The Perfect Gift
The Perfect Gift (86 mins) (2009) (A Dove Family Approved film)
(NR Not Rated - Our Rating is PG)
(This information taken from the DVD movie jacket:)
From the producers of The Perfect Stranger and Another Perfect Stranger comes a holiday story that carries a year-round message for the ages.
The Perfect Gift is a Capr-esque tale of a spoiled schoolgirl (Christina Fougnie, Clancy), her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister and how each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas form a friendly, but mysterious 'drifter' (Jefferson Moor, The Perfect Stranger) named Jess.
The film also stars Matt Wallace (as the young minister), Tome Luce (as the senior minister), and Amy Hess (as the mother).
Caution to Parents: This film shows a pre-teen child being left in the presence of a stranger even though this stranger turns out to be Jesus in the flesh; but in today's culture with pedophiles and other predators, parents may not want their young children to see this movie even though it has a Dove Family Seal of Approval. From one of the stranger series
DVD Bonus features include:
- Theatrical Trailer
- Behind the Scenes Walk-through
- "Emmanuel (You are with me)" Music Video
* Capra-esque = relating to or in the style of the movies of Frank Capra, focusing on courage and its positive effects and the triumph of the underdog. From Dictionary.com Unabridged
THE RIDE
"The Ride" (equivalent to a PG13) (1997) (101 Mins) (For older teenagers and adults.) from World Wide Pictures
Smokey Banks (Michael Biehn), a former world champion bull rider, has spent the past few years messing up his life with drinking and gambling. Now he's been assigned community service with Mike Stillwell at the Saguaro's Boy's Ranch for stealing their truck. Since his only other option is jail, Smokey reluctantly agrees to the terms: stay out of trouble and teach Danny O'Neil (Brock Peirce) how to ride a bull.
He has no idea how drastically the people at the ranch are about to change his life ... especially one 14-year old boy.
"To them you're still a rootin' tootin' championship bull rider. Treat this like a fresh start and who knows ... maybe it will be."
Saving Sarah Cain
SAVING SARAH CAIN (PG) (103 mins)
(from FOX and Believe Pictures)
DOVE Family Approved (www.dove.org).
(Edited from the DVD movie jacket.)
We placed this movie under DRAMA but there are many funny parts in the movie.
"Happiness Comes When You Least Expect it!)
Powerful, funny, heartwarming and triumphant, Saving Sarah Cain is a captivating film directed by Michael Landon, Jr. and featuring performance from Academy Ward nominees Elliot Gould and Tess Harper.
Sarah Cain (Lisa Pepper) is a sweet, successful, slightly self-absorbed and a city-girl through and through. But when the untimely death of her sister draws here to Amish country from the funeral, she makes a discovery that will change her life: she is now the legal guardian to five Amish nieces and nephews! Desperately trying to juggle the kids, her career and her comfort level, Sarah must reevaluate her priorities as she prepares for the biggest culture shock of everyone's lives.
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Our Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) 4 Stars
Photography 4 Stars
Acting 4 Stars
Story 4 Stars
| THE STRANGER
The Stranger (Not rated - our rating PG13) "In every persons life, there's a stranger we all know." series of short movies, about 30 mins each, are great for a Bible study or family entertainment Good for older teenagers and adults. You may want to preview these before showing to younger children. And be prepared to explain and answer your children's questions about these episodes. This series are episodes of a real, physical Jesus visiting people today to encourage them in their daily walk in life. The series almost always involves a walk with Jesus. Parts are humorous but the episodes are always dramatic and enlightening. Some excellent dialogue can be found in this mini-series made for TV with people asking Jesus some tough questions about pain, sickness, prayer and their weak faith. And Jesus asking them some tough questions. At first people do not know it is Jesus - that is why the title The Stranger. My favorite episode is THOMAS based on Jesus calling into a Talk Show program and talking with a sarcastic radio personality. This series was produced by www.kellysfilmworks.net in Canada (2008). The same people who brought you The Perfect Stranger and Another Perfect Stranger. * ** There are seven episodes: * * * The Woman At The Well A woman (Stephanie Vickers) struggles with the concept of not being perfect because both her family and her church disapprove of her lifestyle. The Prodigal Son A young man (Brad Jackson) turns his back on a family fortune and winds up sleeping in an alley. Mary and Martha Two sisters (Christine Browder and Patti Crawford) with very different outlooks run a family dinner in a small town in Alabama. Salt A grad student (Amy Hess) faces a daily challenge in an outspoken professor (Percy Metcalf) and his agnostic viewpoints. Thomas A boorish radio talk show host in Chicago (Tom Luce) berates his listeners on a nightly basis: Tonight's Topic: "The Insanity of Faith". Mary Magdalene A conservative senator (Melisa Combs) is reluctant about casting the deciding vote on a landmark abortion bill. Walk on Water A teenager (Alexis Hughes) grow weary of being harassed for her beliefs by her mean-spirited classmates. |
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"THAT JEW DIED FOR YOU!"
(Only recommended for older teenagers and adults.)
This short 4 min movie was released on April 14th for Internet access only. I can highly recommend this video and the Jews for Jesus organization, I recommend that you see this video. This movie is only being released on the internet. On there website, you can also watch other short videos about some of the survivors of the Holocaust.
To view this short video go to www.thatjewdiedforyou.com
[Click here for more info: That Jew Died For You! ]
More about this film after I read the short book about this film.
| Statement from the Jews for Jesus organization on their website about why that made this film (found on www.thatjewdiedforyou.com) :
"Jesus has often been wrongly associated with the perpetrators of the Holocaust. In reality, he is to be identified with those who were the victims. As a Jew, if he were in Europe at the time, Jesus may well have suffered the same fate of the six million who perished in the concentration camps." "Jewish teaching promotes the idea that the death of Jews in the Holocaust accomplished kiddush ha Shem, the sanctification of God’s name. How much more then, the Bible tells us, Jesus’ death was intended by God for kiddush ha am, the sanctification of the people. Through him we can be made right with God. (See Hebrews 13:12)" |
THE ENCOUNTER
The Encounter (85 mins) (Genre: Drama) (2010)
(CC Closed Caption available - English Subtitles)
(NR - not rated by MPAA) (Our rating is PG13)
Caution: serious topics discussed in this movies - like child abuse but in a tasteful manner- therefore best for older teenagers and adults. (The Dove Foundation rates it 4 our of 5 starts for ages 12+). In fact, it is the very fact that this movie covers these serious topics that makes this film attractive to and effective with older teenagers and adults! The topics include - a childless couple on the brink of divorce, a woman who thinks she is a Christian but isn't, a Christian woman about to marry someone who is not right for her, an arrogant self-sufficient business man and an abused teenagers who is on the run.
The Encounter (85 mins) (Genre: Drama) (2010)
(CC Closed Caption available - English Subtitles)
(NR - not rated by MPAA) (Our rating is PG13)
Caution: serious topics discussed in this movies - like child abuse but in a tasteful manner- therefore best for older teenagers and adults. (The Dove Foundation rates it 4 our of 5 starts for ages 12+). In fact, it is the very fact that this movie covers these serious topics that makes this film attractive to and effective with older teenagers and adults! The topics include - a childless couple on the brink of divorce, a woman who thinks she is a Christian but isn't, a Christian woman about to marry someone who is not right for her, an arrogant self-sufficient business man and an abused teenagers who is on the run.
“A riveting thought-provoking movie.” – Tom Saab CFFA
Like Tom Saab said, this is a riveting thought-provoking movie! We have shown this movie to a variety of groups and we have noticed how the audience quiets down as the dialogue challenges their thoughts. It is a riveting movie.
(The following information is edited from the DVD movie jacket cover.)
“I am the light of the world, he who believes in Me shall not perish.” – Yeshua
Stranded in the middle of nowhere, five strangers find themselves marooned in a deserted roadside diner. An arrogant businessman, (played by Steve “Sting” Borden), a lonely single woman (played by Jaci Velasquez), a couple on the verge of divorce (played by Jamie Neto and Danah Davis), and a youthful runaway (played by Madison Gibney) all come face to face with the diner owner who serves them more than temporal nourishment.
The genial host is a certain Nazarene (played by Bruce Machiano) who knows all of their secrets and possesses the answers to all of their problems – if only they would trust him. It is a miraculous Encounter that will leave them all changed.
Kass Connors plays the devil and this film introduces Madison Gibney as the runaway teenager and Steve "Sting" Borden who plays the arrogant businessman.
“An Intriguing Faith-Filled Story”
- The Dove Foundation Rating
Note: The Dove Foundation Rating is 4 our of 5 stars
for ages 12+. For the Dove review go to (www.dove.org) and type in "Encounter").
Click here for the www.movieguide.org review of this movie.
Special Features with this DVD:
-Behind The Scenes
- Trailers
- Commentary with Bruce Marchiano and David A.R. White