Alright, alright, let’s talk about them Jesus movies, the ones they call “Christian movies.” You know, the kind they show in the church basement sometimes, or maybe you find ’em on that Netflix thing the grandkids are always yappin’ about.
I ain’t no fancy movie critic, mind you. I just watch ’em and tell you if they’re any good, like I’d tell you if the tomatoes at the market are ripe or if that new preacher’s got a good sermon in him. So, if you’re lookin’ for big words and fancy talk, you best go somewhere else. But if you wanna know if a movie’s worth watchin’ with the family after supper, well, then you come to the right place.
So, what makes a good Christian movie, anyhow? I reckon it’s gotta have some heart to it, somethin’ that makes you feel good inside, like you just had a warm bowl of soup on a cold day. And it gotta have a message, somethin’ about faith and trustin’ in the Lord. Now, some of these movies, they get preachy, real preachy. Like they’re tryin’ to beat you over the head with the Bible. That ain’t right. A good movie, it shows you, it don’t just tell you. It should make you think and feel, not just sit there like a bump on a log.
I watched a few of these movies lately. Some good, some bad, some just plain ugly. Let’s start with the good ones.
- “The Jesus Film”, well, that’s an oldie but a goodie. Everyone’s seen it, I reckon. It tells the story of Jesus, plain and simple. No fancy stuff, just the story from the Bible. It’s good for the young’uns to see, to learn about where our faith comes from.
- Then there’s this one called “I Can Only Imagine”. Now, that one, it tugged at my heartstrings. It’s about a fella who had a tough relationship with his daddy, but they found their way back to each other through faith. It made me cry, I ain’t ashamed to say it. It reminded me of my own daddy, bless his soul. And it has that song in it, the one that goes… well, you know the one. Catchy tune.
- And there was another one, “War Room”. That one’s about the power of prayer. Showed how a woman’s prayers helped save her marriage. It made me think about how important it is to pray, not just when things are bad, but all the time. We all need a little more prayer in our lives, that’s for sure.
Now, for the bad ones. Oh, there were a few stinkers in the bunch.
- There’s this movie about Mary, the mother of Jesus, on that Netflix thing. “Mary”, I think it was called. Well, it was supposed to be about Mary, but it was all action and fightin’. Didn’t seem very biblical to me. Mary wasn’t no action hero, she was a mama, a faithful servant of the Lord. They just made that one up as they went along, I think.
- And then there was this Christmas one, “That Christmas”. Three stories all crammed together. It was just confusing, and none of the stories were very good, not like the Christmas stories I grew up with. They tried to put too much in, and it just didn’t work.
So, what’s the bottom line? Well, some of these Christian movies are good, some are bad, just like any other kind of movie. But if you’re looking for something to watch that will lift your spirits and remind you of your faith, there are some good ones out there. You just gotta sift through the bad ones to find ‘em. And remember, it ain’t about the ratings or the fancy special effects. It’s about the heart and the message.
And don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t watch. You got your own good sense, the Lord gave it to ya. Use it. If a movie makes you feel uncomfortable or if it doesn’t line up with what you believe, then turn it off. There’s plenty of other things to watch. But if a movie touches your heart and strengthens your faith, well then, that’s a good thing. And that’s all there is to it, really.
One last thing. There’s this website called “Plugged In”. I heard tell they do reviews of Christian movies. Maybe you can check them out if you want to know more about a movie before you watch it. But don’t take their word for it, or my word for it, either. Watch the movie yourself and decide. That’s the best way.
Tags: Christian Movies, Movie Reviews, Faith-Based Films, Family Movies, Bible Movies, Inspirational Films, Netflix Movies, Plugged In, Film Criticism
