Change Your Image
cedwards-21
Reviews
The Finest Hours (2016)
An Outstanding Film Combining Action with Human Drama
If you are looking for a contemporary action movie with car chases, gun fights, and super heroes; this is not the film for you. Instead, it takes on the challenging task of capturing real-life people who do extraordinary tasks because they come with their job. Reality is always more powerful than fiction when it is captured with care, but we are not used to seeing this and unfortunately this film has therefore not met all reviewer's expectations. In part, this is a sad commentary on our times.
The Finest Hours is about real people whose strength and courage come through but with honesty and subtlety. The film has a powerful love interest, but is nevertheless primarily about men ... unlikely heroes who rise to unimaginable challenges and subsequently return to worlds we can see in our neighbors. Visually it is a dramatic and technical masterpiece.
Its original score is powerful but works with the unfolding events. There are no (as yet) big-name stars, but instead an ensemble cast that captures real lives and normal people. In short, it is a courageous movie about real people who despite their strengths and limitations do what must be done and emerge wiser and stronger for their accomplishment.
Courageous (2011)
An Excellent and Refreshing film with an important message
I bought a ticket for this film knowing nothing about it other than it was new. When I arrived at the theater it was packed ... something I have not seen in a very long time. The audience really responded, and gave a standing ovation at the end. Like a breath of fresh air and a key time in our nation's history. Watching the credits closely, it was clear that this was a Christian production all the catering, for example, was done by churches). I have no particular religious agenda, but I found this film balanced and never felt as though I was being subjected to religious propaganda. It is an action-packed story, and is carried by the weight of the events that all ring true. All on and off screen work is first rate, and even the children are solid and credible. Technical details and production value is all highly professional.