AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
November 2014 – Students in web of intrigue
Creed of Gold is a gripping story of greed, murder, political intrigue and deception with a backstory rooted in Russia in 1917 when a reporter hid letters in a library book only moments before he was gunned down. Fast forward to 1992 when a researcher discovers the hidden letters – and is soon shot down. The researcher’s widow flees Russia with her young son Adam (Taylor Lindsey) and settles in the U.S.
Jump forward again – to the present. Adam is now headed to college, and his mother challenges him to find the truth about his father’s death. In his money and banking class at Havenhurst College, Adam is paired with Kirsten (Ellen Lawrence) for a research project on the Federal Reserve. An ironic twist is the fact that Kirsten’s dad serves on the Fed’s board of directors.
Unexpectedly, their project explodes into a fast-paced film in which the young heroes, joined by Adam’s geeky friend Cody (Nick Willeke), bring to light a plot that could lead to international financial chaos.
Another underlying but critical theme emerges, beginning when Kirsten wants to do their “research” the accepted way on campus – buy a paper to turn in. Adam won’t do it. As their friendship grows, he reveals a strong commitment to his Christian faith, and his witness changes Kirsten’s worldview.
Producer Mark Knudsen and his director son Daniel have crafted a superb, suspenseful, action-packed movie to add to the family library. Available at afastore.net or 877-927-4917.
Review by Randall Murphree
Holy Ghost
“The Holy Spirit is real. And I’m going to prove it.”
So begins Holy Ghost, a remarkable Charismatic-flavored documentary written, produced and directed by filmmaker Darren Wilson. His goal was to make a film “completely led by the Holy Spirit. No plan. No safety net.”
From the streets of American cities to the resort communities of Monte Carlo, to the narrow streets of Varanasi, India, the evangelistic team and its camera crew manifest a passion for lost souls and a desire to see God move in the lives of total strangers.
Interviews are wide-ranging and include well-known personalities such as Michael W. Smith, Lenny Kravitz and Phil Vischer, sprinkled with a variety of missionaries, pastors and others.
The film is an expression of some of the theological differences between the Charismatic movement and much of the rest of the evangelical community.
For example, there is frequent use of “words of knowledge,” by which the street evangelists focus on physical ailments of total strangers. There is also a fair amount of subjectivity when it comes to evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. “Did you feel that?” is a question heard often.
Yet there is no doubt that Wilson and his team desire to see Jesus lifted up and His name proclaimed in every place where lost souls dwell. This is an interesting film, even if you don’t speak in tongues.
Cautions include one profanity (“d--n”) and lots of middle fingers raised during crowd shots at a rock concert.
Review by Ed Vitagliano
The War Within
Bethesda Baptist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana, has completed work on its second film, The War Within. The movie feels much like a second chapter to the church’s previous film The Board. (See October 2009 AFA Journal.)
The War Within splits its action between the life and the mind of Michael Sinclair. Externally, Michael has lost his daughter and his job, and he may lose his wife. Internally, his personified Heart, Mind, Conscience, Emotion, Memory and Will are waging war among themselves.
The concept of the film is concrete and the production quality is on par with many Christian films of today. However, character development is lacking, and the dialogue is sometimes flat. The point of the film is to express what happens internally during dark nights of the soul, and it makes a respectful attempt at that. However, greater subtlety would encourage viewers to think and engage with the film. Overall, it is a good attempt at a high concept. There are no language or modesty issues, and the action sequences are family friendly.
Review by Teddy James
Christmas classic updated for new generation
Author David Nicholson first heard Nan Weeks’s classic Christmas story, If He Had Not Come, in his Sunday school class 30 years ago, and he has been reading it to his family every Christmas. First published in 1938 and no longer in print, Weeks’s book left such an impression on Nicholson that he updated the text and commissioned new illustrations to introduce it to a new generation.
The story opens on Christmas Eve as young Bobby hurries up to bed, willingly for a change. He is already eager to awaken Christmas morning and open all the packages under the tree. The verse from his daily Bible reading, John 15:22, continues to run through his mind, “If I had not come.”
But then a strange twist occurs. When Bobby awakens and runs down the stairs, he finds the house bare. All the decorations are gone and there is no Christmas breakfast being prepared. Upon further investigation, he finds that the whole world has changed.
If He Had Not Come is a short story of the impact of Christ’s coming into an individual’s life and into society at large. This beautifully illustrated book is a great resource for family devotions and Sunday school classes. Nicholson offers discussion questions, a clear explanation of the gospel message and an idea to help celebrate Christmas.
Available at bookstore.westbowpress.com.
Review by Debbie Fischer
Redeemed CAUTION
Redeemed, a new Pure Flix film, is about the restoration of a man who falls headlong into unfaithfulness of the heart. It is a real-to-life illustration of how Satan uses the slightest crack in a life to take hold and divert one from God’s path.
However, extreme caution is necessary. There are several provocative scenes involving sensuality in both immodest wardrobe and manner.
Review by Debbie Fischer
Every Boy Needs a Hero
After seven years of following his dreams, baseball coach Joe Finn returns to his home and family to find his wife dying from cancer and his college-bound son hurt and defiant. All around him, he sees other fathers making the same mistake he made, losing the chance to be the fathers their sons need.
When Joe begins coaching little league baseball, he persists in asking for a commitment from fathers – even when others, including his son, point out his shortcomings as a role model.
In the style of a classic sports film, Every Boy Needs a Hero will resonate especially with baseball fans. At the same time, clearly communicated Christian values coupled with a small-town America feel make it an ideal family film.
One scene portrays a brief scuffle among boys. When the coach asks the boys if they have their equipment, they respond by innocently tapping on the required equipment inside their uniforms. There are a few moments of tense dialogue between prison inmates.
Review by Stacy Long
The Giver CAUTION
AFA has not reviewed The Giver, but recommends reviews at movieguide.com and Focus on the Family’s pluggedin.com. In a futuristic setting, “community” results in individual freedoms all but disappearing. MovieGuide says the film has a “mixed pagan worldview. Some strong moral elements and light Christian redemptive elements are mixed with romanticism and some politically correct elements. The movie stresses that religion is important, but it also stresses all religions. Thus, there’s a Muslim prayer and a Hindu ritual as well as a baptism scene and a couple scenes containing brief references to the Christmas song ‘Silent Night.’”
New installment in Oke’s ‘Heart’ series
A movie for families with children elementary age and up, Second Chances is a welcome contrast to many of today’s secular movies which depend on suspense, action, intrigue and, all too often, illicit sexual liaisons. Second Chances depends on depth of character, a realistic story line and historical accuracy.
An Old West coal mining accident that killed many fathers, sons and husbands creates the backdrop for emotionally charged scenes, one being when Adam returns to Coal Valley to resume his role as provider for his family. He meets obstacles at every turn due to his leg amputation.
Abigail, one of the new widows, is highlighted in her search for identity and usefulness as she decides to open a café and move from her home to an apartment over the café in town.
Second Chances is among films and television series based on popular Christian author Janette Oke’s novels. The theme that life is hard but family and friends support each other through the ordeals comes out clearly. Church and faith in God are not dealt with directly, but it is clear that these people live by a moral code based on Christian principles. Available at Christian Cinema.
Review by Barbara Waters, AFA volunteer
Counterfeit Gods
In recent years, a number of Christian writers have given us books that tackle the subject of how we allow idols in our lives to overpower our worship of the one true God. Timothy Keller’s Counterfeit Gods is not the latest title (Dutton, 2009), but it is hard to imagine one that could be more clear or more convicting.
The book’s cover offers a warning of what to expect inside: “The Empty Promises of Money, Sex and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters.” Keller pulls no punches in getting right to the heart of the matter. For example, he covers personal idols that we might have thought were reasonable “goals” – idols such as wealth, political success and romantic love.
In Chapter 6, he tackles hidden idols in our lives, things like basing our hope in something other than God and couching our faith in pride rather than humility. He warns that God will not be relegated to a position of one idol among many. Keller is founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York.
Review by Randall Murphree
