Chasing Grace (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

A tragic accident threatens to destroy a pastor’s family and sets into motion a complex betrayal between two brothers, while exposing secrets no one wants to face.

Pastor Jonathan Matheson lives in a world of black and white, yet finds a way to navigate the “grey in-between” to work to his advantage, while facing one of the most tragic moments of his life. Set in small-town America and woven inside a tale of redemption, “Chasing Grace” is a story of how one family takes on the burden of guilt in order to make sense of their loss. While pointing the finger of blame at his brother, Pastor Jonathan also chooses to hide from the truth while trying to escape his own personal demons. “Chasing Grace” is loosely based upon true events and provides a powerful story about the redeeming power of forgiveness.

My thoughts-

Tragedies have a way of bringing out some pretty heavy emotions in the affected people, especially when it is unexpected and even more so when it involves a child. The Matheson family exemplifies this statement. They are all spiraling out of control in their own ways after the death of the youngest child (and only girl) in the house after a traumatic accident one of her brothers witnessed. It is a hard movie to watch. It starts with the funeral of the young Matheson daughter and then shows us in bits and pieces what really happened to her. It was really heavy stuff and at times it was hard to stay sympathetic to some of these characters, but in the end I think redemption and forgiveness are the main themes. There are some pretty difficult scenes and themes (a suicide attempt, alchoholism), but movies like this are a good way to broach these kinds of subjects with kids that might not have otherwise have come up organically during a conversation.  I would recommend this movie for adults and older kids and teenagers. 

http://chasinggracemovie.com/

Awakened (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

Newspaper reporter Jacob Harker (Rob Boltin) loses his job, forcing he and his wife, Haley (Gwendolyn Edwards), to move into a small rental house owned by Webster Cain (Michael Monks). In the process of moving in, Jacob discovers a discarded audio recording of 60’s blues singer Carol James (Hannah Hughes). Captivated by the voice on the recording, Jacob conducts an investigation into Carol James’ life and death.  Through his pursuit, Jacob becomes haunted by an evil spirit. While the spirit seductively persuades Jacob, drawing him deeper and deeper into its own malicious plot, the spirit attacks and terrorizes Haley, creating both fear and distrust in the Harker’s home. Haley sees her husband turning into someone less recognizable each day.

How can a marriage survive such attack, deception, and evil?

Can the faith of one help restore the condition of another?

My thoughts-

This was the first movie I have ever heard of in the Christian movie world that is a suspense movie. I thought it was an interesting story line and thought the movie did a good job of keeping the story moving and interesting. It was fun trying to figure out what exactly the spirit was after through Jacob. I enjoyed the beautiful singing of Hannah Hughes as Carol James and seeing how this obsession of with Carol James does to the Harker's marriage. I hope to see more movies along similar lines as "Awakened". This was a great suspense movie for fans of this genre who are looking for something that will keep you on your toes and guessing, but without the gore and violence of other typical horror movies. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. 

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Watch the "Awakened" trailer below-

Adrenaline (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

After a crash leaves him paralyzed, drag racer Joseph Jenkins thinks his life is over. But his hospital roommate Elijah slowly gives him new perspective. When he returns home, his Uncle Paul gets him competing again---and winning. But can he face his nemesis Jason Skynard, the man he was challenging when the accident happened?




My thoughts-

I am usually not a fan of  drag racing movies, but I thought the story line to this one sounded interesting. I was right. My favorite parts of Adrenaline were the parts where Joe interacts with Elijah. Elijah is the best part of the movie and brings out the best in Joe. It was great to watch his attitude and thoughts about himself change throughout the movie.  I actually found myself enjoying the parts in the movie about racing as well. Adrenaline would make a great pick for a family movie night- intense and dramatic enough to hold an adults attention, but cool enough for a younger person to want to watch.

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Watch the trailer for Adrenaline below-

Find a Way (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

Inspired by a true story

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Finding faith can be difficult for many people on any given day. Imagine an ordinary Sunday morning. It's time to get redy for church and you go to wake your talented, loving, bright, beautiful son. Only, he won't wake up...every again. What happens to faith then?

This is how tragedy began for a Burlington, North Carolina family. Their son, Harry Cohen, was a high school senior- a genuinely inspirational young man, star football player, friend to all and a strong Christian. One morning he didn't wake up. The untimely death of an outstanding young person naturally brings up questions about faith and God's presence. How can God allow such a thing to happen? The event obviously has an immense effect on family, friends, and the community at large.

Things that previously seemed to be so important are put into perspective and we can gain an understanding as to what is truly important in life. Harry is gone from us, but he continues to inspire actions, words and deeds with a message of faith & hope. Find a Way will stand as a tribute to Harry Cohen and be a beacon of hope to anyone who has ever dealt with pain and heartache.

My thoughts-

Tragedy can strike when we least expect it and I think it is always more heartbreaking when a child or young person is the one to go. I lost a couple of classmates in high school and it is a huge overwhelming feeling at that age- feeling invincible and being brought back down from the clouds when something goes wrong with someone the same age as you. Find a Way shows how several different people and families deal with the grief of tragedy striking a well loved teen. It is all the more heartbreaking that it is based on a true story. The story beyond that is reconciliation of relationships within these sub-stories or in some cases making changes where necessary. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has ever lost someone and struggled with their faith. You are not alone.

Watch the trailer for Find a Way- http://youtu.be/CA606vV6ANM

Virtious (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the movie-

When a young woman, Simone Burner (singer/songwriter, Brandy Allison), is accused of murdering the man who assaulted her, she seeks out the help of attorney Jack Evans (Erik Estrada) to prove her innocence. A ruthless and corrupt prosecutor engages her in a trial that brings the past she has longed to escape to the forefront of her defense. Virtuous will inspire and ignite you to live the principles of Proverbs 31 faith, integrity, wisdom and honor.

My thoughts-

Virtuous begins with the assault and subsequent murder that takes place that Simone stands trial for. Throughout the movie, little pieces of her past are revealed and the trial for the man that was murdered takes place. Even though the movie focuses on Simone, we get to know several of the other characters and the things going on in their lives. It was a fast paced movie that focuses on faith and honesty. Fans of Erik Estrada will be thrilled to see him here as Simone's lawyer. The rest of the movie is rounded out with an equally talented cast. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys faced paced movies or stories about redemption.

Virtuous is available now at retailers nationwide.

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Watch the Virtuous movie trailer below-

The Father's Love (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are 100% my own.

About the movie- 

Sarah, an aspiring filmmaker meets the man of her dreams. Charming, handsome, and wealthy, Reece becomes her world. As their story

unfolds, Sarah is taken on a journey of heartbreak and forgiveness, exploring the meaning of her relationships both past and present.



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My thoughts-

The Father's Love was different from any Christian movie I have seen. I guess usually when I want a Christian romance I tend to lean towards historical period pieces. I thought this movie was a nice change of pace. Sarah is a busy career woman but meets Reece who seems like everything a woman could possibly want in a man, but it turns out that may not be true after all. I think many women have been through somewhat similar situations to Sarah and could probably really relate to the things she goes through in her relationships- with Reece, with her father, and with God. This is a movie about love- love between friends, romances, self love and the love of God. I think each person that watches this movie might take something different from it. My heart broke for Sarah several times, I couldn't really understand why she would make some of the choices she did until her full story was revealed. I enjoyed watching her journey. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys love stories.

Watch the trailer-

Jesus Boat: Witness to Prophecy (DVD Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the dvd via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive  review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.  

About the movie- 

The astounding prophetic rebirth of Israel is told through the discovery of an ancient and unlikely artifact found under the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A first century fishing boat, identical to the boat Jesus sailed upon with his disciples, was destroyed in the years Israel was destroyed by the Romans, but found 2000 years later in a series of astonishing events that even scientists called a miracle. Mirroring Israel's own story of devastation and survival, the boat from the time of Jesus, would rise against all odds and float upon the Sea of Galilee once more as the oldest surviving freshwater boat in the world. Featuring commentary from some of the great theologians of our day including Franklin Graham, Joel Rosenberg, Jay Sekulow, Skip Heitzig, Chuck Smith and more.

My thoughts-

I don't know how but I had never heard the story of this boat until I watched this fascinating documentary. Listening to the people involved talk about how they came across it, the work that went into restoring it, this was just such an interesting thing to learn about. For me  personally, it was really cool thinking that even if this wasn't *the* boat that Jesus and his disciples used, it is very similar and it was definitely around when Jesus walked the Earth. The sheer thought that a boat that could float during the first century could survive all of these years enough to be restored and displayed...that could only be a Jesus thing. It definitely seems to parallel the story of Israel's survival. I enjoyed listening to all of the stories of the people who worked on the boat, as well as some of the commentary. There were several really cool stories within the story (a huge storm after the boat was found after a very long drought, and the fact that it took 12 years to restore the boat were two of my favorite things that I learned during the documentary.) If you are at all interested in history or Christianity, you will enjoy this documentary. Now, if I could only hop on a plane and see it in person! For now, I am happy to have come across such an interesting piece of history through Jesus Boat.

Watch the movie trailer below- 

HERO (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

Joe Finn was a local legend in the world of baseball, but a miserable failure as a husband, father, and friend. Now, seven years after leaving home, he returns just in time to say goodbye to his dying wife and hello to a son and a community who consider him as good as dead. 

Intent on making his life right, he turns to the only thing he knows -- baseball. But Little League is all but unrecognizable in Miller's Gap, and parental involvement is at an all-time low. Even as his actions begin to warm the hearts of some, others in the community threaten to get rid of Joe's team for good. Can Joe win back his son and revitalize a dying game, or is he seven years too late to redeem the mess of his own making?

My thoughts-

What I loved about this movie is that it shows how families in different circumstances can go through the same things within their family units. There is a prison warden, a prisoner and a father who has traveled so much for his job he barely knows his kid and all 3 of them have boys that have gone through the same thing- dealing with not having their dad in their lives as much as they would have liked or as much as they needed. Joe Finn, the dad that was absentee due to his job, has come home to deal with his dying wife and his grown son, only to discover that Little League is not what it once was. Joe wants to bring the joy of the game to these little boys and in the process he also wants to help their dads not make the same mistakes he did. I enjoyed watching a movie about a great past time, baseball, and seeing the fathers realize that they need to try harder to be a part of their son's lives. I love seeing Joe put his passion for baseball into helping the dads and sons connect while reconnecting with his own son. I haven't been to a Little League game in a long time, but it bums me out to think that so many dads are missing out on their sons games and that the rules have changed so much that it kind of takes the fun out of playing the game...or at least it doesn't seem as fun as it once was, so hopefully this movie will be a starting point for changing that. This is a great movie for the whole family and would probably especially be enjoyed by fathers and sons!

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For more information about the movie see- www.herofamilymovie.com/

HERO will be available for purchase at Walmart and other retailers September 16!

Watch the movie trailer below-

When Calls the Heart "Second Chances" Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie from Edify Media in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About When Calls the Heart-

When Calls the Heart is a television show on the Hallmark Channel based on the writings of Janette Oke that debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the #2 show for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and #3 overall in households. The show is about Elizabeth Thatcher, a young high society woman who is now working as a teacher on the western frontier. "The Dance" is a feature length film that can be purchased on Amazon.com or the entire series can be watched on the Hallmark Channel or Amazon Instant Video. To see my reviews for previous feature length films in this series see in this order- 

When Calls the Heart: a film by Michael Landon, Jr.
When Calls the Heart  "Lost and Found"
 When Calls the Heart "A Telling Silence"
When Calls the Heart "The Dance"

My thoughts-

The last episode of When Calls the Heart kind of got things stirred up between Elizabeth and Jack with someone else acting interested in Elizabeth, so I was very interested to see if things would fall back into place for them in "Second Chances." Jack is definitely trying to get back in Elizabeth's good graces so we get to go back to swooning over him instead of shaking our heads at his innate maleness. It was fun to see her make him work for it though! There was a lot of new stuff going on in this episode. That is what I love about this show. We have the big storylines to keep it all together, but there is almost something new and interesting in each new episode. Elizabeth has a young student she is trying to help read despite his trouble doing so and that is really heartwarming to watch. To see this kid begin to figure out something he has struggled with for so long is amazing. And then one of the dads that has been gone returns with a disability and tries to adjust to that, his family is also trying to adjust to his changed personality. The further I get into the When Calls the Heart series the more eager I am to get to the next episode. The show just continually gets more interesting. I love that it holds my attention and I also love that it is appropriate for the whole family to watch. If you love wholesome romantic shows, you will love When Calls the Heart. 

www.whencallstheheartmovie.com/
When Calls the Heart "Second Chances" is available for purchase at Christianbook.com and Amazon.com.

Watch the trailer for When Calls the Heart "Second Chances" below. 

A Long Way Off (Movie Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the movie via Edify Media in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the movie-

Retelling the timeless parable of a father's unconditional love, tempestuous young Jake tries to escape the duties of the family business by leaving his home and taking his dreams to the big city. Far from the wise words of his father, Abraham, Jake is finally free to live the high life that he's always wanted, trading the traditional values of his upbringing to revel in every temptation that money can buy.Just when Jake thinks the world is his playground and every day offers another enticing opportunity, he must come face to face with the consequences of the life he's chosen. Jake must learn that sometimes to realize/appreciate what he left behind, and if his mistakes can every outweigh the grace of a father's forgiveness. 

My thoughts- 

Any Christian is probably familiar with the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. This is a modern day retelling of that parable that really does a great job of modernizing the parable and making is relevant to today. The characters in this movie were easy to relate to. The main character, Jake, wants to leave behind farm life because he just doesn't think it's for him and feels like there is something else out there better for him. Who has not felt that way before? I enjoyed watching Jake's journey. I cringed for him as he made terrible decisions and I rejoiced when he finally came to his senses. I loved seeing Jake develop a friendship with Summer at the coffee shop. Their friendship develops very organically, but Jake also gets in the way of himself. I could tell right away that there was something off with his new neighbor and I was sad to see him fall for it and get himself in a mess, but a movie wouldn't be a movie without a little conflict! A Long Way Off would make a great movie to watch as a family and discuss afterward. My 3 kids are too young to really understand this story, but they all piled up on the couch with me and watched it anyway. I think anyone who enjoys a heartwarming story will like this movie. 

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Where to buy A Long Way Off-
Family Christian Stores
Mardel
Amazon.com

Watch the trailer for A Long Way Off below-

Let God (Movie Review)

Disclosure- I received a copy of the dvd for review via Edify Media. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the movie (from the back cover of the dvd)-

As rumors of gold in California spread across the United States in 1848, Levi decides it is time to head west with Amelia, his young housewife, ,to stake their claim and build a better life. Against her better judgment, Amelia honors her husband's demands. leaving her home and family. Secretly, they join the last wagon caravan of the season dangerously late, leaving behind a string of bad debts. On the trail, they encounter unimaginable danger that will ultimately change the course of their lives.

After a savage attack takes her husband, Amelia is left alone and without resources. For the first time, Amelia must take her life into her own hands, battling winter, hunger and the unknown. As she grows weaker by the day, she finds strength in a mysterious and unexpected guide.  Survival becomes a race against time and Amelia must find something greater than herself to help survive the frigid winter along the Oregon Trail.

My thoughts:

I just can't seem to get enough of period pieces. Whether it be a movie or a book, there is just something about reading about past eras that intrigues me. Movies about other periods in time are always so interesting because we get a visual of how people lived in that time period- what kind of clothes they were, what they ate, where they lived and what kind of challenges they face. "Let God" is the story of Amelia, who has reluctantly headed out on the Oregon Trail with her husband after hearing rumors of gold in California.  She learns that her hesitance was well warranted as she ends up the sole survivor of an attack in the dead winter, lost and without food. Amelia has to try to find her way to town, but she has no idea how far it is or if she will be able to survive long enough to find it. I really enjoyed the acting skills of Jasmin Jandreau. I can only assume it is really difficult to be in a movie with a very small amount of scenes shared with others. Most of these scenes are Jandreau fighting the elements and her own mind as she tries to reach her final destination. This woman definitely has skills. She portrayed Amelia in a very believable way. I was captivated by the situation in which she found herself and definitely found myself wondering how I would feel if I were in her position, far away from her family and friends, alone and seemingly without hope. Although there were times it seemed like she might give up (and who could blame her when things looked so bleak) Amelia persevered and was as strong as she could be given the situation. Somewhere in the middle of her journey, she runs into an interesting guide. This little one gives her the strength to carry on. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys movies about earlier era's in time, dramas with great acting or movies with a great message.


About Word Entertainment-

 A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, NEEDTOBREATHE, Point Of Grace, Sidewalk Prophets, Skillet, Switchfoot and We As Human and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Music Publications & Church Resources, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.

The award winning movie "Let God" is now available Christian retail stores nationwide.

Watch the trailer below: