[Christian Post]

A movie based on a book that portrays the Church as the villain is not receiving much applause for its removal of religious references.

On the contrary, some Christian groups are upset over New Line Cinema’s concerted effort to keep religion and godless themes out of the upcoming movie, “The Golden Compass,” claiming it will encourage children to read a series that promotes atheism and “denigrates Christianity.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

I haven’t read the book so I don’t know the answer. I do wish someone would make a movie that shows the church in a positive light for once.

What do you think?

[From Washington Post]

Would “Casablanca” have been rated XXX?

Depictions of smoking in movies will now be a factor when deciding what a film’s rating will be, possibly making a PG-13 movie R-rated, the Motion Picture Association of America said yesterday. The policy affects only new movies.

Along with violence, depictions of sex, adult language and other content considerations, ratings organizations will examine new releases to determine if they glamorize smoking or if it is pervasive through the films, even among adults. Underage smoking has always been considered when rating a film.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I certainly don’t like smoking. It kills people and is a bad habit. But you have to be kidding me! So if a movie like Atlantis shows that lady saying “we’re all going to die” with the cig in her mouth it gets an “R” rating?

Why don’t they go after the real ills of our country like immoral sexual content and perversion? Hollywood just doesn’t get it.

What do you think?

[From Christian Post]

Fox Faiths most recent film release was greeted by a barrage of abrasive reviews over the past week, which the films producer has found both surprising and wrong.

The new family-friendly movie distributor of Twentieth Century Fox last weekend released The Ultimate Gift, starring Academy award nominee James Garner (The Notebook) and rising newcomer child actress Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine).

In a recent statement, movie producer Rick Eldridge expressed his surprise when critics began to attack the movie for hidden religious and social messages that he had not intended for the film.

“Reeking of self-righteousness and moral reprimand, Michael O. Sajbel’s Ultimate Gift is a hairball of good-for-you filmmaking, read one review by Jeanette Catsoulis, writer for the New York Times. The movie’s messages - pro-poverty, anti-abortion - are methodically hammered home.”

Lou Carlozo, critic for the Chicago Tribune, wrote, There’s an anti-abortion message jammed into one scene with all the subtlety of an avalanche. Just in case you miss it, it’s repeated in the credits too. Some gift, eh?”

Read about it here.

[From me]

O give me a break.  What about all of the pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-wild lifestyle, pro-sex all of the time and anti-Christian Messages the movie industry crams down our throats.  Let’s be consistent.  Unbelievers just can’t handle truth.  The American Idol judges blast every contestant when they sing a Christian song.  Hollywood is a mess.

What do you think?