Plot Summary
Daniel did not anticipate arriving at his childhood foster home and being pressed into service, so to speak, to fill in for a sick storyteller. Instead of go forward with his personal plans, he elects to stay and teach the struggling foster kids valuable life lessons through an adventure story about Billy Stone, a boy living in a mystical land who has a mission to assist his hurting father in discovering the legendary Lost Medallion that is rumored to grant the wishes of whomever wears it around their neck. Blocked from taking part in the official search operation, Billy and his friend Allie launch their own search for the treasure. They discover an inaccuracy in the official search’s measurements and believe they are close to finding it. However, they will have to contend with an ancient enemy who wants the talisman for himself.
Production Quality (2 points)
The Lost Medallion is inconsistent in a lot of ways, the production quality to start with. It is a mix of professional and cheap production, oscillating from good camera work and video quality to cheap sets, props, and costuming. On the surface, the film seems well produced, but there are some underlying issues that are to be expected from first-time adventure films. Yet there are plenty of production points to be applauded, such as the successful filming of difficult action scenes. There is some obvious CGI, but it is understandable. Overall, the production of The Lost Medallion is its strongest factor.
Plot and Storyline Quality (1.5 points)
This movie is a good idea in that it seeks to explore the action adventure and fantasy genres with a Christian-themed film. There are some intriguing elements to the plot, but there are also parts that are not commendable. For one, time travel plots are always problematic and should be avoided as a rule of thumb. Going back and forth in time causes confusion and continuity errors than cannot be successfully reconciled. In fantasy plots, it is also hard to avoid convenient plot devices that solve impossible problems, and Medallion falls into this trap. There are some interesting small plot twists and minor suspense elements that work, but in this pursuit, quality dialogue and character development are discarded. The protagonists are at least mostly flawed characters, but the villain is extremely cheesy. The dialogue is cheap. Most of the plot points are either understated or overstated. In short, while this plot has more potential than many Christian plots, it still missed the mark.
Acting Quality (.5 point)
Alex Kendrick is really the only good actor, and he has a minimal role. Sammi Hanratty is forced into a role she doesn’t belong in, and the other teenage actors are not coached well. Most lines are forced and emotional delivery falls flat. Unfortunately, there are some Asian stereotypes that are reinforced through the acting. In summary, this movie would not have been as bad if the acting was better.
Conclusion
Despite this negative review, Box Office Revolution sees plenty of potential in Bill Muir and his crew. He has the tools necessary to succeed and could contribute greatly to Christian movies with different genres. On most counts, The Lost Medallion is a good start for a first time filmmaker. There are some definite issues to work through, but we anticipate Muir’s next release.
Final Rating: 4 out of 10 points
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