Synopsis"This book takes on topics where critics fear to tread, into the moral and religious areas of life that really matter to ordinary people." James Hogan takes twenty popular films that have withstood the test of time-including Star Wars, Rain Man, Amadeus, The Shawshank Redemption, Groundhog Day, The Truman Show, and Forrest Gump-and discusses them with a view toward extracting lessons of Christian morality and, where appropriate, drawing parallels with the life of Jesus. Youth groups, adult film-discussion groups, and college and high-school classes on film will find this a valuable resource, particularly because the author has intentionally avoided movies about overtly religious topics. A set of reflection and discussion questions for each film facilitates use of the book in a group setting. Book jacket., We go to movies to be entertained, but also to be inspired; to see our common humanity in a new light. Popular movies stand the test of time because they reveal timeless truths. In REEL PARABLES, James Hogan articulates the spiritual message inside stories that catch our hearts and capture our imaginations"movies that are talked about in the classroom, at the water cooler or the kitchen table, movies that make us want to be better persons, movies that symbolically proclaim godly values.REEL PARABLES examines twenty popular films that have withstood the test of time, including Star Wars, Rain Man, Amadeus, Shawshank Redemption, Groundhog Day, The Truman Show, Forrest Gump, and others. James Hogan discusses each one with a view toward drawing parallels with the life of Jesus (where appropriate) and extracting the moral lessons implicit in each. Each film ends with a set of reflection/discussion questions to make the book suitable for group use. But this intriguing book by no means a set of lesson plans; nor is it a movie critic"s handbook; it goes right where angels never fear to tread, into the hearts and minds of ordinary people.