Movies I Recommend.

And Movies You Must See

Disclaimer: I won't lie to you, this is not a kid-safe list. And some are rated R. Here's what I have to say about movies I recommend that are rated 'R.' Most people's real lives are not rated 'PG' or even 'PG-13.' Most people's lives are really rated 'NC-17' or worse. As a result, many of the best movies which say something significant and realistic about our world are rated R. So, I have made a list of movies I have enjoyed. Don't misunderstand, there are probably foul words, sex scenes, betrayals, violence, imprudence, death and myriad other offensive things.

There is a practical note here. Both with people and movies, I believe it is important to look for the redeemable in the midst of ugliness. Does your life come with a 'G' rating? If, as a Christian, you are offended by messiness, sex, language and general "ick" in most people's lives, and you close yourself from it, you will have closed yourself off from all the wounded and searching people around you whose lives are filled to the brim with offensive things.

• Finding Neverland - a trip inside my mind
• Gattaca - a real thinker about our genetic future, on the lines of 'Brave New World' and '1984' and just as disturbing. if you aren't disturbed by the end, you weren't paying attention. A very good film.
• The Missing - remarkable story of people, and it shows a spirit world & world view that we do not naturally understand today
• Enigma - communicating with intelligence...and a great love story.
• Proof - insanity is not always what it appears to be, and sometimes the 'normal' one has the biggest issues
• Swinging Doors - we do not really control our destiny
• The Body - made me root for a priest - brilliant intellectual discussion of need for Christ's resurrection
• The Order - one of the darker movies on the list (has icky violence stuff....you've been warned), but what a discussion of expiation of sin. of course, i don't believe it is true expiation, but it is quite the discussion starter - you may want to follow this movie with 'The Last Sin Eater' (which has none of the icky violence stuff, but won't be put on my actual list because it really isn't a make you squirm and think and squirm and think kind of movie)
• Kolya - yep, there's a sex scene...get over it. if you always wanted to know what we loved about Czech, watch this film.
• Billy Elliot - lots of swearing with English accents...otherwise it's a touching movie about the passion of a boy for something extraordinary
• Taps - the innocent often suffer consequences they did not cause
• I am David - exceptional adaptation of a 'must read' novel
• I am Legend - redemption
• Bruce Almighty - Hilarius AND some good theological discussion points.
• Nightmare Before Christmas - good intentions poorly executed...aka my life in spooky animation. seriously, though, this is the embodiment of people doing what they are programmed to do, which is what we all do; we do what we know (and these guys 'know' Halloween).
• Martian Child
• Immortal Beloved - Shows the genius and tragedy of Beethoven.
• The Ghost and the Darkness - Great action film set in beautiful Africa---AND A TRUE STORY.
• Blessed Art Thou - This may very well offend your theological sensibilities, but look past that to the deeper heart of the film. What is faith? What is love? What does God want from us?

If you haven't already, please read the disclaimer at the top of this post.