Cabrini (2024) [Movie Review]

Plot Summary

Cabrini is a nun who is going to change the world for good no matter what anyone thinks about her methods or what/who tries to stand in her way. A lack of adequate funds to support her lofty goals is often the high card in the deck stacked against her, and the Catholic church doesn’t do much to help Cabrini with that problem. Her poor health, exacerbated by her feverishly determined quest to save the world, is tied for first place with money when it comes to what will attempt to keep her from greatness. This mostly boring and unfortunately forgettable story finally comes to an end once Cabrini has achieved sainthood.

Production Quality (2 points)

The production quality of this film is average or above in different moments. It is believable that many of the sets could be the impoverished sections of a big city, and all the sets involving the big Catholic palaces and temples in Rome show us that these places are as opulent and well-funded as ever – if a bit drafty with those toweringly tall ceilings. There are a few moments of artistic camerawork during flashbacks, but other than that most scenes are repetitive and drab. Drab is the word of the day in all areas of the plot.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

The plot and storyline are consistent, I’ll say that. Mind-numbingly so. There is little variety to speak of – we generally see scenes from the same three categories (1) Cabrini being scolded by or asking for money from an important Catholic, Italian, and/or politician guy (2) Cabrini saving/helping/wisely counseling children and adults (3) Cabrini being ill, staring morosely into space, or performing some type of manual labor. This makes it hard for any type of character arc to exist for any character. (spoiler) Nonetheless, the former prostitute (Vittoria) who becomes Cabrini’s right hand man woman, so to speak, is the strongest character in the film. Vittoria has a personality, realistic emotions and reactions, a believable backstory, and she changes. Even though she seems to have hung all her hopes on Cabrini rather than on God, this character shines with bold, vibrant color in a colorless lineup of characters. This brings me to another point.

In this portrayal of the real Cabrini, why does Cabrini continually rely on solely her own efforts to fundraise and care for people? In a startling moment of honesty very deep into the film’s runtime, we hear her say almost directly that she works nonstop because she fears death (and possibly being wrong). If she is such a saint, why does this portrayal include almost no information about her relationship with God? Where does He fit into the equation? I think we see one scene of her praying, but most of the time this version of Cabrini seems to be too busy pursuing her own ambitions to have time for what God wants and can do. (spoiler) In the end, she blackmails two different politicians on different levels, the Pope, and the Archbishop (?) in her district to get her way. She also uses all her personal assets as collateral in case her plan to save the world fails. Once again, relying only on self. This message is dangerous, in my opinion, and it’s not the only messaging that is concerning.

In one of the final scenes of the film, Cabrini says that a man/men would never do what she and her sisters have done. This is unmistakably the “strong woman” messaging that is corrupting our culture, inside and outside the church. As a Christian woman, I do not care for the idea that women are better than men or that men are better than women. I believe people of both genders are equal before God. And I believe the Bible will back me up on this. Therefore, if this is a movie about a person who gave up her life to serve God, why is it all about her? For these reasons and more, the plot and storyline are below average.

Acting Quality (.5 point)

The acting (or lack of it) leaves much to be desired. Once again, Romana Maggiora Vergano (Vittoria) is one of the only bright spots in this section. She acts circles around her ‘seasoned’ veteran counterparts. Virginia Bocelli shows some potential in her role as unnamed orphan number #23, but it hard to overlook that her being cast in the film is practically product placement. Giancarlo Giannini is forgettable in his role as the Pope, and if Cristiana Dell’Anna cracked a genuine, non-pained smile more than once a century in her role as Cabrini, I might just fall over. Albeit she was likely told to act this way, it would have been nice to see her interpretation of the character come through more clearly. Minor characters are okay, and some have potential, but they flit in and out of the plot (or die) so frequently that it is hard to get to known them very well. For this and other reasons I won’t bore you with, the acting quality in Cabrini is below average.

Conclusion

It was a nice idea to make a biopic about a woman who tried to help people, and who influenced positive change worldwide. However, it would have been nice to see a depiction of who this woman actually was. The sparse flashbacks should have been more prominent, and the screenwriter(s) could have used these to better establish her as a person rather than a great imitation of a lifeless icon. Modern films need to understand that if we are supposed to care about the stories they are portraying, we need to have some type of connection with the film. Maybe they could start by writing relatable characters instead of being politically correct and supergluing their feather pens to the category of “great feats by strong women.”

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 10 points

May 4, 2024May 4, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

The Wingfeather Saga, Season Two, Episodes 2-4 Recap + Easter Eggs

Now that you got past the longest blog post title ever, 😉 let us hearken to the point of this conference, forthwith!😉

Avast!

To answer your obvious first question, yes, The Florid Sword finally makes an appearance in episode four. Voiced by Matthew Rhys, one of our favorite characters might be even more awesome on-screen.😆 In fact, so far all of Peterson’s much loved characters are much deeper and have more dimensions on-screen.

Character Development = Kalmar and Podo

The screenwriters and editors are really leaning into Podo and Kalmar’s characters in season two, so it is safe to say that they are this season’s protagonists. We love seeing these characters come alive in new scenes and conversations that use bold strokes to define an already beautiful work of art. (spoiler) Kalmar’s motivation for eventually breaking away from what and who he knows is being very well-established in a believable and heart-rending way. The writers and artists are making great use of facial expressions and non-verbal reactions, and they portray his thought processes well – sometimes this happens without dialogue, which is a next-level touch for a kids show. Usually kids shows, especially those in the Christian genre, are loaded with pointed dialogue, heavy-handed lessons, oh-so-wise and authoratative narration, or some of all of these. Not so here. Kalmar and his family act and talk like real people, and we get to see events unfold instead of being told what to think.

In a similar vein, Podo’s struggle to be honest about and face the darker parts of his past (while protecting his family) is something parents and adults can relate to. We are also seeing how much Podo tries to rely on his own strength and ability. He doesn’t trust new people easily and prefers to be the leader of every venture. We see him realizing some of his own weaknesses, and he doesn’t like it very much. (spoiler) For those who have read the books, the current progression of Podo’s dialogue and development lines up very well with his reckoning at the end of book two.

Ouster Will and More Wingfeather Lore

More information about Aerwiar and Anniera is popping up earlier in season two than it does in the book series, and this is a nice change. In episodes 2-4, fans of the book series will notice how the writers drop major hints at Ouster Will, dragons, and a new evil that can survive the fierce winter weather of the Ice Prairies. What Easter eggs did you spot in episodes 1-4, and did we mention that The Florid Sword is awesome?

Favorite Florid quote so far = “Haha! My father was called Mr. Sword, you can call me Florid!”

Artham Wingfeather and The Stonekeeper

Artham is kidnapped by the fangs and trolls very early this season, and even though we don’t hear from him for a couple of episodes, the writers bring back his storyline in episode four. This brings us to an important point. Artham flew in and out of the book series, so to speak (is this an easter egg in our post🤔), seemingly at random and sometimes without a clear reason. It seems like the writers are trying to give Artham more run time early on so his character will have greater definition in the series than he did in the novels. So far so good.

The Stonekeeper is also more prominent in this adaption than she was in the novels. We are hearing from and seeing more of her, but not too much. It is a nice balance. One of Disney’s old pitfalls is too much screen time for villians, thus making them the notoriously best developed characters. The Wingfeather Saga season two wants the protagonists to have the spotlight, and it wants us to be aware that evil is lurking, but it is not the end of or the point of the story. This is a very professional and appreciated touch.

The Stranders of the East Bend

Finally..the Stranders.

Speaking as someone who has experienced what real stranders are like – these are a very realistic portrayal.😆 The on-screen version is a bit more tastefully done. They’re still dirty, obstinate, and greedy, but they are put into perspective, if you will. Claxton and Nurgabog Weaver were masterfully cast with the choices of Will De Renzy-Martin and Leslie Nicol. Nurgabog shines in episode three and the Podo kiss scene is extremely memorable.😆

Favorite Podo quote from episode three = “Nia…this is..someone…”

Maralay Weaver has also been very well cast. Her accent, character design, and personality are very accurately portrayed. Hers is a more subtle entrance into the series, but we already know a lot about her from only one episode. She, Janner, and Kalmar all have well-established interactions that set a good foundation for later big story moments.

“Claxton had it coming.” – favorite strander quote this season (so far)

The Strander burrows are well-utilized in episodes three and four. They are part of both humorous and serious scenes. This variety of scenes in the same setting is an example of how well this series engages the audience with no lull time or filler scenes. The latter was something we saw a bit in season one, and it now shows how the creators have grown and warmed to their topic since then.

We hope you enjoyed our musings on this one-of-a-kind show. Let us know what you thought and what easter eggs you noticed in the comments below. 😉 Until we meet again, fair friends! Avast!

April 27, 2024April 26, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Pardoned by Grace [Movie Review] (2023)

The only actors anyone will remember in this film are on the cover, lol.

Plot Summary

Scott Highberger is a bad boy. He drifts in and out and in and out of prison, bars, and meet-ups to buy drugs. He seems to want to be in prison at times. He is searching for something he hasn’t yet found. Scott pursues God for a while, then drifts back into addiction. Finally, he comes back to God again. All of this is very hard to discern from the confusing passage of time in the film. Scott’s age and the times in which various incidents occur are hard to determine. By the time Joey Lawrence he starts stacking chairs for Smitty his eventual pastor, the viewer is thoroughly confused. You’ll be shocked to know that by the end of the film, Scott is on trial yet again. The point of the film is, unfortunately, washed away by the slow leak that is this film.

Production Quality (1 point)

Not much to say here. The production quality is mixed. Some shaky cam, unprofessional work, and weird shots. Other times, the production is fine – nothing remarkable, but fine. Scenes are cheaply thrown together in some cases. Thanks to the roundabout nature of the confusing plot, most scenes are either in what seems to be the same prison set, the same church, “bar,” and parking lot. Any-who, this section is below average.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

As we noted already, the plot and storyline are choppy and hard to follow. The storyline is holey and lacks direction. It’s hard to tell the difference between past and present scenes. Flashbacks are not clearly defined, nor is what’s taking place in said scenes. We’re not even sure what is a flashback or flash-forward, it’s guesswork to be honest. This is the weakest and worst area of the film, thus earning it no points in this section.

Acting Quality (.5 point)

The big-name cast members were heavily touted in advertising for this film. This being said, the acting quality is surprisingly low. Joey Lawrence does his usual dry yet passable line delivery and average performance. Smitty is Smitty. Female characters are blank and forgettable. Wise characters are wise. Bad characters are bad. Are we seeing a trend here? The black and white main characters are somehow still blank, and the minor characters are such shadows that they could be edited out of the film and the plot and storyline would not be impacted. This section rounds out with a below average score.

Conclusion

While we’re sure the story of the real Scott Highberger has an important, relevant message, we’re not sure why he let these filmmakers attempt to tell it. A testimony video would have been more impactful. We’re honestly not sure why or how this film was made. It reminds of the early days of Christian film – low budget with a potentially good message that distracting quality issues deter from.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

March 4, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Birthright Outlaw [Movie Review] (2023)

#strongwomanvibesreachingmaximum

Plot Summary

Another day, another ‘strong’ woman protagonist and her relatively able (?) male sidekick. Martha and Jeremiah Jacobs have a quiet life on the Western frontier. He’s a preacher, she’s his wife. They have one daughter, Hope. All is humdrum until some rough and tough guys kidnap their daughter. Boy is Jeremiah in for a surprise. Martha is not who he thought she was, and unfolding events become increasingly dangerous, he’s not sure who to trust. As Martha and Jeremiah jump into the fray, they agree on only one thing = they both want their daughter back.

Production Quality (1.5 points)

The production is professional for the most part. There is nothing particularly good or bad to note here. Most scenes are uncomplicated and seem to be shot with a stationary camera. . For instance, most shots don’t have more than three characters at a time on screen, and the most complicated action sequence is towards the end of the film. This being said, there are just enough action sequences to keep things interesting.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

Like many Burns family productions, Birthright Outlaw has a fairly interesting plot. The storyline is a bit choppy, and nothing particularly surprising happens. Plus, the opening credits practically tell you the whole story before it happens. As for the conclusion, who’s going to have the bad guys win? (spoiler) It is realistic that two characters do end up doing some jail time – this helps to balance convenient events throughout the story (important characters are rarely killed off). After all, no consequences wouldn’t coincide with reality. Some dialogue leans heavily towards cornpone wisdom, and even dips it’s toes in the water, so to speak. While Martha has a believable backstory, we know very little about her husband Jeremiah except that he’s a pastor and all-around good guy.

#Jeremiah

The same goes for Hope. Her character is (unfortunately) little more than a plot device that is used to illustrate her mother’s past and to explain it to the viewer. Jeremiah and Hope needed to be more than tools. They are integral pieces of Martha’s story. (spoiler) And rather than hear Martha tell Hope how she met Jeremiah, it would have been nice to learn this information via flashbacks. In fact, flashbacks should have been woven throughout the film. This would have eliminated the need for expositional dialogue and it would have created greater depth and more space for the filmmakers to develop the protagonists. Thus, emotional scenes and relationships between characters needed more basis and foundation to be perceived as meaningful, and while this story had a lot of good ideas, it feels rushed and unfinished.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Characters are a mix of average and below average. Martha is a protagonist with a lot of potential, but it is hard to nail down what her character learns from the events that unfold. She is painted mostly as a victim of her father’s manipulation, but she made a lot of her own choices. The almost constant strong female moments are both annoying and poorly acted. It would have been nice to see more balance here. Jeremiah is an interesting character whose entire life flashes before his eyes in the space of one night, and he seems to adapt amazingly well to finding out that his wife isn’t who she said she is…maybe a little too well. Unrealistically so, in fact. Come on, nobody walks around saying Bible verses and loving their enemies that well.

Oops, except for you Jesus. (nervous laugh)

Anyway, Hope does little more than live vicariously through her mother’s past self (an unusual way to write a character). The sheriff and his wife are super extra and add nothing to the story…other than a couple of lines and scenes that are unintentionally funny.

Jeff Fahey is believable as a slightly crazed villain, but there is more dialogue about him than from his character. It’s hard to get to know a character who mostly exists in the past tense. Lesson learned: exponential dialogue is not the best way to establish a character arc. Finally, minor characters have little development and mainly spend time keeping the important characters alive by dying. Good old expendable crewmen/women.

Conclusion

To sum up, this movie makes for a slightly amusing watch, but it has no rewatchable qualities. There was potential here, but unfortunately a lot of attempts at meaning fell flat. Adding flashbacks, greater character depth and balance, and rearranging the story a bit would have led to a better final product.

Final Rating: 4 out of 10 points

February 21, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

His Only Son [Movie Review] (2023)

Plot Summary

In a bleak and lonely desert of a world, Abram and Sarai follow the leading of God as they travel from place to place. As Abram stares, walks around, lays down, stands up, and stares some more, he somehow begins to see that God wants to make him into a great nation. But first, he has to pass the ultimate test. As if living with this portrayal of Sarai wasn’t enough of a trial….

…..Abram is asked to sacrifice his only son.

The excitement in this gif alone would bring the film to it’s knees. That, or it would pass by with no reaction from the characters.

Production Quality (1 point)

Production is b grade. At times you will wonder if this is actually a nature documentary that keeps being interrupted by people walking through the shot. Makeup and costuming are unusual, to say the least. Characters are often dirty and ill-kempt. While there obviously weren’t a plethora of bathtubs in this part of history, we doubt that Abraham and Sarah were taking dirt baths like chickens.

In the case of this film, what is probably meant to be realistic ends up being just flat out strange. There’s really not much else to say here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

The plot is hard to follow and there are distractions that were not part of the original Biblical account. Much of the run time is spent on a long, long, long march to Moriah where Abraham plans to sacrifice Isaac according to God’s command.

And that’s not even how long it feels to the viewer who is subjected to the LONG stumble through the ‘deserts’ of what looks to be South Carolina.

The rest of the story (sort of) is filled in with flashbacks and a flash forward or two. While this is not a bad idea, the flashbacks are hard to distinguish from the present day scenes, and most sequences seem to be strung together at random. Abraham’s encounters with God are downright bizarre. In one scene, Abraham is being tossed around in the ocean and washes up on shore.

Once he’s on shore, he seems to be choking on sand while he talks to God.

All of this is portrayed at odd angles and with lots of special effects that blur the imagery. God Himself is portrayed as a very bright someone in all white who pops in and out of people’s lives and tells them things occasionally.

Distractions include, but are not limited to Mr. Big Bad Highwayman. No I don’t mean the poem. (spoiler) The Biblical account indicates that Abimelech was at peace with Abram/Abraham, and I don’t remember the part of the Bible where Isaac and Abraham get knocked out by Abimelech’s men on the way to Moriah…

Anyway, much like artificial flavoring in otherwise palatable food, these additives distract from the story and pull down the better parts of the storyline. The dialogue is very close to the Biblical account, but the spirit of the story seems to be missing. Like, who believes that Abraham was morose, downright floppy, and lifeless? We all have ups and downs, but this Abraham seems to have all downs.

#Abrahaminthisfilm

Acting Quality (0 points)

The characters are either forced and unnatural or drab, bored, and sullen. The actors and actresses do not portray believable emotions or reactions, nor do they seem particularly dedicated in the roles they are playing. Lines are mumbled, delivered lackadaisically, choppy, or grumpily said (cough cough Sarai/Sarah).

#I’msoold

Joy and humor seem to be missing from character arcs as people move at a sloth-like pace through the script and rarely change expression. Whatever happened to the joy of the Lord?

Conclusion

If you’re not depressed by the end of this review, then you clearly didn’t watch the film. I kept trying to rub my eyes and remember that this is from the same studio who claims to support ‘against the current’ ideas. This one may be going against the current…but it’s in the wrong direction. As a member of our team put it, we seem to be circling back to the Jesus of Nazareth days of acting and storytelling.

#nufsaid

I wonder what the future holds for Christian film? Hopefully not more movies like this.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

January 17, 2024January 16, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie ReviewsTags: His Only Son, Movie Reviews Leave a comment

The Shift [Movie Review] (2023)

Plot Summary

Kevin has it all, true love, purpose, and meaning…until a car accident (or Satan?) takes that all away from him. Kevin is suddenly thrown into at least one alternate reality, where he must decide how the rest of his life will play out. As he navigates living alongside Shifters, complete strangers, and living in a godforsaken world full of suffering, Kevin must make a decision if he wants things to change. What will he choose?

Production Quality (1.5 points)

The Shift’s production has many instances of poor lighting, shaky cam and tight shots. Add together the limited sets and locations, okay props, and the slight improvement of all areas while the movie progresses, and you get a barely average score as a total.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

While the plot has some potential, it is disorienting. Plus, the world-building is confusing and both it and the storyline go over the audience’s head. There are moments of good dialogue. Likewise, there are interesting philosophical concepts woven throughout the story. The intruiging twists are engaging enough, and if this is based on the book of Job, the movie turns out a fair portrayal of the devil (it’s hard to say if this is a good thing). While we’re on the topic, this team of critics agreed that the biggest issue with the film is the bleak outlook it has on life and faith. If this is a faith-based film, it sure spends a lot of time on the devil. So this review doesn’t duplicate the error we’re criticizing, we will be brief. In a nutshell, the film seems to be sending the message that Satan dictates and manipulates the type of life people will live (in whatever reality you want to pick from, lol), and that the best a human can do is choose to live a good life. For instance, the Shifters may be the most balanced characters in the film. We beg the question, where is God in this perspective!? Is He helpless in the face of Satan’s ‘great power’? Since when do people get to pick and choose their destiny from a list of different realities? Anyway, there seem to be a few major holes in the film’s fabric regarding Who is in charge of things topside. On the whole, it seems like the movie was mostly written for the prologue and the epilogue.

Acting Quality (2 points)

This is no doubt the strongest aspect of the film. Sean Astin may have finally found his acting purpose in his role as a ….well, we can’t tell you because this is a major plot point. Liz Tabish and other cast members also turn out above average performances. There are mostly realistic emotions and authentic line delivery throughout. The only cons are that the costuming leaves something to be desired and there are some forced moments.

Conclusion

The Shift is an interesting exploration of philosophical ideas and alternate realities. It would have been nice for the writers to put more of an emphasis on hope, Jesus, and true meaning of life. Trouble, hardship, and times of testing do happen, but they are not all there is to life. It boils down to a good idea that didn’t quite come to fruition.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 10 points

January 13, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie ReviewsTags: Movie Reviews 1 Comment

Sound of Freedom [Movie Review] (2023)

Plot Summary

Tim Ballard is your average hero. He’s going around, doing the same job he’s been doing forever, and all of the sudden, he wonders if he’s really helping anyone. Being a pedophile-catching cop is not an easy job by any measure, and dealing with subject matter like that day in and day out is bound to get anyone depressed. However, most people don’t deal with depression by leaving their job and starting their own sting operation with the endorsement of Columbia’s government. Tim isn’t most people. While there are many heroic moments to choose from in this film, Tim’s most interesting scene as a character comes when he indicates to his boss that he has to save children so he can save himself from the effect that job has on him. With this fact in mind, let’s delve into the breakdown (no pun intended). Spoiler, the movie is not all about Jim, I mean, Tim!

Production Quality (2.5 points)

The production quality in this movie in mostly good. In fact, it is probably the strongest point of the film. There is little else to note here beyond that.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

The plot and storyline are a jambalaya of well-done sequences, choppy moments, super bad villian conversations, and unfinished ideas. The film starts out with some broody sequences about Tim’s job, some good cop bad cop interviews between him and the pedophile who clues him in on a larger operation that Tim ultimately tries to stop, and a montage of how a father lost his two children to human traffickers who kidnapped them. From there, the film rushes headlong into Tim’s quest to help that same father find his lost children. The rest of Tim’s character arc continues in the same vein, he finds pedophiles, he finds children, he arrests the pedophiles, he rescues the children.

A few bright spots in the film (if we can call them that in this type of movie) include Bill Camp’s well-acted Vampiro character, professional child actors who are very good at nonverbal acting, and the well-written introduction and conclusion of the movie. Vampiro is a Fagin-like character who rescues kids instead of trafficking them, and his character actually has a believable backstory AND a good reason for what he’s doing. Also, the children in the film act circles around several of the adults, which leads me to wonder why they are not the acting coaches…?

As for the cons, we wish that the writers had spent more time on character development than on showing us why human trafficking is wrong and exactly how (literally every detail you can think of without an R rating) traffickers break the law. Like, we know that human trafficking is wrong – now what is the actual point? Why do we care about these characters? What motivates us to support anti-trafficking movements, and how exactly can we do that?

Acting Quality (1 point)

Some of the acting is quite good, and other parts are just average. The child actors and actresses and Bill Camp as Vampiro are standouts in this lineup (even if Bill Camp is a bit too believable as a good bad guy). Some of the other minor characters have also have above average performances. Jim Caviezel plays a spacy and stoic Tim Ballard and turns out what is a mostly forgettable performance. The movie could exist with or without him in the role. Anyone can play a generic hero character, but not everyone can portray a real hero who doesn’t want recognition.

Mira Sorvino has about three scenes as Tim’s wife that are randomly inserted throughout the movie. I think we actually heard more about the real Tim Ballard’s wife than we did from her character in the film. Most of the performances are not memorable, so this section rounds out with a below average score.

Conclusion

Sound of Freedom had highly trumped-up advertising that concealed an unfortunately forgettable film on an important topic. It is no shock that it is now free on Prime Video. Sorry Angel Guild members. The movie had potential in several areas, but almost none of them were developed. Public opinion of the film is not extremely varied, with most reviews militantly for or against it. We strove to write an objective review that judges the actual quality of the film, rather than promoting the agenda behind it (whatever that may be) or condemning it for its association with former president Trump. Hopefully in future, moviemakers will seek God for what He wants them to make. Furthermore, it would be nice to see the screenwriters focus more on developing a meaningful point than on writing lines to further inflate a popular actor’s ego.

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 10 points

January 4, 2024January 4, 2024 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews 1 Comment

Lifemark [Movie Review] (2022)

Plot Summary

David Colton always knew he was adopted, but he kept this information at the back of his mind and didn’t really share it with anyone. He knows his adoptive parents love him, so why isn’t that enough? Melissa Cates has always wondered who her son became after she gave him up for adoption, but she is afraid he is mad at her for giving him up and will not want to meet her or pursue a relationship with her. When David is asked to give a speech at school about family life, he says he’ll think about it, but when a life crisis involving a hereditary medical condition happens, David begins to think more about who his biological parents are. David and Melissa know they must decide to put the past to rest if they both want to find healing in the future.

Production Quality (2 points)

Production quality is standard, nothing spectacular and no glaring errors.

Plot and Storyline Quality (2 points)

The plot relies on flashbacks throughout, which carries the story. The storyline is a bit choppy at times, but there are no major errors here. On the whole, the biggest error is the fact that there is little emotional connection to the story for the viewer. Things happen, but why are they relevant to us? Someone who has been adopted or who has been involved in the adoption process would probably enjoy this film to some extent, but the message-pushing towards the conclusion (and other issues) isolates this movie to a very select audience. Another concern we have is the patriarchal worldview that is unashamedly on display in different moments. (spoiler) For instance, in the past sub-plot, Jimmy Colton (adoptive father) decides to put he and his wife (Susan) back on the prospective parents list with the adoption agency after she says in no uncertain terms that she does not agree with this decision. In a later scene, Susan caves to his decision after restating that she doesn’t agree with him…? (spoiler) Additionally, Jimmy doesn’t tell Susan about his decision until the birth mother calls and asks to speak to her. Talk about putting someone on the spot! Shouldn’t husbands and wives make joint decisions…? Different things like this about the adoptive parents’ relationship just feel a bit manipulative on the father’s part, which adds an odd flavor to the film. Finally, there are a lot of characters in this story – too many, really, for one movie to portray well. To sum up, the storyline feels a bit crowded at times and the plot and storyline is kind of niche and odd at the same time.

Acting Quality (1 point)

The acting quality is average. The adult cast members tend to be a bit stiff and vacant when it comes to portraying emotion, and the teenage cast members present a mixture of believable and awkward acting. There is nothing particularly exciting to note here.

Conclusion

On the whole, a palatable family film, but nothing to write home about, as the saying goes.

Final Rating: 5 out of 10 points

December 27, 2023 by amg16 Categories: Movie ReviewsTags: Movie Reviews, movie-review, movies, review, reviews Leave a comment

Journey to Bethlehem [Movie Review] Herod and Antipater

In today’s introspective post, we’d like to share with you a few lessons we learned about being a king from Herod and Antipater, as portrayed in everyone’s favorite new Christmas movie, Journey to Bethlehem. Or as we like to call it, the Netflix Nativity for Dummies.

1. Make your entrances memorable

When you’re a king and you’re entering a room, you want to get noticed. Make sure and do something outlandish. And wearing a gaudy costume doesn’t hurt either. Especially if the crown is simply deplorable, stretchy, and bowl-shaped, as seen in this Christian movie throwback:

Hey, I think I’ve seen this actor in something else, hmmm…anyway.

2. If your treasury is small, make sure the members of your harem can double as Roman soldiers

Wait a second…

Nope, that’s not similar at all. Moving on!

3. One does not simply walk down the street

If you can find flower petals to cascade gently down upon you, and a drone to get you that tight aerial shot, those are a nice touch.

…..

Oops, that’s too many flowers. Moving on!

4. Participating in a flash mob is the natural first step towards overthrowing the current king

Granted, this was just a dress rehearsal, but if you do a really good job, your dad the current king may just hand over the fairy godmother wand scepter.

5. Why walk when you can crowd surf

Before you jump though, make sure someone’s there to hold you up. Otherwise, you could end up like this:

6. Group spear dancing is a proven way to break generational curses

Hmm, I guess not everyone agrees. I wonder what’s missing?

A dance battle between Herod and Antipater?

Naaahhhh.

At this point, you may be wondering. What does any of this have to do with the nativity story? Does this movie point people to Jesus? Does it show respect and reverence for the story of Jesus’ Birth? Is it a blatant, in-your-face moneymaker with no substance at all? Even more concerning….

is dancing Biblical?

Don’t think too hard. It just gets worse.

Box Office Revolution Rating: 10 laughs + 10 wrong reasons = 0 points

December 9, 2023 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews, Opinion Pieces Leave a comment

Journey to Bethlehem [Movie Review]: Joseph, Mary, and Fig

Who knew that the donkey played such a large role in the nativity story? If Journey to Bethlehem is to be believed, the story is really about Mary and Fig the Donkey with Joseph as the third wheel.

The relationship between Mary and Joseph in Journey to Bethlehem is indicative of the current cultural zeitgeist: a perpetually angry female who pretends to not need anyone and a bumbling male who’s borderline useless.

Sorry Kristoff.

Let’s start off with the angry, broody, and generally grumpy and or blank female.

In this film, Mary checks all the boxes of being a typical STEM female stereotype: she wants to study the Torah instead of get married and she generally dislikes everyone except Fig the Donkey.

Let’s take a moment to hear from Mary of what she thinks about being the mother to the Son of God.

Alrighty then!

Onto Kristoff! I mean Joseph! Joseph checks his own boxes by being a vague inventor who is portrayed as being engaged against his will. He’s also persistently goofy in an awkward and mostly unfunny way.

Joseph’s first scene features him stumbling around in a fruit stall juggling fruit and trying to get Mary’s attention.

Their engagement party goes pretty well. Let’s hear their feelings for each other in their own words:

#us

Once they decide to make it work, they’re thrown another curveball. Mary drops the big news on Joseph that she’s pregnant with Jesus (btw an irreverently comedic angel told her via an unusual sequence you have to see to believe). Joseph lets her leave for a while because he has to do some sorting. One of the many in-betweens that you can look forward to is that Joseph’s imagination appears to be something like an anime movie or a comic book. I don’t remember this being in the Bible’s white margins:

???

Wait, there’s more!

(Rocky theme song playing)

I don’t remember a wrestling/boxing match in the real Nativity story. It’s okay though, the angel is about to tell Joseph that it’s okay to marry Mary.

Wait a second…

That’s no angel!!

Is it?

I told you this was a comic book.

Soooo…somehow odd sequence number #252 inspires Joseph to follow Mary to Eliza and Zach’s. BTW they have like three scenes. Budget cuts!

It’s a good thing Joseph had some good music to listen to on the road trip.

But we’re forgetting all about Fig!

Fig is a very talented donkey. Not only is he a good judge of character,

He’s also a great all-in-one defense system for those unexpected situations where a pregnant woman needs to be defended from a soldier when the well-groomed hero isn’t around:

At this point, you might be thinking:

We agree.

All joking aside. What does any of this have to do with the real Christmas story? What will people remember about this movie? A lot of big musical numbers, lights, and colors, or Jesus? Can someone please tell me what Christmas is all about!?

When you get more Jesus from an old Peanuts cartoon than a Christian movie that’s supposed to be about Jesus.

Food for thought: In all the fanfare and hullabaloo about trying to reach “young” people and be the next “different” Christian production, have we completely missed the point?

Box Office Revolution Rating: 0 field goals out of 10 kicks

November 18, 2023 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Journey to Bethlehem (Movie Review) – Overview

Hello everyone. The BOR review team is back from retirement (by popular demand) to share our thoughts on everyone’s new favorite Christian Christmas movie (no it’s not a Hallmark movie). No doubt you’ve been inundated by the aggressive marketing campaign for Journey to Bethlehem, a film that was tossed around production purgatory until the Hollywood strikes provided a perfect opportunity for a Christmas media monopoly. That’s literally the only reason this movie survived.

We have much to say about Journey to Bethlehem (in this and in future posts,) but for the purpose of this post we’ll provide plenty of space for the crew to speak in their own words. From director Adam Anders:

#wut

#youdon’tsay

The in-betweens would be everything that’s not the actual Nativity, visit of the Magi, or Jesus going to the temple.

I think this better sums up Anders’ actual philosophy:

Whereas this sums up the worldview of the entire movie

#theaudience

#doessheactuallyhaveachoice

Our reaction^

Anyway, as we’ll touch on further in upcoming posts, this laissez faire attitude towards the Biblical account and the spirit of the true story definitely produced the results that are seen in the finished product.

Never fear…we have much more content to come regarding this movie! In the near future we will break down different aspects of the movie and different character groups in separate posts. Each upcoming post will have its own rating system due to the nature of the film in question. We can’t wait to laugh and debate (in friendliness) with you! Hey, don’t take our word for it! Go watch the film and see what you think. Better yet, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 😉

Box Office Revolution Rating: 0 figs out of 10 donkeys

Signed,

BOSs (Box Office Sass), BOR (our founder), and possibly BOB (Box Office Beast)

November 10, 2023November 9, 2023 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Christmas, Inspirational, Movie Reviews Leave a comment

The Wingfeather Saga, Season 1 (Fall 2022 – Winter 2023)

Plot Summary

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby are just three normal kids who live near the Glipwood township and who practice T.H.A.G.S. (Three Honored and Great Subjects) at home with their mother. Janner is bored with what daily life has to offer him and wishes he could go on a sailing adventure far away from his boring life. Tink enjoys the humdrum comfort of the day-to-day, but he livens things up with his mischievous, impulsive nature, which often lands him…or Janner…in trouble. Leeli, the youngest, loves playing her whistleharp, playing with her dog Nugget, chasing thwaps out of the garden with her grandpa Podo, and tagging along on her big brother’s adventures. Like everyone else in Glipwood, the Igiby siblings do their best to avoid the volatile Fangs who patrol the town, and under Nia and Podo’s watchful gaze(s), they live a quiet and mostly uneventful life…until the day Leeli kicks a Fang in the leg while defending her beloved Nugget. Little do the children know that Leeli’s decision will serve as the springboard to a journey of discovery, heartbreak, and adventure. What does the Maker have in store for the Igiby family? Only time will tell.

Production Quality (3.5 points)

As they pioneer the first watercolor-like animation of its kind, Chris Wall and this series’ artistic team have done an impressive job of turning out a high-quality product that has staying power. The animation style itself is neither clunky nor unrealistic. The intricately painted scenes and backgrounds add a mystical, fantastical element to what is otherwise a colorful depiction of a world much like yours and mine. Viewers will be pleased to see many members of Pembrick’s Creaturepedia in the first season (who can spot the toenibbler in the cover art). It is clear the creators are dedicated to bringing this story to life in a memorable way.

Plot and Storyline Quality (3 points)

The plot and storyline are strong and engaging. Viewers will find themselves eager for the next episode. In fact, at the end of every new episode at least one of our team members complained that it was too short. 🙂 A few moments of choppiness in the first two episodes, and a moment of shameless advertising for Pembrick’s Creaturepedia in episode one do not have a major negative impact on the overall quality of the story. The fact that this is virtually the only error shows how good the series is. Thus far, Chris Wall, Andrew Peterson, and the rest of the team have stayed true to the heart of the story as they adapt it for the big screen. Some minor changes in the plot progression and the addition of a few new scenes improve the original storyline. Overall, a job well done.

Acting Quality (3.5 points)

Peterson and the rest of the team have managed to round up an exceptional group of talented actors and actresses, including child actors who know how to play themselves through the character. To paraphrase Kevin McNally, gone are the days of child actors who aren’t being coached properly, lol. Also, thank goodness the child roles are not voiced by adults trying to do either a high or nasal sounding voice (relieved sigh). Jodi Benson and Kevin McNally, in the roles of Nia and Podo, have both taken on a different accent for their roles which comes off as believable and fitting. Andrew Peterson (the voice of Oskar N. Reteep) and Henry Ian Cusick (Peet the Sock Man) suit their roles so well that there is currently an ongoing debate in my mind as to which one is doing a better portrayal of their character. Alkaio Thiele, Griffin Robert Faulkner, and Romy Fay, in the roles of Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli, are bringing their best to the table as they set the standard for what child voice actors can and should do with their talents. Finally, secondary cast members like Kellen Goff and Christopher Robin Miller bring the voices of Fangs to life as the reptilian bad guys that all fans of the series know and dislike.

Continuity Quality (3 points)

The first and second episodes have some moments of story choppiness, which is likely due to the fact that the creators were trying to cover a large amount of expository content from the first novel in a relatively short amount of runtime. Throughout the remainder of the season, the story continuity strengthens and begins to build on the foundation Peterson laid in On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Without giving away any spoilers, the writers do adapt a few of the original scenes from the novel in a way that ties key plot points together better and gives greater backbone to the overall story. We haven’t seen such an effective adaptation of a book series to the big screen since the beloved Chronicles of Narnia movies.

Conclusion

The Wingfeather Saga is blazing a trail in the Christian animated world by being unapologetically different than it’s counterparts. For one thing, unlike many kids shows, this one has engaging dialogue, a clear storyline, and it’s just plain fun! Parents, there’s no need to invest in earplugs for this one. 😉 Additionally, the creators seem to be listening to both their Creator and to the voices of their audience. We don’t usually see such attentiveness to what type of entertainment families want and need. Other Christian creative teams should take notes and seek to discover what type of entertainment their audience actually wants to see before they start making a show. To conclude, I look forward to forthcoming seasons with great interest, and the BOR team recommends this series to anyone looking for a family show that is truly enjoyable.

Final Rating: 13 out of 14 points

April 4, 2023 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Wolf Soldier by James Hannibal

Author’s Note: We were provided with a free e-copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

For the purpose of this review, I will abandon my usual structure and attempt to examine the many errors committed during the construction of this tale. First, the plot is hard to follow and is full of printed-out fantasy tropes. Second, the villians are both mysterious and cheesy (e.g. the trolls and dragon(s) bear a striking similarity to Tolkein’s orcs and the Lord of the Rings dragon, hmmm). Last, the storyline is forgettable at best, and the characters can only be compared to flimsy paper dolls (lacking depth and relevancy). I will sum up the quality of the story itself by saying this: Every aspect of the plot/storyline hinge on..you guessed it…vanishing powder. Absurd. If you haven’t already gathered this, any relevant themes are nil. Let’s talk about the other categories in more detail.

Character Development (0 points)

It is hard to get to know the cast of characters as their sailboat is tossed in the churning, changeable waters of this fictional ocean. Connor, the protagonist, is a partially developed character who has more potential than his comrades. However, nothing sets him apart from any other fantasy hero character in hundreds of other novels, so the ideas behind his construction topple quickly because no solid foundation is laid. Likewise, the minor characters are pawns in the hands of the story and contribute nothing meaningful in either dialogue or plot (see my paper dolls comment). There is really nothing good to say here, so I’ll stop while I’m ahead.

Creativity and Originality (0 points)

Regrettably, I can list nothing creative or original to speak of in regards to this novel. To put things bluntly, most of the book’s content is very unengaging and may lull some readers to sleep. Christian writers everywhere, we need brain-stimulating, not mind-numbing entertainment! I believe that all writers (who are called by God to write) have the potential to change the world with their finished manuscripts. However, the authors in question must be in tune with Jesus and tuned in to the needs of the people around them to truly produce something with gravitas. Until this occurs, we will, unfortunately, continue to see forgettable works of fiction on Christian bookstore shelves hither and yon.

Wish List Rating: 0 out of 10 points

February 25, 2022February 25, 2022 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

What is the Wingfeather Saga Animated Series?

What is the Wingfeather Saga animated series? Find out in our new video (click on the picture)!

February 4, 2022 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Movie Reviews 3 Comments

The Chosen Series Timeline: Old Testament (Seasons 1-2)

Check out the first episode in our Chosen Timeline series! (Click the picture)

January 27, 2022 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

The Healing Garden (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When an aging military chaplain is forced to move to a different area due to income difficulties, he doesn’t have a very positive outlook on life. However, he soon befriends some of his neighbors and finds that they have needs that he can help with. The chaplain decides that the best way to bring the community together is to plant a healing garden.

Production Quality (2 points)

Overall, The Healing Garden has a good production, including professional video quality and camera work. Though somewhat limited, the sets, locations, and props are well-utilized. However, the audio quality is hurt by loud background sounds, and editing leaves something to be desired as there are a few continuity errors and quick cuts between scenes. Nonetheless, this section still receives an above-average rating.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

In this narrative, the writers used amusing dry humor and eccentric satire to make things interesting. However, the protagonist is a slightly perfect victim with lots of biblical wisdom platitudes. Time is wasted on montages as conversations that otherwise have potential seem cut-off and unfinished. This leaves the characters unfinished as their subplots meander with no clear direction, themes, or purposes. Also, the character arcs are too steep and based on silly coincidences even though there are several moments of authentic believability. There are a number of intriguing concepts that are not fully explored, and the “big payoff” moments fall flat due to lack of adequate setup. In the end, the conclusion is quite sudden, leaving the audience wondering what was actually accomplished. Nonetheless, because of a small amount of potential, a meager score is warranted here.

Acting Quality (2.5 points)

Despite the previous shortcomings of the film, the acting is the strongest aspect of the screenplay. There are some slightly forced emotions and overly staged scenes, but as a whole, the cast members appear to be comfortable in their respective roles. Line delivery is solid throughout the movie. Thus, this rounds out an overall average effort.

Conclusion

The Healing Garden is essentially an unfinished idea that needs more expansion and fleshing-out. With stronger themes, a clearer direction, and more substantial dialogue, this film could have been something. However, we’ll have to wait and see what this creative team does in the future to build off this starting point.

Final Rating: 5 out of 10 points

December 5, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2021, Dan Foote, Danny Michael Mann, Drama, Ellen Ranson, five points, Gene Nuanes, Inspirational, James Svatko, Jaydi Raney, Jeanie Nuanes King, Jeremy Cumrine, Joseph Granda, Kasey Lohman, Kevin Sean Ryan, Kyriana Kratter, Meryem Ersoz, Redmond Ramos, Sam Del Rio, Shur Lee Leave a comment

Finding You [2021] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Finley Sinclair didn’t pass the audition to be accepted into the music school that she’s always dreamed of attending. Thus, Finley decides to take a semester of school abroad, heading to Ireland where her brother spent some of his final days on earth. Along the way, Finley gets tied up with a famous movie star who’s tired of his fake life. Will they be able to discover what they are looking for?

Production Quality (2 points)

Per usual for Brian Baugh, the production of Finding You is very professional. This includes good video quality, camera work, and audio quality. The soundtrack is engaging, and sets, locations, and props are up to industry standards. The only drawback to this section is the significantly choppy editing that detracts from the viewing experience. Nonetheless, this section still receives an above-average rating.

Plot and Storyline Quality (2 points)

With a reliable track record, it’s evident that Brian Baugh will likely never produce a bad film due to his commitment to strong characters. Finding You is no exception to this rule, even if the characters in this narrative outshine the meandering plot. Despite strong dialogue and character development, the characters are tossed along by silly coincidences and somewhat lazy storytelling. Voice and expository conversations are used to fill gaps in the narrative as several disconnected subplots are crammed into the same movie. The writers needed to pick a lane and decide what this screenplay is actually about: a simple love story with some creative riffs and satirical treatment of cheesy films or an exploration of a mysterious elderly woman’s past. By trying to two both things at once, the story became very muddled, lacking clear purpose and focus, which led to a rushed conclusion. Nonetheless, the characters are strong enough to keep this aspect of the movie above par.

Acting Quality (2 points)

As a whole, the cast members in Finding You are mostly acceptable in their roles. Rose Reid was in her comfort zone, by Jedidiah Goodacre seemed to lack range, posting some moments of unsure emotions. At times, line delivery from various actors and actresses was a bit off, but all performances were overall good enough to justify a score just above the middle line.

Conclusion

It’s encouraging that Brian Baugh is applying his directorial talents to novels, which is an absolute necessity as the Christian entertainment field is undergoing a major transition. However, the book that was chosen for this screenplay adaptation did not have a very sizeable audience. Baugh certainly has more potential than is seen in Finding You, so hopefully, in the near future, he’ll be afforded the chance to adapt a better novel.

Final Rating: 6 out of 10 points

November 27, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, RomanceTags: 2021, 6 points, A. Michael Roman, Anabel Sweeney, Brian Baugh, Bryan Quinn, Ciaran McMahon, Dairíne Ní Dhonnchú, Des Martin, Drama, Eva-Jane Gaffney, Fiona Bell, Frank McGovern, Gwynne McElveen, Helen Roche, Inspirational, Jedidiah Goodacre, Jenny B. Jones, Judith Hoag, Julian Reid, Julie Ryan, Katherine McNamara, Ken Carpenter, Kieran Kiely, Marion O'Dwyer, Meg O'Brien, Michelle Hlongwane, Natalie Britton, Orla Bell, Patrick Bergin, Rose Reid, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Stephen Preston, Tim Williams, Tom Everett Scott, Trevor Kaneswaran, Vanessa Redgrave Leave a comment

Break Every Chain (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Jonathan Hickory lost his dad at an early age, so he tried to fill the void by becoming a cop. Jonathan was successful and soon settled into a simple life with his family. However, after developing and subsequently hiding PTSD as a result of his police work, Jonathan enters a downward spiral of substance abuse to cope with the pain. Will Jonathan find his way back before his family is destroyed?

Production Quality (2 points)

Break Every Chain is surprisingly one of the best productions ever crafted by the JC Films team. This includes good video and audio quality as well as an effective soundtrack. Despite some wild action camera work, the sets, locations, and props are professional. For the most part, editing is acceptable except for some lagging scenes. Nonetheless, this section is overall above average.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

Based on a true story and possessing no writing credits from Jason Campbell, Break Every Chain is an excellent look at how police officers are surrounded and affected by trauma every day without being properly prepared or supported. However, the protagonist’s trauma progression is a bit quick, sped up by time jumps as voiceover attempts to bridge these jumps in the timeline. Nonetheless, the writers did a great job with portraying how police officers are expected to push down all their inner turmoil, which can lead to substance abuse and other vices. To capture these concepts, the writers used artistic psychological scenes that are good but tend to isolate the viewer with an ethereal quality that lacks balance. Also, there is a lot of gloom and doom in this narrative without much positive, which is only compounded by a “wise” Christian character who is essentially sarcastic and condemning in the face of the protagonist, who’s struggling with trauma. These matters are not aided by the somewhat simplistic view of psychology that the writers possess. While dialogue is mostly effective at building characters, the extensive timeline stunts realistic character growth, leading to a somewhat empty and forced conclusion. However, there are enough strong points in this plot to justify a meager rating.

Acting Quality (2 points)

As a whole, the acting in this film is mostly average. At times, the performances are somewhat stilted and overly practiced. Emotions are inconsistent in some instances. Some cast members are more genuine than others, and the lead actor is a standout. throughout the screenplay, the acting improves with time, leading to an above-par score for this aspect of the movie.

Conclusion

In a stunning turn of events, the JC Films team actually produced a mostly acceptable film. It can’t be a coincidence that Jason Campbell had no hand in writing or directing Break Every Chain. Basing the screenplay off of a true story was a good way to present a mostly realistic narrative. Demonstrating the cause-and-effect relationship between police trauma and PTSD is an important conversation to have in the context of Christian entertainment. However, a number of issues held this movie back from being all that it could have been. As a result, Break Every Chain is yet another example of why it’s important to focus on quality over quantity.

Final Rating: 5 out of 10 points

November 13, 2021November 14, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, SuspenseTags: 2021, Beck Rosser, Becky Rosser, Brayden Lacer, Collins Randolph, Daniel Fajardo, Dean Cain, Deborah Thompson, Dennis P. Marburger, Don Brooks, Drama, Ignacyo Matynia, Inspirational, Jason Campbell, Jeremiah Clark, Jonathan Hickory, Joseph Moreland, Krystian Leonard, Lindsey Palmer, Sterling Morse Jr., Suspense, Tim Searfoss 6 Comments

God’s Not Dead 4: We the People (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Pastor Dave is up to another one of his escapades, this time standing up to an evil social worker, as well as a local judge, who wants to shut down a homeschooling co-op for not teaching certain curriculums. Thus, the only option for Dave is to take the homeschooling families to testify before Congress just as the government is debating a radical education bill that would take over all education in the entire country. Will Dave’s unhinged diatribes be enough to save the nation’s homeschoolers from total annihilation???

Production Quality (2.5 points)

Like many recent PureFlix movies, God’s Not Dead 4: We the People contains a fine production with few errors. Video quality, camera work, and audio quality are all either average or better. Sets, locations, and props are also up to industry standards. The only concerns in this section pertain to very poor CGI and some aspects of unprofessional editing. Thus, a relatively high score is warranted in this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (-1.5 points)

With this unnecessary fourth installment of a half-baked film franchise that almost no one cares about anymore, the PureFlix team returns to their original God’s Not Dead and Do You Believe? roots by serving up a hodge-podge of politically charged subplots, smashed together in a salad of madness. This screenplay also calls back to the older days of PureFlix when their patented in-your-face dialogue, issue-representing characters, and absurdly childish villains reigned supreme. With literally no real-world precedent for a local government successfully regulating the curriculum of a homeschooling co-op, the writers of this narrative look for persecution under every rock while espousing a very backwards fundamentalist worldview. As conversations are used to dump one-sided information, culture war buzzwords, and extremist talking points on the viewers, We the People has the feel of an anti-Common Core docu-drama, complete with cheesy stock footage of Washington DC and quotes from President Ronald Reagan to fill time. While attempting to riff on and pay homage to whatever random and irrelevant hill on which the ultra-conservative Christian audience is trying to die these days, the writers of this “movie” craft overly contrived scenes and situations that are full of ridiculous coincidences and unrealistic portrayals of legal proceedings. It all crashes into a bombastic conclusion complete with an impassioned David A. R. White meltdown. Therefore, due to the propaganda nature of this plot, negative points are awarded here.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Although many cast members are average or slightly better in their performances, David A. R. White stands out for all the wrong reasons. Between slurry line delivery and bad phone acting, it’s hard to ignore White’s typical unprofessionalism. Elsewhere, some emotions come off as mechanical even though line delivery is mostly acceptable. Some performances are better than others, which produces an average rating.

Conclusion

This unwarranted creation is an embodiment of how PureFlix is being hollowed out as a company and replaced with better prospects. The noticeably shorter runtime and lower budget of We the People demonstrates the overall decline of PureFlix, once at the pinnacle of Christian entertainment. However, this dethronement is a sign of progress for Christian media, leaving the fourth God’s Not Dead film as just a relic of a bygone era that can remind us to never go back to those days.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 10 points

November 6, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, International, Movie ReviewsTags: 2021, Amanda Jaros, Anna Zielinski, Antonio Sabato Jr., Ben Laurro, Benet Embry, Benjamin A. Onyango, Brent Ryan Green, Christian Stokes, Dani Oliveros, David A. R. White, Deborah Tucker, Drama, Francesca Battistelli, Gary Galone, Grayson Palumbo, Hadeel Sittu, Inspirational, Isaiah Washington, Jeanine Pirro, Kim Percival, Lena Harmon, Leticia Robles, Marco Khan, Matt Anspach, Michael Anthony Page, Michael Scott, Nancy Harding, Pancho Burgos-Goizueta, Paul Kwo, PureFlix, Shawn Boskie, Tatum Hatfield, Tommy Blaze, Vance Null, Victor Caballero, Vincent De Paul, William Forsythe 4 Comments

Diamond in the Rough [2019] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

With both her parents struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, a young teenager is struggling in her faith. At one point, she finds herself homeless, but her spiritually strong grandmother is able to help her. In time, several lives converge together in a way that only God could orchestrate.

Production Quality (.5 point)

For a number of reasons, this production is quite low-quality. One area of concern is the camera work, which includes tight shots. While video quality is acceptable and the soundtrack interesting, audio quality is generally inconsistent, revealing obvious background sounds and overdubs. Also, lighting is terrible in the cheap sets and locations. Further, the editing is quite choppy. Thus, with only a small amount of potential, only a meager score can be awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Because the scenes of this plot are all over the place, it’s hard to know what timeline is being shown to the viewer. One event happens after another, contributing to a vaguely meandering storyline that lacks focus and direction. Average dialogue and conversations that are full of Christian platitudes do nothing to deepen otherwise shallow characters. Random asides waste time and generally make no sense, and several mindless sequences and montages accomplish nothing. In general, there are too many useless and dead-end subplots, and there are some narrative continuity errors that are caused by the confusing time jumps and mixed timelines. Eventually, the film ends with a very abrupt conclusion that lacks warning. Thus, with no potential, this section cannot receive any points.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Half of the cast members are acceptable in their performances while the other half is not. Some actors and actresses are overly dramatic, unnaturally forcing their lines. Certain scenes come off as overly staged. However, there is enough positive in this area of the screenplay to justify an average rating.

Conclusion

There might have been some good intentions in the creation of this movie, but the experience is too isolating for the audience. It’s unclear what the writers wanted to convey, so any otherwise interesting message was lost in translation. Perhaps, if this creative team is given another chance, they can do better.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

October 23, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2 points, 2019, Aaliya Shumpert, Alec Story, Batya Cruz, Clay S. Walker, Clifton Powell, Dawn Gardner, Drama, Inspirational, Jacob Sadow, Jordan Werner, Kathryn Blair, Kenra Byon, Louie Olivas, Matt Block, Myles Juniel, Noa Kaiser, Onder Asir, Pam Renall, Ralph Williams, Raven Reliford, Reid Carpenter, Rob Walker, Spencer Cadigan, Tarence Wheeler, Tony Wan Leave a comment

The Exorcism in Amarillo

Plot Summary

In the middle of nowhere in Texas, a family is seemingly subjected to demonic attacks due to some evil books that they have in their house. Will they be able to fight off the unclean spirits before it’s too late???

Production Quality (0 points)

This awful of a production doesn’t belong in our modern era of Christian entertainment, yet here we are. Cheap video quality and poor lighting are only compounded by bad camera work and weird angles. Audio quality is also horrible, including loud background sounds, a cheap soundtrack, and weird sound effects. Further, editing is extremely choppy due to abrupt cuts and transitions and annoying fadeouts. It goes without saying that the sets, locations, and props are very cheap and limited. With no potential to speak of, no points can be awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Going from one thing to the next, this narrative has an incoherent presentation that’s full of illogical happenings and things that happen simply because the writers want them to occur. As another installment in the awful Christian horror genre, this film is replete with stupid jump scares and dumb obsessions with demonic activity. The view of spirituality that is espoused is quite childish, which leads to laughably staged and unnatural scenes. Most sequences make absolutely no sense as they are full of riveting activities of daily living, expositional dialogue, wasted time, and ridiculous fake suspense. Most of the run time is spent on characters wandering around and believing in a misogynistic worldview that elevates men over women. Needless to say, there is no positive to note in this section.

Acting Quality (0 points)

Much like other aspects of this screenplay, the acting is a disaster. All performances are totally blank and dead. Stone-faced line delivery that lacks emotion or conviction has to be seen to be believed. Some lines are even said too soon or too late. In the end, this movie has absolutely no hope.

Conclusion

The Exorcism in Amarillo falls down to the basement of Christian entertainment, harkening back to an era that we should have already closed the chapter on. Instead, poorly funded trains wrecks like this film keep popping up. One day, Christian creators might learn their lesson.

Final Rating: 0 out of 10 points

October 9, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Horror, Movie Reviews, SuspenseTags: 2020, Ashley Hays Wright, Cadence Wright, David Owen Wright, Drama, Horror, Jaina Wright, Scout Wright, Suspense, zero points Leave a comment

Found. (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When several police officers find a teenage boy who was raised by elderly people in the Appalachian Mountains, hard decisions must be made, especially since the boy has no living guardians. One of the police officers decides that she needs to take the boy into her home, which changes the family’s life forever.

Production Quality (1.5 points)

In some respects, this production is professional, such as the good video quality and acceptable sets, locations, and props. However, camera work is slightly inconsistent, and the audio quality is uneven, including background sounds, echoes, and loud portions of the soundtrack. Further, there is not much editing present, but there is some slight improvement throughout the production elements that is enough to warrant an average rating.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

At times, this narrative seems interesting due to its believable and authentic characters that are developed with realistic dialogue. Additionally, the Christian message is not too obvious while it’s still present. Nonetheless, there are plenty of concerns to note, such as time-wasting montages that make the central focus of the plot hard to grasp. The storyline feels like a collection of random scenes, and it seems like that the writers naively believe that being raised in remote areas away from civilization is whimsical, causing those in this lifestyle to become more spiritual than people in civilization. As a result, some key subplots are too muted and only referenced by characters rather than being shown to the audience. Several elements are too vague and never full explored although the creators expect one to care about these factors. Also, the narrative seems to sometimes make convenient decisions for the characters even if these actions are contrary to the characters’ motivations. These missteps lead to a rushed and forced conclusion that means nothing to the viewer due to lack of proper build-up. In the end, slight potential that’s drowned out by quite a few pitfalls leads to a meager score for this section.

Acting Quality (2 points)

The acting is actually the strongest aspect of this film as there are few errors in this section. The adult cast members demonstrate authentic emotions and line delivery. However, some of the younger actors and actresses post performances that leave something to be desire, thus bringing down this section’s overall rating.

Conclusion

It would have been better for this screenplay to focus on the pros and cons of civilized vs uncivilized living rather than glorifying one lifestyle over the other. There could have been timely lessons learned from this type of philosophical exploring. However, perhaps in their future projects, this creative team will build upon what they have begun here.

Final Rating: 4 out of 10 points

October 8, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2020, 4 points, Abigail Bullen, Aiden Grigsby, Benjamin Dawson, Ceanna Tess Moormans, David Alford, Drama, Elijah Bullen, Hannah Alford, Hannah Stam, Inspirational, Jesse Cox, Jesse Stam, John Dawson, Joseph Stam, Josiah Gross, Kate Denson, Kevin Burrill, Landon Kell, Lucy Piper, Luke Sage, Madeleine Bullen, Michael Gerber, Nick Koesters, Randa Blackley, Rick McVey, Ryan Henderson, Sarah Laughland, Tess Moormans, Wendy Mitchell Piper, Wendy Piper 2 Comments

One Last Prayer (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

David is struggling to keep his family together, which causes him to waver between doing things God’s way and the temptation to handle things himself when he can’t afford treatment for his daughter’s rare cancer. Will David turn back to God before it’s too late?

Production Quality (1 point)

As a whole, this production is substandard due to various factors, including shaky camera work. Audio quality is also poor due to an overpowering soundtrack and loud background noises. Sets, locations, and props are also cheap although video quality is acceptable. Further, editing is fairly choppy as some scenes are cut off while other scenes drag on too long. Nonetheless, there is slight improvement with time, so this is enough to warrant a meager score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

The first half of this narrative contains much incoherent meandering, thus lacking focus and purpose and not accomplishing much at first. Despite the otherwise relatable circumstances, characters are generally blank and vanilla due to underwhelming and uninspiring dialogue. Rather than developing characters, time is wasted kicking the can down the road and pushing a patriarchal message. Although Christian platitudes are used to bandage serious problems, the writers employed a surprisingly good use of flashbacks and accurately portrayed the effects of trauma. Nonetheless, better build-up to key scenes is needed to make the impact more significant. In the end, therefore, because of slight potential that is drowned out by other concerns, only a small rating can be awarded to this section.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

For the most part, the acting in One Last Prayer is average. Some instances are overly practiced and muted while other performances have some effort behind them. It seems like certain cast members try harder than others, so the acting is not all bad. The performances tend to improve as the film progresses, leading to an average score.

Conclusion

This screenplay falls in line with a host of other forgettable projects. Nothing memorable connects the audience with the characters, and there are a number of avoidable pitfalls. Hopefully, we will continue to see fewer of these types of movies in the future.

Final Rating: 3 out of 10 points

September 30, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2020, 3 points, Andre K. Mickel, Bobbie Dancy, Brianna Reed, Devan Ofcar, Drama, Inspirational, Jamaa Letiff, James Pickens Jr., James Shabazz, Jessica Craig, John Busser, Jon Mazur, Kayla Moore, Kevin Taylor, Lacey Dietz, Larry E. Fulton, Layla Cushman, Macy Davis, Mason Fabian, Meggan Conti, Mikhail Tot, Myron Davis, Nigel Newsome, Nules Rivers, Ronan M. Basler, Shafron Hawkins, Sofia Plass, Yanique D. Fletcher Leave a comment

Blessed & Cursed (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Deitrick Haddon dreamed of becoming a gospel singer, but family duties complicated his desire to do so. Some people in his home church didn’t trust Deitrick because of his checkered past. However, Deitrick insists that he has changed and is on a mission to prove what God has done in his life.

Production Quality (1.5 points)

As a whole, this production is mostly good, including fine camera work and acceptable sets, locations, and props. However, there are some slight audio concerns, such as background sounds, obvious overdubs, and general inconsistency. In some situations, there are wild action shots and shaky camera work. There are also a few noticeable continuity errors. Further, editing is quite terrible as some scenes cut off prematurely while other scenes are pasted together without effective transitions. In the end, due to the mixed-bag nature of this production, an average score is warranted.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

Blessed & Cursed offers a realistic look at internal church problems and long-term ministry corruption. Nonetheless, the narrative presentation is a disaster, including dizzying montages that waste time and various disconnected scenes. Although good points are raised about people being in church leadership for too long, characters are generally one-dimensional. Despite somewhat interesting dialogue, the writers push legalistic worldviews that emphasize odd views of women, music, and relationships. In general, the plot doesn’t have any substantial focus or flow, thus preventing it from living up to its fullest potential. Hence, only a small rating is awarded to this section.

Acting Quality (2 points)

For the most part, the acting of Blessed & Cursed is average or better. Despite some moments of drama and sensationalism, certain cast members are better than others. At times, line delivery is a bit forced. Nonetheless, there is enough positive in this section to justify an above-average score.

Conclusion

It’s evident that the writers of this film had good intentions, but the presentation is poor. Additionally, the prevailing worldview in the story is not much different than that of the characters who are portrayed as antagonistic. Thus, though there are standout portions of this screenplay, it’s overall underwhelming and forgetful.

Final Rating: 4 out of 10 points

September 29, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2010, 4 points, Allison Elizabeth Brown, Ariana Pierce, Bill H. McKinney III, Bryant Scott, Damita Haddon, Deitrick Haddon, Drama, Drew Sidora, Errol Service, Inspirational, Joel Kapity, Jor él Quinn, Justin Williams, Karen Clark Sheard, Kellie Shanygne Williams, Keno Greer, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Loren Harper, Mali Music, Ronnie J. Pitre, Ryan Pierce, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Treiva Williams, Wayne T. Jackson Leave a comment

Thy Neighbor [2018] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Pastor Zach thinks that he has the world at his fingertips. He’s a published author and has a successful church. He loves his wife and son. Zach wants to invite everyone to church, including his offbeat neighbor next door. However, the closer that Zach gets to his neighbor, the stranger things get. Before he knows it, Zach and his family are fighting for their lives.

Production Quality (2 points)

Overall, the production of Thy Neighbor fine and without many issues. Video quality and camera work are professional. Sets, locations, and props, for the most part, are acceptable. Audio quality is average due to a few concerns with background sounds. Further, editing is a bit vanilla in places. Thus, a slightly above-par score is warranted here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

It’s evident that the writers of this narrative were purposely trying to be weird and edgy in their storytelling. However, this plot, despite casting a realistic contrast between plastic Christianity and the real world outside the church bubble, falls into various suspense tropes, such as convenient circumstances that just happen to set up certain conclusions. Unusual asides dominate the story, and bizarre conversations drive the narrative in the direction that the writers want it to go rather than where it could naturally go. Also, some obvious plot holes hurt an otherwise interesting idea. It’s realistic that a pastor would want to sacrifice family time for “saving the world,” and there is some candid dialogue about canned church language and practices. The characters actually have a lot of potential and come off as very realistic at times. Authentic struggles of ministry families are correctly portrayed. Nonetheless, the possibly interesting mystery is short-circuited by an absurd concluding sequence in which all the “twists” are revealed at just the right time as characters do illogical things just for the suspense goals to be fulfilled. In the end, the forced and unnatural message doesn’t really work, but the amount of potential in this concept warrants a meager rating.

Acting Quality (3 points)

The acting of Thy Neighbor is actually the strongest aspect of the film. There are not many errors in this section as line delivery and emotions are on-point. As a whole, few negatives can be pointed out as the cast members seem comfortable in their roles. Therefore, a perfect score is awarded here.

Conclusion

Overall, this screenplay had lots of potential, but it needed major restructuring. This could have been accomplished by starting from the end and working backward to improve character development. To borrow a statement from the movie, the fat needed to be trimmed to make for a tighter and more meaningful story. Also, side characters needed better development. Further, conclusion needed to rely on fewer suspense tropes and more realism. Hence, this creative team has a bright future if they make the necessary adjustments.

Final Rating: 6 out of 10 points

September 23, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Mayflower II (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Miles and Kate just want to live an average life no matter what the world is doing around them. However, Miles encounters a point of no return when his Christian brother shows him a secret spaceship that Miles’ brother intends to use to evacuate Christians from earth. The goal is for Christians to recolonize Mars with Christianity. What choice will Miles make???

Production Quality (.5 point)

Between cheap special effects, annoying sound effects, and bad audio quality, this production is a real doozy. Background sounds and echoes detract from the viewing experience, and cheap sets, locations, and props don’t effectively represent what they are supposed to portray. Acceptable video quality and camera work keep this section from a score of zero, but editing is very choppy, and all production elements worsen with time. Thus, only a small rating can be awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

In this narrative, the writers used plenty of expository dialogue as to leave nothing to chance about what occurred in the plot. The story in and of itself is very fast-paced by trying to get to certain points, creating unrealistic circumstances, and leaving huge gaps in logic. Also, the persecution premise is absurd, full of evil characters who are bent on destroying Christians for absolutely no reason. Stock conversations do nothing to build characters, and Christian characters are ridiculously perfect conduits of Bible verses. In the end, with tons of off-screen content due to the low budget and a lot of silly coincidences, no points can be awarded to this section.

Acting Quality (0 points)

Unfortunately, the acting in Mayflower II is just as bad as other aspects of the film. Whether yelling, screaming, or mechanically delivering lines, many performances feel phoned in. Emotions are not authentic, and a lot of cast members seem to lack conviction of what they are doing. Therefore, no score is warranted here.

Conclusion

It’s evident that the creators of this screenplay went into production with an agenda. In the years that we’ve reviewed Christian entertainment, we’ve never seen this successfully work. Doing this should not be the purpose of Christian creativity, and audiences know this, which is why movies like this one will soon be forgotten.

Final Rating: .5 out of 10 points

September 21, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, Sci-Fi, SuspenseTags: 1/2 point, 2020, D'Arcy Browning, Dallas Lammiman, Drama, Gene Jarvis, Greg Lammiman, Joel Harder, Joyce Swingle, Justin Lewis, Kealey Storrs, Nathan Clarkson, Rachel Peacock, Richard Swingle, Rick Holets, Robert Kirik, Ryan-Iver Klann, Sci-Fi, Shawna Pliva McGill, Stephen Hardy, Suspense, Tree Browning Leave a comment

Buying Time [2019] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

In the future, when Christianity is outlawed in America, a father tells his son the story of how the father was saved by Jesus Christ. However, the son does not buy any of it until things become more personal. Will the son turn to the faith before it’s too late?

Production Quality (1 point)

In this unwarranted sequel to Lay It Down, made nearly two decades after the original, the production isn’t much better than the first. This includes loud and overdriven audio, annoying sound effects, disorienting special effects, dizzying camera work, and terrible lighting. Additionally, video quality is inconsistent, and there are some tight shots throughout. Though sets, locations, and props are cheap, editing is actually fine. Also, in an ironic twist, the portions that are copied over from Lay It Down have fine production quality, which is the main contributing factor to this section’s score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Oddly, this narrative is centered around a rehashing of the main plot points that were found in Lay It Down, making it the film more of an advertisement than an actual sequel. Acting as a cheap commentary for Lay It Down, this story does little else than go over the main points of the older screenplay. At some points, it seems like the writers were trying to be purposely weird and creepy, attempting to conceal a deep secret until the end by simply wasting time. As such, the conversations go in circles, and mindless dialogue kicks the proverbial can down the road, thus creating blank characters. The antagonists are the most evil bad guys ever, and the circumstances therein are generally unrealistic. The movies arrives at the main point way too late, and while the conclusion is somewhat interesting, it’s just not enough to save this narrative from itself. Therefore, zero points are awarded here.

Acting Quality (1 points)

Much like the production section, the acting portions that are copied over from Lay It Down are actually acceptance. However, these are the only positives that keep the acting of Buying Time from being dismal. In this sequel, there is much yelling and screaming. Many performances are trying too hard to be dramatic, sensational, and generally over-the-top. Therefore, this rounds out an overall mediocre element of the film.

Conclusion

Strangely enough, Buying Time is rated higher than Lay It Down mainly because the portions of the first screenplay that are inserted into the sequel showcase the better aspects of Lay It Down. Thus, in a weird twist, the predecessor falsely props up the successor. All this aside, there’s really no reason why anyone should watch either of these films. Both are a waste of time and money.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

September 16, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, SportsTags: 2 points, 2019, Alandra Ortis, Austin Ellingson, D. Gunther Tarampi, Drama, Drew Garrett, Dwight Cenac, Garrett Cargile, Inspirational, Jake Head, Kevin Downes, Lisa Cash, Michael Cargile, Michael Gier, Nathan Bell, Nick Valenzuela, Rick Loya, Sean McEwen, Shawn Hendrix, Sports Leave a comment

Lay It Down [2001] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Ben and Pete have always been close as brothers, and they used to have a hobby of illegal street racing together. However, when one of them comes to the Lord, a rift develops between them. Will they reconcile before it’s too late?

Production Quality (.5 point)

Between very cheesy special effects, quick cuts, and disorienting transitions, this viewing experience is a chore. To add insult to injury, lighting is inconsistent, and the generic soundtrack is sometimes too loud. However, audio quality is otherwise fine, and camera work and video quality are acceptable except for wild zooms, blurry flashbacks, and randomly shaky scenes. Thus, with a small amount of potential, only a tiny score can be awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

This film is full of in-your-face message-pushing via dialogue that’s full of platitudes and sloganeering. The Christian characters are very perfect while non-Christian characters are very bad. The writers seemed to contrive circumstances that were designed to scare people into being saved, and they chose to portray an instant conversation-to-persecution cycle. Following his conversion, the protagonist becomes the most perfect Christian ever, and other Christian characters are Bible-verse-bots that don’t react with normal human emotions. What’s more, lots of time is wasted on seemingly endless racing sequences. In the end, there is really no potential in this section, thus earning zero points.

Acting Quality (1 point)

Some of the acting in Lay It Down is fine while other parts include acting that is trying too hard. Certain performances come off as robotic due to mechanical emotions and line delivery. There are also some annoying bouts of yelling and screaming that seem unnecessary. Overall, with some good and more bad, a sub-par score is warranted here.

Conclusion

It’s evident that the creators of this screenplay had a conversion agenda. They took a moderately interesting story idea and ruined it with propaganda-level messaging. Additionally, production and acting problems dragged the movie down further. Thus, Lay It Down is a relic of an era of Christian entertainment that we hope to move past.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

September 15, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, SportsTags: 1.5 points, 2001, Alandra Ortis, Austin Ellingson, Bobby Downes, D. Gunther Tarampi, Drama, Dwight Cenac, Inspirational, Jake Head, John Sponsler, Kevin Downes, Lisa Cash, Michael Cargile, Michael Gier, Nathan Bell, Nick Valenzuela, Rick Loya, Sean McEwen, Shawn Hendrix, Sports, Tom Gire 1 Comment

Godsend [2021] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

One day, a man wakes up under a bridge with no recollection of how he even got there. Thus, with no identification or memory of his former life, the man becomes instantly homeless. Mistreated by the system, the man has no one to turn to but God. Will the man ever regain what he lost?

Production Quality (.5 point)

This production has many pitfalls in it, such as terrible editing that sometimes cuts off scenes, causes obvious continuity errors, and creates poor transitions. Also, audio is overdriven, and there is a generic soundtrack that, at times, covers up over audio, possibly by design. Despite okay video quality, camera work is wild, including weird camera angles and tight shots. Special effects are cheap, and sets, locations, and props are cheap and limited. Due to all these concerns, only a small score is warranted in this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

In Godsend, the writers actually explore an interesting tale of how someone can suddenly become homeless and therefore be on the receiving end of prejudice and discrimination. However, it’s very unrealistic how and why people are rude, and this fact is facilitated by over-the-top “bad” characters that hate the protagonist for no reason at all. Obvious dialogue leaves nothing to chance, and several occurrences are mostly unbelievable and implausible, thus demonstrating a poor understanding of how institutions really work, such as the legal system. Also, a fundamentalist view of Christianity taints the messaging even though there some very interesting concepts to ponder in this narrative. There was a lot of potential to portray the struggles of real people, but the slight possibilities that were inherent to this idea are placed in a poor package. Therefore, because of the unrealized potential, a meager rating is awarded here.

Acting Quality (.5 point)

Between extremely forced emotions and out-of-sync line delivery, the acting in this film leaves much to be desired. Many scenes appear to be done in one-take, and performances are generally mechanical. However, a tiny amount of potential in some of the cast members keeps this section from receiving a score of zero.

Conclusion

Once again, the JC Films team wasted an otherwise good idea. Imagine what would have happened if they had refrained from making so many screenplays and instead made one or two good ones. However, as their quantity-over-quality assembly line approach continues, we’ll probably never know what could have been.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

September 9, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 1.5 points, 2021, Beck Rosser, Becky Rosser, Debbie Thomey Bennett, Drama, Gary Lee Vincent, Greg Mason, Inspirational, JC Films, JoAnn F. Peterson, Kathy Patterson, Kevin Winn, Michael Ochotorena, Rich Bottles Jr., Tom Peterson 1 Comment

The Man Who Went to Heaven (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When David Burrows is fatally shot in the line of duty as a security guard, he is rushed to the hospital but medically dies. However, David comes back from the other side with a wild story to tell. Will anyone believe his experiences in the afterlife?

Production Quality (1 point)

This film contains another sub-pair production due to shaky camera work and inconsistent audio quality that includes loud sound effects and background sounds as well as a stupid free soundtrack. There are also some very tight shots and terrible special effects. Nonetheless, this section is kept from being worse by fine video quality and acceptable sets, props, and locations. Thus, a meager score is awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

In a generally off-the-wall storytelling style, this narrative is full of mindless sequences that don’t accomplish anything. The writers managed to squeeze content out of nothing and filled the runtime with total nonsense as the plot jumps all over the place. Thus, it’s very difficult to keep up with the timelines. Dialogue is ridiculous obvious, and the overt message-pushing produces blank characters. There are also too many characters in general. There is no focus or purpose in this story, and there is a bizarre tone that overshadows everything. In the end, with no notable potential, zero points is the appropriate rating for this aspect of the film.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Surprisingly, the acting of The Man Who Went to Heaven is not horrible. However, this doesn’t mean that the performances are any more than generic and average. Line delivery and emotions are okay but not dynamic. Therefore, an average scored is awarded here.

Conclusion

At this point, it’s painfully clear that the JC Films team will continue to pump out random screenplays however they can. It’s commendable to base movies on source material, but the JC Films model just isn’t the way. Thus, there’s nothing further to say here as constructive criticism has no effect on this team’s choices.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 10 points

September 7, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, PsychologicalTags: 2.5 points, 2021, Alexandra Wodnicki, Barbara Zablocky, Beck Rosser, Becky Rosser, Bobby Lacer, Charlie Brown, Dean Cain, Dennis P. Marburger, Drama, Erica Grimm, Gary Lee Vincent, Greg Cottrell, Harvey Roberts, Inspirational, Jason Campbell, JC Films, Joseph Moreland, Katherine Elise Shaw, Krystian Leonard, Larry Orton, Maddox Mudrick, Michael Sigler, Nicholas Miller, Psychological, Tim Ross, Timothy Perez-Ross, Tommy Anderson, Tommy Olszewski, Wesley Benson Leave a comment

One Life at a Time (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When a troubled teen is forced to work at a homeless shelter to atone for his misgivings, he doesn’t care about the people at all at first. However, he slowly begins to change as he spends more time around the people at the shelter. Will he change before it’s too late?

Production Quality (.5 point)

This production is fairly low quality due to loud background sounds, echoes, and a generic soundtrack that drown out other audio. Light and camera work are inconsistent, and special effects are bad. Acceptable sets, locations, props, and video keep this section from receiving no points. However, editing is choppy, thus rounding out a poor effort.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

One Life at a Time contains one of the stupidest ever portrayals of ‘bad kids,’ which are strawmen. It feels like the writers were very tone deaf and didn’t understand how the real world works, especially when it comes to unrealistic legal proceedings, perfect Christian characters, and young people using social media. In general, all the characters are empty due to mindless and robotic dialogue, and there’s no reason why some of them hate homeless people so much. After weird psychological sequences give way to very steep character arcs as people are fixed too easily. In the end, with no potential, this section receives no points.

Acting Quality (.5 point)

As a whole, the acting in this film lacks conviction. Many cast members don’t really seem to care about what they’re doing. Line delivery and emotions are bland and vanilla. Some scenes contain acting that it a bit too extreme. However, there is a tiny amount of improvement with time, which is enough to keep this aspect of the screenplay from being zero points.

Conclusion

Once again, the JC Films team has demonstrated that they care more about dumping more and more Christian movies onto the market than actually creating quality projects. These creators don’t care about heeding advice and will continue to do what they want at the expense of the reputation of Christian media.

Final Rating: 1 out of 10 points

September 2, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 1 point, 2020, Burke Sage, Dean Cain, Dennis Van Kampen, Drama, Emily Buckner, Gary E. Mitchell, Ian Van Houten, Inspirational, Jason Campbell, Jay J. Bidwell, Jimmie Chiappelli, Julian Newman, Julianne Howe-Bouwens, Keith Seccombe, Luke Schroder, Michael Davis Arnold, Michael James Alexander, Nathan Harris, Rose Anne Nepa, Ryan Fisher, Serena Chiappelli, Sherryl Despres, Steve Ostrander, Tommy Olszewski, Xander Castillo Leave a comment

Coronavirus: Perfect Storm (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When a seeming miracles happens during a tornado in West Virginia, a New York reporter is compelled to brave the COVID-19 pandemic to get the scoop. However, what he finds there isn’t what he expected. The reporter will have to come face-to-face with what he truly believes about the afterlife.

Production Quality (0 points)

Between awful special effects and terrible audio quality, this production is a drag on the viewing experience. Loud background sounds, echoes, and annoying special effects are also problematic. Shaky camera work and tight shots are disorienting, and the lighting and video quality are inconsistent. Further, choppy editing ruins things, so all of these factors contribute to a score of zero for this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

This nonsensical narrative is very trippy and confusing to the audience. The subplots are pointless and empty due to mindless dialogue and meandering conversations. Cardboard-cutout characters are impossible to connect with, and these characters are tossed along in a bizarre story-within-a-story twist that is very mind-bending and generally weird. Wacky afterlife theology is also laced throughout this strange tale. In general, this section contains a lot of outlandish content that contains no potential and thus yields no points.

Acting Quality (1 point)

To top everything else off, the acting in Coronavirus: Perfect Storm is uninspiring. However, the performances are not all bad as they are more vanilla than terrible. There is nothing majorly positive nor negative in this section whether it relates to emotions or line delivery. Thus, with just one point, this aspect of the film is the highest rated.

Conclusion

The JC Films team has also proven that they are willing to make a screenplay about anything in an attempt to harvest quick cash with little upfront investment. This movie is no exception to this tendency. Thus, with no end in sight to this nonsense, there’s little else to say here.

Final Rating: 1 out of 10 points

September 1, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, Psychological, SuspenseTags: 1 point, 2020, Beck Rosser, Bobby Lacer, Brayden Lacer, Drama, Eileen Lacer, Gary Lee Vincent, Greg Mason, Harvey Roberts, Jason Campbell, Joshua Reinhart, Kimberli Rowley, Nicholas Miller, Psychological, Suspense, Terry Kennedy, Tim Ross, Timothy Perez-Ross Leave a comment

Leading to Revelation (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

It’s almost the end of time, and two families are full of strife. They are facing some serious challenges as the world starts to spin out of control. Will they be able to remember their faith before it’s too late?

Production Quality (0 points)

There is unfortunately nothing positive to note in this section. Audio quality is terrible due to very loud background noises in both indoor and outdoor scenes, and there is basically no soundtrack. Outside scenes are too bright while inside scenes are poorly lit. Camera work and video quality are both inconsistent. The sets, locations, and props are quite cheap. Further, editing is very choppy, which rounds out a sub-par effort.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

In this narrative, the writers present one thing after the next, dumping disconnected subplots upon the audience. This leads to empty characters and unsubstantial dialogue. The plot includes a juvenile view of Christianity, suggesting that people’s problems can be magically fixed. There is overall no purpose to this story, and it’s basically two different films shoved together. As such, there are no unifying themes other than mindlessness and purposelessness. In the end, the conclusion is nonsensical, leaving nothing for the viewers to learn or believe in. This lack of potential produces a zero-point rating for this section.

Acting Quality (0 points)

Between unconvincing acting and bouts of yelling and screaming, the forceful performances in this movie are basically unbearable. Many cast members recite lines without conviction or realistic emotions. Further, one-take scenes have mistaken lines. Thus, this rounds out a no-potential effort.

Conclusion

It remains incredibly unclear how and why films like Leading to Revelation continue getting made. Screenplays like these accomplish nothing except to further tarnish the reputation of Christian media. There is no purpose to these types of creations, so money needs to stop being spent on them.

Final Rating: 0 out of 10 points

August 26, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Apocalyptic, Drama, Movie ReviewsTags: 2018, Aaron Angus, Addison da Silva, Alexis Leggett, Ana Roshelle Diaz, Andrew Hunsicker, Apocalyptic, Chris Korkalo, Christopher Michale Dailey, David Slayter, Drama, Hannah Amacker, James Berberich, Kera O'Bryon, L.J. Moses, Lucy Gebhardt, Matthew Berberich, Michael Everett Johnson, Michelle Lewis, Tim Ross, Timothy Perez-Ross, zero points Leave a comment

A Horse for Summer (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

The Walsh family is struggling financially because of their overly expensive horse boarding farm. Matters are complicated when a troublemaking cousin is forced to live with them due to her mother’s criminal activity. Together, the must all learn to trust God no matter what and to not take matters into their own hands.

Production Quality (1.5 points)

As a whole, this film has an average production. Despite fine video quality and acceptable camera work and lighting, the audio quality leaves something to be desired. This is due to loud background sounds and a generic soundtrack. Also, editing is somewhat choppy although sets, locations, and props are good. This mixed bag of elements leads to the run-of-the-mill rating.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

This narrative is unfortunately filled with expository dialogue as each scene is overly staged. Every conversation is robotically engineered to spoon-feed the audience and leave nothing to chance. A major component of this is forceful Christian messaging and convenient sermonizing about how going to church will fix all your problems as well as other cheesy platitudes. Some sequences make absolutely no sense, and tons of wasted time drowns out whatever small prospects there are in potentially realistic character backstories. The writers expect the viewers to care about the characters, who could have been good, without properly developing them. In the end, issues are fixed way too easily, and with nothing significantly positive to note here, no points can be awarded in this section.

Acting Quality (1 point)

Most of the time, the acting in A Horse for Summer is quite bad. The performances are very mechanical and lack conviction. Emotions are empty, and line delivery is procedural. Many cast members seem unsure in their acting, but not all of them are unconvincing. There are some moments of good performing, especially from some actors and actresses. Thus, a small score can be given here.

Conclusion

In the end, this screenplay was extremely formulaic in its creation. This idea has been done time and again, and although this movie had some potential to be different, it didn’t live up to this. Thus, A Horse for Summer becomes just another throwaway film that will be forgotten.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 10 points

August 24, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2.5 points, 2015, Alec Michaelides, Bobbi Jeen Olson, Bryan Kruleski, Carly Cairns, Cazi Greene, Chalet Lizette Brannan, Christopher Atkins, Dean Cain, Dennis Carone, Di Carone, Dimity Telfer, Drama, Frank Kam Lee, Gary Champagne, Inspirational, Jack Matasek, Jane L. Fitzpatrick, Jámie Gilbert, Jenny Pond, Joel Paul Reisig, Joshua Ray Bell, Kenneth Lemm, Lee Meriwether, Mackenzie Lemm, Maggie Aschmeyer, Mandalynn Carlson, Mark Raven, Mark S. Weller, Mona Bakhoum, Nancy Criss, Pat Payne, Paul Stewart, Pete Brown, Priscilla Leona Horne, Robert Cox, Ruth Crenshaw, Sherri Ettore, Taylor Cleghorn, Teri Lee, Terri Minton, Terry Silverthorne, Tracy Wright, Tre Mosby, Virginia Olivieri, William Barrantes Jr. Leave a comment

The Green Grass (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Shawn is a successful businessman, but his family is coming apart at the seams. He doesn’t even know his wife and children anymore, and he doesn’t even know how close he is to losing it all. While Shawn is chasing after the next big thing, will he forfeit his faith and family, or will he come back to God before it’s too late?

Production Quality (1 point)

Between loud background noises, echoes, and overdriven audio, this production leaves much to be desired. There is also barely any soundtrack. Camera work, video quality, and lighting are acceptable, as are the sets, locations, and props. However, at times, there are some tight shots that cut things off, and the editing is very choppy, including awkward cuts, poor transitions, and continuity errors between scenes. As a whole, this production gets worse as it goes, which leads to a low score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

From the beginning, awkward narration is forced upon the viewer. There are also too many characters to focus on such that it’s unclear who the protagonist is. The narrative consists of random scenes about unrelated events, and there are no obvious themes other than a fixation on edgy content. Although realistic, the situations that characters find themselves in could be more tastefully presented. Dialogue is very robotic, and the plot is full of loose ends and tangential ideas that have no organization or purpose. There are too many ridiculously dramatic scenes where everybody shows up to reveal secrets like a soap opera, and constant emotional turmoil wears on the audience. Despite the characters’ imperfections, they need a lot of development. Near the end, all characters suddenly become instantly good for no good reason at all, and problems are easily solved without realistic consequences. As such, the character arcs are extremely steep. Though the Christian message is restrained at first, this quickly devolves into really obvious conversations that spoon-feed lessons to the viewers. Due to all these concerns, no points can be awarded here.

Acting Quality (1 point)

The acting of The Green Grass is incredibly stilted and wooden. Most of the scenes are overly rehearsed. Emotions are cardboard, and line delivery is mechanical. There are also instances of extreme yelling and screaming. Though some cast members are okay, this isn’t enough to prevent a low score for this section.

Conclusion

There’s really no point in making a film like The Green Grass. Between poor production quality, a plot with no potential, and low-quality acting, there was really no reason for this screenplay to be made. The only hope is that movies like this are no longer made in the future.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

August 17, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie ReviewsTags: 2 points, 2019, Andrew Dozier, Aris Rogers II, Ben Woods, Christina Garza, Deon Gibson, Drama, Emily Pedone, Jorge Diaz, Kibwe Dorsey, Kris King, Lee Lee Lapointe, Machela Boone, Marc De Stefano, Mary Leonard, Matthew Williams, Renard Edwards, Stephanie D. Sanders, Stephen Richardson, Terri Blakney Beach, Tiffany Q. Edwards, Yavette Green Leave a comment

The Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Megan heard that a group of grumpy men regularly came into the cafe where she worked. These men always complained that the good old days were better, so Megan decided to befriend them and soon found herself believing their stories about the good old days. Together, they all talk about the good old days and wonder what might happen in the future.

Production Quality (.5 point)

Despite acceptable video quality, camera work and lighting are very inconsistent. Sets, locations, and props are okay, but the soundtrack is very loud. However, the soundtrack doesn’t cover up the annoying background noises or cheesy sound effects. There is also basically no editing in the film, which leads to long sequences of blank nothingness and unnecessary fadeouts. Thus, with only a tiny amount of positive, this section receives a small score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

The Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club is based on a very simple and short idea that’s dragged on for too long. Narration lazily strings scenes together without giving the narrative focus or purpose. Because of this, there is no connection with the audience, and the forced Christian message and worldview that the good old days were better is annoying. Further, the characters in this plot are empty due to vanilla dialogue and conversations. With no potential to speak of, no points can be awarded here.

Acting Quality (1 point)

Between stilted and robotic acting, unsure line delivery, and uneven emotions, the acting of this screenplay leaves much to be desired. While some cast members are better than others, the negative outweighs the positive. Thus, a less-than-average score is warranted in this section.

Conclusion

It’s unclear what creators of movies like The Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club are going for. Perhaps worldview-pushing is the motivation. However, viewers aren’t going to be open to a philosophy when the film presentation is so bad. A creation of this low quality isn’t going to make any difference at all, besides the fact that many audiences don’t care about this type of messaging.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

August 12, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 1.5 points, 2013, Amanda Barber, David Cade, David Maysick, Drama, Eric Hageman, Grant Hageman, Gregory Hines, Hans Willer, Inspirational, Justin Barber, Michelle Hines, Richard Barber, Stacey Bradshaw, Thomas Hines, Werner Reidel Leave a comment

Power Play [1994] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Robbie Steele is an overconfident attorney who believes that she can singlehandedly save the city of Vancouver by keeping their struggling hockey team from skipping town. To do this, Robbie just needs to convince Cody Harris, an estranged but previously popular hockey player, to sign with her home team. However, talking Cody into doing this proves to be a more difficult feat that Robbie expected, especially since Cody has recently become a Christian.

Production Quality (.5 point)

As a 1990s production, Power Play has plenty of holes in it. Despite acceptable camera and audio work, video quality is burry, and the soundtrack is loud and antiquated. There are also cheesy sound effects and wild camera work in the action scenes. Sets, locations, and props are okay, but there are many disorienting flashes and transitions throughout the film, making for an annoying experience. Further, editing is incredibly choppy, sometimes prematurely cutting off scenes. In general, the production gets worse as it goes, which leaves only a tiny score for this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Although this narrative has an interesting premise, it’s hard to get to know the characters due to the breakneck pace of the plot. Additionally, the premise is very trumped-up as writers go out of their way to make certain events happen that they want to occur. The Christian characters are too perfect, and while the flawed characters have potential, they are swept along by the rapid story progression, which short-circuits potential development. It’s a shame that some of these characters were wasted in this way, but there’s unfortunately no way to justify awarding points for this aspect of the screenplay.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Though the acting in Power Play is fairly unsure, this section is actually the strongest of the whole movie. Despite instances of cast members of trying too hard and scenes that feel like one-takes, the performances are not all bad. Some line delivery and emotions are acceptable, which is enough to warrant an average score.

Conclusion

Traditionally, the Worldwide Pictures team was committed to quality in their films. However, Power Play is an exception. Without a quality production and engaging storyline, there is little for a viewer to be interested in. However, the Christian entertainment industry is hopefully moving past this older era of screenplays.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

August 10, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, SportsTags: 1994, 2 points, Anna Waterhouse, Campbell Lane, Don Knodel, Drama, Hagan Beggs, Inspirational, James Covell, John Shepherd, Ken Olandt, Laurie Leinonen, Marietta DePrima, Michael O. Sajbel, Olivia Jones, Rocky Lane, Ryan Walter, Sports, Worldwide Pictures Leave a comment

Geronimo [1990] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Jeremy is a bad kid who can’t stay out of trouble. However, he likes a random Christian girl, so Jeremy decides to become a Christian summer camp counselor so that he can spend more time with this girl. Nonetheless, Jeremy ends up having to spend more time watching “troubled” kids who have been forced to come to the camp. As a result, Jeremy has to learn about the Christian faith to help them.

Production Quality (2 points)

For the most part, this older style production is acceptable. Video quality, camera work, and audio quality are pretty good. Sets, locations, and props are acceptable. The biggest pitfalls relate to editing as this aspect is extremely choppy. Thus, this section receive a score just above average.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

From almost the very beginning of this narrative, heavy-handed narration leaves nothing to chance, which ultimately short-circuits character development. Before they change in extreme and unrealistic ways without proper justification, the characters are either totally blank people or racial stereotypes due to uninspiring dialogue. A lot of the characters don’t have normal human reactions to events. Many of the scenes seem unfinished and abrupt, and at times, it’s hard to understand what’s happening. The plot jumps all over the place, stringing together a random collection of disconnected moments that are overly scripted. There is no continuity or focus, and there is generally no potential in this section, which is why no points are warranted.

Acting Quality (0 points)

On top off all the other issues in this film, robotic acting joins the fray. The cast members deliver stilted lines and exhibit emotions without any feeling whatsoever. Many of the performances are incredibly awkward, and there are a number of sequences of yelling and screaming that are completely unnecessary. Therefore, with no potential in this area, zero points are awarded.

Conclusion

The “fixing troubled kids at a Christian camp” concept is a bit overwrought. Also, assuming that all “street kids” are of a certain race is fairly questionable at best. Essentially, Geronimo is an example of a era gone by that hopefully Christian entertainment has fully moved on from.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

August 5, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 1990, 2 points, Brian McMillan, Carol Wilson, Drama, Edward T. McDougal, Inspirational, Jamie Elizabeth Samsel, Julia Kanour, Keith Vivrette, Luis Lopez, Matt Kissane, Paul Jeans, Peter Mayer, Philip Leeman, Raufel Muhammad, Rob McManus, Scott Ingerson, Steven Crump, Steven Keating, Tomian Negrón, Walt Kosche Leave a comment

Pass the Light (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Steve is tired of the divisive nature of politics, especially since a local election is heating up as a representative is trying to use the Christian faith to divide group of people from each other. Thus, Steve decides that it’s time to do something at school, in the community, in the political world, and at home. To do this, Steve launches a massive campaign to remind everybody of what the Christian faith is really about.

Production Quality (2 points)

It’s clear that the creators of this film focused on professional production quality. This fact is evident in the video quality and camera work. Sets, locations, and props are well-constructed and well-utilized. The only drawbacks include uneven audio quality and inconsistent editing. Nonetheless, this section deserves an above-average score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

The writers had several good ideas and agendas in creating this screenplay. They raised excellent points about legalism in Christina culture, but the writers bit off way more than they could chew by trying to cover too many concepts at once. As such, there are many random subplots that generate too many characters for the audience to keep up with. Sometimes, it’s hard for the viewer to keep up with the stream-of-consciousness storytelling style, and time is filled with lots of empty montages that could have been replaced with real character development. As they are, the characters are a mixed bag. The protagonist is basically perfect and able to fix everything. The antagonists are a bit extreme, and a majority of the characters are difficult to connect with due to the crowding-out nature of the narrative. For the most part, the political premise is quite unrealistic although the politician characters are okay. In the end, an overwhelming amount of issues are easily fixed in magical fashions, which stunts the potential of this plot. Nonetheless, there were plenty of good discussions about the problems in modern Christianity, which warrants a small score.

Acting Quality (2.5 points)

For the most part, the acting in Pass the Light is professional. Most cast members put forth commendable efforts, including good line delivery and emotions. However, there are a few small moments of some actors and actresses trying too hard and generally putting forth over-the-top performances. Nonetheless, it’s not enough to prevent a high rating in this section.

Conclusion

It’s evident to many that there are problems within established American Christianity. However, taking all of the issues on in one movie is not the right way to get your message across. Additionally, crafting an unrelatable protagonist will alienate most audiences. In the end, Pass the Light was based on a number of good ideas that crowded each other out and didn’t really help solve any of the concerns that the writers raised.

Final Rating: 5.5 out of 10 points

August 3, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2015, 5.5 points, Alexandria DeBerry, Amber Jenna Bohac, Andie Canuel, Angie Canuel, Anne Winters, Brendon Eggertsen, Brianne Tju, Brittany Gandy, Cameron Palatas, Camille Kim DesJardins, Charlie DePew, Chris Medlin, Colby French, Craig Mahlstedt, Dalpre Grayer, David Crane, David Weil, Denny Hawks, Drama, Dylan Cotter, Gina Santori, Inspirational, Jacob Houston, Janelle Marra, Jason E. Kelley, Jon Gries, Juana Gauthier, Julie Desjardins, Julie Sufana, Katie Burton, Keith Loneker, Lawrence Saint-Victor, Lou Wegner, Malcolm Goodwin, Mason Steel Davis, Michael Duane Morris, Mike Evariste, Milena Govich, Nikki Love, Pancho Burgos-Goizueta, Rachael Kathryn Bell, Rachel Elizabeth Murray, Rafael J. Noble, Rosanne Tan, Ruby Lewis, Samantha Figura, Sean Ryal, Steve DesJardins, Téa Mckay, Thérèse Cator, Tim Martin Gleason, Victor Hawks Leave a comment

Secrets in the Mist by Morgan Busse (Book Review)

Author’s Note: We were provided with a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Plot & Storyline Quality (2 points)

Secrets in the Mist has a creative storyline that many readers will love, but because the characters lack depth, the novel’s main points fall a bit flat.

There are three major strengths of the plot and storyline. (spoilers ahead) First, Busse creates a believable reason for the Turned to exist and places limits on their abilities – making this aspect of the plot more realistic. Second, the plot contains enough small twists to keep the story’s progression from becoming overly predictable. Finally, the storyline contains some original themes that are not usually portrayed in Christian fiction.

In comparison, there is one overarching error. The plot focuses heavily on Cass and her perspective, and in doing so, fails to connect other characters to the plot in a memorable way. For instance, it would have been nice for the author to include a parallel storyline about Theo’s grandfather when he was Theo’s age – a present vs. past contrast, so to speak. This would have created an opportunity for her to establish what the world was like before the Mist was widespread, and to deepen Theo’s point of view by crafting a backstory for his family that explained how past decisions led to their present condition. Alternatively, a past-to-present parallel storyline from Luron’s perspective would have been interesting as well – especially if the author did not reveal that character’s identity as an opportunistic villian until later in the series. To sum up, the plot and storyline are lacking this author’s usual depth and attention to detail. Therefore, Secrets in the Mist receives an average score in this section because the plot and storyline are full of good, but unfinished ideas.

Character Development (2 points)

Much like the plot and storyline, this novel’s characters are full of potential. However, improvements can be made in several areas.

There are two main strengths in this part of the novel. One, Cass (the protagonist) has a fully developed personality, tendencies, and consistent behaviors. And two, this character was given both motive and a meaningful backstory that helps establish the setting in an organic way.

In spite of these strengths, this novel needed some work in character development. Theo is an incomplete character who lacks flaws, motive, and a fully developed personality. With what we know about Theo’s background, it would have been very easy to establish some flaws. (spoilers ahead) For instance, Theo grew up in a privileged society and never consistently interacted with people from the lower classes. At the very least, Theo would have developed an unconscious attitude of entitlement, even if he was only copying his family’s behavior patterns. Moreover, what is his motive for wanting to eradicate the Mist? Because no one is born wanting to save the world, something had to have happened that would inspire his drive to fix things. (spoiler) If this motivation is his father’s death, we needed to hear more from the character about how this affected him in the past and present.

The only other error in this section is the underdeveloped minor characters. As readers, we are told what the minor characters do via expository dialogue, but we never really get to know them. Including one or two meaningful scenes each with the minor characters would have helped to cement them as key parts of the storyline. On the whole, this section is lacking some of the elements of a good story, and for that reason, it too receives an average score.

Creativity & Originality (1 point)

In closing, Secrets in the Mist is an enjoyable, easy-to-read story that features a well-built fictional world and relevant themes. For this reason, it earns a point in creativity. However, because it lacks depth and has a few plot holes, it is not re-readable. Additionally, this book would need some rewriting before it would be ready for a movie/series adaptation. For that reason, it does not earn an x-factor point. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but would have liked to see the author go a step further in several areas and take a few risks.

Wish List Rating: 5 out of 10 points

July 30, 2021July 28, 2021 by amg16 Categories: Movie Reviews Leave a comment

Amish Grace (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When a mentally ill man tries to exact revenge on a local Amish school for the death of his daughter, the Amish community is rocked with grief. However, as the religious leadership instructs the faithful to forgive, one mother cannot let it go. Thus, she has to come to grips with what it truly means to follow God and do what He says.

Production Quality (2.5 points)

With professional funding behind it, Amish Grace sports a great production with very few errors within it. Video quality, audio quality, and camera are all on par with industry standards. Sets, locations, and props are all well-constructed and well-utilized. There are no lighting or special effects concerns. The only small problems to note relate to editing, but these are not enough to prevent a high score from being awarded to this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1 point)

It was great that the writers used real-life source material to explore extremely difficult topics in this narrative. As such, some characters are very relatable as they struggle with hard concepts. However, some characters come off as too perfect and angelic, and there are overall too many characters to keep up with. Because of this fact, there is no clear protagonist, and many of the subplots are unfinished or disjointed. It’s unfortunate that a story based on true events lacked focus and organized purpose. Nonetheless, certain sequences of dialogue and some conversations are intriguing even if they fail to effectively move the narrative forward. Sometimes, it feels like the characters are trapped in what the story wants them to do, such as when there are pertinent points raised about the various inconsistencies of legalism in certain religious lifestyles and when these legitimate concerns are never explored again. In the end, this film was not long enough to do justice to the true accounts, and it’s possible that a miniseries format would have been more appropriate. Despite this, however, this aspect of the screenplay does deserve a modest rating for authenticity.

Acting Quality (3 points)

The acting is the strongest element of Amish Grace. There are virtually no errors with the emotions or line delivery. It’s clear that the cast members were professionally coached, which leads to a perfect score for this section.

Conclusion

There was so much that could have been done in this movie. The true story is extremely compelling and poignant, but the potentially powerful message is not effectively communicated in Amish Grace. Nonetheless, there are still meaningful elements in this film, so it’s likely worthy your time. We just wonder what could have been.

Final Rating: 6.5 out of 10 points

July 29, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2010, 6.5 points, Amy Sloan, Bruce Nozick, Chloe Madison, Daphne Blunt, Darcy Rose Byrnes, David Mazouz, Donald B. Kraybill, Drama, Elijah Tadros, Emilee Wallace, Eugene Byrd, Fay Masterson, Gary Graham, Gregg Champion, Inspirational, Isabella Interian, Jessica Dickey, John Churchill, Joseph Conlan, Karley Scott Collins, Kate Fuglei, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kyle A. Clark, Larry A. Thompson, Madison Davenport, Madison Mason, Marta M. Mobley, Matt Letscher, Micky Levy, Robert G. Endara II, Tammy Blanchard, Taylor Ann Thompson, Teena Booth, Trevor Thompson, Willow Greer Leave a comment

Gimme Shelter [2013] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Agnes Bailey, who goes by Apple, was raised in a terrible environment. Thus, after Apple finds out that she’s pregnant, she decides to make a run for it away from her drug-addicted mother. Apple tries to find her long-lost father, who lives in an affluent area. However, Apple will have to wrestle with the demons of her past before she can find true rest.

Production Quality (2 points)

For the most part, this production is a mixed bag. There is some shaky camera work and inconsistent lighting. However, video quality is fine, and the audio is mostly acceptable. The soundtrack is intriguing even if there are background sounds at times. As a while, sets, locations, and props are realistic, and editing is acceptable. All production elements do improve with time, so this section does enough to receive an above-average score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (1.5 points)

Gimme Shelter is an authentic look at real struggles that is sometimes a bit too raw. There are one too many instances of course language and edgy content, and the first half of the narrative meanders before finding a footing. It’s good that the writers refrained from an overly preachy Christian message, but more redemptive themes would have been preferred. Nonetheless, the characters and dialogue are still very believable even if some sequences are wasted and unnecessarily drawn-out. More meaningful flashbacks could have fleshed out the plot and helped it avoid so much telling. As it is, the stream-of-consciousness storytelling style sometimes works and sometimes does not. The narrative needs a more central focus and stronger themes, but the realistic look at life is refreshing. Thus, an average score is warranted for this section.

Acting Quality (3 points)

Despite previous shortcomings, the acting is the strongest point of Gimme Shelter. The performances therein are very solid with no discernable errors. Emotions and line delivery are on point. This rounds out an overall above-average film.

Conclusion

At the time, Gimme Shelter stood apart from other quasi-Christian screenplays that were being released in the 2010s. This movie was almost too authentic and shocking, and there are quite a few rough edges in Gimme Shelter. Nonetheless, perhaps the most significant element that held this film back from being all that it could have been was its lack of plot focus and organization. The writers relied too heavily on the gritty aspects and forgot the keep the audience engaged with the characters. Thus, this creation serves as a warning for future projects of this caliber.

Final Rating: 6.5 out of 10 points

July 27, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, PsychologicalTags: 2013, 6.5 points, Ann Dowd, Ólafur Arnalds, Brendan Fraser, Candace Smith, Dama Claire, Darlisha Dozier, Dascha Polanco, David S. Shaw, Drama, Dylan Russell, Eddie Schweighardt, Elyse Kratchman, Emily Meade, Erik Ramos, Faye Dozier Darlisha, Gena Bardwell, Harvey Krauss, Ivette De Jesus, Jade Jackson, James Earl Jones, Jeff Billingsley, Jeff Rice, Joshua Amir, Kemani Holmes, Laneya Wiles, Natalie Guerrero, Paul Hellerman, Psychological, Rachel Mattila Amberson, Ron Krauss, Rosario Dawson, Rufus Dorsey, Scott Steindorff, Sheila Tapia, Stephanie Szostak, Tashiana Washington, Vanessa Hudgens Leave a comment

Into His Arms (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When a little girl goes missing, the community is shaken. Her parents are beside themselves as they demand for the police to do something. Many authorities are dismissing the disappearance as a simple accident, but one detective isn’t convinced. He won’t stop until he finds out the truth.

Production Quality (0 points)

With very poor audio quality, inconsistent video, and bad lighting, this production is mostly a disaster. Scenes are too bright in the outdoors and too dark in the indoors. Backgrounds sounds are annoying, as is shaky camera work. Sets, locations, and props are extremely cheap, giving the film the feel of a cheap reality show. Weird flashes and special effects disorient the audience, and editing is extremely random. Needless to say, this production has no potential, which is why no points are awarded here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Between very obvious messaging and incredibly unsubstantial dialogue, watching this screenplay is a real drag. There are tons of scenes without conversations and useless montages that waste time. Many side characters do nothing to advance the narrative, and the viewer isn’t drawn into the suspense. Despite the tragic circumstances of the plot, the audience feels nothing due to the totally blank and empty characters. Otherwise good themes are lost in the most boring possible portrayal of a crime drama that’s full of characters staring into space. Then, to top everything off, a wild climax sequence concludes the story by disrupting the overall tone of the movie with an over-the-top ending. Hence, another score of zero is warranted.

Acting Quality (0 points)

Between extremely sappy and unbelievable emotions and overly practiced line delivery, the acting of Into His Arms leaves much to be desired. Many cast members are very over-the-top in their performances, including a lot of fake happiness. Thus, due to lack of potential in this section, no points can be awarded.

Conclusion

In the end, older creations like this film had an uphill battle to fight due to low production potential. There was also a lack of adequate understanding when it came to effective acting. However, this doesn’t diminish the fact that screenplays like Into His Arms are just bad in every way. They have no impact on the audience and only serve as a relic of days that were darker for Christian entertainment. Hopefully, we can move past these times.

Final Rating: 0 out of 10 points

July 22, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, Mystery, SuspenseTags: 1999, Christina Carlson-Juntti, Cliff Dahl, Drama, Faye Wefso, Irene Handren-Seals, James Jacobson, Jim Wefso, Joel King, Keith Davenport, Marc Linn, Marcia Welch-Kahler, Mark Barnes, Michael Linn, Mystery, Suspense, Travis Opdyke, zero points Leave a comment

It’s a Life Worth Living (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

John is running from his dark past, trying to conceal his demons of substance abuse while living a seemingly normal life. However, when everything falls apart, he has nowhere to turn. Thus, he is forced to look to God for strength to continue on and rebuild.

Production Quality (2 points)

For the most part, the production of It’s a Life Worth Living is acceptable. Video quality, camera work, and audio quality are fine. Sets, locations, and props are average or better. The main concerns with this section are the wild editing and disorienting special effects in certain sequences. Sometimes, there are very abrupt transitions that cut things off mid-scene. Thus, a slightly above-par score is warranted here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

This narrative is certainly interesting and contains flawed characters. However, the radio-style storytelling is a crutch for actual character development, and this method of plot development encourages large time jumps that are bridged with exposition. The writers tried to cover too much ground in the narrative, and the storyline meanders without much purpose. Despite slight potential, the plot needs lots of reorganization and shoring up. The characters therein are okay but are slightly one-dimensional due to unsubstantial dialogue. Redemption moments are interesting but are unearned due to the weak characters and unclear motivations. The writers’ understanding of substance abuse is okay but incomplete as it makes it seem like that Christian rehab is a magic fix as the protagonist is quickly healed after just a few short steps. Mental health therapy is also viewed in an unrealistic way, and recovery is portrayed as too fast and easy. These shortcomings overshadow the otherwise interesting concepts that are explored in this narrative as well as the non-linear method of storytelling. Unfortunately, as the film progresses, things only get worse with a stupid climax sequence that’s based on childish coincidences, leading to a very ridiculous conclusion. In the end, slight potential is present in this section, but it’s mostly a disappointment.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

Despite a few errors among the lead cast members, the main actors and actresses of this screenplay post pretty good performances. However, the supporting cast is quite week in their performances. Some emotions and lines are too over-the-top in certain moments. Although there is a strong beginning in the acting, this aspect of the movie unfortunately worsens with time. Therefore, an average score is warranted here.

Conclusion

It’s evident that the creators of It’s a Life Worth Living wanted to make an authentic film about substance abuse struggles. However, more research was needed in this area, and story consultation was needed to present the narrative in a more audience-friendly manner. Further, the acting needed shoring up. Nonetheless, with more refinement, this creative team could move on to better things in the future.

Final Rating: 4 out of 10 points

July 20, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2020, 4 points, Angela Roberts Johnson, Antonio Mireles, Brian Chambers, Christa Laub, Daniel Jeffries, Delores Harris, Drama, Inspirational, JíRí Ash Shakoor, Joseph Ouellette, Keith Perna, Linas Schafer, Marco Zaccagnini, Martha Reeves, Paris Jones, Penny Carlisi, Richard Swingle, Ryan-Iver Klann, Samuel Joshua, Shawntay Dalon, Shelby Bradley, Tim Kaiser, Tokkyo Faison Leave a comment

To the Ends of the Earth [2018] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

When the Apostle Paul went to Philippi, this was the first time that the gospel of Jesus Christ had reached the continent of Europe. However, Paul faced much opposition and many trials in his mission to follow the Lord’s calling. Nonetheless, his obedience changed countless generations to come.

Production Quality (1.5 points)

Although video quality is fine and the soundtrack is culturally sensitive, dizzying camera work and confusing special effects hold the production back from being what it could have been. Sets, locations, and props are great, but sound effects are poor. Further, editing is inconsistent, which goes with the overall theme of this production being a mixed bag. Thus, an average scored is granted here.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

While it’s commendable that the writers of this narrative focused on one short aspect of Paul’s ministry, the apostle himself is too perfect of a character, which means that it’s hard to relate to him as a person. Also, demonic elements are too sensational as too much time is spent on dark spirituality. Elsewhere, the story presentation is confusing since it makes the progression of events very unclear. Most of the characters are inaccessible and hard to connect with due to procedural dialogue. Unfortunately, although this plot could have been interesting, it doesn’t offer any potential because attention is given to all the wrong things.

Acting Quality (1 point)

Though the casting is sometimes culturally authentic, this is not always the case. Nonetheless, the actors and actresses make some good attempts at accents. Sometimes, the acting is believable while other times, the performances are too theatrical and stoic. Emotions and line delivery can be a bit uneven at times. Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good in this section, which leads to a sub-par score.

Conclusion

Period pieces about well-known Bible characters are very difficult to effectively execute. There are many moving parts and small details that are easy to get wrong. As a whole, it seems like that the creators of To the Ends of the Earth had the right motives but not always the correct philosophy. Unfortunately, there are just too many pitfalls in this screenplay that kept it in the basement of Christian entertainment.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 10 points

July 13, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Biblical, Drama, Historical, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, PsychologicalTags: 2.5 points, 2018, Aki Avni, Bible, Biblical, David Batty, Drama, Hannah Leader, Historical, Inspirational, Mike Trinklein, Psychological, Soumaya Akaaboune, Steve Boettcher, Yechiam Berko, Yoel Rozenkier 1 Comment

The Appointment [1991] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Liz is a journalist who just hates God with a passion. Her entire job consists of writing anti-God articles in the paper. Liz is clearly bent on evil, so she doesn’t believe a strange message that she hears from a mysterious messenger who claims to be from the Lord. The message is that Liz will die at a specific time on a specific day, which was why she needed to get saved. Liz laughs this off, but as the day gets closer, she becomes more and more uncertain of what she believes. Will be turn to Christianity before it’s too late???

Production Quality (0 points)

As a 1990s production, The Appointment is just bad, even for the time period. Video quality is cheap, lighting is inconsistent, and camera work is random, including silly mid-shot zooms. Audio quality is disrupted by weird sound effects, noticeable background sounds, and an overpowering, in-your-face soundtrack. Further, very abrupt cuts and transitions sometimes completely cut off scenes in abrupt and shocking ways. Needless to say, no points can be awarded in this section.

Plot and Storyline Quality (-1 points)

In the most propaganda-level fashion, the Christiano team made sure to craft one of the most offensive portrayals of Christians and non-Christians known to Christian entertainment. The “bad” characters are downright evil pariahs who are bent on destroying Christianity. Many other characters are generic and vanilla due to blank dialogue, but almost every conversation is used to push agendas, preach at people, and force ideas down the viewers’ throats. Some scenes are very short and punctuated. In general, the writers seemed to have a really bizarre obsession with the main character dying, which further contributes to a portrayal of Christianity that will repulse people. In the end, due to offensive elements, this aspect of the film must receive negative points.

Acting Quality (0 points)

The performances in The Appointment are either generic or overplayed. Some cast members are trying too hard to be interesting, which sometimes comes off as overly theatrical. Forced line delivery and emotions don’t help matters. Further, cheap costuming caps off a section that lacks any substantial potential.

Conclusion

As we’ve said time and time again, trying to scare people into being saved is one of the worst things that a Christian can do. This is not the objective of our faith, yet some Christian creators seem to think that it is. Though older than other movies, The Appointment still tarnishes the reputation of Christian entertainment. The one hope is that we are now past these dark days.

Final Rating: -1 out of 10 points

July 8, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, SuspenseTags: 1991, Art Oden, Branden Williams, Christiano Brothers, Christiano Film Group, Dave Christiano, Dave Christiano Films, Drama, Eric Brown, Five and Two Pictures, Frank Rogers, John Redden, Karen Jo Briere, Keith Vivrette, Leslie Basham, negative points, Rich Christiano, Suspense Leave a comment

Secrets in the Fall (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

After being stuck in school for a snowbound night, a group of teenagers became friends for life. Now, they’re working together as counselors at a Christian camp. However, not everything goes smoothly as some campers don’t want to be there for various reasons. Will they all be able to wok together to make the week memorable?

Production Quality (1.5 points)

Beginning with a cheap found-footage feel, this production doesn’t live up to professional standards. Background noises and shaky camera work don’t help matters. While video quality, sets, locations, and props are okay, there’s not much soundtrack to speak of. Editing also contains concerns, including lagging scenes, awkward fadeouts, and weird sped-up portions of the film that confuse the audience. Despite some slight production improvement with time, this section can’t receive any more than an average score.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

From the get-go, the narrative is filled with convenient exposition that shoves information into the viewers’ faces. When this finally stops, the dialogue is somewhat acceptable yet could use some work. Although this screenplay is a sequel, characters are one-dimensional due to lots of blank scenes that accomplish nothing. Additionally, the high number of characters crowds out the runtime, causing many subplots to get lost in the shuffle and characters to get neglected. As a result of wasted time, character arcs are too steep as shortcuts are taken to force lessons upon the audience. Though there are some good attempts at making the “bad” characters neutral by giving them reasons for their actions, which is the tiny shred of potential in this story that keeps it from receiving no points, there is still not much focus or purpose in this narrative. Characters undergo very self-aware growth without experiencing circumstances that would promote these behaviors, which is unrealistic. In the end, the Every New Day creative team often tries to craft character-based plots but continue to lack key elements that are needed or success.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

As a whole, the acting of Secrets in the Fall is mostly generic due to there being nothing special or terrible. Line delivery and emotions are standard. Thus, with no positive or negative standouts, this section receives an average score.

Conclusion

Secrets in the Snow had a good amount of potential, but this follow-up seems forced and unnecessary. Sequels should build upon what was previously accomplished, but this movie takes a step backward. It seems like that the Goodwins have noble intentions with their creations, but they have taken a quantity over quality approach. Perhaps it’s time for them to take a step back and focus on producing fewer screenplays that contain more meaning.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 10 points

July 6, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie ReviewsTags: 2015, 3.5 points, Aaron Michael Johnson, Andrew Walters, Andrew Wilson Williams, Ariana Wendell, Ashley Murray, Audrey Easton, Benjamin Goldman, Brittany Goodwin, Catherine Allen, Celina Tolbert, Daniel Bostic, David Topp, Desiree Ross, Drama, Duane A. Sikes, Every New Day Pictures, Greg Wait, Hakeem Stevens, Hollie Bahar, Hollie Shay, Hosanna Gourley, Inspirational, John Goodwin, Joseph Cox, Josiah Blount, Karen Haught, Katie McCaffrey, Kelsey Kupecky, Kim Carr, Kyle Kupecky, Luke Ptacek, Madelyn Branca, Natalya Hill, Ricky Valadez, Ryan Patrick Williams, Taylor Slay, Vincent Seidle, Voltaire Colin Council Leave a comment

Teen Musical: The Movie (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Dr. Alexandra Park just wants to run the community center for the kids, but an evil businessman with unlimited political power wants to tear the building down to build something really important. Dr. Park’s only option to save the center is to host a musical and make money off of the tickets. Thus, she forces the kids she knows to work for free in this show. Will they be able to pull off their scheme in time???

Production Quality (1 point)

There is much to be desired in this production. Between inconsistent camera work and video quality, the viewing experience is difficult. Audio quality is also poor, including background noises, echoes, and a cringeworthy singing soundtrack. Also, overdubs and lip syncing are very obvious, and sets, locations, and props are very cheap. Further, editing is choppy, and despite some improvement throughout, this section doesn’t break the average line.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

As this narrative jumps all over the place, the audience is assaulted with tons of empty characters and cardboard content. Plastic expository dialogue serves as a crutch to bridge the plot jumps. The villain character is totally ridiculous, and the out-of-left-field suspense elements that come with him are unrealistic. It’s too far-fetched to assume that the level of violence that is brought in by this absurd villain would actually occur in this situation. Besides this, the story is full of other cheesy clichés and constructs, such as the formulaic narrative structure of using a musical event to save a struggling organization. With so many things happening, all leading to a predictable conclusion, there’s no potential in this aspect of the film.

Acting Quality (1 point)

When you combine awkward acting with terrible singing in a musical, you have a disaster on your hands. Emotions are very manufactured throughout the movie, and the performances are overall too scripted and stiff. Despite slight improvement with time, this section doesn’t reach the average point.

Conclusion

This screenplay is just a mess, and this is exactly what we should not longer see in Christian entertainment. Teen Musical is nothing short of a disaster, which many musicals end up being. Hopefully, one day soon, we won’t have to keep wading through these murky waters.

Final Rating: 2 out of 10 points

July 1, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Inspirational, Movie Reviews, MusicalTags: 2 points, 2020, Abigal Duhon, Aldrich Wilberg, Alexa Rose, Belle Tatum, Bridgestone Multimedia Group, Caroline Arrington, Chaislyn Jane King, Charis Gullage, Christian Smalley, Connor Murray, Daniel Wellmeier, Davis Cheramie, Drama, Ethan Miller, Hannah Daigle, Hannah Hope Holt, Holly Laviolette, Inspirational, Jake Landry, Jeremiah Mitchell, Joelle Marshall, Juan Carlos Hernandez, Justin Ebenhack, Kailei Hinton, Landry Rase, Lili-Kayy Park, Marc Mouton, Mike Rase, Musical, Noah Bartel, Paco Periago, Parker Marie, Paula Conti, Rodney Mouton, Roxanne Marchand Leave a comment

Future Tense [1990] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

After a college student becomes a Christian while away from his family, he tries to encourage them to convert to his newfound faith. When they refuse, he decides to record a tape of what would happen to them if the Rapture came before they were saved. Coincidentally enough, after the student sends the tape to his family, the Rapture actually does happen! What will they do now???

Production Quality (.5 point)

As a 1990s production, Future Tense leaves much to be desired. The weird grainy and shady tint to the video disrupts the viewing experience, as do weird special effects. The soundtrack is loud and annoying, and other aspects of audio are unbalanced. The camera work, sets, locations, props, and editing are the only acceptable elements that prevent his section from receiving no points. Needless to day, this is a very low-quality production.

Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)

Between heavy-handed messaging and lots of off-screen content that we only hear about, this narrative barely counts as storytelling. With hardly any actual dialogue to speak of, the characters are blank cardboard cutouts. The out-of-order plot style is poorly presented, which confuses the audience. Other aspects are generally boring as many scenes waste time. Also, the entire narrative is perfectly spoon-fed to the audience and magically constructed to fit a very narrow worldview. Further, the vague ending makes no sense and leaves the viewer wondering what just happened. In the end, this section receives a score of zero due to lack of potential.

Acting Quality (1 point)

Although the acting in this film is robotic and overly practiced, it’s actually the strongest aspect of the screenplay. This fact is mainly due to the fact that the lead actor posts the best performance. Elsewhere, however, there’s too much yelling and screaming. There’s not much else good to note here, which rounds out an underwhelming effort.

Conclusion

Apocalyptic movies about the Rapture were all the rage in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, the idea of trying to “scare” people into being saved is fairly morbid. I doubt creations like Future Tense made any significant impact, and such projects definitely have no influence in the more modern era. Once again, films like this one only serve as examples of how not to do it.

Final Rating: 1.5 out of 10 points

June 29, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Apocalyptic, Drama, Movie Reviews, SuspenseTags: 1.5 points, 1990, A. J. Merrill, Anne Towery, Apocalyptic, Charles Towery, Dan Hinds, Drama, Fred Carpenter, James Reid, John Shannon, Ken Preston, Leigh Lombardi, Mari E. Ferguson, Matthew Freeman, Nancy Moore, Paul Mills, Priscilla Waite, Russel Ramji, Suspense Leave a comment

Don’t Give Up [2021] (Movie Review)

Plot Summary

Amy Samuel is drowning in depression due to everything that’s happened to her in life. She just wants to give up and leave her life behind. However, a set of circumstances prevents her from ending it all. As a result, Amy is forced to face her past in order to pick up the pieces and move on.

Production Quality (1 point)

Despite this production having fine video quality and okay camera work, there are a number of concerns to contend with. For instance, the audio is quite bad, including background echoes and a loud soundtrack. Special effects are very cheap. Also, sets, locations, and props are a bit limited. Further, editing is quite choppy. Thus, these missteps all lead to another below-average production for JC Films.

Plot and Storyline Quality (.5 point)

Although the narrative is based on a true story, Don’t Give Up is a train-wreck of a film. Voiceover bridges time gaps and guides the viewer through the plot in a very heavy-handed manner. Sensationalism crowds out interesting psychological elements that provide the story with a small amount of potential. Some content is unnecessarily edgy, and expository dialogue short-circuits the sliver of potential that the characters had. Implied off-screen content makes for a confusing watch, and too many elements are unexplained as it seems like that the writers expected the audience to read a lot into various things. The time jumps create vacuums of information and a general atmosphere of random ideas being strung together with no clear focus or purpose. The flashbacks are slightly interesting since they make attempts to establish character motives, but the protagonist is fixed way too easily. It’s implied that getting saved will automatically fix clinical depression, and the story has a generally rushed conclusion. Therefore, though there is some potential in this section, only a small score can be awarded.

Acting Quality (1.5 points)

As a whole, the acting in this screenplay is average despite the fact that the performances are just average. Some cast members are way too dramatic in their acting, but they are balanced out by other cast members who are more even-keeled. Line deliver is mostly okay throughout the movie although some emotions are forced. While better coaching was definitely in order here, the performances overall improve with time. However, this section’s rating isn’t enough to save the movie from itself.

Conclusion

It’s commendable that Jason Campbell and his team continue to make films that are based on true stories. However, their flooding-the-market approach is still a detriment to Christian entertainment. Other production companies have tried this method in the past but have ultimately failed. At this rate, it’s hard to see how JC Films doesn’t end up with the same fate.

Final Rating: 3 out of 10 points

June 22, 2021 by Box Office Revolutionary Categories: Drama, Movie Reviews, PsychologicalTags: 2021, 3 points, Amy Samuel, Beck Rosser, Bobby Lacer, Brayden Lacer, Dean Cain, Denise C. Myers, Dennis P. Marburger, Donna Elsey, Dorian Cleavenger, Drama, Eileen Lacer, Gary Lee Vincent, Jason Campbell, JC Films, Kathy Patterson, Larry Orton, Psychological, Sarai Koo, Tim Ross, Timothy Perez-Ross, Timothy Ross Leave a comment