"Facing the Giants"

On September 29 a movie will be released in movie theaters across the country. It is titled "Facing the Giants." I urge you to go to see it if you like good, solid entertainment. You can also go to see it for its religious message if you are so inclined for it is a movie about Christians and what they believe. Still if you are of another faith or no faith at all you can enjoy it for the positive message it sends.

The film was created by the Sherwood Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia. The script was written by staff members, the actors are associated with the church, the music came from a member of the staff, and all the technical jobs were handled through the church with a few exceptions. This being the case, and I knew this in advance, I was ready for amateur night at the movies when I went to see this film. Boy was I wrong!

From the very first moments on the screen the movie grabs hold of you and holds you in its spell. There may not be any big name stars in this film but the actors on screen are perfect and perfectly believable in their roles This is true of the leads and this is true of the supporting players. It is an amazing feat to be this professional when they aren't professional actors at all. 

The script by Alex and Stephen Hendricks is full of emotion and drama, but it also has humor in just the right places. I am an emotional person and the story had me laughing and crying from beginning to end. And when it was over I wanted to cheer.

In the past few weeks I have been impressed with both "Invincible" and "Gridiron Gang." Both of these are football movies. I am not a sports person but these movies touched my heart. Now comes "Facing the Giants," another football movie, and this one touched my heart and my soul.

When this movie opens I am sure it will be supported by the Christian community. I am also sure that some critics and pundits will attack it as purely Christian propaganda. I hope that doesn't succeed in keeping people away from this film. The movie is a movie about people of faith and that faith permeates the story. But people who do not necessarily share that faith can still get caught up in the story of a football team who calls on faith to make them winners on and off the field.

I see a lot of movies and a lot of what I have seen lately has been bad. If anyone were given the choice between "Facing the Giants" and "The Wicker Man" I would hope they would choose the former. The same is true of that movie versus "Crank." Or maybe even something like "The Da Vinci Code." And the list could go on and on. 

The main thing is that "Facing the Giants" should not be dismissed out of hand as that "Christian" movie. Take a chance and go see it for the entertainment value. It really is good, and not amateurish at all.

The film is rated PG for "thematic values" or something like that which basically is because it is a Christian themed movie. Believe me you can take anyone in your family and they will be fine with it.

I am a Christian, and because of that I enjoyed the religious elements of the film. But I think I can also step back and think just as a critic and say the movie is solid entertainment. Mark down September 29 as the day the movie starts. Plan to go see it, and after you do let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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