{"id":5751,"date":"2014-12-31T11:32:12","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T16:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=5751"},"modified":"2014-12-31T11:32:12","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T16:32:12","slug":"the-unbroken-power-of-forgiveness-tv-review-bringing-up-bates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2014\/12\/the-unbroken-power-of-forgiveness-tv-review-bringing-up-bates.html","title":{"rendered":"The “Unbroken” power of forgiveness + TV Review: “Bringing Up Bates”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happy New Year!<\/strong> Here\u2019s today\u2019s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unbroken <\/em>smashes industry projections — earning an astounding $47.3 million over Christmas weekend.<\/strong> As Big Hollywood’s John Nolte notes<\/a>, producer\/director Angelina Jolie’s telling of the Christian-themed true-life saga of American war hero Louis Zamperini, provides further evidence that a huge audience is out there for movies that respect, uphold and honor the values of faith.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unbroken<\/em>, of course, tells the inspiring and powerful story of Zamperini who overcame a wayward youth to find stardom as an Olympic runner. But that amazing accomplishment was merely a prologue to the courage he displayed during World War II\u00a0 when, after he was shot down over the pacific and survived 47 days adrift in a life raft, he endured being captured by the Japanese military which subjected him to two years of unspeakable torture. But the most remarkable part of Louie\u2019s story is that, after all he endured at the hands of his captors, he was later able to forgive them!<\/p>\n

Universal Pictures, the studio behind the film, has just released a moving video feature documenting Zamperini’s journey to forgiveness. The video chronicles how his life spiraled out of control when he came back to the U.S. \u2013 and how all that changed for the better after he attended a Billy Graham revival meeting in 1949 and surrendered himself to God. The story is told by Louie\u2019s two children, Luke (who I had the privilege to interview<\/a>) and Cynthia, as well as by author Laura Hillenbrand, who wrote the bestselling book on which Unbroken<\/em> is based. Check it out below. <\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sJqn8Q8fqIs&feature=youtu.be<\/p>\n

The Bates bunch.<\/strong>\u00a0 Twenty-seven years ago Gil and Kelly Jo Bates tied the knot with no plans to have children,\u00a0 19 kids (ages 2 t0 25) and several pregnant pauses later, the Bates family is starring in their own reality show. Bringing Up Bates<\/em> premieres on New Year’s Day at 9:00 PM (ET) on UP TV.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n