Word and Verse: Fireproof: A Must-Watch Despite Some Flaws
Rick Beckman
· 11 months ago
I've heard a few people talk about this movie, but yours is the first review I've read. I actually don't think I've seen any of Cameron's movies (though I've seen a few episodes of "Growing Pains" and his guest appearance on "Full House"... Oh, and WOTM's "Hell's Best Kept Secret"), though I do appreciate "Christian movies" (big budget ones like Narnia adaptations as well as smaller productions like the Apocalypse/Revelation/Tribulation/Judgment quartet).
May have to rent this if our local place has it; if not, I know Walmart does.
Isaiah Chua
· 11 months ago
Thanks, Rick.
It's been a while since I've written a movie review (the last being eons ago when Netscape 2 was the browser of choice!) so I'm quite relieved you're still going to watch the movie!
Nathan W. Bingham
· 11 months ago
@Isaiah: I have been interested to see this film since it first came out. It appeared from the previews not to be the typical 'cheesey' and 'amateur' Christian film.
I appreciate that you found criticisms of this film. It makes your review a lot more trustworthy. Many reviews simply state, "You have to go see it!!!".
After reading your review I still wish to see the film, and believe my wife and I will enjoy it. Furthermore, from what you have said it appears this film gives a very satisfactory gospel presentation.
Finally, regarding your comments on Christian marriages. I believe all marriages, if both parties are truly followers of Christ, can succeed wonderfully. I would not even think there is a need for an exception to that rule. However, this does not mean that the marriage will be easy. If this film portrays Christ as the easy fix to life's problems, including marriage, then that is totally false.
Good to have you back active in the blogosphere. Your absence has been noticed.
Isaiah Chua
· 11 months ago
@Nathan:
Thank you for the kind words, brother, and I'm glad that, like Rick, you are going to see the film even after reading my review!
Re: marriage, I agree with you. I was simply cautioning that becoming a Christian does not automatically mean that all one's problems, including marital ones, will go away. It does take work, but it has to be work based firmly upon the rock-solid foundation of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
I said what I said in light of those who promise health, wealth and prosperity in their messages. Without clarification, it's dangerous to give that impression.
Barbara
· 11 months ago
Having seen all of Sherwood's pictures, from my perspective this one is the best one they have done so far, and the one that doesn't disturb me. Flywheel had a scene in it where the lead character's father prayed over him and "claimed" him as possessing what character traits he wanted him to have. That really bothered me. Facing the Giants is a great entertainment piece, but both Flywheel and Facing the Giants has everything panning out beautifully with joyful happy endings and everybody prospering and succeeding in THIS life as a result of their newfound obedience. Which is certainly possible, but that seems to be an ongoing theme for their movies and it seems to subtly suggest those same "promises" that are found nowhere in the Scriptures..
Which, when we as Christians are promised that we will share in Christ's sufferings, is a disturbing message for a church to send. Not to split hairs or anything, and they are good stories and good entertainment, but we are in a world that seems literally incapable of discerning the difference between truth and entertainment.
Still, Fireproof is a clearly lain-out example of law vs. gospel (for those who are attuned to such things) and would be a good teaching tool for a church to use. I give it 4 boxes of kleenex.
Isaiah Chua
· 11 months ago
@Barbara:
Thank you very much for your input, sis. I haven't seen anything from Sherwood until this. What you described would have disturbed me too, and I'm thankful that Fireproof has proven to be "improved" from those.
I speculate that the "improvement" can be attributed to the involvement of folks like Kirk Cameron who would have frowned upon that form of Evangelicalism and those false promises. You said it better than I did -- we are in a world that is indeed incapable of discerning truth and entertainment, hence my concerns. In fact, at times I think much of Christianity has thrown discernment out the window altogether!
p.s. Thank you for adding my blog to your follow list. You're on my Google Reader as well. :-)
Aaron Sauer
· 11 months ago
@Isaiah: Very good review. I have seen the movie and concur with your thoughts. Fireproof is a good step towards quality Christian movie making.
lance gargus
· 11 months ago
I love the movie and recommend to everybody I know. Sorry I havent commented in awhile. God bless, Lance www.lancessoulsearching.com
Isaiah Chua
· 11 months ago
@Aaron:
Thank you for the kind words, brother. I hope the movie gives impetus to more Christian movies being made and released in mainstream theaters in the near future!
Isaiah Chua
· 11 months ago
@Lance:
Thanks, Lance. You've been quiet. How are things with you, brother?
Joel Tay
· 10 months ago
Glad to find another WOTM fan in Singapore
Jean
· 10 months ago
What a good movie review, you just said what I was thinking. Also I did not like the way Caleb broke the news to his best friend that he was saved, "I'm in!". Is that how we describe salvation, the blood of Jesus, being forgiven? Dont think so. That said, its a great movie, a must watch! Have to say though I watched Facing The Giants, was dissapointed. I would say the film is not biblical, I do not even know where to start, but I will, this is what I got from the film: You choose Christ, its a decision God helps win games Sport glorifies God When you believe God gives you what you want,
The film glorified man more than God, it was more about what we can get from God! The same makers of this film produced Fireproof, ummm...
Jeff Jenkins
· 9 months ago
Here’s why: from a Christian perspective, it seems to say that if you become a Christian, then even a marriage in peril can be fixed and you can only expect happy endings like that portrayed in the film.
I do not see a problem with this depiction in the movie. With movies and TV showing so many sinful examples, I think we need to see good examples to aspire to. What I do see a problem with is the prosperity or health-and-wealth gospel that implies that if you become a Christian, you should then expect to be happy, wealthy, healthy and prosperous. Jesus promised none of these, but only promised persecution if one truly follows Christ passionately, telling others about Him. As a comparison, I have watched a number of the hilarious Tyler Perry films (i.e., the character 'Madea'), and they indeed show the down-and-dirty realities of life, but, at the same time, they too often seem to give a mixed message (even though they are supposed to be 'Christian' films and plays); for example, in "The Marriage Counselor," showing an 'exotic dancer' getting saved, but then she immediately demonstrates some 'pole dancing' moves to someone, after just getting saved. Some of the Tyler Perry movies (which I have mixed feelings about) also show people who are supposed to be Christians using God's Name in vain. Do Christians in real life sin? Of course. But I don't think we need this demonstrated for us on the big screen. As I said, I think we are poorly lacking in good public role models and good examples today, and I believe we sorely need them.
Fireproof makes for great couple time for any married couple or those planning to exchange vows in the near future.
I went to see the movie only because I wanted to support a Christian film. I fully expected to be bored, since I heard that it was a movie about marriage, and I am not married. I was completely wrong. I found the movie to be fantastic. In addition, my mom, sister, and even my cynical brother-in-law (who never cries) cried when they saw the movie.
"Fireproof" has become my all-time favorite movie. I liked it even better than "The Passion of the Christ." My second-favorite is now "Facing the Giants," and my third favorite is "Flywheel."
The average Hollywood movie costs more than $100 million to make. Speed Racer cost, for example, $160 million. Since 2003, Sherwood Baptist Church has produced three full length motion pictures: "Flywheel," which played in local theaters for eight weeks and has since sold 40,000 DVDs; "Facing the Giants," the 2006 film that cost $100,000 to make and earned $10 million in domestic box office receipts, and has gone on to sell more than 1.5 million DVDs; and their latest film, "FIREPROOF," was big budget for the church—it cost $500,000 to make and stunned Hollywood with a $6.8 million opening weekend, putting it 4th at the box office, and earning more than $8,000 per screen. It has since made more than $20 million. The actors worked for free. Church members did the catering. The men who produced, directed and wrote the film are on the pastoral staff at the church. AMAZING!
Jeff Jenkins
· 9 months ago
Concerning the marriage issue in "Fireproof," I would also like to say that, though there is no guarantee that just because you get saved, then your marriage will go smoothly (some marriages get destroyed when a person gets saved, if the person's spouse is not saved, because the spouse then leaves them...and, in a Muslim family in the Middle East, for example, it is pretty much automatic that your entire family will disown you if you become a Christian, and may even try to kill you), on the other hand, many marriages have been helped or saved as a result of one or both spouses getting saved. In addition, "Fireproof" did not merely imply that getting saved will automatically 'fix' your marriage. If you will remember, "The Love Dare" was about Caleb working very hard at improving (and saving) his marriage, over a period of 40+ days. So to say that the movie implied that merely getting saved will automatically save your marriage is not the case at all.
Mikes@Your Daily Word
· 8 months ago
Great Movie. Touching at that especially for me who's now looking for a partner. LOL! Seriously, the film just taught us that the best people who can reach out to our family and friends is ourselves. Let's not hesitate, they need God's Word too.
All Comments
May have to rent this if our local place has it; if not, I know Walmart does.
It's been a while since I've written a movie review (the last being eons ago when Netscape 2 was the browser of choice!) so I'm quite relieved you're still going to watch the movie!
I appreciate that you found criticisms of this film. It makes your review a lot more trustworthy. Many reviews simply state, "You have to go see it!!!".
After reading your review I still wish to see the film, and believe my wife and I will enjoy it. Furthermore, from what you have said it appears this film gives a very satisfactory gospel presentation.
Finally, regarding your comments on Christian marriages. I believe all marriages, if both parties are truly followers of Christ, can succeed wonderfully. I would not even think there is a need for an exception to that rule. However, this does not mean that the marriage will be easy. If this film portrays Christ as the easy fix to life's problems, including marriage, then that is totally false.
Good to have you back active in the blogosphere. Your absence has been noticed.
Thank you for the kind words, brother, and I'm glad that, like Rick, you are going to see the film even after reading my review!
Re: marriage, I agree with you. I was simply cautioning that becoming a Christian does not automatically mean that all one's problems, including marital ones, will go away. It does take work, but it has to be work based firmly upon the rock-solid foundation of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
I said what I said in light of those who promise health, wealth and prosperity in their messages. Without clarification, it's dangerous to give that impression.
Which, when we as Christians are promised that we will share in Christ's sufferings, is a disturbing message for a church to send. Not to split hairs or anything, and they are good stories and good entertainment, but we are in a world that seems literally incapable of discerning the difference between truth and entertainment.
Still, Fireproof is a clearly lain-out example of law vs. gospel (for those who are attuned to such things) and would be a good teaching tool for a church to use. I give it 4 boxes of kleenex.
Thank you very much for your input, sis. I haven't seen anything from Sherwood until this. What you described would have disturbed me too, and I'm thankful that Fireproof has proven to be "improved" from those.
I speculate that the "improvement" can be attributed to the involvement of folks like Kirk Cameron who would have frowned upon that form of Evangelicalism and those false promises. You said it better than I did -- we are in a world that is indeed incapable of discerning truth and entertainment, hence my concerns. In fact, at times I think much of Christianity has thrown discernment out the window altogether!
p.s. Thank you for adding my blog to your follow list. You're on my Google Reader as well. :-)
God bless,
Lance
www.lancessoulsearching.com
Thank you for the kind words, brother. I hope the movie gives impetus to more Christian movies being made and released in mainstream theaters in the near future!
Thanks, Lance. You've been quiet. How are things with you, brother?
Have to say though I watched Facing The Giants, was dissapointed. I would say the film is not biblical, I do not even know where to start, but I will, this is what I got from the film:
You choose Christ, its a decision
God helps win games
Sport glorifies God
When you believe God gives you what you want,
The film glorified man more than God, it was more about what we can get from God! The same makers of this film produced Fireproof, ummm...
I do not see a problem with this depiction in the movie. With movies and TV showing so many sinful examples, I think we need to see good examples to aspire to. What I do see a problem with is the prosperity or health-and-wealth gospel that implies that if you become a Christian, you should then expect to be happy, wealthy, healthy and prosperous. Jesus promised none of these, but only promised persecution if one truly follows Christ passionately, telling others about Him. As a comparison, I have watched a number of the hilarious Tyler Perry films (i.e., the character 'Madea'), and they indeed show the down-and-dirty realities of life, but, at the same time, they too often seem to give a mixed message (even though they are supposed to be 'Christian' films and plays); for example, in "The Marriage Counselor," showing an 'exotic dancer' getting saved, but then she immediately demonstrates some 'pole dancing' moves to someone, after just getting saved. Some of the Tyler Perry movies (which I have mixed feelings about) also show people who are supposed to be Christians using God's Name in vain. Do Christians in real life sin? Of course. But I don't think we need this demonstrated for us on the big screen. As I said, I think we are poorly lacking in good public role models and good examples today, and I believe we sorely need them.
Fireproof makes for great couple time for any married couple or those planning to exchange vows in the near future.
I went to see the movie only because I wanted to support a Christian film. I fully expected to be bored, since I heard that it was a movie about marriage, and I am not married. I was completely wrong. I found the movie to be fantastic. In addition, my mom, sister, and even my cynical brother-in-law (who never cries) cried when they saw the movie.
"Fireproof" has become my all-time favorite movie. I liked it even better than "The Passion of the Christ." My second-favorite is now "Facing the Giants," and my third favorite is "Flywheel."
The average Hollywood movie costs more than $100 million to make. Speed Racer cost, for example, $160 million. Since 2003, Sherwood Baptist Church has produced three full length motion pictures: "Flywheel," which played in local theaters for eight weeks and has since sold 40,000 DVDs; "Facing the Giants," the 2006 film that cost $100,000 to make and earned $10 million in domestic box office receipts, and has gone on to sell more than 1.5 million DVDs; and their latest film, "FIREPROOF," was big budget for the church—it cost $500,000 to make and stunned Hollywood with a $6.8 million opening weekend, putting it 4th at the box office, and earning more than $8,000 per screen. It has since made more than $20 million. The actors worked for free. Church members did the catering. The men who produced, directed and wrote the film are on the pastoral staff at the church. AMAZING!