Courageous the Movie -stay tuned.

Courageous the Movie is the next release from Sherwood Pictures, creators of FIREPROOF.
http://www.courageousmovie.com/

Vote for the best Dove Family-Approved movies for 2009

You may now cast your vote online for your favorite Dove Family-Approved movie of 2009. Click on this link: http://www.dove.org/cdsballot09.asp The winners in each of 7 categories ADVENTURE, ANIMATED, COMEDY, DOCUMENTARY, DRAMA, LIMITED RELEASE and MUSICAL will receive the coveted Crystal Dove Seal trophy. Deadline for voting is February 15th.   




In preparation for this article I Googled the “ten best movies of 2009” and found a mere 2,080,000 entries.  One would think that this topic has been thoroughly covered. Upon further research, however, I found that the vast majority of the 2 million plus entries reflect the opinions of single bloggers.  Most of the rest were op-ed pieces written by film “critics.” Not much consensus there. A few websites reflect collective opinions from voters or members, such as the American Film Institute (AFI).
          Actually, voting is a very credible way of selecting the best of anything, so long as we acknowledge that the results reflect the subjective opinions of voters. There are absolutely no objective criteria where voting is concerned, even if someone can site the tangible basis for casting their particular vote. So, what separates one “best of” award from another?  The qualifications and commonalities of the voters.

          Acclaimed awards like the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes represent the collective opinion of each group’s members/voters, most of whom are critics or pundits. Others like the Academy Awards, Producers’ Guild, Writers’ Guild, and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards represent peers voting for peers; hardly an objective group.
          Voters of their favorite Dove Family Approved movie of 2009 are joined by a set of common values based on traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and standards of behavior. Dove voters are mostly enthusiastic movie-goers who look for quality motion pictures that entertain without offending.  

          Major movie studios and independent filmmakers value the Crystal Dove Seal. This award is a tribute to you and the hundreds of thousands of other Dove families who care about making wise entertainment choices and acknowledging when Hollywood produces movies that reflect their values.

          Vote now and we will send you a copy of the results and the comments of each studio exec. You will also be included in a special drawing for some pretty nice Dove family approved DVDs.

          The polls are now open - vote today! 

Tiger Woods advised to turn to Christianity

On “Fox News Sunday” Brit Hume served up some personal advice to Tiger Woods. 

Hume says, “Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer, whether he can recover as a person, I think is a very open question as it’s a tragic situation with him. I think he has lost his family. It’s not clear to me whether he will be able to have a relationship with his children. But the Tiger Woods that emerges once the news value does out of this scandal, the extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith.

“He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger would be, 'Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."

Can a PG-13 Film be Family-Friendly?

There have been a great many attempts to write and produce a good faith-friendly movie. The mainstream studios have often missed the mark by adding gratuitous language, which otherwise ruins a warm inspirational story that families would love to see.

Such an opportunity was lost by Miramax in the making of EVERYBODY'S FINE, a PG-13 movie starring De Niro as a widower trying to stay connected with his estranged children who have moved far from home. Unfortunately, someone (a writer, producer, director, or perhaps De Niro himself) decided to insert two blasts of profanity that smacked the unsuspecting audience like an icy snowball on a summer day.

Which begs the question; Can a PG-13 movie be "family friendly?"

As though it was created just to prove my point, Warner Bros. released a PG-13 movie, THE BLIND SIDE, starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. Based on a true story, this film portrayed drug use, racism, fighting, and other inappropriate behavior, but none of it was exploitive or explicit. Except for a smattering of expletives, there were no profanities or obscenities. In fact, this movie was a very principled story with plenty of grit and humor presented in a manner that is poignant while not being offensive. Dove was proud to endorse this film for audiences over age 12.

THE BLIND SIDE is, in my opinion, the best mainstream family movie of 2009....so far.

Discerning families enjoy the same types of entertainment as anyone else. There’s nothing like a good comedy, drama, action/adventure or even thriller. It’s just that most of us don’t want to be assaulted by globs of blood, gore, cursing, on-screen sex, naked bodies and other unnecessary abhorrent junk. 

Some lazy filmmakers will argue that sex or violence or obscene language is necessary to properly characterize the bad guys, or the struggles their heroes must endure to punctuate their overcoming of adversities.  In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge, “Bah, Humbug!” That argument is a red herring. To support that case, one would have to discount every movie made prior to 1968 when there were standards of decency in place for mainstream films.  So now what? “The Maltese Falcon” disappears from the scene. Throw a rock through “Rear Window?” Send “The African Queen” up the river? Declare “Citizen Kane” an illegal alien? Bomb “Casablanca?”    I could go on.

According to the American Film Institute, 61 of the top 100 films of all time were produced prior to 1968, the year the first R-rated movie was released. Hmmm, makes you think doesn’t it? 

The Next Sherwood Movie "Courageous"

In the Old Testament, God told Joshua to "Be strong and courageous." Sherwood Baptist Church, producers of "FIREPROOF" feel that this is a word for fathers today. thus the new Sherwood Pictures movie is titled, "COURAGEOUS." Get connected!

Disney Prexy, Mark Zoradi Steps Down

Disney Prexy Mark Zoradi Steps Down 

Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion

Pictures Group, has resigned effective immediately.

Another sad day at the Mouse Factory. I've known Mark Zoradi since his promotion to President of the Disney Motion Picture Group in 2006. He and former boss Dick Cook were, to me savvy businessmen with a special sensativity for wholesome entertainment; the kind that made Disney the most successful family-friendly brand on the planet.  Mark and Dick will both be sorly missed according to a Disney executive I spoke with.  And, I second that emotion. I hope the studio doesn't lose its way in all this restructuring. Faithful followers will notice if the direction changes as little as one degree. We at The Dove Foundation will be watching.

I wish nothing but the best for Mark and his family  as he transitions to the next new thing!

Disney's "A Christmas Carol" Review by The Dove Foundation

Christmas Carol, Disneys A Review by The Dove Foundation