New Life (2016) Poster

(2016)

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5/10
Heartwarming message, but romantic drama falls flat.
sam-9790310 March 2017
This story focuses on the relationship between a loving couple -- and how they weather the ups, downs, and unexpected curve balls life throws at them.

Although there's a tragic twist (which drives a sad character to destruction in a few scenes), overall it's a family-focused film with a solid marriage at its center.

Language is limited to one "oh God" said in a heated moment, and while the main characters are very affectionate.

The message of the movie'd be: Keep going, no matter what kind of hardship comes your way. But the execution is flawed, and there's little here that makes Ben and Ava's story truly compelling to watch.
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5/10
Too Contrived
larrys326 August 2017
Benjamin (Jonathan Patrick Moore) and Ava (Erin Thea) have grown from inseparable childhood friends into an adult loving couple. Their chemistry on screen works well, in my opinion.

However, this modern day "Love Story" has just too many contrivances and cardboard-like characters to be truly effective. The melodrama amidst the tragedy and grief in parts of the film may work for some viewers but I wasn't one of them.

All in all, although the movie tries to end on a poignant note, it was more of a depressing slog than entertainment for me.
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7/10
Simple, but effective movie with surprising turns
Ingrouille1819 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was allowed to sit in the audience for the first ever Romford film festival and award show, and I even got to speak with the director Drew Waters after. Since he won the award for best director and a few other awards, his film New Life was the first one I saw the next morning. And I gotta say I really enjoyed New Life. Definitely good directing, as well as good lighting, editing, sound and acting all around.

The story revolves around childhood friends, Ben and Ava, who ultimately begin a relationship. Despite not working at first, they decide to get married, and are even expecting a baby. That is until one day Ava has a miscarriage, and is ultimately diagnosed with cancer. Throughout it all the two love and support each other, and despite things seemingly getting better for the two, fate will go a much darker way for them.

I liked the story, and even though it's a story I feel I've watched a hundred times, Waters still puts his own unique style to it. At one point I thought I was watching a documentary cause that's how good the acting is; feels like they're real people. Can't wait to see what the two leading actors, Jonathan Patrick Moore and Erin Bethea have in store for us in the future. At the awards Waters talked about the casting process and how out of 1,000 other actors, Moore was his first and final pick for the character Ben.

The film throughout worked for me, and many others seeming as Waters won the award for best director. The story ends on a bittersweet note, and I even enjoyed the opening and ending monologues. I don't wanna give it a score; I think movies like these, especially if they're enjoyable to watch should be un-gradable, but I still wanna give it a 7 out of 10.

Definitely worth the watch. Give it a see.
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1/10
Another bad Christian movie!
maryowen-841752 August 2022
This could have been such a good film...why do Christians have such trouble with the telling of such a simple and beautiful message? I will only leave you with my opinion on one thing so as to not sound like a bore... The phony French accent! Really, why not just scream...Another amateur film!
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8/10
I'm stunned this movie isn't rated higher!!
huggibear21 October 2018
I gave this movie a solid 8 because: 1. The main actress (Erin Bethea from another excellent movie called Fireproof) and the director (Drew Waters) came to our little town in Vermont and promoted it. I watched it right along with so many others and they all thought it was a phenomenal movie. What are people thinking? So what? It's an Indie movie! It's not ever going to be a 'I Can Only Imagine' kind of movie on such a smaller scale. However, I thought it was well done and it's hardly receiving the credit it rightfully deserves. 2. It really was well put together and it has a great message for anyone going through any sort of heartbreak/grieving process. I bought the DVD and think it should be gifted to anyone of my family member's because there has been a double loss here less than one month ago. I think it would benefit them to have this kind of message. So maybe it doesn't deserve a solid 8, but it sure doesn't deserve to be a 5.6 Star film because that's a lame rating for a movie done well with great acting, great scenes, good messages and a nice PG rating as a family-friendly addition. Everyone should see it at least once. It's worth that much!
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10/10
A really good life story!
klmreview20 July 2020
This checked all the boxes!! A sweet love story. How life can throw you a curve ball. I really liked the narration of the moving too! Excellent actors and acting!! Great movie!!
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10/10
I cried like a baby but loved how Ben chose to go on
vgarris-138754 February 2019
Great acting, great story. It shows you how special yet short life is, and no matter what happens, you must go on. I enjoyed this.
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10/10
Movie will make you cry for sure
mizzbarbie13 June 2020
Great love story but very depressing. Will for sure make you cry. The end however, has a great ending and makes up for all the depressing moments. I loved this movie and will recommend to my friends.
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10/10
Incredible Movie!!!!!!
dmbrmb8 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
OMG!!!!!! I'm in shock over the low rating on this movie. I have to say, I LOVED every minute of this. I don't think I've cried at a movie like this one in many years.

I was expecting a cute plot, boy meets girl at a young age and there's some tiny hiccups, and all ends well. What I got was a large surprise. Fabulous acting, an ending I wasn't expecting at all, and I wound up going through a bunch of Kleenex.

Most love stories in movies are pretty predictable. What I really enjoyed about this one was there weren't so many predictable moments. I wasn't expecting her husband to shave his head before her. I wasn't expecting the ending at all.

The only plot hole that I was able to find was the old man toward the end. Sure he's the neighbor, but there's no relationship built or shown. He just sees the husband throwing a fit after he learns his wife will die. But that's it until one day he just shows up and sits on the bench in their front yard. I wish there was more expanded so it makes more sense when he comes to the husband and starts talking him.

This movie is soooo good and I hope more people watch it!
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8/10
Passionate and sad...
RosanaBotafogo30 August 2022
I don't like reading the synopsis, and because of the national title and the movie being narrated by my husband, I spent half the movie waiting for a tragedy to happen, these cute movies always generate extra suffering and some tears of mine at the end or in the middle, and he came willingly , it makes our hearts so tight, it's okay that nothing in the film is unpredictable, quite the opposite, but it's all so beautiful... Due to the national title and the film being narrated by the husband, I spent half the film expecting a tragedy to happen, these cute movies, makes our heart so tight... Passionate and sad...
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