Here's the trailer: [video=youtube;bMjo5f9eiX8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMjo5f9eiX8[/video] Now here's my review. Trailer alone tells me what I need to know about this movie: it's a Christian revenge flick. Oh I know the film makers and the people supporting the movie will defend it and say, "No, this is just a movie that empowers Christians to strengthen their beliefs and be proud of them, and informs the nonbeliever of God's love." I'm sure that's what it was intended to be. But the appearance of the Robertsons confirms it for me that that this is a response film. I get it: for too long Christians have been attacked by the mainstream media. It's time a movie is made that let's people know what Christians really are all about. Let's get the obvious out of the way. The movie makes the Christian the victim, and the rather overdramatically makes villains of atheists and other nonbelievers. Seriously, Kevin Sorbo's character is a white cat away from being Dr. Claw. Kevin Sorbo (who was... just... AWESOME as Hercules lol "disaPPOINTED!!!") plays an atheist professor of philosophy who tells his class to sign a declaration that "God is dead" to get a passing grade. As asinine as this concept sounds, maybe this story is referencing a real event. Maybe somewhere some crazy a**hat of a professor made his students sign some declaration like this. But I haven't heard it, and if it didn't happen this confirms even more that this movie is just a Christian propaganda movie trying to impress upon the public that Christians are victimized for their beliefs. "God is dead"? Correct me if I'm wrong, atheists, but that's not even part of atheist ideology. Atheists don't believe "God is dead", they simply don't have the belief that he existed in the first place. I realize this is a Christian movie, but you lose all respect when you have poor misrepresentation of atheist ideology. But if someone were to criticize the movie for its misrepresentations of atheists, I could almost hear the ruffle of arms being folded, as Christians *harrumph* and say, "Well, the 'lame-stream' media has been misrepresenting us for long enough." As a side note, I really believe that Christians need to stop puckering up to the Robertsons' buns. Yes, Phil said some things about homosexuals that you all agree with. But he also said some things about black people under Jim Crow era that I know most conservative Christians would (and should) shun him for. So for your own sakes, stop "standing by Phil". You're making yourselves easy targets. I'm not much of a prophet, but I'll give you a prophecy that's easy to predict: this movie will be easily criticized by anyone with a brain, and the filmmakers and Christians that support the movie will simply harden their hearts to such words, and say, "See? This resistance is expected. The nonbeliever hates this movie, and that is inevitable. How can they like a movie that supports God and His love." So before you think that I'm trying to flame Christians, know this: I am a Christian. Because I'm a Christian makes me that more offended by this movie. The filmmakers might have good intentions, but the product itself will only achieve in turning more people away from God. P.S. Just out of principle (since I criticize others for judging films based on trailers) I'll still watch the movie. In fact I'm curious, as probably a lot of atheists are, to see how the character Josh Wheaton ends up saying "SCIENCE SUPPORTS HIS EXISTENCE! YOU KNOW THE TRUTH!"
Such films are solely to "buck up the spirits of the Believers" propaganda... not an honest philosophical debate or even (as Fox claims) "fair and balanced". Well, correction....actually such films are to MAKE MONEY off of "we poor fundamenalist/evangelical Christians are an oppressed majority, because them durn lib'rul athiests won't let us make kids recite the Lord's Prayer in school and teach that ''it IS possible' that Noah forgot to let the Tyrannosauruses onboard the Ark" The makers will make a buttload of cash...and then try to squeeze through needle's eyes like camels.
Whoever put up the money to make this movie didn't put it up so as to convert nonbelievers, they put up the money in an effort to make money, simple as that it's how all movies get made. And I'm sure that there was the thought about the built in audience. They know how much money was made off the religious audience with the passion of the christ movie and are probably hoping for the same results here. It's actually very clever, just as clever as the passion, in that they know people will flock to it just to get some sort of vindication or conformation of their beliefs. Money does make the world go round I guess, and this audience is very predictable.
I recognize that many in the movie business are in it for just the money. But logically speaking, it's usually the ones who aren't super involved in the film. For instance, "The Passion of the Christ" was not made only for the money. I genuinely believe Mel Gibson really believed in the message and what the movie stood for. The people backing the movie financially however were the ones who saw profits. Most of the time, the people most immersed in the making of the film, actually are in it for more than just the money. This goes for all movies both good and bad. It gets bad, when the people who are in it for more than just the money, let the ones who are ambitious about just the money walk all over them. That's where you get things like "product placement" and actor choices, and plot editions. The filmmaker may want to show a specific scene, but some corporate stooge will say that they don't think the audience will accept that and they'll lose money. On to this movie, I think that there are some people (maybe even the director) genuinely wanting to make this film with a Christian purpose (not saying it's a good purpose), but I'm sure some who are involved (maybe even the director) probably just wants to make a nice buck off of this. - - - Updated - - - I hope you weren't drinking something when the kid said, "SCIENCE SUPPORTS HIS EXISTENCE! YOU KNOW THE TRUTH!"
I'm tempted to sit the back...and everytime the kid says something "jesus-ey" to shout, "can i getta amen!"...you know by god-code, they gotta "amen" me back! I bet I can do it at least 50 times.
After watching the trailer I feel really bad for all the people involved. One part of me has to believe it's all bull(*)(*)(*)(*), that they are simply lying to achieve a goal but the rest of me knows this is how a lot of people actually think and regardless of how it sounds I actually feel sorry for them.
I thought it was bad just because it was BAD. you know, bad art style bad. like Avatar, or Smurfs 2. Certainly, the trailer would suggest that no actual art went into the thing. Also, that the makers assumed an average audience IQ of about 90 when doing their projections. What troubles me the most though, is that woman in the opening shot of the trailer. Is she a man? I genuinely can't tell. And that orange, leathery skin, what the hell!?!
I'm not sure it really matters who you put in these movies the religious wackos will still turn out in droves if their preachers tell them to.
Let's make it a double feature shall we? [video=youtube;3xwZt8ypufE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xwZt8ypufE[/video]
Great question! I don't care much for that either. I think it has to be an actual flag to violate the code. Clothing with a union and stripes isn't necessarily the flag. How do you like?
"The words "flag, standard, colors, or ensign", as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America ..." " ...The flag should not be used as "wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery" ..." " ...The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, ..."
