Movies
photo courtesy of mherzber
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tom Ronholm – a co-worker and friend.
Ultimate Movie Guide for
Christian Themed Movies
Here is my top 10 movie list, these movies have made an impact on my life and have a Christian theme to them (in no particular order):
1. Billy Graham Presents: The Hiding Place – Billy Graham produced movie based on life of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie’s family hid Jews from the Nazi’s during WW II and they were discovered and sent to concentration camps.
2. Chariots of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) – based on life of Eric Liddell, takes place during 1924 Summer Olympics.
3. Fireproof – 3rd movie made by Sherwood Baptist church in Albany, GA.
(See below for a list of the first two as well)
4. The Passion of the Christ (Widescreen Edition) – Movie is in Aramaic and Hebrew with English subtitles. This movie had the most realistic portrayal of the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus in a movie.
5. Les Miserables (version with Liam Neeson), this movie is based on the story by Victor Hugo of Jean Valjean, who is sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Jean Valjean becomes a Christian through the sacrificial love of a bishop in this movie.
6. Ben Hur – made in 1959 and stars Charleton Heston. This movie shows how far Hollywood has “changed” in the type of movies that are made. A young Jewish man who lives at the time of Christ
battles the Roman Empire and ultimately becomes a Christian. This movie had an incredible
chariot race scene that was filmed using special “wide-screen” filming method.
7. Joseph (made in 1995 – also known as The Bible collection – Joseph) starring Ben Kingsley, Martin Landau, and Paul Mercurio. The story of Joseph is very well acted, and the ending where Joseph reveals to his brothers that he is their brother and still alive is very powerful and moving.
8. A Walk to Remember – This is one of the few cases where the movie is better than the book. This movie stars Mandy Moore, who plays a young Christian girl who is very self assured and does not give in to peer pressure. I thought that the soundtrack to this movie was excellent as well.
9. Amazing Grace – This movie was based on the life of William Wilberforce, who was a member of Parliament in England who helped to abolish slavery and the slave trade by 1833 three days before he died (before civil war in U.S. made slavery illegal). The special features on this DVD are excellent – the song by Chris Tomlin (Amazing Grace – My Chains is Gone) is one of my favorite versions of this song.
10. Left Behind – based on first book in a series of books by Tim LaHaye. This movie plays out one viewpoint of how Biblical prophecy could be fulfilled in the near future.
The following list of movies are what I would consider to be honorable mentions that did not make my top 10 list.
Additional movies with a Christian Theme:
1. Flywheel (Director’s Cut) (In Every Man’s Life There’s a Turning Point). First movie made by Sherwood Baptist church in Albany, GA.
2. Facing the Giants (Widescreen) – Second movie made by Sherwood Baptist church in Albany, GA. This movie has a powerful message on Faith mixed with with High School Football theme.
3. The Perfect Stranger – based on the book “Dinner With a Perfect Stranger” by David Gregory. This movie is based on the premise that an unbeliever/skeptical lawyer is given an invitiation to dinner with Jesus Christ. Uses scripture verse of Revelations 3:20 in a powerful new way.
4. Another Perfect Stranger – sequel to Perfect Stranger. This movie continues the story where the last one ended, deals with the lawyers teenager who has questions and doubts about her faith.
5. Mercy Streets – Independent movie that has two identical brothers that were separated at birth who ended up living very different lives. The story was well written and directed, and the overall message is not too preachy.
The next series of movies are based on books written by Janette Oke. The movies were all directed by Michael Landon Jr. (son of Little House on the Prairie Michael Landon). The movies are like a combination of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and Little House on the Prairie TV shows:
6. Love Comes Softly – Katherine Heigl stars in the first movie.
7. Love’s Enduring Promise – continues story of Love Comes Softly – the role that Katherine Heigl has is played by another actress.
8. Love’s Long Journey
9. Love’s Abiding Joy
10. Love’s Unending Legacy
11. Love’s Unfolding Dream
12. Love Takes Wing
13. Shadowlands – Anthony Hopkins stars in this movie about life of C.S. Lewis. It shows the love between C.S. Lewis and Christian academic and poet Joy Gresham. Joy Gresham died shortly after the two were married.
14. Luther – Joseph Fiennes and Peter Ustinov are in this movie. Based on the life of Martin Luther.
15. Jesus of Nazareth – this movie used to be on TV all the time just before Easter. The rights to this movie were bought by Ted Turner and this movie is no longer played on public TV but has been played on cable recently.
16. The Gospel of John – This movie was filmed with the words being spoken by the actors being only taken from the book of John in the Bible.
17. Left Behind II – Tribulation Force
18. Left Behind III – World at War
Series of 4 Apocalypse movies (watch in order listed below):
19. Apocalypse – Caught In the Eye of the Storm
20. Revelation (the book has opened)
21. Tribulation
22. Judgment (God is put on trial in this movie).
23. The Mission (Two-Disc Special Edition) – Jeremy Irons is a Jesuit priest and Robert DeNiro is a soldier in this movie. This movie contrasts fighting using conventional weapons or with Love/Faith, this movie could have been much better, but does have a good soundtrack with a great song played by an oboe throughout the entire movie.
24. Moses (The Bible Collection) – (1996 produced by Warner Home Video, also known as the Bible Collection – Moses). Actor Ben Kingsley plays the role of Moses, similar to Joseph movie in my top 10 above.
25. The Visitation – Randy Travis and the young kid from T2 – Terminator movie are in this movie, based on book by Frank Peretti.
26. Hangman’s Curse – based on Frank Peretti book.
27. A Man for All Seasons (Special Edition) – 1966, rated G. This movie is the story of Sir Thomas More, a 16th century chancellor of England who was beheaded by King Henry VIII because he would not compromise his beliefs. More is played by Paul Scofield, whose last lines in this movie are “I die his majesty’s good servant, but God’s first.”
28. The Robe – 1953, not rated. The story of a Roman Centurion who carries out the crucifixion of Christ and becomes one of His most fervent followers. A dramatic story of heroism and sacrifice.
29. Sergeant York (Two-Disc Special Edition) – 1941 (in black and white) This movie is a true story of hillbilly sharpshooter Alvin C. York, who was drafted in World War I and tried to stay out of the war by claiming to be a pacifist.
30. Dead Man Walking – (1995, rated R for graphic murder and rape shown at a distance in this movie) A nun becomes the spiritual adviser to a death row inmate. This movie has a very powerful conversion scene in it.
31. The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – based on book by C. S. Lewis.
32. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – based on book by C. S. Lewis.
33. Faith Like Potatoes – based on book, about a Scottish farmer from South Africa. This movie just came out on DVD in April 2009.
34. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed – this is a documentary with Ben Stein in it (from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). Ben Stein is Jewish and looks into how the “established intelligentia in America” have a bias towards the Theory of Evolution. Ben Stein brings up some very compelling arguments for Intelligent Design. The part where Ben interviews Richard Dawkins about some of his ideas and he ended up saying that it was possible that Aliens came from Mars or another planet and “seeded planet Earth” for life to evolve from is incredible to watch.
35. The Case for Christ – based on book by Lee Strobel.
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The following films are worth watching for their serious and inspiring treatment of moral themes, or because the characters face moral challenges and rise above them:
2. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939, not rated)
3. It’s a Wonderful Life (60th Anniversary Edition) (1946, not rated)
4. Casablanca (1942, not rated) This classic is set in Morroco during WWII. Unlike the characters in “The English Patient”, Rick and Ilsa sacrifice personal happiness for honor.
5. The Winslow Boy – (1948, there is a remake version from around 2004). Based on a true story, the movie depicts the sacrifices an entire is forced to make when the son is wrongly accused of theft at school, and the father decides to fight for the boy’s honor.
6. High Noon (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition) (1952, not rated) A good man stands alone against the forces of chaos and evil. A landmark Western.
7. Shadow of a Doubt – (1942, not rated), In this Alfred Hitchcock thriller, an ordinary young woman realizes that her uncle is a murderer and must decide what to do with that knowledge.
8. The Man Who Knew Too Much – (1955, no rating), Alfred Hitchcock movie in which an ordinary man on vacation is thrust into a crisis and forced to make difficult moral choices.
9. North By Northwest – (1959, no rating), In this classic Hitchcock film, an advertising executive is the victim of mistaken identity, and must ultimately choose between his own safety and helping his country.
10. 12 Angry Men – (1957 version, not rated) A jury explores issues of justice and race.
11. The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition) (1965, rated G) A family is willing to sacrifice everything rather than join the Nazis.
12. In the Heat of the Night (40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) – (1967, no rating) A classic film about a black New York detective who travels to the South to help solve a murder and becomes a victim of racial bigotry. WARNING: This movie contains adult themes.
13. Rudy (Special Edition) – (1993, rated PG-13) The true story of a young boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. A movie that celebrates having a dream and working at it. WARNING: This movie has some foul language and a “skewed” depiction of Catholicism.
14. Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition) – (1995, rated PG) The story of a couple willing to give up private happiness for honor. Based on the novel by Jane Austin, was beautifully filmed.
15. Mr. Holland’s Opus – (1995, rated PG) A film that celebrates the glory of teaching, and how one person can make a difference in the lives of others. WARNING: This movie has mild obscenities-no sex, nudity, or violence.
16. The Spitfire Grill – (1996, rated PG-13) The characters and their stories serve as springboards to lessons about forgiveness and the possibility of healing and restoration. WARNING: This movie has mild violence and mild foul language, references to rape and child abuse.
17. Stand and Deliver – (1988, rated PG-13), Based on a true story about a new teacher in a rough urban school who refuses to believe that his students cannot learn and excel. WARNING: This movie has rough language and violence.
18. Braveheart (Special Collector’s Edition) – (1995, rated R) Set between 1280 and 1314, the film is about the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace who leads his people to freedom from England. WARNING: the violence of war is graphically depicted, brief nudity, two discreet sex scenes.
19. Schindler’s List (Widescreen Edition) (1993, rated R) A Holocaust drama about a German businessman who helps Jews escape the death camps. The film shows what one individual can accomplish in the face of great evil. WARNING: This movie contains profanity, graphic violence, and nudity, as well as some anti-Christian references.
20. The Pianist – (rated R) The story of a Polish Jewish piano player who is living in the Warsaw, Poland ghetto during World War II who tries to avoid going to a concentration camp. This movie was based on the autobiography of pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman. WARNING: This movie contains graphic violence.
21. The Emperor’s Club (Widescreen Edition) – This movie that shows how a teacher made a difference in the lives of his students. Kevin Kline has lead role in this movie.
22. Life Is Beautiful – (1997, rated R) Original movie is in Italian, there is also a way to watch movie as over-dubbed in English. Roberto Benigni plays the part of a Jewish man who falls in love with a non-Jewish lady, marries her, has a boy and who is then taken as a prisoner in a concentration camp along with his wife and child. The movie shows how the man tries to protect his child from the horrors of the genocide, how he always tries to find ways to make his and child smile and laugh.
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