eArticles
	Finding Truth 24 Times a Second         Having Family Fun this Summer at the Cinema
	Fluff. That's the normal word that describes the summer offers from Hollywood. You end up shelling out eight dollars for admission in order to sit in a darkened room to watch 100 minutes of nothing. Luckily, this summer is shaping up to be much better than the norm.     If you are looking for something entertaining and engaging this summer, your family just might find it at the movies. From action to adventure to animated, there is something worth watching. And more importantly, worth talking about later.     When choosing a movie for your family there are two key elements to keep in mind: truth and redemption. Whether it is WALL-E dealing with issues of community and isolation or the Iron Man's struggles with sacrifice and identity, you find these two elements at work in many of this summer's batch of films.

Truth is the make it or break it element for me in a movie. There has to be something there that shows the truth about God’s design for the world or how life is supposed to work. This doesn’t mean a movie can’t deal with difficult issues. If that is what the film calls for then it would be dishonest not to show them. Truth can be found in both the glory and gore of a film like Amazing Grace or the beauty and brokenness of Dear Frankie.     When you see those moments of truth jump off the screen, ponder them. Later, over ice cream or a latte, ask questions concerning what you experienced on the screen. “Why do you think the character responded that way?” “How did their decisions effect their life and those around him/her?” “How might you have responded differently?”
The amazing thing about truth in film is that it is not hard to talk about it. As a matter of fact, we want to talk about it. I sat alone one night recently and watched The Kite Runner. I was so deeply effected by the truths of honor and integrity portrayed in the film that I was dying to find someone to talk about with afterward. Be sure to take advantage of those moments after your own family viewing while the movie is still effecting you emotionally and the feelings are raw.     The second element to watch for is redemption. When looking for redemption in a movie it shouldn't be limited to the salvation or changing of a character. It could be how a culture or group is changed or how someone is made greater because of adversity. A powerful example is in the recent film Bella where we see how one horrific and irreversible event is redeemed years later by one selfless decision that changes everyone’s life involved.     Many times it’s more about looking for a specific redemptive moment in a film. A good example is the scene in Prince Caspian when all the other children doubt that Lucy saw Aslan. Later when confronted by Aslan, he asks Lucy why she let the others try to tell her what is real. What a perfect setup for a discussion on faith and				Movies Worth Checking Out  Indiana Jones PG-13  Journey to Center of Earth PG  Hancock PG-13  WALL-E PG  Prince Caspian PG  Kung Fu Panda  PG  American Girl: Kit Kitridge  G  Incredible Hulk PG-13  Iron Man           PG-13  Speed Racer PG  Batman: The Dark Knight PG-13
doubt! Other examples would be Indiana Jones choosing a greater good over personal glory and Bruce Wayne, in The Dark Knight, giving himself for the city that will never fully understand the sacrifices he has made. Sounds like a real life Savior we know.       As redeemed people who have been reborn by the Light, we can now see glimmers of light when it is shining in our culture. Part of our responsibility to our culture is to point out the Light when we see it no matter where it is found. We must always remember that all truth is God’s truth regardless of the medium in which it is conveyed. Or the spiritual intent of those behind the film. The apostle Paul tells us that whatever things are true, noble, right, lovely, or worth admiring, those are the things we should ponder. You’ll never see a perfect film. Or even one that gets all the theology right. But there are many films out there just waiting for you to discover the glimmer of light found in them.         This summer our family will see a few films just like yours will. But instead of shelling out our eight dollars each and switching our brains off, we’ll be looking for truth and redemption flashing before our eyes at twenty four frames per second. And along the way maybe we’ll lose ourselves in a grand story about a superhero with a cape, or an archaeologist who is afraid of snakes, or a different part of our own world where animals can talk and fight off evil.           Other Media Resources on Truth in Films
The following are website suggestions to help you make discerning choices in watching films.
»  www.hollywoodjesus.com.         A great website that focuses more on the big picture of a film. The editor, David Bruce, does an excellent job of helping you     see not just the moral relevance but also the artistic qualities of a film. »  www.commonsensemedia.org.     This is the best website I've seen on media reviews and recommendations for a younger audience. Looks at films, television     shows, and books. Well-balanced in that it relies heavily on reviews from other parents and not just "the pros." »  www.pluggedin.com.     A good website from Focus on the Family that gives reviews in every type of media for teens. Great for parents of middle     schoolers.