MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

You asked the question:

Why do you review R rated movies?

Here’s my answer:

While there are many Christians who make it a habit to not attend R-rated movies, there are many United Methodists who do.  While there is no doubt that often the violence, language or sexual content in R-rated films can be offensive at times, it’s important to review these films nevertheless.  
R rated films often deal with important subject matter.  “Precious” is extremely brutal in its depiction of an abused teenage girl, but it is ultimately a film about hope and the importance of community, two themes that should be of interest to Christians.  

R rated films often deal with spiritual themes.  “The Book of Eli” was even promoted as a spiritual film by its distributor, and “The Passion of the Christ” was a box-office hit, primarily due to Christian audiences.

PG-13 films actually trouble me more often, for filmmakers are constantly pushing the envelope to include as much suggestive and “adult themed” material as possible to appeal to the youth audience.

Such major magazines as Christianity Today and The Christian Century review R rated films as a common practice.  

My goal as a reviewer is to reflect upon “The Message in the Movies” and also give as detailed a “halo and pitchfork” rating as possible, so that no one needs to be blindsided into going to see a film that they might find upsetting.

I also want to encourage everyone to take their faith to the movies with them, to discuss what they have just seen, and to be aware that our popular culture says a great deal about what’s going on in the world today.  

Thanks for your question, Leonard Bayer, Tiffin Harmony UM Church, and thanks for reading the column.

Bruce Batchelor-Glader
The Message in the Movies
Eocumc.com

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