The Message Behind the Movie: How to Engage With a Film Without Disengaging Your Faith

by Douglas M. Beaumont

Some Christians denounce nearly every move that Hollywood produces; others celebrate even the most morally and artistically questionable. While most Christians can agree on the cultural importance of films, very few are able to interpret movies with insight and understanding. Apologetics professor and film lover Doug Beaumont wants moviegoers to become more informed viewers, by better grasping the cinematic techniques and genre considerations that filmmakers use to communicate their central themes. He also wades into hot-button issues of nudity, violence, and language in movies, helping Christians to more carefully evaluate celluloid depictions of sin.

Packed with quote and excerpts from many of Hollywood's most successful films, and from some of the indie favorites that have gained cult followings, The Message Behind the Mov ie is a fun and enlightening look at the art from that defines our age.

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[John Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beaumont is an apologetics professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary . This is a relatively short and easy-reading book, but one which is packed with lots of original ideas along with practical application in the area of approaching pop culture (movies in particular) as a platform for evangelism.

Beaumont seeks to define a Biblical perspective of movie watching that sits somewhere between the two extremes of those who reject and withdraw from all things secular, and those who consume everything Hollywood has to offer without discernment. How do we balance our sanctification with our need to engage the culture around us?

The book is divided into three “Acts”: Watching & Understanding Movies (discerning the underlying suppositions and significance of the story), Evaluating & Discussing Movies (discerning how specific elements of a movie present ideas such as salvation, the existence of God, the nature of truth, etc.), and Applauding & Avoiding Movies (discerning which movies are “acceptable” for the Christian to watch). Each Act contains a short fictional example of evangelistic conversations that can come out of discussing films.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the way that it has made me think more about what movies I will watch, and to think more critically of those that I do. There were times I wasn’t sure I would like where I thought he was going, but his conclusions (which I’ll leave up to you to read for yourself!) pull it all together, and his final authority is always the Word of God. Highly recommended!

[Joel Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to rate this book 3 stars, but in the last chapter there was a great discussion on the weaker/stronger brother topic that bumped this up to a 4 in my mind. A great book discussing how Christians should watch movies!

[Kyle McManamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good movie insights as well as a much needed corrective against a Christian avoidance of cinema.