 A New Book for Those Who Want to Know What Movies to Watch by Angela Walker I met Phil Boatwright last summer at a screening of the movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. With his beret, corduroy jacket and genteel manner, Phil is the epitome a gentleman who confident of himself and his work. And he is a man in love…in love with movies. After just a few moments of conversation with Phil, you discover that he has a depth of knowledge about film and actors that is encyclopedic and deeply personal. His familiarity with the art form is due to hours spent watching and absorbing even the tiniest of details on the silver screen. Finding Glory in a Beloved Artform What to Watch Instead of... Now that knowledge and experience is captured in book form for you to enjoy. Phil's new book Movies: The Good, the Bad, and the Really Really Bad is subtitled "Everything a Christian needs to know about movie-going," and that's not far from the truth. Finding Glory in a Beloved Artform In 20 chapters, Boatwright's book covers everything from movies' effect on the culture to their effect on Christians, from men of faith in the movies to Christian imagery in movies. He points out great moments from classic films as well as better-forgotten scenes from today's blockbusters. He acknowledges powerful moments from Oscar-winning actors and roles that did more harm than good for their careers. Through it all, Boatwright informs without condescension or mockery, never making a clever statement at the expense of someone else. His observations come from a place of deep personal conviction, and we're reminded often that watching films is, for him, a spiritual exercise of finding moments of glory in a beloved art. A former actor himself, he provides insightful commentary on actors' performances and points out when a film could be improved with changes to the script, better editing, or direction. He also points out the subtle, and not-so-subtle, political agendas that often fill movies from people at the top of Hollywood's A-list, and reminds us that there is often as much political maneuvering in Hollywood as in Washington, D.C. What to Watch Instead of… Boatwright found a unique niche for his career when he began to recommend alternatives for blockbusters, movies that have similar themes yet maintain a sense of propriety and don't offend the viewer. Thus his book is full of recommendations that any movie lover would do well to follow. It would be a great idea to take his list of films and immediately fill up your rental queue, watching with this book in hand. If you do that, you'll learn a great deal about film and progress from being merely entertained to educated. Under Boatwright's tutelage, you will find new favorite films and learn a great deal about the Hollywood system and the growth of the movie industry. You'll also find help for your questions about what films to watch, and how to see a movie without it harming your spiritual life. Boatwright shares his own practices for protecting his mind and heart, and even learn of some times that he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to leave the theater. You'll come away with great respect for this writer, critic and man of deeply held Christian beliefs. I think this book would benefit from page numbers in the Table of Contents and an index, but those are minor issues. Just like a movie, it's a miracle when a book is published, and I applaud this great accomplishment from my friend Phil Boatwright. A former actor and film production assistant, Phil Boatwright has reviewed films from a Christian perspective for more than two decades. His work has been featured on Baptist Press, Larry Burkett's Money Watch, ibelieve.com, crosswalk.com, the Salem Music Network, and is syndicated in many Christian newspapers. Learn more about Phil at Previewonline.org and moviereporter.com. | 
