In an age of fast action, I am sure that the middling non-religious American would lump both of these new DVD releases as boring drivel.  But many Baptist families have been watching Flywheel (2007 Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia), whereas many LDS families have been enjoying Turn Around (2007 Candlelight Media Group).

John Bytheway speaks of Turn Around as “a nice story of repentance, forgiveness and perseverance!”

And yet so is Flywheel.

I have watched them both.  And though the LDS flick involves conversion change in a teen while the evangelical flick centers on the conversion change in a father, I would be interested in the responses of my LDS friends who have viewed them both.

What are the parallels?  How does either movie place Jesus Christ at the center of the gospel message?  What are the unique contrasts to be drawn out in the conversion portrayals by these nascent subculture movie companies?  Could there be differences between renovation and regeneration?  Bible-centered justification and sanctification versus visions/dreams exhortation and righteous reformation?  What about blessings given by fathers?  Priesthood?

Nothing is spectacular as far as special effects in either of these films, but when you place them side by side and watch them—popular LDS and popular Baptist beliefs on the big screen—you might just start thinking of heart issues.

It could make for a great discussion in a neighborhood family movie night.

(Of course, even better, is just plain ol’ neighborhood Bible studies.)