Movieguide rates films highly according to supposed Christian values like patriotism and capitalism, and negatively for portrayals not only of swearing and nudity, but environmentalism, feminism, homosexuality, evolution, socialism or any other "liberal" viewpoints. Without any hint of irony, Baehr and Movieguide conflate Christianity with capitalism and American conservatism, ignoring Christ's own teachings in that regard ("You cannot serve both God and money." – Luke 16:13; "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." – Matthew 19:21; "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24; "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." – Mark 12:17 (ie. pay your taxes); "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" – Matthew 21:12; etc.)
The truth is that Christianity and capitalism are completely antithetical. Capitalism's prophet Ayn Rand had nothing but contempt for religion, and considered altruism the greatest evil. Jesus, on the other hand, was a man of peace, taught his followers to love everyone including enemies and to not judge others, healed the sick and needy (ie. free health care), rebelled against the wealthy and powerful Pharisees, and hung out with the outcasts of society such as prostitutes and lepers. He would no doubt be denounced and crucified by modern-day American conservative Christians as a liberal, socialist and evil-doer.
So one must take anything Movieguide says with a massive heap of salt. Their report claims that conservative movies far outgross liberal ones. But they count less than 200 of the 265 films released in 2011, and claim almost half of them as conservative even though conservatives constantly complain that Hollywood is overwhelmingly liberal. According to them, 91 conservative films made an average of $59 million each, while 105 liberal movies only made $11 million apiece.
The only mild interest that comes from the Faith & Values Awards is that it provides some insight into what a narrow (and narrow-minded) spectrum of the general audience considers worthy, and that they provide cash prizes with their awards.
The winner of the Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2011 was Courageous. Its $100,000 prize is equally divided among the director, the credited writer(s), the producer(s), the senior distribution executive, and the senior motion picture studio executive. It had been competing against Justin Bieber – Never Say Never, Of Gods and Men, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Seven Days in Utopia, Soul Surfer and The Tree of Life.
They declared Hugo to be the Best Movie for Families and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides to be the Best Movie for Mature Audiences. Alex Kendrick's role in Courageous was given the Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies.
Other films that appeared on their lists include The Muppets which Fox News denounced as communist, and Thor which is a superhero movie based on a pagan god of Norse mythology.
For television, the Epiphany Prize was awarded to KJB: The Book That Changed The World about the King James Bible. Its $100,000 prize is also shared equally between the director, the credited writer(s), the executive producer(s), the senior television network executive and the senior production studio executive.
The awards are also known as the “Teddy Bear Awards” – which is not to be confused with the Teddy Awards that are given to the best in gay cinema during the Berlin International Film Festival (the Berlinale).
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Complete list of winners for the 2012 Movieguide Faith & Values Awards
Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2011
Courageous, Affirm Films/Provident/Sony Pictures Entertainment
Other Nominees:
Justin Bieber – Never Say Never
Of Gods and Men
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Seven Days in Utopia
Soul Surfer
The Tree of Life
Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring TV Program of 2011
KJB: The Book That Changed The World from BBC Two
Other Nominees:
Buck Denver Asks... Why Do We Call It Christmas? – EMI
A Christmas Wish – The Hallmark Channel
The Lost Valentine – Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Love Begins – The Hallmark Channel
Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith – Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Kairos Prizes for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by First-Time and Beginning Screenwriters
1. Halo Theory, by Amy Williams of Marina Del Rey, Calif., $25,000
2. A Dolphin In Our Lake, by David (Nicholas) Hartmann of Mason, Ohio, $15,000
3. I, John, by Sean Paul Murphy of Baltimore, Md., $10,000
The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies in 2011
Alex Kendrick for Courageous
Other movie acting nominees:
Robert Amaya (Courageous),
Justin Bieber (Justin Bieber – Never Say Never)
Jim Carrey (Mr. Popper's Penguins)
Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life)
Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Robert Duvall (Seven Days in Utopia)
Nathan Gamble (25 Hill)
Anthony Hopkins (The Rite)
Dennis Quaid (Soul Surfer)
Martin Sheen (The Way)
Annasophia Robb (Soul Surfer)
Kevin Sorbo (Soul Surfer)
The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Television in 2011
Kirstin Dorn for A Christmas Wish
Other television acting nominees:
Sean Faris (The Lost Valentine)
Laurence Fishburne (Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith)
Sam Heughan (A Princess for Christmas)
Katie McGrath (The Lost Valentine and A Princess for Christmas)
Julie Mond (Love Begins)
John Rhys-Davies (KJB: The Book That Changed The World)
Gary Sinise (“Indelible,” CSI: NY)
Kristy Swanson (A Christmas Wish)
Betty White (The Lost Valentine)
Best Movie for Families
Hugo, from Paramount Pictures and Viacom
The Ten Best 2011 Movies for Families
1. Hugo
2. Soul Surfer
3. The Muppets
4. The Adventures Of Tintin
5. Courageous
6. Mars Needs Moms
7. Justin Bieber – Never Say Never
8. Puss In Boots
9. Mr. Popper's Penguins
10. Cars 2
Best Movie for Mature Audiences
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides from Walt Disney Pictures
The Ten Best 2011 Movies for Mature Audiences
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
2. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
3. Captain America: The First Avenger
4. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
5. The Tree of Life
6. The Artist
7. Seven Days in Utopia
8. Sarah's Key
9. Thor
10. The Way
The Faith and Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values in 2011
Winner for Movies
Captain America: The First Avenger from Paramount Pictures and Viacom
Other movie nominees:
25 Hill from Team Cherokee Productions
Coriolanus from The Weinstein Co.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close from Warner Bros. Pictures
Mr. Popper's Penguins from 20th Century Fox
Winner for TV
The Lost Valentine from Hallmark Hall of Fame Production
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