Model Citizen

Like a lot of people's reviews I've read on this film, I'll echo one sentiment. I did'nt know they made movies like this! It's not often you can watch a movie and feel better for having done so, but this is one of those. Facing The Giants is a "Christian Film", it has at it's central core the belief that God can change lives and events. From different reviews I've read this point seems to be hotly debated, maybe because when He does it does'nt make the news...but more of than in a minute.

The story follows A High School football coach, Grant Taylor, who's life is just full of those little upsets that piled together can bring someone to their knees. His car is a piece of junk, he only earns enough to tick over, not enough to go out and buy another car or commit to that kind of a loan. His house smells terrible, something has died in the floorboards somewhere! The cooker is on the blink. His job is'nt going anywhere, the team are losing games and he might be replaced and lose his job. And to top it off he has some condition that is preventing him and his wife from having children. Some mountains he has in his life, probably easier to deal with in small doses but brought together are a tsunami for him and he is literally brought to his knees where he asks God for help. Grant is then used by God as a fulcrum for a revival in the high school as he makes a stand and brings Christian standards into the football code. The team has a complete turnaround and starts winning, enabling them to finally meet the biggest team in the State, the Giants. Before going further I must point out, that though this is a Hollywood quality film with high production values, the cast are not actors. Most of them are apparently members of the church where writer/director/star Alex Kendrick goes. Does this make a big difference? from my viewing I'd say no. It took me a bit of time to get used to the accents but after that you soon found that these 'real' people are acting very 'real'. You really feel for Grant and his wife. It's not common to see men cry on film, but in the situation he is in I think most would.

OK, the 'religious bit', is this film based in fantasy land? Is the sort of 'revival' shown remotley possible? Well as of writing this today I can tell you I personally know of 3 revivals happening in the world right now! I'm talking of an event where God has for some reason decided to show his power. There are such miraculous things happening that when you hear of them you can't help but wonder why they're not shown on the news every night...instead of getting no coverage at all. Anyway, the 3 I know of are Todd Bentley in Florida. There's Chandra Kant in India. There are so many miracles happening in india right now that only the 'big' ones are reported to the church. When i say big I'm referring to people who have had limbs grow back or have been raised from the dead! I kid you not. Then there's also Bishop Ricardo Pereira in Cuba. Things that have been happening there include such bizzare events as peoples teeth growing back again! These events dont even include what is happening in places like the Phillipines and China where it is now reported that approximatley 30'000 people come to Christ every month!

So, a good film? Real enough? Insiring? Yes, yes and yes. If you want to watch something that could genuinely lift your spirits as well as maybe just show you an answer to life then watch this movie. Me, I'm looking forward to getting the first film from this group "Flywheel" and also seeing there most recent one "Fireproof" too.

Well, I said I'd post some pics from the new camera. I've not taken that many, still getting to grips with it, but here's 3 that came out OK.

I've set up a Flickr account to display them HERE

Anyway, still learning. i bought the Blue Crane DVD on how to use the camera, not had a chance to watch it yet, but I'm enjoying the journey so far.