As someone that is currently going through a crisis of faith (not that I don't believe but more of where I should go), I appreciated that Alan and Dante talked about it.
The issue with many Christian movies and ironically many woke movies - is that they were about the message rather than the story. People go to see films to be entertained/be moved. Not to be preached at.
I absolutely loved this movie. It was awesome! I was a Rebecca Saint James fan and I am a fan of For King and Country. Been to many concerts. Being a fan had nothing to do with loving the movie. The story really stirred your faith.
Rebecca St James was great and while I find For King and Country to be a bit over-produced like most music nowadays, they are fantastic live. I’d recommend the music from both. And the hard thing for people to grasp is that Christians can crack but Christ doesn’t.
I've always followed faith based movies since I grew up, due to my upbringing. Alan, since you liked this due to its "darker" tone, I really HIGHLY suggest "I Can Only Imagine" and "I Still Believe". Both are based on lives of other believers and they are extremely great stories of both artists and their lives.
Dang Alan, you’re taking me down memory lane with all those bands you were naming. My favorite is Sweet Comfort Band. But loved Steven Taylor, Keith Green, DMZ. Joe English was good. And can’t forget Issac Air Freight!😊
11:06 Oof, the Joel Osteen Prosperity Gospel type churches really did a number on evangelical credibility, that is true. Traditional Christianity has always embraced suffering and the difficulty of the human condition.
Alan (and Dante), I'll direct you to my friend Peter Chattaway. He's a Christian and a critic with a Substack called Thoughts and Spoilers, and you may enjoy hios work. For me, I left a long time ago so this has been a weird flashback to a subculture I walked away from in the mid 90's.
It seems Alan and I were into CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) around the same time - I stuck around maybe a little longer, but Rebecca St James was one of the last ones on my radar. (Last one I really followed was Steve Taylor!). Might have to check out this film at some point.
Nice post. Enjoyed complicated perspective on Christian feedback. Good job. Definitely seeing a huge upswing indy music tours this summer. Very nice. Hope to see this trend make a comeback from the music side. Would be nice to have something good come out of Hollywood implosion.
It was ironic and funny that so many of the christian preachers were spouting that Stryper was the devils music and yet Stryper were so much better than any of those people,
Exactly! (How many times did I repeat that phrase while listening to Alan on this video?) A few thoughts: 1. I steer away from Christian movies because they never seem to grapple with real life. Just once I would like to see the star football player pray, and then drop the football in the end zone to lose the game. God is still God. End of movie. The Christian faith is never rooted in a prosperity gospel. 2. I for one recognized most of the names you listed. I still like those songs from the early 80s. Michael Card. Wayne Watson. Harvest. Whiteheart. That was a golden age at least to me. 3. It's more than Hollywood has nothing for us. We have become the stock villain in the secular age of self-worship. But the quality of Christian art needs to improve considerably before it can function as an alternative. "Jesus of Nazareth" from 1977. Not "Left Behind".
Thank you for covering this movie and reviewing it. People have a problem with Jesus' message and the fact of having a creator and therefore having to deal with accountability to Him. But they tend to dress that up in other forms of complaints and disses against his message. If you want to give his message a chance read the gospel of John. You can do it in less than 1 hour. Have a opinion after.
Huh, I'd thought Alan was still a Christian, based on things he's said recently. (He used past tense at one point). Edit: Ah, the past tense was "into Christian music." That makes no sense.
The idea of the nice tidy bow, of one passage in scripture solving all our woes... I relate. If you look at many Russian novelists, they struggled with their faith. There was nothing tidy in the great novels of the 19th century Russian writers. This whole happy-go-lucky-ah-shucks-kiddie-gloves approach to God and Jesus in Christian films insults the human experience. We must be conscious of our temptations and worldly fixations. Modern Christian filmmakers should look to the Russians Dostoevsky and Tolstoy for inspiration - these two authors appealed to a large audience without being sanctimonious. This is one of the reasons why I do not attend to church. Life is not perfect and pretending to be perfect and all smiles and rainbows does not encourage honesty and true discourse about faith and theology. Otherwise, it seems in recent years Christian films might be finding their way.
Christian novelists need to. There have been complaints that Hollywood won't let us but you don't need millions to write a decent novel. Or start a small publishing house to specialize in well written literature with Christian themes, characters and storylines.
It's interesting that some Christians are tortured and killed for their faith. They don't give it up despite the cost. Others just wander off and leave Christianity because they don't like something To them, it's not worth much.
They’ve been doing great Christian movies in recent years, another example is Jesus Revolution. As a Christian I’ve never seen too many Christian/ faith based movies. Since The Chosen that has changed a little bit more for me.
Best Christian film in the recent memory is "The Book of Eli", did ok but not great because Christians can be their own worst enemy at times when it comes to violence. It wasn't for kids but Christian adults should have had no problem with it, Biblical Christianity isn't all roses and happy endings.
If you faith is strong enough you will become rich and famous… I really don’t know why people keep going for that. That doesn’t mean this is a bad movie, it’s just weird to hear it described and popularly accepted to be religious at all. All of the world’s major religions have a few things in common, and rich people being great isn’t it
Hey, we don’t need any of these “Christian” movies with on-the-nose dialogue, bad directing, and amateurish acting from people who are the family of the filmmakers. That’s what current Hollywood movies already give us. Make better movies *period*
The second half of this movie was better than the first. I am not familiar with this band or story. While it was ok, I wish it focused more on the mother than the Father. The Father was/is very unlikable and I was more interested in the moms' story and relationship with Rebecca than her Dad.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. It's about the journey of life we can all relate to. Give them a chance to get better at telling stories at least.
@@billienews I see everything wrong with it. we're creatively bankrupt. CONCOCT AN ORIGINAL IDEA AND MAKE IT. STOP THE TESTIMONIAL BS. That model clearly hasnt worked. that coupled with being lazy and cringe at storytelling. i dont think theyre 'bad' at storytelling. I think theyre lazy and scared. everything is made for the church ladies. stop it. be an adult. or stay in the corner with your niche and stop crying.
As someone that is currently going through a crisis of faith (not that I don't believe but more of where I should go), I appreciated that Alan and Dante talked about it.
I saw this at church and they even performed at our church Sunday service, it was incredible.
As a Christian and a Film threat fan, I am so greatful for this Episode!
Same
When Dante said the last faith based movie he saw was Saved I howled.
Is it a bad movie ?
Having gone to a Christian high school I found Saved to be pretty accurate.
@@AverageJoe483 If you've never seen "Saved" then you really need to.
@@infinityryvus I’ll definitely watch it ! Thank you !
Typical Paul Chato, shitting on Christians. I wonder why?
Thank you for reviewing these types of movies.
The issue with many Christian movies and ironically many woke movies - is that they were about the message rather than the story. People go to see films to be entertained/be moved. Not to be preached at.
I absolutely loved this movie. It was awesome! I was a Rebecca Saint James fan and I am a fan of For King and Country. Been to many concerts. Being a fan had nothing to do with loving the movie. The story really stirred your faith.
If this one is good we may have to change the conversation around “faith based” films because the last several have been very solid to excellent.
Hey! I know you gals!
"The last faith based movie I watched was a movie explicitly mocking christianity."
-Dante
Rebecca St James was great and while I find For King and Country to be a bit over-produced like most music nowadays, they are fantastic live. I’d recommend the music from both.
And the hard thing for people to grasp is that Christians can crack but Christ doesn’t.
Great comment at the end! I like that. I also agree that FK&C are great live.
I really like how you ended your comment. It's true. Christ doesn't crack. I haven't heard of For King and country until recently. They're good.
LBTQ+ pushed movies aren’t popular with most people not solely Christian audiences. tbf
Just off the top of my head, Brokeback Mountain made a profit and is still popular after two decades.
@@SouthCom1917 that’s where the sexuality was a part of the story and not a virtue signal.
Really appreciated this conversation. It was honest and vulnerable. Thank you, both!
1:16 tell me WHOS IN THE HOUSE???
J C!!!!
Ohhhhh Carmen 🫠🫣
I've always followed faith based movies since I grew up, due to my upbringing. Alan, since you liked this due to its "darker" tone, I really HIGHLY suggest "I Can Only Imagine" and "I Still Believe". Both are based on lives of other believers and they are extremely great stories of both artists and their lives.
Dang Alan, you’re taking me down memory lane with all those bands you were naming. My favorite is Sweet Comfort Band. But loved Steven Taylor, Keith Green, DMZ. Joe English was good. And can’t forget Issac Air Freight!😊
11:06 Oof, the Joel Osteen Prosperity Gospel type churches really did a number on evangelical credibility, that is true. Traditional Christianity has always embraced suffering and the difficulty of the human condition.
It’s smallbone not longbone!!
That was probably a Freudian slip.
Alan (and Dante), I'll direct you to my friend Peter Chattaway. He's a Christian and a critic with a Substack called Thoughts and Spoilers, and you may enjoy hios work. For me, I left a long time ago so this has been a weird flashback to a subculture I walked away from in the mid 90's.
Priceless is another great movie with Joey Smallbone in it.
Love how you shared your view of this movie with your own faith, Alan!
I enjoyed the conversation guys and it touched on a lot of the aame issues i had at the timw
I’m a huge Christian, and I don’t go to church at all. Love the music, my own devotion/prayer time.
Will have to check this out! Alan's recommendation sold me.
It seems Alan and I were into CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) around the same time - I stuck around maybe a little longer, but Rebecca St James was one of the last ones on my radar. (Last one I really followed was Steve Taylor!). Might have to check out this film at some point.
Nice post. Enjoyed complicated perspective on Christian feedback. Good job. Definitely seeing a huge upswing indy music tours this summer. Very nice. Hope to see this trend make a comeback from the music side. Would be nice to have something good come out of Hollywood implosion.
Still better than most movies nowadays, and I say that without a hint of sarcasm.
this was a great movie to help recover from the depressing feeling you get from Civil War
Just got back from watching this. Really enjoyed it.
It was ironic and funny that so many of the christian preachers were spouting that Stryper was the devils music and yet Stryper were so much better than any of those people,
Exactly! (How many times did I repeat that phrase while listening to Alan on this video?) A few thoughts:
1. I steer away from Christian movies because they never seem to grapple with real life. Just once I would like to see the star football player pray, and then drop the football in the end zone to lose the game. God is still God. End of movie. The Christian faith is never rooted in a prosperity gospel.
2. I for one recognized most of the names you listed. I still like those songs from the early 80s. Michael Card. Wayne Watson. Harvest. Whiteheart. That was a golden age at least to me.
3. It's more than Hollywood has nothing for us. We have become the stock villain in the secular age of self-worship. But the quality of Christian art needs to improve considerably before it can function as an alternative. "Jesus of Nazareth" from 1977. Not "Left Behind".
They’re called Smallbone.
Thank you for covering this movie and reviewing it. People have a problem with Jesus' message and the fact of having a creator and therefore having to deal with accountability to Him. But they tend to dress that up in other forms of complaints and disses against his message. If you want to give his message a chance read the gospel of John. You can do it in less than 1 hour. Have a opinion after.
Huh, I'd thought Alan was still a Christian, based on things he's said recently. (He used past tense at one point).
Edit: Ah, the past tense was "into Christian music." That makes no sense.
I know these Christian music references 😂😂😂
Newsboys 😊 Keith Green
The idea of the nice tidy bow, of one passage in scripture solving all our woes... I relate. If you look at many Russian novelists, they struggled with their faith. There was nothing tidy in the great novels of the 19th century Russian writers. This whole happy-go-lucky-ah-shucks-kiddie-gloves approach to God and Jesus in Christian films insults the human experience. We must be conscious of our temptations and worldly fixations. Modern Christian filmmakers should look to the Russians Dostoevsky and Tolstoy for inspiration - these two authors appealed to a large audience without being sanctimonious. This is one of the reasons why I do not attend to church. Life is not perfect and pretending to be perfect and all smiles and rainbows does not encourage honesty and true discourse about faith and theology. Otherwise, it seems in recent years Christian films might be finding their way.
Christian novelists need to. There have been complaints that Hollywood won't let us but you don't need millions to write a decent novel. Or start a small publishing house to specialize in well written literature with Christian themes, characters and storylines.
It's interesting that some Christians are tortured and killed for their faith. They don't give it up despite the cost. Others just wander off and leave Christianity because they don't like something To them, it's not worth much.
Smallbone not Longbone
Isn't a movie about people hitting rock bottom and then finding hope through that something for everyone to see? Why wouldn't that be a draw?
They’ve been doing great Christian movies in recent years, another example is Jesus Revolution. As a Christian I’ve never seen too many Christian/ faith based movies. Since The Chosen that has changed a little bit more for me.
Will check it out, I think a shared religion keeps a nation together
no "representation" ?? - I'm all in !
Steve Taylor biopic when?
Better yet, Mike Knott biopic when?
SMALLBONE, Alan. :)
I think the other movie he was referring to was “Jesus People”, not “Jesus Music”.
Ostrov is a great movie.
Best Christian movie: To End All Wars. If you like ww2 drama, you won’t regret the watch.
*Smallbone family
Best Christian film in the recent memory is "The Book of Eli", did ok but not great because Christians can be their own worst enemy at times when it comes to violence. It wasn't for kids but Christian adults should have had no problem with it, Biblical Christianity isn't all roses and happy endings.
If you faith is strong enough you will become rich and famous… I really don’t know why people keep going for that. That doesn’t mean this is a bad movie, it’s just weird to hear it described and popularly accepted to be religious at all. All of the world’s major religions have a few things in common, and rich people being great isn’t it
I have 6 kids for 6-21 and none of them like the blatant LGBTQ propaganda in the movies. They go harder then I do on making fun and pointing it out.
Alan is no longer a Christian but took the time to find a church and currently attends?
Hey, we don’t need any of these “Christian” movies with on-the-nose dialogue, bad directing, and amateurish acting from people who are the family of the filmmakers. That’s what current Hollywood movies already give us. Make better movies *period*
The second half of this movie was better than the first. I am not familiar with this band or story. While it was ok, I wish it focused more on the mother than the Father. The Father was/is very unlikable and I was more interested in the moms' story and relationship with Rebecca than her Dad.
why does nearly EVERY CHRISTIAN FILM HAVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE to be based on a true story? Ffs are WE that creatively bankrupt? no better than pedowood.
I can say the same about sports movies. When was the last time a sports movie was not based on a true story?
Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. It's about the journey of life we can all relate to. Give them a chance to get better at telling stories at least.
Because real life stories are easier to relate to. I could say something similar about why do most movies have to be based on books?
@@IcicleFerret ......where are we talking about sports movies here? we weren't. also what % of movies are sports movies? 1%?
@@billienews I see everything wrong with it. we're creatively bankrupt. CONCOCT AN ORIGINAL IDEA AND MAKE IT. STOP THE TESTIMONIAL BS. That model clearly hasnt worked. that coupled with being lazy and cringe at storytelling. i dont think theyre 'bad' at storytelling. I think theyre lazy and scared. everything is made for the church ladies. stop it. be an adult. or stay in the corner with your niche and stop crying.
Trash movie and waste of money