Fireproof, the movie Comments

[maryjk]

For all those who are critical of this movie please help me to understand your point of view better by stating your credentials for judging movies.

Where did you study acting and critiquing movies on a professional basis?

For all those that loved this movie. Please help me to understand your point of view better by stating your credentials for judging movies.

Where did you study acting and critiquing movies on a professional basis?



It doesn’t take a professional to know that the acting was terrible in this movie. If you saw it, think about when his wife was in the cafeteria and joins or is joined by another woman. The woman then reads her lines, which must have been placed just to the right of the wife.

 

[wifenmommy]

Thanks for the backup rolltide~you get what I am saying!

sonofourlady, I would like to know the same! Is that “thumbs up/down” guy posting secretly on here?? lol! I would like to know when as a society we have gotten so cynical and snotty that “we” (not me! ) cant overlook less than stellar acting to recieve a wonderful message!

 

[agapewolf]

The restaurant analogy:

I think the analogy would equate better with it like this:

Good food with bad presentation. because the substance of the movie was good, just delivered badly. (It could be argued that because it is the very nature of the artform is acting, that some of the substance was bad too)

It depends on how bad the presentation is: a clean plain plate or a garbage can lid?

The thing is, I think we all want better quality movies with better messages and less junk to watch…how are we going to get there?

By taking up a cause by not going to the movies with a good message but bad acting? I don’t really know if thats the “cause” to take up.

Even though the acting wasn’t normal up to par with what we are used to, what I saw on that screen was actual reality…in real life interactions. This is not how we see hollywood movies that have quick wit banter with no stumbling over words. That is not reality.

But anyway, I don’t think that if people support the movie fireproof that they are sending the message that they are supporting bad filmmaking. THe message that comes across when Fireproof is successful is that people want good messages in their movies.

Therefore, hopefully, better agencies will then finance better acting.

 

[wifenmommy]

It doesn’t take a professional to know that the acting was terrible in this movie. If you saw it, think about when his wife was in the cafeteria and joins or is joined by another woman. The woman then reads her lines, which must have been placed just to the right of the wife.
Get over it! We get it! You cant look past some less than stellar performance by an actor (and probably a volunteer) to see that this movie has a much needed message regarding marriage! I guess you know of plenty of positive Christian movies, so this movie may not have been up to par with your vast knowledge and access of Christian movies…

 

[maryjk]

Get over it! We get it! You cant look past some less than stellar performance by an actor (and probably a volunteer) to see that this movie has a much needed message regarding marriage! I guess you know of plenty of positive Christian movies, so this movie may not have been up to par with your vast knowledge and access of Christian movies…

My response was to sonofourlady. If you read my post you would know that. Somehow, he thinks I can only state my preference if I am a professional. Or maybe I am only allowed to state my preference if I loved the movie.

Get over it yourself.

 

[sonofourlady]

My response was to sonofourlady. If you read my post you would know that. Somehow, he thinks I can only state my preference if I am a professional. Or maybe I am only allowed to state my preference if I loved the movie.

Get over it yourself.

I didn’t say that you couldn’t state your preferences since clearly you aren’t a professional but just as non Catholics shouldn’t come in here and judge us without knowing more, then you should not assert yourself as an expert by giving expert opinion as to the acting. You can say that you didn’t like the movie, but to give layman’s opinions on things we know nothing about is disingenuous.

 

[rolltidefan]

I personally don’t think anybody here has to be a professional to know that this was not the best acting in the world. There is no question about that whatsoever. As I said before though, I was not supporting this film because it deserved an Oscar. I supporting it because thank God, me and my family could sit down and watch a film (that was not cartoon or fantasy) that was real life and didn’t have cussing, nudity, partying or other disgusting things in it.

If you go back to the beginning of this thread it automatically started out as a terrible acting movie, or because it was protestants trying to do their best at taking a stab about marriage and Christian life, they did or didn’t have kids or she was or wasn’t pregnant at the end of the movie, or because this woman was or was not using birth control which led to her husband watching pornography. The latter of the four that I listed is the one that got me, because like post #9 said…who in the world ever come up with she was or wasn’t using contraception in this movie. THEY had a very GOOD imagination while watching this film to come up with that! Never once did this film draw a hint of what this couple was doing in the bedroom. First of all they weren’t even sleeping together. They were so mad at each other, I am sure the last thing she was thinking of was, oh wait just a minute honey, let me check my temperature and go to the bathroom and check my cervix because I really want to make love to you while I am so mad at you and not even sleeping in the same bed with you, is just ludacris to draw this conclusion about a part of the movie that was never suggested. I mean look at the meaning of the movie. Not what could be drawns as conclusions. You know here I try to show respect to the Catholic faith. I would never want to disrepect it and I hope and apologize if anybody here has been offended by anything I said, but guys and gals that works both ways here. I know this is a Catholic forum, I understand that. But to suggest that we as protestants just run around and get married for the heck and fun of it without it being a Godly sacrament, you are very badly mistaken about this. And it is almost very judgemental to act as if though that is the case. I know just as many Catholic marriages that has broken up as I do protestant marriages. Why can’t we all just see that we are as CHRISTIANS working toward the same goal and work together, instead of taking the petty stuff and beating it and beating it and disrepecting each other ALL THE TIME. It is so sad. As I said before, no it doesn’t make you a bad person to not have liked this movie or thinking the acting is bad, but this is all we get sometimes as Christians and we have to take it and support it and hopefully the next time, there will be some really good actors that come forth and want to potray a good message to Christian families.

 

[wifenmommy]

My response was to sonofourlady. If you read my post you would know that. Somehow, he thinks I can only state my preference if I am a professional. Or maybe I am only allowed to state my preference if I loved the movie.

Get over it yourself.

I was addressing your critisizim of the acting. Try this analogy: you have a perfect rose, but you notice as you look closely under the leave that it has thorns; do you toss this perfect rose in the garbage disposal because of a minor imperfection of thorns? That is how I see this movie~the message and what it represents (healing a marriage and acceptence of God in their lives) is the perfect rose…and the less than Oscar worthy performance is the little thorns. I will not reject a worthy movie because it doesnt live up to Hollywood’s secular standards.

 

[sonofourlady]

I personally don’t think anybody here has to be a professional to know that this was not the best acting in the world. There is no question about that whatsoever. As I said before though, I was not supporting this film because it deserved an Oscar. I supporting it because thank God, me and my family could sit down and watch a film (that was not cartoon or fantasy) that was real life and didn’t have cussing, nudity, partying or other disgusting things in it.

If you go back to the beginning of this thread it automatically started out as a terrible acting movie, or because it was protestants trying to do their best at taking a stab about marriage and Christian life, they did or didn’t have kids or she was or wasn’t pregnant at the end of the movie, or because this woman was or was not using birth control which led to her husband watching pornography. The latter of the four that I listed is the one that got me, because like post #9 said…who in the world ever come up with she was or wasn’t using contraception in this movie. THEY had a very GOOD imagination while watching this film to come up with that! Never once did this film draw a hint of what this couple was doing in the bedroom. First of all they weren’t even sleeping together. They were so mad at each other, I am sure the last thing she was thinking of was, oh wait just a minute honey, let me check my temperature and go to the bathroom and check my cervix because I really want to make love to you while I am so mad at you and not even sleeping in the same bed with you, is just ludacris to draw this conclusion about a part of the movie that was never suggested. I mean look at the meaning of the movie. Not what could be drawns as conclusions. You know here I try to show respect to the Catholic faith. I would never want to disrepect it and I hope and apologize if anybody here has been offended by anything I said, but guys and gals that works both ways here. I know this is a Catholic forum, I understand that. But to suggest that we as protestants just run around and get married for the heck and fun of it without it being a Godly sacrament, you are very badly mistaken about this. And it is almost very judgemental to act as if though that is the case. I know just as many Catholic marriages that has broken up as I do protestant marriages. Why can’t we all just see that we are as CHRISTIANS working toward the same goal and work together, instead of taking the petty stuff and beating it and beating it and disrepecting each other ALL THE TIME. It is so sad. As I said before, no it doesn’t make you a bad person to not have liked this movie or thinking the acting is bad, but this is all we get sometimes as Christians and we have to take it and support it and hopefully the next time, there will be some really good actors that come forth and want to potray a good message to Christian families.

Rolltide,

I really appreciate what you are saying and considering the desert for family friendly movies that are out there, this film is so refreshing.

I just get annoyed with some people who tear this wonderful film down with petty reasons. I surely hope that those who are critical of this film, don’t say the same things if they have young kids who are doing a play. I can’t imagine that most 8 year olds are top notch actors but who cares. They are giving an effort.

I also think that having watched thousands of movies myself, that I would know a thing or two about acting and I have to tell you that compared to most Christian films, this one is ONE OF THE BEST.

 

[maryjk]

I was addressing your critisizim of the acting. Try this analogy: you have a perfect rose, but you notice as you look closely under the leave that it has thorns; do you toss this perfect rose in the garbage disposal because of a minor imperfection of thorns? That is how I see this movie~the message and what it represents (healing a marriage and acceptence of God in their lives) is the perfect rose…and the less than Oscar worthy performance is the little thorns. I will not reject a worthy movie because it doesnt live up to Hollywood’s secular standards.

See, and I would use this analogy:
You have a rose. It was given to you by a Christian. It is pretty. But it smells. It doesn’t smell like a rose, it smells like an outhouse. Do you toss this rose in the trash? Or do you keep it in your dining room because it is the thought that counts? I toss it, because it smells.

Now, I am not saying that this movie needs tossed into the trash. (Or in your analogy, in the garbage disposal.) All I am saying is that I feel that we wasted money by paying full price to see this movie at the theater. I suggested to friends to wait until it came out on DVD. The reason I feel that we wasted our money was because of the poor acting.

I have given you a couple of my favorite movies. Although I do enjoy movies with lots of special effects, my favorites are older movies, low budget, but with excellent acting. Yours, Mine and Ours is my all time favorite movie. Christian(Catholic), pro family and little or no special effects. I really love those types of movies. I also don’t reject movies because they aren’t living up to Hollywood standards. I really don’t care about Hollywood standards. But I have to be able to enjoy the movie.

 

[rolltidefan]

See, and I would use this analogy:
You have a rose. It was given to you by a Christian. It is pretty. But it smells. It doesn’t smell like a rose, it smells like an outhouse. Do you toss this rose in the trash? Or do you keep it in your dining room because it is the thought that counts? I toss it, because it smells.

Now, I am not saying that this movie needs tossed into the trash. (Or in your analogy, in the garbage disposal.) All I am saying is that I feel that we wasted money by paying full price to see this movie at the theater. I suggested to friends to wait until it came out on DVD. The reason I feel that we wasted our money was because of the poor acting.

I have given you a couple of my favorite movies. Although I do enjoy movies with lots of special effects, my favorites are older movies, low budget, but with excellent acting. Yours, Mine and Ours is my all time favorite movie. Christian(Catholic), pro family and little or no special effects. I really love those types of movies. I also don’t reject movies because they aren’t living up to Hollywood standards. I really don’t care about Hollywood standards. But I have to be able to enjoy the movie.

I don’t know for sure if I have ever seen the movie Yours, Mine and Ours…was this recently done maybe a couple or three years ago by someone else?? I think I actually saw it when it was redone. I am going to google it to see if it rings a bell. Also, I think you or someone else mentioned Bella…I don’t think I have seen this one either, but would be interested, especially if it is a good family film. Was Yours, Mine and Ours done by a Catholic?? I just noticed you said Christian(Catholic) so I was just curious as to this.

 

[rolltidefan]

See, and I would use this analogy:
You have a rose. It was given to you by a Christian. It is pretty. But it smells. It doesn’t smell like a rose, it smells like an outhouse. Do you toss this rose in the trash? Or do you keep it in your dining room because it is the thought that counts? I toss it, because it smells.

Now, I am not saying that this movie needs tossed into the trash. (Or in your analogy, in the garbage disposal.) All I am saying is that I feel that we wasted money by paying full price to see this movie at the theater. I suggested to friends to wait until it came out on DVD. The reason I feel that we wasted our money was because of the poor acting.

I have given you a couple of my favorite movies. Although I do enjoy movies with lots of special effects, my favorites are older movies, low budget, but with excellent acting. Yours, Mine and Ours is my all time favorite movie. Christian(Catholic), pro family and little or no special effects. I really love those types of movies. I also don’t reject movies because they aren’t living up to Hollywood standards. I really don’t care about Hollywood standards. But I have to be able to enjoy the movie.

Just googled the Yours, Mine and Ours. I did see the 2005 one that starred Dennis Quaid…I guess it is a more current one of the one you are talking about. I remember it being a good cute movie. Can’t rmember there being any bad language in it and of course no nudity. If I remember correctly I saw it because my daughter wanted to see it. But I remember it being good. I will have to watch the older version.

 

[maryjk]

Just googled the Yours, Mine and Ours. I did see the 2005 one that starred Dennis Quaid…I guess it is a more current one of the one you are talking about. I remember it being a good cute movie. Can’t rmember there being any bad language in it and of course no nudity. If I remember correctly I saw it because my daughter wanted to see it. But I remember it being good. I will have to watch the older version.

It is a really good movie. It stars Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. Like you said, no bad language, no nudity. Chastity shown in real life. I understand the remake is just as good. But I tend to enjoy the older ones.

I don’t know who made the movie. So I don’t know the religion of writers or producers. I say Catholic because for grace before meals, they start with, " Bless us, O Lord and these thy gifts." And when they get married, they kneel. Both points toward them being Catholic. But I don’t remember any overt Catholic themes.

 

[caparisi]

I saw this movie and I don’t remember the couple in the movie saying that they use birth control either. The only thing I can guess is that some viewers might assume the couple is using contraceptives because they have no children.

The movie is pretty good for a low budget movie. I like the message that we are called to love others as God loves us, and that as God loves us even though we don’t deserve it so should we love our spouse even when we feel they don’t deserve our love. I also liked how the movie emphasized that love isn’t a feeling, but rather consists in how you treat someone and the unselfish actions you render to that person.

Yes, this is a protestant movie and it shows a bit near the ending, but never gets ham-handed in trying to get the audience to do the sinners prayer or anything like that. The movie was also humorous at times and helped to lighten the mood on an otherwise not so lighthearted topic.

I don’t think this movie will save marriages that are already at the divorce-in-progress stage, but I do think that it might inspire those who are not yet at that point to improve.

I saw the movie to and I thought it was a very good movie that i went and bought it. I haven’t seen yet for the 2nd time but I don’t remember anything about birth control in it.
May be because I was so inspired on what the movies was about. It had a strong meanning behind it. Anyone who believes in God would be able to see it Because God is love.

 

[caparisi]

I am most likely in the minority. My husband and I went to see this movie and paid full price, so we felt like we couldn’t walk out. If we would have rented the movie, we would have never made it to end of the movie.

Although I agree the message is good, we do have to work every day to make a marriage work. The acting was terrible. I know, I know, they used local actors. But I have seen high school plays that had better acting than this movie. It was hard to get through the bad acting, to see the message.

The head actor played in Growing Pains

 

[caparisi]

I read that some of the actors were actually volunteers. I think that it says alot for these people to put forth an effort to make and put out a movie that supports the Christian viewpoint. If society had access to more movies of this type, I’d be willing to bet things these days would not be as they are. I can forgo an Oscar performance in lieu of a movie that I would not be ashamed to have the God, Jesus or Mother Mary catching me watching! I am not particular regarding the talent of actors , but more of the story/point of the movie.

wifemommy I totally agree with you. I feel if families watch movies like this our lives would probably be better off. I know growing up I watch certain movie and i think helped be a better person today. And one of them was little house on the pairie I love it. They what are kids watch does influence who they can become in the future
This is the first movie I watch that had a meanning behind it in along time

 

[rolltidefan]

It is a really good movie. It stars Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. Like you said, no bad language, no nudity. Chastity shown in real life. I understand the remake is just as good. But I tend to enjoy the older ones.

I don’t know who made the movie. So I don’t know the religion of writers or producers. I say Catholic because for grace before meals, they start with, " Bless us, O Lord and these thy gifts." And when they get married, they kneel. Both points toward them being Catholic. But I don’t remember any overt Catholic themes.

Thanks for suggesting that movie. I will check it out. Like I said, I don’t remember that much about the new one, but I do remember that I enjoyed it and can remember bits and pieces.

 

[caparisi]

For all those that loved this movie. Please help me to understand your point of view better by stating your credentials for judging movies.

Where did you study acting and critiquing movies on a professional basis?



It doesn’t take a professional to know that the acting was terrible in this movie. If you saw it, think about when his wife was in the cafeteria and joins or is joined by another woman. The woman then reads her lines, which must have been placed just to the right of the wife.

I wasn’t even looking at the acting part. It was what the movie was about that touched my heart. It was the word the actors were saying not the acting. I think people have to stop and really listen to the words. Because It really touch me and even my two kids enjoy and we talked it about my son 12 and daughter 18. My daughter it help her understand what kind of marriage she wants and son said how he should respect his wife.both said. One that has god in it and they are their for each other. And I just got remarried and their step dad been in their life for 3 years and he treat me with all that respect that they didn’t have in that marriage, in that movies. He shows me each and everyday that he loves me It made me realized how Bless I am and not to take it for granted. Because I was married once before and i know where that marriage could have gone it hit home with me

 

[wifenmommy]

wifemommy I totally agree with you. I feel if families watch movies like this our lives would probably be better off. I know growing up I watch certain movie and i think helped be a better person today. And one of them was little house on the pairie I love it. They what are kids watch does influence who they can become in the future
This is the first movie I watch that had a meanning behind it in along time

Oh I loved LHOTP!! Now I get to watch it with dd! Growing up I read all the books as well and now dd reads them~I must say I personally think it had somewhat a positive effect on me!

Another great old movie to watch is the original Cheaper by the Dozen (maybe filmed in the 40’s-50’s???) It was a really good movie, but sad at the end!

 

[rolltidefan]

I wasn’t even looking at the acting part. It was what the movie was about that touched my heart. It was the word the actors were saying not the acting. I think people have to stop and really listen to the words. Because It really touch me and even my two kids enjoy and we talked it about my son 12 and daughter 18. My daughter it help her understand what kind of marriage she wants and son said how he should respect his wife.both said. One that has god in it and they are their for each other. And I just got remarried and their step dad been in their life for 3 years and he treat me with all that respect that they didn’t have in that marriage, in that movies. He shows me each and everyday that he loves me It made me realized how Bless I am and not to take it for granted. Because I was married once before and i know where that marriage could have gone it hit home with me

Caparisi…You hit the nail on the head with this statement. I also was married once before. When I married, I truly thought it would be for life, I never married expecting to end up a statistic of a divorce. My first marriage did end because he was having an affair. As bad as I would have loved to made that marriage work, I knew I would eventually have to forgive, but that I could never forget it and stay with him after that. It was just the ultimate betrayal. I have seen some marriages work afterwards and I think it is great if this can happen, but it just was not for me. I then met my husband now. Total different world, respect and love of being married to him. I can see the differences now so much in my marriage now. I think sometimes we have to fall on our faces to see good and that is what happened to my during a terrible divorce. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but also one of the best. I think it is hard for some to understand, but there is so much work that goes into a second marriage. We understand that the statistics are stacked against in the beginning, but for me I don’t care about that, I have God in marriage like I have never had him. I don’t take anything in this marriage now for granted. This is one of the reasons that I get so defensive in standing up for the way some view protestant marriages on here. I know what I have been through and what I would fight for now and it definately was not taken lightly. But glad you shared that, it let me know that others are fighting for the sake of their marriage also, even if is the second in which we are judged for so many times, even when we were innocent bystanders in the failure of the first ones.