Controversial Family Film Coming This Fall

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Facing the Giants, an action-packed drama about a high-school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the "giants" of fear and failure off and on the field, will premiere in theaters (400 screens, 86 markets) on September 29th.

Controversy about the film developed when the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) decided to brand the movie with a PG rating because of a strong Christian message contained in the film. In one scene, the coach urges a player to trust his life to Jesus Christ. Many on the board of the MPAA felt this exclusive claim might offend some people, so they decided a Parental Guidance rating would be more appropriate than a G rating. The decision sparked a flood of over 15,000 e-mails protesting the decision. Some have jokingly remarked that the P.G. rating may, in the minds of some at the MPAA, stand for “Proselytizing” the “Gospel”. Kris Fuhr, a representative of Sony BMG, made one astute observation about the film as reported by BP News:

"We're seeing something new with this movie. People who work in this business have always thought that the MPAA based its ratings on actions, on what people actually did in a movie. If you did certain things or said certain words, then you got a certain rating. Now it seems like the board is rating a movie on the basis of the ideas that are in it and whether it thinks those ideas are going to offend people."

WorldNetDaily reports that the controversy has even reached the halls of Congress. U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. said it was "disquieting" to think that the MPAA "considers exposure to Christian themes more dangerous for children than exposure to gratuitous sex and mindless violence."

To see the trailer, go to www.facingthegiants.com.