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How can you tell whether or not a movie is truly good? When we say, "That was a good movie," are we saying it was truly good or that it we just enjoyed it. I believe that there is a clear difference.
Let's take an example of recent years. Marvel's The Avengers was a hit in American theaters. Why? Is it because it was truly good (and had some moral lessons), or was it because everybody likes Iron Man & Captain America, or was it because people like watching violence and destruction? In this instance, I think it depends on the reasons for watching The Avengers or other similar movies.
Next time you sit down in a theater or pop a disc in your DVD player, maybe ask yourself the following questions:
- Does this movie have good lessons? Example: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2006) had lessons about courage, good overcoming evil, truthfulness, among other things.
- Does this movie have immoral content (violence, swearing, etc.)? Example: A Bridge Too Far (1977) had many uses of strong language and violent war scenes.
- Was the violence of the movie justified? Does the violence enhance the positive message or degrade the message? Films such as the Civil War epic Gettysburg (1993) paints an important picture of what that war was like. This issue comes up increasingly with Holocaust-era films such as The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) or The Pianist (2002). The violence of Holocaust films are intense, but it is vital that we not forget events like this.
- Does the good things in this movie outweigh the bad? Example: Les Miserables (2012) had many good aspects: beautiful songs, moral lessons, an interesting story; but it also had some bad aspects: strong language, violence including blood, and even a scene centered on prostitutes. Did the good outweigh the bad in this film?
- Will I be affected for the better or for the worse by watching this film? Examples: Amazing Grace (2006) would likely affect someone for the better; The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) will undoubtedly affect for the worst.
- Does watching this movie glorify God? (relates to the above question)
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