TOY STORY and TOP 1996 Films

 

FOUR STARS – Uplifting

 

 

       What can we say about a movie with themes of  loyalty , friendship, cooperation and love?

       What can we say about a movie in which the human foibles of competition, betrayal and mutiny are exposed?

       What can we say about a film integrating state-of-the-art cinematography with computer animation of some of the favorite toys of our youth?

       What can we say about a film which uses no bad language, no casual sex, no physical violence, and yet clearly speaks of good and evil, right and wrong?

       What can we say about a film which appeals to people of all ages earning praise from teenagers, children, adults and grandparents?

       JUST THIS:  Go and see Disney’s new film “TOY STORY”.

       In the year that we have been commenting on the spiritual and social issues of films, we have viewed films which laugh at murder, degrade women, abuse children, mock marriage, and even blatantly ridicule Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

       Many of these films we did not even review in the column.  We saw them as so degrading that they did not even make our one star, “destructive values” category.

       But, throughout the year, there have been many more films which have sensitively, thoughtfully and creatively presented the human condition in ways that have enriched our lives.

       Of those, we recommend that you seek out in your favorite video store the following films.

       LITTLE WOMEN - explore with this family of women their journey into adulthood and their underlying spirituality which shapes not only their beliefs but their moral behavior.

       NELL - explore the despairing confinement of mental  and developmental isolation with their impact on our self-definition and humanity. 

       SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - though violent, explore the nature of our prison system and its frequent inhumane treatment of people.  Explore how the legal system is an often unwitting accomplice of the penal system, but how the human spirit can overcome in the most hopeless circumstances.

       QUIZ SHOW - explore the progressive nature of deceit and how it devours the lives of the deceivers.

       FORREST GUMP - explore the nature of adversity and the ability of a human being to not only overcome, but also to use that adversity for bettering one’s self.

        MY FAMILY - MI FAMILIA  - explore the nature of generational connectedness in 75 years of Latino history .  Explore our universal need for belonging and spiritual oneness.

       CRIMSON TIDE - explore the nature of war with a special emphasis on the destructive capability of our nuclear arsenal.

       APOLLO 13 - explore the resourcefulness of this true account of human ingenuity and God’s providential care.

       FIRST KNIGHT - explore the romantic tale of right and wrong, good and evil, in this adaptation of the classic Camelot.

       BRAVEHEART - though violent, explore the nature of freedom and courage within occupied Scotland.

       DANGEROUS MINDS - explore the nature of education and the task facing students and teachers in inner city schools.

       THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN - explore the nature of a dysfunctional family in its attempt to define their relationships with God and each other .

       BEYOND RANGOON - explore the power of despair so great that it breeds a special courage in this true-to-history account.

       GOSPA - explore the nature of religious persecution and spiritual experiences from this true account which occurred in Bosnia.

       We are convinced now, even more than when we began, that cinema as the most universally appreciated art form in history and is an excellent arena in which to discuss the human condition and the values by which we live our lives.

       As we celebrate the birth of our Lord this Christmas, it is our prayer that we will be people who live thoughtfully moral lives.  We pray that not only will we allow our worship to be authentic, but that we will allow our artists to open our eyes to the greater beauty and challenges of life.

 

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