Good News FL

GoodNewsFL.org 29 FEBRUARY 2018 MOVIES talent in the film: Billy Zane, Jackson Rathbone, Lindsay Wagner, Rutger Hauer, Caitlin Leahy,…all are great. GN – I have to say I’m im- pressed with keeping the film a PG13 rating when the story of Samson is loaded with vio- lence and sexual innuendo. How did you pull that off? BY – It was imperative to find a balance in keeping the story truthful yet not making it explicit. The combat scenes are action-packed but not gruesome. GN – And the character of Delilah seems more than just a seductress. BY – It was vital to us to make the characters relatable. This sometimes meant rewrites right before shooting. Usually we see Delilah as a single-minded manipulator. We wanted to show vulnerability that often comes from being the one ma- nipulated, or even abused. We’re seeing it happening more and more in today’s culture with reports of sexual harassment. So even a biblically-themed movie can still have relevance in today’s environment. GN – With all the super- hero films out there, would you consider Samson a super- hero? BY – A Christian super- hero, maybe. His physical strength comes from God — not of his own power. But he’s a hero beyond the supernatu- ral endowment. There is a complexity to his character, as in each of us. Our hope is that everyone in the audience will identify with the character. That each of us has a specific call- ing fromGod: a higher purpose beyond ourselves. And though we may disobey or fail at times, God is there to redeem us. He is the God of over- whelming love. GN – What do you hope audiences take away with them after seeing “Samson”? BY – We want to bring life to the Bible. We want to bring the truth to the screen. The story of Samson is one of pas- sion, betrayal and redemption. It’s a depiction of life that peo- ple can connect with and see things in a new light: HOPE. We pray that “Samson” in- spires all of us to recognize that our failures do not have to define our future. The Lord gives us the strength to ac- complish His purpose and to become the person He created us to be. “Samson” will be out in theaters February 16. For movie times and theaters near you go to Samson.movie Chris Alexander is a free- lance writer and an aspiring humble servant of Our Lord Jesus Christ. She can be con- tacted at Christine@MusicArt- Love.com.