As I moseyed down the infobaun collecting God-talk about films, I came across this quote by a Rev. Susan Wilson in Finding God in the Dark:I have a tendency to watch and see films in a slightly different light, always attentive to movements of grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness that disclose God's presence along the way. Sometimes feature length films have an incredible way of speaking to the heart in ways that overt spiritual conversations and events, like church, simply can't. And I'm not talking about the 'saccharine sweet hit you over the head with a moral' type of movie, I'm talking about well acted, well produced, mainstream movies that bring to life themes of reconciliation, redemption and healing in tremendously powerful ways.Amen. Bringing out that kind of God-talk is part of why this blog exists. Alrighty, on to some updates on films that have the potential to “disclose God’s presence along the way”—or, at the very least, bring God-talk into open spaces:
Opening this weekend is Adam Sandler’s Click, which is getting mixed reviews. The plot? According to IMDB: “Click focuses on a workaholic architect who finds a universal remote that allows him to fast-forward and rewind to different parts of his life. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.” There’s some potential God-talk in the vicinity of this film: it was written by definite-God-talk-film Bruce Almighty alums Stephen Koren and Mark O’Keefe, it’s being likened to (albeit very liberally) to It’s a Wonderful Life, and it’s being touted in more than one review as containing “life lessons” (which apparently have to do with loving and not taking for granted your family). So, if you can sit through potentially offensive material cropping up here and there (hey, it’s Adam Sandler and it’s got Christopher Walken poking around), you might consider it. As we’ve got a rather restricted budget when it comes to going out (babysitters cost a fortune these days), this one is going on our NetFlix queue.
Now, onto a film with more obvious potential for God-talk: Superman Returns. Cinecon has some new Superman Return pics—including the one above—and ComingSoon has more TV spots. Also, CanMag points to an MSN clip. The film opens next week (June 28).
And here’s a bit of news on another summer release: the official website launched for M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in the Water, a film that’s got this blog’s attention—hook, line and sinker.
ET has a short article from the set of another film this blog’s been following: License to Wed, the Robin-Williams-gone-Reverend film about a young engaged couple (Mandy Moore and John Krasinski) who must undergo a rigorous Williams-led pre-marital counseling regimen—which apparently includes “a blind-folded driving test designed to illuminate trust issues”—before they can walk down the isle. I think I’m gonna ask my pastor-friends to review this one once it comes out, heh.
And lastly, according to the Times of India, Chronicles of Narnia has made history in that country as the highest selling Disney DVD. Wow. Talk about a film that can speak “to the heart in ways that overt spiritual conversations and events, like church, simply can't.” That’ll make for rich soil ready for roots. Amen.
And that’s it for now. Blessings.
(Image: Warner Bros)