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ruthvansandt
Reviews
The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith (2009)
Too much modernization
It's cleaner to watch than 95% of what's out there these days... but. for the purpose of the film, I think they stray pretty far. They kept a few key scenes from the Biblical story, but then overlay the whole thing with a very Western, modern worldview. If it has been a story told and re-set in modern days, it would work. But they made it out to be a dating story, when the whole center of the story was Ruth's faith in God, changing from the faith of the Moabites, to faith in God. It is entirely possible they loved each other, but they made it far too modernized. Love may have played a part, but not the modern gooey feeling or dependence on feeling for decisions. They were faithful to the laws of God.
And, um, guys, there was not a temple... David built it, three generations later...) nor was it a public scandal, except for the strict fact that Ruth was from Moab.
It was, however, great fun to see Carmen acting.
What Would Jesus Do? (2010)
READ THE BOOK
I only just started the movie, but they should have titled it something else and not used the character names of the 1896 book What Would Jesus Do? (by Charles Sheldon) and the 1990s phenomena with the WWJD bracelets. Please go read that book (and the Bible, too, of course)! It is a masterpiece. THE premise of the book is that the pastor IS successful, has a good family, HUGE congregation, loved by everyone, preaching good doctrine (but with no application) and so busy with 'God's work' that he doesn't have time for the drifter. This version makes him seem a worn out, barely surviving, family killed, empty church, preacher. Why is this important? Because Sheldon's book is INTENDED to shine a light on our prideful natures, thinking we are doing everything right, when we are missing the point. It may have been written in 1896, but (the book) shines an excellent light on modern, prosperity, seeker-sensitive talkers and challenges us all to look at the Word, be led by the Spirit (not our hearts), and do what Jesus would do in our daily lives. (Some of the primary answers to the question being, a removal of self-focus, emphasis on holiness, preaching the Gospel even when it's uncomfortable, etc...) This movie misses the mark by a long-shot. If they didn't use the character and location names and movie title, it might be a good story. Hopefully this review will inspire people to actually read the original book. (It's an easy read, simply written, beautiful, and Biblical.)
Not Cinderella's Type (2018)
If you've never been there, you don't know.
Wow. I think this might be the best retelling of the Cinderella story. It finally deals with that nagging question from every other retelling. It's sensitive, it's sweet. It's well written, directed and acted. And the creators of this movie really knew what they were talking about, and yet dealt with the subject gently. Wow.