Change Your Image
pmhong
Reviews
Escape from Hell (2000)
great intro to the reality of afterlife
This Christian movie does an excellent job of using out of body experience as a tool to communicate the Gospel message. I am surprised by good acting, storyline, and camera work on this low budget production. It is not a cinema movie, but captivating and it does what it was made to do. Make people think about life after death.
Some reviewers bash the movie for lack of theological integrity, but I disagree. No movie can perfectly portray heaven or hell. Books, painting, or movies can only give a glimpse of what heaven or hell might be. The movie shows hell does exist and only faith in Christ can save you, while stressing the fact that your good morality cannot save you.
I have to say, the movie's biggest theological weakness is the 70's and 80's presentation of the Gospel. There is a heavy emphasis on faith in Christ. There is a lack of communicating that living a godly life must also be integrated to your faith. James clearly says faith without works is dead.
The Cutting Edge (1992)
You will laugh and you will laugh
This movie was made in 1992, so it still has the 80's feel to it. There are too many funny stuff in this movie and I will not bother to describe them here.
I thought mixing sports with romance worked perfectly here. Perhaps ice skating partnership is a great avenue to make that happen. The main reason it worked is the two actors who had great chemistry. But I also want to credit the director because the shots were very well done creating perfect moments where the two showed their chemistry.
I kept laughing through out the movie, but expected typical dumb ending. The movie really surprised me with great ending. Of course, movie is a movie and a hockey player turning into a figure skater is not realistic. If you can look beyond that, this is excellent entertainment especially for people who love figure skating, or just romantic comedy.
One complaint is the PG rating is wrong rating because I heard inappropriate words so it is not for all ages. There is also heavy drinking scene. And the movie starts with the guy getting up naked after having sex. I love the movie, but I wouldn't show it to my daughter until she is old enough.
Invincible (2006)
best football movie
I did not watch this until now because I expected it to be just another football movie. Boy did I almost miss the best.
I love the character development and the angles of the camera when showing the football plays. I felt like I was on the field, which I never felt watching other football movies. Most importantly, this movie shines for displaying why football matters to the local fans. Perhaps, that was the main theme of the movie. I also liked the fact that it was based on real story and real people.
Most movies these days are just trash or remakes, utterly lacking real purpose and originality. Like other viewers, I was engaged with this movie from the beginning to the end. And this without violence, sex, drugs, explosions, etc.
Facing the Giants (2006)
A struggling football coach who experiences miracles by faith
The polarized ratings by most viewers already tells you that you will either love it or hate it. I already watched many inspiring football and basketball movies based on true stories like "Remember the Titans" and "Coach Carter". This had cliché written all over. The only reason I watched it was because my wife wanted us to watch something together.
It was surprisingly good, especially for a Christian movie. For the viewers that are complaining about the religious and miraculous aspect of the film, what can I say
aren't all movies pretty much unrealistic stories supporting the director's agenda? There was even a youth pastor who commented that he laughed at this movie. But does he laugh at the Bible which contains the most unrealistic story of David beating Goliath the giant?
This is a well made movie by a local church, not real actors. The message that "nothing is impossible with God" is communicated and illustrated perfectly clear while touching human emotions. Knowing exactly how the movie was going to end, I was still touched and got excited as I sat through the movie. If you enjoyed watching Frodo saving the middle earth, you can certainly enjoy this one.