Movie Review of God Bless the Broken Road

Another faith based film hit theaters this September.

God Bless the Broken Road is directed by Harold Cronk who brought us God's Not Dead and God's Not Dead 2.

It tells the story of a young mother who loses her husband in Afghanistan and struggles to raise their young daughter in his absence.

The film combines elements of faith, country music, and stock car racing while paying tribute to those who serve in the United States Military.

If you are looking for a clean, family friendly movie this is an excellent choice for you.

Visit your local theater listings for times.



For the main character, Amber Hill, life changes drastically when she receives the news that her husband, a soldier stationed in Afghanistan had been killed. When she receives this news she is leading the church choir practice, which until that moment seems to be the delight of her life.

As often happens when tragedy hits, our lives shift and joy gets buried in the pain. The movie jumps to two years later where we find Amber struggling financially as a single working mom, disconnected from her church roots and completely uninterested in singing. Even her young daughter, Bree, can't convince her to sing "just once more".

Then enters Cody, a race card driver in a slump. His reputation appears to be that of a bad-boy and he is sent to the equivalent of 'the Minors' to sharpen him. He arrives in the small town to be mentored by a man named Joe Carter who runs a mechanics shop, ministers to young kids and apparently is a whiz at car racing.

The first thing Joe does when Cody arrives in town is take him to church where Cody sees a beautiful woman across the parking lot dropping off her daughter. His interest is sparked and shall we say the rest is history?

Well, there is a romantic element to this film but it takes a far back seat to the rest of the story and by the end of the film there is still just a "hint" of something brewing. A very clean and un-rushed aspect of the film.

The main focus of the story is on Amber's choked out faith as the financial obstacles mount higher and higher against her.

Some things I loved about the film: the music! It was a beautiful arrangement of hymns, current radio plays and of course the title track God Bless the Broken Road. Even has a cameo appearance by Micah Tyler as a cafe singer. As well as Jordin Sparks portraying one of Amber's friends.

Another thing I enjoyed about the movie was the intertwining plots of Amber and Cody. They both had a journey to fulfill and they weren't there simply to enhance each other. However, I would have liked to see more depth to Cody's story line.

This story is very moving and I went through several tissues. As the story climaxes where it seems Amber has truly lost everything in her world, she surrenders in exhaustion before God that she can't 'do this alone'. And as believers we know and understand that this is the actual moment where things change. Sometimes in movies this means everything is restored, the sun comes out and everyone lives happily ever after.

Not so in real life, often.

And God Bless the Broken Road tries to steer away from the Story-book ending. Instead of all her dreams coming true, Amber finds peace. And ultimately that is what we all want, isn't it.

"No matter where life takes you ... faith takes you further"

One note on age appropriateness, be aware there is a small amount of war scenes involving explosions and guns, injuries and death. There is no blood shown, which for some will seem very fake but makes it accessible for younger ages. I would still recommend caution for younger children.

Overall, this is a great story and a well made movie. I would recommend it to  those searching for good, clean entertainment. Will be worth the $$$ you spend at the box office doors.

Enjoy!


Check out the trailer.
Also, a discussion guide.


"Film has been provided courtesy of Pacific Northwest Pictures and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Movie review of Voiceless

Christian film continues to put forth movies to challenge and open a discussion. Voiceless is no exception.

Voiceless takes on the monster topic of abortion in a moving and compelling drama about a believer, a church and a community divided along the lines of choice.

Coming in early October to theaters across the United States, (sorry my Canadian friends) Voiceless will challenge what you believe about abortion and what you're willing to do about it. As a person. As a church.

Battling his own inner demons, Jesse (Rusty Joiner) encounters a young, pregnant teen overcome with grief that, after an impulsive abortion, has her blaming Jesse for more than just her final decision. Jesse's wife Julia (Jocelyn Cruz) must come to terms with her own choices and decide if she can support her husband as opposition mounts against him. Comedian Paul Rodriguez also stars as Virgil with James Russo as Pastor Gil. 

Check out the Dove Foundation's review of Voiceless. It has been given four out of five doves with a caution for content. And be sure to watch the movie trailer of Voiceless.

“Voiceless was made to engage the church,” said producer Stuart Migdon. “We believe our film artfully presents the issue in a way that pro-life supporters can rally behind without alienating pro-choice viewers before they’ve had a chance to contemplate our story.”

My thoughts: The movie was compelling and moving. It presented a man divided, a marriage divided, a church divided and a community divided - all along the lines of protecting women. Free choice is a controversial topic and this movie handles it all very well. I was impressed by the acting, the approach and the ending. I would definitely recommend people watching this movie. I also agree with the caution given by the Dove Foundation - this is not a movie for young children. I would even have a hard time recommending it to some teens. It would depend on the level of conversation and discussions you've reached with your teens. There are more topics revealed in this movie than just abortion. Parents, be sure to preview it first.

The only issue I have with the movie is the pacing. It moved at a snail's pace. Maybe it won't affect the moviegoers in the theater as much, but definitely the ones who choose to watch it on DVD someday. Sitting on a couch in your own home there will be many tempted to turn it off. This is unfortunate because the ending is so important to the discussion.

As well, the overall cinematic feel was dark and dingy. A little light along with the Light presented would have been nice.

Despite these last two comments, I hope you give Voiceless a chance. Go watch Voiceless. One man.  One fight. The ultimate sacrifice.

  

 

Thanks to Icon media and The Voiceless movie for the chance to review this movie. These thoughts are my honest opinion.

Movie Review of God's Not Dead 2

Own it on DVD and Blu-ray and Digital NOW!

Drawing from today's headlines, the thought-provoking sequel to the Christian blockbuster God's Not Dead examines the high cost of taking a stand for religious freedom. Stars Melissa Joan Hart, Jessie Metcalfe, David A. R. White, Sadie Robertson, and the Newsboys.​

When high school history teacher Grace Wesley is asked a question about Jesus in class, her reasoned response lands her in deep trouble. The ensuing court case could expel God from the classroom and the public square once and for all.


If you didn't have a chance to see God's Not Dead 2 in the theaters, you can do so in your own home. It is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital. If you are still not sure, let me tell what I thought of the movie.

I need to begin with this statement ... God's Not Dead 2 is much better than its predecessor. I wrote an unofficial review of the first movie that you can read. However the producers of the sequel took some of the issues from the first film and fixed them. Thankfully.

First, let's address the story line. Following current and real trends of Christian professionals being targeted for their faith, God's Not dead 2 focuses on a high school teacher, Grace who answers a student's question in a history class. The question seems innocent enough, as the student inquires about the non-violence teachings of Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. in comparison to Jesus' teaching in the Bible. The teacher does her best to answer the question as honestly and as generically as she can, despite her firm Christian beliefs. Soon, like a wildfire, news spreads of her mention of scripture in the classroom and everything snowballs from there. The movie moves logically through the process as the teacher decides not to bow down and "confess" she made a mistake by mentioning Jesus. She is assigned a lawyer who admits he drew the shortest straw and no one else wants to touch her case. But on the bright side, he doesn't like to lose. 

Soon we see that the lawyer, Tom doesn't share her faith but is sympathetic to her situation. Although he doesn't have a plan, he is determined to believe they have a chance - if the other lawyer screws up. And so the story goes, moving through court testimonies of real life individuals such as Lee Strobel and James Warner Wallace to prove the historical truth of Jesus.

Things look good until the student who asked the question in the first place storms the court room determined not to be silenced any longer and to fight for her favorite teacher. This is where all the threads unravel. Even Tom, the lawyer gives up.

But, back to the real reason we are here ... God is not dead! Even when all our human efforts fail, He is still at work. I enjoyed the ending. It wasn't predictable and cheesy. It was moving and satisfying. I won't add any more than that to avoid any spoilers. 

The previous movie had me groaning through most of the characters. They were flat and stereotypical. That is not the case this time. The main characters are fleshed out more and respond realistically. Gone are the obvious black and white lines between the good guys versus the bad guys. 

There are some returning characters from the first movie - Pastor Dave and his friend, who this time around play a key role in the plot. We also get to see some widening of Pastor Dave as he has to grapple with his own legal issues. (Be sure to watch through the credits at the end to catch a glimpse of his story line, and what may be a bread crumb for a third installment.) We also see Martin, the college student from the previous movie who converts to Christianity despite his angry and abusive father's threats. In GND2 we see the continuation of his story line and all that it costs him to follow Christ.

Returning also, is Amy the reporter, who in the first movie was determined to destroy the "Christians" in her writings, only to be diagnosed with cancer and then say the sinner's prayer - out of her fear of dying (?). Amy's story continues on and starts out with another unbelievable twist - she is now in remission. At first I groaned. However then I changed my mind. Amy had to grapple with her faith from a different angle - if there is no cancer, does she still need God? That, to me is a very legitimate question. She tags along with the court proceedings to help her find her own answers.

And of course, we have the Newsboys! Their hit song God's Not Dead closes out the film once again. However we also have a wonderful concert performance of their newest hit, Guilty. Great song!

So, check out God's Not Dead 2 - even if you didn't enjoy the first one. I think it is definitely worth your time. 

Here are some links you might like:
God's Not Dead website - movie trailer and ordering options

PureFlix - other Christian movie titles

Pluggedin(dot)com - movie review, parent cautions, etc


"Movie has been provided courtesy of Sony Home Entertainment Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Movie Review of Miracles From Heaven

It's out on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital now and if you haven't seen Miracles From Heaven you should!

This is a thought-provoking and inspiring movie based on a true story. It will move you!


Miracles From Heaven follows the real life story of a young girl, Anna Beam and her family. Anna is diagnosed with a rare digestive track disease. Her family and in particular her mother, Christy Beam fight tirelessly to help find answers for Anna's condition until one day she is miraculously healed after falling from a tree.

This is a movie of faith and family that challenges you to find the miracles around you. Often times it is in hindsight we see the fingerprints of God on our situations. My favorite scene in the movie is when Christy Beam is explaining to her congregation and to the world about the miracle. There is a small montage of scenes that plays recounting all the places in the journey where a miracle happened.

Miracles aren't just in the form of healings and visits to heaven. The people we encounter, the opportunities we are given ... these are all miracles.Just look for them.

I enjoyed this movie. It is very moving - you will probably cry. The scenery is beautiful, the characters are well portrayed, giving a huge nod to Jennifer Garner's exceptional job of the role of mother, Christy Beam.

A few other characters helped make the movie a delight, including Kylie Rogers who plays the sick daughter, Anna. Queen Latifah joins the cast as Angela, a comic relief waitress the mother and daughter duo meet in Boston. But the most fun for me was the specialist, Dr. Nurvo, played by Eugenio Derbez - a similar character to Patch Adams, but much more family-friendly. All of the acting is superb, there are no weak links.

Overall, there are no surprises to the plot in this movie if you watched the trailer. However, knowing the ending did not deter from the dramatic tension and wonderfully portrayed issues of faith. This movie isn't preachy - there are no altar call scenes or tug at your heart "accept Jesus now' moments. Instead this movie plays into that all-encompassing question of why. Why does God allow beautiful, vibrant young girls suffer? Why is this happening?

The story is primarily the mother's journey from a strong faith to a choked out, barely breathing faith and back again. It is a journey worth watching.

From the family friendly side of things I would agree with the movie's PG rating. The themes tackled in the film are impactful for young viewers. In particular, there are scenes that talk about death and wanting to die. There are invasive medical scenes and a traumatic drawn out scene when a child falls into a hollowed out tree. As well, there is a young girl who dies in the film, even though it isn't seen or known till the end. Be prepared to talk to your young viewers about these topics. Check out Focus on the Family's plugged in (dot) com review for more specifics.

Also, there is a resource for parents, pastors to facilitate some discussion around the movie themes. There is a section part way through for parents who watch movie without their children but want to discuss it and also questions guided towards parents and kids who watch the movie together. An excellent family resource.


Check out the Miracles From Heaven website for purchase options, trailers and more!

I recommend this movie!

Let me know in the comments if you've seen it and what you thought.


"Movie has been provided courtesy of Sony Entertainment Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Movie Review of Risen by Affirm Films

Get a digital copy today or pre-order in DVD and Blu-ray!

Risen is one of the latest faith-based movie that hit theaters in 2016. It is a Sony/Affirm production and did a fantastic $11.8 million in opening weekend ticket sales.

 “The best film about the life of Jesus since THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.”
~ Patrick Novecosky, Editor-In-Chief / Legatus magazine 

“An UPLIFTING Masterpiece!” ~ Dave Morales, FOX TV/HOUSTON

“Epic” ~ Mike Androsky/ Entertainers

This is not just the story of Christ's death and resurrection, like motion pictures such as The Passion of the Christ. It is the story of an unbelieving Roman Soldier tasked with finding the missing body of the Nazarene after his tomb is found empty. This Roman tribune must find the body and prove the resurrection gossip is a hoax. 

Instead of a huge cover-up and scandal this Roman soldier finds the Savior.Ge

First, as my husband commented, it is basically an episode of CSI: Jerusalem. The story begins as Christ is dying on the cross. Clavius, the Roman soldier arrives on scene to verify, much like a detective or coroner arrives on a crime scene. Then he follows protocol (in excess) to avoid any "chance of a body snatch" by the crazy Christ followers. In a couple days when word gets out that stone has been moved from the tomb, the body missing and the Pharisees panicking, Clavius engages in a man-hunt, digging up corpses, interviewing suspects and witnesses and studying the crime scene to find all the answers.

I really enjoyed the integrity of Clavius, played by Joseph Fiennes. He is portrayed as a valued soldier, high in rank. He is shown to be brutal in his work, but also to have a conscience enough not to enjoy his tasks. He has ambition to move up the ranks of the Roman Army but also states he dreams of "a day with no death".

He seems to find the task of hunting done a dead body to be silly. Yet he carries out his duties with loyalty and purpose. As the pressure to find a body - any body - builds, the viewers can see the dilemma building in Clavius. He sees all the questions unanswered yet pointing to the impossible truth of a man rising from the dead. When he is re-assigned, he asks for a few more days to complete his investigation. He needs to follow the loose ends a little longer. When he finally discovers Jesus and his disciples hiding out he is forced to choose. The real truth, as unbelievable as it appears or the safest "truth" to protect the Empire.

He abandons his post citing that he has seen two conflicting truths that he cannot reconcile. A dead body he verified with his own eyes and a risen body he has seen with his own eyes. At this he decides to follow Jesus' followers. He witnesses the passion of the disciples, a healing done by the hands of Christ and the ability Jesus has to appear and disappear from any spot. Eventually Clavius speaks directly with the Savior and hangs around long enough to see the Ascension.

The movie is compelling in its purpose and scope. The scenery is awe-inspiring and the characters are real to life. This is definitely a movie I would have in my DVD collection.

As of today, the movie Risen is available in digital format. Blu-ray and DVD become available on May 24th, 2016.

Bonus content includes three featurettes:

• “The Mystery of The Resurrection: Making Risen,” director Kevin Reynolds, his cast and crew detail the making of the compelling film.
• “A.D. Jerusalem,” fans learn how the production brought the ancient settings to life.
• “Script to Screen,” producers discuss the making of RISEN. 
• Also ... Blu-ray and digital exclusive content includes deleted scenes and “The Battle of the Zealots Deconstructed,” a featurette that goes behind the scenes to see how one of the film’s most epic sequences was shot. 
• A commentary is included on the Blu-ray and DVD formats.

As well, on May 24th, a 4K Ultra HD option will be available. This" format features four times the resolution of high definition, high dynamic range (HDR)--which produces brilliant highlights, vibrant colors and greater contrast on compatible displays--and Dolby Atmos audio, remixed specifically for the home theater environment, delivering captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead."
(Information taken from press release by Lovell/Fairchild Communications.)

Get your copy today!