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twa1959
Reviews
The Apocalypse (2007)
A forgettable movie that asks a thoughtful question....
I watched the movie in its entirety. I will likely not watch it again, at least not for its entertainment value. Yes, it is a forgettable movie, but it poses a very thoughtful question for both the "Believer" and the "Non-Believer" alike: Is my faith genuine Faith? First the bad, and there is plenty that is bad. An "Epic Thriller", it is not. As a movie it is not visually remarkable in any way. As a story, it lacks originality, does not engage one's emotions and takes no time to provide any depth to its characters. As an exercise in film-making, it is poorly executed: There is no recognizable plot; the pace is tedious and uneven; the dialog is predictable and largely uninspired; the acting is pedestrian at best and amateurish at worst; the Special Effects range from pretty good to really bad. Most disappointing was the musical score, which was decent but excessively repetitive and the overall sound quality, which was very poor. That being said, c'mon folks, why such high expectations? This is an ASYLUM production, so of course it isn't going to be Armageddon or Deep Impact or even 2012.
Apparently most reviewers thought they would see a SciFi film. Some reviewers were surprised by the religious overtones but I'm not sure why, as references to religion and "Faith" were plastered all over the packaging. Most "Christian" reviewers complained that it was not Biblical, and while one could successfully debate the soundness of some parts of Christian eschatology as it is presented, the events depicted are found in the Book of Revelation. I have watched a lot of Christian movies, and frankly most of them have left me unsatisfied on all counts. The portrayal of Christians and the Christian Faith is usually clichéd and over simplistic. Contrived story lines follow the predictable path of personal redemption as a life is transformed from contemptible to virtuous, with one dimensional characters that more closely resemble cartoons rather than human beings. The result is a depiction of a life experience so alien to the average person that one would be hard pressed to find any applicability to their own lives, hampering its ability to deliver the intended message.
So what is good about this film? Not much. In this film "Faith" is frequently spoken about by most of the characters, but the nature of that Faith is not adequately explained, so it fails to successfully bear witness to the Christian Faith. The characters are underdeveloped, but in a refreshing break from the standard formula they aren't the same old good guys vs. bad guys, and here lies a savory nugget in a kettle full of tasteless mush. As you meet the characters, with one or two exceptions, you can't really tell the difference between Christian and non-Christian (sadly this is an accurate reflection of reality), as most everyone appears to have some faith or belief in God. But, as this is a film based on Revelation, true believers are eventually separated from the rest and the viewer may be surprised to see who falls into which category. No, its not enough to spare this film the criticism it deserves, but I believe keeps it from being branded an utter waste, for in this way the film asks profoundly troubling questions for anyone who thinks they are a Christian: Is my Faith genuine enough for God? Will I be surprised at the end?
Countdown: Jerusalem (2009)
It's not about the End, it's about Now
If you're expecting to see a film similar to the Left Behind series, you may be relieved when I tell you it isn't. After watching, you more than likely will be disappointed, confused or just plain "what the heck did I just witness" bewildered. I figured this would be another clichéd and cheesy take on the Book of Revelation. I waited for the human cardboard cutouts representing good and evil, the haunting Gregorian chants building into grand crescendos as various plagues assaulted the earth, and the obligatory voice-overs telling me in stern and reverent tones how every scene was depicting a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. None of those things ever showed up in this movie. Left Behind this is not.
Our brave reporter is not interested in digging beneath the headlines of earthquakes, famine, social upheaval and economic collapse to find the diabolical conspiracy responsible for it all. Nor is she embarking on a quest to discover the elusive answers to her hectic and unfulfilled life. She just wants to find her missing daughter. And her frantic search takes her to Jerusalem, now the focal point for the unwinding of the age.
The End Times are certainly in evidence throughout the film, but as a backdrop only. If the plot seems confusing, even non-existent, it's because the plot is not about the coming Armageddon. It is not about following the clues, exposing the imposters or circumventing the events that surely must and will unfold. It's about realizing that the signs signal the end for some but not all. The signs also tell us there is still time to do the only thing we can do to be spared the judgment that fallen humanity deserves.
A great film this is not, but neither is it a particular bad one. It is a film that handles its subject matter in a quirky and non-conventional way. It comes at you from an angle rather than slamming into you head on. The acting is average but does not detract significantly from the film. The dialogue is sparse, but at least I was spared the agony of having the characters repeatedly explain the whole darn story to me through lengthy and unrealistically structured dialogue. The cinematography was pleasing. The locations were usually well shot and added to the overall frenetic feeling of the film. The musical score was good but occasionally overwhelmed some of the scenes. Only one major complaint: I am not all that familiar with the geography of Israel, but what was up with her getting out of the car in the middle of nowhere (a desert) and walking all the way back to her hotel?
All in all, not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. This is not a particularly good Christian "witnessing" film, too much is left unexplained, and there is no obvious central message. But Christians should find this film intriguing, even a little thought provoking.