‘Jesus Revolution’ Film, America’s Spiritual Awakening 60s & 70s to Hit the Big Screens

From God TV : "‘Jesus Revolution’ Film, America’s Spiritual Awakening 60s & 70s to Hit the Big Screens"

A film based on a true story, ‘Jesus Revolution,’ telling the story of the great spiritual awakening of America in the 1960s and 1970s, will hit the big screens next year in February.

Jesus Revolution

Most Christians often look forward to Christian movies hitting the big screens. And now, another faith-based film is about to be released that would perhaps awaken believers again—the ‘Jesus Revolution.’

A book written by Pastor Greg Laurie inspired the Jesus Revolution’s storyline. Hence, it’s a true-to-life story that occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. A great spiritual awakening happened in America that shaped history at the time.

Greg was still a youth when he got saved because of the ‘Jesus Revolution.’ And after giving his life to Christ, he became a pastor. That’s why today, he pastors “one of the largest churches in America,” the Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Riverside, California.

What Happened In The 1960s & 1970s

In an interview with CBN, Greg described that moment as a “very dark time in American history.” Not until God intervened in the lives of teenage hippies in Southern California. The young people suddenly started coming to Christ. And among them was Greg Laurie, who didn’t know Jesus yet. At the time, he didn’t think he would become part of history.

“Thousands of young people were coming to Christ and being baptized,” he recalled. “We called it the Jesus movement.”

The film’s director Jon Erwin also shared about such a remarkable moment in the history of America. Of which, he made sure to be highlighted in the movie.

“It was a time of fear and doubts in a generation that was looking for all the right things but in the wrong places …came to the end of themselves,” he explained. “It was just a powerful move of God that was undeniable, it shaped culture and it shaped America. We haven’t experienced anything like it.”

Also, actor Jonathan Roumie who played the hippie street preacher named Lonnie Frisbee shared an update to fans on Instagram about the film.

“Experience the heart of our story: how a new counterculture crusade—a Jesus Movement—changed the course of history,” he wrote.

‘Jesus Revolution’ will air in theaters in February next year.

Joel Courtney
J.J. Abrams Took An Unusual Approach To Super 8's Creature Design

From SlashFilm : "J.J. Abrams Took An Unusual Approach To Super 8's Creature Design"

J.J. Abrams' 2011 sci-fi film "Super 8" is an unabashed homage to co-producer Steven Spielberg's own "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" as well as to the myriad "E.T." knockoffs that followed it throughout the '80s. Set in the very early 1980s, "Super 8" is about a quintet of 13-year-old Goonies who are busy making their own amateur zombie thriller on consumer-grade Super 8 cameras when they run afoul of a local military conspiracy hiding something from the public. It's pretty clear from the start that the secret is a space alien. The local Ohio town has been experiencing electrical and magnetic disturbances of extraterrestrial origin, and the film's lead character, Joe (Joel Courtney), begins experiencing a very E.T.-like psychic link to an off-screen life form of some kind. 

The actual alien doesn't appear on screen until the film's climax. The alien is not an adorable, kid-sized critter like in Spielberg's movie, but a massive, spindly monster with many long bony limbs, threatening eyes, and multiple nostrils. It had been trying to flee Earth ever since crash landing some 25 years before, and the main kids in "Super 8" were there to witness its freedom. 

The nameless alien was designed by Neville Page, a 20-year veteran of the industry who has worked on creatures and character designs for Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes," "Cloverfield," "Avatar," "Prometheus," and Darren Aronofsky's "Noah." He's also behind the creatures on "Star Trek: Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard." 

In an interview with Dread Central, Page talked about how the alien design for "Super 8" was arranged backward from the usual way of doing things. That means the production designer assembled the alien's underground lair prior to the design of the actual alien. The creature had to match the environment and not the other way around. 

When the feet match the floor

Logic would dictate, of course, that the alien be designed, and then machines and tools be designed to fit to its biology. By inverting that process, Page essentially became an archeologist, speculating what kind of species would occupy the chairs and environments that production designer Martin Whist invented. Not only was this difficult, but Page had to wrap his mind around an imaginary animal that was both lumbering and meticulous. In Page's words: 

"The design process on 'Super 8' was what I would call the 'cart leading the horse' approach. We had to design the creature at the same time [Whist] had to be creating these environments for the alien — like the underground lair — without even knowing yet what we were designing. Then there was this wish list of things the alien should have that were juxtapositions in design; the creature had to be extremely large but it had to have dexterity within its limbs to grab things like car engines and microwaves and then assemble them, so that was a design challenge in itself." 

The final design was only vaguely humanoid, with two leg limbs, four arm limbs (the creature had a secondary set of shoulders extending from its back), and an elongated, flat head atop a barrel-shaped torso. The creature's legs split at the shin, leading down to a pair of hoof-like feet on each leg. The hooves were, in Page's mind, an evolutionary development intended for digging, and Page figured his creature would be comfortable underground. By lucky coincidence, Whist had already designed an earthen floor for the alien's lair, making the two design departments temporarily copacetic. 

Pretty little alien eyes

Page recalls, also, that Abrams had a very specific decree when it came to making the alien: It had to have a relatable, human-enough face. The creature, in short, couldn't be so unusual that its emotions couldn't be read by the human audience. This all came down to the creature's eyes. Common wisdom dictates that a creature with small, beady, unreadable eyes would be seen as sinister, while a creature with large, round, open eyes would be seen as friendly. Abrams likely didn't want the former, and it's possible to push things too far in the latter; one doesn't want a cartoon character. Page feels like he struck a good balance, although is modest as to whether nor not he was entirely successful: 

"The design element that was probably the most important to J.J. was the alien's eyes. They had to be heartfelt and convincing and had to really be able to connect with the characters and audiences, which is something I feel like we were successful in achieving in 'Super 8.' Ultimately our alien had to be completely original, organic in nature and have an iconic feeling to it. The jury's still out on that last part but I'm hopeful that time will prove eventually that we did just that here."

Thanks to a brilliant marketing campaign, an unapologetic Amblin vibe, and Page's amazing creature work, "Super 8" emerged as one of the bigger hits of its year, making $127 million domestically on a mere $50 million budget. It was also critically well-received, with many critics praising its sense of awe and its young cast. 

One quibble, though: How did that convenience store clerk already have a Sony Walkman in 1980?

Joel Courtney
Jesus Revolution - *NEW* Inside Look

Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) and his friends head to Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Everything changes when Laurie meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie street preacher, and Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer) who have opened the doors of Smith's church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history. #JoelCourtney #KelseyGrammer #JonathanRoumie

Joel Courtney
Is the Jesus Revolution Movie Based on True Story?

From Federal Regulations Advisor : "Is the Jesus Revolution Movie Based on True Story?"

Even if you believe that flared jeans, beards, and flowers should return to fashion as a result of spiritual reckoning, The Jesus Revolution could be the appropriate film for you.

The film, which is set in the 1960s and 1970s, depicts the tale of the iconic hippie movement, which underwent a radical transformation after discovering the salvific love of Jesus Christ during the so-called “Jesus Revolution.”

Who Will Appear in the Film?

In the film Jesus Revolution, Laurie’s transition from Southern California hippie rebel to devout Christian at the height of the Jesus Movement is depicted. In the film, Joel Courtney, most recently seen in The Kissing Booth, will portray a teenage Greg Laurie, while Kelsey Grammer of Frasier will play Greg’s mentor, Pastor Chuck Smith.

When Will the Jesus Revolution Movie Be in Theatres?

As per Trendingnewsbuzz, The movie Jesus Revolution will come out on February 24, 2023, from Lionsgate. On that day, the Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle-directed film show how Greg Laurie’s poor mother, Charlene, raised him most of the time in the 1970s. This story was inspired by a real movement.

Read More: What is Brooklyn 99 Season 8 Release Date for Uk? Where is It Going to Stream?

Laurie and a wave of young people flocked to sunny Southern California to find new ways to change the truth. By accident, Laurie runs into the charismatic hippie street preacher Lonnie Frisbee and Pastor Chuck Smith, who have been letting a lot of lost teenagers into Smith’s failing church.

What Happens in the Story?

In the 1970s, Greg Laurie’s mother, Charlene, was having a hard time taking care of him. This is the story of Jesus Revolution. Laurie and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation.

By accident, Laurie meets Lonnie Frisbee, a charismatic hippie street preacher, and Pastor Chuck Smith, who has opened the doors of Smith’s dying church to a stream of homeless youth. What unfolds becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history.

Trailer for Jesus Revolution!

We don’t have the trailer for the Jesus Revolution movie, which is too bad. So, let’s wait until 2023 when the Spiritual awakening will happen. Jon Gunn, who made THE CASE FOR CHRIST, will be in charge of the movie.

The movie will be directed by THE CASE FOR CHRIST (2017) director Jon Gunn, according to the IMDb page for JESUS REVOLUTION. Gunn and Jon Erwin wrote the script together. AL.com says that Jon Erwin said, “The more I learned about the revolution, the more it changed me.”

And I started to think that if this could change me, it might also be able to change other people like me. People who are leaving their faith might be swayed by this. Maybe this can change a generation.” The movie will be made by Andy Erwin.

Is the Movie Jesus Revolution Based on a Real Event?

Yes, it is a true story about how a group of young hippies in Southern California started the national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s.

Who Are the Movie’s Producers?

The movie was made by Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin, Josh Walsh, and Daryl Lefever.

What Place Did They Film the Movie?

Mobile, Alabama, was the place where movies were made in March 2022.

Conclusion!

Together with Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn wrote a screenplay. Jon Erwin told AL.com that as he learned more about “the revolution,” it started to change him. Then he started to think that if it could affect us, it might also affect people like him. It might make a difference for people who are giving up on their faith.

Joel Courtney
Jesus Revolution Announces February Release Date

From Movie Guide : "Jesus Revolution Announces February Release Date"

JESUS REVOLUTION will hit theaters February 24. 

The movie, based on Greg Laurie’s book of the same name, features big-name cast members like Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Roumie, and Joel Courtney

In an Instagram post from the movie’s official account, the JESUS REVOLUTION poster was revealed, as well its release date. 

The caption reads, “From the creators of I CAN ONLY IMAGINE comes a powerful true story of revival, faith, and newfound love: JESUS REVOLUTION. Feel the spirit, February 24. Only in theaters nationwide.”

Joel Courtney
15 Best Halloween Movies on HBO Max Right Now

From The Bingeful : "15 Best Halloween Movies on HBO Max Right Now"

If you’re looking for the best Halloween movies on HBO Max that you can watch this season, you’ve come to the right place.

HBO Max has some of the best Halloween movies available for streaming on its platform, so get your pumpkins ready and get into the Halloween spirit, and get lost binge-watching the best Halloween movies on HBO Max on our lists with your friends and family.

13. The Empty Man (2020)

Cast: James Badge Dale, Marin Ireland, Stephen Root, Ron Canada, Robert Aramayo, Joel Courtney, Sasha Frolova.

Have you ever heard the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”? The Empty Man applies that principle. The name is misleading, and the film is not what you expect.

It follows an ornery ex-cop whose investigation of a missing girl gives him more than he bargained for. 

James Lasombra, a former detective, is grieving over his wife and child’s death a year before his neighbor’s daughter goes missing.

James begins to suffer from hallucinations and nightmares during his investigation, all culminating in an epic finale that no one sees coming. A perfect watch for this fall season.

Joel Courtney