AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
Above, from The Nativity Story
December 2015 – Christmas films complement season
It’s not too late to add some classic Christmas movies to your own collection or give them to friends. The Nativity Story is a biblically sound and beautifully produced drama of the birth of Jesus. The other titles below are contemporary fictional creations with strong Christmas themes and a little romance in entertaining, family friendly stories. All three titles are available at afastore.net or toll free at 877-927-4917. Order before December 14 to assure Christmas delivery.
The Nativity Story
The ultimate love story – the story of God’s love for all people – is beautifully portrayed in this film that was released in December 2006. In that month’s issue of AFAJ, reviewer Rebecca Grace Davis said the film “brings a sense of humanity to the supernatural birth of Christ by delving into the lives of Mary and Joseph.”
Using words such as breathtaking, splendid, and spectacular, Christian leaders and ministries pretty much agree on the strength of this retelling of the Nativity by writer Mike Rich.
Rich told AFAJ, “When I read [the Gospels], there are these sentences that jump out at me. Like one sentence that says, ‘Joseph took Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem.’ Well, that’s one sentence in the gospel, but it’s 110 miles, and to me, I think … we’ve forgotten what the road must have been like … the conversations they must have had and the fear. …”
The only caution AFA would note is the Dove Foundation’s recommendation of the film for ages 12 and older due to some mild violence.
The Color of Rain
Gina Kell is devastated when she loses her husband on Christmas day. Fortunately, she soon finds a kindred spirit in Michael Spehn, another parent at her kids’ school. Spehn, too, is recently widowed. (Guess where this story’s going!) But their burgeoning friendship brings predictable challenges.
Family and friends urge them not to move too fast and cause them to question where their relationship is headed. Both have children, so they are forced to wrestle with whether their newfound love is strong enough to overcome the grief surrounding both families.
Christmas Angel
Ashley feels more alone than ever this Christmas as she searches fruitlessly for a job. The Christmas cheer all around her only rubs salt in her wounds as she scrapes to get by. However, her neighbor, Nick, knows exactly how to help. He offers her a job, as his assistant in his work of helping others.
But there’s one catch: She must not tell anyone that her new boss is a sort of Secret Santa, helping others anonymously. Through her new job, Ashley meets Will, a magazine writer who uncovers what Ashley and Nick are doing. The plot thickens with Ashley’s friendship with Will and Will’s dilemma of whether to keep Ashley’s Secret Santa work under wraps.
— Randall Murphree
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs
For two decades, Michael O’Brien has ministered through his music. Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, his latest CD, is a creative project with roots deep in the rich lyrics of traditional hymns to which O’Brien adds the flavor of new musical settings and supplementary lyrics. The genius of his approach is that it subtly leads the worshipper to listen more closely to words that may have grown too familiar – too much “worship-as-usual” – in their traditional settings.
On the project, O’Brien includes Charles Wesley’s “Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose (All in All),” Fanny Crosby’s “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” Martin Luther’s “From the Depth of Woe,” and more. In addition to the depth of theology in the old hymns, O’Brien calls on his wife Heidi and their four children (young adults), who all add stirring vocals and lyrics to this moving contemporary worship experience.
O’Brien also has a Christmas CD – no Santa Claus, no jingle bells – that celebrates Christ from beginning to end. Learn more and order at michaelo.org.
— Randall Murphree
Adrenaline
Joseph Jenkins is a young, arrogant race car driver whose life has never been easy. After a near-fatal racing crash leaves him a paraplegic, he grows bitter and hopeless. Adding layers to the intriguing storyline are Elijah, Joe’s hospital roommate, a wise old man who subtly shares his Christian faith with Joe; “Uncle” Paul, a race car mechanic whom Joe blames for his dad’s death in a racing accident when Joe was 12; and Josie, an attractive physical therapist. These three challenge and push Joe not to give up on life, and he discovers that there is, indeed, greater meaning to life than glory and fame.
The film is well acted and well produced. It has a good balance of fast action (squealing tires and race track scenes) and quiet reflection (wheelchair and hospital bed scenes).
Parents should be aware that a brief opening scene establishes a context for Joe’s fast-paced life with a barroom scene in which Joe and his buddy are drinking, and one woman makes a suggestive remark.
After that brief scene, there are no issues with language, graphic violence, or other inappropriate content. The Dove Foundation suggests it for viewers 12 and older. Available at adrenalinethemovie.com.
— Randall Murphree
Woodlawn … when God showed up
This football film is one AFA families will thoroughly enjoy. There are no issues with language, excessive violence, dress, or other content. Football scenes depict full contact, but not in a violent way such as the excessive violent hitting and tackling scenes common in a secular television series such as Friday Night Lights.
Following real stories set in the emotionally charged 1970s integration saga in the South, Woodlawn is a powerful movie. The best part of the film centers around the theme of relationships, from one’s personal relationship with Christ, to the relationships between black and white players to the relationship between Tony Nathan and his father, the relationship between Tony and his future wife, and the relationship between coaches at Birmingham’s Woodlawn and Banks High Schools. The genesis for all of those relationships is Christ, and viewers see how the characters’ lives are touched by a personal walk with Christ.
Writers/producers Jon and Andy Erwin have captured the story of a trying time in their Birmingham hometown history, and couched it in a story of hope in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ to help people overcome racial, spiritual, familial, and a host of other issues that face us still today.
Woodlawn debuted in theaters in mid October. Visit woodlawnmovie.com for more information and future DVD release.
— Durick Hayden, AFA-HR vice president
New film strives for authenticity
Left,Simon Peter (left) and Jesus as depicted in The Gospel of John
The latest production of The Gospel of John released in 2014 (not to be confused with the 2003 film with the same title) focuses less on actor performance and more on biblical authenticity and accuracy. The film narrates the word-for-word text of the New Testament book of John in either NIV or KJV translation, depending on the viewer’s selection. The narration is voiced over what is said to be Aramaic dialogue, and some of the original voice track can be heard at times. The actors are ethnically diverse and look appropriate for the region. The movie has the feel of a foreign film, and that was the goal of the movie’s producers. They wanted to make a Bible movie true to the setting and culture rather than the westernized portrayal in other films.
The Gospel of John comes from the Lumo Project (lumoproject.com), which plans to put each of the four Gospels on film in the style of this, their first release. The goal is to create a multi-language biblical film resource that will appeal to global audiences. Video clips from this film would serve well as a tool to illustrate and bring life to the biblical drama in the context of a sermon, group study, or classroom. Available at online stores and digital download.
— Stacy Long
Owlegories
Earlier this year, AFAJ reviewed Owlegories, a new Gospel-centered, animated series featuring a cast of engaging little owls and their adventures as they learn the truths of God’s Word. Reviewer Teddy James, father of two toddlers, highly commended the series, which offers an interactive digital app (afajournal.org, 2/15).
Producer Chad Gundersen and Spy House Productions have announced a broad distribution launch that now puts Owlegories in secular stores as well as Christian stores. Gundersen is a Christian filmmaker whom AFA has grown to trust for his integrity in handling scriptural truths. Learn more at owlegories.com.
— Randall Murphree
