Gods at the Movies
When we go to the movies we can experience good surprises (“I loved that twist ending!”) or bad ones (“I can’t believe there was so much profanity!”). But recently I encountered surprises of a different kind when I screened Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters for The Official Plugged In Podcast. And one of them happened […]
Hollywood’s Spin on America
I’m no Methuselah, but I can still remember a time when Hollywood was unapologetically pro-America. From conveying our ideologies and ingenuity to the integrity of our armed forces, the motion picture industry once served as a proud ambassador for the land it calls home. Oliver Stone? Michael Moore? Granted, but they felt like the exception. […]
A Patriotic Pop Quiz
Chiseled monuments. Stars and stripes. Amber waves of grain. They’re just a few of the iconic images that come to mind as we celebrate America’s 237th birthday. You’re probably thinking, “Funny, the Old Girl doesn’t look a day over 220.” That’s kind of you to say, but she’s been experiencing a touch of dementia in […]
$50 Movie Tickets?
Would you pay $50 for a movie ticket? Wait, before you answer, consider that you’d be able to see the film in theaters two days early and receive a digital copy once it reaches home video. You’d also get a movie poster, 3-D glasses and a small popcorn (sorry, no refillable buckets here). And if […]
Why I Love Casting Pods
I read a funny story recently about an old farmer who, while visiting the local feed store, overheard one gentleman telling another that he’d discovered podcasting. A bit confused, the farmer asked, “Casting pods? Wouldn’t it work better to take the seeds out before you throw ’em?” Of course, these days everybody knows what a […]
An Unsung Media Hero
When you think of Christian filmmakers impacting the culture, who comes to mind? Is it the Kendrick brothers creating evangelistic indies out of their church in Albany, Ga.? Or maybe it’s a Hollywood power couple like Mark Burnett and Roma Downey producing The Bibleas a miniseries for the History Channel? Both are great examples. But […]
The Other Side of Christmas Classics
Tonight is Christmas Eve! I hope your day’s going well and you’re in a festive mood. Personally, I’m looking forward to a candlelight church service, a traditional Italian dinner, and then watching each of my children open a single present as we plug in our tree, light a fire and snuggle on the couch. And […]
Owl City on God, Pixar and More
Adam Young never asked to be a pop star. Oh, he’s not complaining. But when the shy kid from Owatonna, Minn., posted a few of his songs on MySpace for friends and family back in 2009, he didn’t expect a computerized ditty called “Fireflies” to go viral. Now it’s his signature song. And he has […]
How TV Shows Have Changed the World
Every year at this time, television networks here in the United States unveil their new fall lineups with lots of fanfare. There are dozens of series premieres again this season, including The Mindy Project (Fox), Elementary (CBS), Beauty and the Beast (CW), The New Normal (NBC) and Last Resort (ABC). Many newcomers will be gone […]
Hollywood Heroes
Back in 2003, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest movie heroes of all time. I was impressed by who came out on top: To Kill a Mockingbird‘s Atticus Finch, the passionate, dignified southern lawyer who boldly stands up to Depression-era bigotry by defending a black man falsely accused of raping […]