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fourwaals
Reviews
Facing the Giants (2006)
You've gotta be kidding me!
As a youth pastor I heard good things about this movie. Then I watched it. The acting wasn't the best. That's forgivable. It's the message that's not: Give Jesus your life and everything will change - you'll tackle better, make amazing catches, stop fumbling, start making touchdown passes, and even make the playoffs. All because Jesus magically turns horrible undersized weaklings into All-American athletes. I laughed out loud when a coach quoted scripture to explain to the kicker why he was missing field goals. But wait, that's not all. You'll get a brand new truck, a $6000 raise, and you and your wife's struggle with infertility will suddenly end in pregnancy - twice. THEN you'll win the state championship because God helps a weakling kick the winning field goal 12 yards further than he's ever kicked before - and into the wind, no less - all because "God wanted him to make it." Then you'll win the state championship again the next year. None of this good stuff would have happened if the team hadn't chosen to follow Jesus will all their hearts.
Here's what I took away from the movie: God can do anything he wants to do whenever he wants to do it - and it's all about making our lives better, easier, and more enjoyable. He chooses his favorite team and helps them win games. Which bible is this story based on? I'll bet Saint Stephen wished he'd known the keys to such a safe life before he was stoned to death. Someone should have made this movie before 10 of the 11 apostles were killed for following Jesus. It would have saved them all a lot of trouble.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Plot logic flaw?
I can overlook the historical inaccuracies that plague the movie. Without them there would be no conspiracy theory to drive the plot along. However, I must have missed something by not reading the book. The premise that seems to drive the plot is essentially "if we can actually find Mary Magdalene's body we'll be able to look at the DNA and prove that Jesus has descendants who walk the earth today. That'll shake up the power structure of the oppressive church and people will be free!!!"
But my problem came toward the end. The movie seems to rely on the fact that DNA analysis will be the key to finding the royal line of Jesus that's currently walking the earth. I'll overlook the fact that it's highly unlikely that anyone could prove conclusively that they've actually FOUND Mary Magdalene's body. I was willing to concede on that point because of the great ride of twists and turns and betrayals and layers of meaning that the movie had woven up to that point. But here's my problem: How can DNA analysis on Mary Magdalene alone prove that the person is a descendant of Jesus? Wouldn't they have to have Jesus' DNA to prove that? I'll have to watch the movie again. Maybe I missed something. I guess that's what spoiled the movie for me. The climax of the film was built on faulty logic.