The One Movie Every Christian Should See + Give Away!
Has anyone else ever seen The Big Kahuna? It’s an awesome movie starring Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, and some guy that I can’t remember. You can check it out on Netflix here.
The movie is about three salesmen on a business trip trying to land a HUGE account. It’s also about how the Christian in the group, the young guy, turns their sales pitch into an “opportunity” to witness. NOTE: This is an older movie that was adapted from a stage play, so you won’t see any CGI or million-dollar effects. What you will see is some phenomenal acting (perhaps DeVito’s best) and an interesting perspective on evangelism that will make you think.
Anyone who is a Christian and thinks evangelism is important needs to see this movie. It is a valuable example of what not being genuine looks like to somebody else.
The conversations about God and faith are brilliant! Check out these two clips (especially the second one!):
The Trailer
Here Danny DeVito explains the difference between relating to people and selling Jesus after the young salesman gets into a fistfight with Spacey over whether it was OK to talk to their prospect about Jesus instead of business. Good stuff…
Want to rent this (or any other movie)? ENTER TO WIN a $10.00 iTunes gift card by answering this question in the comments…
What is the one movie you think every Christian should see and why?
** Comment that you tweeted this link or put it on Facebook for additional chances to win**
Winner will be selected randomly from all comments on Sunday, June 20th at 11:00 PM EST and announced here on Monday June 21st.
Peter Facinelli. I can't think of any other movie he's been in, but I bet it was quite a coup to get cast with Spacey and DeVito.
Can I win the gift card? Our DVD of this is scratched and won't play properly anymore. And this is my 2nd favorite movie ever, right after Rocky.
We've used these clips (and others) from the movie in our evangelism and spiritual friendship classes. It is a very good look at the inherent tension of evangelism.
My husband says Star Wars! :)
That second clip blew me away! Definitely going to have to watch the movie! Thanks for sharing it!
It really bothered you that I called him “some guy that I can't remember” doesn't it? :)
What!? Why?
The Book of Eli. Reason 1: He spent 30 years doing what God asked him to do. Reason 2: A man was willing to kill for the Word, although his intentions weren't quite right, he knew the power in the Word.
I've never seen it. I'll have to check it out.
Only one? There are so many! If I pick more than one do I get extra entries to win or disqualified?
Non-Fiction
For the Bible Tells Me So
Call Me Malcolm
Fiction
Butterfly Circus (short) http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/film/?film=4dd2...
Tender Mercies.
It's an amazing film with an outstanding performance by Robert Duvall. It has themes of redemption, grace, and a man learning that simply becoming a Christ follower doesn't mean all of your problems will go away.
For me it will and always be “Good Will Hunting”. It is raw, real, and honest and the scene towards the end of the movie between Matt Damon and Robin Williams has me in tears every time I watch it. I think it is an amazing example of the hurt and pain that so many people are going through, how they hide it, and how to help them come to terms with it. In my top 10 movies of all time.
There's a long list- I'll just put down a more recent film. Grand Torino with Clint Eastwood, about a man who not only learns to love his neighbors, but makes a great sacrifice for him. A really beautiful, grittt film.
I haven't even heard of those. I'll check them out for sure!
I haven't seen this movie but it reminded me of The Apostle which is an awesome movie!!!
Love that movie! I love the scene when he has his counseling break through too.
That was filmed here in Detroit and I haven't seen it… I should check it out.
Dogma. Though I always feel so guilty for owning it, watching it and loving it. It curses too much and pushes the envelope a little too far sometimes but I think in doing so it rasies a lot of good questions and brings to light some of the silliness and stupidity (buddy Jesus) we as Christians engage in. I also love the picture they portray of God through Alanis Morissette – this God who is beautiful, fragile in some way, playful and yet in the end we, as mere mortals, cannot hear her voice without it physically blowing us to pieces. That is a beautiful and amazing contrast and a perfect view of God one we often forget, falling to one extreme or the other. And I love that the angels now human are willing to pay the price to hear God's voice one more time. It makes me want to too.
Huh… I always thought it looked dumb. Maybe I should reconsider that…
Hi Nicole, I recently found your blog and I am really enjoying it! Thanks for posting stuff that actually makes me think!
As far as movies every Christian should see…
-Trade (incredibly eye opening and sad)
- The Blind Side (a bit sappy but so good. Perhaps it was so poignant for me because my husband and I saw it on the airplane when we were heading home from visiting the kids we're adopting in Nicaragua) We literally sobbed for an hour during/after the movie. On the plane. Awkward.
-The Star of Bethlehem (a documentary type thing about the physics/history/evidence for the star of Bethlehem. Being a science nerd I loved this!)
-Forrest Gump. No one is usless, despite the fact that the world may view them as such. God can and does use people that seem unfit to accomplish great things.
I have not seen The Big Kahuna, but I like Kevin Spacey (wasn't he in Soap Dish). He is funny. I think the one movie that every Christian should see is Amazing Grace. The one where Chris Tomlin did that song. It is based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce and his involvement in ending slavery in England. It is soooooo good. It will make you want to go out and read From Disgrace to Amazing Grace (the biography of John Newton). I loved it and want to add it to my library. Which they are giving away free dvd's at http://www.amazinggracemovie.com
I have not seen The Big Kahuna, but I like Kevin Spacey (wasn't he in Soap Dish). He is funny. I think the one movie that every Christian should see is Amazing Grace. The one where Chris Tomlin did that song. It is based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce and his involvement in ending slavery in England. It is soooooo good. It will make you want to go out and read From Disgrace to Amazing Grace (the biography of John Newton). I loved it and want to add it to my library. Which they are giving away free dvd's at http://www.amazinggracemovie.com
Faith Like Potatoes. Loved it!
How To Save a Life. This is the summary from the website…I can't summarize very well at all haha “Jake Taylor has everything. He has a beautiful girl, he's the champion in basketball and beer pong, and everyone loves him. Then, an old childhood friend, whom Jake used to be friends with, commits suicide. Jake begins to think. He wonders what he could've done to save his friend's life. A youth minister tells him that Jake needs God. So Jake becomes a Christian. However, things begin to spin out of control. His dad is cheating on his mom, his girlfriend is pregnant, and his former friends ridicule and mock him. During all this, Jake is going to realize just what it means to be a Christian and how, to save a life.”
End of the Spear was an amazing movie about the missionaries who were killed in S. America. It was more personal since my dad grew up with the son of one of the men who was killed.
I've also heard that “Amazing Grace” was a great movie about WIlliam Wilberforce and since I believe that more Christians need to join the movement to stop modern day slavery – a study of William Wilberforce would be a GREAT thing!
Can't wait to rent some of these movies! Thanks for the advice everyone!
Brandi
Dead Poets' Society
1. Concept of Carpe Diem is so biblical; live for this moment.
2. Small thinking leads to small living.
3. Demanding blind submission without loving leadership that can be trusted leads to devastating results.
I know it's too late to win, but my choice is Lars and the Real Girl. It's about how a community embraces a young man with problems and is willing to do whatever they need to do to restore him, which results in something pretty unconventional. It's just beautiful to see how much his friends love him and are willing to do for him despite his flaws.
I love it! Just added the movie to the top of my Netflix queue in fact. A real great discussion starter.
What would you think about cross-posting this post in a resource library for youth pastors? This could be great for discussions with students. Would be great to include your bio maybe and link to your blog too. Here's the resource library:
http://www.calledtoyouthministry.com/resources
Please let me know what you think, thanks!!
You'll love it. And yes, by all means feel free to use this post as long as you credit me :)
Never saw it…. I'll have to check it out.
I haven't seen that movie in years!!!! LOVE it!
I heard an interview with the director. It sounds awesome.
I've never even heard of this movie. Thanks for the recommendation.
Really? I'll have to check it out.
I love Kevin Spacey. He's a great actor. I loved him in The Usual Suspects.
My husband loves Forest Gump. I need to see The Blind Side. I think I'm the only person in America that hasn't seen it yet!
In that case, I must insist you watch it immediately!! It is just an incredible film–not giving anything away, but Lars is having some issues coping with the death of his mother, so buys one of those fake, real life sized women. (stay with me! I know this sounds ridiculous!) He truly thinks she is a real woman (her name is Bianca and she is in a wheelchair secondary to an accident she had when she was a missionary in Brazil!),but of course nothing weird happens because she has her own room in the house, since Bianca is a Christian and they aren't married. Lars' brother and SIL, and the small-town MD feel that Lars will only work through and resolve his mental health issues if the rest of the town “goes along with it” The people in this small Wisconsin town all embrace Lars by embracing “Bianca”–she ends up volunteering at the hospital and even getting a job at a clothing store in the mall!!! Eventually Lars works through his issues with the support of friends and family….it's fine to watch with your kids…I think I'm going to go watch it now! :)