More and more these are showing up, and usually you can spot them because they have titles that suggest the content. But more and more often, the titles and even the synopsis given by Redbox (the same one usually attached by the filmmakers), hides the subject, plot, and purpose. I almost always look up a new film at Rotten Tomatoes, and if it's ham fisted religion for the sheep, someone invariably points it out. Alternatively, they might caution that it's religious, but give it a pass on other story telling or film making merits.
In my dreams, I would like to see a movie rating system that would caution viewers of religious content, because it feels like they want to trick me into watching some subversive brain washing film in the hopes that I will meet Jesus, or maybe they just want me to pay money to rent the rubbish. Not that I haven't found some spiritual themes enjoyable if they are not too gooey and heavy handed or tangential to the plot. I can actually relate to some religious person's emotional joy as a third party, and this doesn't bother me. But half of these seem more like outright propaganda films.
For some reason, I get the impression that the filmmakers want to trick me into watching something I find offensive on the off chance that it will end up leading me to enlightenment, rather than boring me to death. But then people selling shit will always search for a manipulative trick to sell you what they have, I suppose.
When they start out with a lie, "God exists", further prevarication is axiomatic.
I think it's more they don't want the label Christian film because many will dismiss it simply because it tells a story through the lens of a Christian worldview.
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Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 07:08:42 AM
I think it's more they don't want the label Christian film because many will dismiss it simply because it tells a story through the lens of a Christian worldview.
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Yeah, Christer propaganda.
Don't like it?
Don't watch it!
But I did like Joshua (2002).
Quote from: SGOS on February 10, 2018, 06:29:20 AM
More and more these are showing up, and usually you can spot them because they have titles that suggest the content. But more and more often, the titles and even the synopsis given by Redbox (the same one usually attached by the filmmakers), hides the subject, plot, and purpose. I almost always look up a new film at Rotten Tomatoes, and if it's ham fisted religion for the sheep, someone invariably points it out. Alternatively, they might caution that it's religious, but give it a pass on other story telling or film making merits.
In my dreams, I would like to see a movie rating system that would caution viewers of religious content, because it feels like they want to trick me into watching some subversive brain washing film in the hopes that I will meet Jesus, or maybe they just want me to pay money to rent the rubbish. Not that I haven't found some spiritual themes enjoyable if they are not too gooey and heavy handed or tangential to the plot. I can actually relate to some religious person's emotional joy as a third party, and this doesn't bother me. But half of these seem more like outright propaganda films.
For some reason, I get the impression that the filmmakers want to trick me into watching something I find offensive on the off chance that it will end up leading me to enlightenment, rather than boring me to death. But then people selling shit will always search for a manipulative trick to sell you what they have, I suppose.
The ads are typically pretty overt about their intentions. They're painfully corny and can't go five seconds without saying a Christian cliche. They WANT people to know that their film is Christian propaganda, because then all the Christians will flock to the theater to support their poorly written movies.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 10, 2018, 10:37:08 AM
The ads are typically pretty overt about their intentions.
It's been my experience that this is becoming less so. I'm usually consistent in doing due diligence before renting a film, but even then they've slid one by me a time or two. Nothing like putting the latest rental disk in your drive, and then settling back with a cold one to enjoy some lighthearted family entertainment. Nothing much, just some feel good stuff that requires little in the way of intellectual heavy lifting. Then 5 minutes into the film you start to get this creepy feeling, vague at first, but it starts to grow. You develop a lump in your stomach. Something is going wrong, and then suddenly you realize it's Christian pabulum, and everyone in the movie is walking around like the Stepford Wives. I yank out the disk and smash it with a hammer, put the pieces back in the box, and stick in back in the Redbox machine.
Quote from: SGOS on February 10, 2018, 11:25:13 AM
It's been my experience that this is becoming less so. I'm usually consistent in doing due diligence before renting a film, but even then they've slid one by me a time or two. Nothing like putting the latest rental disk in your drive, and then settling back with a cold one to enjoy some lighthearted family entertainment. Nothing much, just some feel good stuff that requires little in the way of intellectual heavy lifting. Then 5 minutes into the film you start to get this creepy feeling, vague at first, but it starts to grow. You develop a lump in your stomach. Something is going wrong, and then suddenly you realize it's Christian pabulum, and everyone in the movie is walking around like the Stepford Wives. I yank out the disk and smash it with a hammer, put the pieces back in the box, and stick in back in the Redbox machine.
You're making me Google words again.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/3oEdv06Kkj7PVgt6Uw/giphy.gif)
I'm guessing they have no way of tracking down which customer had which particular copy of the movie? I never thought about that.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 10, 2018, 12:14:23 PM
I'm guessing they have no way of tracking down which customer had which particular copy of the movie? I never thought about that.
No, they keep track by cross referencing the customer with a bar code. They even notify you by email when you've returned the film. They know. They always know. As for breakage. It happens. On rare occasion, I'll get a broken one, usually a barely visible hairline crack. They give you a credit for that. I've never intentionally smashed a disk. That would probably piss them off.
I've been eating dinner lately at the local gospel mission, where we usually have to listen to an hour of God talk in order to eat dinner. And sometimes they show the first half or so (all there's time for) of a Christian movie. Recently they showed the movie God's not Dead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Not_Dead_(film)). The film went out of it's way to show any and every atheist to be total assholes. I was glad we only had to watch an hour of it, and missed the ending, where the professor finally came to Jesus.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 10, 2018, 01:30:33 PM
I've been eating dinner lately at the local gospel mission, where we usually have to listen to an hour of God talk in order to eat dinner. And sometimes they show the first half or so (all there's time for) of a Christian movie. Recently they showed the movie God's not Dead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Not_Dead_(film)). The film went out of it's way to show any and every atheist to be total assholes. I was glad we only had to watch an hour of it, and missed the ending, where the professor finally came to Jesus.
I love how the PHILOSOPHY professor starts his class by telling his students that they were not allowed to think for themselves, and that ideas he disagreed with were taboo in his class. Projection much? The only reason a Christian should feel threatened in a philosophy class, where religious discussions always make up a bulk of the lesson plans, is if they know their ideas are indefensible. The entire point of philosophy is to think through ideas and to challenge assumptions, so of course a Christian raised on assumptions would not enjoy the task of thinking outside of their box.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 10, 2018, 02:02:56 PM
I love how the PHILOSOPHY professor starts his class by telling his students that they were not allowed to think for themselves, and that ideas he disagreed with were taboo in his class. Projection much?
This^ In all caps, three times.
Quote from: SGOS on February 10, 2018, 12:24:37 PM
No, they keep track by cross referencing the customer with a bar code. They even notify you by email when you've returned the film. They know. They always know. As for breakage. It happens. On rare occasion, I'll get a broken one, usually a barely visible hairline crack. They give you a credit for that. I've never intentionally smashed a disk. That would probably piss them off.
Blue pill much? ;-)
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 10, 2018, 01:30:33 PM
I've been eating dinner lately at the local gospel mission, where we usually have to listen to an hour of God talk in order to eat dinner. And sometimes they show the first half or so (all there's time for) of a Christian movie. Recently they showed the movie God's not Dead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Not_Dead_(film)). The film went out of it's way to show any and every atheist to be total assholes. I was glad we only had to watch an hour of it, and missed the ending, where the professor finally came to Jesus.
Don't you feel dirty for doing that? Do you rap to Black music too? Cultural appropriation.
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on February 10, 2018, 07:19:22 AM
Yeah, Christer propaganda.
Why can't a movie just be a movie. Why do only Christians have to label their movies?
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Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 10:45:01 PM
Why can't a movie just be a movie. Why do only Christians have to label their movies?
Don't play dumb. You know exactly why. You wouldn't want to walk into a movie and find out that it was Muslim propaganda, would you? The point of movies is to entertain. Propaganda, like God's Not Dead, is meant to sway public opinion and confirm prejudices.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 10, 2018, 10:55:55 PM
Don't play dumb. You know exactly why. You wouldn't want to walk into a movie and find out that it was Muslim propaganda, would you? The point of movies is to entertain. Propaganda, like God's Not Dead, is meant to sway public opinion and confirm prejudices.
All movies have a message and get people thinking. I will admit some Christian movies are over the top corny. I would say movies are to entertain but that is not their only purpose. Many are educational or cause one to think deeply. Some movies are purely entertainment but what is entertaining to you is not enteraining to everyone.
I don't know anyone who walks into a movie blindly. I read what the movie is about before walking in. If it is a movie about a Muslim on his journey to faith I probably will pass. But I won't hop on a forum designed for people to whine and cry and complain about all the evil religious people of the world.
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Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 11:04:04 PM
But I won't hop on a forum designed for people to whine and cry and complain about all the evil religious people of the world.
No. You hop into a forum to complain about all the evil atheists who won't let you brainwash others in peace.
In what way would it benefit me to brainwash anyone?
No one can force anyone to become a Christian?
Even if I could in what way would it benefit me?
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Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 10:45:01 PM
Why can't a movie just be a movie. Why do only Christians have to label their movies?
Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. My original complaint was that I wished they always would. And all movies fit into a genre of some sort. If Hollywood doesn't advertise a movie as a romantic comedy, Rotten Tomatoes and the critics will. Movie sites and streaming companies organize movies by type, because it makes it easier for people to search through them.
Christian producers have a stake here. They want their movies to appeal to the faithful, but they may avoid advertising a movie as such to get others to watch, if only accidently, and as much as we rag on Christians around here, the ones we do most of the complaining about are not a large movie audience to begin with. My Baptist grandmother taught me that even seeing a movie was a sin. How do you build a following starting from that point?
And of course, no matter the genre, or the director, or the actors, movies are still under the scrutiny of the critics who traditionally have not reacted favorably to Christian movies, not because they are Christian, but because they have junior high school level scripts and boring plot lines. "Ham fisted" is a commonly used criticis, because they are about as subtle as a hammer and driven by doctrine. The movies follow the Christian strategy of getting in your face, making arbitrary judgments, and elevating the Christian philosophy to an uncalled for superior position, which as you might have noticed is a tedious bore and tends to alienate others, sometimes even other believers.
Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 10:45:01 PM
Why can't a movie just be a movie. Why do only Christians have to label their movies?
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Label every movie of course. And yes, a Muslim terrorist's journey to faith is interesting ...
The Story of Khalil in Arabic with English Subtitles اÙ,,عربية (on YouTube) is interesting for a Christian to watch. Muslims and Christians make up 1/2 of the human race. They need to get along with each other. Neither is going anywhere. But please, both of you, don't kill Jews ... that is parricide.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 10, 2018, 10:55:55 PM
Don't play dumb. You know exactly why. You wouldn't want to walk into a movie and find out that it was Muslim propaganda, would you? The point of movies is to entertain. Propaganda, like God's Not Dead, is meant to sway public opinion and confirm prejudices.
All Hollywood is propaganda. We are trying to turn everyone one to Jewish movie mogul sex offenders ;-(
Of course some Christians are offended by some Christian movies ... they are divided into 1000 competing sects. If we would just put the Vatican in charge again ... this bickering would be solved.
Quote from: Baruch on February 10, 2018, 07:26:47 PM
Don't you feel dirty for doing that?
Yes
QuoteDo you rap to Black music too?
Yes
Was walking into town yesterday past the upcoming film posters they have up at the bus station, and had to do a double take at this.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Mary_Magdalene_%282018_film%29.png)
I groaned and moved on.
In alternative gospel ... Jesus and the Magdalene got it on. Your current leadership is descended from the son of G-d himself.
Quote from: Munch on February 11, 2018, 07:33:06 PM
Was walking into town yesterday past the upcoming film posters they have up at the bus station, and had to do a double take at this.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Mary_Magdalene_%282018_film%29.png)
I groaned and moved on.
I would pay good money to watch the real story. The one with cheating and lying. The Life of Brian prequel.
According to Joe Atwill, every major female character in the NT was named Mary. Even Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was a derivative of the name Mary. He says the name means "rebellious one." I don't think his theory is taken seriously by serious Bible scholars, though.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 11, 2018, 07:54:51 PM
I would pay good money to watch the real story. The one with cheating and lying. The Life of Brian prequel.
In the Life of Brian it is the centurion, Panthera, who is the father of Jesus. That is an old Jewish burlesque.
But this Mary is the Magdalene, not Mary mother of Jesus.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 11, 2018, 07:58:31 PM
According to Joe Atwill, every major female character in the NT was named Mary. Even Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was a derivative of the name Mary. He says the name means "rebellious one." I don't think his theory is taken seriously by serious Bible scholars, though.
A very common name then, being Mariamne ... in Aramaic ... the sister of Moshe (Moses). Like Jesus is common in Mexico for boys.
"In Hebrew the meaning of the name Mary is: Wished-for child; rebellion; bitter."
Quote from: Kaleb5000 on February 10, 2018, 10:45:01 PM
Why can't a movie just be a movie. Why do only Christians have to label their movies?
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Because every christian movie has an agenda; to show that a fiction is actually real.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 11, 2018, 07:54:51 PM
I would pay good money to watch the real story. The one with cheating and lying. The Life of Brian prequel.
That's just it. There is no real story.
Quote from: Mike Cl on February 11, 2018, 08:53:20 PM
That's just it. There is no real story.
I meant the "virgin" Mary story. The "I got knocked up but I never had sex" story. I get the Marys confused sometimes.
Quote from: Hydra009 on February 11, 2018, 10:10:44 PM
I meant the "virgin" Mary story. The "I got knocked up but I never had sex" story. I get the Marys confused sometimes.
:)
Quote from: Munch on February 11, 2018, 07:33:06 PM
Was walking into town yesterday past the upcoming film posters they have up at the bus station, and had to do a double take at this.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Mary_Magdalene_%282018_film%29.png)
I groaned and moved on.
How do they make a movie about a woman who watches Jesus die? She doesn't do much in the Bible.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 10, 2018, 01:30:33 PM
I've been eating dinner lately at the local gospel mission, where we usually have to listen to an hour of God talk in order to eat dinner. And sometimes they show the first half or so (all there's time for) of a Christian movie. Recently they showed the movie God's not Dead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Not_Dead_(film)). The film went out of it's way to show any and every atheist to be total assholes. I was glad we only had to watch an hour of it, and missed the ending, where the professor finally came to Jesus.
Most cities now have missions and free meals where the obligatory prayer session isn't required. My few years of homeless sheltering got me into the habit of letting them know that under no circumstances were they going to get away with shoveling religion on me while Uncle Sugar was footing the bill. You might be surprised how fast they'll back down when confronted with the concept of being challenged by separation of church and state.. I won every time.
Quote from: Mike Cl on February 11, 2018, 08:53:20 PM
That's just it. There is no real story.
So, you never watched fictional movies?
Next movie "Joseph: How gullible was I?"
Interestingly, over the weekend I went and saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in the theaterâ€"and the first time I've seen it since discarding religion once and for all.
At its core, it unquestioningly puts the Ark forth as a powerful and functional religious object, but it doesn't really treat it with any more reverence or awe than any other major archeological find. It's just a magic box you mumble over; if it assumes any religion, it goes no further than Judaism, and doesn't bother pushing the point.
Quote from: trdsf on February 12, 2018, 11:18:57 AM
Interestingly, over the weekend I went and saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in the theaterâ€"and the first time I've seen it since discarding religion once and for all.
At its core, it unquestioningly puts the Ark forth as a powerful and functional religious object, but it doesn't really treat it with any more reverence or awe than any other major archeological find. It's just a magic box you mumble over; if it assumes any religion, it goes no further than Judaism, and doesn't bother pushing the point.
And it kills Nazis!
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 11, 2018, 11:43:19 PM
How do they make a movie about a woman who watches Jesus die? She doesn't do much in the Bible.
According to gospel Mark, she was the first person to see the risen Jesus. That's quite a distinction.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 12, 2018, 01:12:02 PM
According to gospel Mark, she was the first person to see the risen Jesus. That's quite a distinction.
That's not much to go on. They're going to have to take a lot of creative liberties.
Creative liberties is what I call pious lies. They don't seem to mind that al all.
Creative liberties or pious lies--good labels each one. The poster child of what the religious do to push their brand is what Weems did with George Washington. He created a false story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree and not lying about it to his father to use as an illustration of what an honest person should do--don't lie. So, that creating a lie to teach one not to lie. And the religious do that sort of crap all the time; for them any means to the end is what they do. Pious lying. I like that.
Quote from: Unbeliever on February 12, 2018, 01:12:02 PM
According to gospel Mark, she was the first person to see the risen Jesus. That's quite a distinction.
Depends on what "risen" means ... haha.
Quote from: Blackleaf on February 12, 2018, 05:14:21 PM
That's not much to go on. They're going to have to take a lot of creative liberties.
Hollywood doing that well since WW II. You think the Allies won the war? Bwahha.
Mike CL: But you believe all the rest of the Propaganda about George and Abe, right? You have been Weemed.
Quote from: Baruch on February 12, 2018, 07:10:37 PM
Mike CL: But you believe all the rest of the Propaganda about George and Abe, right? You have been Weemed.
More inane and snide comments.
Quote from: trdsf on February 12, 2018, 11:18:57 AM
Interestingly, over the weekend I went and saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in the theaterâ€"and the first time I've seen it since discarding religion once and for all.
At its core, it unquestioningly puts the Ark forth as a powerful and functional religious object, but it doesn't really treat it with any more reverence or awe than any other major archeological find. It's just a magic box you mumble over; if it assumes any religion, it goes no further than Judaism, and doesn't bother pushing the point.
And that bit about the power of God at the end?
Quote from: Mike Cl on February 12, 2018, 08:08:37 PM
More inane and snide comments.
I thought you mentioning Bishop Weems to her particularly pertinent. Sorry you didn't agree with my generalization ... but OK.
Quote from: SGOS on February 10, 2018, 06:29:20 AM
More and more these are showing up, and usually you can spot them because they have titles that suggest the content. But more and more often, the titles and even the synopsis given by Redbox (the same one usually attached by the filmmakers), hides the subject, plot, and purpose. I almost always look up a new film at Rotten Tomatoes, and if it's ham fisted religion for the sheep, someone invariably points it out. Alternatively, they might caution that it's religious, but give it a pass on other story telling or film making merits.
I run into that a lot trying to find DVDs about human evolution. You have to look carefully in the descriptions and in the reviews for keywords relating to creationism "alternate views" and "new ideas".
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on February 12, 2018, 09:38:20 PM
And that bit about the power of God at the end?
It doesn't really do anything with it. What's the reaction to that display, to kneel down and worship? Nope, it's to crate it up and file it away. Apparently bureaucracy is stronger than divinity.
Quote from: trdsf on February 13, 2018, 09:08:45 AM
It doesn't really do anything with it. What's the reaction to that display, to kneel down and worship? Nope, it's to crate it up and file it away. Apparently bureaucracy is stronger than divinity.
You know, this reminds me of the claims theists (and other crazy people) make about scientists. That they are hiding evidence of religion or aliens, etc...
Are they kidding? Any scientist who found evidence of a deity or an alien would run sceaming to the nearest newspaper to get their discovery recorded. It would be instant and immortal fame!
Quote from: Cavebear on February 13, 2018, 09:25:05 AM
You know, this reminds me of the claims theists (and other crazy people) make about scientists. That they are hiding evidence of religion or aliens, etc...
Are they kidding? Any scientist who found evidence of a deity or an alien would run sceaming to the nearest newspaper to get their discovery recorded. It would be instant and immortal fame!
To say nothing of the history of religious suppression of inconvenient facts. I've always thought there's more than a little "I know you are but what am I?" in the accusation of a vast scientific conspiracy to "suppress" the "facts" about religion, creationism, alien visitation, whatever.
Quote from: trdsf on February 13, 2018, 09:40:25 AM
To say nothing of the history of religious suppression of inconvenient facts. I've always thought there's more than a little "I know you are but what am I?" in the accusation of a vast scientific conspiracy to "suppress" the "facts" about religion, creationism, alien visitation, whatever.
Well, when it comes to the "I know you are but what am I?", Trump probably has that covered. He is expert at "You claim something about me and will claim it back at you double"!
And there is the problem. Logic and facts aren't involved. Fears of supporters are.