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Christian moviegoers everywhere are waiting for Aslan to appear on the big screen. They don't have long to wait; he's coming to a theater near you on December 9.

Barbara Nicolosi of Act One: Writing for Hollywood, who frequently reviews films on her blog Church of the Masses, saw a somewhat-unfinished cut of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe this week, and posted good news for Narnia fans.

"The movie is lovely," she raves. "The print we saw had some special effects still in stages, but it didn't detract from the stunning vision the movie radiates off the screen. England is musty and dreary. Narnia is a wonderland. The kids are going to love it. They are going to want to walk through that wardrobe with Lucy time after time."

She adds, "But best of all, contrary to Peter Jackson's agenda-aversion manhandling of Tolkien's classic, here, the tone of LW&W is as close to the book as probably could have been achieved. All the lines the Christians are worrying about are in there. All the scenes you want to see are here and lovingly rendered."

But there are still several weeks left before Narnia graces the big screen. If Christian film buffs can't find anything they're interested in for now, perhaps they'll be surprised to learn that a film based on one of Christ's parables is presenting the gospel quite plainly on the big screen this week.

In fact, it's called The Gospel, from director Rob Hardy. It features a rousing soundtrack of gospel music.

Hardy, previously credited as the director of a "sexual thriller" trilogy that "plays like soft-core porn," has much richer material in this PG-rated story about David Taylor (Boris Kodjoe), who turns "prodigal" and becomes a rock star. When his single "Let Me Undress You" makes him famous, he learns that his father (Clifton Powell), an Atlanta preacher, is dying, and must decide what to do about the troubles brewing at the church back home. Can you guess what's coming? That's right—a benefit concert.

LaTonya Taylor (Christianity Today Movies) says this retelling of "The Prodigal Son" is "rife with real-life conflict, careerism, church politics and more than a hint of romance. … All in all, The Gospel is a more-than-fine movie—the kind of movie Christians who like to complain about Hollywood should support, and the kind of film that may also appeal to people who aren't interested in church. There are real, developed characters here, a number of interesting storylines, resolutions that are realistic and faith affirming, and a lot of good music."

Tom Neven (Plugged In) writes, "Pastor Taylor opens a sermon with, 'The God I serve is an awesome God.' This, in turn, is an awesome film. It has been a long time since such a clear presentation of the gospel, in both word and deed, has appeared on the big screen. Best of all, this gospel message is woven into a compelling story of realistic, flawed human beings who know they need God's grace. There's nary a plaster saint in sight, and there's no moral merely tacked onto the end of this story; it's lived throughout.

And the music! Anyone whose toe is not tapping by the end simply can't hear."

Rosemarie Ute Hoffman (Christian Spotlight) says, "Hardy … has done a brilliant job in making art imitate life. He skillfully removes the veil from our eyes as he exposes each layer—the inner-workings of church, the complicated relationships in the midst of church family, the humanness of spiritual leaders, and how they often confuse progression for spotlight."

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October (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49