Soul Surfer Finds Path to Movie Goers' Hearts

Unless you live under a rock, you most certainly have heard of "Soul Surfer," the film, based on the true story of Kauai teen surfer Bethany Hamilton. Bethany, a competitive surfer, lost her arm at 13 years of age in a 2003 Tiger shark attack, but because of her courage, which she credits to her Christian faith, became a champion again months later. Now 21, she continues to compete professionally.

The scenery is breathtaking. Bethany, who portrays herself in surfing scenes, is awesome in her mastery of the water. (Digital effects are used to show Sophia Robb, who plays Bethany, lose her arm).

If anyone ever had a desire to visit Hawaii, this film could inspire concrete travel arrangements.

Carrie Underwood stars as a counselor in the film and states that she is a fan of the film's faith-based message:

"To me the phrase 'Soul Surfer' is about finding your path, your walk with God - or your surf with God - and making the best of the ride," she said. "In the end, that is the most important."

"Soul Surfer" is the latest film trying to tread the thin line between appealing and pandering to a faith-based audience.

"Films that have strong faith content do it because they understand there's an audience out there. There are 163 million people who go to church every week, and it's a gigantic audience and Hollywood makes movies for every audience," explained Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide, and Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission. "The movies that do better at the box office, like the top 10 films from last year, none of them were R-rated, none of them had violence in them, and none of them had sexual content in them."

The last such film, "The Blind Side," won numerous awards, including Academy Award for Best Actress for Sandra Bullock, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. The film itself also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

This also supports the analogy of "Why Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood Became Top Country Music Performers,---the majority of people who buy music, and go to movies, don't want excessive violence and sexual content in movies or music.

Perhaps the music industry and Hollywood are finally starting to get it.

Sources:

Hollie McKay, Deidre Behar, Bible Edited Out of Film 'Soul Surfer' to Appeal to Non-Christians, Added Back In, FoxNews.com

Megan Myers, Why Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood Became Top Country Music Performers, Associated Content

The Blind Side (film), Wikipedia