Two new movies.  Two polar opposites.  Would you care to guess which two? 

I'm referring to Religulous and Fireproof.  Have you heard anything about them? 

Bill Maher is on a media tour promoting his new movie Religulous.   He was even invited to "The View" recently.  Imagine that.  I wonder if he was given the same treatment as McCain?  I don't watch "The View" so I wouldn't know for sure .  Maher calls this film a comdey although he's been saying for months it's a documentary.  Hardly.  It's definitely all about anti-religious propaganda.   I heard what he did when the Christian Museum opened up last year in KY.  He barged in unwanted by sneaking onto the yet to be opened property with cameras after causing a distraction.  He totally made a fool out of himself.  Maybe he was filming for his new movie.  Who knows? 

Fireproof has already opened while Religulous has not.  Fireproof is not receiving the royal treatment that Religulous has although there is some talk that it will  be mentioned this week on ABC "World News Tonight." Two completely different movies at both ends of the spectrum.   One has a Christian message in it and the other is all about mocking the Christian message.  Like I said, polar opposites.  Totally.  

Fireproof was produced  by the same church in GA  who produced "Facing the Giants" in 2006."  "Facing the Giants" was enourmously successful costing a measly $100,000 to produce but grossing over $10 million despite the fact it received very little media attention and turned out to be more grass roots than anything.  I picked it up at the video store solely on reading the story line right then not ever hearing about it before that.  

 Somebody from my church gave me a copy when the movie hit the stores saying it was one of the best movies she had ever seen.  To prove it she bought several copies to pass around promoting it because the message in it was so good.   At first it started kind of slow but it really was a very good movie.  One that I could see again easily, and I usually don't like to repeat movies very often.  I believe  none of the actors in "Facing the Giants"  received a salary instead donating their time for free.  It has definitely a behind the scenes David and Goliath story to it. You'd never know this if you depended on the media to tell you.   

Fireproof, made by the same church in GA and starring Kirk Cameron from the show "Growing Pains," opened in the #4 spot this past weekend and has already grossed $6.8 million despite only being allowed in limited theaters across the country and with virtually no media blitz although Cameron was on "The VIew" earlier this summer.   They  spent less than $1 million to make this movie so they have already recouped their investment this very first weekend. 

I intend to see Fireproof when it opens here and I found out it will soon enough.  I will not be seeing Bill Maher's movie Religulous but I'm sure many will for the sheer pleasure of seeing Christians mocked by a man who has much joy in doing all he can to further his anti-religious views.  It'll be interesting which movie grosses the most over time. 

 

 

 

 

 


Comments
on Oct 02, 2008

I will not be seeing Bill Maher's movie Religulous

Why not?  Can't take the criticism?   Wouldn't hurt to at least watch it when as a rental or something.

It doesn't just 'mock' the Christian faith...it mocks several faiths. The point is to poke at the absurdities of religion...y'know, not take everything so seriously. If I had time I'd probably go see it...unfortunately I've got way too much to do.

I've never even heard of Facing the Giants or Fireproof. They should've invested in mainstream advertisement.

~Zoo

on Oct 02, 2008

Why not? Can't take the criticism?

No, false advertising.  I hate it and will not support it.  Call it what it is, not what you want it to be.

on Oct 02, 2008

Why not? Can't take the criticism?

no, it's not that.  It's nothing but a "mock-umentary" and I'll have no part in that.  Besides that I've seen Maher's attitude towards Christians and it's like throwing them to the lions all over again.  Why would I celebrate the likes of him?  And laugh at it?  Com'on. 

The point is to poke at the absurdities of religion

what absurdities?  Why is it ok to poke fun of religious people?  Is this a nice thing to do? 

It doesn't just 'mock' the Christian faith...it mocks several faiths

well I don't know about that.  Perhaps, but that's ok in your book?  Mocking is ok and something to be celebrated? 

I've never even heard of Facing the Giants or Fireproof.

see, that's my point.  Like I said Facing the Giants was very good and a huge success but you have to stay thru the first part which is IMO has kind of a slow start.  But then again, they are not a high budget film with lots of famous actors.  These are all newbies (outside of Cameron) and I thought they did a superb job.  

on Oct 02, 2008

 

what absurdities? Why is it ok to poke fun of religious people? Is this a nice thing to do?

What absurdities?  The extremism stuff, mostly.  Rejecting hard science in favor of a story that may or may not be true and can't be tested at all.

Why is it okay to poke fun at anything?  Because it's fun.  As for nice?  Eh, since when do we have to be nice all the time?  Friends rag on each other all the time, it builds friendship and character.

well I don't know about that. Perhaps, but that's ok in your book? Mocking is ok and something to be celebrated?

He addresses:

"Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, Scientology, even Cantheism, a pot-centric belief system that is often overlooked in theological debate."

When people take something way too seriously or way too far, then yes.  Mocking is a good way to bring them back down to Earth(unless they're too far gone in the first place) and have a laugh at the same time.  If you haven't noticed, I'm not in favor of extremism of any sort.  I'll mock the crap out of people if I see them being ridiculous...I'm not mean spirited but spare the rod, spoil the child as they say.   You should know from experience...your creationism and young earth stuff I view as completely illogical and I've provided a multitude of evidence to the contrary...I haven't started mocking you just yet, though.

~Zoo

on Oct 02, 2008

What absurdities? The extremism stuff, mostly. Rejecting hard science in favor of a story that may or may not be true and can't be tested at all.

Jesus was very extreme so should you mock him as well?  He said he was the ONLY way.  Pretty extreme stuff I'd say wouldn't you? 

You know darn well I don't reject hard Science Zoo.  You know I reject the other sides's version of the evidence.  We both have the same evidence, they have their explanation for it and we have ours.  It's not about rejecting Science.  It's about rejecting their version of the evidence.  *sigh* How many times do I need to say this? 

Friends rag on each other all the time, it builds friendship and character

now this I don't really have a problem with.  I agree with you to some extent.  But please know that Bill Maher is NOT a friend of Christians or religion in general.  He's actually pretty rabid about such things in my book. 

When people take something way too seriously or way too far, then yes.

well how do you judge too seriously?  Isn't that a matter of opinion?   I mean if I go to church and read my bible daily does that mean I'm too serious?  What does that mean?   I'm serious about my faith but not to the point where I don't enjoy life and people of all faiths or no faiths. 

I'm not mean spirited but spare the rod, spoil the child as they say. You should know from experience...your creationism and young earth stuff I view as completely illogical and I've provided a multitude of evidence to the contrary...I haven't started mocking you just yet, though.

First off you're taking the spare the rod thing way out of context.  Let's not go there.  Creationism and young earth may be illogical to you but not to countless others including me.  I'm twice as old as you, have read much more than you and yet you're telling me that I'm illogical?  Why?  Because I don't believe in Evolution?  That makes me illogical?   You have NOT provided any evidence to the contrary.   Remember I don't have problem with the evidence. 

It just comes down to worldview Zoo.  You have one worldview and I have another.  Sometimes in a discussion we collide.  Happens all the time.  As long as we can discuss things rationally I'm ok with it. 

 

 

on Oct 06, 2008

I really enjoyed Facing the Giants. I've watched it 3x with my family.

The "death crawl" scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEv1FgT2OrI&feature=related) is a great motivational scene...even if it was on a budget!

We'll probably catch Fireproof on DVD.

Another interesting movie on the subject is Saved! We watched it the other day with the kids and it provided fodder for discussion throughout the weekend. It gave us an opportunity to critically examine stereotypes among many other things afterwards.