Jesus in Film

As we move into the holy season, let’s explore some of the movies that depict the life of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I’ve included two lists, one from a noted Christian viewpoint and one from a secular. It’s interesting to see the similarities, but the contrasts may help the evangelical author to understand a wider audience. I have bolded the ones that appear on both lists.

According to Christianity Today, here are the top ten of the most popular movies of all time:

1. The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1902-05)
2. The King of Kings (1927)
3. The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
4. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
5. Godspell (1973)
6. The Messiah (1976)
7. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
8. Jesus (1999)
9. The Miracle Maker (2000)
10. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

TIME Entertainment lists these:

1. The King of Kings (1927)
2. King of Kings (1961)
3. The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
4. Godspell ( 1973)
5. Gospel Road (1973)
6. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
7. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
8. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
9. The Passion of Christ (2004)
10. South Park: Fantastic Easter Special (2007)

It’s interesting to me to see the two most obvious departures of the traditional gospel movie—Monty Python and South Park—included on the secular list.  Amongst these other movies, who at least attempt to tell the true story, (even Godspell,) are these irreverent plot lines.

What does that tell me, as a Christian author? That maybe occasionally we take ourselves too seriously? Yes, it was a horrible thing for Jesus to have to die on the cross for my sins. Very serious stuff when the fate of the whole world is literally in God’s nail-scarred hands. May we never forget what happened on Golgotha that day, and its significance for our eternal salvation.

But is the secular world more apt to receive our Lord if we can show His joy, His humor? Not irreverently, by any means. But in our every day stories. Perhaps a sprinkling of the twinkle in His eyes, a tug of a grin on His lips, even an outright guffaw from His throat. Portray his love as one of a Father’s delighting in his children. Even in the deepest of stories, where a character’s very soul seems to twist in agony, there is room for light (translate that as hope.) A subplot character who always says the right thing to make the hero smile. A puppy who enjoys a squeaky toy. A toddler who has just discovered her shadow. These are small seasonings of sweetness that makes the deeper message more palatable.

Two movies come to mind. They aren’t about Jesus necessarily, but are about God. Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty. Both portray God (played by Morgan Freeman) as a loving father who disciplines, yet dances with His children.

Allow God to dance in your stories. Season with that little bit of sweetness, and your message will be received with grateful, and hopefully, changed hearts.

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Read these lists and the synopsis on each movie at Christianity Today and at TIME Entertainment.

The Proposal - My Review

I saw The Proposal tonight. Sandra Bullock is back! She's so funny, and has the ability to do drama. Her characters show depth, and that's why she's my fave female actress. The male protagonist, Ryan Reynolds, also proved himself as a fine actor, able to play humor with realism that endeared me to him with every passing minute of this movie.

I strive to write like that. Sprinkle in the humor, but give my characters depth. I write sweet romances, but that doesn't mean my characters can't have real issues. In Merely Players, (now available in the 3-in-1 Florida Weddings available here,) my hero was abused by his father. This shaped him into the adult he became, one more comfortable playing a role than being himself. In my next book, God Gave the Song, (available in November 2009 through Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents,) my hero was abandonded by his hippie mother. And in my current work in progress, Crossroads Bay, my heroine needs to save face, proving her father wasn't crazy for chasing his dream.

In all three stories, I've added giggles here and there, but hopefully I haven't missed the real issues, and the spiritual struggles that round out real-life situations.

As Rachel Hauck mentioned in the previous post, The Proposal is well worth seeing. If you'd like to learn how to write funny with depth, this is the movie to watch. Each character had reasons for being the way they were. And the writers brought that out in natural ways.

Disclaimer for my "family friendly" readers: Do beware that there is a partial nude scene between Bullock and Reynolds. Nothing is seen, and it is totally hilarious, but I thought the director let it go a tad too long to the point of gratuitousness. Is that a word? It is now. Because of that, this movie gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

The Proposal - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/