"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things" - Phil 4:8
Preview Online is a fun, informative tool for Christian parents and concerned moviegoers. Our reviews contain the content of films so you can decide if they are suitable for your viewing. Please make friends, family and foes aware that there’s a place where they can “Know Before You Go” ®.
Unlinked review listings are coming soon.
Listings in BOLD are movies with POSITIVE PREVIEW CONTENT RATINGSS
The Greening of Whitney Brown
Aimed at preteen girls, there’s enough slapstick to keep their brothers amused, as well. And parents will be glad to learn that it’s a clean film, with positive messages about how to treat others and that any place is home, so long as you are surrounded by family, and that often trials become blessings in disguise. Have a Little Faith
Hallmark Hall of Fame should teach school for anybody wanting to make movies for television or for those with a message that goes straight to DVD. They hit the bull’s eye with nearly every production, and Have a Little Faith is no exception. The Help and 7 Days in Utopia The Help, the inspirational summer hit film people can’t stop talking about, arrives in homes just in time for the holidays, delivering this powerful story on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand, December 6, 2011. Love Begins Melodramatic, yes; set on a dustless frontier, for sure; but the production, like its predecessors, is involving, gently paced, and after several doses of tame theatrics, leaves viewers with a happy ending. Come to think of it, I may watch it again. Best Film of the Year is now on DVD/Blu-Ray With a tip of the hat to Stanley Kubrik’s 2001, this visual and viscerally emotional feast is sparked by exquisite imagery that is imaginative and profound, intimate and epic. The Tree of Life fearlessly examines ethereal questions with a spirituality that is neither pious nor prejudiced. Alleged comes to DVD/Blu-ray on Nov. 8 Well executed, Alleged is a dynamic, involving response to the more bombastic and humanistic Inherit the Wind. Tim Tebow: Everything in Between Considered the most celebrated college football player of all time, Tim Tebow’s life is chronicled in the new DVD release from Summit Entertainment. My Run My Run tells the true story of a man, Terry Hitchcock, who lost his wife to breast cancer and chose to run from St. Paul, MN, to the opening ceremonies of the summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA... Breaking the Press Due to its effort to incorporate the Gospel within the storyline, I find it hard to say what I’m going to say. But the fact is, it’s a mediocre production, with lackluster performances and a script more dedicated to its message than its story.
QUICK LIST OF REVIEWS OF RECENT DVD RELEASES (as of 01/27/12)
(titles in BOLD received positive content ratings)
A Film Critic's New Year's Resolution
“If a critic hates a film I usually like it.” You have no idea how often I’ve heard that declaration of disdain – not so much as a response to my critiques, but in reference to the movie views of my more famous colleagues in criticism.
New Book - It's All Good News: Encouragement for Every Season
My friend and one-time co-worker Lorri Allen has written a thoughtful, uplifting 114-page book meant to encourage those overwhelmed by news headlines and frustrations in their own lives. I hardily recommend this work from WinePress Publishing. It’s All Good News contains 52 personal observations and anecdotes by the radio personality, each from a solidly based Christian perspective. In addition to the essays, the book showcases people making a difference, each reflecting practical and spiritual insights that aid readers through everyday frustrations.
Lorri has been a journalist for 25 years, an inspirational speaker, media consultant, and host of a morning radio program. For more info, CLICK HERE.
The Best Films of 2011
Some of these entries made my list for the filmmakers’ courage to address spiritual issues, while others simply marveled viewers with their cinematic complexities. A few failed to make my fav list because of the negative content, which overshadowed the positive themes they contained.
The Worst Film of 2011
But here’s the reason it has become my least favorite of 2011. The entire production seems built on supposition rather than fact. As directed by Clint Eastwood, it is cynical in its construction.
Saying Thanks For Beautiful Music
You know those folks in our church choirs who practice relentless so we can enjoy a Sunday full of joy and praise? Well now is the time to recognize all their hard work and the beautiful music they perform for us. Sunday, January 8 is National Choir Appreciation Sunday. If you would like to recognize your church choir or find ways to give thanks CLICK HERE. This page will also have information on giveaways and FREE SCREENINGS for your choir ministry.
The Greatest Miracle
It reminded me of the importance of worship and getting ready for worship. How often have I filled my Sunday morning with busyness and not prepared for the Holy Spirit’s direction during the upcoming church service. By getting in tune with a prayer and meditation, we open our hearts minds and souls to the Holy Spirit’s leading, thereby making the church service more fulfilling. The film lets us know that God wants us to know how much He loves us and His desire for our fellowship.
WOW!!!
Now, baseball movies are as alike as, well basketball movies or football movies. They are constructed with a similar format usually featuring that last second slo-mo swing, dunk or throw. The better ones often provide a metaphor for life. I’m sure HOME RUN will stay pretty close to form, but while on the set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the filming of a few scenes, I found the production contains something extraordinary.
AFI’s Master Class – The Art of Collaboration with Steven Spielberg and John Williams
One of the most prolific and influential artistic collaborations in films history – the four-decade friendship and working relationship between filmmaker Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams takes center stage Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8:p.m. (ET) on TCM (Turner Classic Movies).
West Side Story 50th Celebrates It's 50th Anniversary Wow, that’s old! If that’s your mindset, let me try to change it with my take on one of the finest movies of all time (arguably, the best musical of all time).
Your Movie Reporter Spotlights and Sounds Off This month your intrepid movie reporter found three subjects to explore. Let’s see if I can do it in 750 words (the recommended maximum length for internet columns, I’m told).
Dolphin Tale Ministry Materials Available Pastors and Ministry Leaders now have an opportunity to download FREE ministry clips, banners, and sermon guides. The Dolphin Tale ministry site launched on Saturday, September 10, the same day that Pastors nationwide attended free screenings of the inspiring true story starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorff.
Do You Need a TV Guardian? “It’s a filter that allows viewers to watch the programming they want… without having to hear the language they don’t want. That’s different from the V-chip, which just blocks out a program in its entirety if any one part of it is deemed unacceptable.”
Film Addresses Faith-Based Concepts WARRIOR is a film that moves and unites. Though our situations may differ, the story’s emblematic desperation, the characters’ need for love’s healing power, comforts us by film’s end. Sitting in a dark theater, staring up at the shadows of light, it becomes clear that people can’t just lie down for the count, but must continue this enigmatic battle called life.
Faith-Based Audiences Embracing Warrior The relationship between Hollywood studios and faith audiences continues with Lionsgate’s forthcoming WARRIOR, an intense glimpse into the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) and a portrait of a family who finds wholeness and healing after devastation by alcoholism. Faith-based leaders are responding enthusiastically to early screenings of the film, citing its artistry and urgent focus on forgiveness as the key to healing.
Movie THE HELP Contains Matthew 5:44 What surprised this movie reporter was the film’s positive incorporation of Jesus’ teaching to love those who wrong you. In an era when teachings from Scripture are often ridiculed in movies, The Help makes it clear that nothing changes without obedience to God and faith in His love.
The 7 Deadly Movie Sins I love movies. They combine the essence of all the other art forms, enabling storytellers to express joy and sadness, nobility and fear, love and hate, passion and romance, and hope and faith, sometimes all in the same film. But while they are modern man’s medium for relating parables to the masses, these parables are being treated with an ever increasing dose of secularism.
Thou Shalt Laugh 5 The phenomenon began back in 2006 when producers Hunt Lowry and Jonathan Bock took a step of faith and brought forth the proposition that the world was ready for comedy of, by, and for Christians...
The Other Moosehead on the Wall (Part 2 of 26 Good Movies – From A to Z) Last month I wrote a piece entitled The Moosehead on the Wall (26 Good Movies – From A to Z), which concerned the relevancy of older movies and reminded that each generation of filmmakers has made movie moments that reflect both their evolving outer surroundings and the changeless inner spirit of mankind. I then listed several films that substantiated my assertion. I received a great response and thought we might do a Part 2.
The Moosehead on the Wall The moose head on the wall and other expressions of days gone by now seem antiquated, but movie art is timeless. Each generation of filmmakers has made movie moments that reflect both their outer surroundings and the changeless inner spirit of mankind. Below are a few samples of movies that should not be overlooked...
Movie Alternatives for the Family A pamphlet in PDF format containing Preview Editor Phil Boatwright's recommendations for DVDs for Childrens, Films for the Entire Family, Videos for Mature Viewers, Movies for Mom and Dad, and Christmas Classic. Click the above link to download.
BOOK REVIEW: Jolt! Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing Cooke, a linchpin in the media industry, has spent the past three decades helping organizations who have hit a wall evolve and flourish. Whether it was decreased revenue, falling ratings, a dip in donations or leadership challenges, he found that the biggest problems in moving forward were not organizational problems, but people problems.
BOOK REVIEW: Produced By Faith Along with co-author Tim Vandehey, Mr. Franklin, one of the youngest individuals in this prestigious of Hollywood positions, has written an insightful and uplifting self-help book about how to successfully reveal your faith at your job.
Film Critic Asks, "Should I Relate to Moviegoers?" "Like the industrial age before it, the information age has changed our lives in monumental new ways, including how a lot of us are learning about spirituality. Research suggests fifty million people will rely solely on the Internet—indeed the new Roman Road—for their faith-based experiences in 2010".
A Note From Your Reviewer The wonder of movies is that one picture will reach one person, while completely mystifying another. A film critic is merely giving an opinion. But as my purpose is not to promote a movie, neither is it meant to condemn.
Sci-Fi Book Contains Biblical Truths I’m not normally a Sci-fi book buff. I begrudgingly followed the search for Frodo’s ring, and like Narnia’s Pevensie kids, I needed to know what was on the other side of that mysterious closet.
A Critic's Confession For the past twenty years I have been reviewing films from a Christian perspective - offering the synopsis and content so parents and concerned moviegoers could decide if the new releases were suitable for their viewing.
Secrets Of A Film Critic - A tongue-in-cheek interview of Phil Boatwright, Editor of Preview OnLine. Not for the faint of heart.
My friend and one-time co-worker Lorri Allen has written a thoughtful, uplifting 114-page book meant to encourage those overwhelmed by news headlines and frustrations in their own lives. I hardily recommend this work from WinePress Publishing.