Elaine Marie Cooper Author

Historical Fiction That Grabs Your Heart and Feeds Your Soul

review

Risen the Movie: Review

by 4 Comments

My eyes are burning with fatigue from a busy week of work and fighting a cold. But they will continue to burn a few minutes longer until this burning message gets posted for my readers to view: Please go see the movie “Risen.”

It is a story of an unbeliever—but not just any unbeliever. He is the Tribune Clavius in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He pointed his finger to direct the order for the final thrust of the sword into the side of the victim on the cross. Of course, he did not really kill Him. Jesus had already surrendered his spirit moments before Clavius arrived.

The story actually begins with a fierce battle during which a close friend of Clavius is killed. Before he can even clean the filth of battle from his war weary body, he then most give the final directions at the foot of the cross. From there, one disaster after another unfolds in Jerusalem as the Jewish leaders fear the followers of Jesus stealing the body and claiming resurrection, and Pontius Pilate fearing the imminent arrival of the Emporer who will discover chaos in the region.

As Pilate’s close aid and keeper of order in Jerusalem, Clavius is plagued by this incessant message with every crisis: “Tribune, Pilate summons you.” As the tensions build, you begin to dread each summons almost as much as the exhausted Clavius. Of course the investigation of the post resurrection begins the real story as the Tribune’s sense of truth begins to be challenged.

 

Credit Sony Pictures Entertainment
Credit Sony Pictures Entertainment

Tribune Clavius is played with such skill by Joseph Fiennes that you truly believe he is the character he portrays. He is completely measured in his emotions, yet reflects in his eyes the torment he is going through.

 

The rest of the cast is just as fitting for their roles making one wish you could give a round of applause for the casting director.

 

Although most Christians know the story well of the crucifixion and resurrection, this story carries an altogether new approach that is intense, thoughtful and well written. I loved this movie and would recommend it for all believers as well as for those who struggle believing. They would identify well with the Tribune Clavius.

 

Banner photo credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Movie Review: Alone Yet Not Alone

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It’s a rarity to hear about a movie that is not only historical but has a Christian theme. Add to that “based on a true story,” and I was ready to pack my purse and go. So when “Alone Yet Not Alone” opened in my hometown, my husband and I headed to the matinee.

The movie was set in the wilderness of Pennsylvania in 1755 during the French and Indian War. It involved a family that had escaped troubles in their homeland of Germany to find a better life in the New World. They just didn’t realize the danger nor the terrible price they would pay for freedom. Some family members are killed by native Americans while the two young girls in the family are taken hostage to live among the Indians. The two girls are joined by dozens of other children of white families who have been kidnapped as well.

The story is based on the two young daughters, Barbara and Regina Leininger, and their struggles to survive as they cling to their Christian faith. It is inspiring and, at times, heartbreaking.

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The script is very well written, allowing a viewer to follow along in the sometimes-complicated tale involving several opposing sides, including the British, the French and several different native tribes. I very much liked that the script showed both good guys and bad guys—each national group had its heroes and villains. And while many of the scenes depicted could have been very gruesome, the filmmakers chose their edits wisely. You knew that terrible things occurred but they were not in your face.

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The cinematography was extraordinary. I was totally swept up in the vistas that showed examples of the primitive beauty of early America.

 

The song “Alone Yet Not Alone,” sung by Joni Eareckson Tada, was actually nominated for an Academy award but, through efforts to have it removed on a technicality, it lost its bid to be a nominee. The title song was so effective as an integral part of the story line, which only made the much-publicized exclusion of “Alone Yet Not Alone” from the Oscars in the song category even more upsetting. How often does a winning Oscar song have such an important place in a movie plot? Oscar should bow his metal head in shame.

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Now to the critical part: The acting. Most of the characters were wonderful, with actors and actresses giving great justice to the characters they depicted. The children portraying younger Barbara and Regina, as well as the group of young ones taken hostage, were excellent in their roles. One of my favorite scenes involved twin little boys. I will not explain further, but take note. It is precious.

 

The men portraying the native Americans, especially Ozzie Torres, were outstanding. Jenn Gotzon had a small but memorable role as Lydia.

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Most of the adult actors were wonderful with the exception of the critical role: Barbara Leininger. What were the producers thinking? This was a character that should have shown a woman emotionally, perhaps physically, scarred from ten years in captivity. Instead we have actress Kelly Grayson looking like she had spent ten years in a Hollywood spa. Forgive my bluntness, but I have seen better acting in community productions.

 

One of the weaknesses in Christian filmmaking in the last ten years has been the acting. But several recent releases such as “October Baby,” “Heaven Is For Real” and “God’s Not Dead” have proven that there are quality actors and actresses that can, and will, do justice to Christian films. It behooves Christian filmmakers to pick their actors wisely. They should be striving for excellence in every aspect of their productions.

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I would have given this film, five out of five stars. But I’ll rate it 4.5 for the lead role let-down.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: “Noah” the Movie

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I never go to a movie based on a Biblical story expecting complete accuracy. Even when written and directed by believers in the Scriptures, there are often storylines that, for the sake of time or creativity, change details.

So with an open mind and a love for God’s word, I carried my notebook into the matinee to watch the new release, “Noah.” With all the controversy about this movie, I was expecting there to be troubling themes that would not support the important subjects such as man’s fall and God’s provision and protection. In these areas, I was pleasantly surprised.

The storyline began with Noah’s father teaching him about the fall of Adam and Eve (the parents of us all, the script says).  The audience sees Satan’s disguise as a snake and witnesses how he tempted men’s hearts and led us into sin. Noah’s father also teaches the son that our strength comes from the Creator. Noah is exhorted to “walk along side the Creator in righteousness.”

As an adult, Noah struggles in this movie to protect his family from the wicked sons of Cain—the first murderer—and is aided in protecting them by angels called “The Watchers.” (more about them later)

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His grandfather, Methuselah, is his spiritual mentor who, in cinematic style, allows Noah to envision direction from the Creator to build the ark to save not just the animals of the earth, but mankind itself. The wickedness of people has reached such proportions that judgment time has come.

 

And thus the building of the vessel that saves Noah and his family begins, showing the accurate shape of the ark as a long oblong box, which is according to the instructions in the Bible that God gave.

For the most part, I loved this movie. Cinematically, it was beautiful with the benefit of CGI that lent itself perfectly to this creative depiction. One of my favorite views was during the flood, showing the view from the sky. The entire earth is shown as if it was a satellite image, with storms swirling over the whole world. Very dramatic and a surprising view of what it must have been like.

I also loved the theme of the middle son, Ham, who struggled with his belief in God from childhood. Very effective.

One of the most memorable lines of the movie was the King of Canaan staring into Noah’s face, spitting out the words, “And you stand alone.”

Noah looks at him and replies, “I’m not alone.”

Indeed, he was not.

Many believers struggle with the fact that the title “God” is not used in this movie. But the repeated references to The Creator made it quite clear to me exactly Who the characters are speaking about. I have no problem with this and wonder why Creationists would.

One of the more dramatic scenes shows Noah, dressed in disguise, seeking wives for his sons in the enemy camp. He is so overcome by the depravity of men’s hearts, he returns to the nearly built ark in shock. His family presses for an explanation to his silent behavior. He says in a frantic whisper, “The wickedness is not just in them—it’s in all of us.”

This revelation for Noah of his own sin nature impacts much of the ensuing scenes in the ark itself. The writers took a few astonishing liberties with the Bible story, causing this reviewer to groan. The problem is, since so little is known about the actual events on that journey, the writers seemed to be grasping for dramatic conflict. Most writers understand the importance of keeping the action moving to retain one’s audience—but the plots that ensued disappointed this viewer since they were not consistent with the story as a whole.

Still, the events on the Ark—listening to the screams of the dying in the flood as well as trying to discern God’s will and plan for his family—did provide explanation for Noah’s behavior in a later scene on land, actually depicted in the Genesis account.

An aspect of the movie that rated “Five Groans” on a scale of five, was the Ent-like animated creatures who portrayed the Watchers. It was like imagining “Lord of the Rings” meets “Star Trek” in the Old Testament. Can’t we use a phaser and get rid of those images?

Despite my disappointment about the scenes on the Ark and the images of the animated creatures, there was much to celebrate about this movie. They showed the door of the ark being closed by the hand of God. They emphasized the pride of man and the need for mercy. They didn’t mince words about sin, evil or temptation.

And it was a movie about an actual Bible story.

If you are a person who believes any depiction of a Biblical story should be straightforward and accurate in every detail, you will not like this movie. Much artistic license is taken with many scenes and in the fabricated plot lines. However, it is the creative composite of visuals, storyline and message that make this a fascinating retelling of the Bible story of Noah.

Even if the motive of the producers was just to make money, God can still use it to draw people into reading the actual story in Genesis—a true story about pride, sin and redemption. A true story that we all need to hear.