Movieguide®, which provides reviews for the latest and archived family movies, is one of the rare knowledgeable, trained, experienced movie review sources that addresses underlying philosophies in movies. On their Web site they also address what their ratings mean. They present issues of world views and objective criteria that they take into account in rating movies.
On January 29, KPTZ News reports that “Kung Fu Panda 3,” due out in theaters on Friday, may overtake another bear movie (Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Revenant”) at the top of the box office. Movieguide® reviews “Kung Fu Panda 3” and reports that in the “Kung Fu Panda 3” movie, “…Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly shows up. He promises to reveal the panda secret to ch’i energy to help Po defeat a villain from the spirit world. However, Po’s father is lying…” Movieguide® further states, that “Kung Fu Panda 3″ is not quite as fun and entertaining as the first two movies. Sadly, it also seems to have a lot more references to false, Eastern religion throughout the whole movie… Offsetting this are some positive moral, redemptive elements.”
Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of Movieguide ® who is considered one of the top 50 Christian leaders in the country, addresses the issue of objective criteria in reviewing and honoring movies and TV, when he gives a profound response to the controversies today with the Oscars as well as addressing the upcoming Movieguide® Awards Gala. Dr. Baehr states, “The recent #OscarsSoWhite controversy reveals a diversity problem, but the solution presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will not fix their problem, because their standards are not principle-based.
The voters do not have an objective standard by which they all vote, and both the nominations, and the outcry for the lack of diversity in the nominations, reveals the flimsiness of the criteria for what good film making is. As all Hollywood insiders know, the Academy is a club, and like all clubs, insider politics and favoritism reigns supreme. If they believe their problem is that white voters vote white, thus the solution to bring in more African American voters to even the playing field, they’re simply encouraging prejudice voting based on skin color instead of solving the root issue.”
Sadie Robertson is one of the Movieguide Awards hosts.
Dr. Baehr further says, “…Contrast this to the Movieguide® Awards which avoid this issue altogether because it nominates actors and actresses based on principles that have nothing to do with who you know or what the color of your skin is. It is all about how spiritually inspiring the actor or actress’s performance is. The Grace Award goes to ‘an actor or actress in a motion picture or television program who exemplifies God’s grace and mercy toward us as human beings through their outstanding performance.’
Because of this standard, over the past decade, nearly 40% of the winners of the Grace Award have been non-white actors or actresses. Maybe if the Academy encouraged their voters to celebrate and award more positive, uplifting, broad audience movies and the actors that inspire us in them, they’ll solve their diversity problems.”
Kate Mara plays Ashley Smith in Captive and is one of the Movieguide Awards nominees ; Photo Courtesy Evan Klanfer.
The Movieguide® 24th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry will take place on February 5 at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles. An hour-long version of the awards gala is scheduled on the REELZ Channel on February 22 @ 4 pm PT/7 pm ET and on February 24 @ 9 pm PT /12 Midnight ET. The awards ceremony will be hosted by actor Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds”) and co-hosted by actress Sadie Robertson (“Duck Dynasty,” “God’s Not Dead 2”) with many notable personalities in the movie and TV industry as presenters, nominees, and award recipients.
Dr. Baehr has given another wonderful interview to Monsters and Critics (M & C) in which he answers questions about the Movieguide® Awards process. M & C states that in the middle of award season with award events making headlines with Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes or the lack of diversity with The Oscars, the Movieguide® Awards honor what is considered good and true in entertainment as an award show that the whole family can watch.
M & C tells how Movieguide® was founded by Dr. Ted Baehr, an author, media pundit, lecturer and film critic, and that these awards …celebrate family friendly values and content that is spiritually uplifting… with past performers and presenters including: Jennifer Lawrence, Stevie Wonder, Billy Ray Cyrus, Richie Sambora, “Duck Dynasty’s” Willie, Korie and Sadie Robertson, Jordin Sparks, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey, Ali Landry, Holly Robinson, John Ratzenberger, and the Jonas Brothers, among others.”
Leave a Reply