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Reviews
Overcome (2008)
One Version Review
"Overcome" is the 'Evangelical Christian' edit of the 'Mormon' film "Turn Around". There are quite a few 'Mormon' films shot with two slightly different edits, and different titles to appeal to different faiths. It's actually a pretty good deal; very few lines are changed and the cost isn't increased much but the market is much broader. I for one don't mind this at all (I'm of the Evangelical Christian Persuasion) and prefer to hear 'pastor' to 'bishop' for example. If you doubt this, read the IMDb for "Turn Around". There is no doctorine other than general morality and forgiveness in this film which is the essentially the same in both faiths.
I've seen both. The film is quite good in either case.
Come What May (2009)
Come What May is not a choice, it's a decision.
This review is just about as diametrically opposite of the last reviewer as you can get. This was never made as a 'for profit' work, so trying to 'capitalize' is rather silly; money, capital, is not an issue. Sure, court IS boring, even more boring than most sports events. Both do have most of the people sitting around and waiting, and most uninvolved. But for the people involved in any court case, the emotions are very real and very important. This film is really about seeing things from another person's perspective; walking a mile in the other person's shoes. Had the first reviewer even bothered to watch to the end he would have realized that. The 'villain' of the first 90% of the film is finally realized to be simply a victim herself. That's what makes this a good film; the empathy one ends up feeling. Is it moralistic? Sure. Has that become a problem today? Sure, it deals with abortion in a far more real way than the slogans and platitudes normal given. It also deals with marriage problems in a better way than any current film short of "Fireproof". Is the sound track up to par? Please, this was a student film. You can't expect that. It might just be the best student film I've ever seen.
The Perfect Stranger (2005)
What would you ask God if you had the chance?
I finally had the chance to review Kelly's Filmworks film 'The Perfect Stranger'. The film is based on a book by David Gregory, with the basic premise that you have an invitation to meet someone who calls himself God (played by Jefferson Moore). The obvious questions are first, what would you do to determine if this really is God, and second, assuming it really is God, what would you like to ask Him? Those questions are really pretty common among all people; do you know anyone who didn't want to ask 'WHY?' at least once? Since one of the main characters is a cynical female lawyer, (Nikki, played by newcomer Pamela Brumley) who lost her mother at a young age, you can expect the questions to be well thought out and probing. Of course, the situation has to be set-up, and as you might expect from a cynic, the lawyer almost doesn't go through with it. It's just too implausible for to be true. A little suspension of disbelief is required for lots of films to work. The set-up is the slowest part of the film, which is a little surprising. The film is mostly dialog, at least after the set-up, but this film keeps attention better than any dialog film in my memory. It does give one a pause to think about what one would ask if one had this sort of chance. That's probably why the film is so engaging; you begin to hope your questions will be asked. The film is not at all overbearing, or beating people over the head with its world-view. The film is produced with an Evangelical Christian point of view, but really anyone, agnostic, atheist, or any other orientation can watch the film without being at all offensive because it really is from the point of view of 'what if? This film really did engage me, and I think it would do so to most people. I highly recommend it.
The Inheritance (1997)
Romantic Novel on the small screen.
Actually, it is on DVD & video; http://www.familytv.com/title_ado.asp?SID9914834237&PID50. Men might not get excited about this film, but ladies will. It's easy to see why this one of Miss Alcot's books didn't make it to the screen earlier; it isn't in the league of Little Women, Little Men or An Old Fashoned Girl. Why Eight Cousens was skipped over, I don't know... too long? The ending isn't quite as predictable as I expected, but one could expect her eventual acceptance into the upper crust. It's more than just a 'love conquors all' movie; there's lots of social commentary and some real idea of how stratified western society used to be... or did it really change? All in all worth at least one watch.
The Princess and the Pea (2002)
A whole lot of cartoons in one.
When I first saw Mark Swan's 'Princess and the Pea', I was expecting a short plot less fairytale. Instead, I was treated to a long animated film, with plenty of character development, and much more of a plot than the fairytale I remember. Many of the situations and characters are based on other animation. Homage is paid to Disney film like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and even Black Cauldron. It isn't limited to Disney; one scene is very much like Wonder Works Anastasia, and another like Rich's Swan Princess, with others like Thumbelina. But it all flows nicely. The whole plot has a quiet pace. A smart bird (like Zazu in Lion King?) plays a major part. Plenty of singing. After the first song it was quite good. The animation was quite nice; real feature animation and not TV animation. All in all, a very nice film. Too bad it can't get the exposure it would if it had a Disney label. It may be hard to find, but it's worth it. It makes me look forward to Swan's The Velveteen Rabbit.
Love Comes Softly (2003)
Love Comes Softly.... To Stay?
If you liked Little House on the Prairie (based on a book series, becoming a TV series), or Christy (based on a book, becoming a TV series), then you will like Love Comes Softly (based on a book series, becoming a .... well we don't know yet!)
Yes, the movie, like the books, targets a particular audience. Love Comes Softly is a Christian Romance Novel. Not only that, it's one of a large series of novels. The movie was well done, and although significant artistic license was taken from the book, makes the audience happy. The movie first aired on the Hallmark Channel (think audience again) several months ago. It also has been repeated roughly every month since. It has been scheduled to be out on video 'in the fall'. The release date hasn't been released yet. Conjecture? Love Comes Softly may yet become a 'series', they have plenty of material in the books from the series. All it takes is some actor negotiations. That may be that hardest part. They couldn't get the Christy actors back together after the initial series, can they do it for Love Comes Softly?
Excellent movie. It makes its audience happy.
Luther (2003)
Change isn't fun.
The movie Luther can't quite seem to make up its' mind. Lots of reviews say it is anti-Catholic. A Catholic might think so; the Catholic leadership is portrayed as looking not at individuals but at the 'Big-Picture', and following bad advice from strong consolers. Catholics may have faired a bit worse in this telling of the beginning of the Reformation. But a Protestant might think almost the opposite; Luther is shown as a broken man when he realizes that 50 to 100,000 people died as a result of what he started. He has direct contact with the carnage that he helped start. Although he is portrayed as very intelligent, he is shown as uncertain of what he should do; wrestling constantly with the demons of his own mind, almost to the point of madness. Luther is shown as an un-willing and uncertain leader, but one of great conviction. The only humor given is in Luther's lectures, and that's pretty brief. This is a grim movie; there are no complete winners here. By trying to portray an event in which no person could be a fence sitter in this way, no one will be happy. This is no feel-good representation of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It's not a movie that anyone can relax with; both sides can easily think of a hundred; "If only..." possibilities that could have saved lives. It's more of a doccu-drama. If you are into histoy, and don't mind seeing it portrayed as bloody as real life, by all means see Luther.
Last Flight Out (2004)
You can't fly away from your troubles.
Last Flight Out is an interesting film. It is set in South America in an area controlled not by a government, but by a minor warlord. A single American missionary doctor has remained to help the needy. Her old romantic interest flies in to bring her out, but she doesn't want to go. Lots of other sub-plots, but that's typical for this sort of adventure film. This is a World Wide Pictures (Billy Graham) film, so there is a Christian sub-plot; her old romance (the pilot) is a tough yet nice guy, but he isn't a Christian. I won't spoil the picture for you, but this is a picture designed to make you contemplate why you are doing what you are doing. It's a good film.