The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has released the latest episode of its re-launched Superbook animated series.

The 15th episode, The Fiery Furnace!, tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—"three courageous men who stood up for the one true God, no matter what the cost."

Other episodes include In the Beginning (Creation), A Giant Adventure (David and Goliath), Let My People Go! (Moses and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt), Roar! (Daniel and the lions' den) and The First Christmas (Jesus' birth). The DVDs are available at the Superbook website. http://www.cbn.com/superbook/index.aspx

A popular animated TV series from the 1980s—which taught children the truths of the Bible—the original Superbook was launched in 1981 in an effort to bring the Bible to Japan. Like the new version, the original series featured a trio of characters—Chris, Joy and their toy robot, Gizmo—who traveled back in time to take part in the major stories of the Bible.

According to CBN, approximately 4 million-plus people watched each weekly episode of Superbook on television, resulting in the Bible becoming the best-selling book in Japan. Superbook has been viewed by 500 million people in 106 countries and translated into 43 languages.

In addition to the DVD series, CBN has created Superbook.TV, a website that allows children to create their own personal profile characters, play Bible-themed games, learn about God and His Word, listen to Superbook Radio and download a 30-day devotional.

Click here to watch a clip of The Fiery Furnace!.

The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) has released the latest episode of its re-launched Superbook animated series.

The 14th episode, Joseph and Pharaoh's Dream, tells the story of "God's perfect plan for each one of us." "Kids will love this story of how God is always working in the lives of His children, no matter what happens along the way," says a trailer for the video.

Other episodes include In the Beginning (Creation), A Giant Adventure (David and Goliath), Let My People Go! (Moses and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt), Roar! (Daniel and the lions' den) and The First Christmas (Jesus' birth). The DVDs are available at the Superbook website. 

A popular animated TV series from the 1980s—which taught children the truths of the Bible—the original Superbook was launched in 1981 in an effort to bring the Bible to Japan. Like the new version, the original series featured a trio of characters—Chris, Joy and their toy robot, Gizmo—who traveled back in time to take part in the major stories of the Bible.

According to CBN, approximately 4 million-plus people watched each weekly episode of Superbook on television, resulting in the Bible becoming the best-selling book in Japan. Superbook has been viewed by 500 million people in 106 countries and translated into 43 languages.

In addition to the DVD series, CBN has created Superbook.TV, a website that allows children to create their own personal profile characters, play Bible-themed games, learn about God and His Word, listen to Superbook Radio and download a 30-day devotional.

Click here to watch a clip of Joseph and Pharaoh's Dream.

by Gina Meeks

The fantastical and colorful Oz the Great and Powerful is anything but in its opening scene. Set in a black-and-white traveling carnival in Kansas, Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is a less-than-honest magician conning women and patrons into believing he's much more powerful than he is.

With the help of his partner, Frank (Zach Braff), Diggs—whom everyone calls Oz—charms ladies into falling in love with him and tricks customers into giving him their money. But after an ill-fated show, when a paralyzed young girl begs Oz to make her walk, it's clear that he's just a phony.

As he's telling the beautiful Annie (Michelle Williams) that he doesn't want to be a good guy who settles down—he wants to be great—his scheming catches up with him when the significant other of an innocent woman he's fooled bangs down the door of his trailer.

Oz manages to escape just in the nick of time with the help of a trap door, Frank, and a hot air balloon that doesn't completely belong to him. But the danger doesn't end there. No, it's just beginning, as his balloon goes right into a tornado.

With the 3-D effects and believable sounds, it felt as though I was right in the middle of the tornado with Oz as large objects flew about, hammering and piercing the basket of his balloon. Despite his not-so-moral ways thus far, he cries out, "Get me out of here and I'll do great things ... I promise. I can change!"

Once the storm is over, Oz finds himself in a magnificently colorful land, complete with gorgeous waterfalls, ruby flowers, beautiful witches and singing munchkins. "Thank you," he says after he lands, while pointing upward. "You won't regret this."

Oz quickly meets the beautiful witch Theodora (Mila Kunis), who explains to him that the people of Oz have been expecting a wizard who will come to save their land. Their deceased king prophesied that a brilliant wizard with the same name as the land would save them. Though Oz knows he isn't that wizard, he tells Theodora he is.

Dazzled by his good looks, a few tricks he had up his sleeve and his always charming ways, the good witch leads him to Emerald City, where he will take over his throne. After just a day, Theodora is already sure she will be his queen.

Oz seemingly has everything he could ever want—a beautiful woman, power and riches. But of course, it can't be that easy! Theodora's sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), tells the magician he must first conquer the wicked witch before he can claim the throne.

On the way he and his winged-monkey servant (Braff) save a China girl, and the unlikely trio set out to destroy the evil witch. Oz meets Glinda (Williams), whom The Wizard of Oz and Wicked fans know as the beautiful, blonde, moral witch who saves the day.

The film, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 3), is definitely not lacking visually. The vibrant colors and 3-D pictures are fantastical and jaw-dropping. Even the whimsical 3-D credits are impressive.

Though it carries a PG rating, parents should think twice before bringing their youngsters to see Oz the Great and Powerful. Language is minimal—two "d-words" and a few uses of "Oh my gosh." But there are a number of tense moments that could alarm young children—from the dangerous balloon ride in the twister to the evil witches' grotesque flying apes, who jump, growl and squeal at the audience.

The Wicked Witch of the West is slightly terrifying herself. She and another evil witch throw fireballs and lightning. The evil green witch magically throws Oz to the ground and declares that she'll make the yellow brick road "run red with blood."

Though there is no blatant sexual content—we only see Oz dance with and lightly kiss women—it's no secret that he's a player and is quite experienced with seduction. There are several innuendos, and we see cleavage and a revealing corset at one point.

Another questionable aspect of the film is the undeniable magical elements. All three witches portray themselves as good (the question is, Who is good and who is bad?), but is there even such a thing as a "good" witch?

All three sorceresses have magical qualities, using magic stones or wands to access their powers and levitate. The evil witches shoot fire bombs and lightning bolts, while Glinda conjures up rainbow fog and uses bubbles as transportation. Oz also learns that the previous wizard granted "good and noble" wishes.

One positive theme is that good overcomes evil. The hardworking people of Oz team up to defeat the evil witches, assisting the efforts of Glinda, with her goodness, and Oz, with his fanfare.

Oscar Diggs may be a shady character at the beginning of the story, but his progression into a better man is clearly displayed. Glinda once tells the wizard wannabe that he's "weak, selfish, slightly egotistical and a fibber," but she is also optimistic in hoping that he can become a good man, telling him he's capable of "more than you know."

Though this prequel-like tale is much different from its counterparts, The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, it does have some powerful lessons about friendship, selflessness and goodness. With the help of the good witch and his newfound friends, Oz ditches his selfish, manipulating qualities to join the cause of saving the good people of Oz.

The Blu-ray combo pack's bonus features include: The Enchanting Characters and Creatures of Oz; The Sounds of Magical Oz; Sleight of Hand: Zach Braff Puppet Theater; bloopers and My Journey in Oz by James Franco.

By Gina Meeks

Set during 19th-century France, Les Misérables is a story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and, ultimately, redemption.

The stage musical adaptation of the classic Victor Hugo novel of the same name is one of the most successful and beloved shows in the world. The longest-running musical of all time recently celebrated 25 years, and will mark a new milestone on Christmas Day with the release of the film. Les Mis features an impressive cast, and is produced by Cameron Mackintosh (Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins on Broadway) and directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech).

Hugh Jackman stars as Jean Valjean, a thief who has just served 19 years in prison. In the beginning of the film he squares off with Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), who sees Valjean as a man worthy of death, and believes he could never change into a good man.

With papers stamped as a dangerous man, Valjean has nowhere to go. He encounters a bishop, who takes the criminal in. In a true picture of grace and love, the bishop provides Valjean with food and a bed for the night.

Unable to recognize grace, the desperate Valjean wakes in a panic in the middle of the night, gathers all the valuable silver he can find and runs. The police catch him and bring him back to the bishop, whom they expect will say Valjean stole from him. Much to everyone's surprise, the bishop insists that he gave Valjean the silver, and even scolds him for forgetting "the best"—two candlesticks from the dinner table.

Valjean is speechless as the bishop sings: "And remember this, my brother; see in this some higher plan/ You must use this precious silver to become an honest man/ By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood/ God has raised you out of darkness. I have bought your soul for God."

This refrain becomes the theme for Valjean's character. "Through that contact with the Bishop, [Valjean] learns to have compassion and faith," Hooper explained. At this point in the movie, it was clear that grace and redemption would be central to the story.

Fast-forward nearly a decade later, and we meet Fantine (Anne Hathaway), who is forced into cutting off all her hair, selling her teeth and becoming a prostitute so she can afford to care for her daughter, Cosette.

Now living as Monsieur Madeleine, Valjean runs into Javert, who discovers his real identity. Valjean does not wish to evade the law, but he promised a dying Fantene that he will care for her daughter. He adopts Cosette and they escape Javert's wrath.

The movie flashes forward another nine years. Cosette (Amanda Seyfreid) is now a young woman and the French Revolution has begun. Valjean has faithfully taken care of, fulfilling his promise to Fantine.

Though it's been nearly 20 years since Valjean broke his parole, Javert has not given up his quest to find the former criminal.

Javert is portrayed as the villain in the film, though he is an honest man just doing what he believes God wants him to do. In the end, he is consumed by his desire to put Valjean behind bars, and cannot deal with the grace Valjean affords him when Javert's life is in his hands.

Crosswalk.com puts it well: "The lesson of grace to be learned from Les Misérables is a simple one: The Law cannot save us, for The Law serves brokenly in a broken world. Extending God's grace, however, can illuminate and transform. Loving God, and loving those whom God has placed in our lives, is the closest thing to seeing God that we can have this side of eternity."

Fans of the operetta—which means there are very few spoken words—are sure to enjoy the film adaptation. Though it lags at parts and is perhaps overly long with a running time of 158 minutes, the music and acting are dramatic and enjoyable.

Though Les Mis may not be suitable for children or young teens, its message of grace and redemption is certainly one I can get behind—especially in a world where Hollywood seems bent on extinguishing any Christian theme.

Les Misérables Blu-ray Combo Pack, which includes a Blu-ray disc, DVD, digital copy and UltraViolet, features lots of bonus material, including "Les Misérables Singing Live," "Battle at the Barricade," "The West End Connection" and "Les Misérables on Location."

Content Watch: Les Misérables is rated PG-13 for adult themes, violence and language. This content is not meant to be exploitative, but to give credibility to the story and to pull at our heartstrings. There is some sexual content in two scenes, though no nudity is shown. There are also a few curse words and violence. The last portion of the film follows resisters to the French army, and some brutal deaths are portrayed, including the murder of a young boy by a French soldier.