Darrell's Picks
What makes a great Christian movie? In my opinion, it doesn’t even have to be about God or religion. It needs to be about service, selflessness or sacrifice, or about the struggle to find Truth in a world that doesn’t always make sense. I’ve put together a pretty eclectic list that includes five Academy Award winners, one incredible film that was snubbed by Hollywood, two musicals, a western and an animated children’s movie. So here they are, in no particular order, my picks for twelve of the best Christian movies ever made.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Frank Capra’s 1947 Christmas Classic is quite possibly the best movie ever made. Aside from the character of the guardian angel, God and religion are not even mentioned in this film. Yet it presents a truly Catholic vision. We all make choices in this life, and those choices affect not only our own destinies, but those of every one around us. This is a portrait of a man who loves, and is loved.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
This 1965 musical, based on the true story of the Von Trap Family Singers, takes place in 1930’s Austria, just as a great evil was loosed on the world. Maria, a novitiate nun, loves nature and music. Full of joy and love, this character’s spirit reminds me a great deal of Pope John Paul II. Maria struggles to choose between a Religious life within the closed walls of the abbey and a life in the world. Her Reverend Mother tells her, “What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love…You have to live the life you were born to live…Climb every mountain…”
ROMERO
I chose this movie not because I support liberation theology. I don’t. I do not believe violence is necessary for change. I chose this movie because it portrays what it means to be a disciple, and what that might cost. Archbishop Oscar Romero was a meek and bookish man, but in this 1989 film, we see what can happen when we say “yes” to allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
This 1971 musical is the story of Tevye, a peasant Jew in turn-of-the-century Russia. Tevye lives a prayerful life as he goes about making a poor living – he talks to God about everything. He faces the struggles of everyday life, oppression, separation from his children and the loss of his home, but through it all, he has Tradition. The Jewish clothing, customs and ceremonies are outward signs; their Tradition is their Faith. As Tevye states, “Because of our Tradition, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” Now this is an understanding desperately needed in our time.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Based on the Gospel account of the crucifixion and on the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, Mel Gibson was inspired to make this 2004 film when a book of the stigmatic nun’s visions, “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” fell on his head. An intense, gripping film, it is a meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Way of the Cross.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the savior of the world.
Amen.
LILIES OF THE FIELD
Southern Baptist meets Roman Catholic in this 1963 study of the Providence of God. An itinerant handyman’s car overheats in the Arizona desert, near a convent of poor immigrant nuns of all places! The Mother Superior tells him that God sent him to her to build a chapel. He resists at first, but soon he single-handedly begins raising a chapel. But then something happens, something bigger than the handyman and the nuns, bigger than the entire community and their disillusioned priest, something bigger than all of us…
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
This was one of my favorite books as a boy. Back then, however, I didn’t recognize that it was chock full of Christian symbolism. Talking animals and mythical creatures abound in this 2005 version of C.S. Lewis’ classic children’s tale of love and sacrifice… and temptation. Turkish Delight is enough to tempt a child, but for adults there are other delights. I confess that I found myself strangely attracted to the White Witch. That’s the thing about evil; on the surface it often looks good.
THE SONG OF BERNADETTE
Inspiring and thought provoking, this 1943 film tells the true story of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France. The “beautiful lady” told Bernadette, “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next.” Not a popular message in our modern society where everyone thinks they deserve to be happy.
Our Lady the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
Saint Bernadette, pray for us!
JONAH: A VEGGIE TALES MOVIE
I love this movie! I’ve watched it maybe a dozen times since its 2002 release, and I think I like it more than my kids do. Great animation, humor, and a really cool scene with some holy roller angels in the belly of a whale. Timeless messages from a book of sacred scripture: sometimes God asks us to do things we may not want to do, but we need to learn to trust and obey, even if we don’t understand. A truly relevant message for our world today – disobedience can lead to our own destruction. Finally, God is a God of mercy, but if we don’t apply that message to ourselves, then we don’t really get it: “Jonah was a prophet, but he never really got it.”
ANGEL AND THE BADMAN
I never would have believed that a John Wayne movie would make it on this list, but then I watched this 1947 western. A wounded outlaw is taken in by a Quaker family. Force yourself to sit through the overly dramatic acting and musical scores and you’ll watch an entertaining movie with a real message: “All men are good if they are shown the light…A man who is a friend to other men is a happy man himself.”
THE THIRD MIRACLE
In this 1999 film, a priest struggling with his faith is summoned to investigate the life and miracles surrounding an American laywoman being promoted for Sainthood. In a setting that portrays the fruits of our broken humanity in a fallen world, the priest searches for the truth. There are two scenes which I personally found to be very profound. Anyone who has ever struggled with their faith will appreciate the first scene. The priest goes to a friend in the confessional. “Where does faith go?” he asks. The priest cries out—he rages from the depths of his heart. There is nothing more sincere. “I just don’t want it to end up for nothing…I want it to be true.” I’ve been there.
In the second scene, our priest finds himself falling in love with the daughter of the woman he’s investigating. He comes close to breaking his vows, but then something happens. Coincidence? Or Providence? God always gives us just enough to continue to seek Him and to choose Him, without ever taking away our free will. And in the end, when we choose God, we find faith.
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
We see real integrity, courage and faith in this 1966 portrayal of Sir Thomas More. He sacrifices everything rather than deny himself. I believe everyone needs to see this movie. I encourage you to check it out of the library or rent it. Even if you have already seen it, watch it again. And then we all need to ask ourselves what it is we believe. What do we stand for? And how far are we willing to go to stand up for what we believe? As events unfold in the coming years, we will be tested. If you are Catholic, will you be obedient to the teachings of the Church and to the directions of the Pope, even if they don’t fit into your idea of what the Church should be? We should look to the life of Thomas More as an example of what we should want to be and what we should be. And then each of us needs to examine ourselves carefully.
Saint Thomas More, pray for us!
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Frank Capra’s 1947 Christmas Classic is quite possibly the best movie ever made. Aside from the character of the guardian angel, God and religion are not even mentioned in this film. Yet it presents a truly Catholic vision. We all make choices in this life, and those choices affect not only our own destinies, but those of every one around us. This is a portrait of a man who loves, and is loved.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
This 1965 musical, based on the true story of the Von Trap Family Singers, takes place in 1930’s Austria, just as a great evil was loosed on the world. Maria, a novitiate nun, loves nature and music. Full of joy and love, this character’s spirit reminds me a great deal of Pope John Paul II. Maria struggles to choose between a Religious life within the closed walls of the abbey and a life in the world. Her Reverend Mother tells her, “What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love…You have to live the life you were born to live…Climb every mountain…”
ROMERO
I chose this movie not because I support liberation theology. I don’t. I do not believe violence is necessary for change. I chose this movie because it portrays what it means to be a disciple, and what that might cost. Archbishop Oscar Romero was a meek and bookish man, but in this 1989 film, we see what can happen when we say “yes” to allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
This 1971 musical is the story of Tevye, a peasant Jew in turn-of-the-century Russia. Tevye lives a prayerful life as he goes about making a poor living – he talks to God about everything. He faces the struggles of everyday life, oppression, separation from his children and the loss of his home, but through it all, he has Tradition. The Jewish clothing, customs and ceremonies are outward signs; their Tradition is their Faith. As Tevye states, “Because of our Tradition, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” Now this is an understanding desperately needed in our time.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Based on the Gospel account of the crucifixion and on the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, Mel Gibson was inspired to make this 2004 film when a book of the stigmatic nun’s visions, “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,” fell on his head. An intense, gripping film, it is a meditation on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Way of the Cross.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the savior of the world.
Amen.
LILIES OF THE FIELD
Southern Baptist meets Roman Catholic in this 1963 study of the Providence of God. An itinerant handyman’s car overheats in the Arizona desert, near a convent of poor immigrant nuns of all places! The Mother Superior tells him that God sent him to her to build a chapel. He resists at first, but soon he single-handedly begins raising a chapel. But then something happens, something bigger than the handyman and the nuns, bigger than the entire community and their disillusioned priest, something bigger than all of us…
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
This was one of my favorite books as a boy. Back then, however, I didn’t recognize that it was chock full of Christian symbolism. Talking animals and mythical creatures abound in this 2005 version of C.S. Lewis’ classic children’s tale of love and sacrifice… and temptation. Turkish Delight is enough to tempt a child, but for adults there are other delights. I confess that I found myself strangely attracted to the White Witch. That’s the thing about evil; on the surface it often looks good.
THE SONG OF BERNADETTE
Inspiring and thought provoking, this 1943 film tells the true story of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, France. The “beautiful lady” told Bernadette, “I do not promise to make you happy in this world, but in the next.” Not a popular message in our modern society where everyone thinks they deserve to be happy.
Our Lady the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
Saint Bernadette, pray for us!
JONAH: A VEGGIE TALES MOVIE
I love this movie! I’ve watched it maybe a dozen times since its 2002 release, and I think I like it more than my kids do. Great animation, humor, and a really cool scene with some holy roller angels in the belly of a whale. Timeless messages from a book of sacred scripture: sometimes God asks us to do things we may not want to do, but we need to learn to trust and obey, even if we don’t understand. A truly relevant message for our world today – disobedience can lead to our own destruction. Finally, God is a God of mercy, but if we don’t apply that message to ourselves, then we don’t really get it: “Jonah was a prophet, but he never really got it.”
ANGEL AND THE BADMAN
I never would have believed that a John Wayne movie would make it on this list, but then I watched this 1947 western. A wounded outlaw is taken in by a Quaker family. Force yourself to sit through the overly dramatic acting and musical scores and you’ll watch an entertaining movie with a real message: “All men are good if they are shown the light…A man who is a friend to other men is a happy man himself.”
THE THIRD MIRACLE
In this 1999 film, a priest struggling with his faith is summoned to investigate the life and miracles surrounding an American laywoman being promoted for Sainthood. In a setting that portrays the fruits of our broken humanity in a fallen world, the priest searches for the truth. There are two scenes which I personally found to be very profound. Anyone who has ever struggled with their faith will appreciate the first scene. The priest goes to a friend in the confessional. “Where does faith go?” he asks. The priest cries out—he rages from the depths of his heart. There is nothing more sincere. “I just don’t want it to end up for nothing…I want it to be true.” I’ve been there.
In the second scene, our priest finds himself falling in love with the daughter of the woman he’s investigating. He comes close to breaking his vows, but then something happens. Coincidence? Or Providence? God always gives us just enough to continue to seek Him and to choose Him, without ever taking away our free will. And in the end, when we choose God, we find faith.
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
We see real integrity, courage and faith in this 1966 portrayal of Sir Thomas More. He sacrifices everything rather than deny himself. I believe everyone needs to see this movie. I encourage you to check it out of the library or rent it. Even if you have already seen it, watch it again. And then we all need to ask ourselves what it is we believe. What do we stand for? And how far are we willing to go to stand up for what we believe? As events unfold in the coming years, we will be tested. If you are Catholic, will you be obedient to the teachings of the Church and to the directions of the Pope, even if they don’t fit into your idea of what the Church should be? We should look to the life of Thomas More as an example of what we should want to be and what we should be. And then each of us needs to examine ourselves carefully.
Saint Thomas More, pray for us!
posted by DarrellBowles | 11:49 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home