The Gospel According to Wall-E

Lars and the Real Girl Review by Chris Kaatz

2010-02-09T23:33:00.001-08:00

Lars and the Real Girl was directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Nancy Oliver. This movie could be viewed by an audience consisting of any age, however the younger the audience is, the harder it would be for them to understand what is happening.
The basic plot of the story is that a man named Lars has gone a little crazy. For the longest time, he isolated himself in his house, and then he bought a sex doll so that he would have a companion. He never used her for sex purposes, but he did talk to her. Lars treats the doll as if she was a real person, and it forces the rest of the town to do the same.
This movie teaches an interesting lesson in acceptance. Everyone is different, but everyone shares the need to be accepted. God wants us to accept each other. His plan for us was that we would love each other and be kind towards one another. In this movie, Lars is the social outcast. He is not accepted by others that quickly, but everyone learns how to deal with him. The town becomes really obsessed with helping Lars with his problem. They even start accepting Bianca, the doll, as a real person. We should always be accepting of each other no matter who they are or what they are going through.

2010-02-09T23:32:00.001-08:00

Shiva Garshasbi

02-09-10

UNST Wall-E

Lars and the Real Girl Review

This week we were assigned to watch the movie “Lars and the Real Girl”. This movie was directed by Craig Gillespie, and written by Nancy Oliver. The story is about this very lonely, shy, and awkward guy named Lars Lindstrom who lives in a room behind his brother’s garage. His brother along with his sister-in-law, are concerned about him finding the right woman. Eventually Lars announces that he has indeed found a girl over the internet. To everyone’s shock and surprise, it turns out to be a lifelike doll he ordered from an adult website.

Thinking his brother is nuts, Gus convinces Lars to go to a psychologist. The psychologist then suggests that they treat the doll, named Bianca, like a real person. As time goes on Lars introduces “Bianca” to everyone in the town. And they all treat Bianca as if she were a real person, knowing about Lars’ mental state. As the people accept Bianca, Lars communicates and interacts with more and more people.

Eventually this leads to Lars meeting a real living girl named Margo, which is where the title of the movie comes from. As Margo and Lars become closer, one day Lars claims that Bianca is sick. Bianca is rushed to the hospital and the news isn’t very good. Eventually she does die, and the entire town shows up to her funeral. And Margo and Lars find solace in each other.

I think since the idea of Bianca being alive was all in Lars’ head, when he became attached to Margo, he did realize to some extent that Bianca was in fact not as real as he believes, and indeed cannot fulfill Lars’ emptiness, and need for a companion who understands him. So in order to be with the real girl that he wanted, he needed to let go of the idea of Bianca.

At first some people might think that this movie is a complete comedy. And in most points it is. But what is different about this movie is, a sex doll is being used not for its intended purpose, but for love and companionship. There are some awkward scenes where the reactions of the different people are just hilarious, but they don’t stay so skeptical. They adapt and change.

This film was so touching. The way that the entire community change and evolved itself in order to accommodate Lars’ emotions was so sweet. Instead of treating him like a crazy person and ignoring him or casting him aside, they played along and treated his doll like a real person in hopes that he truly does find the happiness they think he deserves.

This film definitely shows how people can love, and how God’s love shows through us all. At first people were skeptical, but they loved Lars, and they wanted him to be happy, no matter how he went about gaining his happiness. They accepted him and Bianca, just as God accepts us, no matter how messed up we might be.

Marty's Review

2010-02-09T23:31:00.000-08:00

2010-02-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
UNST
Pastor Sam
2/9/10

Lars and the REal Girl

Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Nancy Oliver, the film Lars and the Real Girl is a pleasant and delightful film about a timid unsocial man who gets involved in a relationship with a sex doll that he has ordered off the internet. In my opinion, this comedy/drama would be considered by many as risque because of its naughty sounding premise. However, i believe that most younger people would understand that the films risque nature actually serves to underscore (the main character) Lars' decency and goodness. Because Lars' intentions with Bianca (the sex doll,) are pure, I would recommend this film to people of all ages. For instance, it was obvious that Lars' had some sort of psychological disorder, when it came down to interacting with people, and everyone noticed it. Yet, when he was with Bianca, the people around him actually treated her like a real person; which ultimately assisted in him coming out of his shell. I also liked the way that both Lars and Bianca were extremely religious. Church and religion were both essential parts of their lives. This movie really showed me the importance of treating everyone with respect, no matter their qualities or characteristics. It seemed as though Lars' affection for Bianca was due to unconditional love, no judgment or criticism, and more often than not, I think we as a society are too quick to judge others because of their "uniqueness" rather than the content of their character. Furthermore, I perceived his family and community as being supportive; coming together, not in hopes of him leaving Bianca, but in hopes for him to get to the point, where he can eventually treat real humans like he did Bianca. This film really reminded me of how Jesus informs us to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us, for if we judge others, we too will be judged by his father.

The Gospel According to WALL-E: Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-09T22:57:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to see this movie. Now that I got the chance to watch it finally, I really liked it. When I was told to look for how the community responded to Lars and his relationship with Bianca, I thought they would be unreceptive to it. However, even though people looked at him quizzically, they still accepted him to a certain degree. The scene that sticks out in my mind the most is when Lars and Bianca go to the office party and everyone is putting on a smile and making them feel welcome. Even though they sent out a memo before hand, letting everyone know that they needed to put on a smile, they still proved that community can be had, no matter the circumstances.

This movie, though weird at times, is really well made. Ryan Gosling is a phenomenal actor and he played the role of Lars really well. It takes a skilled actor to play a role such as this and he did it very well. The acting in this movie, over all was well done. The roles were cast appropriately and the script was well written. Over all, this was a very interesting, intriguing film to watch. =)

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-09T22:13:00.003-08:00

Alexander Alonso

WALL-E

2.9.10

Lars and The Real Girl Review

Lars and the real girl was written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie.

In the beginning of the story, the preacher gives us a forshadowing of the movie. He says “..we need never ask, Lord what should I do?, because the Lord has told us what to do. Love one another….Love is God in Action.” The movie starts with a lonely man who lives in his garage. He is very quite and to himself. His mother died when he was young and he was left with his father, whom was sad all the time. All this played a huge role on his life. He was so lonely he ordered a sex doll, not for sexual use, but for a compainion to speak with and love. Her name was Bianca. His siter in law, Karin, was always loving to him, always trying to make his feel at home and doing what ever she could to help him. Her husband, Gus, kind of gave up on Lars at first but eventually accepted him and Bianca. I liked the part in the movie when Karin and Gus went to the church to see if they would understand the situation. Some were hesitant, and others were very supportive, but I like it when the oder gal stated all the weird things that everyone else had on their plates. I was reminded me that we need to stop judgein gpeople, and think about what Jesus would do for us.

Another point I really liked about this mmovie was the community. At first, many thought that Lars was insane. Though he was, the community came together to help him. It also showed the love that Karin and Gus, and the rest of the community, had for Lars. They never left him even when it seemed he was lost in space.

I was really confused at first, but I got the main message…at least I think I do.

Love at all times. Love one another. Love is God at work, making for a new future.

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-09T22:13:00.001-08:00

2010-02-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

Lars and the Real Girl

Lars and the Real Girl was a comedy, drama film directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Nancy Oliver. It was released in October of 2007 and it starred Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider.
In the film, Lars and the Real Girl it portrayed of a young man who's need for love a affection caused him to conjure up a woman who was not real. It grasped my attention by the suttle remarks and jestures of Lars and the rest of the cast. The humor was not over bearing (as are most films) and the actors portrayed their characters perfectly. Personally a film grasps my attention when the roles being portrayed are realistic, and this is exactly what this film conducted.
Different people may of course interpret the message differently some people may have found the film comical, perhaps a little too comical. The film was intended to humor the audience, however the problem that Lars had was a very difficult and tough situation. some may not view this as a serious condition or see it as problematic.
In this film, it exemplifies the life style of Lars. A young man who is socially awkward, and a recluse. He has no close friends and is extremely shy. Lars is so emotionally distant that he fantasizes a doll to be his only confidant, a girlfriend.
I believe that the message is being sent to show how a past traumatic experience or how a broken child hood could lead to an emotionally distant person. A person with low-self worth, and low confidence, is displayed. He used the doll as a source of comfort and companionship.
This film clearly shows how God is here for all of us, and wants to help all of us. God is ever present and he put family and friends to help us. The will and love of others will help through any crisis and Lars story reminds us to face the turmoils and obstacles of life with the help of our loves ones.

Lars and the Real Girl by: Racho

2010-02-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

The Movie "Lars and the Real Girl" was about Lars, played by Ryan Gosling, who fell in love with a sex doll. He didn't use it for what it was made for, he used it to help him. Once in the movie he said that Bianca, the sex doll, said that she was made to help people and that she did. She definitely helped Lars get out of his comfort zone and helped him reconnect with the real world and interact with real people. Margo, played by Kelli Garner, was the girl who finally helped him really break out in the end. She kept trying to get him to come to her and finally in the end he turned to her.

This movie was directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Nancy Oliver. They definitely used a technique that really got my attention. Their idea of a sex doll as the main character in this movie is unique. The sex doll not serving the purpose it was made for made this movie even more interesting. A sex doll is used to help people in such a way, but in this movie, it definitely was used to help someone but in a good way. Bianca, the sex doll, gave Lars a life, brought him back into the community, helped him communicate with people. He was such a lonely guy in the beginning until Bianca came along. This movie shows that loneliness is really sad and not something that everybody enjoys. It brings pain to the lonely, which was shown by Lars having pain shock through his body whenever someone touched him. The difference of not being lonely compared to being lonely is such a sudden change that it is painful. Ryan Gosling's character shows that through his pain of wanting to be with company.

In the movie, family is pretty much everything. We can see that without family, Lars might not have made it through to the point where he is able to take the change of loneliness. His brother Gus, helped him as well. In the beginning he may have been resistant to helping his ill brother but in the end, with his help, Lars made it through. He was able to release the doll and live a real life and find his real girl.

I think that this movie shows us how important family is and with even one family member not in line, the whole community cannot be whole. The community served as a family who took Lars and his girlfriend, Bianca, in so that he can feel the love of community and family to finally make him see that the real world is just as accepting as his fantasy of a sex doll being his girlfriend. His disorder helped him realize that he wasn't alone in the world. God doesn't want us to be alone as well. So he does everything he can to bring us to him like Margo who wouldn't stop trying to get Lars to break out into the community.

Rachel Cho

Pastor Sam Leonor

UNST: Gospel Wall-E

Lars And The Real Girl Review

2010-02-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

Lars And The Real Girl was written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. The film was released by MGM in 2007.
This movie was a definite heart-wrencher. Interesting devices used in this film were no big name actors, having a anatomically correct sex doll, and though the sex doll was in it, they never pushed anything raunchy or perverse other than a few very mild jokes.
The audience for this film is synonymous to the rating. People under the age of at least thirteen would probably be quite confused by the film.
The lifestyles of this film are very peculiar. There's a socially inept, shy, lonely Lars who feels a burning sensation when he engages in physical contact with others. It's all pyschological but it still is worrisome. So he ends up ordering a sex doll, though not for sex but for a relationship, and being a good Christian, he sleeps in a different room from the doll. It's really sad and sweet at the same time, in a weird sort of way.
The purpose of this film was to show that tolerance is a key factor in living with people who are different. His brother tries to tell him that the doll isn't real. But it's as if Lars doesn't even hear his brother. And once everyone in town understands about the situation and adapts to it, everything runs smoothly. Even when the doll is "dying" and eventually is "dead," the whole town mourns it because though she wasn't technically real, she became almost as real to them as to Lars.
I didn't really see God in this film other than the God-like attributes the townspeople showed to Lars. They treated him with respect and kindness throughout. And because Bianca was real to Lars, she really became "the Real Girl."
Though strange and very heart-wrenching at times, this film was enjoyable.

Andrew Cortez

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

"Lars and the Real Girl" was an amazing film that taught about human kindness along with humor on the side. It is directed by Craig Gillespie who directed tv commercials for 16 years and written by Nancy Oliver who was the writer of the award-winning tv series "Six feet under". Starring Ryan Gosling, who played Lars Lindstrom, a man whose intensely lonely and barely stand the touch of other human being that kept him from embracing what life has to offer. The result of isolating himself lead him to order a life-size sex doll. Shockingly Lars did not treat her like an anatomically correct sex doll instead he treated the doll as a human being , a partner and a companion. He named her Bianca. What grabbed my attention is that how the people of Lar's community accepted Bianca and treated her with the same courtesy that Lars does. The community involved Bianca in every activities that were out there including as a volunteer at a hospital. This movie was very intriguing that its irresistible for viewers to not enjoy it. While others viewed the film as a strangely romantic movie, most thought of it as a heartfelt film that showed how others executed their human kindness. Like Lars' brother and sister-in-law supported him and so did the whole community show deep and sweet hearted treatment to both Lars and Bianca. The community could have easily rejected Lar's awkward behavior but most of them were more concerned. There are 2 message that "Lars and the Real Girl" was trying to reach upon the viewers. First is acceptance, few people first did not accept what Lars is going through, most of them were trying to talk behind his back but later on they realized how one's acceptance and kindness could benefit others especially Lars. Second is hope. There is a hidden hope in the story. Hope from Lars' family and friends that someday Lars would finally end his delusion and face the real world. His family and the community did not give up on him and kept their hope alive. This film reminded me of how our church can be very judgmental towards others who may not seem too good enough to their eyes, but some people of the church still hold their human kindness to treat others equally and supported them. It is the same how God supports us even when we don't embrace life.

Andriyah Burgos
Pastor Sam
UNST
09 February 2010

Lars and the Real Girl!!!!!!!

2010-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Who Is Lars….

The director and writer of “Lars and the Real Girl” are Craig Gillespie and Nancy Oliver. Some creative techniques used to attract my attention in this movie were first off, I would of never thought of making a sex doll a main character or even think that her purpose in a movie would be something not disturbing. So that was for sure one thing I found pretty extraordinary. I loved Ryan Gosling in this movie first off because it was a side of him I didn’t expect. He’s been the sensitive type in “The Notebook” but in this movie his disorder makes him stand out in a way I never thought he could really be as an actor. People might get the same reaction at first like I did, for example he looked like he was fine and once he entered the scene avoiding that girl from his church I started to think he was just scared to confront her. Then as the movie progressed I began to think he was crazy but then put myself in his family’s position and though to myself.. I would do the same thing they were doing, make her feel at home and whatever made him feel better just to have him in my life. As crazy as it might sound about me saying this as family we tend to try and protect and cover our family members mistakes as well as things in their life because no matter what we love them. Points of view, lifestyles, and values I got from this message are that a community can do so much for a person. Just when you think you don’t have people there for you, your family first of all comes through no matter what and the people you thought wouldn’t come through do help in so many ways. This community in particular was the church family; they were so trustworthy and supportive. As much as they didn’t make sense of Lars condition they went along with it cause they cared. Family is the ultimate thing in your life, without them you really wouldn’t be where you are and be who you are. I think this message is being sent to first off show what family and community do for a person in need and struggle and second off show what a person can go through and how something so silly to us is honestly reality of how people can suffer. Loneliness is a sad and powerful thing. God put us in our family for a reason. He knew that we were going to face struggles and that the people we looked up to the most leave us, and in return the only ones there are family. Great film and story line. I really enjoyed it.

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-08T22:18:00.000-08:00

Imari Palma
UNST 101
Pastor Sam
2/8/10

Review

"Lars and the Real Girl" was directed Craig Gillespie. The main character Lars, played by Ryan Gosling, plays a character who is strange, but likable. He is not "normal" according to standards of society. He prefers isolation, keeping to himself, and has a high regard and care for the people he loves. The reason Lars purchases this sex-doll is not really disclosed in the film, but the way he treats it is very unusual. Never for a second does Lars treat her like a doll. She was real to him, he respected her, took her to the doctor, and made her feel comfortable.

Lars' brother and sister in law are very concerned for his well-being, but go along with Lars' fantasy, following the Psychologist's instructions. I was expecting the people of the small community to shun Lars and gossip about how strange his is, making his situation more sad and desperate. Although, the community did the exact opposite. They welcomes Bianca, the sex doll, with open arms, caring for her, allowing her to attend church, giving her a "job," and treating her like a real person for the well-being of Lars.

The love in this movie unforgettable. One of my favorite scenes on the movie is when Lars becomes angry and goes on a rampage chopping wood and hos sister-in-law comes outside to talk to him. They get into a heated brawl and she lets her feelings show. When Lars tells her that "no one cares," she becomes infuriated and tells him the reality of the situation and that everyone is bending over backwards for Lars because they love him.

The acting in this film was very well done. Every person had their own distinct character that added to the drama, comedy, and intensity of the movie. It is sad to know that there are people who are like Lars, but comforting to know that there are also people that love them and care for them and will never give up on them.

I didn't really see Jesus in any particular character, per say. I did see a community that pulled together to help one person. It's like the parable Jesus told of the shepherd leaving the 99 sheep to find the one lost one. It isn't quite the same, but everyone else dropped whatever they were doing and did whatever they could to help one person, Lars, showing the character of Christ.

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-08T21:11:00.001-08:00

The film Lars and the real girl was written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. This movie is both humorous and touching. As for the genre, it is considered a comedy. This movie utilized humorous situations and a touch that relates to the individual on a personal level. The fact that the protagonist, Lars, has mental issues is intriguing, and interest in the film further expands as one realizes that Lars is strange enough to buy a sex doll for non-sexual intimacy. Individuals, such as me, may have initially viewed the movie as a flop- an outlandish story meant only for absurd laughs; but as the movie progressed, it was clear that it possessed more substance than had been anticipated. The lifestyles and values portrayed in this film are those that are most commonly associated with a small town. Everyone has a strong sense of community and intimacy and is supportive of each other- even if a citizen chooses to parade around a sex doll and consider it real. This message is being sent to demonstrate that people need to be accepting of others regardless of their differences. It is imperative that individuals be tolerant of others beliefs. This movie manifests Jesus’ commandment to love one anther as we would want to be treated and loved.

Michael Aguilar
1-27-2010
UNST –The gospel according to wall-e
Lars and the Real Girl Review

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-02-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
UNST:Wall-E
February, 8th 2010
Lars and the Real Girl

Lars and the Real Girl was released in 2007, directed by Criag Gillespie, and the screen play by Nancy Oliver. This was a very creative film, it could be for kids but they may not catch the underlying meaning this movie has along with it. It would be most enjoyable for adults or teenagers. In the beginning of the movie you’re not really sure how you feel about Lars. You don’t know whether he’s slightly odd or if everyone else just overreacts about him not being a very sociable person. Then you start to see his personality through “Bianca” it’s almost as if he’s living through her. Coincidentally Bianca’s life is almost exactly how Lars’ was. It seemed to me he got to slowly move on from his sadness of his mother and fathers death through her because that was the only way he knew how to express himself. I love how the community doesn’t judge him for his disability but just accepts her and helps them both seem welcome. He gets to see a new side of all the people he lives with through Bianca because before she was around he was too shy or quiet to really talk to his towns people. The way the community was to Lars is how we should act with others, we need to be Christ like and know that only God can judge others, things may seem weird to us but it doesn’t matter what we think, we just need to accept everyone the way God made them.

Lars and the Real Girl Reveiw

2010-02-07T17:44:00.001-08:00

Sara Martinez

February 7 , 2010

WALLE

Lars and the Real Girl – Review

This was an interesting movie. It was interesting to see how someone can react to a certain event. It was also interesting to see how they were affected and how the community pulled together to help. This movie was directed by Craig Gillespie and it was written by Nancy Oliver. Lars lived alone and he cringed at the touch of someone. He found comfort in the doll he named Bianca, whom he said was a real person. When he first introduced his brother and sister-in-law to Bianca they were shocked and worried. The whole town began to talk and snicker behind his back. His family took him to see a psychiatrist and she told them that when he didn’t need her anymore she would go away or “die.”

The whole town became aware of this and became sympathetic. Though it was awkward they all tried to make Bianca feel welcome and Lars as well. The whole community pulled together to accept him and help him. This makes me think of our church today. Many times when someone is going through something we just point and laugh or turn away. Instead we should welcome them with open arms and help them work through their problems. We should not criticize, we don’t know what that person my be going through. What they might need is just someone to accept them. If we were in a situation like that we would want to be accepted and helped, not looked at with scorn or ridiculed. I believe this movie can should everyone a good lesson about how to b community.

Facing the Giants

2010-02-03T00:10:00.001-08:00

Facing the Giants was directed by Alex Kendrick and Co-written by Stephen Kendrick. This movie is a drama that has action is the form of football that makes it both entertaining to watch, but also emotional and didactic. Some people might view this movie as just another cliché- one of many overused football movies. And others still might me turned away by the reality that this is a Christian movie made to target a specific audience. Conversely, however, their does exist a large percentage of individuals that are able to look beyond the limited cinematic effects and relish the essence of the movie- the actual storyline and message it is attempting to convey. This movie portrays a lifestyle built on faith in God. It emphasizes the notion that individuals should not give up, no matter the obstacles. Even in the face of adversity, for example, the coach showed his team that they were capable of more than they ever imagined when he forced his doubtful star player across the entire football field whilst that same player carried a person. This movie come from the point of view that since God never gives up on us, neither should we give up on ourselves. Facing the Giants is being sent to inspire those who have a series of doubts. God give us the power to persevere and thrive- we just have to be willing to trust him and let him guide our lives.

Michael Aguilar
UNST- Gospel According to Wall-E
Facing the Giants
2-3-2010

2010-02-02T23:25:00.001-08:00

Shiva Garshasbi

02-02-10

UNST

Movie Review FTG

FACING THE GIANTS

This week we had to watch the movie “Facing the Giants" which was directed by Alex Kendrick, who was also played a character in the film. And what’s a little new about this movie was that, compared to most of the movies we have watched so far, there is no swearing or violence. Although this movie did seem to be a little more on the lower budgeted side of film making, that didn’t stop the message from being so beautifully portrayed.

In this movie, a football coach at a local Christian high school is being troubled with many of the common problems in life. His wife is having difficulty getting pregnant, income wasn’t very sufficient, and not to mention that his job is causing more stress as well because his team can’t win a single game. When all seemed hopeless, Coach Taylor turned to God, when most other people would have given up easily.

This movie partly fell under the category of the typical inspirational sports movies, that involve a horrible team getting to know each other better, gain respect for each other and win more games as an outcome. The only difference here, is that the glory of the win was given to God. Although the acting was definitely second-rate, the message was still overly obvious.

Just as the coach gave everything over to God, things started turning out for the better. How can you miss the message there? This movie obviously portrays the glory of God’s mercy for those that give their lives completely over to Him. And this is totally true. Even though we like to be in control of our lives all the time, sometimes there is only so much one person can do. And when it gets to that point, we need to trust in God and give the rest over to Hi. When God is on your side, there is no giant too great to overtake God’s power. With God’s help, we can face all the giants in our lives.

2010-02-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

Facing the Giants Review

This strong yet stirring film was debuted in the September of 2006. The film was not a widely popularized or presented. It was directed, written, and stared in by Alex Kendrick. Co writer was Stephen Kendrick. It featured Shannan Fields and Tracy Goode.
This film is truly different and unique from the rest. As a low-budget film it does not exactly encompass the best of sets or the top actors in Hollywood, it still carries the atmosphere and attitude of an award winning message. This film is not about the upscale and lavish accessories, it holds the ideals that the director, Kendrick, was determined to show his audience the uplifting message.
This film was direct, honest, marvelously presented. The message was straight and simple, "with God, all things are possible." It clearly depicted the dark and clouded road that one will upon if you do not put your faith in him.
In the film it displayed a man who goes through many obstacles, and trials. This man goes through many challenges.The film very clearly states the message that if you go through life alone, if you do not accept and bring God into your life, then life is going to be bittersweet and very hard and its going to be struggle.
This film portrays how life can be seem to be complicated and hard struggle because we are reluctant to bring God into our lives. We often do not incorporate God into our daily lives and if we accepted him life would be alot easier.

Facing the giants

2010-02-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Facing the Giants is an American Christian movie that inspired viewers. Alex Kendrick, the main cast who also wrote and directed the movie truly presented a rare Christian faith. Making the movie was unbelievable. Despite of its low budget, volunteers put together a good movie funded by Christians.It was made on a $100,000 budget by a Baptist church in Georgia. There were good lessons in this film that everyone should acknowledge such as the importance of leadership and respect, determination to not quit, honoring God in everything that people do and the power of prayer. I thought the film was very appealing and powerful, not only it brought a positive thing about Christian faith but also it tells the story about how underdogs came to victory. I liked how the movie created a huge impact towards the players lives in a positive way that kept heir faith growing. Also that having a spiritual belief for the hardships that they faced empowered their responsibilities. For example, when "Grant Taylor" the coach had a huge spiritual talk with the football players, they soon realized that they should give 100% on everything they do and leave the rest to the Lord. Viewers thought of this movie as an encouragement to others to not be on neutral ground but instead to keep their faith hot and alive on Jesus. The film just hit a point and made an example for what people should do. People should have faith and believed that by having faith in God solved all the problems. There was this one scene in the film where the coach, "Grant Taylor" pushes one of his players who was blindfolded to not quit on doing a death crawl and ended up crossing the other end of the field. The player signified us who are blindfolded and being pushed by God to not quit on him and instead to keep believing on him even though we were suffering from all our burdens.

-Andriyah Burgos

Facing the Giants Review by Chris Kaatz

2010-02-02T22:34:00.001-08:00

This was an amazing movie. It was written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick and directed by Alex Kendrick. This movie is fit for all audiences. There is zero violence and no cursing. Even if you are not a Christian, you can still find a good message in this movie. The movie is about a high school coach that isn’t doing well. He turns to God and everything turns around. This message is really amazing. It really got me thinking about what God says in the Bible and how if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Now, I know that there are no moving mountains and that it was just a figure of speech, but God IS always with us. He is OBSESSED with us and will NEVER LEAVE us NO MATTER WHAT. One of my favorite lines in the movie comes when one of the players asks his dad why God made him so small. His dad tells him it is so that God can show how mighty He is to the boy every day. This movie is an excellent example of this because as the coach and team turn to God, their losing streak turns around. Sometimes, we don’t feel like God cares about the little things that happen in our life, but He is always with us. As weird as it may seem, God is all powerful and yet at the same time He takes the time to walk with each one of us individually. How awesome is that? God spends time with each and every one of us. He doesn’t have to, but He wants to because He loves us so much!

Facing the Giants Review

2010-02-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

Facing the Giants was a Christian football film written, directed by, and starring Alex Kendrick. The film was released by Sherwood Pictures in 2007.
I really enjoyed this film. Some interesting tactics were how God was a huge part of Grant's life and the school in general. You don't usually see that in football movies. Also, though it was predictable at times, it was heartwarming and inspirational.
This film was aimed at Christians of all ages, obviously. I'm not sure how non-Christians would take this movie.
The lifestyles in this film were very sad to start out, but turned uplifting. I mean, the guy is struggling massively as a football coach, facing the threat of being fired, his car isn't working, and he finds out that he's the reason he and his wife can't start a family.
The purpose of this film was to show that God can do ANYTHING! I've always known that but Facing the Giants showed me again and again. I feel more alive spiritually after seeing this movie, which was most likely another purpose.
Though not to this extreme, his story reminds me of Job. especially how he never even once curses God even though it seems like everything is caving in on him, though his friends and wife don't tempt him to forsake God, thank goodness. But just like Job, he is rewarded graciously for sticking with God even though it was beyond tough.
This movie was good clean Christian fun.

Andrew Cortez

Facing the Giants

2010-02-02T19:41:00.000-08:00

Imari Palma
UNST 101
Pastor Sam
2/2/10

Review

"Facing the Giants" was directed by Alex Kendrick, who was also casted in the film. This film did not get very high ratings, it had mediocre to poor cinematography, average acting, and a low budget set. This Christian film done by a church group, although not the typical "Hollywood" movie, inspired many across the nation. "Many sports movies are formulaic and predictable, meant to be shots of adrenaline for rousing moviegoers, bringing them to their feet, and sending them out of the theater inspired and uplifted. Occasionally, a sports movie rises above the formula, engaging the intellect with superb characterization and acting" (http://www.christianitytoday.com). "Facing the Giants," however inspired in a different way. The story was of a high school football team trying to compete with teams out of their league. Their coach tried hard to inspire them though his own life was spiraling down.

The reason why I think this film was as successful as it was is because it is very realistic and relatable. There is nothing perfect in this film, just like life. Also, religion is brought into this film on a different level. This film uses Jesus as an active character, carrying the players, people, and coach through difficult times.

My favorite part of the movie was when one of the football players carried another team member all the way across the field on his back, crawling. The coach pushed and yelled and told him to never give up. I made a connection between the coach and God because in times of desperation and exhaustion, He is there to tell us to keep going and never give up.

The evil aspect are the Giants, in the end they were defeated, like the story of Gideon. You can do anything through Christ who straightens you.

The Gospel According to WALL-E: Facing the Giants

2010-02-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

As cute as this movie is, I really didn't like it. Sure, it has a good message about believing in God, but realistically, I just don't see that in my life. No matter how many times I've prayed and wanted something, it just seems like they don't get answered, either the way I want, or in a timely manner. One scene that sticks out particularly in my mind is, towards the end, when the scrawny little kicker has to kick a monster field goal against the wind. He prays and, the flags, all of a sudden, start blowing in a different direction, now helping him kick the field goal, win the game, and live happily ever after. Don't get me wrong, I love happy endings and warm fuzzies as much as the next girl, but I just don't see the spiritual connection in my life. I'd even go so far as to say that it makes me a little angry. Why is it that when I'm up in the batters box during a softball game, or in the pitcher's circle, and I pray to God to help me hit a home run or strike out the batter that I'm facing, and, nine times out of ten, my prayer won't be answered.

I'm not trying to say that God doesn't answer prayers, but, to me, it's something that's taken care of over time, not immediately. Maybe I'm reading too much into the story and not accepting it for what it is, and maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but I can't help but be a little irritated that none of these things happen to me. This concept is something that, believe me, I struggle with daily, and I'm trying to have more faith and believe that God has a plan for my life and that, whenever I need Him, He'll be there. I just have yet to see it.

Brenda Schaffner

Sam Leonor

UNST 101-A

3 February 2010

Facing The Giants

2010-02-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
UNST The Gospel According to WALL-E
ID#924889
2/2/10

Facing The Giants

Directed by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the amazing family drama, Facing The Giants is a film that follows the issues and struggles of high school football coach Grant Taylor. Coach Taylor wrestles with his teams consistent streak of losing, which he believes will ultimately lead to him losing his job. While things in Taylor's life seem to be falling apart, he still manages to put all of his troubles and worries in the hands of the lord. With a strong faith based storyline, this film will most likely relate to Christians. In the film, not only did Taylor incorporate his beliefs into his family life, but in his place of work as well. Furthermore, since this film contains no profanity, intense violence, or sexual references, I think people of all age groups will notice the positive impact this movie spreads on to others. It contains lessons that we can all learn from trusting in God. In addition, this film teaches us that we should never feel like we are in this world alone. God is continuously with us; and will never leave us. No matter how big the "giant," or issue in our lives, God will always come through; making a way when we think there is no way.

Facing the Giants

2010-02-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

Alexander Alonso
WALL-E
Facing the giants review
2 February 2010

Facing the Giants

Wow! Two thumbs way up! :) This film may not have been made in Hollywood with great actors or technology, but I haven’t seen a Hollywood video with this great of a message in a great long time. The story, written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, also directed by Alex, was a story of inspiration! It’s about a high school football team who hasn’t won one game for six years with the same coach. But when the coach finds Jesus, not only does his team turn around, but the whole school as well. He learns that with God all things are possible. And I say amen to that. The reason I liked this movie, was because it made me realize that I have been loosing my trust in God. I realized that, nothing is impossible, and that God works all things together for good. What I enjoyed most about the movie was watching coach Taylor having all these problems. He thinks he’s never going To have children, the house sticks, the car breaks down, his team cant win, his friend appears to be going against him, he even believes he’s on the brink of being fired! But no, the bible tells us that God takes care of the birds and dresses the Lilies, so why would He not take care of us? All Taylor had to do was believe and trust in what God said was true. Little by little he started seeing God at work. He realized blessing after blessing. Why? Because he believed, trusted, didn’t give up, praised God, Blessed others and was faithful, and in return, God gave back.

We might all think, “This is a movie, that kind of stuff cant happen!” …YOU’RE WRONG! God CAN and DOES do these kind of things! Put your faith in Him! WHAT IS IMMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD? NOTHING!

Facing the Giants

2010-02-02T16:33:00.001-08:00

Facing the Giants…

Facing the Giants was directed by Alex Kendrick, and written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This movie wasn’t to professional do to that regular people filmed it so the acting wasn’t so great but the overall message of the movie in its self was great. I really think this message can’t get any clearer. When things go wrong in life pray and ask god about it. He will clear the way for better things for you or maybe not even let something happen because he knows what’s best for you. What I think people should really get from this movie is prayer is the greatest thing you could ever do, some may think it can’t do anything for you, or in no way will he help you out but I’m telling you different. You put something in god’s hands and he will help you out in every way. Why do you think parents always put their kids in god’s hands? If they have no control of what can happen they leave it to him to lead them in the right direction. Main things represented in the film were teamwork, strong morals, never giving up and putting god at the front of anything to get through. Putting your faith in god can lead you to a whole life change. This message was being sent to remind people that when times go rough in life, you should never forget about god and what he could do for you and your family. Prayer is always an option and its something people should take more seriously. This message clearly states that what ever you go through in life if you put it in god’s hands he will make there be a way to you solving something, or even creating a miracle. God is the key to getting through things and with out him you wouldn’t know where to turn when things get rough. Just pray to him and put it in his hands and I guarantee he will put everything in place for you.

Facing The Giants

2010-02-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

Facing the Giants was directed by Alex Kendrick. This movie was about a football coach of a christian high school team. They are a pretty bad team, and the coach doesn't know how to win with them. As well as this the coach is having trouble at home with his wife not being able to get pregnant. Through and through, He goes through alot of troubles and seems lost, until he finally reaches out to God, who has been with him this whole time, and realized that his whole life, football, and his wife, all needed to be directed by God. Once this concept is grasped, things turn around for his football team, and even his wife gets pregnant!

I really like this movie, it moved me during a time when i had forgotten about God myself. Although it was low budget, and the acting was not very good, you get the message and honestly all the other negative stuff doesn't matter. I think when christian people watch it, they will also see how moving it is to see someone's life change so dramatically when they turn their eyes back on Jesus. Even when non-Christians watch it, they may chuckle about how bad the acting was, but ultimately i hope they will see the meaning behind it.

This really made me see God, because whenever we things are good we seem to forget him and think we are the cause for all the good thats been happening to us, but in reality it just shows that when God is taken out of our sight, we begin to sink just like peter did. when we keep our eyes on christ, there are no giants that we can't face!

Facing the Giants~

2010-02-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

Rachel Cho

Gospel according: Wall-E

Pastor Sam

Facing the Giants

This movie was very inspirational to me. Coach Taylor was definitely amazing in the movie, he never gave up. He kept trying to make things better on his own. But later in the movie he finally decided to give everything to God and after that, his life became much better. This movie, to me, was very interesting. Its message was very strong even though the movie itself wasn't high class. I think that the message being sent out makes the bad movie quality seem to just disappear since as viewers we should be more concerned about the message than the quality of the movie.

The director of this movie was Alex Kendrick. The writers were Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick. I think the writers of the script made a very well made story and put in a strong message for the audience. Its interesting though how a movie so poorly made, well not poorly made, with poor quality, has made it into Hollywood.

This movie showed me that with God in your life anything is possible. God can do great things in our life but we never even try giving up ourselves to God. We are so sucked in by the world that God sometimes never even comes to mind. We think like "aww man, my life sucks," but all we really need to do is give ourselves to God and He will take care of us.

Facing the Giants

2010-02-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

Facing the Giants was released in 2006 as an American Christian drama film. This movie was directed by Alex Kendrick. Alex Kendrick is also in this movie and plays the role of the head football coach Grant Taylor. Facing the Giants is a movie about a struggling football team that is ran by a life-struggling coach. Coach Taylor goes through the hardships of a record of several failing seasons, being replaced as coach, house and car are breaking apart, financial issues, and later on he finds out he is the reason why he cannot have kids with his wife. At that period of time in Grant's life, he had no sight of God. The faith that Grant later on had in God is what helped him through his hard times as a coach and husband.From there on out everything took care of itself in time. Grant than, ended up losing only one game and than going on to win the state championship. God helped Grant through these times as an individual, and than his prayer was answered and later on he had two children with his wife. I really enjoyed this movie as a whole. It caught my attention because it involved football and it is considerably an "under dog" story.But not only that, it also involved a religion aspect that opens your eyes to the wonders that God can do. God is everywhere and in everyone, regardless of who you are or whats going on. As long as there is hope and faith, God will be there for you through hardships of your lifetime.

Facing the Giants

2010-02-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
UNST Wall-E
February 1st 2010
Facing the Giants

Facing the Giants was directed by Alex Kendrick, and written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick. This is such an awesome movie; it definitely has that “feel good” mentality about it. It starts off like the typical football story showing a struggling team that just isn’t going to make the cut playing football, but it has a better element to it. Most of the “feel good” football or any sport related movie for that matter never gives God credit. It shows that with hard work and responsibility you can succeed and do well, and that’s true but add God to the equation and it makes it that much more powerful! The fist few times I watched this movie I couldn’t get past the not so top of the notch acting abilities and didn’t really get the message. This time around I got the chance to look past the little things and be able to enjoy such a great movie. I’m glad that they made it big and were able to make a real Hollywood movie, most little Christian films don’t. It just goes to show that God will never let you down. At times it may seem like giving up is the easiest way to go, but if you turn to God and give him those fears and doubts he can take them all away from you. “What is impossible with God?”

Facing the Giants Review

2010-01-30T19:18:00.000-08:00

Sara Martinez

January 30, 2010

WALLE

Facing The Giants – Review

This is one of the most inspirational movies that I have watched. It does not take a huge company to produce a movie that will touch many people. This movie was made by a small church in the south. It was directed by Alex Kendrick and the writers were Alex and Stephen Kendrick. While this movie may not be top of the line professional movie, it had a very good message. I think that this reached so many people because it was simple and many people could relate to it. We all face trials and tribulations. Coach Taylor faced many obstacles in his life. He was not making a lot of money, his job was in jeopardy, his home and car were falling apart, and to make matters worse his wife and he could not have children. Most people would have given up, and never tried to look at the positive side of things. Coach Taylor was not putting all his trust in God, and was trying to take things into his own hands. Once he trusted and gave everything completely to God, everything seemed to turn for the better. I have experienced this in my very own life. I find that, when I do not include God into my daily life everything seems to be going wrong. But as soon as I start spending time with him, and letting him work in my life everything starts to get better. It is always hard as humans to give up our future, our life, and everything else into Gods hands. We like to be in control, and at times when we give it all to him we feel out of control. But we need to remember that with him everything is possible. There is not a single thing that we cannot do if we trust in him, and give ourselves and everything we do to him.

Amazing Grace Review

2010-01-26T23:50:00.001-08:00

Shiva Garshasbi

01-25-10

UNST Gospel According to Wall-E

Amazing Grace Review

So, this week we were given an assignment to watch Michael Apted’s movie, “Amazing Grace”. This movie is just as its title indicates: amazing. Michael Apted also directed one of my favorites movies: “Enough” with Jennifer Lopez, and to my extreme, super excitement, he is also directing the upcoming film: “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”. I believe one reason as to why I exceptionally enjoy this movie is because it takes place in the 18^th century. I guess I have a soft spot for movies that take place in older times.

This movie is about a man named William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffudd) who is greatly opposed to the slave trade in England and fights for most of his life to abolish it, even though it causes his heart great stress which makes him sick. Wilberforce’s mentor, John Newton, was once a slave ship captain who repented for his sins and turned into a priest. The title of the movie comes from the name of the song John Newton had composed in reminiscence of the mistakes he had made in his life while a captain of a slave ship.

This movie is based on a biography, but does not fall solely under this category. In order to make the movie more interesting, the story of Wilberforce’s romance is highlighted. Throughout the movie, his will to fight for the abolition of slavery does wane from time to time. But he finds confidence in his soul mate Barbara Spoone, who he constantly confides in and shares the story of his constant struggle. This relationship gives the movie the ability to also fall under the category of romance.

In the beginning of the movie, there is a character named Olaudah Equiano, who is a freed slave who published his life story into a book. He gives his gruesome accounts to Willberforce, and also provides him with a reason to continue his fight. The horrid statistics and facts in this movie are extremely difficult to imagine. How could people treat another human being in such a way? What gave anyone the right to treat other beings worse than animals? It astonishes me that there was a point in time when human lives were treated as worthless objects. Even more so the fact that segregation between black and white people was abolished nearly 50 years ago. And even so, there are still, to this day, places in the South, where high school student just as old as we are, are still accustomed to have segregated proms, banquets, and dances.

Everyday, we are given a choice to do what’s right. And because we live in such a free country we can. So what’s stopping us? Unlike those who lived in England, under a monarchy, if you ever crossed a line and spoke your mind a little too freely, it would’ve been considered treason which would’ve been a violently punishable crime. God gave us a free will to use it to do what’s right and stand up for what we believe in. Just like William Wilberforce in this movie, we shouldn’t back down from our beliefs despite failure. Wilberforce was constantly shot down in parliament, and his bills were constantly rejected. It took him over 5 years to finally get his bill passed and to abolish slavery in England.

Every day, we are given tasks that test our resilience as Christians. This movie was definitely an inspiration and a lesson for us all. It just goes to show that, God doesn’t test us with anything we can’t handle. It might be a struggle at first, but the outcome is worth everything.

Marty's Amazing Grace Review

2010-01-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

"You know the song, now be part of the story"

2010-01-26T22:48:00.000-08:00

'The incredible true story of one man's fight to change the world" one of the taglines that best described Amazing Grace. It was beautifully directed by Michael Apted who gained 17 wins and 11 nominations and written by Steven Knight, together they created an inspiring film that touched viewers' hearts. I thought the movie was hard to follow but it was definitely worth watching it. The story began 15 years later when William Wilberforce met his future wife and the flashback started from there. This film captured the viewers to think beyond what they could about the hardships,politics, and religion without even getting confused with the whole view of slavery. The creators made this movie as an inspiring historical drama that was up to date for the viewers' eyes. The cinematography and costumes were excellent as well. Wilberforce a rising political star who was not afraid to show his faith and integrity in public stood up to abolish slavery. I admired him for getting out of his comfort zone and tried his best to end slavery. According to many viewers they rated the film as a movie that exercised faith and hardships. Not only it covered about saving slavery but it also touched on religious prospective. God honored diligence, like Wilberforce who never gave up and God saw it. Just like Moses who did not gave up through out his hardships in Egypt. God found them and honored their years of struggles.

-Andriyah Burgos

Amazing Grace

2010-01-26T21:57:00.000-08:00

Alexander Alonso

Wall-E

Amazing Grace Review

1.26.10

Amazing Grace

This film was very inspirational, meaningful, and makes you question what one supports. Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted, who also directed “The World is Not Enough,” and written by Steven Knight, who was an Academy Award nominee, had many different ways of getting attention. One, for me at least was the wigs! LOL! I want one!... Sorry, as I was saying! They used history, fact, threw in some romance, and the title itself made me want to see it. I didn’t know why the song was named amazing grace, I was blind but now I see. =) I liked this film because it took place back in the 18^th century, there is something from that time era that inspires me, and it lifts me up. I feel, when I see the fashion and manner of speaking, that anything can become a reality. Just like in the movie, William Wilberforce fought for something that seemed impossible to win, the abolition movement. Although many didn’t support him, he still fought for what was right, and at the end he came out winning. He is a true hero and inspiration to never stop fighting for what we believe! Before closing I want to share my favorite quote of the movie:

“I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior”

- John Newton

Don’t ever forget this…

-Alonso, Alexander

The Gospel According to WALL-E: Amazing Grace

2010-01-26T21:24:00.000-08:00

I must say . . . I enjoyed this movie MUCH better than District 9. Though it seemed long and drawn out at times, I still felt that it was an effective movie. Originally, I thought that it was about the guy who wrote Amazing Grace. That was just one of the many themes/story lines that made up this film. The main story was about William Wilberforce's ongoing battle in the English Parliament to get the slave trade abolished and to make a better world for everyone. He faced many obstacles in order to reach his goal. He was in the vast minority when it came to his views of slavery. It took him 5+ years, lots of traveling, signature getting, and speaking to try and persuade people to believe as he did.

The part of the movie that really hit home for me was when he was taking the tour of the slave boat and was shown exactly what goes on behind the scenes of a slave ship. It never ceases to amaze me how cruel people can be toward one another. I had known the atrocities of slavery, but never had I really understood it until now, for some reason.

My favorite part of the movie was when the William's old pastor, who was a former slave ship captain and author of the hymn, "Amazing Grace", "recounted his sins," and said, "I once was blind, but now I see. I wrote that, didn't I?"

Amazing Grace - Review

2010-01-26T20:14:00.001-08:00

Sara Martinez

January 25, 2010

WALLE

Amazing Grace – Movie Review

Amazing Grace, we have all heard the song. Many people know the story about the man who experienced God’s loving grace when he was a slave trader and wrote this song. But many people do not know much about the man who helped stop slavery in England. The people responsible for helping turn this story into a movie was the Director, Michael Apted and the Writer Steven Knight. They used biography, drama, history and Romance to draw people into this story. I have always like the story behind the song Amazing Grace, and when I saw this movie I immediately liked it because it gave more background to the fight against slave trade. I liked this movie because of the following reasons. First I liked it because it shows and encourages you to keep fighting and working towards what you believe in. William continued to move towards and work for the abolishment of the transatlantic slave trade. Even when no one in parliament believed in him and his chances looked very slim. I also like this movie because of the friendships. William had a group of coworkers and friends who supported him, and even though they all had their quirqs they worked together to get the job done. These two points remind me of Jesus. He kept working for us even when he didn’t have to and people did not believe him. And with his disciples help, even though they had their quirqs, they were able to do a lot. I find this movie very inspirational and a good opportunity to also learn a little more about things from the past.

Amazong Grace

2010-01-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Amazing Grace is a film directed by Michael Apted and written by Steven Knight. This movie could best be described as a historical drama that employs the use of skillful articulation and reason. Individual with prejudices would probably condone this film and not think much of it. The proponents of equality, however, would champion it as a masterpiece in all things supporting their cause. It is evident that this movie incites the emotions and passion that is the topic of equality, equal rights etc. The values portrayed in this film are ones of compassion for those individuals less fortunate. The lifestyles seen in the film are ones of excess and indifference; it takes one individual to arise the consciousness of the larger populace. This message is being sent to remind individuals of the struggles that were made for equality so many years ago. It is evident that the message of the protagonist still looms large in the current society. By taking heed and understanding the merits presented in Amazing Grace, Society can learn and be better towards one another. God is portrayed in this movie as the source of devotion and direction. He was the moral compass that guided the individuals involved in the debate for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.

Michael Aguilar
1-27-2010
UNST- The Gospel According to Wall-E
Amazing Grace Review

Amazing Grace Review

2010-01-26T19:24:00.000-08:00

Amazing Grace was written by Steven Knight and directed by Michael Apted. It was released in 2006 by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
What drew me in with this film was that it was how perseverance abolished slavery. It's also really interesting because of the post-revolutionary war time period.
The film was aimed for pretty much any audience in that it wasn't violent and had no coarse language, but it had a moral message to it as well.
Some lifestyles and values portrayed in this film were that slavery was just business, that it would be uneconomical to abolish it. On the other side of the spectrum, William Wilberforce was fighting and persevering to abolish slavery once and for all. It was really crazy to see how even the British were very for slavery.
The purpose of this film was to show the evils of slavery and that perseverance can do amazing things. It was unbelievable to watch how he spent almost his whole life fighting for the slaves' freedom.
I saw God in William Wilberforce because he practically devoted his life to freeing the slaves. He also didn't go all high and mighty about it. He just wouldn't stop until he had abolished it. He was hardcore.
This was a good movie. I'd recommend watching it.

Andrew Cortez

Lars and the Real Girl

2010-01-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

The film Lars and the Real Girl was written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. This movie is both humorous and touching. As for the genre, it is considered a comedy. This movie utilized humorous situations and a touch that relates to the individual on a personal level. The fact that the protagonist, Lars, has mental issues is intriguing, and interest in the film further expands as one realizes that Lars is strange enough to buy a sex doll for non-sexual intimacy. Individuals, such as me, may have initially viewed the movie as a flop- an outlandish story meant only for absurd laughs; but as the movie progressed, it was clear that it possessed more substance than had been anticipated. The lifestyles and values portrayed in this film are those that are most commonly associated with a small town. Everyone has a strong sense of community and intimacy and is supportive of each other- even if a citizen chooses to parade around a sex doll and consider it real. This message is being sent to demonstrate that people need to be accepting of others regardless of their differences. It is imperative that individuals be tolerant of others beliefs. This movie manifests Jesus’ commandment to love one anther as we would javascript:void(0)want to be treated and loved.

Michael Aguilar
1-27-2010
UNST –The gospel according to wall-e
Lars and the Real Girl Review

Amazing Grace

2010-01-26T18:57:00.000-08:00

Imari Palma
UNST 101
1/26/10

Review

"Amazing Grace" is a historical film based on the story of William Wilberforce and his journey, struggle, and victory to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain. This movie was produced by Jeanney Kim and Mark Cooper. The cast did a wonderful job portraying what it would have been like during that time and one could feel the passion of each character, especially the main one, of course. Wilberforce is a member of the Parliment, but also a passion for religion. He has many enemies, but also a lot of supporters. It was inspiring to see Newton and even the prime minister supporting his efforts. One of my favorite quotes of the movie was when the prime minister says, "As the prime minister, I urge you caution," Wilberforce says, "And as my friend?" prime minister says, " To hell with caution." That scene put a lot of things he perspective. The prime minister knew that Wilberforce would be stepping on a lot of feet and would have an upward battle and he even might be way in over his head, yet he knew what needed to be done and was glad that Wilberforce was one man willing to take up that battle that a lot were afraid to.

It's difficult for us, in the 21st century, living in the United States to understand how people could be so cruel to other human beings. Believe it or not, if we were living back in that time in that place, the majority of us wouldn't see slavery as a bad thing. Thanks to people like Wilberforce, people have gained freedom, rights, and the chance to live like human beings and not animals.

Overall this movie was most definitely inspiring, touching, spiritual, and convicted. It is important to see how history was made and how difficult the struggle was. There are many religious correlations that can be made in this film; the film within itself is a spiritual one. Without the hand of God working in this situation, it would not have been possible.

Jesus Christ can also be correlated to Wilberforce, how one man, with many enemies, few friends, and a lot of people to save did it and made history, like Jesus has.

I Once Was Lost.... by Chris Kaatz

2010-01-26T18:49:00.000-08:00

Amazing Grace is was directed by Michael Apted, written by Steven Knight and was released in 2007. This movie is appropriate for all audiences. This story is about a man named William Wilberforce. He is a politician and has a seat in the House. In the movie, he debates whether or not to go into ministry or to fight to end slavery. He realizes that he can do both by fighting to abolish slavery. While he works on fighting it, he becomes incredibly ill and is on medicine in order to dumb the pain. After a 20 year struggle, against all odds, he is finally able to get the House to abolish slavery.
This movie portrays the message that all men are created equal. That we should stop at nothing in order to be fair to our common man. It is also a movie of friendship and determination that against all odds, as long as you have friends and are determined you can do anything. Christians can also get a strong message to this. Everyday we face opposition to our faith. We always hit brick walls and yet we know that as long as we have God with us, we can do anything. As Christians, we need to remember that everyone is equal because it is not our place to judge others. Because of this, we need to be able to understand each other and be willing to stand up for each other. To help others because that is what God instructed us to do.

2010-01-26T16:25:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
ID#924889
UNST The Gospel According to Wall-E
26, January, 2010

Amazing Grace

Written by Steven Knight, Amazing Grace tells the story of an heroic man who after a two decade struggle ended the slave trade in Great Britain. By balancing faith and filmmaking in a historical drama, Christians doing extraordinary things for their beliefs are depicted. Although in my opinion, some parts were a little "dry" overall the film avoided falling into a dull rut. It helped that chunks of the story were told from flashback experiences to add urgency and weight to the plot. The movie acquired many inspirational themes, and therefore should be encouraged to any and everyone. This film is unique in its own way because it celebrates and honors true Christian heroes which we rarely see depicted in film anymore. I think people of all age groups could agree that the main character William gave off most of the inspiration in the film. He not only was a Christian trying to do the will of the lord, but also an abolitionists fighting for the rights of all men. Watching this film really reminded me of the difficulties, and complexities that come with faith. William was persecuted in a way by the British Parliament for what he believed in; but never the less kept his mind on God. In a spiritual sense, I portrayed William as being like one of Jesus's disciples. Throughout most of the film, he seemed to stand up for he believed in while sacrificing much for the greater good.

"AMAZING GRACE, how SWEET the sound" by: Racho

2010-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

Rachel Cho

UNST: Gospel Wall-E

Pastor Sam

Amazing Grace

The movie "Amazing Grace" really is an amazing movie. It gives and takes in a way that you could only imagine. It gives because it gives viewers encouragement and want for determination, and also takes because the movie takes away feelings of carelessness about what's going on in the world or what has happened already.

This movie was directed by Michael Apted, and was written by Steven Knight. Two wonderful producers. They made the movie in such a way that it makes viewers feel the pain and sorrow that William felt in the movie. His pain was that there was still slave trade going on and sorrow for how nothing was done about it. This movie uses various techniques to make viewers more interested in it. The language style they use, their accent brings out everything they say. Not only is it just words but the words are emphasized on the perfect parts of the sentence and makes it clear to the audience what the point is and what they are trying to get across to the viewers.

I really liked how William never gave up and even though everybody was kind of opposed to his opposition to slavery, he still kept on trying to get people to understand and feel what he felt.

This movie reminds me a lot about Jesus and his stay here on Earth long ago. He tried to get everyone to listen to him, he tried to preach to them, and he tried to help them, but only his disciples would listen. The rest of the crowd would do nothing and really only hated on him especially the king because there was another ruler trying to out-throne him. Jesus never gave up and all the way until he was crucified never stopped trying to get everyone to listen to him. He always loved them even though they hated him. Even on the cross he prayed to God to forgive them.

It was an inspiring movie and the title of the movie really does support what was going on in the movie. It IS an amazing movie and Grace IS AMAZING.

Amazing Grace...

2010-01-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

“Once was blind but now I see”…

The director of Amazing Grace was Michael Apted. It was written by Steven Knight.The creative techniques I always get from movies like this is the wardrobe and the type of dialogue they use. Another thing I really found interesting was how it was based behind a common song. A song everyone knows got turned into a fight for justice. I got from this movie determination and never to give up on a goal you want to achieve. I think the movie is pretty straight forward in what its showing and I think everyone else who watches this will get the same idea I did. William has a strong belief in what he believes is right and he will stop at nothing to fight for this to change. He is centered in god and knows that with his help he can get through anything. When it comes to knowing his morals, William has got that down. This message sent to show people just how strict the slave trade was back then. It was something so normal and right for the upper class. It really sends out a cry for help, it made me think about what if our country still was like this? Who would stand up and change this situation. It takes someone strong to do something like changing a law and convincing others that what you are stating is the right way. This story reminded me of Jonah. God told him to go out and spread the word and to basically change peoples minds. The other thing this story reminded me of was Jesus. The only man I know would go out to the world and keep trying and trying to preach the word to everyone about god is him. He never gave up and did everything he could to show everyone around him he was different and a man of god. William did that very thing in this movie. He showed everyone he was a man of god. In the end William was recognized and honored for the great man he was. It wasn’t really a movie I would choose to see and I expected something different but, I guess if you dig really deep into the movie it has a good message behind it.

Amazing Grace

2010-01-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
UNST: wall-e
January 25th 2010
Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace was directed by Michael Apted and written by Steven Knight. It was released February 23rd 2007. This movie was a feel good movie; it’s hard to see all the drama and stupid reasons around the abolition movement they gave Wilberforce but he never gave up. Even though he had few people behind him it never really seemed to bother him. Even with him being as sick as he was at times he still pushed forward and kept researching ways to get around their rules. This is more of an adult film, I don’t think kids would really be able to relate to the dialogue of the film. It’s heart warming how he as a white man cares so much to help get these slaves out of slavery. The slaves were treated terribly on the ships being transported to their destinations. They were put in box size spaces and expected to live through week long journeys. We should never stop doing something we believe in just if most people may not agree with you. Stand up for what you believe in and be an individual. Just like William never gave up on the slaves Jesus never gave up on his people. Giving up would have definitely been much easier for Jesus. He could have just told his dad; “God these people aren’t taking me seriously, it’s their own fault I’m coming home.” We would have never gotten as far in life without Jesus’ salvation on us. William showed to be a awesome Christ like Christian man that many people honored. I think we would all like to be remembered for something like that.

Amazing Grace

2010-01-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

This week's assignment was to watch the movie Amazing Grace. The class and I watched the movie trailer for Amazing Grace last wednesday, and it I thought it would be somewhat exciting to watch on the count that it is different for me to watch a movie of this type.Amazing Grace is directed by William Apted and came out the year of 2006.Amazing Grace is a movie about a man named William living in 19th century Britain. William in this film is held responsible for taking on the critical factors of the British slave trade. Because of this, William lost popularity within the House of commons, as well as the Members of Parliament. During the process, William gets very sick and catches "chronic colitis".At this time, William than decides to quit politics until Barbara inspired him to keep fighting for what he believes because if it is anyone to make a change in slavery it would be him. Soon after that William than marries Barbara, and continues to keep on fighting for success. Later in time William becomes responsible for the bill being passed through parliament in 1807. Once the bill passed, the slave trade was abolished in the British Empire for decades to come.This movie can definitely be recommended to anybody. It is a great movie that shows perseverance and hope for what you believe in.William took the role of somebody who can make a great change. William played the role and actions in which Jesus would have done for us. Through a lot of struggle and time, William never gave up on himself or the people who believed in him. He persevered and became successful by abloshing the slave trade. William and Jesus both committed very similar actions for a better living and brighter world.Without God, Jesus, or even William there would have been no one taking any role or action for the better.This movie showed me what leadership and integrity is truly about.I can say I simply enjoyed watching this film.

...that saved a wretch like me

2010-01-24T15:02:00.001-08:00

Amazing Grace, a film set back in the 18th century, depicts the story of a man and his struggles through out his young years of fighting to abolish the slave trade in Britain. This film was directed by Michael Apted. This film was told in a series of flashbacks but ultimately ends in present day. As a young man in parliment, William Wilberforce, always had a voice. He decided to use that voice when he realized how inhumane the slave trade was! Year after year, in the fall, he would propose his plan to abolish the slave trade but never did he get enough votes. Ultimately, Britain stayed neutral on the subject, but yet hundreds of slaves were dying in these ships, and out in Jamaica, all for sugar. William ends up telling this woman about it all, after being almost set up by his friend. The two of them, after what seemed no longer than a few days, got married! I believe with the help of his wife, he found it in him to try again, and not give up. He knew he would never have peace until he saw the abolition of the slave trade through. Through trials, sickness, lost friendships, new ones, in the end, Wilberforce made it happen and had the slave trade outlawed.

this movie was very touching, especially because i grew up singing amazing grace, that was probably my first hymn. and to see the meaning behind a song that so many people know, really made me connect with the words so much more. this will definetly intrigue people because christian and non christians know this song. also because the setting, personally i love movies set in this time because it just seems so proper and classy, something we don't have as much of anymore. But people may not want to watch it because it gives them uneasy feelings in the stomachs. i know that some people dont like to talk about such touchy subjects, and that might put them off. But hopefully people will be open to see how amazing God is, and see how great he will work in us.

When william was delibetrating being a man or God or working in parliment, and his friend set up this meeting between all these people who were for abolishing the slave trade, it was true what his friend said about doing both. And when i saw that, i realized that this movie could be saying that without God there can be no righteous action, and without action there can be no real love for God. that struck me hard, and i think alot of people will get the point.

in conclusion, this movie was very good, i would recommend it to anyone, christian or not, because the message of hope, and liberation is there!

District 9 Review

2010-01-19T23:58:00.000-08:00

District 9 was directed by Neill Blomkamp, produced by the great Peter Jackson, and released by TriStar pictures in 2009.
This movie was very strange. It drew me in with the fact that they didn't really explain what was going on at first. Plus, Peter Jackson playing a major role in the making of this film interested me.
As far as audience, this film can be taken many ways. If the audience is my mom, she wouldn't have much interest because of the aliens. To a sci-fi junkie this would probably quite interesting. And to someone who knows about the apartheid in South Africa would see some different perspectives as well.
The film is shown as an "after the fact" film, or recounting the memory of what happened, the interviewees somewhat explain some things but not everything. Then we come to our protagonist, Wikus Van De Merwe, who has been appointed to evict all the aliens in District 9, or the "prawns." However, he goes into one house and finds a tube full of a black liquid, which shoots out a little and gets on him and in his nose. After that encounter, Van De Merwe slowly turns into one of the prawns, and of course the militant government jumps on that to use the alien guns because of his molecular structure. He escapes the laboratory and is on the run, so he goes to District 9 and runs into an alien named Christopher and his son. He then finds out that he can be fixed if they get the liquid back and fly to the Mothership and go back to the alien's planet. So they do and Van De Merwe wants to be fixed but Christopher and his son want to return to their planet to help their people first. Van De Merwe takes the typical human path and takes the ship by force to be returned to his human self, but is shot down and is forced to take on an army of gangster Africans and the MNU thugs. Finally, Van De Merwe sends Christopher off to get to the Mothership while he saves them by directing all the MNU at himself. The aliens escape and go home. Van De Merwe "disappears" and becomes a prawn himself.
The purpose of this film was to show that Xenophobia and social segregation are just awful and can corrupt governments and even people.
I saw a very Christlike sacrifice in Van De Merwe. Though at first he was selfish and only cared about himself. But in the last bit of the film, he gives up his life as a human and helps Christopher escape to the Mothership and fights off the MNU. Though the movie was strange at times, that part really spoke to me. Especially since he totally turned into a prawn.
I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but District 9 was decent.

Andrew Cortez

district 9

2010-01-19T23:56:00.001-08:00

District 9 was one of the most anticipated movies coming out in 2009. Word on the street said it was directed by Halo director, Neill Blomkamp, which brought a lot of talk on how magnificent the movie was supposedly suppose to turn out. The writers, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, wrote a blood-splattering action flick and sneaky-funny science fiction comedy that brought intelligence and suspension into this anticipated film.

The film brought great attraction with the understanding of it being a “sleeper hit” for its unrecognized cast and low-budget production. The film also brought great interest in my eyes as it included a mind-wondering plot line. District 9 was a little confusing to understand at first but towards the middle of it all things started coming thru with a change of knowledge as understanding of the film came into place.

Viewers to this sci-fi film might accept it to be a violent concept towards the “prawns” and support how they were being treated while I saw it as an act of unkindness. The “prawns”, I believe, should be treated the way we’d want ourselves to be treated. District 9 showed a poverty-lived lifestyle for the aliens and it also showed a way of how humans attempted to take control over the “prawns” by confining them in an area and later attempt to evict and relocate the aliens into a different location. The leader for this eviction is WIkus Van De Merwe. He later determines how the aliens feel as he himself transforms into one himself by accident. He is later forced into using his new self in libratory testing as a weapon against the aliens. Wikus later understands the horrible lifestyle taken place by the “prawns” and turns out helping them out.

The main theme or message of District 9 in my opinion is that showing how someone who is absolutely convinced that they are different from others can end up being just like them in the end. In a sense it is brought up because it serves as a warning to the viewers to not act unkindly and brutal to others, also that humans are responsible to not inherent violent and prejudice towards others. District 9 has a spiritual input towards the viewers, such as when Wlkus Van De Merwe sacrificed himself to save the "prawns" is the same idea when Jesus sacrificed himself and died in the cross to save us from all our sins.

Andriyah Burgos

Marty Baugh District 9 Review

2010-01-19T23:31:00.000-08:00

District 9...

2010-01-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp, is a story that takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010. In 1982, this huge spaceship comes to a halt and simply hovers over the city of Johannesburg. With no activity coming from the ship the human curiosity kicks in, as well as the gung-ho “let’s find out what’s in there” attitude. The humans decide to pry their way into the space ship and they find a whole colony of aliens. The aliens are malnourished and seem to be dying. At first the humans try to help the aliens out, but then things get a bit out of hand. The aliens are them confined to the slums knows as District 9. Under the operation of Wikus van der Merwe, the main character, the MNU, also known as the Multi-National United is forcefully evicting the aliens from the slums of District 9 to some concentration-like camp. Wikus is accidentally infected with this unidentified alien fluid. Then and only then is he forced to seek help from the aliens to save himself.

I wouldn’t say that the creative technique in this film was the use of another species because it seems that nowadays every movie is using that. I am not really into the whole sci-fi thing but I can tolerate it but I simply did not enjoy this movie. I understood the concept; however this particular movie didn’t do it for me. I think the main idea of this movie is that humans always stat off with good intensions to help those in need, but is quickly overwhelmed by some sort of greed and need for power and superiority. I don’t know what more I can possibly elaborate on the spiritual aspect… God sent his son to this earth to live among us and though he was or savior we treated him like trash. Same with the aliens and Wikus, the aliens had the power to save Wikus but he was too stubborn and only had himself in mind.

District 9

2010-01-19T21:01:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
UNST: The Gospel According To Wall-E
Assignment #2
1/19/10

District 9

District 9 would have to be considered one of the most interesting films that i have seen in the past decade. Written by Neill Blomkamp, and Terry Tatchell, I could definitely see what they envisioned in creating it. The directors used the mistreated aliens to portray now secretive and unfair the government can be in certain situations, and also how people treat foriegners that they know nothing about. With South Africa being known for segregation and discrimination, people who faced similar curcumstances could relate and therefore be drawn in to watch. Forexample, the government and citizens of Johannesburg had no remorse for the stranded aliens and treated them as inferiors. District 9 had captivating moments, and be considered an action, and drama film. At some point i forced my tears from falling to the ground, as the entire world that Wikus knew fell apart. I would not advise children to see this movie due to the large amounts of gore and violence, but teenagers might feel less compassionate towards the aliens because of their lack of understanding to world monstrocities. Adults however, should know exactly how discrimination and prejudice can make individuals feel whatever their species. Loyalty definitely plays a large role in the bible, and this was something Wikus struggled to keep. Time and time again he betrayed his alien companion Johnson, but in the end he redeemed himself by allowing himself to trust. Judas could have redeemed himself by trusting that Jesus Christ would remember him in paradise, but through his misery he doomed his own life. Everything the government was doing was exposed, and Wikus was left waiting for his chance to obtain a normal life, once again, after sacrificing the past one for the greater good of another.

District 9 by Chris Kaatz

2010-01-19T20:59:00.001-08:00

District 9 was an awesome movie! It was directed by Neill Blomkmap. This movie should not be viewed by younger audiences because of the violence that is involved in this movie. The basic plot of the movie is that an alien spaceship hovers over the city of Johannesburg. After little activity from the ship, the humans decide to drill into the ship in order to see what is inside. What they find, is an alien race that is without order, sick , and malnourished. The humans throw them into a ghetto and call it District 9. To keep the aliens in, walls are built and a security force is given the task of keeping the aliens inside. One man, after starting to change into an alien, risks his life to save an alien and his son.
The basic ideal that one can take from this movie is the need to understand other people before we jump to conclusions and judge them. We need to walk around in their shoes for awhile and see what it is like before we criticize. Other people may seem strange to us, but that is only because we do not understand them fully and don’t take the time to.
For a Christian, this movie should be a wake-up call. Far too often do we quickly judge others when we should open our arms to them. Jesus, did this. He came down to this earth as a child. A poor little baby and healed the blind and the sick. Jesus walked in the shoes of mankind. He is God. He is divine and yet He decided to come down to this earth to save us. To sacrifice all that he had. A Jesus character I see in this movie is the MNU agent. He saved us just like the MNU agent saved the aliens. The agent sacrificed his old life in order to save someone else’s. We should all take this lesson and love others as we love God and ourselves.

2010-01-19T20:24:00.000-08:00

In the late year of 2009, the film, District 9 was animated onto the big screen in theatres virtually all across America. It was an instant hit at the box office bringing in 37 million dollars on its opening weekend. It was directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. The cast were unknowns starting with Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James.
District 9 had a unique style and appraoched the film in a different way. It was shot in a documentary style that caught my attention perosnally. The graphics used also brought out the film as innovation and captivating. Each scene filled the viewer with anticipation and a longing for more. I believe that District 9 had an amazing action packed that never left space for a dull moment. Each character in the film has their own persona that brings different elements and standpoints to the film.
People may view this film differently. In some way I felt for the aliens as they treated inhumane, and weredegrated and seperated. I felt like the aliens were misinterpreted. However, some people did not see this viewpoint at all, and would completely disagree with my past statement.
Overall in District 9 the lifestyles were those of aliens being sectioned off in a part of Africa where they were restricted to reside. It portrayed the lifestyle of Americans being in the presence of an out of earth encounter and there decision with what to do with the aliens. It presented the question of wonder.
I believe that this message is being sent in order to provide the viewer with the idea of judgment and what our actions can inflict upon others. We do no take the time to understand people different from us and we are not always accepting of the new and "strange." We are too quick to critize and need to see the beauty in all people and things.
I see a great deal of spirituality in the film . Our judgements, and false accusations of all that is foreign to us comes with a price. Jesus however, our savior came to us in order to help us, in order to save us. Just as the agent in the film sacrificed himself for the lives of the aliens, Jesus sacrificed his life for ours.

District 9

2010-01-19T18:19:00.000-08:00

Lloyd Pressley
1/19/10
923934
UNST
D-9 Review

Neill Blomkamp is the director, and Peter Jackson is the producer for the movie District 9. I thought that I would really enjoy this movie, but I wasn't too into it like I thought I would be. Although it didn't catch my interest very much, I still saw certain themes and symbolic representation throughout the viewing of this movie. This movie is about these aliens who come to Earth. These aliens had no intention of any harm to anyone on earth. They were facing a difficult struggle with figuring out how they can get back to their spaceship. Because of this, the aliens were forced to hide themselves from Earth and the socierty of people living. All of the hatred was put on the aliens for the fact that they are different. The humans completely treated the aliens horribly. This movie can be intrepreted in many different ways of being negative and positive. I see this movie as a message to show the viewer that the aliens are intrepreted in a way that the are different. Different such as being a different animal,species,race,color presented. God brought everyone into this world. For that, everyone should treat eachother for they would want to be treated. We are all God's children, there should be no reason to exclude or hate anyone for being different.

The Gospel According to WALL-E: District 9

2010-01-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I don't even know what to say about this movie. I'm not one for alien movies and, quite honestly, I didn't really enjoy this movie. I thought that it was really sad and depressing, especially when the main character started transforming into an alien. What they put him through in the name of science is never ceased to amaze me. When they put the real alien in front of the gun and made him shoot, I just about lost it. The alien had done nothing to them and they took his life from him.

The way the agency treated the aliens when they were evicting them also hurt me. Sure, what the aliens were doing was wrong, but that's no excuse for the people to treat them as badly as they did. The scene where they're going around, basically telling the aliens that they need to sign their lives away. Most of the aliens refused to sign their eviction notices, angering the agency who was evicting them. If they got so much as a scribble out of the alien's they said that counted as a signature.

The one good thing about this movie was that it made me realize what lengths people will go to in order to get what they want. Or worse, how unkind humanity can be toward one another. My eyes have definitely been opened to the world around me and I have a greater understanding now.

District 9 Review

2010-01-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

District 9 was created by Neill Blomkamp and co-written by Terri Tachell. This movie is a sci-fi thriller that deals with aliens coming to earth. Although another alien movie might be seen as cliché, the twist with district 9 is that the aliens don’t want to destroy earth, but rather they have been shipwrecked over Africa and are forced to live in a refugee district located in the suburbs of Johannesburg. Throughout the 28 years of their occupation of district 9, the aliens have become desensitized and behave in an erratic manner. The movie take shape around the forced eviction of the aliens from district 9 to another more spacious camp in response to the public outcry that the aliens are a menace. The values represented in this movie are understanding and acceptance. In district 9, humans never became accustomed to the aliens. Instead of making an effort to beneficially coexist, humans ostracized the aliens and blamed them for a host of different things. It is only when the human protagonist starts interacting with the aliens that it becomes clear that the aliens and humans share many of the same emotions and characteristics. What humans needed was to be more accepting towards the aliens and learn more about them. Certain people might view this movie as just another science fiction thriller that lacks any vestige of originality, but other might view it as a highly original spin on the cliché alien-invade-earth movie. District 9 is sending a message that humans must be tolerant of others that we might not understand as well as ourselves. When we ostracize a group, we fail to learn from each other in a way that is beneficial to all. This film portrays God as a benefactor that will return one day. Just like the alien in the movie, Jesus will return one day to end our afflictions. He made a promise- and he intends to keep it.

Michael Aguilar
1-19-2010
UNST: The Gospel According to Wall-E
District 9 Review

District 9

2010-01-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
UNST: Wall-E Gospel
January 19, 2010
District 9

District 9 was directed by Neil Blomkamp, it was also written by Neil Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, produced by Peter Jackson. In this particular film they use an insect looking creature to represent an alien, definitely not the typical alien we are used to seeing in science fiction movies. It’s very gory and sad in some parts. I would say it is not a movie for children to watch although I’m sure some little boys would love the idea of killing aliens like they would be able to in some sort of video game. In the beginning of the movie I know that I right off the bat thought “what a stupid movie!” “When is it gonna get good?” and it doesn’t for a long time. They do a great job of getting you to become attached to the main character Wikus Van De Merwe once you see how sad and lonely he is not being able to live in society anymore. The religious aspects I saw in this movie are; the aliens could be compared to the story of Moses and the Israelites just wanting to go home. The main alien in the film plays the role of Moses wanting to “take his people back to the promised land” or in their words back to their planet.

District 9

2010-01-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Imari Palma
UNST 101
Pastor Sam
1/19/10

Review

Before even seeing District 9, one should know of it's producer, Peter Jackson, who also directed "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which made quite an impact on the movie industry, and becoming a huge deal among the young and old. It was directed by Niell Blomkamp, a brand new director, who tried to capture the vision of sci-fi and tie it in with ugly reality. Many do not see "D9" as being the movie of "the ages." It is dark, bloody, violent, strange, and it has aliens.

I believe the most important thing to do before watching "D9" is to have an open mind and have a little background what the film is actually based on to get a fuller appreciation of it. The story plot of "D9" is based in South Africa, where sickly aliens have landed their mother ship over the city and cannot leave. The people wish to civilize them by putting them into ghettos (concentration camps almost). They are treated poorly, beaten up, and looked down upon with disgust. Most would find aliens different and some disgusting. The point is that this story is based on the apartheid movement in South Africa. When white South Africans fought to gain control over the black South Africans and by doing so they treated them poorly, looked down upon them, and placed them in ghettos.

The main character really intrigued me during his transformation. At fist I thought it was "cool" that he was transforming into an alien because now he could use the weaponry that only the aliens could use. Although, he was trapped in a world that was forgien and grotesque to him and he wanted out. I found it compelling that throughout the coarse of the movie his softer side began to show. He felt a sort of compassion towards the aliens near the end and accepted his fall from society to help save the aliens lives, ultimately.

There will always be places of racism, hatred, and genocide, unfortunately. This world is not perfect and it will take more than one man to change it. Although, isn't that what Jesus did? Isn't it what He is still doing today? In world of violence and hate, He shows peace, compassion, forgiveness, hope, and love, which is what this movie portrayed all in one.

District 9: Rachel Cho

2010-01-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

Rachel Cho

Pastor Sam Leonar

Gospel:Wall-E

District 9

The movie "District 9" was directed by Neil Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. It was an exceptionally good movie that portrayed a lot of disturbances and such going on in the real world. What I see in this movie is aliens that basically landed on Earth and are trying to get back to their spaceship but can't because they do not have all the materials required to fly their machine to the main spaceship. So for the time being, they are in hiding from humans. This movie is very symbolic of our world because the aliens are kind of like the people who don't exactly belong. The movie directors are probably trying to say something like, foreigners are not welcome to our home.

I see that this movie can be misinterpreted in many ways. Some people may take this message offensive and others may not. It all depends on what the person believes.

I see God in this movie as the Alien who told Wikus that he'd come back for him in 3 years. This scene in my opinion is pretty symbolic of God because God told us as well that he would be back soon for us to take us up to Heaven with him. Wikus is symbolic of the people that God is going to come back to save. The ones who kill the aliens are symbolic of the people who turned away from God and are on the other side.

I think this movie has a lot of suspense and thriller and it's all very sci-fi. But it keeps the audience interested the whole time. Sure it's a little grotesque but it's and interesting portrayal of the world and has a good plot that the audience likes through the whole movie.

District 9

2010-01-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Gospel According to [District 9]

The director of this movie is Neil Blomkamp and the producer is Peter Jackson. The film was based on foreign people landing on a country that isn’t there place to be and how others react to them being there. It’s how someone can come and ruin a city by their bad habits and destruction. The creative techniques that captured my attention in this film were the special effects, the angles it was shot at, it was documentary like, and the violence the film showed. There were some really neat parts that showed how technology really just captures most of what the movie is trying to show. Other people might perceive this message as not seeing how being environmentally destructive can effect not just what’s around you but it affects everyone around the world. They might just see it’s about aliens coming to earth and it’s the same thing every other movie brings in but it’s more about that, it’s about an actual event that happened in Africa. I think through everything some people will understand that District 9 has a good background to it. Lifestyles, values and points of view shown in this film are city versus shantytown, good versus bad, how people can ruin a town so easily. It’s showing how when a foreign person comes into your town it just stirs up so much controversy. This message is being sent to basically say that outsiders are not welcome to a city. They need to get out and leave everyone alone. Lastly the only connection to god I got from this movie was when the alien told Wikus that he would be back for him in three years. It reminded me of god coming back for us in the end and taking us away from all the violence in the world.

D-9

2010-01-18T19:47:00.000-08:00

District 9 is film that takes the "classic" alien story and changes things up a bit. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, the idea behind this film (and this is of my opinion), is to portray humans as they really are. In most alien stories, the outsiders are the scary, weird, or torturous group, but in D9 its the other way around. The story centers around one guy who worked in the alien ghettos and ended up getting sprayed but something of there. This causes him to change, a slow change from human to the very aliens he tried to encamp and control. As the story goes on he ends up fighting with them and trying to help them get their ship working again so they can go back home. In turn leaving this man to become fully alien, leaving his family, his wife, and his once human life, to wait on the word of an aliens return, 3 years from now.

Theres alot of things about this movie that really get your attention. The action is completely awesome. Showing the brutality for the humans really made my emotions towards to aliens swell in sadness. I also thought watching this man change from human and pretty much a racist, to one of them and experiencing what they were going through, was a process. At first i did not like him but then obviously when he began to change, my perception of him sorta did too. He was still a idiot and a tad proud but i felt bad for him especially having to leave his wife alone. That part broke my heart at the very end, when he was just holding that little tin creation of his.

Symbolism was a major factor in this movie. Like i mentioned in class, the first part of the film is a documentary and when asking the white south africans what they thought about having the aliens around, they talked so bad about them, like they were animals and such. But in reality when making this film those interviews were real, and they were actually asking them what they thought about the black indigenous groups the live there in REAL LIFE. The hatred that was portrayed in the movie towards those aliens, were all really just showing us how the white people in that area treated the blacks.

In the end i feel that God is hurt when we treat people unkindly. plain and simple. Although this movie is about aliens, its showing us how badly we treat people who are different than us or think differently. As christians its our duty or be the light of the world, to have christ work in us so that others will see Him in us. leading my example. so lets not be meanies, and lets treat the aliens nicely when they come, ok?

2010-01-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

Shiva Garshasbi

Shawshank Redemption

This week, I watched the movie Shawshank Redmption, based off of the story written by Stephen King, directed by Frank Darabont. This movie has easily made it into my top ten movie list. This movie was released back in 1994, which would be when I was only 3 years old. Tim Robbin plays the lead role as Andy, who has been convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to 2 lifetime sentences to be served at Shawshank Penitentiary.

Upon arrival with several other new inmates, Andy meets the warden of the prison who is played by Bob Gunton. He seems to be a God-fearing man, when he states his belief in the Bible and discipline as a way to keep the inmates in order. As the movie progresses you see the warden’s character unfold to reveal a very corrupt man. To me he seems more like a false prophet. He claims to be a man who goes to church, and has a model family, when actually he is a man who uses Andy’s education and knowledge to embezzle money from the prison into a private account.

While serving his time, Andy befriends several prisoners as well as guards and officials. One man, who becomes Andy’s best friend and confidant, is Red, who is played by one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman. While watching this movie, I truly believed that he didn’t commit the crime he was serving time for. Andy was a very well educated man, and he wanted to share his knowledge with his new friends. His determination brought about a new library for the prison, and a way for the inmates to get a proper education and receive their General Education Diplomas. I had really hoped for a happy ending for Andy. And I thought that would’ve happened when a new member joined his group of friends. This man claimed that he knew the man who commited the murder Andy was falsely accused of. When his untimely end came, I was shocked, especially because I didn’t think the warden was capable of murder at this point.

This movie’s title has the word “redemption” in it. Originally, one would suspect that Andy is the one who finds redemption, when actually he is the one who brings it around. Red is actually the man who receives redemption, even though Andy successfully escapes the prison. In the middle of the movie, Red goes in for a review for release, and at that point he knew he just wanted to get out. He knew he wasn’t ready, but he was willing to lie to get what he wanted. By the end of the movie, Andy’s impact on him and the prison brings about Red’s true revelation of himself, and so truly wants to redeem himself for what he has done.

Shawshank Redemption

2010-01-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film. Frank Darabont directed and wrote this film. Tim Robbins plays the star role as "Andy", whom spent almost two decades in prison. Morgan Freeman played as the fellow inmate "Red". Andy is convicted of killing his wife and her lover and is going to jail for it. Throughout the whole movie you wonder if he really did commit the murders or not. Based on "circumstanical evidence" he is sentenced to two consecutive years in Shawshank Penitentiary. Andy later on down the road runs into Red. Red has connections outside the penitentiary. Andy first asked Red for a rock hammer so he can maintain his hobby of rock collecting. Andy than, helps all of the people in the penitentiary with their taxes on the count that he is a banker. After that Andy was given space to work on their financial matters under the pretense of maintaining the prison library alongside elderly inmate Brooks Hatlen (James Whitmore). Later, Andy uses his good will with the prison guards to expand the library.One donation he received from the library was the opera The Marriage of Figaro. Andy than plays that song over the loud speaker system in which shocked the whole penitentiary.
Both inmates went through struggles and hardships but in the end they are both released as free into the world. What is crazy is how Andy is serving a sentence in jail in which he didn't evn commit. But as he is in prison he than contributes to the penitentiary is a good and positive way. Andy was very patient and consistant and in the end it paid off in his benefit.The way Andy was serving others is the same acts in which Jesus contributed to the world. Jesus came into this world to help others lives with no fault. Between Jesus and Andy they both contributed in many positive ways in the world and society.
-Lloyd Pressley 923934

Shawshank redemption review

2010-01-12T23:52:00.000-08:00

Alexander Alonso

January 12, 2010

Gospel according to Wall-E

The Shawshank Redemption

Movie Review

This movie has become one of my favorite films. Frank Darabout did an excellent job with it. TWO THUMBS WAY UP!!! GOTTA SEE IT!!

Well, this story was about a married man; Andy was his name, who was blamed for something he did not do. Andy was sentenced to two life sentences back to back for the murder of his wife and her new lover. He was sent to a prison called shawshank, were the warden believed in discipline, and the bible. What I liked in this movie is the repetition of the words “salvation is found within…” the bible. Andy lived in that prison for nearly 20 years, making close friends and helping in all he could, until he escaped. Andy was a really well educated and patient man. His persistence even got the government to help build a library in the prison. Red, Morgan Freeman, soon became best friends with Andy, and together they lived through hardships. Granted both had different struggles, but they helped each other out. In the end they both are free.

When I think about the story, I think of several lessons to be learned: patience, perseverance, friendship, hope, trust, second chances, faith and loyalty. Also, an idle mind is the devils playground. Those whom had nothing to do and nothing to look forward to were just kind of there. But Andy, always having and wanting something to do, kept his eye on the goal. He wanted out and planned it for several years. He was patient, and it paid off. One other thing I learned from Andy, he was always trying to serve others, for instance him risking his life to get the others beer, or when he played the record on the PA system. Those simple acts made his fellow brothers happy, although just for a moment, and that helped keep him going. Both Red and Andy were redeemed, and given a second chance at life, and that was my favorite part, the ending.

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

2010-01-12T23:43:00.001-08:00

After I watched the trailer of Shawshank Redemption I thought it would be a film about just crime and violence but I was wrong. Theres more in the movie than just violence. Wrote by Stephen King, directed by Frank Darabont and was also the screenplay writer, nomited for seven Oscars and had 9.2 out of 10 user rating, this movie can get any better based from the productions. Andy a banker who commited double murdered for killing his wife and another man which led him to Shawshank prison. In the prison he witnessed the cruelty to live in that environment. In there he made friends with Red, an African American prisoner who accompanied him throughout the years in prisonment. Watching the prisoners get brutally violated by the abuse warden and other officers, I felt pity and sorry for what they have to go through instead of thinking what they should be punished for. Especially Andy who was treated horribly in prison for so many years. Even though they were treated unfair by the officers, I think that the prison they live in is kind of lenient back than compare to the prisons today. One thing that caught my attention was when Andy explained about having hopes in everything. I just cant believed that after all that he went through from brutally treated in prison that he would still have hope in everything he do. I admire his patience for the years he spent in prison, intelligence to know how to work things out by plotting his escape and for still having that hope to not give up on life. God made individuals with different characters and roles in life such as Red who continue to support his friend Andy and Andy in return never loses hope for both of them that they will be freedman and revealed the corruption what is happening in Shawshank prison. Also God created this hope for everybody to not give up on anything. I liked the part when Andy wrote a letter to Red about not giving up and if he came that far the he should go even farther and continue his journey. I believed that God always put a happy ending in everyone’s life, whether a person was in prison or not, He puts hope in everyone to succeed.

-Andriyah Burgos

Shawshank

2010-01-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

I was quite happy to see Shawshank Redemption not just a movie on our list but as the first movie on our list. This is one of my mother’s favorite movies. I have seen it about a million times and she has seen a million times more. My mother and I are both really into prison movies…I do not really know why. I really like this movie my favorite character is Red, played by Morgan Freedman. Frank Darabont directed and wrote the screen play for the movie but it was based off of Stephen King’s short story “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” The creative technique that attracted my attention was the whole innocent and ordinary “Joe” going to prison. The whole movie you are watching Andy Dufrense, played by Tim Robbins, is the main character and you know that this man couldn’t have possibly committed such a heinous crime, yet you wonder if he really did. I think this message is something we all really need to think about… Andy was doing time for a crime he did not commit. But throughout the entire movie his time spent at the prison helped better the lives of the prisoners and he impacted many of the fellow convicts. Same with Jesus Christ, He came to this earth and lived a life without fault yet paid the ultimate price for our sins. His presence here on earth bettered or lives and His life impacted the entire world.

Shaw Shanks Redemption Review

2010-01-12T23:17:00.000-08:00

Sara Martinez

January 9, 2010

RELIGION ACCORDING TO WALLE

Shaw Shanks Redemption Review

Shaw Shanks Redemption was a very good movie all around. This movie used several genres, some of which were crime and drama. I was kept in suspense the entire movie. The ingenious writer of this movie was Stephen King who had also written Rita Hayworth. The Director and screenplay writer of this movie was Frank Darabout. This movie came out in September 1994 and it was such a hit that it received 7 Oscar nominations and had another 11 wins and 13 other nominations. I myself nominate this movie as a must watch!

At first glance I wondered why the movie was named Shaw Shanks Redemption. After thinking about it for some time this is what I came up with. I believe that this title was given because it had to do with how the prison and the prisoners seemed to be redeemed form the warden. Andy was liberated himself from the prison when he escaped and he redeemed himself. The tagline for this movie was: fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. I think that this very true and the word hope was a huge part of this movie. Andy was afraid, but once he gained hope that he would get out he got the courage and the gumption to dig the tunnel to escape. When Red was narrating he said that everyone in the jail had to find a special project to keep him busy. I think that Andy received hope from keeping busy digging the tunnel. Hope was the liberation and freedom that the men in that prison had, even when they might never again be really free. I think of God in or lives and the hope that we have in him. Even though we live in a sinful world we have and always will have the hope that he is coming for us and we will be set free. This movie has several good points and is a great movie to watch.

Into the world of Shawshank Redemption!

2010-01-12T23:14:00.000-08:00

The Shawshank Redemption

The director of this film was Frank Darabont. Its based of the Stephen King Novel called " Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption ". The main characters were Tim Robbins who plays Andy and Morgan Freeman who plays Red. I really liked how the movie took place in a prison mostly and how in the end it shows the scene on the beach. It went from a dark place to a place full of freedom. The whole story has a great logic to it and I would of never thought of what was going on through Andy’s head through the whole story. The ending surprised me. It was all in all great. The message I got from this film was Fear can hold you prisoner, Hope can set you free. This film showed me hope and that you can get past your mistakes in life and move forward without fearing the outside. As much as you are content with where you are and that may be all you know its okay to go out and build a new life. People may just think this film is the same as any other film about a guy escaping prison but its not even that its life, hope and life changing. This message is being sent to show people “hope”. It was made to tell people that no matter what mistakes you’ve done, you can overcome them. It related to god in the sense of us humans sinning and thinking god cant forgive us but the movie shines a light in the sense god forgives and receives you back with open arms. “Hope” is important in this movie because its what each inmate in that prison had to look forward to, nothing else would keep them going if it wasn’t for that hope of being free one day. It was named Shawshank Redemption I think because for one the jail was called that but it was also the place where people who have committed sins go and get healed in a sense. It’s like coming clean. The person I feel is being redeemed is well Andy and Red. Andy because well he went in there falsely accused and got back from the people who put him in that place. Andy on the other hand helped Red, if it wasn’t for him he would of ended up dead like Brooks.

Marty Baugh Review

2010-01-12T22:39:00.000-08:00

2010-01-12T22:06:00.000-08:00

Carolina Rodriguez

Shawshank Redemption

The film Shawshank Redemption was a film written by Stephen King and it was directed by Frank Darabont and produced by Niki Marvin. It was released in the fall of 1994 starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
The film appealed and caught the eye. Shawhank is a film in which it unravels itself as it progresses. It never carried a dull moment. It is all inclusively entertaining and produced a great plot. The movie had a sense of mystery to it. It produced frequent questions and to do. The film is being narrated which appeals to the audience.
This film has various meanings and interpretations. Some may view and recall the justice that Andy was entitled too, or also karma which circled back to the guards that hurt Andy. However, through all the different meanings, I believe that hope is the main idea.
The film is largely and almost entirely centerally focused on a prison compound. It follows the lives of Andy Dufresne and Boyd "Red" Redding and a few other companions. The lifestyle is those of convincted inmates. It carries through the course of a 20 year incarceration. Life as a convict in the 1950's, innocent and detained against your will. Values presented were those of an innocent man relying an only hope. Persistance and friendship are examples shown throughout.
I believe that the film Shawshank Redemption portrays a great deal of the idea of hope. A belief so strong that prevails all throughout the film. Andy Dufresne had a constant belief of self-justice and hope. His character had a sense of determination and ease. He brought a contagious aura of belief and a new meaning of life. Hope was the central meaning of the film
I believe that the film clearly portrays Andys innocence. In the film Andy is falsely accused and prosectued. He had to endure punishment for the sins of other just as Jesus died for ours. There is much symbolism throughout the film. In the very tittle, Redemption, clearly demonstrates how Andy is redeemed in the end by gaining his freedom and condemening the officers who did wrong upon them. Redemption means deliverance; rescue, and after enduring everything that was thrust upon him he was able to break free.

The Shawshank Redemption Review

2010-01-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

The Shawshank Redemption was written and directed by Frank Darabont and was released in 1994. Based on the novella by Stephen King, it is a film about prison life and having hope.
I loved this movie. It was well written, it had a great cast, and it had a crazy twist when he escaped. Also it was actually a deep and philosophical movie that made you think; about hope, about what you want in this life, and how power can screw you up.
This was meant for adults, obviously shown with the R rating, which it deserved with language and violence. Also, young kids wouldn't exactly comprehend what the moral and such was.
There was so much to this film. Andy Dufresne starts as a wrongfully accused banker who actually became actually very conniving and scheming from living in Shawshank, though not exactly becoming corrupt. Also, its crazy to see how the Warden changed from a Christian who's walking a little off the path into a deeply corrupt and awful person. I thought it was funny how the cross on his lapel changed to some little pin after the first decade.
I think this message was being sent to show how we can change for better or for worse and that hope can actually set you free (to steal from the theatrical poster).
I didn't see God actually represented, though I did see one Christ-like aspect, though it was sad. When Tommy tells the story of how Elmo Blatch flat-out admitted that he committed the murder, Blatch was perfectly fine going on and letting someone else, which happened to be Andy. Though quite a loose reference, it caught my eye.
I believe that this film was called Shawshank Redemption because though Andy and Red were redeemed, the prison itself was redeemed. It had a library that was garbage and from the perserverence from Andy came the Brooks Hatlen Memorial Library with a decent amount of books and even records.
As i stated in the previous paragraph, several people were redeemed. Andy, after being sentenced for a crime he didn't commit and then having the one who could attempt to save him killed, escaped Shawshank by crawling through a half mile of crap and coming out clean. Red was redeemed by realizing what rehabilitation really meant to him and that hope really can set you free.
This movie was a really deep and philosophical film and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

Andrew Cortez

The Gospel According to WALL-E: The Shawshank Redemption

2010-01-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

Going into this movie, I honestly didn't know what to expect. Usually when I watch the trailer for a movie, I get a good idea if it's one that will pique my interest, or give me the "I can go my whole life without ever seeing this movie and be absolutely okay with it," feeling. Upon watching The Shawshank Redemption trailer, I can honestly say it wasn't a movie I was "buck wild" crazy about seeing. Sure, it looked intriguing, but I'm not one for prison movies and watching people get beaten to within inches of their lives, and, to me, Shawshank seemed to be chalk full of those moments. I was right. There were several times in the movie where I was caught off guard with a brutal beating and jumped and cringed.

Even though this movie was very graphic at times, the theme of hope and, hence the title, redemption, was expertly woven into the fabric of the movie. It's amazing how a movie that centers itself around a prison can leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling as the credits roll. I had always heard the quote, "Get busy living . . . or get busy dying," but I didn't know that this is the movie where it came from. When watching Shawshank, I remember thinking that there's no way this movie can give me anything even remotely resembling a warm fuzzy. This feeling started to come into play when Andy talked about music. I can definitely relate to what he said about how, no matter how hard they try, they can't take away music. If you're a lover of music, you know that music is in your soul. As my friends can most certainly attest, I always seem to have at least one song (more like 6) in my head at all times. No matter what happened during my day, I can always find a song to fit my mood. Music is, most definitely, a major part of my life. I'm a female trumpeter in Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band, so of course I'm surrounded by music every day and, to be quite honest, I couldn't be happier about that. :)

The Shawshank Redemption Review by Chris

2010-01-12T20:26:00.000-08:00

The Shawshank Redemption is an awesome story written and directed by Frank Darabont. It was released in 1994 and then was re-released in 2004. I would recommend this movie to anyone, although I would keep small children from seeing it because of the language and some of the content.
The Shawshank Redemption has is an amazing story of a man named Andy Dufresne who is wrongfully accused and sentenced to two life sentences back to back without parole for the murder of his wife and her lover. Once in prison, Andy goes from being just another inmate to someone whom even the guards come to admire. Andy began to help the guards with their taxes and other legal things while they began to help him with what he needed. As time went on, the warden started to use Andy’s skills to pocket money that was going through the prison in an account that could not be traced. After finally getting fed up with his life in prison, Andy escapes and is free from Shawshank.
A really easy theme to see is that of hope. Andy is always talking about hope. He has hope that one day everything will be fine. He has hope of a better life, and it is this hope that he begins to pass on to his fellow inmates. He sent letters to the state for years requesting funds to help build a better library for the prison. After hundreds of letters, the state finally gives him the money he needs and Andy builds a huge library. With this library, he begins to help some of the inmates get their high school diplomas. He taught them how to hope and how great a thing hope is.
Another theme from the movie that carries a spiritual tone is that of redemption. In the movie it is easy to see that Andy Dufresne is the one who is redeemed, but there is a much bigger story of redemption that is taking place. The answer can be found in the movie’s title. The whole prison is redeemed. Redemption can be defined as deliverance from something upon the payment of a ransom. In the movie Andy pays the ransom with all of his hard work. He puts up with the warden in order for the library to be built. He toils for hours and helps the inmates with their needs. Through his payment, he redeems those at Shawshank by giving them a hope for the future is it through the ability to get an education or to just have faith that they can make it through whatever happens to them. In the same way, Jesus has redeemed us. He came down and paid with his life. He freed us from the sins of the world and made it possible for us to have faith that no matter what we are going through, He is always there with us. He will come again. And because of His payment, we are able to hope for a better future.

2010-01-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
ID#924889
UNST
Assignment 1
1/10/10

Shawshank Redemption

Stephen king wrote Shawshank Redemption and conveyed the rising issues of prison brutality. Not only did he show the quite desperation of an imprisoned man who was actually innocent, but also a man forced to survive on hope alone. Some might say that King revealed crimes that were commonly shadowed, and for this he was mentally ill, but I rebound by saying that if someone doesn't bring these things to light, they'll stay hidden. These men were forced to fight for the survival and Prison life is directly seen. All morals and codes of conducts are forgotten and primal istinct is enabled. Of course there has to be a group of people in particular that this film reaches out to. People without compassion could definitely be the target audience, because after watching, one learns not to judge a book by it's cover. I ultimately believe that this message is a reminder that prison cannot be forgotten. What one's friends and families fail to realize is that prison is a scary and lonely place. In spirtual terms, you reap what you sow can definitely be considered, and right does make might. In the end, Andy Dufrane was redeemed as well as his friend Red. Hope is critical because without hope, one will never realize hope is the best of things.

Shawshank Redemption Review

2010-01-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

The Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont and co-written by Stephan King. This movie uses suspense to attract the viewer’s attention. It is cunning and picks at the mind. Certain individuals might view this movie as an evocation of the evils of the prison system in America. They might center too intently on the cruelty of prison life and not on the underlying story of personal redemption and exoneration. Other individuals might view the movie as merely another mundane prison break movie. be Whatever the case, the Shawshank Redemption grapples with more relevant issues; issues such as nuances in the human character and the inherent prevalence of human resolve against such imposing, sadistic and overbearing adversities. The lifestyles and values that are being portrayed in the movie are as varied as they are complex. For example, homosexuality is manifest and vice within the prison is rampant. Even still, in the Shawshank Redemption, there are characters that, throughout it all, serve as a moral backbone; showing that even in the in crux of debauchery, virtue and hope can persist. This message is being sent to advocate a sense of self-awareness. That one can have inner redemption and not be limited to self-condemnation. This film shows that before God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves.

Michael Aguilar
Gospel According to Wall-e
1-13-10
Shawshank Review

The Shawshank Redemption by: racho

2010-01-12T18:40:00.001-08:00

Rachel Cho

UNST:Wall-e

Pastor Sam

January 12, 2010

The Shawshank Redemption

The movie Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont. The main characters are Morgan Freeman who plays Red and Tim Robbins who plays Andy. Andy is sent to jail for a crime he did not commit. This movie in my opinion is made and should be watched by an older audience. There is violence and vulgarity in the movie which makes it one that a younger child or anyone young should not watch. Many people may view this movie in different perspectives. Some may feel that Andy is a horrible person or such because he killed his wife but others may feel opposite. I would definitely categorize this movie into the drama genre. It could even be put into the suspense/thriller genre because this movie keeps the audience thinking what Andy is going to do about being put in jail for something he did not do.

I think the purpose of this film was to show that determination can really help you. And also hope. In the movie, the tag-line is very important. Hope is what set Andy free and to me I see that the hope Andy had was a form of God. God set us free from our sins. Fear is what keeps you prisoner is also a big part in the movie. Fear is somewhat satan. Fear is what keeps us from getting anything done. But with even a little bit of hope, we can grow that hope into something that can set us free.

The title is very fitting to the movie and fitting to the spirituality as well. Redemption is like the hope and setting us free. I don't really get the shawshank part though. Andy is the one being redeemed in my view. Because he was sent to jail even though he didn't do the crime he was accused for. It could also be that we are the ones being redeemed. Because Andy is symbolic of God in this movie. God was killed and crucified because of our sins. Like God, Andy was sent to jail because of something someone else did. The movie as a whole is very symbolic.

The movie was very interesting to me though despite the shawshank part of the title.

Shaw Shanks Redemption Review

2010-01-11T20:59:00.000-08:00

Sara Martinez

January 9, 2010

RELIGION ACCORDING TO WALLE

Shaw Shanks Redemption Review

The Shawshank Redemption

2010-01-10T22:40:00.000-08:00

Imari Palma
UNST 101
Pastor Sam
1/10/10

Review

I knew that this particular film would be a good one before even seeing it. Written by Stephen King and Frank Darabont, also directed by Darabont, nominated for seven Oscar Awards, winning eleven awards, and being nominated for thirteen others, i knew this film would be good. Morgan freeman, one of the most infamous actors of our time, is in this movie and before watching it, just knowing he was in the cast made the movie that much more impressive to me.

Although, seeing is believing. This movie is riveting, thrilling, full of passion, courage, conviction, hate, friendship, cruelty, and etc. The way Darabont directed this film was brilliant. Nothing was sugar-coated or left unsaid. I do not and most likely will not ever know what prison is like. I imagine it would hell on Earth, which is what Darabont seemed to have captured. Shawshank prison was the epitome of disgusting cruelty. During the movie I almost disregarded the fact that these men where criminals and should be punished for what they've done. Instead I found myself feeling sort for some of them. Some scenes left me feeling sick to my stomach and even though some ideas were not shown but implied, it was difficult to even imagine some of the hellish things that were done in the walls of that prison.

Andy, Tim Robbins, and Red, Morgan Freemen, are the key characters in this film. They both represent something different in this film. Andy never seemed to give up while Red had given up in a sense. He no longer cared if he got out of prison because of the fear of living in fear in the "real world," the "outside," ironically speaking. The excessive punishment and, at times, unnecessary cruelty was more than evident through the actions of the guards and warden. I found it comical how the guards and warden suddenly took some kind of liking to Andy because of his intelligence and experience in financing and banking. Although it was illegal for Andy to be giving financial advice and doing the taxes for these government guards, it was done anyways; making almost everyone in this film some sort of crook.

A part that really stood out to me and was a "tear-jerk" moment was when the old librarian of Shawshank was set free. The concept of being free might sound wonderful for a prisoner. But in this film it gives the impression of the exact opposite. This old man had been in prison so long that he didn't know how to function in the real world, he became depressed, fearful, and ended up killing himself. At that point I really wished he had just stayed at Shawshank.

The title "Shawshank Redemption," plays a very vital role in the meaning/message of the whole film. The word redemption is the act of being redeemed, or saved from a sin. Obviously Andy was being saved from Shawshank through his perseverance and strength. The word hope is also important in this movie. The tag line of this movie is, "Fear can keep you prisoner. Hope can set you free." Hope was the only thing keeping Andy alive and what ultimately saved his life. Fear is what killed the old man and what could have possibly killed Red if Andy hadn't given Red some hope too.

Jesus is our redemption. We are redeemed by His blood. We don't need to live in fear because God is always watching over us, He cares about His people more than anyone could ever imagine. Although we have all sinned, our sins have already been forgiven.

The Shawshank Redemption

2010-01-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

Adriana Noland!

UNST

1-10-10

The Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont and produced by Niki Marvin. Darabont also directed the Green Mile. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman starred as two inmates serving life in prison. Andy, played by Robbins, was accused of murdering he wife and her lover when he found out she was cheating on him. All the evidence seemed to point at him but he continued to plead innocent. When he was sent to prison, he meets Red, played by Morgan Freeman, the man who can get anything. At first Red doesn't think much of him, but soon they become very close friends. Throughout the slow routine of prison life, Andy established relationships with the guys and even the the guards. He begins helping the guards and the warden with their taxes and book keepings. Because he is so good at what he does, he's aloud to expand the library and begin teaching the inmates so they can receive their high school diplomas. Along the way he meets this young guy who knows who really killed his wife and her lover, but when the warden finds this out, he kills the guy so Andy has no chance of getting another trial! After about 19 years of being locked up Andy finally breaks free and literally goes through crap to get out! All his work for the warden payed off in the end because he ended up running off with all the money and a totally new identity. Finally Red is also approved to leave Shawshank, but life on the outside is not were he belongs. He finds something of Andy's and goes off to be with his friend on the coast of the Pacific.

This movie has a lot of moments that really caught my breath. But specifically i will only name three. The first time was when Andy was in the shower and the "sisters" asked if he needed a "friend," CREEPY! The second time was when Brooks, the old man who looks like the man from UP, hung himself after he was let go from prison. And the third moment was when The warden had the young guy, who knew the truth about Andy, shot and murdered by a guard.

The purpose of this film was to show that hope is not a dead thing. Andy had hope, and he knew he wasn't meant to be in there, and finally his hope set him free. I think most people who see this movie will agree that it is inspirational and true.

For me, I saw God mainly as the hope that drove Andy to break free. When we trust in Him and truly believe in what out God is capable of, not even Shawshank prison can keep us separated from that truth. The verse that came to mind when i was watching this movie was Romans 8:31, 37-39. If i were Andy, i saw God as the hope that drove him to keep pressing on, the hope that made him never forget the prize at the end of the tunnel of crap!

In conclusion, this film was not the kind i quickly jump up and say how great it was! I really had to think about this film, and think about how it affected and inspired me. For the most part this film made me sad, because it reminds me of my brother. Just seeing a "Hollywood" version of the reality my brother has been living with for over 20 years broke my heart. I think this movie would also cause people to think twice before they act. But all in all, this film was outstanding, and i would recommend it to anyone, above the age of 17 of course!

The Shawshank Redemption

2010-01-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
January, 7th 2010
UNST Gospel According to Wall-E

The Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont. It was released on September 23rd, 1944. I would describe The Sawshank Redemption as a thriller, and a mystery. In the beginning of the story you really start to hate the main character Andy. Just because of the crime you think he committed. This film is most definitely for an adult based audience, the reasons being; the violence, language and content of this movie. The movie tells a wonderful story of a friendship made by Any and Red during their time in prison. They seem to almost be complete opposites but after the plot thickens you start to see how similar they really are. It just goes to show that people can judge a book by its cover very easily. Andy sat in front of that court telling the truth that he wanted to kill his wife but he didn’t. The jury assumed he was lying and sent him off to serve undeserved time in jail, for a murder he did not commit. We need to be more Christian like when it comes to these situations and learn to forgive the way Jesus did. Maybe if the Police did a bit more investigation they could have discovered that Andy was innocent but unfortunately they did not. The reason the word hope is so significant in this movie is no one really has hope anymore. They all tell Andy that it’s a stupid and mean idea to put yourself through, but in the end he talks about how him having all the hope that he did helped him succeed in escaping from that horrible place. I’m not exactly clear on why the movie is called the Shawshank Redemption, so maybe ill need some clarity on that aspect of the movie.

2009-12-10T21:56:00.001-08:00

The Story Of Stuff

2009-12-02T23:51:00.001-08:00

For this review we watched "The Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard talks about our economic system. An interesting technique used in this film is that Annie Leonard talks with a white background in which animated drawings on the background move to what she is saying to display her concepts. It is very fun to watch and extremely entertaining. Anyone can watch this film. It is funny for all ages. It may not make sense to the younger people but it would still be funny to watch and listen to. This short film basically covers the harm that the economic system of the USA is destroying the environment and the people living in it. It highlights the wrongs of the system that are not taught in schools or openly discussed by people. The film tries to enlighten people on what is going on in our economic system. The spiritual message just reinforces the need to protect our planet. God told us to take care of the planet and this points out something that is wrong with the way we are treating it. We need to be more aware of what is going on and stand up and fix the wrongs.

Story of Stuff Review

2009-12-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

the story of stuff

2009-12-02T23:09:00.000-08:00

The story of stuff is an documentary directed by Louis Fox and narrated by Annie Leonard. This video was released December 4 2007. The creative techniques that the creator used is the animation. I like how the film is animated to attract everyones attention. Whether if its adults or kids, everyone can be drawn to this documentary. The animated documentary is being used in mostly schools particularly elementary school. Also is being used in economic classes. From elementary kids to students in economic classes in college, everyone can understand the message its trying to say. The point of this film is to reach out to everyone globally about waste and recycling. It reminds everyone to be aware of the environment. The spiritual input in this is that everyone should take action over environmental issues because God has given us a place to live that we should take care of what he has given us.

Andriyah Burgos

Pastor Sam

02 December 2009

UNST 101

2009-12-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Monique Gramling
ID#924889
12/2/09
UNST: The Gospel According To Wall-E

The Story Of Stuff
The story of Stuff was launched on December 4, 2007 by Annie Leonard, and Lewis Fox. This informative film incorporated many techniques to attract the audiences attention. For example, by providing demonstrations through drawings, visualizing the actual process of what our products are made from were made much easier to comprehend.
However, people in varying social classes may view this film differently. A wealthy individual from the suburbs may not be so much affected by this film, whereas an individual coming from a destitute neighborhood might identify with it more clearly. Usually wealthier people buy things with no remorse, while less fortunate people understand the affects of natural resources depleting.
Ultimately this film was created to be a wake up call to everybody. By watching this film, I got three things out of it. First, I realized that we as society, depend and rely on materialistic things too often. In today’s world nothing is made or created naturally anymore, everything has been industrialized in a sense that we do not value our natural resources.
Secondly, I saw that Americans will do anything to keep up with the latest styles and technologies, no matter what the cost or price having to be paid to distribute the product. Lastly, I clearly recognized all of the harm that we are causing our planet to go through. The products that we purchase, like I said before, are created from destroying most of our natural resources; thus polluting the earth even more.
This film was necessary because it can inform a lot of us on how, and what our products are being made from. I found this film to be related spiritually in a way that God created our natural resources and they are not going to be replaced, so we really need to take care of the ones we have.

Story of Stuf Review by Martin Baugh

2009-12-02T11:55:00.001-08:00

The Gospel According to WALL-E: The Story of Stuff

2009-12-02T00:31:00.000-08:00

Watching the Story of Stuff really opened my eyes to what happens to our "stuff." How many times do we take what we have and simply stop using it when we get tired of it, not because it's old or worn out, but simply because something new has replaced it. For example, when the iPod first came out, everyone needed to have one. A few years later, a newer model replaced it and, before you know it, every one was discarding their "old" iPods and jumping at the next, newer model.

It really struck me when she made the point about how we're constantly in a big cycle of buying, using, getting bored, repeat. We then start to work more to fuel our new habit of buying useless junk and, before we know it, we're too tired to use it.

Spiritually, that's how we treat God sometimes. Sure, we don't "buy" God, but we're so excited and on this big spiritual high and then, pretty soon, life comes at us again and, before we know it, we're kicking God to the curb for something new and different. We realize that the thing we put in our lives to take God's place isn't good for us, so then the cycle repeats. Spirtual high to spiritual low.

The Story of Stuff

2009-12-01T23:36:00.000-08:00

The Story of Stuff

This movie was made in 2007. First put out on December 7, 2007. Annie Leonard directed this film and wrote it herself as well. This movie was sponsored by many. Free Range Studios produced the film and sponsored her as well. Some other sponsors are the Tides Foundation, the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption.

I think she wrote this film to demonstrate and show us people how we go through life unknowing of all the things going on in our life. How every little thing is effected by what we do. Annie did research for 10 years on this and finally decided to show and direct a film on this to inform the world and spread the word to people. She also made this film to show how we are getting so negligent of our environment and what is going on in the world to the forests and everything out there effecting the environment.

She wants us to change our ways so that our environment can be healthy so we can live in a healthier world instead of a dying one. When watching this movie, I really began to think about how she is very correct and telling all the truth and hiding nothing. She is trying to get all of this information out so that we as people can do something about it. I don't really see anything too spiritual sticking out at me but what I do see is that we all need to work together to help our world to be a cleaner and better place.

What can be seen and related back to is I guess God and his love for us to care for us. He cares for us so we should also care for the world our home. God is the father of us and he loves us. With that, we should also love the world and take care of it like God takes care of us.

Rachel Cho

UNST: Wall-E

Pastor Sam Leonar

2009-12-01T23:33:00.000-08:00

Alexander Alonso

12/1/09

Story of STUFF

Sorry if you were expecting a movie…I’ve had a rough week and night. The story of stuff took me back to economics class. The way things and systems are made to make money and all the twists and turns that there are. I really liked the way that Annie Leonard paints the picture for us to see large things in a really simple way. I also give her props for researching this for 10 years. Her main goal was to show us how much stuff we waste, how much stuff we buy. Why we buy stuff. And the effect it does have or can have on our lives. I thought it was interesting for her to tell about the computers and how a lot does not really change just a little part making one have to buy a whole new computer…. its SOOO TRUE!!! IT MAKES ME MAD!!! Not just that either! Like it goes obsolete! …. OK, well, yeah, all these bug corporations and companies know what they’re doing, unfortunately, to get our money. I think that it is our fault just as much as theirs. I mean, if we didn’t care what people thought about we wear of what computer we have of the kind of car we drive, people would not be spending money “a lo tonto” as they say in Mexico. I see Annie’s concern, I believe that we should continue to be aware of what we buy and use and throw away, oh and what pillows we sleep on! I think the only thing I didn’t agree with Annie was the government. They are not here to take care of us. They are there to give rules and enforce them. I don’t believe that the government is going to come and feed my lunch. I think there is certain things they should do, and thing shouldn’t s they, but yeah. I learned a lot watching this film. I think others should see it and draw their on conclusions. OH AND SAVE WHAT GOD GAVE US! GO GREEN! RECYCLE!

The Story of Stuff Review

2009-12-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

Sara Martinez

November 30, 2009

UNST Religion According to WALLE

Review on The Story of Stuff

As we go through our day, using all the commodities that we are used to using we don’t even realize what really goes on behind us using these things. This topic intrigued Annie Leonard and so she spent 10 years traveling the globe and fighting threats to our environment. Annie herself wrote and directed this short video, and it was sponsored by the Tides Foundation, The Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, and Free Range Studios, who also produced the Film. It was first launched on December 4, 2007, and taken to classrooms around the country to be used from elementary schools to graduate programs. Annie is trying to get through to the public and bring some awareness to what really goes on in this country and how bad our environment is getting.

As I was watching this video it struck me how much of a cycle we have created. It has become so engrained into us that when shown or offered a new way no one wants to take it because they are so used to the normal grind. Even though these things are causing harm people just do not want to give up what they have or Change their ways. This is God’s created planet and he has asked us to be good stewards of this earth. We need to take care of this earth and it may be hard but we can start by recycling. It is with small baby steps that great things will and can be accomplished. We need to take care of what God has given us as a gift, and we should take care of it with a joyful heart and willing spirit.

The Story of Stuff: the bad stuff we stuff the world full of

2009-12-01T21:26:00.001-08:00

The Story of Stuff was created by Annie Leonard. The Story of Stuff is a shocking expository that forces the reader to look at life in a different way. It exposes the bad in our society and point out were exactly we are failing. Although this video may seem excessively shocking, the truth is not always pretty. Corporations and ignorant, non-environmental psychos might definitely view this documentary in a different light. Since the corporations are the ones that are instigating the great majority of the damage that is inflicted on our environment, they will never change their ways unless a change is seen as financially beneficial. You see, corporations are all about making money, and unless they are fundamentally restructured to benefit people in a global and economical way, they will always be the true toxin diffusing throughout our planet. Also, there are individuals that shun global climate change as false. These individuals are sorely misled and I am forced to believe that they make their misinformed judgments based on personal uncertainty rather than lucid, undistorted perception. The lifestyle that is portrayed is a tenuous one at best. Basically, the way we were living wasn’t working, so we must come to the realization that proactive intervention is the way to make the world a cleaner place. The film demonstrates that God is going to let mankind deal with his own problems. By not intervening, God is exemplifying his allowance of freewill. As humans, God takes care of us, but we must also take care of ourselves and the planet we were meant to look over.

Michael Aguilar

UNST- The Gospel According to WAll-E

The Story of Stuff

12-2-09

The Story of Stuff

2009-12-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Lamp
Gospel According to wall-e
“The Story of stuff”
December 1st 2009

The story of stuff was designed by free range studios, and was narrated by Annie Leonard. This was definitely a film to educate ourselves on our consumption and how horrible how Planet is becoming. The audience is for any age range I think that can understand the importance of the situation, being WASTEFUL! She explained so many reasons as to how our corporations get us to keep buying new things, like the computer scenario and the high heel shoes for women! Right when you buy a new computer within a few months you’ll already be outdated, a scheme for us to get the “bigger and better” one. The high heels, if you as a woman are in the work place and all your other woman co-workers have new shoes and your “out dated” of course that woman is going to want to go buy the “bigger and better” shoes to fit in.
What Annie talked about is very true, she even said recycling can’t fix our problem; it helps but won’t fix it completely. God gave us this Earth to live on and enjoy and we’re ruining it with all this wasting! We need to take care of and respect our Planet the way God intended us to!

God Grew Tired Of Us Review

2009-11-04T22:51:00.001-08:00

Lloyd Pressley
923934
The Gospel According to Wall-E
11/4/09

"God Grew Tired of Us" is a 2006 documentary about three of the "Lost Boys of Sudan", a group of some 25,000 young men who have fled the wars in Sudan since the 1980's , and their experiences as they move to the United States. The film was written and directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn.After watching the movie, I could not believe how the living conditions are in Sudan compared to the United States. It truly opened my eyes to how much I take for granted living in the United States.I also noticed how the people and families in Sudan made use of every resource they could...down to the last cent. Not only that, but everyone is really close-knit as a family. This movie has a lot of evidence of how Sudan is compared to other places in the world.It makes the U.S. look so materialistic. It really makes you stop and think about how life is a gift, and to not take things for granted. The opportunities here in the United States are so endless, but in Sudan it is very limited...such as an education. We as Americans have so much more than the lost boys in Sudan. But, the lost boys try to make the best of their surroundings and what they got. God gave every human the gift of life, and he has a plan for every individual. At times when we feel we are about to give up on out complications in life , what doesn't kill us is only making us stronger...and by having our trust and faith in God, we can overcome these complications. This movie definitely inspired me to give thanks for all the blessings I have been given.

God Grew Tired of Us

2009-11-04T22:51:00.000-08:00

2009-11-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

Carolina Rodriguez

The film, God Grew Tired of Us, was a 2006 documentary film about the "three lost boys of Sudan." It was directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn and was also co-produced by Tom Walker. Brad Pitt was also took part in this film as executive producer and was narrated by Nicole Kidman. This film follows three young men in their struggle and will to survive and to start over new lives in America. However their daunting past is still among them and adjusting is quite an akward battle for the men. In this film, it is straight foward in your face type of format. As viewers of the film, we feel a great deal of sympathy and compassion for these brave men, and at times, this film can make the average American feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable in a sense that many of us take many of our daily routines and resources for granted without giving a second thought about other who are not so fortunate. This film never loses the viewers attention and keeps us quite wrapped in the storyline. Along with Nicole Kidman as narrator, it was quite interesting as the film continued to unravel. The film was blunt and overall presented all sorts of truth that was an eye opener for most. I believe that this film was presented in such a way that it is almost impossible to forget this movie; it keeps you wondering and almost shocks you to the point of exasperation of how complicated life can be. For these men being documented, they have seen too much in their lifetime. Things that people should not be a witness to. They have had difficult lives if you classify that "life." These men show a great deal of determination and show such a great promise for renewal, a fresh start. However, as presented in the film, there are such tremendous differences between theirs and ours. The way the American society lives life is distant and dettached is is absolutely foreign to these men. Most of us do not realize the the mass amounts of opportunities we have solely, just for being born in America. We take too many things for granted and do not think of how fortunate we really are. We lack appreciation and are slowly losing values that should not be forgotten. We all need to take time and appreciate what we have. We need to stop complaining of the things that we "lack" is life, but rather give thanks for the things that we are fortunate to have. We must learn to be selfless and to keep in mind of those who need help, who need direction, and who need a new start. We need to stop being lazy, selfish, prejuidice, cold, and learn to love to appreciate the blessings in life. This film portrays the idea that we need appreciate the life we lead. Life is so precious and taken for granted. We need to learn to stop looking for all the negatives in life and just be joyous with what you have. We do not need material possesions, nor do we need a social status, we have life, and life is truly beautiful. Life is a gift from God, and we need respect what God has given us. We must never give up and dwell on misfortunes; we must never grow tired, we must always believe and put our trust in him, because he will never give up on us.

God Grew Tired of Us Review

2009-11-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

I hope that you enjoy this review.

God Grew Tired of Us

2009-11-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

In the movie "God Grew Tired of Us," which was directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn and Tommy Walker, I had so many different emotions filling my mind. First off, seeing how the people living in Africa made me really think about my own living conditions and how I never really take a chance to think about how lucky I am to be living how I am in America. I seem to really take everything I have for granted.

Some of the creative techniques used in this movie are really more like involving and pulling on your heart strings to draw you into the movie and feel the emotions being tossed out to the audience. Different people would feel different emotions according to their own lifestyle and such. Maybe if someone were living in not such nice conditions, they would have a deeper understanding of the people living in Africa and feel more sympathy. But people living in better conditions may feel deep sympathy as well but not as much because they do not know how living in poor conditions may be like so they take things for granted and are arrogant in a sense that they don't really want to feel how the people in Africa are living.

Something that really hit me hard was the fact that these people still loved their families so much even with all that was going on and how they were living.

The point being made in the movie is basically saying that we really take everything for granted. Like electricity and such. Some people in different parts of the world are struggling to get through with the minimum that they have. But we have it so easy. Just a switch on of a light and we have it. Everything we take for granted so the movie is really trying to make us feel sympathy and point out that we need to start thinking more about what we have and appreciate it more.

Spiritually, there definitely was a spiritual view. What really made me feel the spiritual emphasis in the movie was when the boy, John, basically said "God grew tired of us." This made me really think. But really, God doesn't ever grow tired of us. He always loves us and will always do anything for us even to the point where he dies for us to forgive all of our sins.

I think this movie put its point across straight and made it very clear that we really need to start appreciating what we have more and take less for granted. I enjoyed the movie most definitely and I like that it made me think and pulled the spirituality out and made it strong in the movie and in me.

Rachel Cho

Pastor Sam

UNST: Gospel According to Wall-E