"Christian" Entertainment - Jeffrey Overstreet

Washington Times on "Christian movies"

Reporter Bekah Grim of The Washington Times wanted to know why I don't get excited about "Christian movies." So I took a long, deep breath, tried to remain calm, tried to avoid R-rated language, and I told her. (Note: The article says I used the word

On Movies & Media

Pixar's "Up" at Cannes; Pete Docter Talks Faith and Filmmaking

I'm happy to see Pixar's new film opening on the kind of platform that the studio deserves. Up is opening the Cannes Film Festival with a presentation in Disney Digital 3-D on Wednesday May 13th, 2009. That marks the first time an animated film has opened

On Movies & Media

NPR: "The New Christian Film Industry!" Christianity Today: "Make It Stop!"

NPR recently ran a story about the (supposedly) exciting new "Christian movie industry." The story contained this quote: "I think we're going to see significant production houses that will be funding $200 million films done by Christians," he predicts. "We're going

Film Forum

Fireproof (2008): A Looking Closer Film Forum

What is Film Forum? Well, with so many film reviews published, and so little time to read them all, I make a note of any review that I find particularly thoughtful, persuasive, or worth wrestling. Be sure to check back, as I've only just begun to read reviews

On Books & Writing

Mick Silva's Advice for Writers; Narnia's Makeover for High King Peter

Silva ponders Mick Silva on the voice of the Christian writer. * High King Peter of Narnia's "small mind" In C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, High King Peter did not have a "small mind." But it seems that American filmmakers are

On Books & Writing

"Christian Fiction" and the Faith of J.K. Rowling and Sara Zarr

I know that many of my fellow Christians are so convinced that J.K. Rowling is a servant of Satan that they won't be persuaded by anything as insignificant as... oh... the author's own words about her faith. But I'm encouraged that the conversation

On Movies & Media

Terry Mattingly on Two Words: "FOX" and "Faith"

Terry Mattingly looks at what happened to* The Ultimate Gift when it was tagged with the term "Fox Faith." He writes: “I told the Fox people this movie was going to resonate with the Christian audience and that’s fine with me, because I am a Christian,” said

On Movies & Media

So it continues: Are Christians a niche audience?

Readers are responding to my recent article at Christianity Today Movies: Christians as a Niche Market? And, as you might expect, their perspectives vary.

On Movies & Media

The Weinsteins Start Up Their Own "Faith-Based" Film Endeavor

Great. Now the Weinstein Company is developing a faith-based filmmaking line. Since the Contemporary Christian Music has done so much to sidetrack Christian musicians so their music doesn't accidentally end up in arenas where the world might hear it... why not create Contemporary Christian Cinema? That way, faith-related

On Movies & Media

Terry Mattingly ponders "the birth of Contemporary Christian Cinema"

At GetReligion, Terry Mattingly is facing the Giants dilemma. He asks: Is this kind of niche market strategy (again) a good idea for faith in popular culture? Addressing Facing the Giants, he says: ... Do you see the irony? This is a solid niche market. But it will not help shape

Film Forum

Tomorrow's Film Forum May Catch Angry CT Movies Readers By Surprise.

Some Christianity Today Movies readers have sent in some very angry mail in response to Josh Hurst's review of Facing the Giants. They're saying things like (and I quote...) Shame, shame, shame on you for giving Facing the Giants a bad review! I've heard

On Movies & Media

A Few Predictions About "The Nativity Story"

I haven't seen anything but the trailer for Catherine Hardwicke's The Nativity Story yet. And I really don't have any particular expectations about the film itself. When I saw Hardwicke's Thirteen, which starred Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, I was quite

On Movies & Media

A Few Predictions About "The Nativity Story"

I haven't seen anything but the trailer for Catherine Hardwicke's The Nativity Story yet. And I really don't have any particular expectations about the film itself. When I saw Hardwicke's Thirteen, which starred Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, I was quite

On Movies & Media

What is a "Christian Movie"?

"Christian." What is it? Is it an adjective? Is "a Christian" someone who prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their heart? What if that person forgets about that prayer, and strays? Is it someone who continues in a dedicated fashion to pursue and develop a relationship

On Movies & Media

Why My Faith is Not FoxFaith (and Great Art is Not Necessarily "Christian Art")

When I saw a promotional video for the arrival of FoxFaith, a special library of movies that "Christians and families can enjoy," I had a flashback. As I perused the titles of films being included in that label, I felt the walls closing in, trapping me in a

On Movies & Media

Why My Faith is Not "FoxFaith," and Great Art is Not Necessarily "Christian art"

When I saw a promotional video for the arrival of FoxFaith, a special library of movies that "Christians and families can enjoy," I had a flashback. As I perused the titles of films being included in that label, I felt the walls closing in, trapping me in a

On Books & Writing

The Graphic Novels of... Stephen Baldwin?

And the prophet spoke, saying: "There's really not a lot of stuff out there in the media or in products that are available to kids that represent the Christian thing that's relevant. ... There's nothing that's hardcore and fun that can really

On Movies & Media

Regarding that "Facing the Giants" post...

My comments on the tempest over at Dick Staub's CultureWatch set off a bit of a tempest here. But since I haven't seen the film (I only meant to comment on the way other people are upset about criticism of the film), I was happy to

On Movies & Media

Another "Facing the Giants" controversy

Facing the Giants, the film that has stirred up some chatter because it was rated PG for its open references to Christianity, is stirring up even more trouble for cultural commentator and writer Dick Staub. Staub dared to suggest that, even though Christians had been involved in making and supporting

On Movies & Media

"Left Behind": Evangelical Pornography?

Ken Morefield examines the outrageously popular saga, and considers how it plays to evangelical "appetites." Left Behind And listen to this... Left Behind It has been my argument that much of the success of Left Behind has been because its evangelical readers feel exactly that sort of anger

On Songs & Albums

What's wrong with CCM? (installment 1,006...)

Kate Bowman is becoming one of the most interesting new voices in the dialogue about faith and art. And I just discovered an interview on her blog, Evangelical Expatriate that had me nodding and even cheering at the insightful observations about "contemporary Christian music."