Reflections on the Movies (Reflective Living Series) [Hardcover]

Ken Gire (Author)

Book Description

Series: Reflective Living Series | Publication Date: July 2000

Can a movie feed your soul?

Stories. Be it a parable of Jesus, a C.S. Lewis fantasy, or a movie such as Saving Private Ryan, stories have been around since Creation, a means of both education and entertainment. By far, our favorite way to listen to a story today is at the movies, whether in a theater or a family room. Indeed, says Ken Gire, movies are the parables of our culture and #151;earthly stories that sometimes have heavenly meanings.

Can we discern God's voice in the modern parables of film? Yes, it is there, sometimes loud and crystal-clear, sometimes barely a whisper, sometimes even despite the filmmaker's intent. In Reflections on the Movies, Ken helps us:

and #149; sensitize our "eyes to hear and ears to hear" God speaking,
and #149; develop the skills to understand movies and their themes, and
and #149; learn to reflect on the medium as a form of spiritual enrichment.

In 1999, Ken was one of thirty Christians selected for a month-long study under some of the film industry's top talent in Hollywood. He has led numerous spiritual retreats where he has used movie clips to illustrate his messages.

Reflections on the Movies and Ken's previous books in this series and #151;The Reflective Live, Reflections on the Word, a devotional, and Reflections on Your Life, a journal and #151;are designed to help you become more spiritually sensitive to the everyday moments of life.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Chariot Victor Publishing; 1ST edition (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156476673X
• ISBN-13: 978-1564766731
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ken Gire attended Texas Christian University where he earned a degree in History and Speech. In 1978 he graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Masters in Old Testament Literature and Exegisis. From there he embarked on a career of fulltime writing which has resulted in the publication of more than twenty books, several of which have won prestigious awards. He has worked with well known names such as Chuck Swindoll and Eugene Peterson. As well, Ken serves as a speaker in a variety of settings such as the Billy Graham Training Center, Young Life and Bill and Gloria Gaither's Praise Gathering.

Ken has a heart for helping individuals create space for reflection so as to develop their personal relationships with others and God. While his books speak to the deep seated need of individuals to slow down and live more reflective lives, Ken has also founded a nonprofit ministry to address this issue. Reflective Living works with individuals, helping them to develop a more reflective lifestyle in order that they might experience radical change, authentic relationships and most importantly: a deeper walk with God.

I'm just a writer; Ken is a real writer-Max Lucado

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All movie lovers should get this book, September 28, 2000

By 

Tom Hinkle (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reflections on the Movies (Reflective Living Series) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book that approaches movies from a Christian perspective, but it may not be what some expect. This is not a book that critiques movies by counting sex scenes, cuss words, and violent acts as some Christian reviewers do. In fact, this book doesn't review movies in a conventional manner at all. "Movies are made up of moments", to quote the author, and sometimes his meditations on particular movies zero in on moments that, for him, have particular spiritual resonance. He is also not afraid of unflinching reality. The truth is important, even life-changing, despite the fact that it can be offensive to some. The author states, "I would rather be told an R-rated truth than a G-rated lie." Therefore, movies that are bold and unsparing in their reality, such as "Saving Private Ryan", "Schindler's List" and "Amistad" have great impact because they tell the hard truth, distasteful as it may seem. Of course, spiritual truth may be gleaned from more lighthearted fare as well, such as "The Wizard of Oz".

When I finished this book, I immediately wanted to take a trip to the video rental store, even though I've seen most of the movies discussed here. But I can look at them somewhat differently now, and I can, I daresay, listen for the voice of God that comes through these films. I certainly hope Ken Gire writes a "Volume Two" on this subject.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finding God in media, April 30, 2001

By 

Allen Marler (Crystal Springs, MS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reflections on the Movies (Reflective Living Series) (Hardcover)

If you are interested in films, a true film buff, a historian or just a fan of well written films and film critiques, add this book to your library. I would like to say bravo to Mr. Gire for his work in such a medium. Films are not only a powerful form of influence for the society in which we live, they are a vehicle for social and personal change. His book gives delightful insights on many popular movies. Mr. Gire truly finds the Spirit of Christ in each detail that moved him as an audience member. Watching these films along side reading the book has opened my eyes as well. There are however, countless other films that have the same capability to show God's grace. It should be up to the readers of this book to find those references in other movies and build their lives upon the experiences they discover.

The overall impression of "Reflections on the Movies" was a positive one. There were times during the reading that I felt as if Mr. Gire was interpreting a scene or film to have a Christian oriented influence when, in reality, little of it existed. The problem with this book (albeit a very small problem) is the fact that every reflection is a personal experience. The author simply dares us as readers to focus our attention on the possiblities of seeing Christ in films. Mr. Gire may offer his opinion of the movies presented but he also gives enough creative writing for the individual reader to try and posses the same mindset the next time (or the first time) he/she views the films in the book. I enjoyed the book completely from start to finish. One thing that any reader should remember when buying this book is to use their own individual interpretation of the films in question. Mr. Gire gives great examples and suggestions about how to experience God in the media. That is the key to the success of this book. If more authors took the chance of including their faith in their reveiws, editorials, critiques and writing then the media world in gerneral may actually achieve a new morality. Thank you Mr. Gire.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but too light, May 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Reflections on the Movies (Reflective Living Series) (Hardcover)

This was an easy, upbeat read...a great way to justify going to the movies. I was disappointed that the book did not probe into the cultural impact of movies. I am also curious if Gire can hear God in the highly popular horror film.