Harry Potter Is 'A Good Christian'

by Mark Moring

Tumminio says she structured her forthcoming book the way she did her class: by exploring Christianity's influence on Rowling's themes of evil, sin and resurrection.

When Tumminio, who holds three degrees from Yale and is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church, taught Christian Theology and Harry Potter at the Ivy League university during 2008 and 2009, the course drew a religiously diverse group of students, including an Indian Christian, a Kenyan Episcopalian and a Chinese atheist.

Palin Breaks a Record, Don'tcha Know?

by Mark Moring

The premiere episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska, which debuted last Sunday night on TLC, landed almost 5 million viewers, setting a record for the network; it was the most-watched series debut in TLC history.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey reviewed the premiere for Christianity Today.

'Number One With a Bullet'

by Mark Moring

A recent Associated Press story describes "Amazing Grace" as "a global music sensation" and "No. 1 with a bullet."

The writer asks, "Will Elvis' 'Hound Dog' last 200 years? Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'? Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face'? 'Amazing Grace' already has and keeps on going." Cliff Barrows, who led the singing for decades at Billy Graham crusades, adds, "We will sing this song until Jesus comes and it may be one of our theme songs in heaven around the throne."

According to allmusic.com, "Amazing Grace" has been recorded more than 6,600 times. That's a number to make anyone go gaga.

"It may be the most recorded song on the planet," said Jerry Bailey, executive at Broadcast Music, Inc., of Nashville.

Jason Castro Hits the Christian Market

by Mark Moring

Jason Castro may have only finished in fourth place in American Idol's seventh season (2008, when David Cook won it all), but he was a fan favorite for his good looks, great dreadlocks, endearing charm, and pleasant voice.

He released his self-titled debut album in April, a disc of primarily pop and love songs. But his label said he'd also release a follow-up version for the Christian market later in the year.

That time is now, as Who I Am released last week to Christian stores and online retailers. It's a pleasant pop album, with at least half of the ten songs explicitly about his faith. His first single, "You Are," is fast climbing the Christian charts. (Listen here.)

We interviewed Castro about his faith here, and he gives more of his testimony in the video below:

Trading Faith Healing for Sex, Drugs, and Fame

by Mark Moring

Actor Mark Ruffalo (Collateral, Zodiac, Shutter Island) and good friend Christopher Thornton have walked -- metaphorically speaking -- a difficult journey together for some 20 years. Thornton had been a paraplegic since 1992, when he fractured two vertebrae after a fall while rock climbing; Thornton still can't walk. Ten years later, Ruffalo was diagnosed with a brain tumor; it turned out to be benign and was surgically removed, resulting in temporary partial facial paralysis.

With that history, the two men teamed up to write (Thornton) and direct (Ruffalo) an edgy indie film about faith healing titled Sympathy for Delicious, which was just picked up by Maya Entertainment and is slated for a theatrical release next spring. Thornton plays the role of a recently paralyzed DJ who attends a faith healing service. But instead of being healed, he awakes the next day to find that he has the power to heal others simply by laying hands on them -- a power he quickly abuses.

"He basically takes his God-given gift and prostitutes it for sex, drugs, rock & roll, and fame," Ruffalo said at the Sundance Film Festival, where the film screened. In the same interview, Thornton said that the main character was so down about his circumstances that he "had to at least entertain the possibility of faith."

Earlier this year, Thornton told the LA Times that about 18 months after his accident, he had done the same thing -- going to faith healing services and seeing holistic healers, often dragged by friends. "You're ready to believe in miracles," he said. But when he wasn't healed, he later resented the experience and was angry at himself "for having been duped."

Ruffalo, who grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools, says the film is "very personal. I was there, watching [Thornton] struggle with being paralyzed. A lot of that struggle comes with, 'Why? How do I make sense of this?'"

See more of their interview in the video below. (Caution: There's a clip from the film that includes a couple f-bombs):

One to Watch in 2011

by Mark Moring

While we're in the process of voting on our Best Albums of 2010 (look for the list in a couple months), I've already heard what will likely be one of the Best of 2011 -- Over the Rhine's The Long Surrender, coming in February.

And just now I watched and listened to a one song from what could well be another 2011 contender -- "Barton Hollow," the title cut from the upcoming full-length debut from The Civil Wars, also due in February.

Not familiar with them? Half of the duo is Joy Williams, a former pop princess in the CCM market who has seriously found her niche and groove in her post-CCM life. The other half of the duo is John Paul White of Florence, Alabama. They met a couple years ago and have been making great music together. The title track from their 2009 four-song EP, Poison & Wine, was played in full on Grey’s Anatomy, and its music video has been viewed over 350,000 times on YouTube.

Check out the new song, "Barton Hollow," below (click here for lyrics):

Narnia: Coming to a Mall Near You!

by Mark Moring

Georgie Henley (who plays Lucy) and Will Poulter (Eustace) will give Narnia fans a look at the upcoming film with a live, streaming broadcast from LA's Beverly Center mall at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The palaces will be available at 16 Taubman shopping centers nationwide from November 12 through December 24.

According to a press release from Fox and Taubman, the exhibits "feature a color changing 30-foot Ice Palace, encircled with a series of majestic arches and smaller globes that appear to be carved from ice. . . . [G]uests will encounter life-like figures portraying scenes from the film and movie footage integrated in an exciting video show. When visitors enter the Ice Palace's largest dome, they will be greeted with falling snow and a captivating light show."

And if that weren't enough, even Santa -- 16 versions of him! -- will be on hand for pictures when you sit on the Ice Palace throne "that's cool to the touch," according to the press release. Santa in Narnia? Well, we'll just pretend he's Father Christmas.

The exhibits will be at the following shopping centers:

The Narnia Ice Palace will be available the following Taubman shopping centers:

> California: Beverly Center (Los Angeles), Sunvalley (Concord)
> Colorado: Cherry Creek (Denver)
> Connecticut: Westfarms (Farmington)
> Florida: Dolphin Mall (Miami), International Plaza (Tampa), The Mall at Wellington Green (Wellington)
> Illinois: Woodfield Mall (Schaumburg)
> Michigan: Fairlane Town Center (Dearborn), Great Lakes Crossing Outlets (Auburn Hills), Twelve Oaks (Novi)
> New Jersey: The Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills)
> North Carolina: Northlake (Charlotte)
> Texas: The Shops at Willow Bend (Plano)
> Virginia: Fair Oaks Mall (Fairfax), MacArthur Center (Norfolk)

Ja Rule Takes Lead in Faith-Based Film

by Mark Moring

I'm in Love with a Church Girl recently finished filming and is slated for a 2011 TBA release. The film is based on the true story of Galley Molina, a former music industry exec who was involved in drug trafficking and did prison time before finding God; he's now a youth pastor at Evergreen Valley Church in San Jose.

In an interview on the film's official website, Ja Rule said "I almost felt like I was that character" -- and it's easy to see why. Rule has been in trouble with the law numerous times with drug and gun charges, though he's never served time in jail; a gun charge is still pending. And his potty mouth is notorious; all seven of his studio albums come with explicit language warnings. In a recent interview, he ripped fellow artists -- using the term "n*ggas" -- for what he perceives as misuse of the phrase "keeping it real." Rule said, "You know what keeping it real is? Feeding your f*cking family, taking care of your f*cking kids, that's what's keeping it real. All that other frivolous bullsh*t is just that." Hmmm, okay.

Rule, who has acted before (The Fast and the Furious, Scary Movie 3), is clearly proud to be part of a faith-based project: "I just shot this real ill movie, this Tyler Perry sh*t called I’m In Love With A Church Girl, with Adrienne Bailon. They talking about taking it to the festivals and sh*t. So we can get a shot at winning awards and sh*t. It’s like everything is moving in the right direction for me right now." (Note: It's not a Tyler Perry film.)

I wonder if they'll be sending Rule to pastors' conferences and churches to plug the film, and other sh*t like that? Good Lord.

The film also stars Stephen Baldwin, Michael Madsen, and former Cheetah Girl Adrienne Bailon, Christian rappers TobyMac and T-Bone also appear in the film.

Molina says that “the message of this film is really simple but profound. Sometimes God needs to use extreme measures to deal with extreme circumstances. I was that extreme circumstance. This film is simply about the power of God in a man’s life. The unique part of this story aside from being based and inspired on my real-life experiences is that I wrote it while I was incarcerated in a federal prison on drug trafficking charges.”

The movie will be the first release from Reverence Gospel Media. Here's a video of Molina talking about the film:

Hilary Swank Visits Prison Fellowship

by Mark Moring

Hilary Swank, who plays the lead role in Conviction, recently visited the Washington headquarters of Prison Fellowship for a screening of the film. She is working with the ministry to spread the word about prisoners wrongly convicted of crimes.

In the film, she plays the role of Betty Anne Waters, whose brother Kenny spent 18 years in prison after wrongfully being convicted of murder. Betty Anne went to law school and spent almost two decades trying to prove his innocence before DNA evidence cleared him in 2001, and he was released.

Just before her appearance at Prison Fellowship, Swank told The Washington Post that since the film released, she had met 12 former inmates who had been exonerated, and that all of them spoke of "having found faith in prison, that it was what got them through their ordeal and the circumstances.”

Swank said she regards the film and Waters' story as "such a story of faith. Faith in this other person, the faith that Kenny had in his sister that made her feel loved, to continue on. It was this beautiful circle that they gave each other, this unshakable love. And you know, that faith can be compared in myriad ways: to having faith in a higher power, faith in trusting your future, having hope." She also mentioned "the power of faith" and that the film "is a great way to continue to spread the word" about those wrongly imprisoned. She has worked with Waters and The Innocence Project to that end.

Here's a video of highlights of Swank's visit with Prison Fellowship:

Nelons Escape Concert Fire in Ohio

by Mark Moring

The Nelons, a gospel group, were performing a concert at the history Majestic Theatre in Chillicothe, Ohio, Thursday night when a fire broke out. Members of Beyond the Ashes, the opening act, took quick action and helped the headliners to get out of the building safely.

Several members of both groups were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation, and later released. The Nelons have been cleared by a doctor to perform at a concert in Dayton tonight.

A curtain behind the stage had caught fire as Beyond the Ashes left the stage and the Nelons were about to begin their set when the fire alarm sounded. Aaron Crisler, spokesman for the Nelons, says Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and daughter Amber Nelon Thompson credited members of Beyond the Ashes for helping them to escape.

The fire was put out within an hour, and there were no major injuries or fatalities. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The event stirred memories of a horrible concert fire in Rhode Island in 2003 that killed 100 people.

The Majestic Theater, which opened in the 1850s, has hosted many legendary entertainers, including Laurel and Hardy, Milton Berle and Sophie Tucker.

Why Are Christian Movies So Bad?

by Mark Moring

The brief essay, excerpted from his book, You Are What You See: Watching Movies Through a Christian Lens is long on stating the problem in terms we've heard before: Christian movies are "intellectually vacant," "disconnected from reality," and are known for "substandard production values, stilted dialogue and childish plots." He blames it not only on the filmmakers themselves, who are guilty of mediocre art (at best), but also the Christian audience, which he says should be more discerning and more demanding -- of excellence, that is.

His concluding paragraphs, entitled, "So what can we do?", include a few platitudes that sound great -- "we need great films," "we must demand quality" -- but are short on practical suggestions and application. Nehring likely offers more detail in his book (which I haven't read), so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt; I'll assume he gets more specific in those pages.

He's right that Christians "must demand quality," but what's that look like? Does it mean that we shouldn't pay $10 to see a lame Christian film in the theater, or $18 to buy the DVD? And that we should spend our money on excellent films instead? Perhaps, but box office statistics alone don't really tell us much about excellence, or whether films are worth our while (no matter how some folks might interpret those numbers).

To me, the main thing goes back to something that producer Ralph Winter (the X-Men and Fantastic Four movies) told me a couple of years ago: There's simply no substitute for a great education at a first-rate film school, years of hard labor in the trenches with the best in the business (and yes, that likely means working side-by-side with pagans in Hollywood), and paying one's dues with lots of sweat, heartache, trial-and-error, failure, and dogged, unwavering persistence. There's simply no substitute for it.

True, God might clearly be leading you to make a movie, even a "Christian" movie. But without such a background, it's unreasonable to think you can make a great one. It's hard work, arguably the hardest of all the arts to master. And it takes time. Prayer and God's leading are great, but alone, they're no substitute for mastering the craft. That takes years.

Reel Injuns on the Big Screen

by Mark Moring

I've never seen John Wayne in The Searchers (1956), but after watching Reel Injun, a PBS documentary airing tonight, I'm pretty sure I don't ever want to.

Reel Injun, part of PBS's stellar Independent Lens series, explores Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans through almost a century of film -- a period in which American Indians slowly evolved from the reviled savages who must be killed to the fascinating natives that they are. The documentary, directed by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, looks at how the myth of “the Injun” has influenced the world’s understanding – and misunderstanding – of Natives.It includes interviews with Clint Eastwood, Jim Jarmusch, Sacheen Littlefeather, and others.

During the extended Indians-as-bad-guys segment, a clip from The Searchers, directed by John Ford, is shown. In the movie, Wayne plays a man whose niece is kidnapped by Comanches who murder her family and burn their ranch house. It's certainly reason for righteous anger, perhaps even revenge. But a scene where Wayne and his comrades dig up a freshly buried Indian is especially troubling. After desecrating the grave, one of the white men lifts a huge rock and smashes the dead Indian's face; the blow itself isn't shown, but implied.

Then Wayne's character, on horseback, says, "Why don't you finish the job?" He pulls out a pistol and fires two shots into the dead Indian's face, then says, "Ain't got no eyes, he can't enter the spirit world. He has to wander forever between the winds." Oh. My. Goodness. I was aghast.

Critics have pondered whether audiences saw the act -- and Wayne's character overall in the film -- as racist, but as Roger Ebert noted in his 2001 review, "Is the film intended to endorse their attitudes, or to dramatize and regret them? Today we see it through enlightened eyes, but in 1956 many audiences accepted its harsh view of Indians."

Today, we can watch this documentary through enlightened eyes as well. And it's an eye-opener. But it's not all bad; the film acknowledges such films sensitive to Native Americans as Dances With Wolves and others since 1990.

And there's even humor. The filmmakers snicker at the notion of white people playing Natives (see Chuck Connors as Geronimo, top left). And in an interview with an old Navajo couple that had once played extras in some old Westerns, the filmmaker learned that many Natives would go "off script" when interacting with their white counterparts in a film. "No one ever bothered to translate," says the narrator, with a pregnant pause, "until now."

A clip is shown from 1964's A Distant Trumpet in which a U.S. Calvary Lieutenant is questioning an Indian chief.

"If I do not return," the white man says, "General Quaint will find you. And you will be dead, and all your people."

The stoic chief answers in his native tongue -- and in 1964, there were no subtitled translations. But now there are: "Just like a snake," he says, "you'll be crawling in your own s***."

Responds the lieutenant without blinking, "No, he is NOT a fool. You are!"

Check out the trailer here: