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BECAUSE
OF WINN DIXIE
Review by Rebecca Grace
In February, Twentieth Century Fox and Walden Media released
the family-oriented, faith-based movie Because of Winn-Dixie.
The uplifting film has a Christian tone and includes overt elements
of faith, prayer, reconciliation, fellowship and unconditional love
gently balanced with feel-good doses of humor. The Wayne Wang Film
immediately engages both children and adults in a delightful but
serious manner as the characters deal with issues of alcoholism,
child abandonment, loneliness, fear, broken relationships and tarnished
reputations, thus prompting a PG rating.
Based on the 2000 Newberry Honor book written by Kate DiCamillo,
the movie includes an esteemed cast of Hollywood veterans such as
Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, and Eva Marie Saint, as well as Dave
Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band and newcomer AnnaSophia Robb.
The story is set in a small Florida town and centers on the life
of 10-year-old India "Opal" Buloni (played by Robb), daughter of
a Baptist preacher with whom her relationship is strained. Abandoned
at a young age by an alcoholic mother, Opal asks God to bring her
new friends after she and her father move to this lonely town.
Opal’s prayer is answered almost immediately as she opens
her heart to a bedraggled orphan dog she brings home from the local
Winn-Dixie supermarket. She names the mutt Winn-Dixie, and together
the spirited duo restores a sense of hope to the down-trodden community
by befriending eccentric personalities who are all seeking to put
their past behind them in search of acceptance.
"People forgot how to share their joy," Opal says, but she and
Winn-Dixie are the perfect pair for reminding others, as they too
are reminded, about the importance of unconditional love.
Rating: PG
Considerations:
• One mild use of profanity and infrequent uses of the
Lord’s name in vain
• Some mild uses of disrespectful name-calling
• Elements of lying and minor disrespect to authority figure
• Hints at an understanding of sin and alludes to a direct
explanation of salvation through the almighty God but falls short.
Availability: Released 2/18/05 nationwide.
BENJI
OFF THE LEASH!
Review By Jenni Parker
An old friend of the family recently returned to theaters and
is now making his presence known once again in homes nationwide,
thanks to GoodTimes Entertainment. With the December 28 home video
and DVD release of his new movie, Benji Off the Leash!, filmmaker
Joe Camp is reminding audiences what family entertainment is all
about.
Camp says Benji Off the Leash! is "not a Christian movie
per se," but he says Christ has been involved in the project
from the beginning, and the film embodies Christ’s teachings
about love, hope, and perseverance.
"It teaches you to always think of somebody else’s needs,
and don’t give up when you’re trying to help someone,"
the filmmaker says, "and I think Benji was able to do that all through
the story.
"All of the Benji movies are about love and hope and persistence
toward a goal – about not giving up," Camp further explains,
"and that’s where this one wound up as well."
The film is neither saccharine nor stilted, but well-acted with
an involving plot that often delves into humor but also deals poignantly
with some serious themes, which is what prompts a PG rather than
a G rating. The story touches on conservation and care for animals,
blended family and broken family relationships, and even abandonment
and abuse. But while wrestling with those harsh realities, it never
becomes dark, thanks to winning moments of comic relief from the
human cast and a shaggy co-star – as well as a plucky protagonist
who never stops seeking to make things better for those he loves.
What better tool is there to put into the hands of Christian parents
than an engaging story about a lovable hero both they and their
young children can relate to, whose kindness and character inspire
instant admiration?
Rating: PG
Considerations:
• One mild use of crude name-calling
• Negative portrayal of an abusive father figure with no
redemption rendered in the end
Availability: Rent or purchase. Available for purchase
at www.benji.com.
LUTHER
Review By Rusty Benson
If a film about church history doesn’t seem like exciting
family movie night fare, MGM’s Luther may change your
mind. But understand that the makers of this historical drama have
not opted for a simplified or even child-friendly presentation.
This movie demands more than casual viewing, but the payoff is an
opportunity for parents to discuss with their children such essential
Protestant doctrines as Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone
and Christ alone.
At any rate, if your children can hang with the twists and turns
of The Lord of the Rings, with a little help, they can handle
Luther.
Contemporary moviegoers will settle for nothing less than total
realism, high production values and world class actors in the historical
drama genre. Luther does not disappoint. The cast includes Joseph
Fiennes as Martin Luther (Shakespeare in Love, Enemy At
the Gates), Alfred Molina as John Tetzel and Sir Peter Ustinov
as Fredrick the Wise.
Luther accurately portrays the German monk who began the
Protestant Reformation as a complex and sometimes conflicted man:
submissive monk and driven reformer; enlightened theologian and
confused doubter; close to God, but greatly tempted by Satan.
Reviewers of this 2003 release have largely agreed that Luther
is as historically authentic as possible. After all, compressing
the 25 earth-shaking years from 1505-1530 is no small undertaking.
But the highlight of the film is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ
is clearly and uncompromisingly presented in several contexts. That
in itself is worth the rental price.
Rating: PG-13
Considerations:
• Bloody scenes of dead bodies
• A few profanities, mostly Luther fighting with the Devil
Availability: rent or purchase
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