AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
February 2010 – To Save a Life
To Save A Life, a gritty and thought-provoking movie from Samuel Goldwyn Films, was scheduled to hit select theaters January 22.
Marketed to teens and youth groups, To Save a Life runs the gamut of cultural issues and is likely to impact viewers in a powerful way, unlike many previous Christian films. Far from cheesy, it’s real, it’s raw, and it’s intense.
But it can’t go without saying that it’s tainted by bad language. Furthermore, to convey the reality that teenagers face day after day, the film deals on an adult level with such issues as sexuality, drugs, alcohol, violence and suicide.
Due to such content, AFA is not endorsing this film which centers on star athlete Jake Taylor who begins to wonder what life is really about after his childhood friend Roger commits suicide in the hallway at school. Jake is shaken by the regret that he’d been a horrible friend to Roger, and God begins a work in his life that results in real spiritual transformation. Jake wrestles with what it means to be a Christian and if living a life for God is really worth it.
For more information, visit www.tosavealifemovie.com.
Review by Rebecca Grace Davis
Israel: A Journey Through Time
This six-part film is an adventure unlike any other. Hosted and narrated by Rev. Dr. John Tweedie, chairman of Christians for Israel International, the series is spectacular for those wishing to visit Jerusalem but lacking the opportunity. Each disc not only depicts the modern Israeli landscape, but also features Tweedie’s realistic descriptions, making it easy to imagine what the land looked like over the centuries.
Each DVD is filled with Scripture and makes the Bible come to life. From the first film to the last, Israel is consistently in the forefront.
This DVD set looks not only at the beginning of Israel as God’s chosen people, but also the role these people will play in Armageddon. On the journey, Tweedie looks at prophecies that have been fulfilled and are still evident in the land itself. God promised that a barren desert would be a fertile Eden. That specific piece of land still supports many trees to this day.
Many do not realize the special role Jews still play in history. What can be learned from her current plight? What characteristics are revealed about the God that chose and reunited them after 2,000 years of not having a homeland? These thought-provoking, theological questions are deeply discussed throughout the series.
From Abraham to Jesus, the first DVD, explores the 2,000 year story beginning with the man chosen by God and named Abraham, and ending with Jesus, the Jew who divided history. The second DVD completely focuses on Jesus, discussing how the life of one man could have such an impact throughout history.
The third installment, Anti-Semitism, discusses the incredible suffering the Jews have had to endure as a people. It discusses why Jews so easily became the scapegoats of people like Adolf Hitler and much of Europe. Number four, Rebirth of a Nation discusses the population of Israel in 1948, around 600,000, and where it stands today at nearly six million. Israel in Crisis, the fifth DVD, looks at the ever-present danger for Israel since her rebirth in 1948.
The last DVD is What Time is It? It takes a long look at why Israel, a land ignored by most for thousands of years, is now daily on the front page. What do Bibilical prophecies say about the future of this blessed people?
Review by Teddy James
