Watch the film trailers and film clips for these 2 lists of 5 movies here and click here to listen to Donofrio and Giese's conversation about these films. The segment starts at 14 Minutes into the program (Attorney Rob Doughty starts off the programme talking about a legal case brought by an atheist organization called the Freedom From Religion Foundation against the use of "In God We Trust" on American money.)

Giese's List of 5 Picks

5) Fallen (1998) Rated R for violence and language.

In Leviticus 16:8-10 you find the word Azazel, "And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel." In Hebrew Azazel generally means "the Scapegoat" or "the Sent Away One." Later, thanks to the non-Biblical book of 1 Enoch, Azazel morphed away from that idea and within Jewish mysticism the word Azazel became synonymous with a the idea of an evil fallen angel who taught mankind all sorts of terrible things immediately after the Fall into sin and as a result all sin could be ascribed to this fictionalized fallen angel Azazel. The movie Fallen (1998) is just one more pop-culture retelling of Azazel as an evil angle. Another movie with an Azazel in it is the recent film the movie X-Men First Class (2011). This is not the same Azazel per se, what it is is yet another depiction of this idea and if you put these two films together you get two different takes on the same extra-Biblical speculative fictional concept from Jewish Mysticism. Below is a fan video that put's all of Azazel's scenes together to music from the film X-Men First Class.   

4) The Prophecy (1995) Rated R for violence and gore, and for some language.

Christopher Walken as the Arch Angel Gabriel, not like you know him from the Bible but rather a bitter and vengeful angel with a low regard for humanity. Donofrio brings up the interesting tidbit that Christopher Walken started out his carrier as a song and dance man, here he is dancing in the Fatboy Slim music video for the song - Weapon Of Choice.

3) Dogma (1999) Rated R for strong language including sex-related dialogue, violence, crude humour and some drug content.

Here's the trailer for the film Dogma. In the film Alan Rickman, playing the fictional angel Metatron, explains how "Human beings have neither the aural nor the psychological capacity to withstand the awesome power of God's true voice. Were you to hear it, your mind would cave in and your heart would explode within your chest. We went through five Adams before we figured that one out." He plays an angle who delivers God's messages because, as the film suggests, God can't talk directly to people. This discounts the idea that God speaks to us through His revealed Word in Scripture and the nature of incarnation. It's an interesting moment in the film and the film does have some interesting moments but it's more like you gave a couple million dollars to some boys from a confirmation class who have more questions than answers and told them to go make a movie with the promise that their mother's and father's would never see the finished product. Basically a big screen juvenile film with a couple clever questions about Roman Catholic Church Dogma.  

2) City of Angels (1998) Rated PG-13 for sexuality including language, and some nudity.

Wong on so many levels, a movie that returns to that wonky non-biblical idea that angels can find some loophole that lets them have "romantic" relations with humans. This is the reverse of the non-biblical pop-cultural idea of people becoming angels when they get to heaven; in this movie Nick Cage gives up being an angel to be a man so he can consummate his creepy stalker love with Meg Ryan. 

1) Constantine (2005) Rated R for violence and demonic images.

Super out there movie full of angels and demons with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz caught between heaven and hell. The film has one scene that comes so close to a Gospel proclamation but falls down in the key points. The Arch Angel Gabriel gives the central Character Constantine a good dose of the law but doesn't throw down with the Gospel, just leaving Constantine to wallow in his despair. I guess you'd have to almost expect that since Gabriel turns out to be a villain in this film, again being recast no longer the good angel found in Scripture.      

Donofrio's List of 5 Picks

5) Legion (2010) Rated R for strong bloody violence, and language.

A Scene from Legion where the Arch Angels Michael and Gabriel duke it out mano a mano. Here's a description of angels fighting from Revelation chapter 12, you'll notice the egregious lack of machine guns and semi-automatic weapons, "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:7-12 ESV)

4) Angels in The Outfield (1994) Rated PG for mild language.

In this remake of the 1951 film of the same name a child prays, "God ... if there is a God ... maybe You could help them win a little" God decides to send some angels to help the California Angels "win a little."  

3) Dogma (1999) Rated R for strong language including sex-related dialogue, violence, crude humor and some drug content.

2) Michael (1996) Rated PG for a mild barroom brawl, some language and sensuality.

A movie that answers the important question what do angels smell like?

1) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Rated PG for thematic elements, smoking and some violence (re-rating).

The classic endearing movie with the wonky non-biblical, pop-cultural idea that when you die if you're good enough and you work hard enough at being good you'll get your wings and become an angel. Unfortunately no mention of eternal life through Christ in this movie.

Just for fun, it really has nothing to do with angels, here's the scene where Jimmy Stewart dances the Charleston with Donna Reed right into the swimming pool! 

For current movie reviews of films in the theatre right now by Pastor Ted Giese check out IssuesEtc.org,Where Christianity Meets Culture IssuesEtc!