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Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

movie & Television reviews

Rolling out the red carpet: Jesus on the big screen

Movie Review: ‘IF’

TV Review: Lost childhood and cycles of violence in Hulu’s ‘Under the Bridge’

Movie Review: ‘Tarot’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

Radio Interview: ‘Teilhard: Visionary Scientist’

Movie Review: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’

‘Wildcat’ a reminder of Flannery O’Connor’s enduring attraction

Movie Review: ‘The Fall Guy’

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The Second Vatican Council called communication media "marvels" and "gifts" from God, but it also recognized that these gifts can be mixed blessings, depending on how they are used. The media's impact continues to grow, as computer networks and the Internet add powerful and easily accessible new means to the familiar forms of mass communication—print, television, radio, film, video, telephone, and cable services.

Influential enough individually, they are converging into multi-media networks that make them increasingly essential to people's daily lives. The media are so much part of us that to recognize their impact, we must step back and consciously think about how they shape our lives and what they are saying. An intelligent use of media can prevent our being dominated by them and enable us instead to measure them by our standards. In this way, even many messages with which we cannot agree, inevitably coming to us from a diverse constellation of media, will not hurt us. They can even be turned to our benefit by whetting our understanding and articulation of what we believe. It is important for parents to educate their children in the influence of the media, to take responsibility for monitoring what media their children use, and to become role models for appropriate use of media.

The use of the media involves moral choices. Here are ten actions or attitudes that can guide parents as media consumers to affirm Christian values:

Respect life.

In evaluating media, parents should ask whether human life is shown to be a precious gift from God. Is sexuality linked to life? How is the act of dying presented? Is the taking of life portrayed casually and without moral consequences?

Respect human beings and the family.

Individual human beings are the concrete focus of respect for life. Each person possesses an inherent dignity, created as we are in God's image and likeness, and each one finds meaning, purpose, and identity within the family and faithful, well-ordered relationships. Ask yourself whether the media you are using respect human dignity. Do they reverence lasting commitments within the context of marriage and the family? Is this respect maintained even when the programming is humorous or satirical? Are exploitation, oppression, or neglect of any group of people condoned or even promoted? Is respect shown for the variety of cultures? Do the media glorify attitudes such as excessive consumerism, promiscuity or other exploitative relationships, prejudice, or violence?

Apply gospel values.

In making media choices, parents should take as guides Scripture and Christian belief and morals. Ask yourself whether the media you are using foster a sense of the divine, of human destiny extending beyond the confines of this life, of our obligation to forgive and our need for forgiveness. Are compassion, reconciliation, thanksgiving, and moral responsibility affirmed?

Use your intelligence.

As entertaining and useful as the media can be, they should not be accepted uncritically or thoughtlessly. In subtle and not so subtle ways, most media convey moral messages. Reflect on what ethical standards the media are using. What is portrayed and why? What is it saying about human existence? How does it relate to Christian faith and moral belief? If something seems shocking, is anything of value also being conveyed? Is comedy used for genuine amusement or merely as a put-down? How are you and your family reacting to your media choices? Are you benefiting from them?

Talk back to the media.

All too often we experience media, especially television and film, as one-way communication. Get in the habit of using television, film, and other media to start a dialogue. Where media are interactive, you can engage in an actual dialogue. Where they aren't, you can contact networks, local stations, and newspapers to compliment or complain how the media are or are not helping you as a parent. The dialogue can also go on in your family. For example, a television drama can start you asking one another, "What would you have done or said in that situation? Why?"

Set your own agenda.

The mass media, especially news programming, tend to set the public agenda. They tell us what issues deserve our attention; they highlight certain people and social and political options. Think about this media-set agenda. Does it reflect what is truly important? Are you hearing the things that matter to you and your family? Choose the media that serve your needs rather than just tuning in or logging on. Help your children to pick good programming instead of surfing through what's there.

Look at consequences.

When it comes to film or television drama, ask, "What should happen next?" In real life, actions have consequences. On television or in film, these consequences often don't appear unless they affect the plot. Help your children recognize the difference between fiction/fantasy and real life, especially when it comes to depicting violence, sexual activity, and lavish lifestyles that have no visible means of support.

See the whole picture.

Be aware of the potential for receiving partial information or biased views. No communication medium can supply all details about anything. The Internet, in particular, offers a vast amount of unevaluated information. You and your children need to use a variety of media sources to learn about the world in which we live. When using media, be ready to ask what aspects of life are being neglected, what issues are being ignored, and whether bias or manipulation is involved.

Be alert to the effects of advertising.

Advertising and media are closely allied. Advertisers need the media to get their message out. Most forms of media are supported by advertising. Parents need to ask whether their families are consuming what they need or what the media make them think they need. How are you helping your children to avoid being manipulated by advertisers? Do you and your family take into account Gospel values in making consumer choices?

Talk to each other.

People are more important than things. Media usage should help build each family's community of faith as one source that can lead family members out of themselves and toward each other. Ask yourselves whether your family's way of using media does or isolates family members instead. How can your media usage improve family communication and enrich your conversation? Look for ways to balance media involvement with other family activities.

• Renewing the Mind of the Media: A Statement on Overcoming the Exploitation of Sex and Violence in Communications. This major statement of the Catholic bishops of the United States deals extensively with media issues. Available from USCC Publishing Services at 800-235-8722. Pamphlet overview also available.
• Office for Film and Broadcasting at the United States Catholic Conference. The USCC Department for Communications, through its Office for Film and Broadcasting, regularly produces reviews of motion pictures currently available in theaters, on television, and on videotape. USCC classifications are a useful reference for concerned, busy parents in exercising their responsibility to protect their youngsters, especially teenagers, from films that may be morally harmful. The USCC's reviews and classifications are available to the public in a variety of ways (see below).
• Catholic newspapers that carry USCC motion picture and television reviews, capsules, and classifications provided to them via the Catholic News Service (CNS).
• The TV & Movie Guide , a weekly newsletter designed for distribution by parishes and schools, which carries USCC reviews and classifications of movies currently in theaters, evaluations of upcoming TV shows, classifications of movies scheduled for cable channels, and other information. A subscription with rights to distribute to all members of a single parish or school is $97 per year. Individuals may subscribe for $47 per year. Sample copies and further details may be obtained from Catholic News Service at 202-541-3279.
• Movie Guide Monthly , a monthly newsletter designed for individuals who want movie information on a less frequent basis. It contains USCC classifications of theatrical movies in current distribution and capsule reviews of newly released movies. A subscription costs $12 per year. Sample copies and further information may be obtained from Catholic News Service at 202-541-3279.
• The Family Guide to Movies and Videos , a book containing USCC capsule reviews of more than 7,500 movies released from 1966 through 1993, as well as recommended family films from earlier years. Classifications by the USCC and ratings by the MPAA are included. Available from USCC Publishing Services at 800-235-8722.
• A toll-free phone line, 800-311-4CCC (4222), sponsored by the Catholic Communication Campaign. Updated every Friday, this service provides capsule reviews of six leading box office attractions and a recommended "Family Video of the Week."
• The NCCB/USCC Internet site. Find weekly reviews by logging onto www.nccbuscc.org , click on "News&Events," and then click on "Movie Reviews." There is also an alphabetical listing of recent reviews here. America Online subscribers can find reviews by entering the keyword "CNS."
• Pornography and Violence in the Communications Media , from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Available from USCC Publishing Services at 800-235-8722.
• Catholic Connections to Media Literacy , a multimedia learning program linking Catholic values and today's media culture. The program was developed and produced for The Catholic Communication Campaign by the Center for Media Literacy in collaboration with the National Catholic Educational Association. Provided are a variety of teaching materials: a video, background resources on media and values, a leader's guide and accompanying handout masters, a media literacy resource directory, and Forming Values in a Media Age , a source book for infusing media literacy into parish religious education, youth ministry and parish family life programs, as well as Catholic schools. Available from the Center for Media Literacy at 800-226-9494.

To order this resource or to obtain a catalog of other USCC titles, call toll-free 800-235-8722. In the Washington metropolitan area or from outside the United States, call 202-722-8716. Visit the U.S. bishops' internet site located at www.nccbuscc.org . Copyright © 1999, United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocoying, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

95 Best Catholic Movies

To rent for your family.

All of these movies can be rented online at Netflix or ordered on Amazon and other sites may offer them as well.

Be sure to print this list and keep handy for the long winter months ahead!

Print a list of the movies here.

For Greater Glory (2012)

October Baby (2011)

The 13th Day: The True Story of Fatima (2009)

Pope Benedict XVI: A Love Affair With The Truth (2008)

The Way (2010)

No Greater Love (2009)

St. Guiseppe Moscati (2007)

A Walk to Beautiful (2007)

The Rite (2011)

Saint Rita (2004)

John Bosco (2004)

The Miracle of Marcelino (1955)

Joan of Arc (1999)

Bella (2006)

The Scarlet and The Black (1983)

Clare & Francis (2007)

Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999)

Au Revoir Les Infants (1987)

Confession (2005)

Saint Patrick: The Irish Legend (2000)

Great Souls: Mother Teresa (2002)

One Night With The King (2006)

Padre Pio: The Priest Who Bore The Wounds of Christ (2007)

Therese (1986)

Sheen Gems: The Best of Fulton Sheen (2005)

Faustina (1995)

Boys Town (1938)

St. Teresa of Avila (2008)

Jonah: a Veggie Tales Movie (2002)

Les Miserables 1(978)

Saint John in Exile (1988)

The Passion of The Christ (2004)

Archbishop Fulton Sheen: Love is Truth (2007)

Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999)

Quo Vadis (1951)

Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)

Henry V (1989)

Ben Hur (1959)

The Robe (1953)

The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Lilies of The Field (1963)

In The Presence of Our Lord (2007)

A Man For All Seasons (1966)

The Song of Bernadette (1943)

Padre Pio: Miracle Man (2000)

Not of This World (1999)

The Son (2002)

Mother Teresa (2003)

Diary of a Country Priest (1951)

The Jeweler’s Shop (1988)

The Cheese Nun (2002)

The Reluctant Saint (1962)

One Man’s Hero (1999)

Babette’s Feast (1987)

Shoes of The Fisherman (1986)

Pope John Paul II (1984)

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

Monsieur Vincent (1948)

The Miracle Maker: the Story of Jesus (2000)

The Passion of Joann of Arc (1928)

The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)

Celebration of Catholicism (2005)

Dead Man Walking (1995)

The Hoodlum Priest (1961)

Sister Act (1992)

The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)

I Confess (1953)

The Trouble With Angels (1956)

Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972)

Joan of Arc (1948)

Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

Padre Pio: Between Heaven & Earth (2000)

The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)

The Fourth Wiseman (1985)

The Miracle of The Bells (1948)

Brother Orchid (1940)

The Flowers of St. Francis (1950)

Barabbas (1962)

The Gospel of John (2003)

Francis of Assisi (1961)

Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

Love is Truth (2007)

Love is Faith (2007)

Love is Hope (2007)

Love is Eternal (2007)

Angels (2006)

Good Friday Special (2006)

The Decalogue (1987)

The Silver Chalice (1954)

Abraham (1994)

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (1966)

When in Rome (1952)

A.D. (1985)

Francesco (1989)

Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

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Catholic Family Movie Review: Turning Red

*Spoilers ahead…Though, we think it’s worth spoiling if you are considering watching this with your kids.

Embracing the Panda

Disney + has been a gift to our family. It's saved us a lot of money to be able to view premiers of new movies upon their release from the comfort of our well-worn-decade-old couch. And as millennial parents, we’ve enjoyed the nostalgia of playing old 90’s and early 2000’s films and shows for our kids. 

So when we saw the trailer for “Turning Red”, we quickly made plans for a family movie night. 

But unfortunately, what looked like a fun spin on introducing big feelings and lessons on how to appropriately address them turned into a spectacle of preteen angst, family dysfunction, and unresolved tensions between a coming of age daughter and a mother who never healed from the wounds of her upbringing.

For Starters

Right off the bat, there was confusion. We weren’t sure who the intended audience for the movie was, but it definitely was not our kids. The 2000’s pop culture reference went over their heads and the tween experience of puberty was equally foreign to them.

Was this really a throwback animated movie for adults?  Or was it meant for the typical Pixar childhood age group?  Either way, it missed the mark by not fully committing to either.

Who/what is the Red Panda?

Then, as the plot unfolds, we meet the Red Panda, the main character's (Mei Mei) ancestral curse: a transformed beastly creature that emerges when she feels big emotions.

The catalyst of this transformation is her mother embarrassing Mei Mei by revealing the implied soft-core porn that she drew to the object of her fantasies.

Once we trudge through the oddly inserted comparison between the main characters experience of the Red Panda and her first menstual cycle, we learn quickly that she can return to her almost-self if she is able to calm herself.

As the story continues, Mei, along with the audience, are still trying to grapple with what the Red Panda is and how it can be controlled. There was an odd juxtaposition between the main character’s different versions of her Red Panda. The panda was something that came out whenever she felt any strong emotions, both positive and negative. However, at some point in the story her strong positive Red Panda emotions became equated with her “true” self. Besides teaching tweens to embrace their sexual desires (Mei fantasizes about one of her crushes as a mer-man in order to turn into the Red Panda), it also teaches the idea that all our strong emotions can be equated with our true-selves.

Mei is encouraged by her circumstances to expressed her “true” self for socialization and acceptance. But is not equally encouraged to have hard conversations with her mom about the overbearing pressure to overachieve.

Instead of embracing all of herself, we find her outright lying to her family and the movie supports the narrative that her friends are the only love she needs. While this is not an unusual behavior for the age group, the movie does more to affirm the idea that we find real acceptance in our friends, than it does to heal the parent-child relationship.

A Family Trait

Turning red is a curse passed on through the generations to the women of Mei Mei’s family. It happened to each of her female relatives right around the time of becoming a teenager.

Each woman was scarred by the experience (both figuratively and literally), and later given the opportunity to actually bottle up their inner Red Panda and live a “normal” life.

As Mei continues to experience the fluctuations of her feelings and shifts back and forth between her Red Panda (that her friends see and love) and her non-Red Panda form (that her family sees), she continues to find tension between her life with her family and her life with her friends (who she “loves most of all”). Obviously, her friends preferred her panda-self and her family wanted her to be tamed.

To add to the discontinuity, the Red Panda is left as a very vague idea. At one point in the story, the father lets Mei know that he loves how happy she is with her friends as the Red Panda, and that her mom’s Red Panda last came out when Mei’s mother and father were forbidden to marry. This left familial ties scarred and broken. The Panda is painted as good or neutral at best, when clearly some of the actions aren’t.

On the night of the red moon, the time to perform the ritual to bottle up one’s inner panda, all came to a head and generations of pandas battle. At the end of the excitement, all of the women but Mei choose to give up their pandas again. Mei is seen as the only brave one to embrace her inner Red Panda and continue to live as her true-self.

What’s the Lesson Learned?

Here’s our real beef with the film:

The character was encouraged by the end of story to embrace her true self, yet never actually addressed her strong feelings of shame that her mom caused by her unrelenting expectations. Instead of addressing her emotions and getting to the core of her shame, she was encouraged to embrace only the positive aspect of the Red Panda and seemingly ignore the uncomfortable ones that brought life to the transformation in the first place. No real healing in the journey to finding her true self took place.

Further, relational damage was never reconciled. Instead of the secrecy, lying, and inappropriate behavior being acknowledged, everyone moved on with this new normal. Mei was given permission to live life as she wanted and her power to shape shift became a capital gain for her family’s business.

In the end the main character did not learn to fully embrace virtue. We all have strong desires. But what we do with those strong desires is what counts. Both depicted extremes of bottling them up, or fully embracing them as our identity fail! It is by acknowledging strong desires and still doing what we ought to do that we find true freedom. Mei, instead, embraced the tumultuous Red Panda and was allowed to be herself, put her friends above her family, and never truly reconcile with her mom. Not once did she consider if the embracing of the Red Panda constituted a pursuit of what is good, true or beautiful. Instead the embracing of the Red Panda constituted a pursuit of what felt good and right in that moment.

Final Grade

Overall, our family won’t be watching this movie again and would rather watch movies that centered around values and self-sacrifice. 

We don’t recommend this movie and want to caution families who are thinking of enjoying a movie night with their young kids.

Can You Can’t Fake It til You Make It?

Clearing up marital debt confusion.

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Film Reviews

Padre pio - but just barely.

• Film Review , Based on a True Story
• 6/1/2023 3:00:00 PM
• View Count 3294

If you go into this film thinking you're going to see a movie about the life of Saint Padre Pio, you will be roundly disappointed. Why director Abel Ferrara used the saint's name as the title of the film is just as confusing as the film itself.

The big news surrounding the film when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2022, was the conversion of its star, Shia LaBeouf who plays Padre Pio, to Catholicism. Preparing for the role of the 20 th Century's most popular saint, LaBeouf spent four months at a Capuchin friary and it changed his life. For this guy who had been in the news for his addiction and allegations of abuse, it was a turn-around to praise God for. LaBeouf spoke about his experience in an extensive interview with Bishop Barron.

Padre Pio arrives in theaters and video-on-demand on June 2 nd . LaBeouf captures the struggles of the pre-stigmata period (at least as far as the film is concerned) of Padre Pio's life well. Saint Pio was tormented by the devil and physically attacked. He also had sexual temptations. Remarkable was his ability to see into another person's soul during confession. The scenes when Pio is literally fighting with Satan are emotionally charged but the conviction with which he calls out to the devil, "Say Christ is Lord!" gives one the confidence that God will protect this great friend of his.

Shia LaBeouf and Alexander Rodriguez in "Padre Pio."  © 2022 Maze Pictures. All Rights Reserved. 

However, these scenes run parallel to another story that viewers are left to figure out on their own. The film gives no historical context. The fact that the soldiers returning to San Giovanni Rotondo after war (but which one?) seem to arrive in the town around the same time as Padre Pio comes to the local Capuchin monastery are all that connect the two plot lines together.

A glimpse of an election ballot that says 1920 finally clues the audience in that the story is post-World War I. The landowners in San Giovanni Rotondo hold power, bolstered by the local Catholic parish. Yet, the people who lived in poverty started protesting their lot. The social unrest escalated when the growing group of socialists won a local election that was not respected by the wealthy landowners. Refusing to turn over power, violence ensued.

Ignazio Oliva and Shia LaBeouf in "Padre Pio."  © 2022 Maze Pictures. All Rights Reserved. 

One cannot help but think of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capital after the 2020 election, even though this film was written before that event took place.

Besides the misleading nature of the film's title, other aspects of the movie also prove unappealing. The inconsistency of the accents being used by the actors is, at the very least, distracting. The jerky camera movements, a technique usually used to convey a sense of chaos, rather than serving the narrative, only makes one want to look away from the screen.

That the film gives the impression that Padre Pio's reception of the stigmata was even remotely connected with the massacre that happened on October 14, 1920, misrepresents the truth. Saint Pio received the wounds of Christ in August of 1918, a full two years before the violence that took the lives of 14 people erupted in San Giovanni Rotondo.

If you're looking for a movie that portrays the life of Padre Pio, try Padre Pio: Miracle Man , an Italian-made feature film or Saint Padre Pio Sanctus , a documentary about his life.

About the Author

Sister Hosea Rupprecht is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, a religious community dedicated to evangelization with the media. She holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto and an MA in Media Literacy from Webster University in St. Louis. 

Sr. Hosea is director of the East Coast office of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, based in Staten Island, NY, and speaks on media literacy and faith to catechists, parents, youth, and young adults. Together with Father Chip Hines, she is the co-host of Searchlight, a Catholic movie review show on Catholic TV. Sr. Hosea is the author of  How to Watch Movies with Kids: A Values-Based Strategy,  released by Pauline Books & Media. 

For the past 15 years, she has facilitated various film dialogues for both children and adults, as well as given presentations on integrating culture, faith and media.

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ORDINARY ANGELS Sets A New Bar For Christian Movies | Catholic Review

I’m sure most of you didn’t even have this movie on your radar, as there’s been little to no marketing for it. This is a shame because “ Ordinary Angels ” is an absolute delight of a film and, dare I say, even sets a new bar for Christian movies as a whole. Let’s dive into it here on Should Catholics.

Hi, I’m Mata Rivera, the Cinematic Catholic, and “Ordinary Angels,” starring Hilary Swank, is the true story of a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter. Guys, I have a lot to say about this movie, so let’s just dive right into it. First of all, Hilary Swank is phenomenal. She really channels her inner Erin Brockovich for this role. When we meet Sharon, she’s just cruising through life, a functioning alcoholic stuck in the same routine until she sees a newspaper article about a family that’s had a rough time lately. She takes it upon herself to fundraise and eventually bring the entire town together in support of this sick child.

Perfection Not Required

What I love about this movie right off the bat is that it shows you don’t have to be perfect to follow God’s will. Sharon has her own issues that she struggles with, and sometimes they even get the best of her. But still, there was a reason why she was placed in these people’s lives, and when push comes to shove, she does what is needed to make sure that this kid, Michelle, and her family are well taken care of. Also, I think we’ve finally cracked the code on how to make good Christian movies. Films like “God’s Not Dead” had their time, okay, that was certainly a movie . But now, with movies like “ Father Stu ” “Fatima”, “Cabrini,” and now this, I think the best way to make good movies that show how amazing God’s love and power is, is to tell the amazing true stories of the lives that He’s touched and how He has used people like Sharon Stevens to show His love to us. Because there really are some amazing real stories out there, from the lives of the saints to just everyday ordinary people, which is why I love the title of this movie, “Ordinary Angels.”

Now, I will say this film doesn’t quite escape the after-school special vibe completely, and there are a few points where the message itself is a little on the nose. There is one scene in particular where the dad and his eldest daughter are going to bring flowers to his wife’s grave, and at a certain point, his kid just turns and looks at him and says, “Dad, are you mad at God because mom died?” And it did take me out of the movie for a second, one, because that kid probably needs to learn how to be a little more subtle, and two, people don’t really talk like that. It did feel like the film was telling me, “And this is the point where we show that it’s tough to have a relationship with God sometimes, but communication and prayer.” And yeah, I mean, I’m sure you guys get it. But honestly, besides maybe two moments like that in the film, I was very invested and pulled completely into this story.

The Acting In Ordinary Angels

The acting from the entire cast across the board was pretty solid, especially with the kids, which, you know, sometimes can be a toss-up. Alan Richson was very good in this movie, and I know that he’s known for his more action roles and stuff like “Jack Reacher,” and granted, I’ve never watched that show, but he was very good at those small, subtle moments in this film when you can tell that all he wants to do is just break down and let everything out, but he feels that he needs to be strong for his kids. He has to keep moving forward, even if it takes everything that he has and then some to even just get out of bed in the morning. And I like that the film wasn’t afraid to address some of those darker topics, like depression and addiction with Sharon’s alcoholism.

Is Ordinary Angels A True Story?

Now, I did some fact-checking about this movie after I watched it because it’s just an amazing larger-than-life story. What I found was very interesting. Basically, the parts of the movie that you think had to be done for the film, like there’s no way that happened in real life, those parts are all true. But the character elements and some of the internal struggles that they have, that’s the part that Hollywood embellished a bit for the big screen. For example, there’s an entire plotline about how Sharon has a son and they’re estranged and haven’t spoken in years. Apparently, that’s not true, and the whole reason for them not speaking is her alcoholism, which also apparently is not true. In fact, the real Sharon Stevens was extremely against alcohol because her mom was an alcoholic, and she saw how devastating that can be. But again, I think it still works for the movie because it does show that, again, you don’t have to be perfect to follow God, but also it shows how alcoholism can affect you and those closest to you, which was a big belief that Sharon herself did have. I just think it’s funny to picture the real Sharon Stevens going to her friends and family and being like, “Hey guys, they’re making a movie about my life. Please don’t pay attention to the fact that I’m an alcoholic in it, and my son hates me. But besides that, woo!”

In the end, yes, I absolutely loved this movie. All the emotional beats were there. It knew how to perfectly tug on the heartstrings. I will say, I don’t just cry at anything, but I’m also not afraid to cry if a movie really hits me in my feels, and this movie had me choked up for pretty much the entire last half of it. And I think there were some real tears that leaked out there. Also, despite the fact that this movie does kind of go into a few darker themes, I think as long as your kids have a basic understanding of what alcoholism is, what sickness and death look like, I think this actually is a good movie for the entire family to go and watch. Yes, that’s right. Congratulations, little Timmy, you finally got one. But just this one.

And of course, I highly recommend that you guys go catch this while it’s playing in theaters because, remember, if we want them to continue to make good Christian movies, then we have to support them when they make them and they’re actually good. So please, guys, go see this movie in theaters. Again, highly, highly recommend it. And for my film score, I’m going to give this a nine out of ten. I absolutely love this movie. It feels like an independent feature with great acting, and I love movies about family and the lengths that we will go to protect them.

Should Catholics See Ordinary Angels?

And for my Catholic score, I’m going to give this movie a ten out of ten. There’s no mention of the Catholic Church specifically in this movie, but Sharon Stevens really did ask, “What would Jesus do?” And then she went and did it. And I think that this movie can inspire a lot of us to do the same.

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Top 100 Pro-Catholic Movies

In 2004, the National Catholic Register and Faith & Family magazine gathered online nominations for films that best celebrate Catholic life. These are movies with specific Catholic references, not simply with Catholic themes. More than 1,000 people voted for their favorites. Here are the results. WARNING: Not all of these movies are family-friendly. Movies with asterisks are known to have adult content. However, readers are advised to preview all films to determine if they’re appropriate for your children. 1. The Passion of the Christ (2004)* 2. The Sound of Music (1965) 3. A Man For All Seasons (1966) 4. The Song of Bernadette (1943) 5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 6. The Ten Commandments (1956) 7. The Scarlet and the Black (1983) 8. Jesus of Nazareth (1977) 9. Schindler’s List (1993) * 10. The Bells of St Mary’s (1945) 11. Thérèse (2004) 12. Braveheart (1995) * 13. The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima 14. The Mission (1986) * 15. Lilies of the Field (1963) 16. The Miracle of Marcelino (1955) 17. Les Miserables (1998) * 18. The Quiet Man (1952) 19. Ben Hur (1959) 20. Rudy (1993) * 21. The Robe (1953) 22. Return to Me (2000) * 23. We Were Soldiers (2002) * 24. Becket (1964) * 25. Going My Way (1944) 26. Romero (1989) 27. Sister Act (1992) * 28. Pope John Paul II (1984) 29. Jonah: a Veggie Tales Movie (2002) 30. Shoes of the Fisherman (1986) 31. Brideshead Revisited (1981) * 32. The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) 33. On the Waterfront (1954) 34. I Confess (1953) 35. Boys Town (1938) 36. Molokai: the Story of Father Damien (1999) * 37. Quo Vadis (1951) 38. The Trouble With Angels (1956) 39. Babette’s Feast (1987) 40. The Rookie (2002) * S 41. The Reluctant Saint (1962) 42. One Man’s Hero (1999) 43. Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) 44. The Exorcist (1973) * 45. Dead Man Walking (1995) * 46. Joan of Arc (1948) 47. The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) * 48. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) * 49. Angels In the Outfield (1951) 50. Moonstruck (1987) * 51. The Miracle Maker: the Story of Jesus (2000) 52. Henry V (1989) * 53. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) 54. Entertaining Angels: the Dorothy Day Story (1996) 55. Knute Rockne: All American (1940) 56. The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) 57. The Singing Nun (1966) 58. Marty (1955) 59. Monsieur Vincent (1948) 60. The Assisi Underground (1985) 61. Au Revoir Les Infants (1987) * 62. Come to the Stable (1949) 63. Diary of a Country Priest (1951) 64. In This House of Brede (1975) 65. The Jeweller’s Shop (1988) 66. The Miracle of the Bells (1948) 67. The Fighting Sullivans (1944) 68. The Fourth Wiseman (1985) 69. The Juggler of Notre Dame (1970) 70. Barabbas (1962) 71. King of Kings (1961) 72. Francis of Assisi (1961) 73. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1937) 74. The Decalogue (1987) * 75. The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (1966) 76. Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) 77. The Fugitive (1947) 78. The Longest Day (1962) 79. Thérèse (1986) 80. The Gospel of John (2003) 81. A.D. (1985) 82. Faustyna (1995) 83. The Son (2002) 84. Francesco (1989) * 85. The Flowers of St. Francis (1950) 86. Brother Orchid (1940) 87. Demetrius and the Gladiators 88. Nazarin (1958) 89. The Silver Chalice (1954) 90. When In Rome (1952) 91. Not of This World (1999) 92. Open City (1945) * 93. 3 Godfathers (1948) 94. Don Bosco (1988) 95. Abraham (1994) 96. The Detective (1954) 97. The Hoodlum Saint (1946) 98. The Sign of the Cross (1932) 99. The Wrong Man (1956) 100. Padre On Horseback (1977)

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Find Family Movies, Movie Ratings and Movie Reviews

Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night Parent Guide

Less a movie than a seasonal variety show, this production features a sweet nativity story that's sometimes overwhelmed by other material..

Theaters: The story of the birth of Jesus is portrayed, accompanied by music videos and monologues.

Release date December 12, 2023

Run Time: 125 minutes

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

It’s the “reason for the season” – the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night is the latest cinematic retelling of this tale, done with earnestness and plenty of extraneous material.

If you live outside of the world of Christian media, you may be unaware of The Chosen, a multi-season series of the life and mission of Jesus Christ. I have only watched one episode, but I have friends and family who are devoted viewers. The series has lots of non-canonical material, but its storylines are not incongruent with the scriptural message it’s trying to share.

The nativity story is the highlight of the show, but it is overwhelmed by a wide variety of other material. There are three mini-sermons (referred to by the hosts as “monologues”), a half-dozen or so music videos of Christmas songs, and some strong encouragement to go online and buy franchise merchandise. (This feels a bit grubby, but I guess filthy lucre is an inescapable requirement for filmmaking, even for Christian projects.) The good news about this varied content is that you can be running late, wrestling with kids, or lined up at the concession and you don’t need to worry about missing anything important. In the theater I attended, showtime was at 7:00 pm, but there was no sign of the Christmas story until 7:49. That’s a whole lot of filler.

It’s possible that I’m being Pharisaical here and that my movie critic brain is blunting my sensitivity to the production’s goals. What I perceive as bloat could easily charm other viewers who would enjoy the enthusiastic music videos and sincere monologues/sermons. I can say that the movie is well made, with a good cast and reasonably good dialogue. It’s squeaky clean, consistently joyful, and suitable for any viewer old enough to sit still for two hours. As Bible adaptations go, this one is on the top tier. My only real complaint is that the message is better than the movie. As with most other film adaptations, the book is better.

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Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for christmas with the chosen: holy night.

Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night Rating & Content Info

Why is Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night rated Not Rated? Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night is rated Not Rated by the MPAA

Violence: There is a few scenes where a disabled man is bullied. Sexual Content: A woman goes into labor but there is no detail. Profanity: None. Alcohol / Drug Use:   None.

Page last updated December 13, 2023

Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night Parents' Guide

What parts of the Christmas story do the screenwriters emphasize in this movie? Why do you think they chose to focus on those? What does the script teach about the purpose of Christ’s life and mission?

Do you enjoy the musical numbers in this film? What are your favorite Christmas carols or seasonal songs and why? What role does Christmas music play in your holiday celebrations?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

The Biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth are merged into a single narrative here .

If you want a nativity story for wiggly youngsters, you can read A Very Noisy Christmas by Tim Thornborough and Jennifer Davison.

Children will also appreciate the joyful tale told in The Christmas Baby, written by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey.

For a nativity story with soft, gentle illustrations, you can try The First Christmas Night by Keith Christopher.

Families looking for a book that will place the birth of Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament narratives can head for The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible Stories Showing Why Jesus Came. This book is written by Laura Richie and illustrated by Ian Dale.

Older readers who want to reflect on the birth of Jesus might turn to The Art of Christmas: Meditations on the Birth of Jesus by Jane Williams. She is also the author of The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany. Also available for art fans is The Christmas Story by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Related home video titles:

The Nativity Story is a feature length story of the birth of Jesus. Well cast and reasonably faithful to the Biblical account, this movie is suitable for all viewers.

Young viewers will enjoy The Star , an animated film that tells the familiar tale from the perspective of the animals in the stable.

If you’re looking for well-produced, scripturally accurate retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus, we recommend The Christ Child: A Nativity Story . This live-action short can be watched for free online. Dialogue is in Aramaic and Hebrew, so it might not work well for young kids or those who are not familiar with the Biblical narrative.

If you like combining Christmas music with the Nativity, we suggest you watch The Piano Guys’ video of Angels from the Realms of Glory .

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Movie review: ‘Family Camp’

There’s some good news about the evangelical comedy “Family Camp” (Roadside): Predictably, it’s almost squeaky clean and thus appropriate for a wide range of age groups. But that’s, alas, where the glad tidings about this leaden production cease.

Tommy Woodard and Eddie James, who play the film’s central characters, make up a duo known as The Skit Guys. Perhaps they’re funnier in the short-form routines that name suggests. At feature length, however — at least if this movie is anything to go by — they spin their wheels to little effect.

Woodard plays business-obsessed dad Tommy Ackerman. In a bid to get Tommy to focus more on being a spouse and father, his wife, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker), convinces him to sign their family up for a weeklong visit to the summer camp their parish runs.

Instead of bonding with Grace and their kids, teen Hannah (Cece Kelly) and young Henry (Jacob M. Wade), though, Tommy gets caught up in a rivalry with Eddie Sanders (James), the eccentric patriarch of the clan with whom the Ackermans share their rustic accommodations. As the guys compete feverishly in various contests and bicker before bonding, nary a smile is likely to be raised among viewers.

If director and co-writer Brian Cates’ picture is woefully inert when trying to be humorous, it’s even more ineffective when the script he penned with Rene Gutteridge turns sentimental or preachy. The proceedings, moreover, seem to unfold in some sort of Ozzie-and-Harriet alternate universe.

Thus Corbin (Clayton Royal Johnson), the caddish lad for whom Hannah briefly falls, accuses her of being “a tease” for refusing to share her first kiss with him.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with the concept of using comedy to spread Gospel values. But Cates and company fail to make that recipe at all flavorful here — and the upshot, even when considered with a predisposition to be sympathetic to their project, is cinematic gruel.

The film contains one vague sexual reference. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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• Parents say (17)
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Based on 17 parent reviews

Could have been 5 Star!

My family enjoyed this movie; however, it would have been great if the script didn’t call for the cast and characters to flippantly use God’s name. There was absolutely no need. I know in today’s world people don’t even realize they are saying His name. It didn’t add anything to the movie. I would appreciate His name only being used to honor Him.

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Heavy but heartfelt

Fun and funny movie about imagination, sweet, magical movie great for most kids, tissues please.

I took my 7 year old to see this and it was so incredibly sad. Because I was barely holding it together, I upset him. I think this has got to be the saddest movie I have seen! The movie has a beautiful story in it.. but way to adult for children. The mother dies in the first part of the movie. Then the loving father has to have surgery on his “ broken heart “. The young daughter is older now and trying to be strong. She discovers the “ IF’s” and what they mean to not only her but other people who have grown up and forgotten them. I literally feel as a mother of 5 that no child is going to find this funny. It is a heart felt story and it makes a point. A point that more adults and older children will get. Be prepared to cry.

Great message and value

Don't waste your time, cute, funny movie.

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John Krasinski’s ‘IF’ is a magical, family-friendly movie — despite its imperfections

Here’s what parents should know before taking their kids to see the movie.

By Caroline McDonald

John Krasinski’s “IF” is one of the sweetest family movies I’ve seen in several years, at least since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film features a star-studded cast with familiar faces such as Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski. Steve Carrell plays Blue — a giant, purple, fluffy imaginary friend, also known as an “IF” — while the voices behind the other IFs include Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Blake Lively, Bradley Cooper and others.

The film follows the journey of these imaginary friends who, having been forgotten by their children, seek companionship again.

The movie adopts a safe and comfortable narrative for children while featuring deeper themes of loss, grief, hope and love. As an adult, I found the movie nostalgic and evocative. And partnered with Michael Giacchino’s stirring soundtrack, the story brought tears to my eyes more than once. The movie provided opportunities to laugh, to cry and to imagine.

Despite its occasional quirks and strained script, the magic and catharsis of the movie was inviting. Here are some things to know before watching it.

What is the movie about?

Bea (Cailey Fleming), a 12-year-old girl, is staying with her grandmother while her father (Krasinski) is in the hospital, awaiting surgery. Bea’s internal struggle becomes clear: Since her mother’s premature death, she fears another familial loss, which leaves her decidedly telling those around her that she is no longer a little kid.

Inexplicably, Bea begins to encounter a variety of IFs, including lovable Blue (Carell) and graceful Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Cal (Reynolds) is the only other person who can see all the imaginary friends. The two team up to help lonely, “retired” IFs reconnect with the grown-up children they once looked after.

While director John Krasinski has directed other films — most notably “A Quiet Place” — “IF” is “his most personal project to date,” according to CBS News .

He also explained that his inspiration came from watching his two daughters, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic took place. “I saw their light starting to go out,” he told CBS News. “And I saw that the world started to seep in, and that is the definition of growing up.”

According to CBS News, it was at that moment Krasinski began to create “IF.” He wanted it to be a reminder to his children that “the magical world they’ve created will forever be a sanctuary for them, regardless of the challenges the real world presents.”

What parents should know

“IF” is rated PG. I found the jokes silly and endearing — in the theater, there were rows of kids who were laughing throughout the hour-and-a-half movie. The larger themes of “IF” might go over the heads of the little ones in the audience, but older children will likely resonate with the story.

According to a USA Today review, “Tweens and teens ... will likely engage with or feel seen by Bea’s character arc, struggling to move into a new phase of life while being tied to her younger years.”

While the magic of the film was evident, it had slow start. It was about halfway through the movie when I felt like the story had finally begun. The dialogue also felt simple at times, as if the script played it a little too safe.

The imperfections of the movie reflect in critics’ reviews. “IF” scored 51% on Rotten Tomatoes . However, the accompanying audience score was an 87%, and the movie has been generally well-liked.

Personally, I wholeheartedly appreciated the film. I thought it was funny, adorable and touching. Most importantly, I think it is worth the watch.

The movie, according to Variety , is also expected to have a successful box office weekend, with an anticipated $40 million box office debut.