Movie Reviews — Week of September 29

THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS

RATING: PG-13
STARRING: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Beyonc??© Knowles, Mike Epps, and Latanya Richardson
DIRECTOR: Jonathan Lynn
PRODUCERS: Dasvid Gale, Loretha Jones, and Jeff Pollack
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Van Toffler and Benny Medina
WRITER: Elizabeth Hunter and Saladin K. Patterson
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures
GENRE: Comedy
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Teenagers and adults

SUMMARY: In The Fighting Temptations, an unemployed advertising executive tries to bring a community together so a church can win a Gospel music contest. About the only positive Christian thing about this movie is the lyrics of the Gospel songs.

In The Fighting Temptations, a boy’s mother is ostracized from a small town church because she sings "the devil’s music" at a local nightclub. By the time he grows up, the boy, Darrin, has become a successful advertising executive by making up lies. After being fired from his job for lying, Darrin hears that his dead Aunt Sally has left him $150,000, if he leads the church at the local gospel contest. He starts with five church singers, but they don’t get along, so he recruits non-church people who can sing, including a beautiful jazz singer named Lilly. This sets the stage for comedy.

CONTENT: Strong humanist worldview that denies the power of God and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to change lives, also the Christian church is full of hypocrites and nobody really repents, and politically correct message about just accepting people for who they are as well as some positive Christian elements during Gospel music scenes in the lyrics; 10 obscenities; no violence; some passionate kissing, some light sexual innuendoes, and man talks about different women’s rear ends; no nudity; alcohol use and drunkenness; smoking; and lying, hypocrisy, and love of money is important.

AMERICAN GLORY

RATING: Not rated by the MPAA
RE-RELEASE: 2003
TIME: 55 minutes
STARRING: Pat Boone
DIRECTOR: Brian Lockwood
PRODUCER: Tim Watson
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Joseph Seideman
WRITER: Pat Boone and Joseph Seideman
DISTRIBUTOR: Gold Label
GENRE: Music Video
INTENDED AUDIENCE: General

SUMMARY: Even before 9/11, Pat Boone became concerned that no one was singing, let alone recording, any of the nation’s great patriotic songs; so, he recorded a music video of America’s most treasured songs, including "America the Beautiful," the hymns of the four major branches of the Armed Services, the "Star Spangled Banner," the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God bless America," and his recent release, "Under God."

American Glory takes its audience on a journey across the United States as Pat Boone sings America’s patriotic favorites. In the process, the audience will listen to our nation’s rich musical heritage set against the beauty of our country and its greatest monuments. This collection of timeless classics will inspire your whole family.

This music video is enjoyable to watch and a must for every home. The visualization of the songs is superb, as is the singing. It is a must for every home. Thank you, Pat, for reminding us about our American heritage. As Pat Boone says, "I hope that by highlighting the magnificent sights of our great land and sharing these great songs with you, this video will help define, inspire, and uplift us, our kids, and grand kids, as well."

CONTENT: Christian Worldview With Patriotic Songs. For more information on the video American Glory, contact: