Do You Believe

[dysert]

This thread is to discuss the movie Do You Believe. Spoilers may be present.

 

[dysert]

This thread is to discuss the movie Do You Believe. Spoilers may be present.

I thought the movie was very lame, and I almost walked out. I know it wasn't a Kirk Cameron movie, but it sure felt like it. All the Christians were faced with gut-wrenching choices, they *all* did "the right thing", and they ended up in a better place because of it. I know I'm bitter, but for me, life doesn't work that way -- Christian nor not.

 

[taxreliever]

^^^I like the Kirk Cameron movies myself.....I know he's not James Cameron and doesn't have his budget for films, but his movies are good with just mediocre acting.

 

[keith99]

I believe I know enough to not pay to watch this.

Honestly from the producers of "God's not Dead" was enough. But here is confirmation:

Do You Believe? Movie Review & Film Summary (2015) | Roger Ebert

 

[Saricharity]

I can't wait to see it.

 

[dysert]

I can't wait to see it.

Take some tissues

 

[taxreliever]

It's on my list to watch for sure....probably wait till it comes out on Netflix.

 

[keith99]

One review makes the comments:

Black people die so white people can learn life lessons.

And that it repeats the theme from 'God's Not Dead' that every non Christian is a nasty shallow person.

Wouldn't it make a much more interesting film to have a non-Christian that is a nice person. Or Christians that are central to the film that have serious flaws?

Heck, thinking from a Christian and happy film standpoint wouldn't a well done film where a Christian with SERIOUS flaws starts to address those flaws because of his nearly flawless non Christian acquaintance, and that non-Christian finds Christ through the flawed Christian.

Now honestly for my taste going all the way and having the Christian close to unflawed and the the non-Christian converted is too sicky sweet. Id think just the first steps taken would make a better film. But I think that is asking too much from this kind of production company. If Hollywood took up this idea I'm sure they would make it just first steps, not for the artistic reasons, but because it would make a second film obvious.

 

[Saricharity]

It's on my list to watch for sure....probably wait till it comes out on Netflix.

Gods not dead came out on Netflix pretty quickly so I imagine it won't be long.

 

[Saricharity]

And that it repeats the theme from 'God's Not Dead' that every non Christian is a nasty shallow person.

I don't agree that this was the theme at all.
For instance, the Muslim man who eventually kicked his daughter out...he was in much pain...he clearly loved his daughter with his whole life. He was in so much pain doing what he felt was the right thing. He was not shown to be a nasty shallow person at all.

 

[taxreliever]

Gods not dead came out on Netflix pretty quickly so I imagine it won't be long.

Yup, that's right.....we watched that as soon as it was available.....loved that movie also.

 

[Saricharity]

Yup, that's right.....we watched that as soon as it was available.....loved that movie also.

Me too.

 

[keith99]

I don't agree that this was the theme at all.
For instance, the Muslim man who eventually kicked his daughter out...he was in much pain...he clearly loved his daughter with his whole life. He was in so much pain doing what he felt was the right thing. He was not shown to be a nasty shallow person at all.

I agree that is the one counter example, just as the hero's girlfriend is the counter example to the theme are Christians are good. But the theme remains.

I thought the cut when the Muslim father threw his daughter out was a bit quick in an artistic sense. In a marketing sense it may have been perfect. For with empathy like you it was enough and you saw his pain. (I saw him as a totally broken man at that point). For less kind people, the Muslim haters, and there are plenty of Christians and non-Christians in that category it was short enough to be missed or ignored. Still a bit daring in my book. I do give the film points for the way they handled that situation.

I'm sure you will watch this film. I'd appreciate your comments on the validity or lack of validity of the points I saw in that one review. Especially the one re black people dying. I saw plenty of reviews of God's Not Dead that overstated what I consider problems. Some reviews there made it sound like the 2 evangelists were only concerned with a man's salvation when he had a reasonable chance of survival with proper health. That was hardly the case. If I were wearing my realism police hat I'd say the big problem in that scene was that he was still breathing by the time the 2 ran to his side.

I'm asking for you comments because I know your honesty. You may see the film through very different glasses than I would, but you will tell the truth.

(BTW the romantic in me is not pleased that the film leaves it so that one has to assume his girlfriend, the one he he was looking for when he was run down, will never know either that he was sorry or that he had found Christ).

 

[CanadianChristianWife]

Well, my husband (non-Christian) and I went to "Do You Believe?" tonight and I cried and thought it was really good... much better than "God's Not Dead" (my husband didn't see that one, I went to it alone). I never cry at movies...

We drove an hour each way on Saturday, our theatre didn't get it here. The theatre in the city was closed Saturday due to snow on the roof because we had three big storms in one week. So tonight the theatre reopened. I'm glad we got to go to it.

 

[Saricharity]

I agree that is the one counter example, just as the hero's girlfriend is the counter example to the theme are Christians are good. But the theme remains.

I thought the cut when the Muslim father threw his daughter out was a bit quick in an artistic sense. In a marketing sense it may have been perfect. For with empathy like you it was enough and you saw his pain. (I saw him as a totally broken man at that point). For less kind people, the Muslim haters, and there are plenty of Christians and non-Christians in that category it was short enough to be missed or ignored. Still a bit daring in my book. I do give the film points for the way they handled that situation.

I'm sure you will watch this film. I'd appreciate your comments on the validity or lack of validity of the points I saw in that one review. Especially the one re black people dying. I saw plenty of reviews of God's Not Dead that overstated what I consider problems. Some reviews there made it sound like the 2 evangelists were only concerned with a man's salvation when he had a reasonable chance of survival with proper health. That was hardly the case. If I were wearing my realism police hat I'd say the big problem in that scene was that he was still breathing by the time the 2 ran to his side.

I'm asking for you comments because I know your honesty. You may see the film through very different glasses than I would, but you will tell the truth.

(BTW the romantic in me is not pleased that the film leaves it so that one has to assume his girlfriend, the one he he was looking for when he was run down, will never know either that he was sorry or that he had found Christ).

Hi Keith,

I don't know much about the movie or even what it's about. I seemed to have missed the showing at our theatre so I will have to wait until it comes to Netflix now. But I will let you know what I think when I do get to see it. Most people who have seen it have told me they enjoyed it.

Aww nice to know you are a romantic . I remember thinking that too. I didn't like the ending to Gods not dead. It could have been done so much better...I would have not had the man die...I prefer happy endings.

 

[keith99]

Hi Keith,

I don't know much about the movie or even what it's about. I seemed to have missed the showing at our theatre so I will have to wait until it comes to Netflix now. But I will let you know what I think when I do get to see it. Most people who have seen it have told me they enjoyed it.

Aww nice to know you are a romantic . I remember thinking that too. I didn't like the ending to Gods not dead. It could have been done so much better...I would have not had the man die...I prefer happy endings.

Viewing 'God's Not Dead' knowing there was controversy and thinking critically the ending was very disturbing. It did seem to me that the feel was only joy, but a man was dead, well before his time. What was angering is that to me at least it seemed they had spent a lot of time with the 2 evangelists so that they had the right platform to set it as bitter sweet. They could have, it was so easy at that point and they dropped the ball.

 

[dysert]

Viewing 'God's Not Dead' knowing there was controversy and thinking critically the ending was very disturbing. It did seem to me that the feel was only joy, but a man was dead, well before his time. What was angering is that to me at least it seemed they had spent a lot of time with the 2 evangelists so that they had the right platform to set it as bitter sweet. They could have, it was so easy at that point and they dropped the ball.

But it was more real-to-life than the cotton candy approach of so many others, including "Do You Believe".

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I believe I know enough to not pay to watch this.

Honestly from the producers of "God's not Dead" was enough. But here is confirmation:

Do You Believe? Movie Review & Film Summary (2015) | Roger Ebert

I don't know if you're in LA tonight and have even a whiff of curiosity about the movie, but Bel Air Presbyterian is having a screening of Do You Believe followed by a panel discussion with the cast and filmmakers, and everyone is welcome to attend. You don't need to be a member or a Christian, and you don't need tickets or reservations. It's free, though it's still an investment of your time. I'll c&p the details from the email:

Upcoming Film :: Do You Believe?

When :: Sunday, June 28th | 6 p.m. (Beacon Live) 7:30 p.m. (Film)
Where :: Discipleship Center 103, Bel Air Presbyterian Church, 16221 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Who :: All are invited to this FREE Event (may not be suitable for children)!
What :: Join us for a free screening of the film and a panel discussion with cast and filmmakers.
6 p.m. | Beacon Live
7:30–10 p.m. | Film Night: "Do You Believe?" [PG-13]


* Beacon is a special ministry for people at Bel Air Pres who work in the entertainment industry, and Beacon Live is like their own gathering during the regular 6PM contemporary church service. The actual movie starts at 7:30. If you do end up going you'd probably have the most luck at finding at parking spot in the church lots around 7:15 when people are clearing out from the 6PM service. There are lots across the street as well, and a free shuttle running from there up the hill. The fellowship hall is directly across from the sanctuary.

The movie had a very limited release in Los Angeles and was only publicly playing at a handful of theaters scattered around, so many people haven't seen it yet and were intrigued. I did watch it at another screening event (for the industry, not church) in the spring, and I felt like it was a saccharine and obtuse melodrama that shamelessly copycats the movie Crash literally down a crash scene. It preaches to the choir and fluffs them up while having disregard for many others. I'm definitely not suggesting it for outreach because it's more likely to repel than to bring many people towards Christ. At least that was the effect at the screening at the studio. Many found it to be offensive, even repulsive, and from an artistic point of view to be akin to plagiarism. But................... there are some who did think it was meaningful, and beautiful, and it's definitely something you have to see for yourself and decide how you feel about it. I'm not going to the screening tonight, but I'm posting the information just in case you or anyone else who might read this and live in LA are interested.

 

[keith99]

Thanks for the info on the screening.

I just got home from another event and since I have not eaten since breakfast I think I'll pass. If this had been a hot topic here I might have considered wolfing something down and going.

 

[Teegan]

I heard on the radio tonight that there is a sequel coming.