Cain by best-selling author Beverly Lewis. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr. and written by Brian Bird and Cindy Kelley. It is rated PG and will be available January 15 on DVD.

Love’s Unending Legacy
Love’s Unending Legacy is the fifth film installment in the Love Comes Softly collection, based on the best-selling book series by Janette Oke.

The film is another heart-warming story of faith and fortitude centered around the life of Missie LaHaye, who is now a widow following her husband Willie’s tragic death. After struggling to survive on their own, Missie and her son Maddie move back to Tettsford Junction to be close to Missie’s parents.

There, Missie ends up adopting Belinda, a teenager orphan girl who pushes her to the limit. Over time, the two grow in love for each another as Missie fights to save Belinda’s orphan brother from an abusive situation. The town sheriff continually comes to Missie’s aid longing to win her heart, but she is unwilling to love any man other than her deceased Willie.

Love’s Unending Legacy is a sweet story with faith at its foundation. It’s a beautiful depiction of the family and a fresh reminder about the importance of character and the power of love.

The film contains some violence, one mild profanity and several uses of exclamations such as “gosh” and “stupid.” There is one scene were two unmarried adults kiss, and several scenes where child abuse is implied but not explicitly shown.

Love’s Unending Legacy is not rated and comes to DVD December 4.

Welcome to Paradise
Welcome to Paradise is the fictional story of a struggling preacher who is transferred from a big city megachurch to the small country Paradise Church. The fact that she is female only complicates things in this apathetic community.

Debbie has a new vision for her congregation, which focuses on loving others and reaching out to the needy. Just as the congregation starts to understand her view of ministry, Paradise Church is destroyed by fire. In danger of having its charter revoked, the members rally around Debbie and together they realize that the people make up the church, not the four walls that house their services.

From Out of Pocket Films, Welcome to Paradise is a feel-good, heart-warming story about love. It shows the importance of relationships and clearly depicts the impact of reaching out to others.

It seems to be just the right recipe for a good faith-based film, but unfortunately it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of those who hunger for a true portrayal of the Gospel – something expected from a film with a Christian setting.

In addition to the mild language, inappropriate comments and a sexual innuendo, Welcome to Paradise is another one of those movies that depicts the Gospel of good intentions. Debbie means well, but the film never gets to the heart of Christianity. There is no mention of sin or repentance. There is a transvestite character whose lifestyle is never addressed, only embraced. Dangerously entertaining, it’s a good attempt that sends the wrong message.

Welcome to Paradise is rated PG for mild thematic elements, brief language and teen smoking. It is now available on DVD.

Beyond the Gates
The horrors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are portrayed in this spellbinding and heart-wrenching film that graphically demonstrates the depravity of fallen humanity.

During a 100-day span, members of the Hutu militia and government soldiers, armed with machetes and other weapons, exterminated approximately 800,000 of the minority Tutsi people, along with more moderate Hutus. As one writer put it, the Rwandan genocide “was the fastest, most efficient killing spree of the 20th century.”

Beyond the Gates draws the viewer into the mounting fear and tension as a group of local Tutsis begin to congregate at a school which is run by a Catholic priest and guarded by a small detachment of United Nations peacekeepers.

The self-sacrificing nature of true Christianity is powerfully presented by John Hurt, an Oscar-nominated actor, who portrays the priest. Hugh Dancy plays the part of a young teacher whose idealism is shattered by the doom which engulfs the Tutsis and the inability – and refusal – of governments to adequately restrain human hearts filled with hate.

The film’s violence is terrifying but restrained, letting the viewer see just enough of the bloody business of genocide without becoming overwhelming.

Amazingly, Beyond the Gates is, at heart, a redemptive film, but only for adults and mature teens who are already aware that this fallen world is home to unspeakable evil.

This review is based on an unrated version, which was edited for content. Another version is rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and language. Potential viewers should exercise caution when renting or purchasing a copy, which is now available on DVD.
Review by Ed Vitagliano

Just like the book, The Case for Christ: The Film documents Strobel’s journey from atheism to faith through what is coined as the “investigation of a lifetime.”

The DVD brings together a panel of experts who examine the historical accuracy of the Gospels, the personal claims of Jesus and His resurrection.

Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, was prompted to investigate Jesus after his atheist wife came to faith in Christ. He used his reporting skills to conduct a two-year examination of Christ, which led to his own conversion.

From the evidence, Strobel concluded it would take more faith to remain an atheist than to trust Jesus. His findings are riveting, and they are creatively explained in a 71-minute feature presentation, complete with man-on-the-street interviews and more than an hour of bonus features.

The Case for Christ: The Film is the first of a new DVD series from Strobel. It’s eye-opening and informative – a must-see for both believers and non-believers. For more information visit leestrobel.com.

3:16 Stories of Hope
From best-selling author Max Lucado, 3:16 Stories of Hope is a DVD based on Lucado’s new book, 3:16 The Numbers of Hope.

The 60-minute DVD brings the book to life using personal experience and commentary. But unfortunately, the dialogue sounds very rehearsed at times, and it feels like Lucado is reading his book to viewers.

The DVD also includes a short film titled Wherever You Are. It’s about Katherine, a young lady who loses her way and ends up working at a dance club. There, she is reminded of a more innocent time of her life when she danced with her father. It’s a story of forgiveness, grace and unconditional love.

Note that part of the film is set in a dance club, and Katherine and other women wear low-cut clothing exposing a great deal of cleavage. The film also shows a kiss between two teens.

Both the commentary and the short film offer a glimpse of the Gospel and a picture of God’s love. While God’s love is central to salvation, the DVD offers an incomplete Gospel message because it fails to address sin and repentance.

3:16 Stories of Hope is not rated and is now available.