Recent Posts
Books Besides the Bible: Is Science Fiction un-Christian?“[T]he presence of humanity and the prevalence of humanitarian themes throughout the best science fiction stories is not necessarily a denial of human nature, but often an affirmation of the best in us.”
Not Fit for Dinner: Placing #ObamaInHistory“We can disagree about the connections made on the President biography pages, but we we would be mistaken to think that Obama is ahistorical and is leading America in a past-less present.”
The Televangelists: In Praise of Sherlock & its Co-Creator Steven Moffat“Here, then, is a brief tour through Moffat’s oeuvre of awesomeness.”
Sacred Space: What’s Wrong with Videogames in Church?“My objection to video games in church boils down to what makes a church.”
Grace Notes: My Bloody Valentine“Few bands can claim to have altered the musical landscape, much less charted out an entirely new landscape.”
We Recommend:
Reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga by Seth T. Hahne, CaPC’s new illustrator.
Film Features Archive
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Aslan: The Grandfatherly God
Posted on May 12, 2008 | 12 CommentsAlan Noble kicks off Narnia-Week with a lament of the portrayal of Aslan in film. -
Iron Man: Full of Irony and Things That Go Boom
Posted on May 2, 2008 | 7 CommentsSuperhero Summer has officially begun with lots of booms, and, if Iron Man is any indication, it looks like it’s going to be a better season than 2007’s Summer of the Three-quels. Iron Man is a wryly funny entry into the superhero genre that manages to raise moral questions without being pretentious about them. -
Expelled: Anyone Listening? Anyone? Anyone?
Posted on April 18, 2008 | 9 CommentsCarrissa Smith may not be as crazy about Expelled as you are. -
Don’t Judge This Movie By Its Cover
Posted on April 17, 2008 | 3 CommentsBill Reichart wants us to know it's okay to watch Lars and the Real Girl. -
Trouble in Narnia
Posted on April 7, 2008 | 41 CommentsThe more I hear about the upcoming Prince Caspian film (to be released May 16), the more worried I am about it. First, there was director Andrew Adamson’s promise (clearly supposed to excite us) that the movie would be “battles all the way through.” Then there was the screenwriters’ post on the official film blog indicating that they would be exploring the psychological difficulties faced by the Pevensie children as they deal with the transition from being Kings and Queens in Narnia to being schoolchildren in England. Blech. -
I Am Legend: He is Job
Posted on March 26, 2008 | 4 CommentsHe had lost his family, and his entire way of life. He came face to face with evil and he pondered to himself, "Why has God allowed this to happen?" It is the essential question that everyone asks of tragedy. It is not simply a question of philosophical investigation or even of theological study, but the cry of the broken heart. You may think I am speaking of Job, the "righteous man" of Scripture, but I amactually referencing Robert Neville, the main character of the new to DVD movie I am Legend, a gripping and intense thriller with an amazing ending (warning: spoilers inside). -
Movieguide gets the Last Word
Posted on March 6, 2008 | 14 CommentsTom Snyder, editor of Movieguide.org answers our questions. Some of the answers may surprise you. -
What Makes a Film “Good”?
Posted on February 28, 2008 | 13 CommentsWhat makes a film (or art in general) good? The directing? The screenplay? The acting? The answer, of course, is yes. All of these things vastly improve a film's quality. This is what Movieguide views as secondary. For Movieguide, content is king. -
What Does Philippians 4:8 Really Mean?
Posted on February 27, 2008 | 6 CommentsIn the second response to Tom Snyder (editor of Movieguide.org), Ben Bartlett investigates the true nature of the verse in question. What does Paul really mean by "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things," and what does it mean for how we view film? -
Reviewing the Critics: Can We Trust Secular Film Critics?
Posted on February 26, 2008 | 27 CommentsEditor of Movieguide, Tom Snyder writes,"Just because the secular movie critics and secular elites in Hollywood don’t like some of the movies we pick does not mean that they are really bad movies within the categories in which we pick them. In that sense, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS was a very entertaining, uplifting family movie that kids would enjoy. The mainstream critics trashed it, but the American audience, many of whom still have strong vestiges of their Christian heritage, even though not all of them may understand essential Christian doctrines like the sinlessness of Christ and the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, not by works, seemed to like the movie very much." -
Movieguide: “Alan, You’re Wrong!” and CAPC Responds
Posted on February 23, 2008 | 11 CommentsA response from Tom Snyder, editor of Movieguide.com and a plan for continued discussion. -
Whatever is Pure: Movieguide’s Faith and Value Awards
Posted on February 22, 2008 | 25 CommentsLast week, Ted Baehr and the folks over at Movieguide.org held their 16th annual Faith and Values Awards Gala. The show is dedicated to awarding the best family-friendly films of the year and the best films for mature audiences. In addition, every year Baehr, chairman of The Christian Film and Television Commission, presents his statistical analysis of the Box Office profitability of films with Christian worldviews compared to those with non-Christian worldviews. -
Podcast #20: There Will be Blood
Posted on February 11, 2008 | 7 CommentsThe Christ and Pop Culture Podcast is back! This week, we introduce our new host, Ben Bartlett, a long-time listener and writer for the Christ and Pop Culture Website. -
The Dangers of Film
Posted on February 4, 2008 | 14 CommentsThe medium of film is considered to be one of the most helpful in terms of thought-provoking, entertaining, and challenging art. I explored and defended this claim in my last blog. But film is not immune from causing both the consumer and film-maker to lean towards certain unfortunate mistakes and problematic decisions. Here’s a few things to be wary of when we check out the latest blockbuster or award-winning film. -
2008 Summer Movie Calendar: July-August
Posted on January 31, 2008 | 3 CommentsTo start some early buzz for the summer, I thought I’d round up information on the big releases so you can be better informed about what’s coming down the pipe. Below you will find a chronological listing of 16 featured upcoming summer of 2008 movies and links to their respective websites. Fair Warning: most of these films are made by non-Christians and may contain questionable material. Hopefully you can save this list for when things begin to thaw out, to help you decide what to see this summer. -
Who Cares About Hollywood?
Posted on January 28, 2008 | 4 CommentsI imagine a large number of people don't usually care about the Oscars, but those numbers must have increased this year. The nominees have been announced and the season is upon us, and yet this year Oscar the Grouch is probably gaining more attention (though Ben Bartlett would probably say that he always gets more attention). But it's not just the mediocre awards show that is gaining little-to-no applause from fans this year, it seems to me that no one really even cares about Hollywood at all this year. -
2008 Summer Movie Calendar: June
Posted on January 23, 2008 | 3 CommentsTo start some early buzz for the summer, I thought I’d round up information on the big releases so you can be better informed about what’s coming down the pipe. Below you will find a chronological listing of 16 featured upcoming summer of 2008 movies and links to their respective websites. Fair Warning: most of these films are made by non-Christians and may contain questionable material. Hopefully you can save this list for when things begin to thaw out, to help you decide what to see this summer. -
Sorry, Cloverfield: Love Won’t Keep Us Together
Posted on January 20, 2008 | 3 CommentsThe film wasn't bad, but it doesn't exactly accomplish what it's trying to do. -
Out With the Old? Netflix and Rethinking Film
Posted on January 17, 2008 | 8 Comments"I'm not interested in this movie. It's old." As a part time high school substitute, I've heard many students express this sentiment when I've played them a video left by their teacher. One popular variant goes, "But it's in black and white!" For many of these kids, films are viewed more like newspapers than drama, music, or literature: the movie is only good when it is fresh off the presses. -
2008 Summer Movie Calendar: May
Posted on January 16, 2008 | 9 CommentsThe summer films of 2008 are shaping up to be some of the most exciting in years. While a handful look like they will be fodder for good theological/cultural discussion, most will be visually electrifying escapist fare. While there aren't as many sequels as 2007, there are quite a few movies that look absolutely incredible. To start some early buzz for the summer, I thought I’d round up information on the big releases so you can be better informed about what’s coming down the pipe.