Newgnfr Christian film reviews

January 8, 2010

Friday Rewind: The Reaping (2007)

***Originally Posted on June 20, 2008***

Should I see it?
No.

Short Review: The reeking.

Hilary Swank portrays Katherine, an ex-Christian missionary, who spends her time debunking claims of miracles with scientific explanations. Katherine is called to a small southern town that is being inundated with what appears to be replicas of the 10 plagues from Exodus. Sure, there’s lice instead of gnats and the plagues occur in the wrong order but the point is made. Katherine, who has left her faith, is forced to confront her disbelief as each plague ticks off one by one.

Yawn.

The thing about the plot is that it relies on the the stupidity (or arrogance) of its main character. Katherine is shown to be an intellectually aggressive woman with a sharp mind. She travels around the world and is capable of exposing miracles as bunk with ease. All this and she’s still incapable of the intellectual jump that although if she can explain the scientific reasons for the ten plagues that these reasons don't deny the existence of God. Just because you can explain how something happened doesn't mean you've excluded the hand of the Almighty. If she were a missionary, given to the faith she claims to have had, this logical connection would have already been made.

Unfortunately, it is not remarkable to report that a mainstream film places theological concerns on the back burner in order to promote a sophomoric plot. It also isn't shocking that this film doesn't have a deep regard for its Christian characters or the its Biblical source material. Most Christians in the film are shown to be cruel southern booger eaters who spit out condemnations every time they speak. They even go so far as to have the Christian leader be a sweaty, pig-faced Boss Hogg type (complete with all white suit). They’re all thoughtless, impulsive, gun-toting morons who will believe anything – they also don’t pray, mention Jesus or show any reverence towards God at all. Since I’m on the subject of the townsfolk, I’ll also mention they’re all white. You know, just like the real south. It’s nothing but a bunch of angry white Christians sweating on their shotguns waiting to string someone up.

What’s interesting is that this film begins with a depiction of the city of Concepcion in Chile. The city is shown to be a horrid third-world toilet which is being poisoned by an evil corporation. This depiction has nothing to do with the real Concepcion which is modern, clean and apparently free of toxic waste. Did the filmmakers bother to investigate any of the peoples or locations they decided to show in this film?

At least they spread their ineptness equally.

This film also abuses Biblical text for cheap thrills. The plagues don't have a Biblical foundation, and Exodus isn't even quoted. This nonsensical flick offers no connection between the original plagues and the mess this film prattles on about. I’m not against the use of the plagues, but if you’re going to pull from the Bible you better have some context that makes sense IN LIGHT OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL. Some of us take this is the word of God after all.

Even forgiving the rather offensive disregard the filmmakers have for the Bible, this film is still an unmitigated disaster. The clunky script doesn’t provide any suspense or mystery. The dialog is functional but doesn’t have any depth or interest. The plagues themselves aren’t visually arresting and aren’t handled to their maximum effect. We’re looking at Biblical plagues and its boring – they actually make them boring.

It’s my recommendation that you skip this film. It doesn’t have the intellectual weight that it should and since it also doesn’t offer any guttural thrills, it can only waste your time.

Related Reviews:
Another Hilary Swank movie
The Gift (2000)

Other Critic's Reviews:
Cinema de Merde
Reel.com

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, anti-Christian, apocalypse, Christians, film, Friday Rewind, Hilary Swank, movie review, Stephen Rea

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November 23, 2008

Movie Trailer: Race to Witch Mountain

Could be good - certainly not great, but good. In many remakes the producers feel it necessary to shoehorn in social/political agendas (The Day the Earth Stood Still is a fresh example) and I was expecting to see that happen here. Looks like they may have avoided that trap. I remember enjoying Escape to Witch Mountain as a kid, hopefully this will be as entertaining for my children.

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Screenwriters: Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard)
Director: Andy Flickman (Who's Your Daddy)
Actors: Carla Gugino (Watchmen), Dwayne Johnson (Walking Tall), AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia), Tom Everett Scott (Boiler Room), Ciaran Hinds (There Will Be Blood) and Cheech Marin (Desperado)

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Dwayne Johnson, film, movie trailer

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August 30, 2008

Movie Trailer: Bridge to Terabithia

Based on Katherine Paterson's book, this film tells the story about a couple of outcast kids who create an imaginary world called Terebithia. They make themselves king and queen of their fantasy land and then reality comes in and kicks them both squarely in the gut.

The film sputters through without much inspiration. It is as if the writers felt the premise itself was strong enough to sell the production so they did not bother to develop characters or firm up the tension of their scenes. Overall, it is lifeless and borderline irritating.

Visit the official site

Return to the Movie Trailer Page

Screenwriter: Jeff Stockwell (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys) and David Paterson
Director: Gabor Csupo (Rugrats Go Wild)
Actors: Josh Hutcherson (RV), AnnaSophia Robb (The Reaping), Zooey Deschanel (The Happening), and Robert Patrick (Balls of Fury)

Labels: adaptation, AnnaSophia Robb, family film, film, Josh Hutcherson, movie trailer, Zooey Deschanel

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June 20, 2008

The Reaping (2007)

Should I see it?
No.

Short Review: The reeking.

Hilary Swank portrays Katherine, an ex-Christian missionary, who spends her time debunking claims of miracles with scientific explanations. Katherine is called to a small southern town that is being inundated with what appears to be replicas of the 10 plagues from Exodus. Sure, there’s lice instead of gnats and the plagues occur in the wrong order but the point is made. Katherine, who has left her faith, is forced to confront her disbelief as each plague ticks off one by one.

Yawn.

The thing about the plot is that it relies on the the stupidity (or arrogance) of its main character. Katherine is shown to be an intellectually aggressive woman with a sharp mind. She travels around the world and is capable of exposing miracles as bunk with ease. All this and she’s still incapable of the intellectual jump that although if she can explain the scientific reasons for the ten plagues that these reasons don't deny the existence of God. Just because you can explain how something happened doesn't mean you've excluded the hand of the Almighty. If she were a missionary, given to the faith she claims to have had, this logical connection would have already been made.

Unfortunately, it is not remarkable to report that a mainstream film places theological concerns on the back burner in order to promote a sophomoric plot. It also isn't shocking that this film doesn't have a deep regard for its Christian characters or the its Biblical source material. Most Christians in the film are shown to be cruel southern booger eaters who spit out condemnations every time they speak. They even go so far as to have the Christian leader be a sweaty, pig-faced Boss Hogg type (complete with all white suit). They’re all thoughtless, impulsive, gun-toting morons who will believe anything – they also don’t pray, mention Jesus or show any reverence towards God at all. Since I’m on the subject of the townsfolk, I’ll also mention they’re all white. You know, just like the real south. It’s nothing but a bunch of angry white Christians sweating on their shotguns waiting to string someone up.

What’s interesting is that this film begins with a depiction of the city of Concepcion in Chile. The city is shown to be a horrid third-world toilet which is being poisoned by an evil corporation. This depiction has nothing to do with the real Concepcion which is modern, clean and apparently free of toxic waste. Did the filmmakers bother to investigate any of the peoples or locations they decided to show in this film?

At least they spread their ineptness equally.

This film also abuses Biblical text for cheap thrills. The plagues don't have a Biblical foundation, and Exodus isn't even quoted. This nonsensical flick offers no connection between the original plagues and the mess this film prattles on about. I’m not against the use of the plagues, but if you’re going to pull from the Bible you better have some context that makes sense IN LIGHT OF YOUR SOURCE MATERIAL. Some of us take this is the word of God after all.

Even forgiving the rather offensive disregard the filmmakers have for the Bible, this film is still an unmitigated disaster. The clunky script doesn’t provide any suspense or mystery. The dialog is functional but doesn’t have any depth or interest. The plagues themselves aren’t visually arresting and aren’t handled to their maximum effect. We’re looking at Biblical plagues and its boring – they actually make them boring.

It’s my recommendation that you skip this film. It doesn’t have the intellectual weight that it should and since it also doesn’t offer any guttural thrills, it can only waste your time.

Related Reviews:
Another Hilary Swank movie
The Gift (2000)

Other Critic's Reviews:
Cinema de Merde
Reel.com

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, anti-Christian, apocalypse, Christians, film, Hilary Swank, movie review, Stephen Rea

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June 10, 2008

Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)

Should I see it?
No.

Short Review: Coincidentally, I was the one put to sleep.

Remember back in the old days when family friendly films were uplifting and fun? Geez, here I was thinking I was in for a nice little flick about a kid and her dog, and I get child abandonment, alcoholism and a dozen morose characters shuffling around like mopey zombies. This is an adaptation from a book that won the Newbery Award. This film wins the Dingleberry Award.

First, I will attack the child actress. This yelping kid was wholly annoying. It is possible to get kids to act without having them scream their lines, I know, I've seen it done. The screeching child in question is cute little AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia). Watching her was like watching a two-hour long Kool-Aid commercial.

The remainder of the cast doesn't fare much better, and they’re older which makes it worse. What the heck is Dave Matthews doing in this thing? I am sick and tired of seeing musicians acting in films. It’s not that he’s a bad actor, he’s okay. The fact is that a real actor, someone who spent his time studying and practicing his craft is out of a job because of him. It’s not just Matthews, it’s all the rappers and other MTV (or in Matthews case VH1) celebs. When you see one of these goofballs on screen, they are lowering the standards of the craft, and they’re keeping someone who deserves the chance from getting in.

Beyond the acting, this story was not well thought out. It meandered around like a drunk walking into walls, bumping into story lines and symbolism. An example of this is when the young heroine spends a bulk of her time in a pet store with a greasy, unwashed shopkeeper. She is there working to earn a dog collar for a remarkable stray dog she has found. We learn half-way through the movie that the shop owner is actually a criminal (more about that in a minute.) At no time does anyone, with the exception of the inept cop, have a second thought about a felon spending an inordinate amount of time with a little girl behind closed doors.

Christian critics and audiences have embraced this film. Again, Christians have been lulled into thinking that a lack of violence and sex equates goodness. WRONG. The morality of this flick is questionable at best in many areas. I’ve seen better morality plays in episodes of Deal or No Deal than in this yammering mess.

When the criminal pet shop owner is exposed by the inept cop, the criminal explains himself to the little girl. He tells her "He never hurt nobody." He then tells his story of how he was panhandling, a police officer tried to stop him. The criminal then admits that he breaks the cop’s nose when he/she tried to take away his guitar. This man assaults a police officer and the film portrays him as the victim. He "never hurt nobody" because after all, the cop was going to take away his music. Nice message for the kids.

All of the authority figures in the movie are weak, nuts, or plain useless. The cop in the film is a doofus (although well played by the talented Harlin Williams (Rocketman).) The librarian and "the Witch" blind woman are both possibly nuts. The owner of the trailer park the little girl and her pastor father live is greedy and full of grumbling violent threats. Finally, the pastor father (Jeff Daniels (The Crossing)) is confused and weak. He only comes around after he pleads with his daughter on his knees for forgiveness for something HE DID NOT DO. He takes the blame for the girl’s mother’s drinking problem. Again, nice message for the kids.

My three-year old son put it best. This was his first movie he watched in the theater and we both had high hopes. The dreadful thing finished and as we’re walking out, I asked him what he thought. He furrowed his brow, shook his head and said "That was way too long."

I love my son.

Related Reviews:
Jeff Daniels movies
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The Crossing (2001)

Other Critic's Reviews:
National Review Online
Agape Press

Labels: AnnaSophia Robb, Cicely Tyson, Eva Marie Saint, film, Jeff Daniels, movie review

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