Film and Movies

Feature-length productions by the ELCA and its partnering ministries

 
The Ten Commandments
The Ten CommandmentsThis animated feature by Promenade Pictures is not to be missed. The film is a superbly animated feature that closely follows Cecil B. Demille's original motion picture by the same name, which featured Charlton Heston. This version of "The Ten Commandment" is distributed by Promenade Pictures, a worldwide distributor of family films. This picture will appeal to children and adults, and it was meant for families to watch it together.

The film features some big Hollywood names as the voices of the key characters: Christian Slater as Moses, Alfred Molina as Ramses and Elliott Gould as God. Ben Kingsley is the film's narrator.

The film is the story of Moses' life, focusing on his relationship with Ramses, the Egyptian king, leading the Jews out of Egypt to the Promised Land, parting the Red Sea and destroying Ramses' army. The film concludes with Moses' death, after he saw the Promised Land but was not allowed to cross into it.

Prior to its release, there was some controversy involving "The Ten Commandments" and Radio Disney, which asked for the word "God" to be stricken from advertisements for the movie. Promenade President and Chief Operating Officer Cindy Bond complied with the request, because Radio Disney's listeners are the core audience for the film, she said. Viewers of the film will hear plenty about God and Scripture, but the feature is not overly heavy in its use of "God" language.

I watched a DVD of the movie on a computer screen. This is a picture filled with colorful animated scenery and large Amazing Gracelandscapes that is meant to be watched on the big screen. Families will enjoy this film, and it provides the basis for more discussion later.

Visit the Ten Commandment's website.

Amazing Grace
Two hundred years ago, British politician William Wilberforce and his band of loyal friends took on the most powerful forces of their day to end the slave trade. His mentor was John Newton, the slave-trader-turned-song-writer, who wrote the world's most popular hymn, Amazing Grace. This year is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. But the work of justice and mercy continues. 27 million men, women, and children are still enslaved around the globe.

Visit the Amazing Grace website.

Lutheran Film AssociatesMartin Luther
Lutheran Film Associates is the agency through which Lutheran churches have created and distributed movies and television shows for more than 50 years. Movies from Lutheran Film Associates include:

  • Luther Legacy
  • World of Martin Luther
  • Martin Luther
  • Joy of Bach
  • Question 7
  • A Time for Burning

Visit Lutheran Film Associate's website.