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Christian Hamaker
Christian Hamaker writes on film and culture from a Biblical perspective. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with an emphasis in Film and Popular Culture, from Virginia Tech. He has been married to Sarah Hamaker since 2000. They have two daughters, and expect a third child in November of 2006.
Contributing Film and Culture Writer
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Click Desperately Needs an "Off" Button
Friday, June 23, 2006
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Wistful "Prairie Home Companion" - Last of a Dying Breed?
"A Prairie Home Companion" balances nostalgia with an inexorable sense of impending mortality. Director Altman, now in his 80s and reportedly frail during filming, seems to acknowledge that it’s...Friday, June 9, 2006
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"Last" X-Men Stands Strong
The X-Men return to the big screen for what the title of the series’ third installment promises will be their “last stand,” but when the results are as enjoyable as this effective film, why stop?...Friday, May 26, 2006
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On Film, "The Da Vinci Code" Breaks Down
"The Da Vinci Code" is, if not exactly good, at least watchable during its first hour. After that, the film simply breaks down. The long stretches of dialogue are punishing, the pacing leaden, the...Friday, May 19, 2006
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Weak Plot Works Against "Mission: Impossible 3"
If you enjoyed the first two films of the Tom Cruise "Mission: Impossible" franchise you will probably enjoy the third. Despite director J.J. Abrams frequent comments to the contrary, "M:I3" offers...Friday, May 5, 2006
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Everybody Wins with Akeelah and the Bee
Overcoming obstacles. Feeling like an outsider looking in. Coping with the prejudices of others. These are all common cinematic themes, but when well executed, they can result in stirring...Wednesday, April 26, 2006
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Greed and Guilt Power a Slick "Inside Man"
"Inside Man" raises ethical questions about wealth and power, and it examines the consequences of past sins. It asks whether we can wash away our guilt by building a life of outward respectability....Friday, March 24, 2006
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Oscars 2006: Small Movies Tackle Big Controversies
Predicting which film will take home the most statuettes at the annual Academy Awards is a ritual for many of us. But before we do so, let’s consider this year’s nominees. Is there any message or...Friday, March 3, 2006
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Taylor's Good Intentions Come Through in "The Second Chance"
From director Steve Taylor, "The Second Chance" effectively displays the tensions between different parts of the body of Christ. What the film lacks in cinematic style, it makes up for in...Friday, February 24, 2006
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Pain, Mystery, Grace Create Powerful Mosaic in Freedomland
Its everything 2005’s Crash wanted to be but wasn't. Crackling with racial tension, suspense and two dynamite lead performances, this 113-minute book adaptation delivers on-the-money drama.Friday, February 17, 2006
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Protect Yourself Against "Firewall"
Consider this review a “firewall” — a form of protection keeping you from the new Harrison Ford movie of the same name. Directed by Richard Loncraine, "Firewall" goes from the formulaic to the...Friday, February 10, 2006
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Setting Is Superfluous to By-the-Numbers "Annapolis"
A few weeks after the successful debut of "Glory Road," Disney tries to win audiences again by combining war and sports in "Annapolis," a new film set at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. It’s...Friday, January 27, 2006
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Faith, Hope & Sports Travel Well Along "Glory Road"
"Glory Road" is formulaic but effective, touched with a fondness for faith and religion. The energy of the first hour dissipates by the time of the big tournament, but this story of young men...Friday, January 13, 2006
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Laborious, Predictable "Geisha" Verges on Camp
A slowly unfolding tale about a way of life mysterious to most Westerners, “Memoirs of a Geisha” is a soap opera of human and professional jealousy that isn’t so mysterious at all.Friday, December 23, 2005
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Not Much "Fun With Dick and Jane"
With its scattershot approach, "Fun With Dick and Jane," Jim Carrey’s latest comedy, yields uneven and disappointing results. Surprisingly unfunny at times, the film is, at its best, mildly...Wednesday, December 21, 2005
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Silly "Producers" Successfully Returns to Big Screen
Can a classic movie about a play, turned into a hit Broadway musical, successfully make it back to the screen in musical form? "The Producers” answers in the affirmative. Often riotous, this silly...Friday, December 16, 2005
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King Kong Showcases Eye-Popping Special Effects
On the heels of his Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson has remade a film classic. The resulting epic lives up to most expectations, and will further endear Jackson to fans of fantasy, action,...Wednesday, December 14, 2005
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Spirited "Pride and Prejudice" Should Satisfy Austen Fans
Jane Austen fans, rejoice! "Pride and Prejudice" has been brought newly to the screen with competence, visual flair and respect for the source material. And yet, the confines of a two-hour feature...Friday, November 18, 2005