AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
October 2005 – New ‘Left Behind’ film offered as evangelistic tool by Rebecca Grace
The world is at war as a fatal pestilence sweeps across America’s major cities leaving the president hopeless in the shadows of the Oval Office as he watches the nation crumble to its end.
What’s happening? Who’s to blame? What’s the meaning of this chaos?
Answers will begin to unfold October 21 with the release of Left Behind: World at War, the third in the Left Behind movie series starring Kirk Cameron, Chelsea Noble, Brad Johnson, Janaya Stephens and Gordon Currie. This time the original cast is joined by Academy Award winner Lou Gossett, Jr., in the role of U.S. President Gerald Fitzhugh.
“I’ve read a lot of scripts – I’ve been doing this for a long time – and I have to pick and choose certain things,” Gossett said on the movie’s official Web site. “Not much is going to get me to come to Canada [where the movie was filmed] in the winter but this is a story that has to be told,” he added.
The movie, based on the best-selling books Left Behind and Tribulation Force, continues following the lives of Buck Williams (played by Cameron) and fellow believers who were left behind on earth after the rapture of the church. They do all they can to bring others to Christ despite being tormented by the powerful anti-Christ and his followers. This time their mission is to find and deliver an antidote for a virus outbreak that is claiming lives by the minute, while caring for those already caught in the snare of death. Meanwhile, the anti-Christ is doing everything he can to take complete control of the earth.
“It basically culminates in a massive world war,” Cameron told AFA during a recent visit to Tupelo, Mississippi.
The movie, which focuses on the last 50 pages of the second book in the Left Behind series, is action-packed. Special effects engage the viewers as they get a feel for what it might be like during the final days on earth, all in an attempt to share an evangelistic message through the power of film.
“Inviting people to a movie is an easy thing to do, and it [can] turn into a great springboard for people to share Christ,” Cameron said. “[Therefore] we have a very unique release strategy for this movie.”
Instead of releasing the movie in theaters across the country, Cloud Ten Pictures has decided to open the movie in DVD format in churches all across the nation during the weekend of October 21-23. The movie will then be released for purchase on DVD October 25.
“This gives churches across the country an opportunity to have a community event providing an outreach opportunity for a great movie based on a phenomenal book and gives the congregation an opportunity to then use that to share Christ with people,” Cameron said.
Churches will pay a one-time licensing fee to show the movie as many times as they want during the designated weekend. The fee for each church is based on a sliding scale according to the number of members and can be found, along with more information, by calling 1-800-826-0872.
“If we just got half or a fourth of the churches out there to screen this movie, that would smash all the records for screens in an opening weekend for any movie that’s come out,” Cameron said. “We would send a message back to Hollywood that there is a Christian community out there.”
Since the movie is targeted at the Christian community for use as an evangelistic tool, AFA believes it is important for pastors and their church members to be aware and perhaps cautious of the violence in the movie. While the violence is not graphic, the inclusion of car explosions, shootings, fights and missile attacks may be intense for some viewers.
In addition, there is a scene in which an attractive woman tempts a Christian man with the offer of adultery. Although both are fully clothed and the man does not give in to the temptation, it may be uncomfortable and questionable for some viewers.
With this in mind, AFA is asking pastors to consider screening this movie in their churches.
“I think the real hope that we ought to have is not Hollywood turning into a Christian organization, but rather everyday Christians getting serious about their walk with the Lord, living with integrity and influencing the people around them,” Cameron explained.
The Greatest Game Ever Played great story, some negatives by Rebecca Grace
The Greatest Game Ever Played is an inspiring, true story starring Shia LaBeouf as amateur golfer Francis Ouimet. Based on the book by Mark Frost, the movie portrays one of America’s greatest unknown sports heroes who shocked the golf world when he won the U.S. Open in 1913 by defeating legendary British champion Harry Vardon.
But for Ouimet, it was more than just a golf championship. It was the culmination of his unfailing will and determined spirit, often crushed by a world of hardship and a strict father, that led him to achieve his lifetime dream.
In addition to being an uplifting, feel-good film, the movie contains hearty doses of humor, a romantic hook and an incredible ending making it appealing to the whole family.
“This is one great movie of hope, healing and seeing dreams come true,” said one AFA viewer.
However, it is important to note that some elements are not suitable for all ages. For example, the film is rated PG for brief mild language including at least four uses of the Lord’s name in vain, four uses of profanity, several references of name calling, and Old English slang that may be offensive to some. There are also heavy amounts of drinking and smoking – habits realistic to the historical setting of the movie – and some elements of dishonesty between Ouimet and his father.
While the contents of the movie are mild in nature compared to the norm of Hollywood productions, AFA encourages potential viewers to applaud the inspiring story line while still being wary of the minor objectionable content. The film has a nationwide release date of September 30, 2005.
Christian novelists campaign on two fronts by Randall Murphree
Since I first met Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn in the 1950s, I’ve been an avid fan of fiction. Unfortunately, recent decades have seen popular fiction take a path parallel to that of film and TV – more gratuitous sex, more profanity, more unchristian values. More of everything I don’t find entertaining.
However, there’s great news on the Christian fiction front. Some good writers are busy pumping out great fiction. Furthermore, they are focused on creating top-notch stories that not only entertain but also inspire as they incorporate Biblical principles.
Complementing the growth of the genre, the Christy Awards (named for Christy author Catherine Marshall) were established in 2000 to recognize excellence in Christian fiction. It has been my privilege to read as a judge for the Christy awards a few times. Consequently, I’ve been introduced to the works of many of those writers. I count it a privilege to call attention to some of the great ones I’ve found along the way.
Jan Beazely (with Thom Lemmon) – won the 2005 historical fiction Christy for King’s Ransom based on the fascinating story of Bulgaria’s nine-year-old king. It covers the years from World War II to the present.
Terri Blackstock – a 2005 finalist for River’s Edge. Blackstock has mastered the suspense thriller and usually writes in four-book series – long enough to develop a lot of depth in her characters, yet short enough not to lose her readers’interest. A Georgia coast island is the setting for this one. Her latest, Last Light, promises to be different.
Davis Bunn – 2003 winner for suspense novel Drummer in the Dark and 2001winner for The Great Divide. Bunn is one of those who helps set the bar high for Christian fiction. The Noble Fugitive is a current historical fiction title co-authored with his wife Isabella.
Dale Cramer – won the 2005 award for general novel for Bad Ground, only his second novel. A former electrician, Cramer says he’s still stunned at what God is doing with his writing. Bad Ground’s unique setting is the Georgia coal mines. His most recent book is Levi’s Will.
Charles Martin – a finalist for the 2005 first novel award for The Dead Don’t Dance. This one had hardly hit bookstores before Hallmark purchased rights for a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie to be filmed next year. Character development is one of Martin’s strengths. His people are as real as any you’ll find in fiction. His second book, Wrapped in Rain, is now on the shelves.
Michael Morris – won a 2003 first novel award for A Place Called Wiregrass. He’s another whose characters seem like your family or the neighbors down the street. His latest is Live Like You Were Dying, a novella based on the song of the same title. The latter is the story of a young father facing terminal illness.
Randy Singer – won a 2003 Christy for Directed Verdict. Singer’s novels are legal thrillers a la John Grisham – characters as real, plots as intricate. Need I say more? Singer skillfully weaves into the lives (and words) of his characters a clear Biblical message. Self Incrimination is his latest release.
Finally, I highly recommend Randy Alcorn’s novels, especially Safely Home about persecution of Christians in China. Alcorn heads Eternal Perspective Ministries, for which he writes mostly nonfiction. But count on his occasional novels to be among the best.
To learn more about the growing and improving field of Christian fiction, visit www.christyawards.com or www.focusonfiction.net.
