CURRENTLY IN MOVIES

HOLLYWOOD: LICENSED TO KILL.
REEL TO REAL MINISTRIES, 1994, 30 MINUTES, $35.00 (CALL 1 (800) 771-8988.)

Licensed to kill
MICHAEL DICK

"There is perhaps no more violent place on earth than the Hollywood set. Not only has the death count become astronomical, but the victims often don't just die--they explode. Bodies contort in slow motion, blood spurts, and the instrumentality of death is shown in excruciating detail" (from the video jacket).

Hollywood: Licensed to Kill serves as a wake-up call. Given our long-term exposure to violence in the media, have we developed an immunity to the escalating violence? Do we stop to consider the impressions that are burned into our memory and the memories of our children? Is our fascination with dramatized violence connected to the increasingly violent society in which we live? These haunting questions are at the heart of this video documentary, which examines the issues from a Christian perspective.

The video clips used to drive home the violent nature of the film industry are disturbing. (The video comes with a warning that it is not suitable for young viewers.) They rivet the viewer's attention, preparing the viewer to pay attention to the video's analysis of the impact of Hollywood violence on our society. The video is an excellent discussion starter for families or small groups.

Hollywood: Licensed to Kill is one of a five-part series that examines the negative impact of Hollywood. Other titles include: The Power and Philosophy; Hollywood: Sex and Seduction; The Young and Restless; and Hollywood: Lights, Camera, Blasphemy.

MICHAEL DICK IS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF RESOURCE MINISTRIES FOR THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES.

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