Mark and I have had the opportunity to see a few movies over the past couple of weeks. We use a rental service that sends them and we can keep them and then return the when we’re done. This works great if you are like us, who sometimes don’t get to watch a movie the moment you check it out and if you don’t like going to video stores because of all the “junk” that’s on the shelves and your kids have to look at….okay, that’s another post.

Anyway, we saw two really good movies. One was Bella, created as an independant film. It recieved first place at the Toronto Film Festival which is a pretty great honor. The film is the first from a trio of men who felt God calling them to create positive movies in Hollywood. Boy, did they! Bella is their first film. The story was wonderful. Complete….amazing. The acting was even better than I expected. And the cinematogrophy was wonderful. Mark and I both enjoyed it. However, as a girl, I have to tell my other “girl” friends that you definitely need your hankie on this one. I was a blubbering mess by the end. While this film is excellently done, the message is what hits the hardest. It’s about life and how beautiful, fleeting, and delicate it is. Not only is this a pro-life movie (and that’s all I can say without giving too much away), it’s also pro-adoption (there’s another hint…now go rent it). Guess what else…there is no cussing, drugs, sex! Ahhh, a true family centered film. However, for some of the content (serious side) I would say it would be for older teen children…not younger ones. For a film shot in 23 days with hardly any budget…it’s comparative to its big Hollywood studio movies…if not better!

The other movie saw was from the new branch of Fox called Fox Faith. Fox Faith is responsible for bringing several other films to the big screen and DVD such as the Love’s series based on Janette Oke’s book…the awesome Amazing Grace, One Night with the King (pretty good too), Because of Winn-Dixie…okay you get the picture. Well, this past winter, they release a film in select theaters called The Ultimate Gift. I wanted to see it, but you know how it goes. So, we were able to rent it this past weekend. Oh my! This is an amazing film. It’s based on a book by Jim Stovall with the same title. And guess what?! No cussing, drugs, nudity. Again, it’s a hankie movie! But the story behind it is so beautiful. I highly recommend it. It was very well acted with James Garner (American Presidents fame and other old stuff that came out before I was born) and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and other cast members that I can’t remember. The story is very endearing and encouraging.

I guess I’m just blown away by how well these films are. Neither had big budgets but they were able to come out with a great story, acting, and cinematogrophy without compromosing the values and beliefs that outline their faith. If you get a chance for a date night, or if you just want to see how God is using people of faith in Hollywood, check out these two films! The more we watch films like this the more films like this Hollywood will make (does that make any sense???).