At The Movies

God’s Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018), PG, 1 hr 45 min Franchise: God’s Not Dead Franchise #: 3 (Chronological and release order) Tagline: Where will you stand when the world falls apart? Main Cast David A. R. White as Reverend Dave Hill John Corbett as Pearce Hill Shane Harper as Josh Wheaton (cameo) Jennifer Taylor as Meg Harvey Ted McGinley as Thomas Ellsworth Tatum O’Neal as Barbara Solomon Benjamin A. Onyango as Reverend Jude Gregory Alan Williams as Dean Cain (not reprising his previous role) Mike C. Manning as Adam Richertson Reviews  Synopsis After a tragic fire destroys St. James Church on a university campus, Reverend Dave finds himself at the center of controversy. As the school seeks to use the land for expansion, Dave must fight a legal and spiritual battle to save the church. Seeking help from his estranged brother, an atheist attorney, Dave must confront not only the system but his own pain and bitterness. Overview This third entry takes a more introspective an...

Freaky Friday (2018) Franchise : Freaky Friday Franchise #: 4 of 5 (Disney Channel musical version — fourth major adaptation) Year : 2018 TV Rating : TV‑PG (appropriate for pre-teens and older) Total Runtime: 90 minutes Tagline : “What if you really had to walk a mile in my shoes?” (Unofficial, captures musical theme) Main Cast Heidi Blickenstaff as Katherine Blake (the mother) Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Ellie Blake (the daughter) Bobby Conte Thornton as Andy (Ellie’s crush) Kate Jenkinson as Maddie (Ellie’s friend) Lucas Neff, Brenda Strong, Hayes MacArthur in supporting roles Reviews Synopsis Ellie Blake is a teenage violinist frustrated by her mother Katherine’s pushy perfectionism. They swap bodies thanks to Chinese takeout magic … and end up singing their frustrations. Through shared experiences, each learns empathy—Ellie gains compassion for parenthood and Katherine understands teenage pressure. Overview This version infuses the familiar body–swap plot with pop-style musical numbers an...

Freaky Friday (2003) Franchise : Freaky Friday Franchise #: 3 of 5 (First theatrical remake, following the 1976 original and 1995 TV movie) Year : 2003 MPAA Rating / TV Rating : PG — for family-friendly themes, mild language, and teen content (e.g. band drama, partying) Total Runtime : 97 minutes Tagline : “Mother’s mistakes… daughter’s reality.” (Unofficial, but spot‑on tone) Main Cast Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman Mark Harmon as Ryan (Tess' fiancé) Chad Michael Murray as Jake (Anna’s crush) Ryan Malgarini as Harry (Anna’s younger brother) Supporting roles: Christina Vidal, Haley Hudson, Stephen Tobolowsky Reviews Synopsis Tess and Anna are perpetually at odds—until a magical Chinese fortune cookie causes them to swap bodies. Suddenly, Tess is thrust into high school and teen drama, and Anna into wedding planning and adult responsibilities. Through hilarious identity chaos, they finally gain empathy and understand each other from the inside out. O...

Freaky Friday (1976) Franchise : Freaky Friday Franchise #: 1 of 5 Year : 1976 MPAA Rating : G Total Runtime : 96 minutes Tagline : “Like mother, like daughter… and it just isn’t fair!” (Unofficial—captures the spirit) Main Cast Barbara Harris – Ellen Andrews (the mother) Jodie Foster – Annabel Andrews (the daughter) John Astin, Harry Guardino, Ken Mars, and Mia Farrow in supporting roles Reviews Synopsis Ellen Andrews, a well-meaning but overwhelmed mother, and her teenager Annabel, who resents her mom’s rules, mysteriously swap bodies. Forced into each other’s daily lives—therapy sessions, school drama, and social expectations—they learn empathy and the value of mutual respect… and survive with a lot of comedy. Overview This original Disney adaptation is gentle, charming, and full of heartfelt moments. Unlike the more energetic remakes, it leans into sweet humor and subtle emotion. Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster bring warmth and sincerity to their roles, creating a timeless tale wi...

Title : Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Year : 1991 Franchise : Star Trek Franchise #: 6 MPAA Rating / TV Parental Guidelines MPAA Rating : PG TV Parental Guidelines : TV-PG Total Runtime 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes) Tagline “The battle for peace has begun.” Main Cast William Shatner – Captain James T. Kirk Leonard Nimoy – Spock DeForest Kelley – Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy James Doohan – Scotty George Takei – Captain Hikaru Sulu Walter Koenig – Chekov Nichelle Nichols – Uhura Christopher Plummer – General Chang David Warner – Chancellor Gorkon Kim Cattrall – Lieutenant Valeris Brock Peters – Admiral Cartwright Michael Dorn – Colonel Worf Grace Lee Whitney – Janice Rand Mark Lenard – Ambassador Sarek Charles Cooper – Klingon Ambassador Reviews Overview The Undiscovered Country is widely considered one of the best entries in the original Star Trek film series. It’s part space thriller, part courtroom drama, and part political allegory. The story centers on peace negotiations b...