Film Reviews X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): Or, Confessions of an X-Men Ex-Fan I'm not going to try to talk anybody out of liking "Days of Future Past." I can see why it's getting such great reviews. But in the whole film, I found only one sequence particularly memorable...
Film Reviews The Return (2003): Why Moviegoers Everywhere Must Learn to Say "Zvyagintsev" If you hear film buffs shouting "Zvyagintsev!" in the coming months, do not say "Gesundheit." The proper response is this: "When do I get to see Leviathan?"
On Movies & Media Gadzooks! A Godzilla for Malick Fans? Here are some of the more intriguing paragraphs I've read about Godzilla...
Film Reviews Star Wars - Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999): Looking Back 15 Years I know, I know. Take a deep breath. Let go of your anger, young Jedi.
On Movies & Media Aragorn's Favorite Peter Jackson Movie (Hint: It's Not The Return of the King) It's another return of the king! Aragorn is back, and he has some kingly wisdom to share with us...
On Movies & Media 30 Must-See Movies for Kids Featured in a WORD-FM Radio interview, here's my list of more than 30 of my favorite films for children. Do you like lists? I've got more where that one came from...
Film Reviews Saving Mr. Banks (2013) ... or Squandering Mr. Hanks If you want to hang on to that warm "Mary Poppins" feeling, you may just want to stop reading — because "happiness" is about the opposite of how I felt when I finally sat down to watch "Saving Mr. Banks."
Film Reviews Only Lovers Left Alive (2014) — Forget Twilight: These Are My Favorite Vampires We're all vampires. That is to say, we all have particular kinds of "blood" that we seek — sources of sustenance and inspiration that keep our eyes open and our hearts beating in a dark and punishing world. For me, it's a particular kind of
On Movies & Media Hey, Moviegoers: You're Invited to a Secret Seattle Q&A If you could meet and interrogate your local film critics, free of charge, would you do it?
On Movies & Media Podcast: Listen as a Theology Professor, an English Professor, an Ordained Minister, and a Film Critic Talk About That Noah Movie Did the theologian think the movie was "un-Biblical"? Did the English professor think the "rock monsters" in the movie were "stupid"? Did the ordained minister think that God was absent in the film? Did the film critic think it was "the worst Christian movie ever made"?
Film Reviews Under the Skin (2014) Feel free to eavesdrop as I argue with myself upon exiting the theater after seeing Jonathan Glazer's troubling new sci-fi horror film Under the Skin...
Film Forum God's Not Dead (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum Now, two of the finest film critics in Christian media agree: There's something quite contrary to the spirit of the Gospel at the heart of the smash-hit "Christian Movie" God's Not Dead.
Film Reviews Noah (2014): Part Two of a Two-Part Commentary In which two very different moviegoers wrestle with Noah, and with some of the questions that the movie asks.
Film Reviews Noah (2014): Part One of A Two-Part Commentary Darren Aronofsky made an epic Old Testament movie in which he wrestled with some of humankind's most difficult questions. And Christians responded with admirable attention, grace, intelligence, and humility. Right? No? That didn't happen?
On Movies & Media Is It Dangerous? Biblical? Gnostic? Awesome? — Here's All The Noah That's Fit to Print Let's focus on the reviews of Noah that demonstrate an actual love for movies, an interest in our neighbor Darren Aronofsky, and a willingness to engage his ideas.
Film Reviews The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Every scene was like a spectacular frosted pastry with a sharp object baked into the middle of it.
On Movies & Media Seven Films That the Oscars Forgot Now would be a great time to catch up with what the Oscars missed. And they missed a lot. Good news: Most of those titles are now easily accessible for you to enjoy at home.
Film Reviews Girl Rising (2014) “I’m told my mother burst into tears when she learned my sex. She set me aside in the dirt.” Amina was born in Afghanistan, but no one made a record of her birth date. Only boys are given that kind of attention. At 11 years old, she was “sold”
Film Reviews The Passion of the Christ: Revisited Would I now disagree with the review I wrote ten years ago? Would I flinch to read what I wrote back then?
Through a Screen Darkly What's So Funny? - Part 2 When movies make fun of religious characters, should we laugh?
Through a Screen Darkly What's So Funny? (Or: Christianity and Comedy are Not Exclusive) A criminal steals a baby. Are you laughing? A rabbi uses Jesus's name in vain? Is that funny?
Looking Elsewhere The Incredibles (and Other 10-Year-Old Films); Jesus Films; Matt Zoller Seitz; Scott Cairns This week, special thanks go out to Brad Bird, Matt Zoller Seitz, and more. Find out why.
On Movies & Media Not Gonna Bow: Notes on the Oscars It appears that a lot of people have completely misunderstood what cinema is for, concluding that it's all some big cockamamie competition.
On Movies & Media Is Groundhog Day the Most Meaningful Comedy Ever? Or The Truman Show? On Monday, I'm going to share a special two-part post on comedy. That's because the great Steven Greydanus of The National Catholic Register is stirring up conversation about great comedies with his introduction to the newly published Arts and Faith Top 25 Divine Comedies. Read his
Film Reviews The Great Beauty (2013) I've just seen "The Great Beauty" and I'm still a little bit drunk on its imagery. It's a feast for those with big appetites for beauty on the big screen. But alas, the meal is soured by a bitter syrup.
