God’s Not Dead Blu-ray/DVD combo pack (release date August 5th 2014)

[neo_reloaded]

The problem with these overtly Christian films is that the desire to be a Christian movie comes first and foremost, far before ALL other aspects of, you know, actual storytelling. There can be no ambiguity - Christianity is right, everything else is wrong. The main characters must always be perfect Mary Sues, so all the conflict in the film comes from other people being set against them, many times in absolutely absurd ways. At worst, the righteous main characters have some minor doubts before deciding in the end on whatever the film has decided is "the right thing." The entire thing exists as an opportunity for people of faith to feel validated and appropriately pandered to.

A common defense for this is that the rest of Hollywood is so overwhelmingly atheist, and that this is a reaction so that people of faith can have something wholesome to call their own. I mean, if this is truly what such people want, and there are companies willing to make it for them (i.e., profit off it ), then so be it. But it is, in many ways, FAR more cynical than most of the other stuff out there. Of the many "non-Christian" films out there, how many truly CELEBRATE atheism the way these Christian films celebrate religion? How many films have an atheist character beset upon on all sides by people who are wrong by shear virtue of their religiousness? How many films end with the obvious take-away message of "See? Atheism was right all along!" ? The closest I can think of is movies where religious people are presented as ignorant hicks, but even those are not about the existence or non-existence of God but instead about how human nature can cause people to use whatever is available to them as justification for their own prejudices and fears. And such films are reviewed according to whether the conflict created by the film is compelling, not just a binary "well the film had non-religious people winning over religious people, therefore it was good" stance.

I find it hilarious that Marty Lieberman gave this film a better review than Noah, a film that is almost-objectively fantastic in all technical categories (cinematography, score, acting, visuals, etc.) and, in my opinion, extremely thought-provoking in a subjective sense when it comes to the plot and character arcs. This is a film that directly deals with huge Christian themes and mythology and directly states that God's existence is a fact, but because it dares try to explore what this might mean it is "playing fast and loose with the source material." I think that says it all - a good Christian film is like a good propaganda film - no room for interpretation, just thematic message made literal text of the film.

[Britbuffguy]

Originally Posted by tedopolous

So this movie isn't good then?

If you think rational thought should be mocked and if ignored, liked being hit over the head with preachy religion, bad acting, awful stereotypes and finale concert of some of the worst music ever.....Maybe you will like it.

I found it insulting.

They actually mock a character that had died in the end concert. That's compassion for you.

Easily the worst film of the year imo.

[genericusername23]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

Anytime a religious movie is discussed on this site, people start to slander each other and what they believe. Happens every time for every film.

Fair enough, but the film isn't even good from a purely structural perspective. In that sense, it's easily the worst film I've ever seen in a major cinema.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Britbuffguy

They actually mock a character that had died in the end concert. That's compassion for you.

I find it amazing that, even in a fictional world where the creators are in full control of all characters' actions, this is still something that occurs. Talk about showcasing your best side...

[JimDiGriz]

The title is odd. I mean it should have added (...Alive or...) in the title. Undead?

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Britbuffguy

If you think rational thought should be mocked and if ignored, liked being hit over the head with preachy religion, bad acting, awful stereotypes and finale concert of some of the worst music ever.....Maybe you will like it.

I found it insulting.

They actually mock a character that had died in the end concert. That's compassion for you.

Easily the worst film of the year imo.

Pardon me, but did you even SEE this film? The accusation that people mock the character who died is absolutely rubbish and untrue.

The one who has been accused of this is inside a concert when the death takes place and never hears of the accident, so how could he mock it? This would be UNLIKE everything he stood for in his debate with the character.

I've seen this movie twice and I promise you....no one mocks the death of the character.

[UFAlien]

Not sure where that accusation comes from either. The lack of that doesn't exactly make up for the rest of the film, though.

What really strikes me is how all the non-Christians are portrayed as awful people. A college professor who belittles his wife and requires students to throw out their personal worldviews to pass a class, a businessman who won't visit his sick mother and breaks up with his significant other when he finds out she has cancer, a Muslim father who throws out his daughter for being Christian... if you're not Christian, you're automatically an a**hole.

It's also annoying that the "athiests" in these movies can never actually be atheists; they need to "hate God" but believe in him and only claim not to because they're angry. Quite a cop-out, if you ask me.

I have no issue with movies made for a specific audience, including a specific religion, but there are ways to do it without making the movie an attack on everyone who doesn't fall within said group.

[ijustblumyself]

This movie is absolutely terrible.

[#Darren]

I heard this had a budget of 2 mill and grossed over 60 mill.

[HDTV1080P]

Amazon is now selling the God’s Not Dead Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for only $16.99.

[Dispatch Ninja]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Amazon is now selling the God’s Not Dead Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for only $16.99.

That's $16.99 too much.

[MiracleandWonder]

The fact that the Duck Dynasty people are in it is enough reason to not see it. They let it be known what they think about people like me.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

Pointing out a pattern isn't slandering anyone.

e1: Although I'm quite intrigued by Martin Liebman's statement that a perfect world would include Kevin Sorbo as an Academy Award winner.

Yes, his enthusiastic review puzzles me after seeing the movie, and that line really stands out. Kevin Sorbo would never be nominated for anything but a plodding, predictable B-list actor.

e2: This is another review that offers a different, entertaining perspective. I think it has every right to be here as much as the first few posts do.

That review is one for the ages, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

I wanted to like this movie much more than I did. As an agnostic I enjoy a good theology vs. science debate, and for me the debate between Josh and the Professor (Sorbo) in the classroom over religion vs. science was the best part of the film, and they were the best actors (altho the competition set the bar pretty low). But Lord (no pun intended), it's so heavily handed, stereotypical, and cliche ridden. Every non-Christian in the movie is a jerk and an a$$hole, and I found the portrayal of the Muslim father downright offensive. Whatever I enjoyed in the movie was destroyed by the terrible, dreadful ending. No spoilers, so I'll just say They were right! - there's no atheists in the foxholes!

EDIT: OK, one spoiler:

[Show spoiler]If I were hit by a car and some dude with zero medical training came by and assured me my injuries were fatal and I had only moments to live, and then used that most vulnerable moment to try to get me embrace his religious beliefs, I'd use my last ounce of strength to kick him in the nuts.

[Todd Tomorrow]

This sounds so terrible, I'm almost intrigued to see it.

[MiracleandWonder]

Originally Posted by The Duke

Yes, his enthusiastic review puzzles me after seeing the movie, and that line really stands out. Kevin Sorbo would never be nominated for anything but a plodding, predictable B-list actor.

The guy was in Meet The Spartans for crying out loud lol.

[tommynorcal]

I saw the trailer for this movie and was constantly yelling and laughing the phrase "WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!"

That fantastic/humorous review I read from page 1 is enough for me to recommend this for an episode of "How Did This Get Made?"

[Falaskan]

How is the main character mocked after his death?

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

How is the main character mocked after his death?

All I could think of is that, after he dies, there's a concert where someone congratulates the protagonist for standing up for God against said professor. Calling it mockery is a bit of a stretch.

It's the rest of the movie that's offensive.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

How is the main character mocked after his death?

He isn't. NO ONE mocks him, this is false information.

[Falaskan]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

He isn't. NO ONE mocks him, this is false information.

Playing devils advocate. I'd already seen it.