Media > Sy's Film & Book Recommendations

Sy's Film & Book Recommendations

Movies are our modern electronic tribal fire where we gather round to hear stories...stories which entertain but also speak on deeper levels. These subtext themes are universal, regardless of continent or culture, and are often, quite spiritual in nature. That’s why so many films play out across the cultural differences.

If you are not familiar with the idea of subtext in film, here are some examples…

Deep Impact isn't about a disaster...it's about re-evaluating what really matters in light of mortality.

Amistad isn't just about the slave trade...it's about finding God & hope in the midst of terrible circumstances.

Terminator 2 isn't just about time-travelling robot killers...it's about the human need for Divine intervention against evil & a boy's need for a father and a mother.

Saving Private Ryan was more than a war film...it's really a story about living beyond yourself for the sake of others - and the sacrificial price required to stop evil - this is a theme played out not only in war, but in the micro realm of the immune system all the way to the cosmic scale of Christ's sacrifice.
Just as Science Fiction isn't really talking about the future but is often about the present, so the Alien series isn't so much about Aliens as it is the dark & terrible consequences unleashed by unethical & greedy corporations & governments upon unwitting humanity.

While acknowledging that some films are indeed a waste of time and money and talent, there are many that are worthy of your consideration. The following list represents some of my best picks for films which reflect God’s redemptive character in the midst of the human experience. For more redemptive insights into film, visit: www.hollywoodjesus.com.

REDEMPTIVE & INSPIRATIONAL THEMES IN FILM:

The following are some of my favorite choices. Note that films may be rated PG-13 to R. Some films mentioned contain sensuality, violence and coarse language. Mentioning these films is not necessarily an encouragement to watch them, although if you choose to do so, I hope you will discern the inspirational and redemptive themes.

CATEGORY 1: Relational Redemption

Moulin Rouge: Best example so far on film of Sexual/Relational redemption: Christ enters the fallen world to win his corrupted Bride…the World and the Devil conspire to stop her, but she makes the ‘pearl of great price’ decision, and heroic love wins. (oh yes, please do skip the tarty music video remake of Lady Marmalade).
Forest Gump: So many themes: Divine intervention; God using the weak rather than the capable; Character vs. Skill; emotional and relational healing and big doses of redemption for Forest, his girlfriend, their kid, and sergeant Dan.
Big Fish: Clever story of a son being reconciled to his father…it will really get you in the end…be prepared for tears.
Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood: A Mother-daughter crisis results in forgiveness and reconciliation. Here’s to learning ‘the rest of the story’.
A Walk in the Clouds: Keanu Reeves portrays a man of noble character who intervenes to rescue an unwed, pregnant woman from certain shame in the 1940s.
Chocolat: This lavish, well scripted/acted story of an outsider who breezes into a provincial town with life-changing impact: Go deeper: legalism vs. ‘grace’, Brittle religion vs. Christ; church culture vs. ‘God among us’ concern and intervention in people’s lives. And chocolate.
You’ve Got Mail: His kingdom keeps increasing, at the expense of hers…but she gets him and all that’s his, in the end. Sound familiar?
Deep Impact: It’s not a disaster flick. It’s not a sci-fi flick. It’s about what really matters in life, especially when facing mortality. Relationships are mended…God is sought and living beyond one’s self for the sake of others highlight this film.
Enchanted Cottage: This rare 1940’s film depicts a disfigured war vet who falls in love with a plain, ‘overlooked’ woman. As their love deepens, their unattractiveness fades and they become ‘beautiful’ to each other…and can face the world again. Keep a hankie nearby.

CATEGORY 2: Justice & Redemption

Ben Hur: Epic, 9-Oscar winning film of betrayal, injustice and Christ in the mix, and how He brings about justice, healing, and redemption. If you haven’t seen this 3 hour classic, I forgive you. But DO rent it, turn off the hell-a-phone, and be inspired by this famous period film.
Count of Monte Cristo: Classy film version of the novel, with the central theme stated at the beginning and the end: God will give me justice. Everyone needs reminding that God does not abandon us to our suffering, and that revenge isn’t as sweet as it promises.
Les Miserables: I prefer the Liam Neeson version of the classic tale of Law vs. Grace, with brilliant examples of sexual and relational redemption too.
Shawshank Redemption: Our hero’s perseverance and character enable him to make the best of a bad situation-by serving to benefit others—while never giving up hope for that day of deliverance.

CATEGORY 3: Spiritual Warfare

Mothman Prophecies: A Jewish ‘instrument of God’ is teleported to a town to intervene in a pending disaster…meanwhile, vulture-like demons congregate in anticipation of doom. Can ‘God’s man’ resist the deceptions and temptations thrown at him so that he may fulfill Divine intent?
Lord of the Rings: Wow. How epic can you get—especially for our times: The dark shadow of war and evil rising requires our least-likely heroes to be loyal, self sacrificing and determined in their burdensome but destined mission.
Bless this Child: Kim Basinger portrays a believer whose faith has grown cold, only to have her faith reignited by a spiritual battle over the fate of her niece, who is destined to lead many to God. Angels vs Demons, intercessory prayer and it’s triumph.
Constantine: Keanu Reeves again does warfare against the devil in this quasi-Christian-symbol cartoon tale, that—while a bit all over the map theologically—still makes some pretty cool statements verbally(you cant earn your way to Heaven) and visually(Satan is real, demons are real, Hell is real, Angels are real, Heaven is real and Jesus is the Lord).
Death Becomes Her: A stellar cast in a modern Faustian fable…with a very clever depiction of Satan. Two competing women make an unwitting deal with the devil…they suffer eternal consequences they didn’t anticipate, while the man they wanted resists temptation only to be ‘born again’ into a life worth living.
Speed: Keanu Reeves saves the day as the Messianic policeman who intervenes to rescue hijacked humanity from a Satanic-ex-cop.

CATEGORY 4: Sci Fi Redemption

Matrix: What can I say that hasn’t already been said. It’s still so cool.
Aliens: This 2nd film in the Alien series depicts Ripley as an all too human but self sacrificing hero who confronts evil-even though she’d prefer not to, saves humanity as a consequence, overcomes prejudice toward robots, and saves a plucky but vulnerable orphan.
Signs: It’s NOT about Aliens…that’s just the postmodern frosting on this tale of a man’s foundering faith. A tragedy damages his faith…a greater crisis re-ignites it. The story is built on the Biblical concept: God works out everything for good--even the details and tragedies—if we will not abandon our confidence in His character.
War of the Worlds: This Oscar-winning film of the 1950’s retells the H.G. Wells classic story of space invaders who cannot be stopped until… Even more amazing, is the role of faith in God and His Divine, providential intervention. Humanity worships Him in the end. When are you going to see THAT again in a movie?

CATEGORY 5: Straight-Forward Redemption

The Passion: Just in case you didn’t get the metaphors and allegories about redemption depicted in previously mentioned films, then this movie directly spells it out: Who Jesus is, why he came, suffered and died—and that He resurrected. Never has there been such a global conversation about the Christ. You’ve seen it…now how will you respond to Him?
Ben Hur: Though previously mentioned…it’s worth mentioning again as Jesus is woven throughout this story of suffering and the God who is with us even then.
Jesus of Nazareth: This Franco Zefferelli visual masterpiece tells the whole story, and tells it powerfully. Rent it and watch the whole 6 hours in one sitting to really get the impact.
San Francisco: Who knew: This late 1930’s classic is about a pastor’s daughter (power-voice singer Jeannette MacDonald) who goes to the big city to become famous. She falls for a bad boy Cabaret owner (Clark Gable), whose childhood friend (Spencer Tracy) is now a priest. Add one academy award-winning earthquake, Clark repents on his knees and gets born again, and Jeannette inspires the survivors to sing ‘Glory Glory Hallelujah’ while San Fran burns.

More Movies to Consider:

Super Size Me: You should be forced to watch this. And if you do watch it, I dare you not to change your eating habits. Consider it ‘dietary redemption’.
Paradise Road: Western women in Asia during World War 2 are imprisoned in a concentration camp…and how faith, hope, and helping each other brings them through.
Judgment At Nuremburg: Either the 1960’s version or the 1990’s version…both well tell the terrible story of how the professional classes in Germany aided the Nazis in World War 2. Deception, fear and a lack of empathy for others is a lethal brew.
Amistad: Man’s inhumanity to fellow man in the slave trade, make this a dark but important film…punctuated by slaves being born again.
A Beautiful Life: The poignant story of a father and son in a concentration camp.
The Sound of Music: Mock me all you want, but it’s still a fab true story told brilliantly in it’s day, with faith in God’s leading…courage in times of danger…and those infectious sing-a-longs.

SY'S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

People often ask me what I read. I enjoy reading daily often covering a chapter or two per book in several books. Here's some favorites to feed and challenge my mind and soul:

	Our Culture, What's Left of It by Dr Theodore Dalrymple Former Supreme Court Judge nominee Robert Bork stated famously in his classic book 'Slouching Toward Gomorrah', that "if you want to know what the collapse of a civilization looks like, you're in one". Our Culture, What's Left of It, explains how and why--and with brilliant clarity. One of my favorite reads in a while, Dr. Dalrymple's wit, literary genius and years of global experience in the fields of medicine and sociology make for compelling reading--how the elites have fostered the overthrow of standards and with devastating consequences upon individuals and society as a whole...and all done in the name of enlightenment and freedom. Never has the ruin of a civilization been chronicled so well. At least those who unearth our ruins will have an explanation.
	America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It by Mark Steyn With great insight and clarity, Mark Steyn's book importantly details how and why the rise of Islamic extremism is relentlessly encroaching upon western culture, co-opting previous allies, and leaving the U.S. increasingly vulnerable and in several ways. If you want to understand the bigger picture that will inevitably affect us all, this book will achieve that and without hysteria, and serves up wit and useful responses.
	Americans At Risk: Why We Are Not Prepared for MegaDisasters and What We Can Do Now by Dr. Irwin Redlener Pastors and congregations alike must ask themselves the question, 'What would we do if...a nuke goes off in our city or in a city nearby? or 'What would we do if...a major storm, or earthquake or Katrina-like flood ruined entire sections of my community? 'Such concerns are plausible and church culture needs to think through the issues of preparedness and response, so we can be part of a solution, not just victims of the situation. As the book jacket says: "This important book by one of our leading experts on disaster preparedness offers a compelling narrative about our nation's inability to properly plan for large-scale disasters...he concludes with a real prescription: a nine-point proposal for how America can be better prepared as well as...what citizens themselves can do."
	YAHWEH by Philip Baker Just because Phil is a friend, doesn't disqualify him from being an excellent writer of several worthy books...which he is. This recent book illumines aspects of the awesome, mysterious, personal God who reckons with and redeems us--an intimate book, fresh in perspective and beautifully presented. Check out his other books too: www.philbaker.net.
	The Shaping Of Things to Come by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch Hendrickson Press Publishers/Amazon.com “If I had my way, you would be forced to read this book—especially if you are in or hope to be in any kind of ministry. Certainly it’s been one of my best reads of recent days. I suggest you get it if you want an idea of what’s wrong with the current template church cultures offers…vs. discarding the template to find innovative ways to bring God’s character and redemption to a wary but needy generation. This IS the cutting edge stuff others often hype about but rarely deliver. This book delivers and will leave you challenged and inspired in the best way.”
	The Fourth Turning by Strauss & Howe/Broadway Books Wow…if you want to understand the times we live in, and where we are going and why, then this brilliant historical overview will give you that and more. Avoiding crystal ball guessing, or Bible prophesy interpretations, the authors paint the future view with historic fact: we live within an ever-repeating 80 year cycle with four distinct seasons, each with its social and generational destiny. According to their researched opinions, we are once again headed into the darkening season of 'winter', or crisis-but all is not doom perhaps. While we can't stop the onset of winter, so to speak, we can prepare to be effective in it, IF tuned in to the times. If you are a Christian leader or youth worker, or just love history and future prediction stuff, then why aren't you reading this?? See www.fourthturning.com. Thanks Phil!
	The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John E Eldredge This inspiring, encouraging and practical book tells it just like it is when it comes to relating to an unpredictable, invisible God in an uncertain, uncontrollable world. If you've longed for more from life, or longed for more security in God's love, then this book is for you.
	Beyond the Cosmos by Hugh Ross The subtitle says it all: "What recent discoveries in astronomy and physics reveal about the nature of God."
	Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Compelling, well documented, but always entertaining study of fast food as both consumer commodity and metaphor. I will never view fast food - or the society that enabled it to evolve - in the same way. You owe it to yourself to read this... be prepared, though, to be disturbed... and your modern eating habits challenged. I told you so.
	The Bible by various authors I enjoy reading new language translations, the Message, the Living Bible and the NIV. If you've never read the Bible, I encourage you to start with the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of John in the New Testament, and with Psalms and Proverbs in the Old Testament.
	In His Image by Dr. Paul Brand & Philip Yancey Dr. Brand's follow up to bestselling 'Fearfully & Wonderfully Made', details the amazing biological package that is the human body, and draws a rich supply of spiritual parallels. I love science, particularly biology. I find it very useful to understand our physical machinery, as it is always full of profound spiritual/theological insight.
	My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers A classic daily devotional that I'm enjoying for my 4th year in a row. I am inspired and encouraged by his insights into the character of God. Though written many years ago in a previous generation, Chambers speaks to me today.
	Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock This best selling secular book is a rich, exhaustively detailed compilation of ancient, global human history & it's compelling implications for today. 9 years in the writing by a former correspondent for one of my fav magazines.... 'The Economist'. (And no, it's not about aliens.)
	The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwin Henri Nouwin is a gifted writer who offers a simple but powerfully moving study of love greater than failure, rejection and injustice. If you've ever been an outcast, or have wrestled with the fear that you aren't worthy of love, then read this and be encouraged... I surely was. Inspired by the classic Rembrandt painting of 'The Homecoming', this remarkably crafted book will remain one of my favorites.'

	No Place to Hide by Robert O’Harren Jr./Free Press Publishers Yes, you ARE being watched, monitored, tabulated and increasingly so. Justifiable paranoia. Welcome to the end of privacy.
	Thoughts in Solitude by Thomas Merton/ThomasMertonBooks.com. Great devotion material by a most prolific communicator…visit the site and see what I mean…makes you wonder what you are doing with your free time!
	*GEORGE MUELLER OF BRISTOL : A Biography* by A.T.Pierson, /Flemming Revell Co. Publishers This book was foundational in my understanding of how to pray for God’s provision even in the face of hardship and deprivation. No better example than George to show you real prayer. Another good book like it: Is That Really You God? By Loren Cunningham.
	*CHASING THE DRAGON: THE STORY OF JACKIE PULLINGER* by Pullinger & Quick/ Hodder Arnold H&S Publishers The true story of a woman of faith who took on Hong Kong’s most notorious drug and gang district without credential, support or programs…just prayer, guts and faith in God’s character who put her up to the challenge to begin with. Amazing, transformational results!
	THE EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY CHURCH by Peter Scazzero, Zondervan Publisher As the pastor of New Life Fellowship, a thriving multicultural New York City church, Peter will tell you it wasn't always so. Peter has learned what doesn't work along with fresh, needed insights that DO, in order to disciple churches toward maturity and greater relational health, from the top down. In ministry or aspire to be? Then you MUST READ THIS. See www.zondervan.com and www.newlifechurch.org.