FIREPROOF - The new film from Sherwood Pictures
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Evan S
Veteran
Doesn't matter if that film made 500 million. If it looked like **** to me, I wouldn't see it.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Honestly Chapel
If you took this films story and added Leo and it was made my Scorsese ...
I'd have no ionterest beyond it being a film by Scorsese
If I saw this premise with an A List Actor and a comeptent filmmaker and it was about a marriage and some book about 40 days of love (Or whatever it's called) and had the relifious themes; I'd have no desire to see it
It's the preaching. You know ?
(All due respect)
If you took this films story and added Leo and it was made my Scorsese ...
I'd have no ionterest beyond it being a film by Scorsese
If I saw this premise with an A List Actor and a comeptent filmmaker and it was about a marriage and some book about 40 days of love (Or whatever it's called) and had the relifious themes; I'd have no desire to see it
It's the preaching. You know ?
(All due respect)
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Made what you thought John... 4... nice.
Well with an endorsment like this, how could they not : )
Kidding. It just cracks me up that they are using a quote from the SVP of Chick-fil-A. The fact that his name is "Bubba Cathy" is just a bonus.
Someone hypothesized earlier that he must be known in some Christian Circles, a theory based partially on the fact that Chik-fil-A, often mall based or with locations surrounding malls, is closed on Sundays, a big mall day and potentially big $ making day.
Kidding. It just cracks me up that they are using a quote from the SVP of Chick-fil-A. The fact that his name is "Bubba Cathy" is just a bonus.
Someone hypothesized earlier that he must be known in some Christian Circles, a theory based partially on the fact that Chik-fil-A, often mall based or with locations surrounding malls, is closed on Sundays, a big mall day and potentially big $ making day.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Actually yeah, they're a pretty outspoken Christian owned business, and really big in the South where a big part of this movie's demographic is from.
CallaghanFilms
Veteran
Well with an endorsment like this, how could they not : )
Kidding. It just cracks me up that they are using a quote from the SVP of Chick-fil-A. The fact that his name is "Bubba Cathy" is just a bonus.
Someone hypothesized earlier that he must be known in some Christian Circles, a theory based partially on the fact that Chik-fil-A, often mall based or with locations surrounding malls, is closed on Sundays, a big mall day and potentially big $ making day.
To paraphrase:
Forrest: "Bubba's family knew everything there was to know about the ckickn' business..."
heh heh
Yeah, but my Step Dad is a deacon at his church and no one there would know that. My sister is a coach at the highschool and involved in FCA and I don't think she would know that. And that's in Texas.
It does kind of highlight some of the points of discussion in the thread though. There's definitely more going on here than people trying to make a movie soley for the sake of the content - story, production values, entertainment values, etc. And an audience that is looking for something besides just a well made movie. Otherwise it would be ridiculous to include quotes from anything but movie critics, or filmmakers or people associated with the genre (Stephen King or Peter Jackson quotes appear on movies they have nothing to do with for example.)
The movie itself looks OK to me, not as bad as some have called it. The biggest thing on the "look" is lack of color grading and art direction. Also seems things are all lit evenly and soft and that only gets you so far. But the camera movements look nice. I could see someone like Matthew McCaugnehy (sp?) in Kirk's role and a less on-the-nose Hollywood version of the same story doing OK.
"A maritally frustrated firemen bent on divorce finds his Dad's diary (or whatever that is) detailing how his father saved his marriage to his mother. Out of a sense of duty to his dad and with specific daily instructions from the diary, the man sets out to win his wife back but discovers his love and commitment growing for her along the way" That could be mainstream movie.
Not one I would be first in line to see, but it maybe.
In most movies it would be about stopping an arsonist or something and along the way the fireman would learn to love his wife the right way - in otherwords the above sounds like a subplot of a movie about something else maybe.
Sure most of you know that very often, the subplot is the love story and it's the sublplot carries the thematic message of the movie. It should be connected to the plot but having "the message" dealt with more in the subplot than the main plot, can make "the message" (which all films have) seem less preachy.
Yeah, but my Step Dad is a deacon at his church and no one there would know that. My sister is a coach at the highschool and involved in FCA and I don't think she would know that. And that's in Texas.
It does kind of highlight some of the points of discussion in the thread though. There's definitely more going on here than people trying to make a movie soley for the sake of the content - story, production values, entertainment values, etc. And an audience that is looking for something besides just a well made movie. Otherwise it would be ridiculous to include quotes from anything but movie critics, or filmmakers or people associated with the genre (Stephen King or Peter Jackson quotes appear on movies they have nothing to do with for example.)
The movie itself looks OK to me, not as bad as some have called it. The biggest thing on the "look" is lack of color grading and art direction. Also seems things are all lit evenly and soft and that only gets you so far. But the camera movements look nice. I could see someone like Matthew McCaugnehy (sp?) in Kirk's role and a less on-the-nose Hollywood version of the same story doing OK.
"A maritally frustrated firemen bent on divorce finds his Dad's diary (or whatever that is) detailing how his father saved his marriage to his mother. Out of a sense of duty to his dad and with specific daily instructions from the diary, the man sets out to win his wife back but discovers his love and commitment growing for her along the way" That could be mainstream movie.
Not one I would be first in line to see, but it maybe.
In most movies it would be about stopping an arsonist or something and along the way the fireman would learn to love his wife the right way - in otherwords the above sounds like a subplot of a movie about something else maybe.
Sure most of you know that very often, the subplot is the love story and it's the sublplot carries the thematic message of the movie. It should be connected to the plot but having "the message" dealt with more in the subplot than the main plot, can make "the message" (which all films have) seem less preachy.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
Some good thoughts there Jack...
dory_breaux
Todd Wannabe
wow! thats awesome! I've got a fire fighter friend whos gonna be soooo pumped on this!
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
And that's fine. Every movie has its audience, as well as people who have zero interest in its story, no matter what. I respect that.
KyleProhaska
Veteran
I think its totally possible for the film to reach 25million at the box office.
Average per theater this past weekend was $1592 (subtract 500 even just in case the film does take a big hit) then take into account that this weekend it'll open up into about 300 more theaters. So figure the low average of $1000 per theater over 1300...1.3mil fri, sat, and sun will still give you another 4mil.
You end up at 16million, even if the film slowly dies off from here it'll hit 20 at least. If what I said is incorrect and the 3rd and 4th weeks do better than I stated (with that 500 per theater hit I gave the equation who knows)...then hitting 25million by the time the thing is completely closed in theaters is totally possible.
Btw, stating that the Kendrick's writing a book that has to do with their film and inserting greed into that is very low. They only wrote the days that were needed for the films book scenes then realize that they should probably finish it so they did. It's a great tool for marriages, I own it and I'm reading it now. Don't assume all things are done for the money. Ask Sherwood about the 82 acre sports complex being built for their community from the revenue from Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, then call it an "agenda" and call it "greed." Whether you understand it or not, their films and whatever surrounds them are done for MINISTRY!!!! I don't care if revenue is made from it thats how the world works, but their goals and focus is on impacting their viewer for the better....not fattening their wallet.
Average per theater this past weekend was $1592 (subtract 500 even just in case the film does take a big hit) then take into account that this weekend it'll open up into about 300 more theaters. So figure the low average of $1000 per theater over 1300...1.3mil fri, sat, and sun will still give you another 4mil.
You end up at 16million, even if the film slowly dies off from here it'll hit 20 at least. If what I said is incorrect and the 3rd and 4th weeks do better than I stated (with that 500 per theater hit I gave the equation who knows)...then hitting 25million by the time the thing is completely closed in theaters is totally possible.
Btw, stating that the Kendrick's writing a book that has to do with their film and inserting greed into that is very low. They only wrote the days that were needed for the films book scenes then realize that they should probably finish it so they did. It's a great tool for marriages, I own it and I'm reading it now. Don't assume all things are done for the money. Ask Sherwood about the 82 acre sports complex being built for their community from the revenue from Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, then call it an "agenda" and call it "greed." Whether you understand it or not, their films and whatever surrounds them are done for MINISTRY!!!! I don't care if revenue is made from it thats how the world works, but their goals and focus is on impacting their viewer for the better....not fattening their wallet.
Dvader
Well-known member
I know "good" is subjective and all but I watch a lot of movies, I mean tons, not to get on a soap box here, but more than anyone I've ever met. And I think (I know this is subjective) that I can watch and enjoy any movie with a good story or good direction or good acting or something unique, name it and I think I can watch it, that's how much I love movies.
Plus I'm actually all about spiritual (Bergman), religious (Tarkovsky), or humanistic (Kurosawa) movies, they are some of my all time favorite directors, and not just for a few of their well known films, but for all of them, because those qualities come through in every film they made.
I bring this up to show how much I love and appreciate religious or uplifting type of movies. And people are always shocked out of their mind when they start finding out how many movies I love and how they differ so greatly, they think something must be wrong with me, especially when I find redeeming qualities in movies bad by almost everyone's standards.
So what Im trying to say is, I am looking forward to actually seeing Fireproof, to test the hype and see if there's any validity to the success of this film. But for now, and don't take this as well its not 'your" type of movie kind of thing, because thats precisely what I've tried to illustrate, that I've never found a 'type' of movie I didn't love. But the preview looks lame and I don't understand how anyone who watches enough films to know the difference between good cinema and bad or someone old enough(I know the subjective thing again) could think any different. When I do see Fireproof, the trailer won't weigh into my judgment at all.
Plus I'm actually all about spiritual (Bergman), religious (Tarkovsky), or humanistic (Kurosawa) movies, they are some of my all time favorite directors, and not just for a few of their well known films, but for all of them, because those qualities come through in every film they made.
I bring this up to show how much I love and appreciate religious or uplifting type of movies. And people are always shocked out of their mind when they start finding out how many movies I love and how they differ so greatly, they think something must be wrong with me, especially when I find redeeming qualities in movies bad by almost everyone's standards.
So what Im trying to say is, I am looking forward to actually seeing Fireproof, to test the hype and see if there's any validity to the success of this film. But for now, and don't take this as well its not 'your" type of movie kind of thing, because thats precisely what I've tried to illustrate, that I've never found a 'type' of movie I didn't love. But the preview looks lame and I don't understand how anyone who watches enough films to know the difference between good cinema and bad or someone old enough(I know the subjective thing again) could think any different. When I do see Fireproof, the trailer won't weigh into my judgment at all.
Jason Miller
Veteran
you know I've seen many trailers that looked great and then saw the movie and it was just so bad. the only good parts were the parts in the trailer.
this movie was the drasticly different. the trailer was a let down, the movie was awesome! I dont get it, they could have cut a much better trailer from this amazing film.
this movie was the drasticly different. the trailer was a let down, the movie was awesome! I dont get it, they could have cut a much better trailer from this amazing film.
David W. Richardson
Chapelgrove Films
Once it comes out on DVD, it would be fun to cut the trailer that SHOULD have been. Illegal, of course -- but fun.
Jason Miller
Veteran
as long as it makes the film look good I'm sure they will not mind
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
I've stayed away from this thread because I really take this movie very personally. It It's been on my heart that something like this needs to be done and about the way marriage and it's value is shown in the media and when this film came out it was like a weight lifted from my shoulders. I'm glad so many people like the film even though it's not a 100 million dollar film. This will be a long one so stay with me. Now $12,000,000 later this film is still in the top ten. What I find a bit funny is people getting mad because "Christians" have a movie that's doing well. Like movies are only to be made by non-Christians. I wish this movie much success.
Nope. They don't get the big stars because they don't usually have the money. Passion of the Christ was filled with Hwood actors including it's star. Some even believe casting Hollywood stars versus Christian actors is "worldly." I have my own opinions about this but frankly I love the idea of "Fireproof" if nothing else. I haven't seen it but I love the trailer minus the cheesy "Never leave your partner behind."
So. We need to stop whining learn to put foot to a$$ and keep going just like Sherwood. It's like when guys see women of their race in interracial relationships and whine "they're taking are women." No you're just a punk. Man up and you'll get a woman. Same is true here. Pray up, money up and you'll get what you need. Worked for Sherwood.
Nope, you have one choice. Learn your trade, learn the business. Pray, believe God and do what you do. Hollywood doesn't have to except you, you simply have to make the film and I bet if you have enough money you can get good actors. As a matter of fact you can probably get James (Jim) Caviezel for one, Mel Gibson, Patricia Heaton, Kirk of course who (if nothing else is a name actor), Stephen Baldwin (another name actor whose hot enough overseas), Gary Sinise (whose from Chi-town I might add) and of course (my fav) Chuck frigging Norris. All my films are secular yet they're all about faith and pretty in your face stuff. I've needed prayer, faith and willingness to move to get them done.
American Christianity is generally a cowardly religion. We stay in our homes and closets afraid to go to the party because we may have to show our Christianity to the public. They're enough power in Christianity to own this game (at least contend) but we won't do it one because of fear and because of our made up unbiblical beliefs of what sin is. Advertising on TV is not a sin. And the other excuse I love is "we don't advertise on TV because it's giving money to the devil/enemy/world. But so is shopping at freaking grocery store.
Truth: We don't advertise on TV because either we don't have the money or our film is crap and we don't want to expose the world to it because we know they'll make fun of it. Sherwood sure as hell advertised. They felt like they had a good product, and they had a lot of faith and look at the pay-off. Christians need to get some testicular fortitude and stop being punks when it comes to showing up and breaking out. I even advertised "Wages of Sin" for goodness sakes and I'm poor.
Tell Hollywood to do this too.
I never saw it but how exactly did it make Him look like a sinner. Most of the people who made it considered themselves Christian and if what they say their intentions were is true the temptation to settle down have a wife, live a normal life, not get whipped, beaten and NAILED TO A CROSS (for the sin of others when you in fact were the most Godly - think about it, would you like this fate even if you would rise again?) was very real. Jesus himself asked God to take the cup from Him but chose God's will not His own.
Tell that to Tony Jaa. Every film he does is Buddhist and no one complains. In both his films he was fighting for his religion. In my film I have religious people who fight evil but Jaa is usually literally fighting for his religion with the power of Buddha being very active. Religion is "personal" is American BS. No one in the Middle East, India, Hati or Africa would bat an eyelash at religious beliefs played out onscreen. Religion is fair game like anything else. Drop that line to Bill Maher. His film opened this weekend. It has a 7.2 out of 10 on IMDB because people didn't simply vote the film 1 before they saw or it or it was even released. Ironically the weekend after Fireproof opened Religulous opened. Took in 3 mil at the box office.
People have no freakin' idea of the stuff that went on in that book. "Christians" (especially the really religious ones) barely read it. If I put some of that stuff in the theaters and changed the names of the characters Christians would lose their mind. (And possibly lunch).
Oh you weren't around for my other post on these boards. This is what's called social engineering. Show life they way you want it enough and life becomes that way.
Actually I'm sure he'd do great Old Testament stories. They're all in the Torah so why not.
Narnia is a story written by a Christian author. In effect Aslan is simply an allegory = how Jesus manifested himself in that dimension. And C.S. Lewis also preached Christ to and converted his best friend - a guy named J.R.R. Tolkien. There is nothing in this film that is blasphemous unless you believe in Santa Claus and found it odd he was their weapon's master. I thought only I came up with stuff like that. (Yes Santa Claus gave them their weapons, watch the film again if you didn't catch it. LOL). It was fantasy. This is what people don't like - being so religious you don't get simply stuff. Not getting the Narnia story is like the people not getting Jesus' parables. He used many thing to represent God in his stories.
Can anyone say "bear suit"?
We believe you can't be a good human without God nor a good husband (or wife). That's what the film's position is. Most secular films preach you can be good without God, this is nothing new. Hell, secular films preach you can be "good" without even being good. The Bible preaches only God is good because non of us is truly good. And no one crammed anything anywhere. People fully knew what the film was about and chose to see it. This isn't Russia circa 1980. Come on.
-Nate
They're okay minus the unbiblical theology and Kirk as Buck. Chuck Norris would've been better for that role or someone with more toughness. Kirk gets these roles because he has a name and is willing to do the parts for cheap. Left Behind, in some ways, is possibly the most dangerous "Christian" series to ever "grace" theaters or DVD. It leaves Christians ill prepared for what the Bible actually says will happen. Another problem with these films, a bad theology can reach many people now.
Nope. They don't get the big stars because they don't usually have the money. Passion of the Christ was filled with Hwood actors including it's star. Some even believe casting Hollywood stars versus Christian actors is "worldly." I have my own opinions about this but frankly I love the idea of "Fireproof" if nothing else. I haven't seen it but I love the trailer minus the cheesy "Never leave your partner behind."
So. We need to stop whining learn to put foot to a$$ and keep going just like Sherwood. It's like when guys see women of their race in interracial relationships and whine "they're taking are women." No you're just a punk. Man up and you'll get a woman. Same is true here. Pray up, money up and you'll get what you need. Worked for Sherwood.
Nope, you have one choice. Learn your trade, learn the business. Pray, believe God and do what you do. Hollywood doesn't have to except you, you simply have to make the film and I bet if you have enough money you can get good actors. As a matter of fact you can probably get James (Jim) Caviezel for one, Mel Gibson, Patricia Heaton, Kirk of course who (if nothing else is a name actor), Stephen Baldwin (another name actor whose hot enough overseas), Gary Sinise (whose from Chi-town I might add) and of course (my fav) Chuck frigging Norris. All my films are secular yet they're all about faith and pretty in your face stuff. I've needed prayer, faith and willingness to move to get them done.
American Christianity is generally a cowardly religion. We stay in our homes and closets afraid to go to the party because we may have to show our Christianity to the public. They're enough power in Christianity to own this game (at least contend) but we won't do it one because of fear and because of our made up unbiblical beliefs of what sin is. Advertising on TV is not a sin. And the other excuse I love is "we don't advertise on TV because it's giving money to the devil/enemy/world. But so is shopping at freaking grocery store.
Truth: We don't advertise on TV because either we don't have the money or our film is crap and we don't want to expose the world to it because we know they'll make fun of it. Sherwood sure as hell advertised. They felt like they had a good product, and they had a lot of faith and look at the pay-off. Christians need to get some testicular fortitude and stop being punks when it comes to showing up and breaking out. I even advertised "Wages of Sin" for goodness sakes and I'm poor.
Tell Hollywood to do this too.
I never saw it but how exactly did it make Him look like a sinner. Most of the people who made it considered themselves Christian and if what they say their intentions were is true the temptation to settle down have a wife, live a normal life, not get whipped, beaten and NAILED TO A CROSS (for the sin of others when you in fact were the most Godly - think about it, would you like this fate even if you would rise again?) was very real. Jesus himself asked God to take the cup from Him but chose God's will not His own.
LOL. The irony is Christianity is a sect of Judaism. LOL. But yes some Jewish groups did try to stop "The Passion". Sadly it made people feel even more that Jews were against Christians.
Tell that to Tony Jaa. Every film he does is Buddhist and no one complains. In both his films he was fighting for his religion. In my film I have religious people who fight evil but Jaa is usually literally fighting for his religion with the power of Buddha being very active. Religion is "personal" is American BS. No one in the Middle East, India, Hati or Africa would bat an eyelash at religious beliefs played out onscreen. Religion is fair game like anything else. Drop that line to Bill Maher. His film opened this weekend. It has a 7.2 out of 10 on IMDB because people didn't simply vote the film 1 before they saw or it or it was even released. Ironically the weekend after Fireproof opened Religulous opened. Took in 3 mil at the box office.
People have no freakin' idea of the stuff that went on in that book. "Christians" (especially the really religious ones) barely read it. If I put some of that stuff in the theaters and changed the names of the characters Christians would lose their mind. (And possibly lunch).
Oh you weren't around for my other post on these boards. This is what's called social engineering. Show life they way you want it enough and life becomes that way.
Actually I'm sure he'd do great Old Testament stories. They're all in the Torah so why not.
Narnia is a story written by a Christian author. In effect Aslan is simply an allegory = how Jesus manifested himself in that dimension. And C.S. Lewis also preached Christ to and converted his best friend - a guy named J.R.R. Tolkien. There is nothing in this film that is blasphemous unless you believe in Santa Claus and found it odd he was their weapon's master. I thought only I came up with stuff like that. (Yes Santa Claus gave them their weapons, watch the film again if you didn't catch it. LOL). It was fantasy. This is what people don't like - being so religious you don't get simply stuff. Not getting the Narnia story is like the people not getting Jesus' parables. He used many thing to represent God in his stories.
I'll pray for you too.Thanks man! I'll take all the prayers I can get.
Can anyone say "bear suit"?
We believe you can't be a good human without God nor a good husband (or wife). That's what the film's position is. Most secular films preach you can be good without God, this is nothing new. Hell, secular films preach you can be "good" without even being good. The Bible preaches only God is good because non of us is truly good. And no one crammed anything anywhere. People fully knew what the film was about and chose to see it. This isn't Russia circa 1980. Come on.
-Nate
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slimjimmed
Well-known member
I don't watch "Christian" movies for the same reason that I don't usually answer the door when there is somebody pedalling religion at my door. You know why they're knocking.
Larry Rutledge
Fest Master
Let's calm down everyone. So far we've been able to keep this thread on topic, discussing the film primarily, and subsequently the role of christian films in hollywood. Everyone has done a good job of keeping on topic, for the most part and it has stayed relatively calm.
A handful of recent posts are delving into personal beliefs (of which I have very strong ones, so I understand how easy it is to do) and then into personal attacks on one another. These we cannot allow, if for no other reason then the rules say so. But beyond that there is no place for it here ... this is a forum for discussing movies. If you want to discuss religion in general there are plenty of sites for that.
Here we talk about films. If the films have religious content that is one thing, but to use that to parlay into personal beliefs is crossing the line.
So, all that to say ... forget what has transpired to date, let's get back on topic. Please don't force our hand in shutting it down needlessly.
A handful of recent posts are delving into personal beliefs (of which I have very strong ones, so I understand how easy it is to do) and then into personal attacks on one another. These we cannot allow, if for no other reason then the rules say so. But beyond that there is no place for it here ... this is a forum for discussing movies. If you want to discuss religion in general there are plenty of sites for that.
Here we talk about films. If the films have religious content that is one thing, but to use that to parlay into personal beliefs is crossing the line.
So, all that to say ... forget what has transpired to date, let's get back on topic. Please don't force our hand in shutting it down needlessly.
- Status