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Reviews
Gran Torino (2008)
Brilliant film
What's so amazing is how Eastwood made better films in his 80's than any before. Anyone remember the awful films like that White House murder movie?
He comes to befriend Thao and Sue his next door neighbors who are trying to grow up on the wrong side of the tracks. Despite his best efforts he becomes a father figure to them willing to sacrifice everything for the people he has come the closest to in his lonely life.
Putting it bluntly, the audience wants Harry Callihan. Kowalski is Callihan incarnate and yet he is a deeper and more satisfying character. I for one admire Eastwood for retiring the Callihan character and yet giving the audience what they want. Kowalski is a geriatric racist but he is as much fun and has as much spunk as Callihan did in 1971.
What Eastwood is doing is quite brilliant, he is both paying homage to the Callihan breed of character and yet giving it a dissection as well. Behind the gun and the grimace lies a deep pain. Eastwood isn't a superhero and isn't trying to be one at his age. The idea of the superhero and the action hero isn't appealing when you are dealing with a 78 year old man. Kowalski is a tragic character who realizes that his life is a complete void. His gruff exterior hides a deep inner pain. It should be noted that Kowalski does not fire a weapon once in the entire film and yet the publicity posters and trailers make this out to be an action film.
David and Goliath (2015)
Before you criticize, please read this .
As a pastor who watched 'David and Goliath', please read this before you criticize the film
.
WHAT WOULD Jesus SAY?
There's a person at my church who suffers from severe depression after having a major heart transplant. He saw 'David and Goliath' and said he left the theater feeling elated and he told me his faith in the Lord was greatly renewed.
What would you say to him? Sorry, but the giant's acting was horrible, the cinematography was terrible, and the script was atrocious?
Is this what Jesus would say? Serious food for thought. At an age when the Lord's words are thrown out in favor of American bashing, don't join in. The Lord will bless you if you don't. ("Blessed are the Peacemakers")
WE ARE NOT CALLED TO JUDGE
This is why we are called not to judge ("For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:2)
Before you blast the film, ask yourself what would Jesus say about the film? Do you really see Jesus saying, "This is the worst film I've ever seen in my life. Costumes were horrible. Acting was atrocious."
By the same measure you judge others, you will be judged. God is serious about this. Do you really want someone to be judging YOUR work the same way? Your children? Your life? But this is a movie you say. No. It's someone's hard work that strives to honor God. We're suppose to be extra kind to Believers because the world is not.
WE ARE TO BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE; FORGIVING
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
American Christians refuse to abide by this simple premise. Instead, they take on the traits of pit-bull political commentators. They think the Lord Jesus Christ never really meant the words He spoke.
TRAITS OF A TRUE Christian
But the fruits of the spirits are love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, meekness, goodness, and forgiveness.
These are the traits of a true Christian. Anything less means
I'm sorry, but it might mean you're not truly saved. True born-again Believers are not filled with wrath, anger, and malice. They can at times, but not pre-meditatively.
I see so often American Christians have the traits of the devil. It says in the last days, "there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Before you criticize 'David and Goliath', ask yourself what are you trying to prove? Ask yourself whether it's worth $10 to rip into a fellow brother in Christ who went to Africa and risked his life to make a film that honors the God of the Bible. Right?
BUT! BUT!
But you don't understand, you say! This is the worst movie I've ever seen. The giant was horrible, the story was so slow, the
.the
the – Hang on!
What movie are you comparing 'David and Goliath' to then? A Hollywood production? If so, can I say something? You're watching too many movies. This goes contrary to Scripture which says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8.
Too often the Christians in my church almost 90% of the time will spend their time in a movie theater or their home theater than helping the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting the prisons, or giving shelter to those in need. Seriously. And they really don't care. And the reason is
.they're not really saved.
CARNAL CHRISTIANS
So often the Lord is talking to so-called Christians who are not really Christians. They'll watch a Hollywood movie before sharing the Gospel or visiting the sick in hospitals. Then, to make matters worse, they'll curse and growl at a Christian movie like "David and Goliath" and penalize the filmmakers with the wrath of Satan. Why?
Wouldn't the best alternative be to raise millions yourself and direct the great Christian movie yourself? Don't be surprised if they come to bash you next. There's no honor among thieves.
ARE YOU A FRIEND OF THE WORLD OR GOD?
Something to ponder
"Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God." James 4:4
WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL GOOD EVIL
.
I read one critic just bashing 'David and Goliath' left and right – almost calling it evil. Yet the Bible's clear about this:
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:20-21
'David and Goliath' does not have to be eloquent – sorry.
For those Christian critics who bash 'David and Goliath' mercilessly, even the Apostle Paul has a word: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." 1 Corinthians 2:1
That's all folks. May you hear the Lord speak to you. My prayer is you'll spend your days wisely. And knowing we are in the end times. The Lord can return tomorrow.
Shanghai Knights (2003)
Awesome film!
Roy is a lousy wannabe knight who used to stage clumsy train robberies along with his band of thieves, who betrayed him and left him for dead. He offers his help to Wang, and tries to play it cool, but he can't -- after all, he's not a very convincing cowboy. But, as the smarmy wisecracking sidekicks always are, O'Bannon just wants money. But as his friendship with Chan grows stronger, he realizes that money isn't everything.
Sounds routine, doesn't it? Well, it is, to a certain extent. But it succeeds due to a fine cast -- Chan and Wilson are extraordinarily good together; so good, in fact, that Chris Tucker is just a forgotten memory by the time that the film is over.
It's a classic spin on the British formula; what "The Princess Bride" or "Shrek" did for fairy tales, "Shanghai Knights" does for Westerns. All the old clichés are poked fun at in a light way. And as great as Chan is, and as much as he carries most films he's in with his sweet charms and likable personas, Wilson comes across as equally likable as Chan.
Chan's martial arts are usually the highlights of these films, but in this he proves he can do more than just kick -- he can be funny. Well, okay, he proved that in "Rush Hour" (1998), but I like this better.
The jokes in "Shanghai Knight" aren't "great," but I laughed a lot at this film. It's smarter than one might think, and is certainly one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in quite some time. Probably years. I wasn't expecting much (especially because I wasn't an enormous fan of the sequel--see below), but if fun could be rated on a scale of 1 - 10, this would be an 11.
I give this film nothing more than four out of five stars because it's not a great film on all critical levels. But it's certainly fun--likely more fun than any film you'll see for quite some time--and for that it will soon be earning a place in my sacred DVD collection.
Courageous (2011)
'Courageous' makes my list of the Top 10 faith-based movies of all time....
'Courageous' makes my list of the Top 10 faith-based movies of all time....and I've seen almost everything out there.
Whenever the Gospel is adhered to fully and without compromise like 'Courageous', I see the Lord blessing the films. Forget the acting and comparing these to Hollywood films - that's a huge mistake I see so many people make. Can you compare a church to a 5-star Four Seasons? What's the point? Why compare 'Courageous' to 'The Blind Side'?
Anyway, here's my list of the Top 10 Faith-Based Movies (of which 'Courageous' in on it!):
1) Chariots of Fire 2) Ben Hur 3) The Hiding Place 4) Facing the Giants 5) Rust 6) Suing the Devil 7) Soul Surfer 8) Courageous 9) Cross and the Switchblade 10) Vow to Cherish
Everyone should see all of these movies - it might change you...
Fireproof (2008)
It's in my 'Top 10' list
'Fireproof' is in my top 10 list of best Christian films. Wow, this film will make you cry, cheer, and truly acknowledge our Savior and the need for forgiveness.
Three cheers to the filmmakers and to the distributors for understanding there is a huge need by millions of Christians to see good Christian films. The underlying emotions and the powerful messages really compliment what the pastors share throughout the churches each week.
Anyway, here's my Top 10 list of best Christian films:
1) Ben Hur; 2) The Gospel of John; 3) A Vow to Cherish; 4) Left Behind-Pt. II; 5) The Jesus Film; 6) The Passion of the Christ; 7) Facing the Giants; 8) Fireproof; 9) The Genius Club; 10) Time Changer
Live and Let Die (1973)
Good Bond Film
I like the beginnings of most Bond movies except the new ones.
This Bond has a lot of sentimental value for me, I remember first seeing it in the mid-80's. and thought it was great.
Seeing it now, it's easy to see why people don't like it. The story is highly original and exciting, bringing James Bond into the computer age. The incidental music is undoubtedly among the best of the Bond's.
It has all the makings of a classic Bond Movie and this shows through. If they could just improve the script, then it would be a classic Bond.
Finally, I think Bond would be better without the sex and adultery - the newer ones seem to relish it. Is this good for society?
Back to the Future (1985)
Brilliant Film!
They don't make 'em like this anymore. Back to the Future is a brilliant film!
This is a brilliant, politically incorrect teen comedy, written with blazing originality and off- beat irreverence.
Told in a stylistically slick narrative that surprises and enlightens, with characters that are portrayed with staggering comedic timing and sometimes shocking depth. This will remain the pinnacle of Robert Zemickis' career. Though considered such an '80s classic, the movie is extremely timeless.
Students today will find much to identify with in the always-fresh and touching "unknown future" themes. But the most identifiable element in the film is the farcically bureaucratic characters. In other words, there will always be McFly roaming the hallways in this modern environment. And as long as it stays that way, Back to the Future will remain one of the most entertaining, satirical, and accessible comedies around. 10/10