In today's generation, film making has often been accused of straying from storytelling to cash grabbing. Some critics feel that high-budget, flashy effects are not what make a movie great, but simply the heart of the story. If this is what catches your attention, the 1989 film: Pilgrim's Progress will surely live up to your expectations.
Ken Anderson's film version of the famous book, also called The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, is a Cristian allegory covering the trials and temptations of Pilgrim, a man who's learned that he's doomed to be destroyed in his current state. His journey to the Celestial City is illustrated with characters and environments that represent the various difficulties that a person following this life path might encounter.
Since these elements each represent a single part of his life, they are used up in quick succession, which makes them hard to really understand and relate to. I never got to learn what they were about, excluding their characteristic names. This was the mistake I made when watching this film, trying to understand these sections, because the truth is, they are not meant to be viewed as individuals. They are quite literally supposed to feel like "cogs in a machine", guiding Pilgrim through his journey. If you find it hard to appreciate this, consider the fact that every main character, aside from Pilgrim and his companions, is portrayed as either strictly good or evil, with a single actor for each. What the filmmaker is trying to tell you is that there are always two forces, pushing and pulling on Pilgrim. In the real world, these forces would be spread out to many people, but not here. It's a simple idea conveyed in different aspects.
In terms of film quality, Pilgrim's Progress unfortunately fails to convey emotion or intensity. Some people try to pin this on the vast amount of material needed to be covered in such a short time, or the novelty of film tech at the time, but it unavoidably falls into amateur direction and writing. The dialogue is very boring and unnatural, and the filming underdeveloped. It's another movie doomed to be eternally compared to the masterpiece of its original book. I really hate to lean on the book so much, but it's necessary to point out that this was an action-packed story, amazingly illustrating the Christian's journey. The movie feels more like an annoying hike through the wilderness, with the devil desperately trying to stop Pilgrim from achieving something that we never truly get to understand the importance of. It's slow paced, which many people will find dispiriting. The entire minute long end fight with Apollyon has no music and so dark it's extremely hard to see what's happening.
On the other hand, the film carries a good message throughout. The way Pilgrim relies on outside help at most steps of the way shows that a Christian's walk is never accomplished solo. Small details, perhaps carried from the book, also enhance the story, like how the echoing voices change tone after Pilgrim's burden is released and his view of God reformatted. The symbolic elements are usually easy to pick up on and understand.
Pilgrim's Progress is a film with strong religious themes but struggles in its execution. The allegorical elements and symbolic details from the original book are present but are not effectively conveyed. The film is slow-paced and lacks emotional intensity, making for a lackluster viewing experience. While the message about the importance of relying on God and outside help is beautiful, it is masked in this film adaptation. Ultimately, those looking for a high-quality cinematic experience may want to look elsewhere, but those in search of a leisurely afternoon activity to learn character growth and mental fortitude from, should consider checking out Pilgrim's Progress.
Ken Anderson's film version of the famous book, also called The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, is a Cristian allegory covering the trials and temptations of Pilgrim, a man who's learned that he's doomed to be destroyed in his current state. His journey to the Celestial City is illustrated with characters and environments that represent the various difficulties that a person following this life path might encounter.
Since these elements each represent a single part of his life, they are used up in quick succession, which makes them hard to really understand and relate to. I never got to learn what they were about, excluding their characteristic names. This was the mistake I made when watching this film, trying to understand these sections, because the truth is, they are not meant to be viewed as individuals. They are quite literally supposed to feel like "cogs in a machine", guiding Pilgrim through his journey. If you find it hard to appreciate this, consider the fact that every main character, aside from Pilgrim and his companions, is portrayed as either strictly good or evil, with a single actor for each. What the filmmaker is trying to tell you is that there are always two forces, pushing and pulling on Pilgrim. In the real world, these forces would be spread out to many people, but not here. It's a simple idea conveyed in different aspects.
In terms of film quality, Pilgrim's Progress unfortunately fails to convey emotion or intensity. Some people try to pin this on the vast amount of material needed to be covered in such a short time, or the novelty of film tech at the time, but it unavoidably falls into amateur direction and writing. The dialogue is very boring and unnatural, and the filming underdeveloped. It's another movie doomed to be eternally compared to the masterpiece of its original book. I really hate to lean on the book so much, but it's necessary to point out that this was an action-packed story, amazingly illustrating the Christian's journey. The movie feels more like an annoying hike through the wilderness, with the devil desperately trying to stop Pilgrim from achieving something that we never truly get to understand the importance of. It's slow paced, which many people will find dispiriting. The entire minute long end fight with Apollyon has no music and so dark it's extremely hard to see what's happening.
On the other hand, the film carries a good message throughout. The way Pilgrim relies on outside help at most steps of the way shows that a Christian's walk is never accomplished solo. Small details, perhaps carried from the book, also enhance the story, like how the echoing voices change tone after Pilgrim's burden is released and his view of God reformatted. The symbolic elements are usually easy to pick up on and understand.
Pilgrim's Progress is a film with strong religious themes but struggles in its execution. The allegorical elements and symbolic details from the original book are present but are not effectively conveyed. The film is slow-paced and lacks emotional intensity, making for a lackluster viewing experience. While the message about the importance of relying on God and outside help is beautiful, it is masked in this film adaptation. Ultimately, those looking for a high-quality cinematic experience may want to look elsewhere, but those in search of a leisurely afternoon activity to learn character growth and mental fortitude from, should consider checking out Pilgrim's Progress.
