Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays

My Friend Amy, who brought us Book Blogger Appreciation Week has a new carnival in the works, the Faith 'n Fiction Saturday.

Each week she will post a blogging prompt, which participating bloggers will answer on their own blogs. Then they head back to the original post and sign Mister Linky! This way we can all come to know each other more closely.

Today's Question:
We've been blessed to finally start seeing some of our favorite Christian books come to life on film. So far, these have been largely low budget films, but they generally get the heart of the books across. But my question for you is...if you had an unlimited budget, what Christian fiction book would you like to see made into a film? Who would you cast in the main roles? Would you have a preference on director? Any songs you'd like to see on the soundtrack?

I want to see Francine River's Mark of the Lion trilogy make it to the big screen. I honestly think that with the right director, writer, actors and studio, a big budget and top of the line special effects, it can become a huge success.

Honestly the rating would have to be at least PG 13 if not R. Because even the book is very upfront about violence, sex, homosexuality. It's information that was prevelant of the times. Rivers did not go into graphic detail but she did not ignore it and pretend it didn't exist. That's what made the books more realistic and if handled in the same way, the movie can be made a success too.

There would have to be at least one big actor in this movie. And I mean A-list, award winning huge box office draw to carry this thing. Because many people see movies because of who is in it. And I don't mean a 10 second cameo like Peter O'Toole in One Night With the King (that somehow got him top billing!) Honestly I cannot think of a director, although Spielberg comes to mind, but I would love for Thomas Newman (of Little Women, Cinderella Man, and a billion more) to do the score because then he'd finally win the Oscar! And the movie would at least get nominated for Best Art Direction and Costume too, and maybe even adapted screen play!!

I can even picture how the first movie could end.

**SPOILER- STOP IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK***

Julia is gloating over what she's done. She turns to Marcus and looks to him for his approval. He looks at her in disgust and throws her to Callaba (or whatever her name was, I don't have the books in front of me). He storms off, the camera follows him and you see his face in a twist of pain and anguish, while in the background you see Julia confused and hurt. Meanwhile you can hear the crowds roaring and the animals devouring their feast.

Music swells. Then falls silent.

Just when you think all is lost, the camera sweeps around the colisuem floor, pans around the bodies and then settles on Hadassah. Closeup of her hand....then a twitch, and her fingers slowly make a fist. FADE TO BLACK

Tell me that ain't perfect!

*****SPOILERS END******

Although if the third book wasn't made into a movie, I could totally understand as I care more about Hadassah than Ateres anyways.

In my world, this movie would be a success with the critics because it blends religious history with GOOD QUALITY movie making. Unfortuantely I can see the #s for it being low because of the edginess of the movie. If Christians have problems with movies like Evan Almighty, can you see what they would do to a Christian movie that talks about homosexuality and temple prostitues? I mean people get mad at reading Deeane Gist or Julie Lessman for being too sexual in a book (which they are not!). Imagine what would happen if they saw it on the big screen.

The problem I feel with Christian movies is the low budget factor.

But what I don't understand is when movies like The Nativity Story comes out, Christians will not go see it. Evan Almighty, while a little on the edgy side with the jokes, had nothing offensive at all and was completely respectful of God was a bust. Sure Fireproof was a hit this year and the movie was a success in terms of profit but even so the marketing seemed to be only targeted at Christians. The trailer really didn't do anything for me, if I was not a Christian it wouldn't have excited me at all. It seems like the Passion of the Christ was a fluke. I mean it was a great movie, one that should have been done, but was it popular because of the subject matter or because it was directed by Mel Gibson and had a big budget? I mean that movie was about his death, The Nativity Story was about his birth and it flopped.

I wrote this about a year ago in a review about Evan Almighty and I still feel the same way.

I really don't know why people won't go see this movie. If you're not into comedies I can maybe understand. But what baffles me more than anything are the Christians who won't see a movie like this but then will complain that Hollywood never puts out anything decent. HELLO????? If you won't go see a movie that has nothing objectionable, is marketed to Christians, and is highly respectful to the faith, why would you think Hollywood would spend more money trying to make you happy? If I were trying to market what was popular, I would assume that movies praising religion are not ideal and that people would rather see gore and sex. Because obviously more people in this country would rather see Knocked Up that this movie. The industry has catered to your demands yet you turn them away and then expect them to keep pleasing you. I hate to call fellow believers names but *cough*hypocrites does come to mind *cough*. Ok off my soapbox. :) Feel free to disagree with me, but this is how I feel.