Pastor John (Robert Amaya) has a dream of reaching out to potential new members by making a few changes ... including updating the 🎄CHRISTMAS PAGEANT!! Mary Margaret (Sallie Wanchisn), the choir director, immediately calls for a boycott by the choir...and for a Pastor Search Committee to be formed!! As his wife (Erin Bethea) helps by lining up interviews, Pastor John tries a different approach. Pulling son Jack (Max Morgan) into his scheme, they use Jack's theatrical make-up from his school play to create colorful characters to gain insider info. Toss in Jack's co-star (Lindsley Register) whom he has a secret crush on and her man-crazy mom (Victoria Jackson) and you have a sure-fire recipe for humor. More than just a comedy, though, the film touches on some deeper issues too. Read my review from last August: Altar Egos review. Bridgestone Multimedia Group just released this clip from the film:
GIVEAWAY: Win 1 Free Digital Rental by commenting on the blog post or in comments under the social media post. Deadline to Enter is End-of-Day on Dec 20, 2017. Winner will be announced Dec 21, 2017.
ALTAR EGOS is now available on DVD and digital, for purchase or streaming.
Desperate to see their church grow, Pastor John (Robert Amaya,MOM’S NIGHT OUT, COURAGEOUS) and wife Betsy (Erin Bethea, FIREPROOF) do the unthinkable and change their church Christmas pageant. Flabbergasted, elderly choir director Mary Margaret (Sallie Wanchisn) leads the choir to boycott. Facing termination, Pastor John resorts to disguising himself as an old man to bridge the generation gap, win over Mary, and lead the choir back to the church. When he discovers that the wounds run deeper than he first suspected, Pastor John must learn to love the unlovable or risk the ruin of his church and family. Also stars Victoria Jackson (SNL). Written and directed by Sean Morgan, the film uses the themes of loving the "unloveable," reconciliation, conflict resolution, and change vs tradition.
Altar Egos is a good "popcorn" movie to enjoy with family or friends. It's not one of the funniest films I have ever seen, but it is amusing. The themes of the film can be told in a very heavy-handed way, so it is refreshing to see points made in a more humorous way. To quote Mary Poppins, a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. Some of the scenes were a bit too silly for me, and some left me puzzled, but it was overall entertaining. There were also a couple of editing issues that I wish had been fixed, but that is not uncommon in any movie.
Good acting throughout the film. Robert Amaya and Victoria Jackson are excellent any time they do comedy. But, I have to mention 2 of the younger cast members. Lindsley Register lit up the screen each time she appeared. I loved her portrayal of Holly. But, the standout performance for me was Max Morgan! He was good as the teen-aged Jack, but when he would transform into the elderly Frank, I could not take my eyes off of him as he tried to fit into the senior crowd and made attempts to get them to loosen up a bit.
Conflict and resolution are the major staple of most films, and I thought Altar Egos did a good job in the "and they all lived happily ever after..." style while still making their points. Sometimes we need to see things from a different point of view to gain a greater understanding. ALTAR EGO LINKS:
Grace of Godsynopsis: Having lost his faith many years ago, Detective Bill Broadly is
called to investigate the disappearance of the local church’s collection
plate. As he questions its various church members, rumors swirl as more
congregants learn about the theft.
When one unexpected church-goer confesses to stealing the funds, the confession resurrects Broadly’s views on God, and helps him see that
through faith and belief there really is rebirth and redemption. 99 Minutes // Genre: Family, Inspirational // Rating: NR (DVD back cover) My Review: Mixed feelings on this one. The good is that this is a family friendly film, although the marriage problems of the older daughter (Erin Bethea) are not for the very young. Poor decisions have been made by many of the characters, but most appear to be resolved by the end of the film and the characters are better for the changes made. The 2 main characters, Constance (Julia Parker) and Bill (Vincent Duvall), are both good actors and I wish there had been more acknowledgement of them on the DVD cover. John Ratzenberger had a small role, but was given top billing due to name recognition. Lorenzo Lamas was also a great addition to the cast as the janitor and antagonist to the private investigator.
Family friendly and weaves matters of faith effortlessly through-out the story is the positive. While grace is freely given to the thief, and I do understand why, it did seem to fall a bit flat. Some of the story just did not seem to flow right and small things would bother me. Maybe part of the problem was that I correctly identified the thief very early on. But the reactions of people often did not make sense either. I felt like I was missing part of a conversation that would link it together. Goodness knows real people don't always make sense either, but that was not my only issue with the story. There was mention of it being a large church and many people having access to keys to the safe. Yet the sanctuary did not look very big or crowded. The score was also inconsistent with the action at times.
It's an average film. There are too many of my own pet peeves with films in this one, but they were annoyances that may not trouble others. Since I don't want to do "spoilers", I won't elaborate. There is an audience for this film; I have friends who genuinely like it. I can also see it generating discussion about matters of faith. The marketing of "A Story of Easter Traditions" and "Based on the Ten Commandments" is true, but mostly in the broad sense of Christianity. I thought it was pushing it a bit, but I also understand promoting films and trying to reach your niche market.
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JOY is a special re-imagining of the Nativity story. Let your heart
take flight and tweet along to holiday carols and all-new songs! Festivities
are in full swing as the flock prepares to celebrate Iesodo's birthday! The
Cypress Tree is decked out with holly berries and excitement is in the air.
Everyone gathers as Rocky shares the incredible story of Iesodo's birth. Unto Us A Dove Is Born: "Festivities are in full swing
as the flock prepares to celebrate Iesodo's birthday! The Cypress Tree
is decked out with holly berries and excitement is in the air. Everyone
gathers as Rocky shares the story of this amazing day, and how it
changed their lives forever."
My Review: In time for Christmas season, a new cartoon, and one that celebrates the birth of Jesus. This has been my favorite of the Iesodo series (still have not seen "Believe"). It tells the story of the nativity on a level that younger children would understand, and also has hints of what life was like during the final days Jesus was on earth. It gives a good foundational base for children, but without making it seem like a sermon. Kids will love the bright colors and songs that they will soon be singing along with. I confess that "We Three Kings" was my favorite, largely because it reminded me of the Claymation Christmas version...but with wise owls. I recommend this as a great new addition for your kids to watch, so pick up a copy.
For those, like me, who don't like to start Christmas season until after Thanksgiving, this would be a fun video for the family to watch together after decorating the house and putting up your tree. What better way to start the season off right, but by reminding your kids of the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate. Disclosure: I received a free copy of the DVD from Edify Media to enable me to
write a fair and honest review.
FULL SERIES: Iesodo (YAY-sa-doe) is a wise white dove whose
name means "The Way of Jesus". He and his feathered friends bring
your favorite New Testament stories to life in a whole new way.Iesodo and his friends live in the Holy
Land, in a beautiful Cypress Tree on the shores of a vast Lake (or as we know
it, the Sea of Galilee). These birds are an unlikely group of friends, and
though they have their differences, they have one thing in common: since they
met Iesodo, their lives have never been the same. Now they’re out to spread his
message of hope to the entire bird world!
Zaya Toonz, the
animation company behind Iesodo, assembled a collaboration of animation experts
with experience in both the children’s and Christian markets.Directors for the series include Brian E. Ray
whose credits consist of “Muppet Babies,” “My Little Pony Tales” and “Ed, Ed,
and Eddy,” as well as Colin Brady, whose credits include “Toy Story,” “Toy
Story 2” and “A Bug's Life.” Brady also served as the former animation
supervisor for Pixar Animation Studios. Producer Eric S. Rollman, President of
Rollman Entertainment, formerly served as President of Production for Fox Kids
and Marvel, and writer/producer Rob Loos is an Emmy Nominee and writer/producer
for “McGee and Me,” “Christmas Lamb,” “Kids 10 Commandments” and “Touched by an
Angel.” The “Iesodo” series also features the voice of Erin Bethea
(“Fireproof,” “Amazing Love”) as Maggie. For more information, visit http://www.iesodo.com.
About Capitol Christian Distribution: Capitol Christian
Distribution is the market leader in Christian and Gospel music distribution,
and also represents a diverse range of chart topping Christian films and books,
reaching the US Christian specialty and general retail marketplace and physical
and digital retailers in more than 50 countries around the world.
*Except for my review, most of this is from the Iesodo press release.
Iesodo (pronounced Yay-Sa-Doe), is a wise dove whose name means "The
Way of Jesus"! He and his lovable feathered friends live in the Holy
Land in a beautiful Cypress Tree on the shores of a vast Lake (or as we
know it, the Sea of Galilee). The birds are an unlikely group of
friends, and though they have their differences, they have one thing in
common: since they met Iesodo, their lives have never been the same! Zaya Toonz and Rollman
Entertainment, the animation companies behind Iesodo, assembled a collaboration of
experts with experience in both the children’s and Christian markets. Directors for the series include Brian E. Ray (Muppet Babies, My Little Pony, and Ed, Ed, and Eddy) and Colin Brady (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and A Bug's Life). Brady
was also the former animation supervisor for Pixar Animation
Studios.Producer Eric S. Rollman, President/CEO of Rollman
Entertainment, is the former President of Production for Fox Kids and
Marvel. Emmy nominee Rob Loos (McGee and Me! Christmas Lamb, Kids 10 Commandments, and Touched By An Angel) is the writer/producer. Voices include Iesodo
- Tony Oliver; Barry - Joey Lotsko; Jacob - Ron Allen; Maggie - Erin
Bethea; and Rocky - T. W. Gibis. Music is by Ed Smart.
Episode 1: “Miracles are Everywhere” – A big
event is happening! Thousands of birds from all over the world have
gathered to meet Iesodo, but food is scarce and the flocks are getting
hungry. Iesodo provides in a way no one could have expected. Scripture: Matthew14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-15 My Review: In this episode, Iesodo is confronted with the traditional "Hoopoes" who do not want any kind of change. They dislike what he teaches and make plans to disrupt when Iesodo speaks to a large crowd gathered to hear him. When Iesodo feeds all of the hungry birds, a lesson is learned in both having faith in his provision of needs and the importance of sharing what you have with others. Faith does need action: You do what you can, and trust God with what you cannot. Episode 2: “The Wind and the Rain” – The flock
is soaring through the sky on their way back to the Cypress Tree when a
sudden storm approaches out of nowhere! Trapped at sea and frightened,
they learn that when you have faith, anything is possible. Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33; John 1:39-42; John 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7
My Review: This episode deals with having faith when you are afraid. When caught in a storm, the birds are frightened as they try to fend for themselves. When Iesodo appears, walking on the water, he tells Rocky to walk out to him. As song as Rocky keeps his eyes ---and faith---on Iesodo, he can do it. A good lesson on trusting Jesus and knowing that you can do all things through Him. * I really did not like that Iesodo was reading the scrolls of the "Ancient Sage", but will accept it as another name for God. Animation is really good, and kids are sure to be singing the songs. I do like the bonus features on the dvd, especially Tim Timmons. The website is really good. I recommend you check it out for more info, behind the scenes stuff, and the fun and games, including downloadables.
Iesodo (pronounced Yay-Sa-Doe), is a wise dove whose name means "The
Way of Jesus"! He and his lovable feathered friends live in the Holy
Land in a beautiful Cypress Tree on the shores of a vast Lake (or as we
know it, the Sea of Galilee). The birds are an unlikely group of
friends, and though they have their differences, they have one thing in
common: since they met Iesodo, their lives have never been the same!
Zaya Toonz and Rollman
Entertainment, the animation companies behind Iesodo, assembled a collaboration of
experts with experience in both the children’s and Christian markets.
Directors for the series include Brian E. Ray (Muppet Babies, My Little Pony, and Ed, Ed, and Eddy) and Colin Brady (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and A Bug's Life). Brady was also the former animation supervisor for Pixar Animation Studios.Producer Eric S. Rollman, President/CEO of Rollman Entertainment, is the former President of Production for Fox Kids and Marvel. Emmy nominee Rob Loos (McGee and Me! Christmas Lamb, Kids 10 Commandments, and Touched By An Angel) is the writer/producer. Voices include Iesodo - Tony Oliver; Barry - Joey Lotsko; Jacob - Ron Allen; Maggie - Erin Bethea; and Rocky - T. W. Gibis. Music is by Ed Smart. In this video, writer/producer, Rob Loos, talks to Movieguide about the Iesodo series:
There are 2 episodes on each dvd. Both are short enough for young children to be able to pay attention and brightly colored birds who portray the characters are fun to watch. Music also is a vital role in keeping most kids entertained, and they are sure to enjoy the lively tunes included in the episodes and the theme song.
“Birds of a Feather, Fish Together” –
The wedding celebration of Freddie and Fiona Finch is headed for
disaster! Iesodo steps in to calm everyone’s ruffled feathers and make
the event a success. Scripture used - Luke 5:1-11, John 2:1-11, John 21:1-11 My review: Although it is weaving 3 different stories together, they do all tie in to the theme of working together and provision. There are several ways to get a lesson to the kids and the songs and images will help them remember. The sibling rivalry between the Pelican Brothers was my favorite part. Good job of tying in both a lesson you want the kids to learn, plus Biblical stories that can be expanded upon to share your faith.
“Love Your Enemies” – Zack, the tax
collector, doesn’t play by the rules. Iesodo shows the flock that
treating those who are mean to us with kindness really does make a big
difference. Scripture used - Luke 19:1-10, John 8:1-11
My review: This time there are 2 stories within the episode that deals with treating others with kindness and forgiveness. Zach the tax collector is taking unfair advantage through his position and his portion is even greater than the government requires. Through Iesedo, he learns that this is wrong and he repays all he is stolen. The flock learns about forgiveness.
The sub-story is the story of the adulterous woman (and it is presented in a kid-friendly method). At first I thought I would like the way this lesson was going to be turned into one of forgiveness, but then.......... STOP!! Major Problem!! Iesodo: "Are you sorry for what you did?" Angelina Blackbird: "Mmm-hmm. I was wrong and I deserve to be punished. But I am so very, very, very sorry." Iesodo: "Honestly saying you are sorry means a lot. Go back to your flock and follow your heart to do what is right from now on." (emphasis mine) "Follow your heart to do what is right"??!!?? Maybe it's just the people I know, but when I questioned several, they all said the first thing that had also popped into my mind: "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" - Jeremiah 17:9 (FYI: We all did not use the same translation, but we all said the same verse.) There are also numerous Scriptures about man doing what is right in his own eyes---and none of those are an encouragement to do so. I know this series is meant for younger children, but most pre-schoolers I know do not automatically do what is right when they follow their heart. I would be okay with "...and do not take what is not yours from now on" or a variation, but I would not want the current message to be one a child hears. They are going to have a large enough struggle with others telling them the distorted message as they grow older.
So, great for animation, music for kids, and a great website. I also like the Special Features section that gives additional info on Bible verses, the stories, the lessons, and the music. The first story is good, but I would proceed with caution on the second. I realize it is just the wording and not the message that is intended...but it still bothers me. So, except for one line, this is a video I would recommend. However, that one line is a stumbling block for me. On the other hand, I could use it to teach a lesson or two also.
Disclosure: I received this dvd compliments of Word Films and Edify Media for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This Is Our Time, directed by Lisa Arnold, is one of the latest ensemble pieces that Pure Flix does so well. I really did enjoy this film. It was one of those that not only were there characters that you could care about, and want to know better, but the movie also gave you a perspective that may not have occurred to you as you deal with issues in your own life. I think the following statement by the writer/director sums it up well: “What they all come to learn is that it never really was their time,” Arnold said. “It always was, always is, God’s time.”One of the major things I walked away with is that it doesn't matter as much with what you do with your life, as it does who you are in life---are you being the person God called you to be no matter where He has you now?
Another factor of the film that I liked was that this fictional story had some truth in the ministry the characters were involved in. Embrace A Villageis an actual ministry in India that cares for leprosy victims and their families. Parts of the movie were filmed there using the real people who live and work with the mission. There is more about it in the bonus material on the dvd.
Random other things I like about the film is that there is closed captioning, a commentary track...and 4 actors familiar to most of us: Erik Estrada, Bruce Marchiano, Eric Roberts, and Dawn Wells! They each bring an added dimension to a film you will want to share with others.
Speaking of sharing...another giveaway!! Leave a comment on the blog (or make sure you get my attention on FB if you encounter a problem.) A winner will be selected on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 9am CDT.
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