Now, I ain’t no expert when it comes to them fancy movies, but I can tell you, watchin’ a film from a Catholic perspective ain’t just about sittin’ there for the entertainment. No, it’s about seein’ what’s good, what’s bad, and what might lead ya down a wrong path. Ain’t all movies got somethin’ to teach us, good or bad? A good Catholic review of a movie should point out them moral lessons and keep things honest, without bein’ too harsh or prissy, like them folks who think they’re holier than thou.
You see, even when a movie shows the darkest parts of a person’s heart or explores the evil in the world, it don’t necessarily mean it’s all bad. Pope John Paul II said, and I reckon he was right, that artists, even when they show the worst, they still show the universal desire for redemption. Ain’t that somethin’? We all got a bit of good and bad in us, and these movies sometimes show us that we can turn around, no matter how far gone we seem to be.
Now, back in 2022, them folks over at the Catholic News Service decided to stop doin’ their movie reviews. I reckon they just couldn’t keep up with all the movies comin’ out nowadays. But don’t worry, the good folks over at OSV News took over the job of reviewing movies, so we still got someone lookin’ out for us. They got a system, you know, a way of rating films, and it helps us know what’s worth watchin’ and what’s best to steer clear of.
Let me tell you how it works. They give out ratings like this:
- A-I: General Patronage. That means anyone can watch it, no problem.
- A-II: Adults and Adolescents. It’s okay for older kids and adults, but might not be for the little ones.
- A-III: Adults only. Best for grown folks, so keep the young’uns away.
- L: Limited adult audience. It’s got stuff in it that many adults might find troubling, so you gotta think long and hard before watchin’ it.
- O: Morally Offensive. Now, this one’s the big red flag. You won’t find a good Catholic watchin’ one of these films, no matter what.
One movie that got folks talkin’ recently was that film about Oppenheimer. I gotta say, the Catholic Church ain’t too happy about it, and if you ask me, I’d agree. Some folks, even those who follow all them rules and traditions, are still talkin’ about whether it’s okay to watch. But let me tell you, I don’t think it’s worth the trouble. Too many dark and immoral things in there that don’t sit right with me, and I reckon any good Catholic ought to steer clear of it too.
Now, you might think it’s just me bein’ old-fashioned, but there’s more to it than just bein’ prudish. When you’re watchin’ a movie, you gotta think about what kind of message it’s sendin’ out. What’s it teachin’ us? What’s it sayin’ about right and wrong? There’s a lotta films out there today that make things that are sinful look like they ain’t so bad. And that’s dangerous, don’t ya think? If a movie’s showin’ somethin’ bad and ain’t offerin’ no way out, no chance for redemption, well, that’s where the problem lies.
Take them superhero movies, for instance. Now, I ain’t sayin’ they’re all bad, but some of them get mighty violent and teach folks that it’s okay to solve problems with force. Sure, we love a good action flick, but you gotta ask yourself, does the good guy always win in the right way? Or is it just about killin’ and fightin’? And what about them bad guys? Do they get any chance to turn their lives around? That’s somethin’ to think on, ain’t it?
Some movies are real tricky, though. They look all innocent on the outside, but deep down they’re tellin’ you things that ain’t right. They dress it up nice and pretty, and before you know it, you’re thinkin’ things that go against what you’ve been taught your whole life. That’s why we need to be careful with what we watch. If it don’t sit right with your heart, don’t force yourself to watch it just ’cause everyone else is.
And you know, it ain’t just about what the movie says on the surface. It’s about what it makes you feel deep down. If it makes you feel bad about yourself, or if it makes you start thinkin’ it’s okay to do things that go against God’s teachings, then maybe it’s time to turn that TV off. Ain’t no harm in walkin’ away from something that ain’t good for your soul.
At the end of the day, what we watch on that big screen should help us grow, help us understand the world better, and most importantly, help us stay close to God. Movies can show us the struggles of life, but they should also show us that redemption is always possible. If it’s all about despair and sin with no hope of change, well, I reckon it’s best to skip it.
So, when you’re pickin’ a movie to watch, remember to think about the bigger picture. Is it just about entertainin’ you for a couple of hours? Or is it helpin’ you grow in your faith, teachin’ you right from wrong, and maybe showin’ you that even in the darkest of times, there’s always a chance to turn things around?
Tags：[Catholic movie review, moral film reviews, movie ratings, Oppenheimer, film evaluation, Catholic perspective, Catholic film review]
