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For some Christian moviegoers, however, these negative portrayals are not necessarily worth protesting. In fact, they argue that some of these portrayals may be discomforting because they reflect the reality that Christians regularly abuse the name of their Savior by behaving in judgmental, self-righteous, and reprehensible ways that therefore deserve the caricature.

"I don't actually care that much how Christians are portrayed," admits J. Robert Parks, "which is why I don't have a big problem with the admittedly nasty warden in Shawshank Redemption. I've unfortunately known people like that. What really gets my goat is when Christianity itself is portrayed in a harmful or negative or stereotypical light—which is why I loathe Chocolat. It's the Easter 'sermon' that the priest gives at the end I find so revolting … this idea that the right form of Christianity recognizes that the 'true' meaning of Easter is that we should all just get along. I'm sorry, but that is not the true Easter message, as it completely ignores the all-important Good Friday message. And which is why I find Ordet so powerful and overwhelming. I realize that it's not always easy to separate the Christian from Christianity. But I find it easy to accept flawed or even wicked Christians. I have a much harder time putting up with a bland or trite view of the faith."

Similarly, Brenda Nelson writes in mentioning the troubling portrayal of a "sour and bossy Christian" mother in Bubble Boy. "If we are completely honest about it, in many ways they are bringing our downfalls into the light. Christians are imperfect people who often fail to uphold Christian ideals. Even though I don't want the media to rub my nose in it, hypocrisy is still rearing its ugly head in the Christian church today."

Reed finds encouragement in the face of caricatures, having identified so many admirable alternatives. "For every clichéd film rendition of an axe-wielding, Bible-quoting psychopath or a standard issue missionary monster, there's another that features—can you believe!—a recognizable human being, whose flaws are nothing more or less than part of their palpable humanity. Who also happens to follow Jesus.  Kind of like the Christians I know. Kind of like me."

Next week: We'll catch up with 2 Fast 2 Furious and other new releases.

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June (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47