AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
June 2010 – Walmart, P&G produce first in series of family-friendly films
When Dana James and her children take a weekend road trip to sell property she inherited from her Uncle Henry, they stumble into more adventure, danger and challenge than they could have ever anticipated. Secrets of the Mountain chronicles this family adventure in a movie that debuted April 16 on NBC.
Dana is the single mom of twin teenagers, Jade and Jake, and precocious pre-teen Maddie. The twins demonstrate more than their fair share of anger, angst and animosity toward each other and toward Mom as well. But the story’s primary conflict emerges in the race between the James family and Nigel Fowler, the arch-typical villain, as they all search for Aztec artifacts and wealth which Uncle Henry had calculated to be buried under the mountain. Fowler had once been Uncle Henry’s assistant.
Secrets of the Mountain is the first film in Walmart’s Family Moments campaign. Though not a Christian film, it promotes wholesome family values and has no objectionable content.
A Wall Street Journal report earlier this year said that Procter and Gamble spent more than $4.5 million to produce the film and Walmart purchased rights to be the presenting sponsor.
P&G spokesman Marc Pritchard said, “We are pleased to be working with Walmart on their Family Moments initiative to positively impact the number of choices families have for television entertainment.”
“At Walmart, we are committed to delivering more quality family entertainment options to parents across the country,” said Stephen Quinn, the retail giant’s chief marketing officer.
AFA president Tim Wildmon said AFA is encouraged by this project. “We heartily endorse this movie,” he said. “We applaud them for taking this step to give families some decent television fare.”
It is now available on DVD.
Randall Murphree
Fathers challenge peers to go deeper
The Fathers Of Vision DVD series is like a bucket of cold water on a dazed dad. These conference videos, seven lectures (40-70 minutes each) on four DVDs, are an ideal plug-in to any men’s Bible study. Kevin Swanson and Scott Brown each give three presentations, and Peter Bradrick adds one talk directed to boys.
Swanson, of Generations Radio, is a voice crying in the wilderness. With a heavy dose of humor, he paces, he lunges, he waves his arms and he challenges men to take responsibility for spiritual leadership in their families. Swanson calls fathers to get on their knees and repent, to ask God for wisdom.
Brown is director of the National Center for Family Integrated Churches. With a delivery style that dramatically contrasts Swanson’s, Brown’s style offers the perfect balance to the series. He is a weeping prophet, a fireside sage pronouncing the Scriptures to a media-mused country. He walks a man through Scriptures that tell exactly what God expects and requires of him in his role of husband and father.
Bradrick encourages boys to put down their video games and pick up the sword of God’s Word. A living example of a young man raised with vision and purpose, Bradrick urges young men to catch some of this enthusiasm.
Among the challenging titles are Swanson’s “Raising a Mighty Man of God” and Brown’s “The Father as King.” The value of this series is that it dares men to disciple others and to be discipled. Order from afastore.net.
Paul Bass, AFA Homeschool Channel
Kid’s video falls short
Ali and her puppet friends learn about courage when they embark on a treasure hunt on Pahappahooey Island. Featuring Joyce Meyer as Ruby the Lioness, Pahappahooey Island: Do It Afraid! is based on one of Meyer’s most popular messages.
Children will enjoy the bright colors, quirky characters and songs, but as a whole, the presentation is very weak. Elements of the story are quite corny, and the intended humor just isn’t funny.
However, children learn the importance of facing their fears, and they find the strength to do so by repeating advice from Ms. Ruby. They are taught to trust the Creator and His Word, but unfortunately, Ms. Ruby tells her adventurous friends that the greatest treasure of all is “freedom from fear.” How sad for children to be told that there is a greater treasure than Jesus Christ.
Rebecca Grace Davis
