Facing The Giants

Let us not forget the Christian moviemakers do not have a monopoly on
ridiculously contrived happy endings. Hollywood invented them- I can think
of many, many mainstream films that are equally as unrealistic as FTG or
Flywheel.








chapelgrovefilms said:
My 2 cents....

I enjoyed FtG. But my biggest problem with it is the same problem I had with its predecessor, 'Flywheel'. And that is -- just by giving his life to Christ, the main character got everything HE wanted. Maybe that does happen sometimes. But the more powerful story is in the person who gives up what HE has wanted and worked all his life for, and finds new meaning in his life by doing what God wants him to do.

In 'Flywheel', the main character owns a used car lot. He's a shady businessman who lies and cheats, and his business is on the brink of bankruptcy. Then he turns his life over to Jesus and says, basically, 'Whatever you want, Lord -- your will be done.' Lo and behold -- his debts get paid, his business flourishes, and he's successful and happy.

'Facing The Giants' is basically the same story. This time the main guy even gets a brand new pickup truck out of the deal. The subliminal message is "Believe in Jesus and He'll give you whatever you want."

When I was watching "Flywheel", I had high hopes for a different ending -- because at one point the main character says "Lord, this is your car lot. If you want it to survive, then you will make it happen. If you don't want it to survive, that's okay too." (Paraphrasing.) But the ending was pat and predictable.

I'm impressed with what they've been able to accomplish, and nobody can deny their Christian commitment. I'd just like to see a story that's not so neat and simple.

One other thing...... You have to remember that for a movie to truly be considered 'Christian', it has to involve a faith in Christ -- not just in God. The very root of Christianity -- that which separates Christians from other faiths -- is the belief in Jesus as the Savior. Without any reference to Christ, a movie could be called spiritual, even Godly -- but not technically Christian.

I too would like to see more movies where the Christian elements are slipped in 'under the radar', so to speak. Movies that are entertaining to a mainstream audience, but that still contain good, solid Christian characters and elements. That was my goal with 'Afterlife' -- a romantic ghost story with a solid Christian character or two and definite Christian elements, but with a story that I believe is compelling to mainstream audiences.

Lastly, I saw "End of the Spear" over the weekend. Has anyone seen this movie? Although the script was weak in places, I think this movie has a lot of what we're looking for in a good Christian movie. Check it out.

Good discussion!
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I understand whats being said by you guys, no doubt. Some people don't like the "everything works out" endings as much as they do the grim reality of life stories. I love both and im sure most do as well as you guys. If you listen to the commentary during FTG you get all sorts of insight as to WHY they put all this stuff into one movie (that btw they had either heard of happening, or had experienced themselves). Their argument on that ending shot during the commentary when you see the 2nd trophie.

Alex Kendrick - "Now you may think thats overkill, we don't care *laughs*, we have seen God overwhelm us so many times, I mean were living it, so we wanted to show it."

I understand that point I guess. One thing that I would argue though is that everything pretty much worked out yea, but the whole story wasn't like that. The bad stuff was in the beginning, the problems and struggle. Its just the kind of arc they use/used. From bad to good instead of good to bad or from bad to good with a few issues.

The movie is specifically meant to show when you die to your dreams, trust in the Lord, and put everything in his hands the sucess or the favor, what he can bless you with. Not necessarily what you'll get, but whats possible hence the theme of the story "With God all things are possible."

Now with Flywheel I think the arc is pretty similar but its got its differences. The real changing spirit was the main character Jay, not an entire school or team or town. I don't think the "works out" ending was anywhere near as overblown as FTG. His wife was already pregnant to she was going to have the baby (the story would have left the audience missing the point at the end has she had a miscarriage or w/e), and his business was blessed for obedience. Through his realization to trust God he learns to turn his business around, its blessed by God, and he gets things straight in his family. Its nowhere near unrealistic really at all...

- Kyle
 
chapelgrovefilms: forgot to post this.

I think you have the wrong idea here friend. The message wasn't "you'll get everything you want", the message was honor the Lord and even if you don't "you praise him anyways." The story was just an example of what COULD happen not what DOES or WILL happen all the time.
 
Brandon Rice said:
I agree about the look of the film, it was very well lit, and shot. I do however think the script and cast suffered from what most Christian films suffer from... and that is just unrealistic behavior. I would get into the film, and then BAM they hit me with a preachy unrealistic scene. Normal everyday people don't go around quoting the Bible, it's just not realistic. I do think they all can be proud in what they accomplished, but the movie as a whole didn't work for me.
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I saw it Brandon and I agree with everything you just said and wow a 100k budget. It was lit and shot well.
 
KyleProhaska said:
chapelgrovefilms: forgot to post this.

I think you have the wrong idea here friend. The message wasn't "you'll get everything you want", the message was honor the Lord and even if you don't "you praise him anyways." The story was just an example of what COULD happen not what DOES or WILL happen all the time.
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Fair enough. But I have two problems with that. First -- it DOES happen in BOTH of the Kendricks' movies so far ("Flywheel" and "Facing The Giants".) And second -- there's nothing said in the course of the movie to communicate to the audience the fact that, while the main character gets everything HE wants, it doesn't always -- or even usually -- turn out that way. This leaves people with the assumption that, "Hey, if I give my life to the Lord, He'll give me everything I want!"

It's been awhile since I saw this movie, so maybe I've forgotten -- but what did the main character have to sacrifice? What did he give up? What did he suffer? It's easy to follow God when doing so brings you nothing but a successful career, the love and respect of the community, and a brand new truck -- much harder when it comes at a heavy price and costs you everything you thought was important.
 
I just ordered this DVD looking forward to it. i have a feeling dvd sales of it are shooting up with people like me just finding it.
 
I haven't seen it yet simply because I'm not a big fan of sports films, but it is in rotation on Starz so I might check it out.

-Nate
 
WTF

Not a fan of sports films ?

RUDY
FIELD OF DREAMS
RAGING BULL
ROCKY 1,2 and 6
BULL DURHAM
WHITE MEN CANT JUMP

Dude !~
 
Not a sports fan, unless it's kickboxing or paintball. I should add female ice-skating or tennis depending on whose playing - for obvious reasons. LOL. I'll admit the scene I came in on was interesting enough. I remember the "Bad News Bears."

-Nate
 
Yea its DVD sales have made it a best seller pretty much since it was released in Jan. 07...its remained in the top 10 of almost every major Christian site in sales, barely ever slipping below 10.
 
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