250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families by Jonathan Decker – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Sep 232013

250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families

Author: Jonathan Decker

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published Date: September 10, 2013

Paperback/Kindle: 256 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1462112180

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

For the first time, Latter-day Saints looking for family-friendly movies have an easy reference at their fingertips! Jonathan Decker (of Meridian Magazine, mormonmovieguy.com, and The KJZZ Movie Show) combines his love for the restored gospel with his passion for cinema in this one-of-a-kind volume, with films selected based on artistic quality and compatibility with LDS media standards.

Readers will find synopses, reviews, and discussion guides (based on the scriptures and teachings of Church leaders) for 250 excellent films from the silent era to the present. With a foreword by acclaimed director T.C. Christensen (17 Miracles, Ephraim’s Rescue), indexes by genre and gospel topic, and thought-provoking chapters on Mormon doctrine regarding media, 250 GREAT MOVIES FOR LATTER-DAY FAMILIES is the perfect film-finder (and conversation-starter) for family home evenings, dates, youth activities, and get-togethers.

Review

It is more difficult every day to find movies without objectionable material. Author Jonathan Decker has set out to make the decision of “What to watch?” easier for us. His book, 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families, is a useful resource for those who are looking for clean, enjoyable movies they can watch with their families.

An insight shared by the author had significant impact on me and the way I view certain content in media. In the “What Makes a Good Movie?” section, Jonathan explains that he used to feel every instance of media he watched should comply to the letter of the law, and any amount of violence or language or innuendo that he saw made him feel guilty. His eyes were opened after hearing President Monson refer to uplifting themes in the musical Camelot during a talk, the same play that made Jonathan feel uncomfortable during one of the songs where Lancelot sings of his love for Guinevere, a married woman. The author then recalls a BYU film professor’s words: “The portrayal of something is not the same thing as condoning it.”

Jonathan goes on to say something I consider profound:

“I realized that, in art and entertainment, sometimes darkness must be portrayed in order to contrast it with the light. There is no good without evil, and both must be depicted for righteousness to be promoted.” –page 9

Jonathan does not use this truth as an excuse to disregard standards, however. He includes content information in every movie review so that the reader can decide for his/herself what they are comfortable viewing and what they want to avoid. I love that he does this. I also enjoy his concise but informative reviews and his grading system.

I appreciate the “Messages to Discuss” as much as the “Content Overviews” in each review. Included here are the scriptural themes, with scripture references and quotes from Church leaders, that can be found in each film. Not only is this a great way to start family discussion in general, but when you need to plan a last minute Family Home Evening, the scriptures and quotes provided keep it spiritual.

As I flipped through the pages and read his reviews, I came across a number of movies I hadn’t seen, some I had never heard of, as well as some long-time favorites. The classics appear alongside more modern films. The three indexes at the end (organized by Genre, Gospel Topic, and Rating) are incredibly handy.

I think 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families will become a staple in many LDS homes. I look forward to referring to it many times in the future when choosing movies for my family. I hope Jonathan is already working on the next installment.

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