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| Through a Screen Darkly | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 156536
Category: Book
Author: Jeffrey Overstreet
Publisher: Regal Books
Studio: Regal Books
Manufacturer: Regal Books
Label: Regal Books
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 351
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0830743154
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.4375
EAN: 9780830743155
ASIN: 0830743154
Publication Date: February 5, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In the style of a cinematic travel journal, film columnist and critic Jeffrey Overstreet of Christianity Today and lookingcloser.org leads readers down paths less traveled to explore some of the best films you ve never seen. Examining a feast of movies, from blockbusters to buried treasure, Overstreet peels back the layers of work by popular entertainers and under-appreciated masters. He shares excerpts from conversations with filmmakers like Peter Jackson, Wim Wenders, Kevin Smith, Scott Derrickson, producer Ralph Winter, and stars like Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Keanu Reeves and the cast of Serenity, drawing war-stories from his encounters with movie stars, moviemakers, moviegoers and other critics in both mainstream and religious circles. He argues that what makes some films timeless rather than merely popular has everything to do with the way these artists whether they know it or not have captured reflections of God in their work. Through a Screen Darkly also includes a collection of reviews, humorous anecdotes and on-the-scene film festival reports, as well as recommendations for movie discussion groups and meditations on how different films echo the myriad ways in which Christ captured the attention and imagination of culture.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
A Rare Gift December 22, 2008
This little book is a great gift to those of us who value understanding cultural consensus. I don't have time to watch all the movies that Jeffrey does. Yet his insights guide me in what stories I want "to get into." These reviews are invaluable to me. "Through a Screen Darkly" is one of the best "how to watch a movie" books I have seen.
As wonderful an experience as going to a good movie! September 26, 2008
About 20 years ago, I gave myself a gift while I was in a Protestant seminary: during my last semester, I took a course entitled "Celluloid Theology" which was offered at a nearby Roman Catholic seminary which brought me to new understandings of faith and cinematic arts. Since then, I have dabbled in movies and theology, offering a movie discussion here and there in my ministry setting. Since that time long ago, I have kept in mind the lens of theology as I view movies even if I wasn't actively using the lessons I learned during that time with Father Tom Kane.
This book, though, has brought a whole new perspective to that journey. Jeffrey Overstreet has written a very readable, and often times moving, book about the intersection of Christianity (our culture's most apparent religious expression) and film (our most noticeable artistic expression these days). I especially appreciated the way that he modeled the use of movies in discussing how they reflect faith and sometimes expose us to divine truths.
I realize that the author and I probably come from somewhat different theological perspectives and I have to let go of my only frustration with the book. I feel that he spent too much of his writing explaining away why he appreciates and endorses movies that may be too over the edge for some Christians. I do understand and appreciate the fact that he gets way too much email criticizing him for pointing out the good of a particular movie that has too much violence/sex/foul language/you-name-it for the email writer. But I did grow a little tired of the repeated justifications that began to sound like apologies.
I especially commend the second chapter, "Viewer Discretion Advised," for the best essay I have ever read about the intersection of faith and the arts, and not just cinematic arts. His viewpoint is clearly written and can be applied to how we might look at any art form as a window into a bit of understanding about God.
I am rejuvenated in my interest in movies by this book and highly recommend it.
 Chalk full of examples June 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book has a huge amount of films that Overstreet basically reviews and ties into each chapter. It is amazing how he connects so many seemingly secular films to Christian values. I'd recommend this book to anyone who thinks that every film not coming from Christian makers is garbage, because Overstreet has definitely found deeply religious themes in some very offensive films.
[...]
Movies, not Books June 16, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
What books were to previous generations, movies are to the present one; their ability to teach and shape our view of reality is unparalled by any other medium. Christians can't afford to be ignorant of the content and power here, and "Through a Screen Darkly" provides an excellent guide.
decent book - inspirational June 11, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
keen insight and well written. going to go back to movies thinking a little differently going forward.
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