“Family Camp” Movie Review
“I Still Believe” Review
30 Years of Christian Fellowship in Anaheim
“Overcomer” REVIEW
“God’s Not Dead: A Light In Darkness” Review
“God Is Good, All The Time”
“And All the time, God is God”.
The same dialogue echoes though the God’s Not Dead trilogy as Christians are tried in new ways. First it was a student vs. professor, in which a freshman student is made to prove the existence of God in front of his collages. Then a public school teacher vs. the state, where for the first time a teacher is taken to the supreme court to be made an example for speaking the name of Jesus in her classroom. Now in the next film, it’s the pastor, himself that faces the ultimate test of faith.
Produced and starring David A. R. White, God’s Not Dead: A Light In Darkness shows that even a pastor is human as Reverend Dave faces the ultimate backlash after being arrested at the end of the second film, now his church is burnt down. To throw more heat onto the scene, the university which has offered sanctuary to the church now wants the church gone, as they seek to lay blame for the disrupt in campus life and hate crimes. As far as acting goes, David A.R White exceptionally portrayed a pastor which we have watched in all three movies as he himself is now feeling the persecution that the student and teacher equally felt. White’s expressions on his face when he has his breakdown in the church as well as the encounter with the student responsible for the fire, ultimately shows the humanistic characteristics that undoubtably all people of faith go through when all seems lost. It shows that even pastor’s aren’t exempt.
Likewise, the film, conveys the same subtle message, that of whether or not to believe in God or not, allowing the audience to make their own decision in the end, though it is slightly more bible based then the previous too, which one could deem is because of the attack on the pastor and the church. The setting and lighting is perfect in using colors to depict just how low humanity can get, but the multiple images of fire serves as both a destroyer as well as a symbol of hope similar to a scene out of the second with the students showing their support for their teacher at her house. This very same scene repeats itself with the university students showing support of Rev. Dave.
The return of Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) is also a nice touch as those loyal followers of the Gods Not Dead franchise, might have wondered what happened to the outspoken freshman who stood up to the overpowering agnostic professor. Harper’s addition as a student minister, showed the affect of the church on the campus as a new student, Meg (Jennifer Taylor) is introduced as an underlying story supplementing that of the church vs. state. We see a further development in Harper especially from the first film to this one where he has know transitioned from the freshman trying to prove God’s existence to a actual pastor figure who wants to reach others, which I can totally see. Harper’s performance in this one is just as strong and motivating as the student becomes the teacher in an essence both with Rev. Dave when he seems to question himself as well as the new young girl who is in the same boat.
The God’s Not Dead franchise is based in large part by the Christian Musicians Newsboys, who’s song, God’s Not Dead was performed in both the first two movies and one might expect another reprise, which didn’t happen. I found myself slightly disappointed by not hearing and seeing the band, but the music was prevalent in the background as the story continued.
Another difference between this one and the first two was the call that was made. Instead of showing the message, to text everyone, “God’s Not Dead”, there was a live message at the end from Michael Tait, of the Newsboys as he closed out with a public message, to be the light. He also promoted an app which was created for the movie. I liked the notion, but showing the message after the credits, make it difficult to reach, especially since most people don’t stay til the end. While the message was powerful, they might have been better to still have the text message at the end for those that didn’t wait all the way through.
God’s Not Dead: A Light In Darkness is a fitting close to a powerful franchise. It upheld the same standards as the first two, with more emphasis on a pastor’s point of view and of course the call to “Be the Light” was still there. The religious sequel came out in theaters March 30 and is currently playing in a theater near you.
“Shack” Review
Based on the New York Times best seller by Wm. Paul Young, The Shack is the first truly inspiration story of the year as you see the struggle of Mack as he goes from having everything in life to losing the one thing that begins to unravel his family’s whole existence, as he grapples with the ultimate question, “How could God let that happen?” The story tugs at the heartstrings as it shows a God fearing man, and challenges everything that Mack Phillips believes. Now in the midst of his grief, Mack receives a letter from God, to which he makes the journey back to the shack that took his youngest daughter in order to find the ultimate forgiveness that everyone hopes to find.
The Shack stars Sam Worthington as Mack as he meets God, or Papa (Octavia Spencer), who he remembers from a young child as being the one who helps him see the light in the mist of his abusive father. The film also stars Tim McGraw as his friend, who helps him throughout his journey. At 2 hrs and 10 minutes, the Shack is sure to have you tearing up with the deepest emotion as the powerful acting of the entire cast brings even more depth to such a powerful story.
The Shack came out the first weekend in March and has already brought in over 20 million at the box office and is said to be the seventh highest grossing Christian film thus far. It’s currently playing in a theater near you.
“Resurrection” Reaches Audiences
It’s the classic story about a child star who hits rock bottom when Gavin Stone, played by ‘ABC’s Agent of Shield’s’ Brett Dalton, is given a second chance through community service at a local church in his childhood home. Though clearly not a Christian, Dalton accepts and takes on the task of manual labor until a meeting with the pastor’s daughter, Kelly Richardson, (played Anjelah Johnson- Reyes) leads Dalton to audition and take up the charade of ‘Christian’ in order to land the part of Jesus Christ.
But will Dalton be able to successfully pull of such a powerful part without letting Kelly know that it is all an act especially when his two hundred hours of community service are up prior to show time?
At roughly an hour and thirty-five minutes, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone is a feel good movie about the power of faith that can change anyone’s life and make them actually want to live a better life. Overall, it’s a movie unlike any other Easter story with a bit of good tasting comedy at the heart of what truly matters. People will be laughing, crying and cheering what is said to be ‘the greatest story of all time’.
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone came out January 19, 2017 and has thus earned roughly over one point five million domestically. It’s currently playing at a theater near you.
“God” Takes Court
In the latest faith-based movie sequel, God’s Not Dead 2 is touching light on the civil state vs church cases that have swept the nation and inspired a movement.
Pure Flex’s God’s Not Dead 2 reunites David A.R. White as Pastor Dave, Benjamin A. Onyango as Rev. Jude, Paul Kwo as the Chinese student, Martin and Trisha LaFache, as the journalist, Amy Ryan, as their faith is further tested in the latest adventure.
This time the story deals with a teacher named Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart) who is challenged by the school board after responding to a student’s (Hayley Orrantia) honest question about Jesus during a lesson. Not wanting to back down from her beliefs, Hart is taken to court to prove once again, God’s Not Dead as she and her Union appointed attorney, Tom Endler (Jesse Metcalfe) fight to win against the school board who wants to bury her in front of the public forum headed by Judge Robert Stennis (Ernie Hudson).
At 2 hours and 1 minute, it’s a movie that will have you cheering as familiar faces such as the Christian Pop Band, Newsboys, who like in the original, close out the movie with a live concert this time at Grand Canyon University.
God’s Not Dead 2 came out in theaters April 1 and has thus earned just under 3 million its opening day. See it in a theater near you and join the movement.
“Messiah” Opens Eyes
The latest christian film about the life of Jesus at the age of seven is drawing a small number of viewers to theaters its opening weekend as it brought in roughly 3.4 million in revenues at the box office.
Based on the novel, Christ The Lord: Out of Egypt by acclaimed author, Anne Rice, The Young Messiah stars newcomer Adam Greaves-Neal in his first feature length film playing 7-year-old Jesus who is just releasing his powers as Mary and Joseph are told in a dream to move from Egypt back to Nazareth.
Overall, the movie is entertaining as the story makes you think about Jesus as a child however because there is no proof, some theologians might be skeptical as to the validity of how they are portraying the character of Jesus. That being said, people are encouraged to see it and make their own decisions.
The Young Messiah also stars, Sara Lazzaro as Mary, Vincent Walsh as Joseph, David Bradley as the Old Rabbi, Rory Keenan as the demon and Sean Bean as Severus.
At an hour 51 minutes, it’s a film that makes you sit on the edge of your seat waiting for the next miracle while envision the life of Jesus as a child.
See it now in a theater near you.
“Son Of God” Opening Weekend Review
20th Century Fox’s Son of God gave Universal’s Nonstop a run for it’s money finishing just 3.5 million below, in second place with 26.5 million for it’s opening weekend. The film stars Diogo Morgado, as Jesus and expands on the History Channel’s Emmy winning miniseries, “The Bible” as it follows the life of Jesus Christ from Virgin birth, through his miraculous ministries and culminating with the betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection and “Great Commission.
Filmed on location in Morocco, Son of God is told through the eyes of the Apostle John and despite a few minor changes, follows the writings fairly close for a modern day audience.
For a list of theaters near you, click here.