Checking the Gate Podcast

THE END IS NOW UPON US! At least for the podcast in this medium.  After nine years of audio podcasts, Mike and I are going to make the jump to video reviews.  We aren't leaving, just changing form.  So in the meantime we hope you enjoy this last podcast, in which we do what we said we would never do. We review the third and hopefully last movie in the "God's Not Dead" franchise. Then we take a look at the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones.  See you on the other side!

THE END IS NIGH! At least for the hero of this month's movie review, The Shack, starring Sam Worthington of Avatar fame. He's back from Pandora (not really) and has an encounter with God as he goes after the killer of his daughter (yes, really). And in TV Corner, we examine a show which seems to have its own sub-genre: that of the mystery solving priest.  "Cadfael" and "Father Dowling Mysteries" are two examples of this, but we will be examining the British offering "Father Brown," starring Mark Williams of Harry Potter fame. Look for some dynamic changes soon in the CTGPodcast!

Hello! It's been a while, and I know you've missed us.  We review a quality movie and TV show for you toady, to make up for the long absence. We have acclaimed indie film First Reformed and hit CBS show "God Friended Me." Look for some more exciting news in the future, we have big plans for the next step of the podcast.

Nuns are fascinating. Through the years, so many movies and TV shows have drawn inspiration from their lives, from the sublime (The Nun's Story) to the ridiculous ("The Flying Nun").  Our selections fall widely along that spectrum but, all of them are recent, having been released in that last few years.  First up, is the comedy The Little Hours and the drama Novitiate. We follow those movies with the melodramatic BBC show "Call the Midwife" and the Netflix true-crime docu-series "The Keepers." The Decameron Novitiate Catholic News review Novitiate IMDb reviews Priest's DNA Not A Match We look at more recently released media next month, with the new Ethan Hawk effort First Reformed and the popular CBS series "God Friended Me"

What was Fred Rogers most scandelous secret? The docudrama at the heart of today's podcast, Won't You Be My Neighbor?, delves into this provocative question and other details from Fred Rogers' life.  (Apparently, the most scandelous thing he did was give a generation a sense of entitlement because he taught them that everyone was special!) We also take a trip down memory lane and recall some of our favorite episodes of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," of which many episode can be found streaming on Amazon Prime. The movie is now available for streaming and on Blu-Ray or DVD. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Episode Guide Mister Rogers' Nieghborhood on Amazon Prime Won't You Be My Neighbor? Official Site Seeing that the new horror film The Nun is in theaters, we decided NOT to review that movie.  Insead we will look at some other movies about sisters of faith, including the 2017 film Noviciate and the comedy The Little Hours.  Carrying on the theme in TV corner, we'll look at the British show "Call the Midwife" and the Netflix original "The Keepers." So come back next time, you'll have thing you'll want to talk about. We...will...too!

Heretics and Devils. Some would say they are not mutually exclusive, some would look closer at who is calling the kettle black. Then there are some who would say, "That's a good idea for a TV show!" That's what were talking about on today's podcast, the result of the latter.  Come Sunday is a docudrama and "Lucifer" is a crime procedural.  "Wait...huh?" you might say, but yes, Lucifer has more in common with Castle than it does with American Horror Story. Both shows will soon be on Netflix...coincidence? Wikipedia - Carlton Pearson Lucifer TV Series: One Million Moms Continues to Urge FOX to Discontinue TV Series, Lucifer Netflix saves Lucifer TV series Another theme episode is in store for our next podcast. We will look at the life and work of Fred Rogers as we review Won't You Be My Neighbor? (which should be available for home viewing by the time the episode is released) and the eternal show "Mr Roger's Neighborhood" (of which at great deal of episodes can be found on Amazon Prime).

Hello again, we are here in a timely fashion to give you three reviews!  We bring you the Pureflix version of Samson, as well as Paul: Apostle of Christ.  The cool thing about the last movie is that we got to see a rough cut sneak preview of the film in February, about a month and a half before it was realesed in theaters on Easter weekend.  Then, in TV Corner, we talk about the live, Easter Sunday broadcast of NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar. Next episode, we will look at teh Netflix film Come Sunday and the recently cancelled "Lucifer" which is still available on Hulu. For all our American listeners, happy 4th of July. For all of our international listeners, we apologize.

A happy Jesus morning to you, as Eanest Angley would say.  We have another themed episode all about Televangelists. First up is the Steve Martin classic, Leap of Faith, with a whole cast of "look who that was before they were famous!" Then in TV corner, we watch some real evengelists, taking a look at Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club," Jim Bakker's new YouTube channel, and local NE Ohio televangelist Ernest Angley. IMDb -  Leap of Faith (1992) This Former 700 Club Producer Wants to “Make Amends to a Whole Generation of Christians” ABC Family, No Matter What It Calls Itself, Can’t Get Rid of Pat Robertson’s The 700 Club The Jim Bakker Show The shocking allegations rocking Rev. Ernest Angley’s Ohio megachurch Appeals court overturns ruling against televangelist Ernest Angley over use of unpaid workers at buffet Guardians sue Ernest Angley Ministries on behalf of elderly Chicago woman Next time we look at just a few of the plethora of movies that have arrived in time for Easter this year, Samson and Paul, Apostle of Christ. In TV corner we have the live Easter special "Jesus Christ Superstar" We'll see you then!  

Do you ever experience what I call the "Moebius Strip of Conversation?" I experience it quite often.  It is where one starts a conversation on one subject, and then through the natural process of carrying on a rambling conversation, one comes through the twists and turns of that palaver to the same subject. We do that here in our review of last year and what we look forward to this year.   Next time we return to our regular format, going back to the old Steven Martin vehicle Leap of Faith. Keeping with the theme we will look at variety of local and national televangelist shows to see where they are in the current day and age.

Faith based movies are getting better, both in production values and the quality of the end product.  But does The Case for Christ live up to these expectaions? And why doesn't "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World"? have any buzz?  We attempt to answer these questions and moree in this episode. The Case for Christ official website The Case for Christ (2017) - IMDb Kevin (Probably) Saves the World - Wikipedia 'Kevin (Probably) Saves the World' Renewed or Cancelled for Season 2 TVLINE Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (TV Series 2017– ) - IMDb Next episode will be our Easter Special, 2017 in review and a 2018 preview. Thanks once again for listening!

Sorry about the wait for this episode, I started work again for the church and my time for editing has greatly decreased. The good news is that Mike and I have two more episodes in the can and they will be released shortly. But our latest episode is here, and we are watching the Oscar nominated Persepolis, about an Iranian girl's experience growing up in Iran and France, and the Indian import "Buddha," dramatising the life of the ancient sage.  Persepolis (2007) - IMDb Guatama Buddha - Wikipedia Next episode we tackle more familiar territory with another docu-drama based on the life of prominent Christian, Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ. Then in TV corner, the ABC comedy "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World." See you soon...

What does it mean to be one of God's chosen? Is it a blessing, a curse, a responsibility, or a privilege? Or is it all of the above? The film The Chosen People? A Film About Jewish Identity, asks these very questions. This movie is an independent effort by filmmaker Joshua Gippin. After getting funded on Kickstarter three years ago, Josh is ready to release his film October 9th, 2017 at the Summit of Faiths during Peace Week in our hometown of Akron, OH.  Look for it at a film festival near you.  Mike and I got to see a preview of the movie this summer.  I am especially excited about this film, because not only did I help fund the movie on Kickstarter, but I also have a small part in the movie itself!   Mike and I have also eagerly anticipated the Starz adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name, "American Gods."  I read the book at Mike's recommendation, and he has not steered me wrong.  But does the show stand as tall as the novel? Listen to find out.   Next time we will continue our exploration of religions other than Christianity.  (We need a break after the massive amount of Christploitation we covered in our last episode!) First up is the French-Iranian animated feature Persepolis based on the graphic novels, and then the Indian television series “Buddha” which is available to stream on Netflix. Until then, shalom.   The Chosen People? A Documentary on Jewish Identity http://www.chosenpeoplefilm.com/ American Gods Official Site | STARZ  

This is our 50th episode! We've been podcasting for 6 years! We're releasing this episode on the 4th of July! And we have 7 Christploitation movies watched and reviewed in this episode! It's a triple celebration, Christ-ploitation, extravaganza! (Triple-ation-Christ-ploitation-stravaganza!!!) As you can tell, I like to make up words and use exclamation points, but Mike and I are very excited about today's episode. We give our reviews on a slew of Christian faith based films. They include: God's Not Dead 2 Do You Beleive? Joseph and Mary The Young Messiah Christian Mingle Miracles from Heaven Risen Then we do a quick update of all the TV shows we have done in our 6 year history. I mean real quick, this is not a 2 hour podcast, I promise! Next episode is going to be another special one. We are reviewing a new movie by independent filmmaker Joshua Gippin titled The Chosen People? A Film About Jewish Identity. I had the opportunity to be a part of this film and we got to see a sneak preview. The film will soon be in the film festival circuit so you might be able to catch it there. Then in TV Corner we are looking at the new Starz show "American Gods" based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Be warned, this show is not for the easily offended. So, thank you for listening and we'll do this again at episode 100! 

Have you ever wondered what really tough Christian ministry looks like? Martin Scorsese gives us a glimpse into the hardships and trials of two 17th century monks witnessing in Japan in his 2016 passion project, Silence. Mike and I have never been as divided in opinion over a movie as this. But we we equally flummoxed by the cable TV show "The Young Pope." What's it's message? Maybe you will know. Next time we have our 50th episode, and we have so much in store for you, we are going to take a quick look back at all of the shows we reviewed in TV Corner. Then, we are going to review no less than 7 Christ-ploitaion movies for you. God's Not Dead 2 Do You Believe? Joseph and Mary The Young Messiah Christian Mingle Miracles From Heaven Risen We will see you then to celebrate 6 years and 50 episodes of Checking the Gate: A Film and Religion Podcast.

Welcome, to what has inadvertantly become a bimonthly podcast. The Bible tells us that Jesus spent forty days in the desert fasting, and at the end of those day he was tempted by the devil. Did you ever wonder what happend on the other 39 days? Well, you can keep wondering, because you will not find a satisfactory answer in the Ewan McGreggor vehicle Last Days in the Desert. After Mike and I give our review on that film (with, naturally, a tangent into the artistic quality of the Star Wars Special Editions), we review the funny but now defunct TV Land show "Impastor." Next time we will dive into Scorcese's new and misunderstood movie Silence starring Andrew Garfield, Liam Neeson and Adam Driver. (Expect more Star Wars tangents, it's a safe bet.) And in TV Corner we review the recent HBO series "The Young Pope" staring Jude Law, Diane Keaton, and James Cromwell. The Young Pope trailer in IMDB Silence trailer on YouTube  

Welcome back to the podcast after our holiday break. Back at the begining of the season, our Thanksgiving weekend, Michael and I gave our thoughts about the classic comedy Defending Your Life by Albert Brooks and the new NBC somedy about "The Good Life."  Both are very similar in concept, exploring and sending up our notions of the afterlife. If you want to know if they are similar in quality, just listen to the episode. Next time we review the indie movie Last days in the Desert and the recently cancelled TV Land show "Impastor." See you next month! PS Get ready for our 50th Episode coming up soon. We have something special in store for you!

Hello faithful listeners! We recently completed our Star Wars Trilogy, this episode rounds out another trilogy of sorts on the podcast.  We have previously reviewed Doubt and Calvary, and this episode covers the Oscar winner for best picture, Spotlight. Christopher Marlowe Officially Credited As Co-Author Of 3 Shakespeare Plays George Lucas In Love (1999) (Short Film) on Vimeo The Resurrection of Gavin Stone The Boston Globe– The Story Behind the “Spotlight” Movie                 (Contains links to the original exposé) Was The First Season Of 'Preacher' Even Necessary? -Uproxx BBC – Rev. Shaun Of TheDead / Hot Fuzz / The World's End (Blood And Ice Cream Trilogy) [Blu-ray] Next time we delve into laughs in the afterlife in the old movie Defending Your Life, and the new TV show“The Good Place.”  See you on the othe rside! PS Yes, that is me cosplaying as Jesse Custer, the Preacher.

Hello media fanatics!  This month we offer up to you a smorgasbord of TV goodness (Well, most of it was good). With the new season of fall TV just around the corner, we take a look at some of the shows that graced our screens this last spring and summer. Four shows from four networks: Hulu's original show "The Path," AMC's comic book adaptation "Preacher," the short lived "Of Kings and Prophets" from ABC, and Nat Geo's documentary series "The Story of God" are all reviewed here. For extra info, you can check out these: The Path on Hulu In the Footsteps of...En Sabah Nur The Story of God with Morgan Freeman Of Kings and Prophets on Hulu Of Kings and Prophets Cancelled by ABC Cop Rock on DVD Preacher on AMC Preacher: What's Going On? Next episode will look at the award winning film Spotlight, and TV Corner will be BBC's "Rev." Until then, Blessings!

“Greetings, exalted one!”  This episode is the last in our series on Star Wars.  The first was on how religion and myths influenced the creation of the Star Wars saga.  In last month’s review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we found the film had more style than substance, and that the only mythology that it relied on was its own.  This episode is the reverse of the first one, we look at how Star Wars has influenced religion in real life.  We look at how Jediism has become an actual thing, where people take the values, teachings and concepts from the movie and apply them to daily life. Like any religious movement, there are several views on how to follow through on this application, and we look at two of them. But it still begs the question: Is this actually a religion? And our TV corner is the recently aired live show “Tyler Perry’s The Passion” Jedi census phenomenon-Wikipedia AT OVER 255,000 STRONG THE CHURCH OF JEDIISM IS A FORCE The Jedi Foundation www.jedichurch.org  So Many Australians Are Claiming 'Jedi' as Their Religion That It's Becoming a Problem In next month’s episode we offer our Summer TV Round-Up.  Mike and I will look at four shows that have graced the airwaves, the cable, and the streaming devices. There are so many choices now, and you’ll get our opinions on them. Until then, blessings!

Sorry about another long wait friends and listeners, but this podcaster had another round of eye surgeries which prevented me from doing many things, including the things I love like talking about Star Wars.  But Mike and I are back and we have loads to talk about. We have the next several episode planned out, movies and TV shows viewed, and we are going to do a marathon of recording to get them to you in a regular schedule. First, we need to present the second in our Star Wars trilogy, our review of Star Wars VII. Next time we will finish up our Star Wars extravaganza by getting the perspective of the real world followers of the Jedi religion. Much of FIlm And Religion literature looks at how religion is portrayed in the movies, here is an excellent opportunity to see things  flow in the other direction: how films impart ideas to religion. Vatican newspaper upset at absence of evil in new Star Wars film | Film | The Guardian  Is Star Wars The Force Awakens a rip off? JJ Abrams explains why it had to be similar to the original films All the Backstory You Desperately Want to Know About The Force Awakens  Backward-looking The Force Awakens might pay the price beyond the west | Film | The Guardian [Video] George Lucas Calls Disney “White Slavers” in Charlie Rose Interview | Deadline How Star Wars The Force Awakens Should Have Ended - YouTube

Star Wars is built from the many myths and religious themes that run through human history. George Lucas said he "Tried to tell an old story in an new way." In this month's episode, we examine just how Lucas pulled upon the work of his friend and mentor Joseph Campbell, the world's leading expert in the study of myth. We talk about how the myths of old informed the two trilogies, and speculate about how mythology and religion may (or may not) inform The Force Awakens. Next time we are going to give you our review of Episode VII. Until then, may the Force be with you.

Hello, and welcome to the (once again) monthly CTG Podcast.  This month’s offering is the Christian reboot of Left Behind (2014) starring Nicholas Cage.  In TV Corner we watch the Amazon original series “Hand of God.” Well, we watched part of it.  One episode was quite enough.  Also, remember almost exactly a year ago when I recorded a rant essay imploring you to not go to see the movie we are reviewing this month.  Mike and I have bravely jumped on the grenade; we watched it so you don’t have to.  But it’s fun to listen to us argue about who hates it more. Here’s some of the things we refer to along the way.  Christian Movies at the Box Office - Box Office MojoThe 20 Best End-of-the-World Movies :: Blogs :: List of the Day :: PasteIs Religion the New Fad in Hollywood?Three Reasons Not to See the Christ-ploitation Film Left BehindChristian eschatology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaLeft Behind (2014) - IMDbHand of God (TV Series 2014– ) - IMDb You will want to tune in for the next few months.  In anticipation of what is predicted to be the biggest release of the year (decade? all time?), we are going to do a whole series on the religious aspects of Star Wars. The next three episodes, which will be our own Star Wars trilogy, will first focus on the mythological aspects of Star Wars informed by the work of Joseph Campbell.  The December episode will look at the effects that Star Wars has had on religious beliefs in the world. Finally, we will give our review of the new film Star Wars: The Force Awakens in January.  So until next time, may the force be with you!

Hello faithful listeners! Sexual abuse in the church is a serious issue which continues to persist. There are no easy resolutions.  Even so, it seems as if the church is slow to satisfactorily work towards ending these despicable crimes, slow in punishing those who perpetrate them, and also in preventing them from happening in the future.  This month’s film, Calvary, shines a light into the dark heart of this problem.  While this movie focuses on a negative event that the Catholic Church is dealing with right now, our TV Corner looks at the positive aspects of a prominent Catholic family on the CBS procedural show “Blue Bloods” Next month, we look at the film we told you not to watch, Left Behind (2014) starring Nicholas Cage. And in TV Corner we will examine the new Amazon series “Hand of God.” After that, we are going to close out the year with a three episode series covering the religious and mythological aspects of The Star Wars Saga, culminating with a review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It will be our Star Wars trilogy, if you will. Finally, a quick note about the sporadic nature of our podcast in the last year.  Mike and I had various health issues and family tragedies hinder us; I (Robert) had to have eye surgery to correct a detached retina this summer.  We are both feeling fit and eager to get back on schedule and will endeavor to stay on target going into 2016. Blessings!

By Robert Wright-Stasko San Diego Comic Con 2015 is right around the corner.  I am expecting that this year, just like the last several years, there will be some Christians with poorly thought out slogans slapped onto protest signs, with big bullhorns causing brouhaha for comic book fans, cosplayers, and anyone else at the convention trying to have an enjoyable week.  I question these protesters; is this the most effective way to get your message across? More to the point, is cosplaying and other such activities even worth protesting? This blog post will answer these questions. In the process, I suggest that we, as Christians, can learn from cosplayers how we can live out some important illustrations in the Bible that will help us follow Jesus Christ more effectively, and therefore, become more Christ-like ourselves. But first, let’s look at some of the protests that have already happened at SDCC. A History of Protest The first major protest (in terms of press coverage) was at the 2010 SDCC.  The Westboro Baptist Church had sent just a few people, but they did quadruple duty holding as many as four signs each.[1] All of these had the standard, hatemongering slogans that Fred Phelps’ church usually employs at US soldiers’ funerals like, “God hates you,” “God hates fags,” and other deplorable sayings. They stated that their main objection was that being a comic book fan was akin to idolatry,[2] but all those other hate issues got muddled up into their message as well. According to several accounts,[3] these protesters were severely outnumbered by the many comic fans who came prepared with their own signs which they hastily cobbled together (I don’t blame them for their hurriedness, their main concern was probably getting their costumes ready in time to stand in line all day for Hall H).  Some were actually pretty clever, like “Galactus is Nigh” and “God Hates Jedi” brandished by a Star Trek cosplayer. Depending on which account you read, the reaction was either good natured with a few exceptions or pretty heated.  Since that year, you can search the internet to find articles where other conservative Christian groups try to get in on the game.  It seems to be a different group each year.[4]  In 2013, an atheist named Brian organized his own protest, with signs as fancy as the conservatives’ were.  But Brian makes a good point when he says, “Atheists don’t show up a churches and try to convince people that their story is nothing more than a story.”[5] Still that did not dissuade other protesters from showing up last year to the 2014 SDCC, yelling at people for not only idolatry, but slinging sexist and homophobic slurs out into the crowd.[6] But Bleeding Cool News did do a well-balanced report on two protesters at the 2014 SDCC who were not so polarized, and both seemed to be saying things that were not antagonistic. Joe Gaona was there not to protest, but to try to spread the Gospel.  Shannon Dove was there to spread awareness for an LGBTQ rights advocates group called Canvass for a Cause.  Both were Christian.[7]  Yet, because of the tactics used (mainly signs and bullhorns) I seriously doubt that any kind of mutual understanding, or even a simple understanding of the opposing viewpoint, was reached. A Personal Note on Protesting While the main focus here is on the effectiveness of protesting, something has to be said about the underlying issue at the heart of these protests, and it is the gay rights issue. As you can see from the history of the SDCC protests, it tends to surface no matter what the protesters might actually be trying to say. The Christian church in America is right now polarized over this matter. Many church denominations have split up or formed new denominations because people cannot agree.  This isn’t the first time the church has splintered over disagreements.  In America, the issue of slavery caused many fractures in the 1800’s,[8] as well as speaking in tongues (the God gifted ability to speak in another language).[9]  But the last time an issue caused this kind of protest was the abortion debate.  This is still a hot topic, but not as much as it was a few decades ago.[10]  I recently graduated from a Christian university, and I would commute once a week to attend my classes there while I was a student.  Every now and again, on my drive into school, I would spy one or two, sometimes half a dozen people with protest signs in front of the Planned Parenthood across the street from the main campus.  I didn’t think much of it, until I started pondering, “Why did Planned Parenthood decide to set up shop across the street from a Christian school?”  Please understand, the university taught very good theology that was grounded in Scripture without adding conservative or fundamentalist dogma to it. It gave me very practical insights into demonstrating the love of Christ in a real way while doing ministry for his church.  It even held a seminar where two prominent gay Christian theologians debated the issue of gay marriage in the church. This is a Christ centered, yet forward thinking school.   But that question still ate away at me.  In its student code of conduct, the university states that sexual activity is solely reserved for marriage. While this is certainly an ideal, it is more often now days not the reality. I started to imagine a young woman and young man from a church background, starting classes at this school, then meeting one another and falling in love.  They give in to that love and find out a baby is on the way. Then to avoid anger or embarrassment from their conservative families or even expulsion from the school, they decide to visit the Planned Parenthood across the street.  I imagined that they would sneak in the back entrance while their parents were busy toting protest signs and yelling at cars on the street through their bullhorn. Instead of seeking love and forgiveness, knowing they would probably find none, the students compound their guilt by aborting their unborn child.  Whether or not you agree with abortion or condemn it, the fact remains that it is hard to live with the pain of loss and regret, always thinking “what if?”  This is when I first started thinking, “There must be a better way.” Whether the issue is abortion, gay rights, or dressing up like a superhero, the proper way of disagreeing or debating is not with signs and bullhorns.  The sign serves as a barrier between the protester and the people who are being protested against.  The bullhorn magnifies what the protester is saying while drowning out the response of everyone else.  It is in effect saying, “I don’t care what you have to say, I am here to tell you that you are wrong.”  As I said earlier, it doesn’t matter if you are actually saying something reasonable, once you don the posture of a protester, the non-verbal communication trumps any verbal communication.  And because of the first example that was given at the SDCC by the Westborough Baptists, all that is communicated then is hate. An Alternative to Protesting So what is the better way? How do we communicate the truth of Jesus if signs and bullhorns produce the opposite result of that which we are seeking? Our prime example should be that of Jesus.  Matthew 4:17 tells us that after Jesus temptation in the wilderness and his return to Galilee, that “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” Most of us get the mental image (probably from too many bad Jesus movies) that he is standing on the corner or walking down the street, shouting this randomly to passing onlookers. I don’t think this is the case.  In context of the whole chapter, Matthew seems to be giving us a summary of Jesus overall message in this verse.  In movie terms, you could say this verse sets up the second act, letting us know what is going to happen.  Immediately after verse 4:17, we see Jesus talking to Peter and Andrew, asking them to follow him.  Then verse 23 says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”  Jesus is not some crazed street preacher like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Stephen King’s The Stand. Here is a man engaging with individuals, teaching in appropriate places, and doing so with the power and authority to back up his words through miraculous healing.  Therefore, if Jesus is our prime example we should be more like him, forming relationships with people instead rallying against them, teaching the good news one on one rather than blaring it through a bullhorn. So if our goal is being more like Jesus, how do we achieve that end?  What is the process we should take to be like Jesus? The answer, which both Christian theologians and Bible both agree, is through cosplay. “Hold on a minute,” you may be saying.  “What do mean, the Bible says we should cosplay in order to be more like Jesus?”  Well, C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, two prominent Christian theologians, as well as the apostle Paul attest to this. There are very practical lessons for Christians to learn through the physical and spiritual act of cosplay.  By engaging our imaginations, and making a little bit of fantasy a reality, we can learn how to make Christ’s love a reality as well. Christ-like Cosplay Even though the term “cosplay” may be a recent invention, C.S. Lewis spends a whole chapter entitled “Let’s Pretend” of his book Mere Christianity encouraging us to do just that.  He starts off by asking the reader to think deeply about a simple prayer Christians use, which begins “Our Father.”  With those two simple words, we put ourselves in the place of his son, essentially cosplaying as a child of God. Now, the moment you realise ‘Here I am, dressing up as Christ,’ it is extremely likely that you will see at once some way in which at that very moment the pretence could be made less of a pretence and more of a reality. You will find several things going on in your mind which would not be going on there if you were really a son of God. Well, stop them. Or you may realise that, instead of saying your prayers, you ought to be downstairs writing a letter, or helping your wife to wash-up. Well, go and do it. You see what is happening. The Christ Himself, the Son of God who is man (just like you) and God (just like His Father) is actually at your side and is already at that moment beginning to turn your pretence into a reality.[11]  We see here the process that happens when we dress up as Christ.  Anyone who has cosplayed understands this process very well.  Lewis, of course, is talking about a spiritual costuming, but when we cosplay physically, much of the same process happens.             It has to be said that cosplay is a serious endeavor, way beyond a simple hobby like building models or collecting coins and seriously more intense than merely putting on a store bought costume for Halloween. A conjunction of the words “costume player,” cosplay is a noun, describing the activity of assuming the costume and personality of a character.  The word is also a verb, as in “Do you cosplay?” The cosplayer takes great pride in manufacturing and assembling their own costume. Of course, for more intricate builds, like the Stormtroopers in the 501st group, expert cosplayers handcraft special elements to help with other’s costumes.  In the many sci-fi, comic book, and movie conventions that happen all around the world, cosplay contests are judged based not only on the accuracy of the costume, but in the ability of the cosplayer to inhabit the character that they are dressing up as.             For example, in 2013 my kids and I attended the Akron Comicon.  My oldest and youngest boys dressed up like playable characters from the video game Team Fortress 2. I helped them shop for the elements they needed at various second hand shops and dollar stores.  At the same time I was putting the finishing touches on my 4th Doctor outfit from the seminal sci-fi show, Doctor Who.  Fans of the show will recognize that this regeneration of the Doctor had a very long and distinctively colored scarf, which took my sister three years to knit together for me. At the convention, I put on the Doctor, much in the same way that Lewis says we should put on Christ. I adopted his voice and mannerisms as much as I could, even offering people real, imported Jelly Babies.  In a way, I really became a little more like him.             Going through this process, cosplaying as the Doctor, really helped me to cosplay as Jesus.  Because I have seen every episode of Doctor Who (yes, all 813!) I was able to really imagine myself as the Doctor. I imagined what it would be like to be the cleverest being in the room, to travel through time and space defeating evil with dry wit and a toothy smile.  I thought of the story “The Genesis of the Daleks” where he had the chance to wipe out the greatest evil in the universe by touching two wires together, but refusing because it was not his place to play God. “What about all of the races that ended their fighting and joined together as allies to fight a common foe?” he asked himself.  That’s a kind of person I want to be.             Jesus Christ is also the kind of person I want to be.  He suffered a similar dilemma in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He prayed to his Father knowing that he would be betrayed by a close friend, arrested, then physically and mentally abused, and at last to be tortured to death while spiritually suffering the wrath of God for the sins of all humanity.  Matthew 26:39 says, “He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”  He faced a more awful choice than the Doctor, to save a whole race at a tremendous personal cost or to let them be destroyed by their own devices.  As much as I admire the Doctor, I love Jesus for the choice he made, to follow his Father’s will and save us all! Salvation is in the Comic Books             I can identify with the Doctor and I can identify with Jesus because I am familiar with their stories.  I mentioned earlier that I have seen every single episode of Doctor Who. Much like reading the entire Bible, this is no small feat.  The Bible is best read in small bits, every day a little more, in order to ponder and internalize the wisdom, commands, stories, and lessons it offers to us.  Then, one can go back and maybe read a whole book in one sitting to gather the context and reach a greater understanding. In the same way, I took in Doctor Who a little at a time.  Over the course of nearly two and a half years I watched one 25 minute episode per day, about 5 or 6 days a week.  Even the lost episodes, I caught the excellent Loose Cannon reconstructions on YouTube.             Now, I can hear some people chiding me already: “You call yourself a Christian? You should be reading your Bible every day instead of spending so much of your time on that nonsense!”  I whole heartedly disagree, at least with the last part of that statement.  I do read my Bible every day, but I watch science fiction too.  Understanding the mythology and continuity of stories like Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Star Wars actually helps me understand the Bible better.  G.K Chesterton explains this in his book Orthodoxy.             Orthodoxy is Chesterton’s follow-up to Heretics, a book which criticizes the philosophies of the day which run contrary to Christian faith.  Much like Lewis’ Mere Christianity, Orthodoxy is an apologetic work defending Christian theology. Chesterton’s take on it is “an explanation, not of whether the Christian Faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it.”[12] He begins his chapter called, “The Ethics of Elfland” by recalling how old men would tell him as a child to get his head out of the clouds and deal with reality. Chesterton claims these men are all liars! For fairy tales and similar stories help us to understand the workings of our social world better than a dry recording of political events can give us. “It is quite easy to see why a legend is treated, and ought to be treated, more respectfully than a book of history. The legend is generally made by the majority of people in the village, who are sane. The book is generally written by the one man in the village who is mad.”[13]             He goes on to decry the men of strict science who try to find ultimate meaning in simple cause and effect. But the scientific men do muddle their heads, until they imagine a necessary mental connection between an apple leaving the tree and an apple reaching the ground. They do really talk as if they had found not only a set of marvellous facts, but a truth connecting those facts. They do talk as if the connection of two strange things physically connected them philosophically. They feel that because one incomprehensible thing constantly follows another incomprehensible thing the two together somehow make up a comprehensible thing. Two black riddles make a white answer.[14]  I feel that Fundamental Christianity has fallen into this trap as well, reading the Bible as a simple stream of facts as one would read information out of a newspaper.  They miss out on the poetry, the fables (which we call parables in the Bible) and the fantastic stories which tell us an underlying truth about God’s personality or about ours.[15]  These things become events which happened at another place in another time to somebody else. All that is left are God’s commands, which either you follow or you don’t. And if you don’t follow every single one, someone is going to let you know, shouting at you as you walk down the street in your Superman costume.             We miss out on the deep truths God wishes to teach us in the Bible if we forget how to read stories in a critical and literary fashion. Chesterton is keenly aware of this fact.  His own understanding of the world was helped, and not hindered, by reading fairy tales, myths, and legends. “In the fairy tale an incomprehensible happiness rests upon an incomprehensible condition. A box is opened, and all evils fly out. A word is forgotten, and cities perish. A lamp is lit, and love flies away. A flower is plucked, and human lives are forfeited. An apple is eaten, and the hope of God is gone.”[16] Being Super Can Help You Be Holy It can easily be said that there are modern myths, the fairy tales of our time are written in the comic books, and the legends of the 21st century are played out on the silver screen.  Understanding these science fiction tales and fantasy stories help us get a grip on the reality we have to face every day.  That person walking down the street to SDCC in the Superman costume knows full well of how Superman died (then came back to life!) fighting Doomsday in an effort to save his beloved Metropolis.  The fan in the Spiderman costume knows of the sacrifice Spidey had to make, trying to save both his girlfriend and a street car full of people as the Green Goblin dropped them both off of a bridge. The man in the Iron Man armor knows how Tony Stark found that selfless core in his being to save New York by guiding a bomb through a space-time portal at the end of the first Avengers movie.             All of these heroes have something in them that we admire. They are willing to die in order to save others. That is a trait that we as humans have always found to be noble.  Who, then, is nobler than Jesus Christ? He was willing to die for every single last one of us. This is a person we should dress up as, just like Lewis said we should.  But Lewis was not the first to suggest this.  Indeed, he says, “we begin to see what it is that the New Testament is always talking about. It talks about Christians `being born again’; it talks about them ‘putting on Christ’; about Christ ‘being formed in us’; about our coming to ‘have the mind of Christ’.”[17] Of the many verses that Lewis alludes to here, draw your attention to “putting on Christ” as in Romans 13:12b-14.  “Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”[18] Lewis talked about us being like children of God when we say “Our Father,” he probably got the notion from reading Galatians 3:26-27. “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”[19]  Paul further encourages such spiritual cosplay when he says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 to “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”[20] Paul is already in on the game.  More proof is in Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”[21] These are some of the qualities of Jesus’ personality, which we acquire when his Holy Spirit lives in us, as related in Galatians 5:22-25.  Ephesians 5:1-2, Philippians 2:5, the list goes on. The Bible is very clear that we should imitate Jesus. Cosplay for Christ                 So now we see that, for Christians, protesting is the very opposite thing that Christ has called us to do.  It is the most ineffective way to dialogue because it is one-sided communication, and the non-verbal posture of protesting is in its very nature combative and confrontational. Instead of fighting with cosplayers and other comic book fans at this year’s SDCC, Christians should burn their protest signs, throw their bullhorns on the bonfire, and join them.  Cosplaying as superheroes helps us to cosplay as our ultimate hero, Jesus Christ.  Reading, watching, and interacting with the stories of our favorite comic book, television, and movie characters is a worthy endeavor. It is an endeavor that helps us to read and understand the story of the Bible so we can understand God’s character, then our character changes to be more like his.             And this is not an endeavor we do alone. Lewis concludes his take on cosplay by revealing that it is not only we who are doing the pretending.  If we try to be like Christ, putting our full faith and trust in Him, then God the Father pretends that we are Jesus as well. “God looks at you as if you were a little Christ: Christ stands beside you to turn you into one. I daresay this idea of a divine make-believe sounds rather strange at first. But, is it so strange really?”[22] In theological terms, this is the very definition of substitutionary atonement. I could write another ten pages explaining theological concept, or you cosplay as Christ and experience it for yourself.   In the pictures of protest and counter-protest signs on the websites documenting all the furor of SDCC’s past, I noticed one photo of a man literally dressed like Jesus.[23]  His cosplay is excellent; he’s the Buddy Christ from Kevin Smith’s Dogma but he also looks like he stepped out of an Orthodox Church icon, halo and all.  He is pointing to a sign that says, “God loves everybody.” I think he gets it.  References Abraham, Zennie. 2014. Jesus Freaks Protest San Diego Comic Con Goers SDCC 2014. 08 02. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.zennie62blog.com/2014/08/02/jesus-freaks-protest-san-diego-comic-con-goers/. Anti-Defamation League. 2012. Anti-Abortion Violence: America's Forgotten Terrorism. 09 04. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/domestic-extremism-terrorism/c/anti-abortion-violence-americas-forgotten-terrorism- Calhoun, Bob. 2010. Comic-Con report: Geeks vs. fundamentalist Christians. 07 23. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.salon.com/2010/07/23/comic_con_christian_protesters_phelps_open2010/. Chesterton, G.K. 2009-12-15. The Chesterton Reader: 21 Works in One Volume (Unexpurgated Edition) . Halcyon Classics. Halcyon Press Ltd. Corrigan, John, and Winthrop S. Hudson. 2004. Religion in America. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. Goldman, Tom. 2010. Church Protesting San Diego Comic-Com for "Idol Worship". 07 10. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.210831-Church-Protesting-San-Diego-Comic-Con-For-Idol-Worship. Johnston, Rich. 2014. Jesus, Satan, Godzilla And Galactus - The Protesters At San Diego Comic Con. 07 26. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/07/26/jesus-satan-godzilla-and-galactus-the-protesters-at-san-diego-comic-con/. Khoun, Andy. 2012. Galactus is Nigh: CHristians Protest Comic-Con Again [SDCC 2012]. 07 15. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://comicsalliance.com/galactus-is-nigh-christians-protest-comic-con-again-sdcc-2012/. Kim, Tony B. 2011. Westboro Baptist Church vs Comic Con. 06 20. Accessed 06 12, 2015. https://crazy4comiccon.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/westboro-baptist-church-vs-comic-con/. Lewis, C.S. 2002. The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics. New York, NY: Harper Collins. Lobe, Paul. 2013. Atheists protest at Comic Con. 07 27. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rockbeyondbelief/2013/07/27/atheists-protest-at-comic-con/. Pahl, Michael W. 2011. The Beginning and the End: Rereading Genesis's Stories and Revelation's Visions. Kindle Edition. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.     [1] Calhoun, Bob. 2010. Comic-Con report: Geeks vs. fundamentalist Christians. 07 23. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.salon.com/2010/07/23/comic_con_christian_protesters_phelps_open2010/. [2] Goldman, Tom. 2010. Church Protesting San Diego Comic-Com for "Idol Worship". 07 10. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.210831-Church-Protesting-San-Diego-Comic-Con-For-Idol-Worship. [3] Kim, Tony B. 2011. Westboro Baptist Church vs Comic Con. 06 20. Accessed 06 12, 2015. https://crazy4comiccon.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/westboro-baptist-church-vs-comic-con/. [4] Khoun, Andy. 2012. Galactus is Nigh: CHristians Protest Comic-Con Again [SDCC 2012]. 07 15. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://comicsalliance.com/galactus-is-nigh-christians-protest-comic-con-again-sdcc-2012/ [5] Lobe, Paul. 2013. Atheists protest at Comic Con. 07 27. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rockbeyondbelief/2013/07/27/atheists-protest-at-comic-con/. [6] Abraham, Zennie. 2014. Jesus Freaks Protest San Diego Comic Con Goers SDCC 2014. 08 02. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.zennie62blog.com/2014/08/02/jesus-freaks-protest-san-diego-comic-con-goers/. [7] Johnston, Rich. 2014. Jesus, Satan, Godzilla And Galactus - The Protesters At San Diego Comic Con. 07 26. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/07/26/jesus-satan-godzilla-and-galactus-the-protesters-at-san-diego-comic-con/. [8] Corrigan, John, and Winthrop S. Hudson. 2004. Religion in America. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. Pgs. 217-20. [9] Ibid., pgs. 355-60 [10] Anti-Defamation League. 2012. Anti-Abortion Violence: America's Forgotten Terrorism. 09 04. Accessed 06 12, 2015. http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/domestic-extremism-terrorism/c/anti-abortion-violence-americas-forgotten-terrorism- [11] Lewis, C.S. 2002. The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics. New York, NY: Harper Collins. Pg 152 [12] Chesterton, G.K. (2009-12-15). The Chesterton Reader: 21 Works in One Volume (Unexpurgated Edition) (Halcyon Classics) (Kindle Locations 6728-6729). Halcyon Press Ltd.. Kindle Edition. [13] Ibid., Kindle Locations 7317-7318 [14] Ibid., Kindle Locations 7377-7381 [15] For more on this, read The Beginning and the End by Micheal W.Pahl. [16] Chesterton, Kindle Locations 7446-7448 [17] Lewis, Pg. 154. [18] New Revised Standard Version [19] English Standard Version [20] New King James Version [21] New International Version [22] Lewis, Pg. 155 [23] Kim

We're Back! After a few months away, Mike and I are back and we are ready to rip into a riff worthy Christ-ploitation film, God's Not Dead. And in TV Corner, we attempt to delve into the reality show "Preachers of LA."  Well, as deep as you can get in a reality show.  Here are some websites to help you delve deeper into our discussion tangents, err, topics.  God's Not Dead (2014) - IMDbPlato's Cave Analogy - Theological StudiesHegelianism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaDigital music revenue overtakes CD sales for the first time globally | The VergePreachers of L.A. - | OxygenPreachers of LA (TV Series 2013– ) - IMDbAmazon.com: Preachers of L.A., Season 2: Amazon Instant VideoNext time, hopefully soon, we will be looking at some (better) films and TV shows that are critically acclaimed. Our movie is the drama Calvary  For TV Corner, we are viewing several select episodes of "Blue Bloods" on Netflix.  Possible choices are episodes 206 Black and Blue, 213 Leap of Faith, 307 Nightmares, and 314 Men in Black. Let's go already!

Happy New Year! In December, Mike and I had the chance to see Exodus: Gods and Kings, and thought "Hey, we've done three episodes over Ridley Scott movies, how about one more?" Is it the next Gladiator or more like American Psycho? Listen to our review to find out.  In TV Corner we check out "The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible" at the suggestion of one of the friends of the podcast.‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ Banned in Egypt Because of ‘Historical Inaccuracies’Faith-Based ‘Exodus’ Crucified on Social Media for ‘Whitewashing’ BibleThe Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible WikipediaNext time we will watch the faith based God's Not Dead and the reality show "Preachers of L.A." Until then...

Season Greetings! We hope you are all well this Christmas Eve. This episode has been delayed not because of poor health of your hosts (which has happened in the past), but because of the failing health of the laptop used to produce this podcast.  The issues seem to have been resolved, and so you get this present from Mike and Robert so you can listen to us express our opinions as you are on your way to various worship services and family get-togethers.'Longmire' Lives, Fans Rejoice As Netflix Signs Season Four Return ...'Selfie' canceled by ABC | Inside TV | EW.comHas Clara Oswald got a future in Doctor Who?Oh, God! (1977) - IMDbRetro TV - Home Highway to Heaven (TV Series 1984–1989) - IMDbOn our next episode we will be tempting fate once again by reviewing the just released religious epic Exodus: Gods and Kings and the Hanna-Barbera children's series "The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible." We have already seen the movie which is currently in theaters, and the show is available on YouTube and DVD. As they say in the year 3001, Merry Xmas!

As most people do, I receive a lot of spam in my email.  One day, while attempting to clean out my inbox, I ran across this advertisement from New Release Tuesday, a Christian music website.  As soon as I saw this it made me very angry.  There is a lot a bad sentiment implied here; it is also misleading, and exploitative.  A little harsh, you say? I shall explain why I think this is an exploitative film and why you should not go see Left Behind with Nicolas Cage. First, I shall describe the bad sentiment behind this ad.             There has been a long history of bad blood between Hollywood and conservative Christians.  Robert K. Johnston gives a very good account of this in his book Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue.  It begins, strangely enough, with Cecil B. DeMille.  Today, DeMille’s movie The Ten Commandments (1956) is generally held in high regard as the ultimate example of what a religious movie should be.  It details the life of Moses, from growing up in the Egyptian royal house to leading the Israelites triumphantly into the Promised Land.  It depicts God as a real entity and Moses coming to trust in the Lord after wrestling with Modern philosophical concerns about him.  ABC still broadcasts the film on television every Easter (or Passover, depending on your point of view), and has done so for so long it has become an unbreakable tradition.  Despite the fact that nearly the entire first half of the movie has no basis in the Biblical story, or that—in an opening sequence often deleted for time on television—DeMille comes out from behind the curtain to say this movie is an explicit metaphor of the Cold War,[1] the general opinion amongst Christians is that this classic movie is a highly accurate representation of the Genesis tale.  My pastor once told the story in one of his sermons how his parents, who were the conservative types that shunned all motion pictures, made the exception to see DeMille’s spectacle in the theater.              But what few people know is that this was DeMille’s second movie bearing the title The Ten Commandments.  In 1923, he produced a film with that moniker, but it was not a sword and sandal epic.  It was of the genre which he basically invented and was first famous, or more precisely, infamous.  Based on the rationalization that indiscretion could be presented on the screen as long as the sin was eventually corrected, his spectacles were little more than glorified melodramas that included an effective combination of debauchery and piety. They were, however, hits with the public. In The Ten Commandments (1923), which was produced for the then-astronomical figure of one-and-a-half million dollars, DeMille housed his portrayals of orgies within a larger moral framework of the giving of the Law (Johnston, 44).[2]   It was objections to Demille’s graphic portrayal of sinful behavior which prompted groups like The Catholic Church to form the Legion of Decency to start boycotting movies they felt were objectionable.[3]  In response, the film industry instituted the first Production Code in 1930.[4] Our modern ratings system is the ideological descendant of this Code.             Boycotting films is a tactic which did not cease in the early part of the former century.  More recently, films like Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ and Kevin Smith’s Dogma have seen opening nights surrounded by picket signs.[5]  All of this goes to show that the relationship between Hollywood and the conservative church has always been uneasy at best.             Things have changed in the last ten years or so with the rise of the faith based family film.  The unexpected and overwhelming success of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ demonstrated that there is a demand for religious based fare in the movie marketplace.  The website Box Office Mojo has compiled a list of the top 100 Christian movies released in the last twenty years, the majority of which have been release in the wake of Gibson’s Passion. The total gross of these movies is over $1.5 billion.[6]  Left Behind (2014) is the most recent addition to this genre, and is typical to most of those movies made in that time period in terms of its modest budget and independent production values.  They are a far cry from the massive Biblical epics of the 50’s like The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, and Quo Vadis. And here is where I take issue with what is implied in the advertisement for Left Behind.             It seems to me that when it is said, “Show your support for Christian based films and see the movie now,” the implied meaning is “Show Hollywood they need to make more Christian movies like this.”  If that is the case and you, dear reader, run out to see Nicholas Cage in Left Behind in hopes that Hollywood executives in the major studios will start throwing big bucks at Christian morality tales, you will be sorely disappointed.  It is very unlikely that we will see the return of the big Christian Biblical epic.  On the contrary, the films we are seeing now are a new genre of exploitative movies, the Christploitation film, if you will.             How are films like Left Behind, God’s Not Dead, and Son of God exploitative?  Let us look at the definition of exploitative.  Webster’s dictionary identifies it: ex·ploit·ative adjective ik-ˈsplȯi-tə-tiv, ek-ˌsplȯi-:  exploiting or tending to exploit; especially :  unfairly or cynically using another person or group for profit or advantage    Take notice of the last example in the definition.  Exploitative films have been around so long that they are in the dictionary.  There are many kinds of exploitative films, including various horror films, monster movies, and the Blaxploitation film.  Even DeMille’s first The Ten Commandments (1923) can be classified as exploitation.  Wikipedia puts it this way, “Exploitation film is an informal label which may be applied to any film which is generally considered to be low budget, and therefore apparently attempting to gain financial success by "exploiting" a current trend or a niche genre or a base desire for lurid subject matter.”[7]  An argument might be made that these faith based movies do not fit this definition because they are anything but lurid.  In fact, their core audience wants to see sanitized fare that is safe for the whole family.              But fitting the definition, the Christian faith based movie (or Christploitation flick) is a niche genre and definitely a current trend. “Over the last five years, independent Christian movies—films with overt proselytizing—have been among the most profitable independent releases across all genres.”[8]  Also fitting the above definition, the majority of them are made on modest budgets to turn a quick profit. For example, let us look at the budgets of some Christploitation films released in the last year.  Heaven is for Real was made for $12 million and grossed $91.4 million.  Mom’s Night Out grossed over $10 million and was produced for half of that, while God’s Not Dead earned $60 million on a budget of only $2 million.[9]  So you see, studios are going to make these small movies with the intention of reaping huge dollars at the box office.  Contrary to this trend, the recent Left Behind was made for a larger budget of $16 million, but in its third week of release it has only earned just over $13 million.[10]             The reason this movie seems to be bucking the trend is because it is an awful movie.  The filmmakers decided to take more of a gamble and throw a little more money at this movie expecting the same ratio of success the other movies enjoyed.  It didn’t pay off this time.  A 2012 article states, “But this year, Cloud Ten is quadrupling down on Left Behind.  It plans to spend roughly $15 million to remake just the first of the series, nearly four times the budget of each of the original three.”[11]  It was the hope of the producers that this movie would cross over from the group of Christian movie goers to whom Christploitation flicks pander to the mainstream audience.  This didn’t happen.  A look at the professional reviews of Left Behind elucidate why.             Rotten Tomatoes is a website that compiles movie reviews in order to find a consensus on the general quality of a film.  Looking at the overall positive or negative nature of the critiques, Left Behind earned a rating of 2% fresh, meaning just one out of 57 critical reviews was positive.  If you are a Christian still deciding if you want to catch this remake, just don’t. Listen to some of the reviews compiled by Rotten Tomatoes. “Left Behind isn't a movie for progressive Christians any more than it's a movie for people who appreciate top production values, convincing acting or superlative dialogue.” Matt Brunsen.  “The movie unravels in its own destruction. Every effort to milk the tragedy of the apocalypse is met with terrible music, acting and effects that soak (and drown) the pathos in camp fare.”  Monica Castillo.  “Not only is this an amateurish travesty combining fundamentalist Christian eschatology with disaster movie b.s., but it's plodding and tedious.” James Berardinelli. [12]             The last review makes a point that I would like to touch on, that this movie is based on bad theology.  Like the literal, fundamentalist interpretation of Genesis leads to bad theology (which I discussed at length in several episodes of my podcast, which you can find here and here), taking the book of Revelation at face value can lead one to get lost trying to find meaning in the dreamlike, apocalyptic imagery of the tome and lose the real meaning behind it. Left Behind is an example of this, using the end of the world as the McGuffin for an action movie instead of offering hope to those who follow Jesus that are facing insurmountable persecution.  A nice, short read which can help all people discover the long held, orthodox interpretation of both Genesis and Revelation is book The Beginning and the End by Michael W. Paul.              So whether you are hoping to see Left Behind because you are looking for a good action movie, or because you are looking for a faith based movie which displays orthodox Christian theology, then Left Behind will disappoint you on both accounts.  As New York film reviewer Susan Granger says, “Faith-driven audiences deserve better.”[13]             Does this mean we should avoid all Christploitation movies because we deserve to see better? By all means, no! Not all of these movies are as terrible as Left Behind.  I personally liked God’s Not Dead.  Kevin Sorbo is compelling as the atheist philosophy professor who demands that his students likewise deny God’s existence.  The ensuing classroom debate harkens back to the drama in Inherit the Wind.  Even though the rest of the acting is wooden (sorry Dean Cain), and there are too many plot threads trying to prove too many preachy points, this movie is pretty good overall.              That does not mean that Christian moviegoers should blindly throw their money at terrible movies solely because they are faith based.  As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.  If we keep paying for garbage, the movie industry will keep serving up garbage.  But is Left Behind really that bad?  The ad above claims that Fandango fans gave it four stars, and the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 65% approval rating.  A closer examination of the reviews on both websites belies these apparently favorable indicators.  For every five-star rating with a simple “I liked it” review, there are several one-star diatribes describing every inferior aspect of the movie.   In the end, the answer to the question just posed is: yes, Left Behind really is that bad.             So if you are a Christian and a fan of the movies, do not feel compelled to fall into the old way of thinking, the “us versus them” attitude conservatives copped towards Hollywood for so much of the twentieth century.  Please do not drag your friends to Left Behind just to feed a desire to see more faith based movies in the theater.  Do your research, look at the reviews, and spend your money on quality.  If Left Behind fails to meet expectations (which I say it has, both in quality and financially) it does not mean the end of the world. The end of the world will come at a time no one expects and in a way no one can predict, just as Jesus said in Matthew 24.  In the meantime, Christploitation films are, for the foreseeable future, going to keep premiering at the cineplex.  Just because one falters, it will not dissuade any other movie producers from making money in the genre.  That is my prediction. Works Cited Bennett, Cory. "Christian films find fans at multiplex." Akron Beacon Journal 3 May 2012: F21-F22. Newspaper. Christian Movies at the Box Office. n.d. website. 27 Oct 2014. . Flesher, Paul V.M. and Robert Torry. Film & Religion: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. Johnston, Robert K. Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006. Left Behind - Rotten Tomatoes. n.d. website. 27 Oct 2014. . Riley, Robin. Film, Faith, and Cultural Conflict: The Case of Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2003. [1] Flesher, Paul V.M. and Robert Torry. Film & Religion: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2007. Pg. 72 [2] Johnston, Robert K. Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006. Pg. 44 [3] Johnston , pg. 46 [4] Johnston,  pg. 45 [5] Riley, Robin. Film, Faith, and Cultural Conflict: The Case of Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2003 [6] http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christian.htm [7] www.wikipedia.com [8] Bennett, Cory. "Christian films find fans at multiplex." Akron Beacon Journal 3 May 2012: F21-F22. Newspaper. Pg.  F21 [9] http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christian.htm [10] http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=christian.htm [11] Bennett, pg. F21 [12] http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/left_behind_2014/?search=left%20b [13] http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/left_behind_2014/?search=left%20b

How does one make a movie about Scientology without it being about Scientology? In our discussion this month, we plumb the depths of meaning lurking within the frames of Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master. In TV Corner we look at the A&E western/procedural that is, ahem, on hiatus: "Longmire." This show helps us look at faith and politics from a Native American perspective.What is The Master Really About? Five InterpretationsWhat Is the Meaning of The Master?The Master: What does it All Mean?Scientology Aside, 'The Master's" Meaning is ClearNext month's episode will have a retro theme.  Oh, God! with George Burns and "Highway to Heaven" with Victor French and Michael Landon. Blessings!

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!  In this episode we return to the popular post-apocalyptic genre looking at two of last year's films parodying the Biblical account of end of the world, This is the End and Rapture-palooza.  In addition, we reveal our opinion of the new HBO series "The Leftovers."  Also, take note of and consider your support for two documentaries that (as of the time this podcast is first published) are currently in crowd-sourced fundraising campaigns. The links for both are below.Hail to the King HomepageHail to the King Kickstarter PageThe Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? EW ArticleThe Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? FanBacked PageIMDB: This is the EndIMDB: Rapture-PaloozaOfficial "The Leftovers" WebsiteThe Wil Wheaton Project Episode 7Next month we roll back to 2012's "The Master" which "isn't" about the origins of Scientology.  And in TV Corner we check out the current A&E series "Longmire"  See you then!

Hello, faithful listeners! This episode is coming to you on the eve of my (Robert's) very first short term mission trip, a week in Costa Rica spreading the good news of Jesus.  While I am there, Mike and I hope you enjoy our discussion on Disney's Frozen and ABC's "Resurrection."  When I get back I'll update this post with all of the links and cool stuff that came up during our talk.  In the meantime, our next episode will be another double feature: Rapture-palooza and This is the End. We will come back at you in July with our thoughts on last summer's apocalyptic craziness. ¡Hasta luego!UPDATE!  Here are some of the links we talked about in this episode.Disney's Official Frozen PageThe Gospel According to Disney's FrozenHow Christian is Disney's Frozen? (Not Very)How Gay is Disney's Frozen?Official Resurrection Page

Greetings! SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen the movie Noah starring Russel Crowe, be warned that this podcast contains many plot spoilers.  But as the plot points in this movie were all by the book cliches, they will come as no surprise to you, even if you have not seen the film.  In fact, don't go to see this movie; it's not very good.  Just listen to Robert and Mike relate to you their experience of watching this movie, and count yourself lucky that you did not waste your money at the theater.  If you think we are being to harsh, here are some other opinions:Noah - Rotten TomatoesSympathy For The Devil — Dr. Brian MattsonNo, Noah is not Gnostic. (Say that ten times fast!)7 of the Worst Mistakes in the Movie 'Noah''Noah' Director Aronofsky on 'Environmental Wacko' Criticism: Noah Saved Animals, Not BabiesHuffPost Live Noah is the Least Biblical Film Ever MadeBritish Theater Cancels Debut Screening of 'Noah' Due to FloodingNext Month we will be reviewing Disney's new epic hit Frozen and ABC's short series "Ressurection." You can find the former on DVD, Blu-Ray, and digital, while you can still catch the latter online at Hulu Plus or ABC's website. See you then!

Bonjour! In this months episode, Mike and Robert turn their critical eye to the award winning Les Misérables starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.  That's right--it's Wolverine vs. Jor-El in this musical set during France's Student Revolution.  In TV corner we examine the British ITV production of "The Second Coming" with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston.Les Misérables (2012) - IMDbThe Second Coming (TV Mini-Series 2003) - IMDbZoidberg Goes PopFor next month, we want to try something different.You are invited to a Movie and Dinner “Checking the Gate” wants a date with you! With the upcoming release of Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, Mike and Robert of “Checking the Gate: A Film and Religion Podcast” would like to gather their friends and listeners for an evening of film, food and discussion. The idea is to view the film together, then share a meal at nearby restaurant to talk about it and also record this discussion for the podcast. Here is what we have planned so far; it is still early, so times are subject to change. Movie: Noah (138 min) PG-13When: Saturday, April 5, approx. 3:50 PM (showtime may change).Where: Regal Montrose Movies 4020 Medina Road, Akron, OH 44333 Dinner and Discussion: Chili’sWhen: Immediately after movie, approx.. 6:30 PM depending on showtime.Where: 4022 Medina Rd., Akron, OH Please RSVP on our Facebook page or by e-mail at ctgpodcast@yahoo.com. Each person is responsible for their own ticket and meal. The first ten people who RSVP will get $5 off of their meal courtesy of Checking the Gate Podcast! Hope to see you at the movies!

Welcome to another long awaited episode, number thirty-one, of “Checking the Gate: A Film and Religion Podcast.”  This one is a doosie folks; we must be real film critics now because we both Mike and Robert have rants about all of the media we watched for this month.  We viewed the Gerhard Butler vehicle Machine Gun Preacher and the popular, Fox Network supernatural thriller “Sleepy Hollow.”In war-torn Uganda, kids only emerge at night - Dateline NBC | NBC NewsMachine Gun Preacher (2011) - Box Office MojoMachine Gun Preacher | About SamSleepy Hollow on FOXThe Beginning and The EndNext time we will bring you reviews of certifiably better fare, the acclaimed adaptation of Les Misérables and the British ITV production "The Second Coming" starring Christopher Eccelston.  You can find Les Mis on Blu-Ray and "The Second Coming" on DVD and YouTubeThe Second Coming Part 1The Second Coming - Part 2

Hooray! We hit the big three-oh in our first episode for 2014.  We look once again at “Doctor Who” which just celebrated its 50th anniversary to much fanfare, but first we look at the acclaimed Ang Lee flick Life of Pi.Life of Pi (2012) - IMDbDoctor Who as Religion | The Jesuit PostNext Time:  We give our thoughts on Machine Gun Preacher starring Gerard Butler and the popular FOX supernatural thriller "Sleepy Hollow."

Happy Boxing Day! This special holiday edition of Checking the Gate brings you reviews of the foreign feature Joyeux Noel and the family series "Veggie Tales" Now that all the presents have been wrapped, given, unwrapped, and then played with, eaten, drank, watched, broken, or returned, you can sit back and relax with Mike and Robert.Joyeux Noel (2005) - IMDbVeggieTales - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker killed in car crash - CNN.comThe Ang Lee film Life of Pi is up for next month, as is an examination of "Doctor Who" for its portrayal of religion in the show as well as the religious devotion of its fans. So until then, ¡Feliz Navidad!

Greetings! Hey, we are back on schedule!  This month we talk about Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick.  Do you think that Vin Diesel's Riddick character is a Christ type, or is that streching the definition too far? We also do a roundup of several shows Mike and I have been watching this fall. Some of them have potential.Chronicles of Riddick, The on DVD | Trailers, bonus features, cast photos & more | Universal Studios Entertainment PortalRiddick Movie 2013 - Riddick 3 - News, Images, Trailers & ForumSleepy Hollow on FOXNext time we are getting in the Christmas spirit and watching Joyeux Noel, an historical picture about the Christmas Eve truce of WWI.  SInce Mike and his daughter have been watching "Veggietales" we will see how much Christian values they actually communicate. See you in December!

Finally! The cursed episode is finally completed and released!  After many delays in recording due to various health problems for both Mike and Robert, then more delays after half the audio recorded was rendered unusable due to computer malfunctions, we at last present to you this episode on The Godfather Series and "The Bible: The Epic Miniseries."  We think we have some keen insights that you will surely enjoy. The Godfather (1972) - IMDbThe Bible Series « 100+ Million Watched #1 TV Series of 2013 The Bible SeriesObama Satan Look-Alike? 'The Bible' Mini-Series Producers Call Rumors 'Utter Nonsense' (VIDEO)Please forgive us for the long break;  we promise that the next episode is already in the can and will be released at the beginning of November.  We are going to talk (have already talked?) about the Vin Diesel vehicles Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick.  What do these have to do with religion? Well, just enough for us to talk about. See you soon!

Celebrate Independence Day weekend with a new podcast from Checking the Gate.  We evaluate the religious merits of the Hellboy movies and the short lived series "Save Me."  Our Hellboy discussion, admittedly, is merely an excuse to talk about Guillermo Del Toro's new film Pacific Rim out July 12.  But our discussion about "Save Me" get heated; Mike decries its quality while Robert defends it from those who judge without merit.Hellboy II: The Golden Army on DVD | Trailers, bonus features, cast photos & more | Universal Studios Entertainment PortalHellboy, Evil, and the Cross | Christianity TodayWarner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Pacific Rim – Movie, Trailer, Photos, SynopsisWatch Save Me online | Free | HuluNBC Save Me OneMillionMoms.comReformed Baptist BluesNext Month is our EPIC SPECIAL!  We are watching the Godfather Trilogy and the History Channel mega-series "The Bible"  All of these are available on DVD and Blu-Ray.  

Hello faithful listeners, ye who are full of faith! Welcome to a another special episode of CTG Podcast.  This month Mike and I have recommended new media to the other for our review session.  I (Robert) suggested the movie Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself and Mike heralded Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing."  Please forgive us caffeine and sugar drove us into tangentland more than once. I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) - IMDb Top Ten Left Wing Scenes on The West Wing | Media Research Center The Ten Best "West Wing" Episodes Why do Heathens Make the Best Christian Films? In anticipation of Guillermo Del Toro's kaiju vs. robot extravaganza Pacific Rim coming out next month, we will be turning our gaze upon his previous films Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Both are available on DVD, Blu-Ray, Netflix, and for rent on Amazon.  For TV Corner, a new show has come to our attention, that Anne Heche vehicle "Save Me" airing currently on NBC Thursdays at 8PM Eastern.  You can also catch up on previous episodes at NBC.com and Hulu Plus.