Will 2014 Be The Year of The Religious Movie?

[Mark]

Will 2014 Be The Year of The Religious Movie?

Over the past few years, the movie industry has relied on blockbusters from the world of comic book super heroes for their big hits, but now many movie studios are looking toward a different set of books for their hit content: the Bible.
 
The major success of "The Bible" miniseries on the History Channel has motivated studios to look for content from the religious work. According an article in the U.K. Telegraph, "Biblical Films' Hollywood Comeback," the Bible can be good for business.
 “

 Studio executives who have spent the past few years releasing superhero and zombie films have, it seems, had an epiphany. Now their new best friends are evangelical pastors whose endorsements they actively seek, even inviting them on to sets during production. Pastors in turn play clips from films of which they approve to 10,000-strong congregations on 40ft wide movie screens. 
 
Scheduled to be released in the next 12 months are Bible-themed films such as "Mary Mother of Christ."
 “

 It is a part of Mary, Joseph and Jesus’s life that has not been shown on the big screen before,” reads a synopsis. “Under the reign of terror of Herod the Great and, against all odds, they survive as young parents in one of the most treacherous times in history.” It promises “faith-based high action drama” − and there is no room in the audience for doubting Thomases.
 
In March, movie goers will have the chance to see a huge budget ($150 Million) version of the story of "Noah", with Russell Crow as Noah, Anthony Hopkins as Methusaleh and Harry Potter's Emma Watson as Noah's daughter. Later next year, Christian Bale will be splitting the Red Sea in Ridley Scott's epic Exodus, which will also star top talent such as Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, and Ben Kingsley.
 “

 Another movie of Moses’s life called Gods and Kings is also planned. Steven Spielberg was due to make it but has been replaced by Ang Lee, who won the Best Director Oscar this year for Life of Pi. Meanwhile, Son of God will tell the story of Jesus’s life, with Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado in the lead role. Will Smith is said to be planning a film based on the story of Cain and Abel, and Brad Pitt is rumoured to be playing Pontius Pilate in a separate project. There will also be Resurrection, in which a Roman soldier is sent to investigate Christ’s death. It has been likened to “Gladiator, with a mystery bent”.
 
Phil Cooke, a filmmaker and media consultant to Christian organizations, said this Hollywood trend is not because of any new-found religious fever,
 “

 What’s happened is they’ve understood it’s very good business to take Christians seriously, and this is a real serious market.For years Hollywood bent over backwards to reach special interest groups, be it feminists or environmentalists. It has finally realized that there are 91  million evangelical Christians in America.

http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/will-2014-be-year-religious-movie

[Psalm 51:17]

Studio executives who have spent the past few years releasing superhero and zombie films have, it seems, had an epiphany. Now their new best friends are evangelical pastors whose endorsements they actively seek, even inviting them on to sets during production.

No surprise nowdays, as the typical modern-day church is filled with entertainment nonsense with their CCM/"Christian" Rock, Emergent/Postmodernism nonsense, etc.

Pastors in turn play clips from films of which they approve to 10,000-strong congregations on 40ft wide movie screens.

 

The wide tv screens in these churches - yeah, can't help but think that this is only to help set the stage when the AC makes his appearance - as he will appear on these tv screens in these "churches", and these pastors and self-professing "Christians" will think it's Jesus Christ coming back. Even the medium-sized church I attend has 2 flat screen tvs behind the pulpit(one time they played a "Christian" Rock band on it, and it REALLY was so loud, that it almost blew out my ears!).
 

What’s happened is they’ve understood it’s very good business to take Christians seriously, and this is a real serious market.For years Hollywood bent over backwards to reach special interest groups, be it feminists or environmentalists. It has finally realized that there are 91  million evangelical Christians in America.

91 million evangelical Christians? Seriously - how do they come up with THIS number? Did they go around and interview every single member of the pews in all of these "churches"? Did they count the number of members and "tithers" in these churches? Did they go door to door all around America and asked if they were so?

[Mark]

7 Anticipated Christian Movies of 2014


2014 is going to be a HUGE year for Christian cinema!  There are many movies coming out with Christian themes and storylines.  With this huge push Hollywood is realizing that there is a big audience that is ready and willing to come watch movies that have Christian principles in them.
Here are 7 of the top anticipated movies to come out this year!  Enjoy!

7. Heaven Is For Real

This movie is based on a true story and it follows the journey of a boy, Colton, who has a near death experience and goes to heaven for a brief time.  He is revived and the doctors claim it is a miracle that he survived.  Now his parents must learn what faith and trust are all about.  Colton begins to show them things that he should not know and soon the whole town is wondering.  This movie is set for release April 16, 2014.

6. Son Of God

“Son of God” is based off of the “Bible Miniseries” that aired last year.  It follows the life of Jesus through birth, life, crucifixion, death and resurrection.  It features Diogo Morgado as Jesus and Roma Downey as His mother, Mary.  The “Bible Miniseries” was a huge hit in 2013 and I have no doubt that “Son Of God” will do just as well.

5. Gimme Shelter

“Gimme Shelter” follows the life of a teenager who gets pregnant and leaves her abusive mother to find her father.  He rejects her and she is forced to live on the streets.  She is welcomed into a home for women like her and finally feels like she has a family for the first time.  Vanessa Hudgens has the lead role in this one.  “Gimme Shelter” is set for release on January 24, 2014.

4. Left Behind

This is a remake of “Left Behind” from 2000.  It will follow the same storyline as the previous one: millions of people vanish and the ones left behind must struggle through the chaos that is around them.  “Left Behind” is starring Nicholas Cage as the lead role, and is also featuring Jordin Sparks as Shasta Carvell.  It is set to release on June 19, 2014.

3. God’s Not Dead

Oh boy!  I am excited for this one!  This movie showcases the life of a man, Josh Wheaton, in college that is forced into showing his faith outwardly to his peers in his Philosophy 150 class.  The instructor, Professor Radisson, is an atheist and starts off day one with having every student write “God is dead” in their notebooks.  Josh tells Professor Radisson that he can’t because he is a Christian and Professor Radisson issues the challenge for Josh to defend his antithesis.  Many great debates are sure to come out of this one and it will be a way for us to see how to defend our faith in the public arena.  This movie stars Willie and Korie Robertson, Kevin Sorbo and Dean Cain to name a few.  “God’s Not Dead” is scheduled to release on March 24, 2014.

2. Exodus

This film is being directed by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Prometheus) and it is packed with many big name actors and actresses including: Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley!  The storyline will follow the journey of Moses, played by Christian Bale, as he leads the Israelites out of Egypt and the clutches of Pharaoh.  It is currently set to release in December of this year.

1. Noah

And here we are at Noah.  This is the movie that everyone is talking about!  It follows the story of Noah as he builds the ark in order to survive the massive flood that God is sending to wipe out life to start mankind over again.  This movie has many famous people including: Russell Crowe (Noah), Jennifer Connelly (Noah’s wife), Emma Watson and Anthony Hopkins.  I feel that it is safe to say that “Noah” will be the biggest grossing Christian movie to be released this year.  If you have not watched the trailer for this one yet please check it out!  The special effects look amazing and the storyline looks fairly solid, with a few added extras from Hollywood like always.  “Noah” is set to release on March 28, 2014.


Conclusion

There are many amazing Christian films that are coming out this year!  Which ones do you think you will go and see?  Besides these 7, I would also like to mention one more, “I’m In Love With A Church Girl”, which was released on January 21, 2014.  It has an interesting story line and stars Ja Rule and Toby Mac.  You can find the trailer on YouTube.  God bless you all!

Read more: http://www.faithandentertainment.com/top-7-anticipated-christian-movies-of-2014/#ixzz2rbCsmk9j

[Psalm 51:17]

7. Heaven Is For Real

This movie is based on a true story and it follows the journey of a boy, Colton, who has a near death experience and goes to heaven for a brief time.  He is revived and the doctors claim it is a miracle that he survived.  Now his parents must learn what faith and trust are all about.  Colton begins to show them things that he should not know and soon the whole town is wondering.  This movie is set for release April 16, 2014.

Saw this preview when I was at the movie theater a couple of weeks ago - just from this 2 minute preview, it is NOT a Christian movie. Pretty much one of those typical people who "claim" they went to heaven and saw all of their loved ones there. And not one mention of Jesus Christ in it.

And it's being released on Ishtar weekend to boot!