Movie Review: Amazing Grace (2007)

Amazing Grace (2007), PG - Ioann Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Romola Garai
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Genre: Historical/Drama (Based on a True Story)
Setting: 18th Century England
Stars: 5 out of 5
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Synopsis...
Powerfully and masterfully done, Amazing Grace is one of those films that will have you on your feet cheering at the end. Great acting by Ioann Gruffudd (The Horatio Hornblower Series) - his portrayal of Wilberforce is well worth seeing.
Based on the true story of William Wilberforce and his passionate, never-say-die struggle to abolish the slave trade. He meets with intense opposition from fellow members of Parliament, but finds strength through his trust in God, and is urged by John Newton to see the quest to the finish.
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Content-Wise...
Thematic Material (pertaining to slavery)
Brief Mild Abusive Violence
Some Mild Language
Abuse of God's Name
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Points to Ponder...

• We are often tempted to abandon a task at the first sign of opposition. Our flesh naturally inclines toward the easy things of life, and refuses to tackle anything that even remotely looks like it will take blood, sweat, and tears to accomplish. We make up excuses for ourselves such as, "There's no way I'm ever going to finish this" or "This job just isn't for me" or "I'll try this some other time when I feel like it". Instead of having a "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" attitude, we let our sinful flesh mandate our actions. We refuse to recognize that as soldiers of Christ, we are called by Him to do hard things... 
• Imagine how the course of history would have been affected had William Wilberforce adopted such an attitude. He could have given up when the going got rough. He could have let his focus turn to his circumstances instead of to the One Who controls circumstances. But he didn't. He persevered, and as a result, God used him to do something nobody thought possible. This considered, don't look at a task and focus on how big it is. Look at it, and realize how big God is. He has a purpose in giving this particular job to you. Don't ignore it, complain about it, or deny it's existence. God knows what He's doing. Accept the job as your marching order, have faith, and do it.

"Faith is not even worthy of the name until it erupts into action."  ~ Catherine Marshall

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Persevero,

Scribe 

Movie Review: I Am Legend (2007)

I Am Legend (2007), PG-13 - Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Emma Thompson
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Genre: Sci-Fi/Apocalyptic
Setting: Manhatten, New York: 2009-2011
Stars: 41/2 out of 5
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Synopsis...
Before watching this film, go look up a picture of present day Manhatten Island - the Manhatten portrayed in the movie will astonish you all the more.
When an enterprising Manhatten scientist takes the measles virus and completely alters its genetic structure, she believes that she has discovered the long-desired cure for cancer. However, she is speedily undeceived when her "miracle cure" becomes a new unstoppable plague that spreads rapidly throughout the island. Those infected by it mutate, becoming inhuman creatures that prey on their fellow men. Those few lucky enough not to be infected evacuate Manhatten and flee. Only one man chooses to stay behind...  
Somehow immune to the deadly disease, military virologist Robert Neville remains on the island, racing against time to find a cure using his own uninfected blood before the entire human race is destroyed. But mutant plague victims still lurk in the city... one wrong move, and the game is up. 
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Content-Wise...
Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Action and Violence
Frightening Images
Menace and Peril
Thematic Elements (pertaining to the film's plot)
Brief Mild Language
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Points to Ponder...

• The entire human race faced destruction by way of a deadly disease known as the Krippen Virus. In the real world, all men are infected by a different "disease" even more deadly than the Krippen Virus. It's called Sin.
• Military virologist Robert Neville is the only one who cannot be infected by the Krippen Virus. Jesus Christ is the only one who cannot be "infected" by Sin. 
•  The only cure for the Krippen Virus was found in Neville's immune blood. The only cure for Sin is in the perfect blood of Jesus.
• The victims of the Krippen Virus wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Neville's cure. Neville had to capture them first and then give them the necessary antidote. Similarly, as fallen sinners, there is absolutely nothing in us that would desire the cure for sin found in Christ's blood. We must first be captured by God's love and grace, and made to see our condition, before we can be healed. 
• Neville ends up paying a high price to ensure that others can be cured of the Krippen Virus. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross to ensure that we can be cured of Sin.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Movie Review: Evelyn (2002)

Evelyn (2002), PG - Pierce Brosnan, Aidan Quinn, Julianna Margulies
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Genre: Drama (Based on a True Story)
Setting: 20th Century Dublin, Ireland
Stars: 4 out of 5
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Synopsis...
Based on a true story, Evelyn is a great film about perseverance, parents' rights, and winning against seemingly impossible odds.
After his wife leaves him, Desmond Doyle has to keep the rest of the family together on his own. But the task turns out to be even harder when the Irish Government steps in and deprives him of the custody of his three children, who are sent to orphanages. From then on, Doyle, with the help of loyal friends and family, begins an unprecedented, never-say-die battle against the government in a fierce effort to regain custody of his children and destroy a tyrannical law. His perseverance finally brings his case to the Irish Supreme Court.
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Content-Wise...
Profuse Mild Language
Abuse of God's Name
Brief Scenes of Abusive Violence
False Theology (Roman Catholicism)
Thematic Elements
Brief Suggestive Content
Don't be fooled by the PG rating - this is NOT a family movie. I highly recommend parents preview to determine suitability and necessary editing. TV Guardian is very useful in this case, as the profanity is profuse and difficult to edit otherwise.
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Points to Ponder...

• The governmental tyranny seen in the story of Evelyn isn't just a thing of the past - it's happening right here, right now, in America. It may be a slow, gradual process - it may be cloaked and disguised as "something for our good" - but the government is trying to take over every aspect of our lives. And with Obama as president - and at the head of a God-hating, America-hating pack of gutter-rats like Biden and Clinton - that take-over is happening faster than ever. The Government has already gotten a foothold on many aspects of our life ( think education, vaccinations, and heavily regulated industries). And it's trying to take over more (think national healthcare and the right to keep and bear arms). If we do not fight hard and unremittingly against every act of the Government which threatens our freedoms and rights, we will find ourselves facing serious consequences. Obama and his wolves want America down on her knees, torn and bleeding. If the true patriots of America do not defend her with the same vigor that her enemies attack her, that's exactly where she will be.                                                                                           
• "Big Brother is watching you." ~ George Orwell, 1984

Movie Review: Master & Commander (2003)

Master & Commander (2003), PG-13 - Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany
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Genre: Historical/Adventure
Setting: Napoleonic Wars
Stars: 5 out of 5
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Synopsis...
One of my personal favorites, this amazing film is a must see, especially for anyone interested in naval warfare. Beautifully filmed and skillfully directed. Very similar to The Horatio Hornblower Series (1998) with Ioann Gruffudd.
"Lucky" Jack Aubry, captain of the H.M.S. Surprise, has received orders to capture or destroy the dangerous French warship Acheron at any cost. After an unexpected attack from the latter leaves the Surprise severely damaged, Aubry and his crew begin a dogged and unrelenting chase across two oceans in search of their elusive and seemingly invincible enemy. Duty and friendship clash, but Aubry's efforts finally result in a fierce battle between the two ships.
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Content-Wise...

Intense Battle Sequences and Related Images

Brief Mild Suggestive Content

Brief Strong Language

Brief Abuse of God's Name

I highly recommend parents preview, and determine suitability and necessary editing, as my parents did.
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Points to Ponder...

• During a severe storm which threatens to end "Lucky" Jack's mission once and for all, a mast splinters and falls overboard, taking a crewman with it. The perishing man clings to the mast, which is still partly attached to the ship by rigging. The rest of the crew desperately tries to help him regain the ship. However, the broken mast causes the Surprise to lag and start floundering, and the entire ship is in danger of going down. As a result, Aubry is forced to make a gut-wrenching decision to sacrifice the few for the many: He gives the order to sever the ropes that bind the mast to the ship, saving the Surprise, but losing the crewman to the frigid, raging sea...
• In our walk with Christ, we often have to abandon certain things for the greater good of our souls. It may be extremely painful at the time, almost more than we think we can bear. But such sacrifices, such "severing of the ropes", play a great role in our sanctification, and will be to our benefit in the end. We must not let anything - no habit, no lifestyle, no nothing - lead us off the Narrow Way. To follow Christ is to cut all connections with this world and commit to Him completely - not partially. If Aubry had not forced himself to make the tough choice to cut asunder the thing which endangered the safety of his ship and crew, and the completion of his task - if he had let something get between him and the greater good - he and those with him would have been lost. In the same way, if we, as Christians, let anything come between us and Christ and the greater good of our souls, we will have strayed from the Narrow Way, and endangered all that is truly of worth for the sake of something which will only drag us downward to hell.

• "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." ~ Matthew 5:29