Top ten religious movies for Lent

By Tom Quiner Integrating God and faith into movies doesn’t always work. Sometimes, directors who are ardent believers try so hard to convey their fervor that the audience feels like they’ve been clubbed over the head. Other times, a director of little or no faith is able to convey a timeless story of faith with…

Read More

Top ten religious movies for Lent

Integrating God and faith into movies doesn’t always work.

Sometimes, directors who are ardent believers try so hard to convey their fervor that the audience feels like they’ve been clubbed over the head. Other times, a director of little or no faith is able to convey a timeless story of faith with such an exquisite, artistic touch that you’re convinced of his devoutness.

The Holy Spirit works mysteriously in the realm of cinema. The films that follow moved me, entertained me, and conveyed a message of faith that meant something to me.

My list of favorites evolves from year to year. The films that follow are artistic, nuanced with great scripts. The Gospel of John (#2) is unique because the script is based verbatim on the Gospel of John. Christopher Plummer’s voice is perfect as the narrator. Interestingly, the versatile Mr. Plummer appears in two other films on the list (“The Scarlet and the Black”) as a Nazi, the antagonist of the Vatican, and “Jesus of Nazareth” as the spineless Herod.

I have bounced a few golden oldies from my list this year, such as Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments, simply because I’ve seen them enough times that I’m a little tired of them.

I sincerely believe you will enjoy these films. Let me know your favorites.

Read More

My top ten religious movies for Lent

We’re in the midst of the awe and majesty of the Easter Triduum. When you get home from church and look for good religious entertainment, consider one of these ten movies. These are my favorite religious movies for the Lent/Easter season.

Read More

My top ten religious movies for Lent

I love movies that depict the power of faith.

There is no one magic formula for a successful religious movie. Sometimes, it is an historical epic. Other times, it is a story of faith in action. Or it could be a docudrama on the life of a saint.

I especially love to dig into these films during Lent and let the beauty of God’s love wash over me.

Here is my updated top ten list of religious movies I like to watch during Lent:

Read More

Oscar politics

I have a love/hate relationship with Hollywood. They are capable of creating exquisite works of art, such as Lincoln, Les Miz, and The Life of Pi. But be careful. They have an agenda, and they are sneaky. Their insidious brand of leftist politics can sneak its way into even the most innocuous film.

Read More

Run, don’t walk, to see Les Miserables

Why was Les Miserables, the novel, which was penned by Victor Hugo in 1862, so beloved? Critics mocked it, but the public loved it. Why was Les Miserables, the musical, written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubill, so wildly popular even though so many critics panned it? And why is Les Miserables, the movie, expected to be box office gold, even though top critics gave it mixed reviews, such as this one: “The good news: Les Miserables is a less miserable film experience than expected. The bad news: it’s still miserable.” Here’s why:

Read More

Les Miserables today!

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9OuGe5AV4&feature=player_embedded] On this second day of Christmas, Quiner’s Diner will take a break and attend the new movie, Les Miserables. Politics will have to wait for another day. This is a movie I have been waiting to see for a long time. Watch the trailer above for the back story on the…

Read More