Jonathan Decker is a licensed marriage and family therapist available for online sessions throughout Utah and face-to-face sessions in St. George. He was the co-host of The KJZZ Movie Show, winner of the campus-wide BYU Talent Show, performer with Divine Comedy, and star of numerous independent action-comedies. His book 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families is now available in paperback and Kindle. You can see him on multiple panels in September’s Salt Lake Comic Con. For Jonathan’s relationship tips and family movie reviews please visit yourfamilyexpert.com.
The Oath (rated PG-13, in theaters now) is an adaptation…
This new filmed version of the musical captures all of…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m Jonathan…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
Quarantined indoors? There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home!…
Quarantined indoors? There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home!…
Quarantined indoors? There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home!…
Here are awesome streaming picks to shorten the search and…
Ready for inspiration and adventure, but still can't leave your…
Quarantined indoors and running out of things to watch? Here…
Quarantined indoors? After conference, there’s great, uplifting films to stream…
Quarantined indoors? There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home!…
Coronavirus got you stuck indoors? There’s great, uplifting films to…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! Here…
There’s great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m Jonathan…
There are great, uplifting films to stream at home! I’m…
There’s great, uplifting stuff to watch if you know where…
The weekend is here! Let’s help you find the good…
Co-produced by BYU-TV, this well-acted adaptation of The New York…
Acclaimed comic book artist Sal Velluto has worked on Captain…
Welcome to The Streaming Saint, a new weekly column helping…
Southern Utah is known for its particularly first-rate theatre scene,…
In this interview, director Mitch Davis discusses the effect that…
Director T.C. Christensen returns with another beautifully-shot, warmly-acted, unabashedly Latter-day…
Once known for quality (if overpriced) VHS tapes of animated…
Godzilla: King of the Monsters offers everything you could want…
Few things are more devastating than learning that a partner’s…
'Immersive Bible Experience' combines the talents of Jarom Sidwell (a…
Jane and Emma tells the story of the friendship between…
From directing beloved films like 17 Miracles, Ephraim’s Rescue, The…
Director Mitch Davis was kind enough to chat with me…
Michael Flynn is well-known amongst Latter-day Saints for his roles…
It started in 2001 as a means to promote and…
Many Latter-day Saint couples get hung up on this point:…
Your world's been upended. There was a secret physical and/or…
There may be nothing so devastating to a marriage as…
Tuacahn Ampitheatre, also known as Southern Utah's "Broadway in the…
The Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival delights every year with…
His wildly successful first Kickstarter allowed him to make a…
Emma Smith has long been a controversial figure in Latter-day…
Manage your expectations. Not about the film's quality, mind you;…
Considering adding some action and adventure to your movie-going experience…
You may not read comics or graphic novels, but millions…
Writer-director Rian Johnson has crafted a phenomenal film here, honoring…
While fans of Lassie, Where the Red Fern Grows, and…
Fans of director T.C. Christensen’s gorgeous cinematography and sincere storytelling…
Aiming to do the character, and The Book of Mormon…
Millions of Book of Mormon readers, inspired by the message…
Tuacahn Amphitheatre boasts one of the most gorgeously-unique theatre locations…
America is a family, or at least it ought to…
In many ways a staggering and riveting artistic achievement, Dunkirk…
Making a compelling argument that what story one tells matters…
While not the surprise that the original film was, Despicable…
One would think rebooting Spider-Man for the third time in…
I’m getting caught up on my summer movie reviews for…
With Wonder Woman, Warner Bros. (and the DC Comics Cinematic Universe) finally have…
If you're not sure whether to take your kids to…
Though deeply flawed, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell…
If there’s any justice, Truman Brothers will join the ranks…
Everything a sequel should be, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.…
When it comes to home viewing, streaming is where it’s…
Since its announcement the new Beauty and the Beast has…
Prequels and backstories are tricky. If done poorly, they threaten…
As a loving and clever deconstruction of the Batman mythos…
Families with members who love Star Wars will be remiss…
Featuring truly dazzling film-making and strong performances by Emma Stone…
This past week my wife and I were fortunate to…
I recently had the opportunity to attend a performance by…
I’ve got two excellent choices for you this week. Disney’s…
In terms of visual creativity, memorable characters, and balancing the…
A brilliant-but-arrogant surgeon takes a journey that will transform him…
A town hires seven warriors to defend them from an…
On the heels of his albums How Beautiful Thy Temples…
Southern Utah has a rich theater scene thanks in no…
While the story of Pete’s Dragon is fairly predictable from…
This week marks 15 years since the theatrical release of…
At this week’s Salt Lake Comic Con, some 100,000 fans…
Watching the new Ben-Hur is like attending a concert by…
Modern audiences, jaded by Hollywood butchering’s of biblical tales in…
Lately it feels like America is being torn asunder. As…
For 21 years as Southern Utah’s “Broadway in the Desert,”…
It’s a testament to the talent of Steven Spielberg that…
Ignore the dour reviews; Indepedence Day: Resurgence is perfectly enjoyable…
Though lacking the novel originality of Finding Nemo, this is…
Despite the popularity of the axiom "it takes two to…
'The Abolitionists' follows an undercover task force as they take…
James Curran, AKA “Jamesthemormon,” has been making headlines this week…
Hot on the heels of Kenneth Branagh’s marvelous Cinderella remake,…
This modern version has a more professional gloss than previous…
Beautifully-shot and featuring a moving musical score by John Debney…
With gorgeous music and beautiful cinematography, Singing With Angels is…
After the dual disappointments of Noah and Exodus: Gods and…
Today marks the wide release of Risen, starring Joseph Fiennes…
In two short years the Salt Lake Comic Con has…
I’ve always been impressed by the care and craftsmanship that…
January is usually a dry month at the movie theater,…
Many Latter-day Saint novels are painfully amateur. Good intentions don’t…
In 1999 I was a die-hard Jackie Chan fan, seventeen…
Director JJ Abrams (Star Trek) and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (The…
With the holidays upon us, many families like to cuddle…
In an alternate timeline, the meteor that wiped out the…
In the age of social media and smartphones, so much…
I suspect that the late Charles Schulz would be pleased.…
As I prepared for last week’s World Congress of Families…
Latter-day Saints, in particular, seem to have a soft spot…
The Secret Garden, a local production of the Broadway hit,…
In 2013, Salt Lake City had its first superhero, sci-fi,…
We have to show our loved ones that we love…
Aside from passing mentions of the Book of Mormon and…
War Room, a Christian film about the power of prayer…
Though it borrows the basic storyline of the Whoopi Goldberg…
Fiddler is my favorite play, and I’m pleased to report…
Faith-based comedies often fall terribly flat. Wholesome doesn't always equal…
For whatever reason, many parents feel that they cannot apologize…
Nestled into a gorgeous red-rock backdrop, Tuacahn Ampitheatre celebrates its…
The widely-acclaimed Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City (now in…
If you’ve yet to take in a show at Brigham’s…
It's right to have dreams and goals. It's ideal for…
T.C. Christensen loves a good story. The prolific writer-director-cinematographer, whose…
"The Cokeville Miracle" is a film based on the true…
Avengers: Age of Ultron may not be a superior sequel,…
Pianist/composer Garth Smith follows up his beautiful debut album “Sacred…
The 3rd best-selling LDS album provides beautiful arrangements of holy…
Hurtful people are not happy people. They are not people…
You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy Fiddler on…
There's a little secret that great public speakers know.
As an examination of the dangerous pursuit of "happily-ever-after" and…
Let me tell you exactly why, I believe, God loves…
Like the tanks that figure so prominently in its plot,…
The Passion of the Christ unlocked the market for ambitious…
Whether its art imitating life or vice versa, society at…
As Latter-day Saints we are grateful for our pioneer heritage.…
In recent months, I've discovered something: exercise is about sanity,…
With over 50 lifelike animatronic dinosaurs (some to look at,…
Stepfamilies (or "blended" families) are often seen as if they…
Much to my surprise, Maleficent is given a meaty character…
If you're looking for a terrific date or family night,…
Director Gareth Edwards has delivered the rare monster movie that…
This latest Christian film, from the makers of the excellent…
You're back from church and you'd like to spend this…
If you're looking for the perfect music to set the…
One beautiful weekend I discovered that there is hope for…
The Cinemark theater chain is set to screen HD restorations…
Noah is not at all the straightforward biblical epic that…
The March 28th release of the film 'Noah,' provides us…
With impressive animation and a script that is equal parts…
We've all experienced it, the "Jekyll-and-Hyde Syndrome" in which a…
I have to disagree with the mainstream critics here: Son…
It shouldn't have worked, and to be honest my expectations…
The key to sexual fulfillment has always been the marriage…
As a certified instructor of this "No Jerks" class, allow…
In recent years, warning from the Brethren have increasingly turned…
The past year has given us much cinema that was…
An altogether more engrossing affair than the charming, but plodding,…
Frozen is already destined to be a long-beloved classic thanks…
Fans of seeing classic movies on the big screen will…
A doctrinal expose on Satan may seem like a hard…
This week's release of the trailer for a new epic…
As good a two-hour adaptation of the beloved source material…
The Saratov Approach has now taken in over half a…
From Frankenstein to Frankenweenie here are some fun and spooky…
An exclusive interview with the writer/director of the new film,…
New film on kidnapped missionaries impressively balances telling a story…
Women can help the men and boys in their lives…
Here's a day-by-day, hour-by-hour list of fun things to do…
Starting by working with BYU friends to make a movie…
People still want wholesome entertainment--and here's a way to help…
Stunningly animated, but not as good as Cars.
Lisle Crowley is one of the most prolific guitarists in…
If you've never been to a convention for fantasy, sci-fi,…
Hot on the heels of Mary Poppins and Starlight Express,…
Tucked in between Zion's National Park and the city of…
Five simple steps can drastically improve our ability to fight…
Michael Ash's new book displays strong and compelling evidence supporting…
Are you having friends over to barbeque on the 4th?…
Contrary to my initial fears, Monsters University is not an…
Three key principles will help LDS singles to date well…
At Tuacahn, it isn't just the setting that is stunning.
LDS movie-watchers know Rick Macy for his powerful performance in…
Ephraim's Rescue may be one of the best LDS films…
T.C. Christensen has just released a truly stunning film. He…
Katherine Nelson's performance in Emma Smith and now in Ephraim's…
It's not easy to carry a movie on your shoulders,…
Cinemark Theatres has brought many classic films back so you…
Cinematic heroes can serve as gateways for viewers to thoughtfully…
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland was a college student imprisoned on death…
VeggieTales and Living Scriptures are two of the most reliable…
Last weekend saw the release of 42, which tells the…
Even if you normally dismiss reality TV as a soulless…
Though the dialogue occasionally veers into sappy romantic melodrama and…
A comparison of 25 films, of varying artistic quality and…
Internet sensations (and Latter-day Saints) John Schmidt (on the piano)…
Though it won't be regarded a classic like 1939's The…
The Evolution of Thomas Hall is immensely rewarding as a…
In conjunction with the Oscars, I wanted to focus on…
Lettuce Love One Another, provides over 90 minutes of kind-hearted…
A look at some of the uplifting, enjoyable, informative, and…
India native, Utah resident, LDS returned missionary, and actor, Charan…
"Ironically, it sometimes takes hard work to find wholesome leisure."
To those who've never read Tolkien, whose exposure to Middle…
The attention to detail in recreating the look of the…
Kieth answers questions and shares insights about movie-making for prophets,…
Few holiday traditions are as time-honored as grabbing some hot…
Reviews of the two new films, "Life of Pi" and…
As we gear up for the holiday season, many have…
This ranks among the most important books I've ever read.…
There's no holiday that's more fun than Halloween and few…
Here Comes the Boom, the just-released inspirational romantic sports dramedy…
Welcome to Praiseworthy Media, this week we take a look…
A couple of solid releases recently came out in theatres:…
Finding Refuge in El Paso is a charming and informative…
Good music for the grownups, and a good movie out…
The Mine is a scary movie you will enjoy watching…
The main trio portraying American soldiers to speak about their…
I found myself utterly charmed by this clever, funny, and…
For much of its 90 minute running time, Saints and…
Beginning with the under-seen dance romance Out of Step, director…
This weekend sees the 10th-Anniversary theatrical re-release of Charly, arguably…
Published in 2008, I was only recently introduced to this…
Based on the true story of Operation Breakthrough, the 1988…
They come from Tennessee, sons of a Diamond Rio musician,…
Aside from The Book of Mormon, Anthony Sweat's Mormons- An…
A hit at both the Heartland Film Festival and the…
Two recent family films, Brave and Madagascar 3, are competing…
Nestled against enormous red-rock canyon walls, the 1,900 seat Tuacahn…
There is so much that is beautiful, faith-affirming, and virtue-promoting,…
This week we take a look at the "Navy versus…
Netflix Streaming is still arguably the best place to watch…
For Mothers' Day weekend, I've rounded up the latest offerings…
Meridian at the Movies - your weekly source for an…
Welcome to Meridian at the Movies, where every week you'll…
Welcome to Meridian at the Movies, a new weekly column…
One major attraction in Zion Canyon Park is the Zion…
The irony is not lost on me that The Hunger…
One of these films contains an inspiring character that launched…
A modern silent film in the style of classic Hollywood,…
Three superior Christian films are worth your time and contemplation.
Families looking for wholesome and uplifting entertainment over the holidays…
Bogged down by an abundance of sports-movie cliches, occasionally flat…
In a time when a Baptist pastor has stirred up…
In a way that can create interfaith understanding, a Protestant…
Looking for a movie to enjoy with the whole family?…
Christian Vuissa has produced, written and directed the new Joseph…
With its rich screenplay and deft acting, this may be…
Modern sons of Helaman are all around us-and we need…
One of the best films of the year so far,…
As a superhero-origin movie, Captain America lays out cliche after…
Harry Potter's magic wand goes out with zinger.
Selling out show after show in Utah, and now expanding…
LDS church members may or may not know the name,…
Of course, families benefit from avoiding excessive reliance on media…
Alas, it seems that Disney may never recreate the lighting-in-a-…
The action is thrilling, the characters are memorable, and the…
Christian cinema has been gaining traction in recent years.
Meridian begins a series on the trailblazers in LDS film,…
One last chance to buy edited and cleaned-up Hollywood movies…
It seems that Mormon cinema is finally finding its stride.
Three recent releases, two in theatres, one on DVD, come…
A slew of worthwhile movies have recently become available for…
Three very different Christian films aim to entertain and inspire.…
2010 has been a weak year for movies, but all…
: If you're looking to hit the theatres, this guide…
With a terrific premise and two of the funniest people…
If you've ever seen an LDS film that brought your…
When the filmmaker behind the highest-grossing film of all-time takes…
It's possible that I have been spoiled for so long…
Where the Wild Things Are is not only stunning artistically,…
Audiences across the nation are discovering, in increasing numbers, the…
One wife and mother realizes that life does not stand…