A movie review and screwed up fundamentalists.

[GaYellowDawg]

So I heard a lot of buzz from fundie circles about how wonderful Facing the Giants was. and it was AWFUL. Let me summarize for you.

** SPOILERS FOLLOW ** BRIEF COMMENTARY FOLLOWS REVIEW **

MY REVIEW: Coach at a Georgia Christian academy has financial problems, his car doesn't work, he's 0-3 after six straight losing seasons, and worst of all, he's infertile. Then he has an epiphany and decides to dedicate his and his players' lives to the Lord. Did I mention the subplot: the undersized placekicker whose father is in a wheelchair? I was constantly waiting for the next cliche around the bend.

Of course, after a revival/prayer meeting on the practice field, the team has a shocking turnaround and wins 7 straight games. They make the playoffs. Someone anonymously buys Coach a new truck. He somehow finds the dead rat in his house that's been bothering him. He gets a raise. The school gets to the state championship finals against a huge, fast, 4-time state champ, the Giants. They might as well have gone ahead and called them "the Goliaths." Oh, and did I mention that the coach's little wrigglers somehow got well and the wife is with child?

After surrendering a 14-0 lead, the team comes back in dramatic fashion. Down 22-20, the Giants are on the goal line and refuse to kick a game-clinching FG because of their coach's pride. Predictably, there's a turnover for a long gain on 3rd down and only a couple of seconds left, a 55 yard field goal try. GASP! It's up to the pint-sized backup kicker because the 1st teamer had gotten a cheap shot and was out. But he's afraid! The opposing coach tries to ice him, but that only gives time for a) the coach to tell him to put it in God's hands (or in this case, I guess, feet) and b) the pint-sized placekicker's dad to roll himself down to the goalposts, brace himself and actually stand (GASP!), holding his arms up to inspire his son. Naturally, it's good, and God's team wins the state championship. Did I mention that there wasn't a single black player on God's team? Buncha good ole l'il white Christian boys were state champs. They did have a black assistant coach. Straight from Amos 'n' Andy.

Then a two-year flash forward: Coach is playing with his son in the den, and Coach's wife comes into the room, great with another child, and says something hokey, and the camera focuses in on the wall where there's not one, but two championship trophies.

Dreck. Pure gospel of prosperity dreck. Everyone gets everything they want. God never says "no" in this movie. Nothing bad happens to the good people after their conversions. I don't ever recall reading "follow Jesus, and material prosperity will follow you" in the New Testament, but that's the message of the movie.

Well, the Amazon.com reviews of this movie were just full of weepy fundamentalists. This and that person talked about how wonderful and inspiring the movie was and how they just boo-hooed. You know, it's kind of a shame they didn't release this movie this summer, because apparently, this drought we've been having in the Southeast could have been watered with fundamentalist tears.

Ask these people why they don't cry for the actual, real 650,000 Iraqi lives lost, the children who have no parents, or have been blinded or horribly burnt or lost limbs or all of the above, and the tear ducts dry up in dramatic fashion. You're met with stony silence.

That, in a nutshell, is Christian fundamentalism, and it's why I have complete contempt for them.

[liberalmuse]

1. Wow!

The movie sounds utterly noxious. Apparently, their god (which is a projection of THEM, really) has his priorities all screwed up. I remember talking to some fundies and trying to get them to understand the horror we have been inflicting upon the people in Iraq, but they were as calm as the Buddha. I was a short-lived fundie a zillion years ago, because I was amazed at the soullessness of my fellow fundies. A hardcore fundie has this blank, almost angry stare in their eyes. They likely had a soul or whatever, but it was tightly packed up in a box hidden deep within the attic of their "mansion in the sky", which is all they really give a shit about.

[Mountainman]

2. It seems to me the movie was made for the fundies in order to get to their pocket books

Just think of the money to be made if we cater to the fundies fantacies. Movies, books, TV shoes, food items, and on and on.

There's lots of web sites dedecated to fundie sentamentality. One has statres of Jesus in all kinds of get up.



Messengers of Faith Talking Jesus Doll

[n2doc]

5. like this one?

[The Vinyl Ripper]

8. It's me, Dave, open the door..

Dave's not here man..

That one bears a strong resemblance to Tommy Chong..

[Lint Head]

3. I guess the dead children from the I 35 bridge collapse

didn't pray hard enough. I guess Falwell didn't pray hard enough. I guess Benny Hinn couldn't''t heal Terry Schaivo cause he didn't pray hard enough. Maybe the fundies are praying real hard for the world to end via global warming and nuclear destruction so Jesus will come back. That's why it's working. :dem:

[immoderate]

4. Silly -- those things have nothing to do with football!

The Lord is a fan, y'know. :)

--IMM

[FloridaJudy]

6. We interrupt this thread with a brief message

From the Big Guy himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF--G1zmyTw

From one of my favorite YouTube series "Mr. Deity". I think this says it about God and sports.

[shenmue]

7. The film sounds like garbage

Congratulations on writing that review. Sometimes people on Amazon will trash you if you criticize something they like. Glad you stood up for your thoughts.

"He somehow finds the dead rat in his house that's been bothering him." What the hell is that? Some weird kind of symbolism? I knew these fundamentalists were really screwed up, but I see plenty of problems with these people that make them sound like they need to see a shrink, just from what you said in your review.