MOVIES: "For Greater Glory"

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I saw ‘For Greater Glory’; this is an interesting and powerful film about the loss of religious liberty in Mexico during the late 1920s.

This film was funded in part by the Knights of Columbus; it is the most pro-Catholic film I have seen in a movie theater.

Even if you have no interest in Mexican history, ‘For Greater Glory’ depicts how the Catholic Church and Catholics were brutally and violently attacked by a Left-wing secular Mexican Government during the late 1920s.

All the Newspaper film critics have skewered ‘For Greater Glory’, giving the film bad reviews; I don’t think a movie that depicts Catholics and Catholicism in a positive manner would ever get a good review in this country.

Ignore the Newspaper reviews; it is an interesting and powerful film (I give it 8/10 and a Big Thumbs Up:thumbsup: )

Go see ‘For Greater Glory’ and see it right away before the movie theaters replace it with the usual type of Hollywood films that gross more box office ticket sales $$$.
 
My advice to you is to go and see “For Greater Glory”( "Desperate Housewives " star Eva Longoria acts as Garcia’s character’s wife inicdentally)- you won’t be disappointed- he starts out as not being very devout but as the struggle between Calles’ forces and the Cristeros heats up her grows ever more Catholic!

Terry

I agree with you–SEE THE MOVIE–having ween the movie myself twice now. One nit: the General was agnostic (perhaps an atheist), so “not being very devout” was overly charitable of you (IMHO). But as you suggest, his belief in religious freedom strengthens, and he experiences the faith of others, and eventually finds his own faith.
Dwyer said:
I saw ‘For Greater Glory’; this is an interesting and powerful film about the loss of religious liberty in Mexico during the late 1920s.

All the Newspaper film critics have skewered ‘For Greater Glory’, giving the film bad reviews; I don’t think a movie that depicts Catholics and Catholicism in a positive manner would ever get a good review in this country.

Ignore the Newspaper reviews; it is an interesting and powerful film (I give it 8/10 and a Big Thumbs Up:thumbsup: )

Go see ‘For Greater Glory’ and see it right away before the movie theaters replace it with the usual type of Hollywood films that gross more box office ticket sales $$$.
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YES IGNORE THEM.

I think this is the type of movie that few in Hollywood want to make–the depiction of Catholics aside (and yes, they misunderstand and hate us). The movie was made in a more traditional sense, reminding me of epics from the 60’s. It certainly wasn’t “perfect” but it was powerful. It wasn’t made for the critics. It was very realistic and I love the fact that there was no overt computer generated images. I also think that the “R” rating was excessive, considering it is a movie about war. There was nothing gratuitous.
 
i just saw it today ,there were about 40or more people watching.i heard some ladies sobbing.i wouldnt mine seeing it again.would give it a 4/5 stars.i dont rely on reviews from rotten tomatoes.who knows,if their reviewer really watch the entire film,who knows ,if he/she didnt watch it at all.nobody, will investigate.just see the movie and judge it yourselves!
 
Dwyer: “Go see ‘For Greater Glory’ and see it right away before the movie theaters replace it with the usual type of Hollywood films that gross more box office ticket sales $$$.”

I usually don’t post reviews about films after I go see them but “For Greater Glory” is an exception. I agree with the above quote, if you haven’t seen it yet go within the next few days before it’s complete pulled out of theater circulation, perhaps as early as next weekend. I went to the 7:00 PM showing at my local multiplex in central New Jersey, there were only about maybe 15 people there, most of them senior citizens. Last weekend when it opened it was showing in most of the cinemas near me but this weekend it was replaced with the opening of “Prometheus” so it was only showing in one move theater near me. I expect that it will be gone soon.

I agree that some of the editing, the music and character development is a minus in this movie. I think It could have been better although the main characters were fleshed out. The acting is very good, especially the young actor who played Jose. His was a great performance. Overall, the film is very moving with lots of action. It doesn’t have the saccarine sentimental quality of a lot of independent religious films. I consider that a plus.

As has already been pointed out, the end credits contain additional nuggets of historical information that you can easily miss if you leave the theater before it’s finished. I was especially fascinated and amazed with what looked to me as actual old newsreel footage of Blessed Father Miguel Pro’s execution by firing squad. I didn’t know that his murder was actually captured on film! WOW!

I give “For Greater Glory” high marks just for having been made since many Americans like myself knew nothing about the Cristeros war and Mexican history of that period. I also think it’s a very timely movie regarding its subject matter since I think that outright persecution of the Catholic faith can very well take place in this country’s future, in time. For that reason alone people should see this important film.
 
I haven’t yet seen the movie, but I am concerned about the historicity of a few events. From what I’ve heard the movie portrays General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde as essentially converting by the end of the movie. However, I can’t find any historical references to this actually happening. Secondly, Fr. Vega was a violent and lustful man who could also be considered a war criminal for some of his actions. I’d be concerned about his portrayal in the movie. And my last question would be: how close to known events is the portrayal of Blessed Jose Sanchez Del Rio?
 
Our parish priest organized a viewing of this movie yesterday. I am glad I decided to go see it. The movie was much better than I was anticipating, and I truly enjoyed it. I may end up going to see it again just so I can pick up details I may have missed the first time around. Was it absolutely historically accurate? No - it wasn’t a documentary, after all. Having said that, it was about as accurate as you could realistically expect from a 2.5 hour movie portraying a war that lasted over 3 years. The portrayal of Fr. Vega really intriguiged me. His depiction in the movie seems to be more or less in line with your description of him, NewEnglandPriest. They didn’t get into the lustful aspect, but he was definitely a violent man in the movie - one of the first to grab a gun and take the fight to the Federales. He also didn’t seem very remorseful about the deaths for which he was responsible.

I’m guessing that the General’s conversion was one of the details that was embellished for sake of the movie. My (admittedly limited) knowledge of the actual events seems to indicate that he did convert, although I may be reading too much into his statements about his reliance on God. I have no way of knowing if he said that out of actual conviction or because he thought his troops needed to hear it from him. I’m sure rolltide can give us a better idea of the historical accuracy than I can.

Overall, though, an excellent film and well worth the time and money to go see it.
 
Just got home from seeing the movie, FOR GREATER GLORY.

It is very powerful and I highly recommend it to all.

I would like to read the comments of those who have seen it.
 
Hi Fred! I went with a large group of young professionals from my city but was sorely discouraged when everyone LEFT right after the movie without going out for dinner or something and de-briefing…

I REALLY needed to de-brief. The movie left me so shaken I wandered around Wal-Mart for maybe an hour trying to grocery shop, and trying to re-focus on daily life, but everything was in a fog. I can’t understand why the movie left me so shocked but I think maybe the priests and the children hit me hard…Maybe it’s a personality flaw of mine, but while I felt inspired by these beautiful men and women who died for our Faith and I appreciate my freedom so much more, I couldn’t shake the images from the movie: particularly the real footage AFTER the credits of the real priest being murdered FOR REAL and not just actors portraying the footage. I think it just was a bit too graphic for me because I can’t stand to see the innocent being killed, but especially priests who I see as Christ (well, representatives of Him), and children, who were so brave but so brutally murdered!

I guess in short, it was a well-made, beautiful movie but maybe it was just a little too much for me…maybe I’m being too sensitive. 😦 In the end, I think everyone should see it. But they should be prepared for most of the movie being graphic and intense. Who knows, maybe we Americans NEED that shock factor to be the awesome Catholics we can be!!

Vivo Cristo Rey!!!
 
I have seen it twice. I have been slipping in my faith a little and this movie gave me the kick I sorely needed. The courage they showed, that inspires me and thats what I want to be also.

🙂
 
I saw it the 2nd day of release and may see it again before it closes.

It is intense, but no more so than any other “war picture”. And while it did not inspire me to aspire to martyrdom (I am horrified of death), I could not help but deeply admire the children as well as clergy who “persevered unto the end.”

I think this film should be up there with Gibson’s PASSION as a must-see for North American Christians. We need to be reminded just how non-pretty the faith life can become!

ICXC NIKA
 
Four of us saw it Sunday and highly recommend it. Although I went to parochial school, I do not remember this ever being discussed. Too bad.

The theater was full and all sat in rapt attention through the credits where they gave a bio on the characters lives after the war.

This would have been a movie where the nuns would take us on a class trip…like THE ROBE, 10 COMMANDMENTS, and BEN-HUR.
 
By all means, see it this wk, if possible.

Here in my city of 279,000 souls (overwhelmingly Mexican/Chicano), the film’s showings have been drastically curtailed less than 2 wks into release. Despite the local interest in the history (Mexico is only 4 miles away), I’d not be surprised if it closed within the week.

A priestly friend of mine is quite fluent in the history and the life of Blessed Jose, however, he is unsure about the historicity of the General’s conversion. Also, the General and Padre Vega did not die almost side by side, as shown, although both were killed late in the conflict.

He did say however, that the story of Jose’s life and martyrdom were in essence historical.

Three years of conflict is impossible to represent fully in 2.5h on screen. And some subplots (such as those involving the US ambassador) don’t add much to the story.

Still, it is very much worth seeing. Do that before it is too late.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA
 
I desired to see the film from the ads on Catholic radio prior to release and given unexpected mention by our pastor the first Sunday after release. Purchasing my ticket that same Sunday had me entering a theater for the first time since 1996. The theater was surprisingly full, quiet and focused. Few left briefly for nature’s call thanks to the chilly theater & length of the film.
I was moved enough to try to see it again this week, aquire a DVD player and copy when available.
 
Warning post contains spoilers

I saw it today and I loved it. First of all while it wasn’t the best technical movie I’ve ever scene, acting was shaky at times pace was to slow to start, to much character development needed. But the inspirational moments in this movie amazed me and it was still an enjoyable movie.

One of the most inspirational moments for me was the kid Blessed Jose Luis Sanchez de rio. The amount of faith that he had in the fact of great evil and great pain and suffering, inspired me. I cry sometimes during movies and when he was being led to be exacted I was crying but at the same time I had a large smile on my face, and was full of joy. While I think people would see that moment as a sad moment. I don’t think there is any sorrow in that moment of the movie. That moment was filled with joy not because of what evil was being done to him, but his faith through all of it. Even as young as 15 his faith was so strong that in the face of death itself, he refused to reject Christ, and he continued to proclaim that name of the Lord saying “Viva Cristo rey” Seeing a kid with SO much faith brought joy to me. I am also planning to ask for this ones intercession for the religious persicusion this country and my own formation to priesthood. That I may have his courage and faith in Jesus Christ, so that any form of religious persecution that comes on me or anyone near to me, I may never back down because of fear but stand in the face of evil itself and say as Jose said “Viva Christo Rey” or in english “long live christ the king”

May blessed Jose Luis Sanchez Del Rio pray for us that we may stand firm in the face of religious persecution.
 
Some bad news and good news:

The bad news is that For Greater Glory is now showing in only 380 theaters, which is half of what it opened in.

The good news is that during its second week of release, its box office gross only fell 46%.

boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=forgreaterglory.htm

That figure would be proportional to the decrease in the number of theaters, which suggests that the movie continues to attract a new audience. In wide screen releases there is often a disproportionate drop in revenues between first and second week because the audience most eager to see it have already done so.
 
I saw it for the 2nd time last night.

The theater was almost full.

However, it has been curtailed to only one showing at that theater. Hopefully everybody who wants to see it will hurry up and do so.

ICXC NIKA.
 
As usually, the main stream media are doing their best ridicule this excellent film. But then that is to be expected by the secular godless media, who do not want anything good, and try to discourage people from supporting a really great film.
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I think the reason the film has such a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes is due to the quality of the filmmaking and not necessarily the message of the film. A film is not good just because it has a message that is important and has a great Catholic theme. I think that the message of the film is an important one for today but i was not impressed by the film due to the quality of the script. I am probably one of the few dissenting voices of Catholics who do not really like this film but I didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about the it. It reminded me of Braveheart. Freedom being oppressed by the ruling class. More historically accurate but less entertaining to watch as a film. Both have inspirational speeches given by the main character. I was often confused as to why certain characters were doing certain things (and could not tell certain characters apart) and didn’t think the transformation of certain characters (Andy Garcia) stood out in anyway. He seemed the same character throughout the picture. I would never discourage anyone from seeing the film but I wouldn’t encourage anyone to see it either despite some scenes that were inspirational (the martyrdom of the young boy).

My opinion (which I am entitled to before I start being branded as a heretic) is that it is a mediocre made film. 'Of God’s and Men is a much better film as well as some other Hollywood classics such as ‘In the Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ and ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ that touch on religious themes.
 
fom4life said:
I think the reason the film has such a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes is due to the quality of the filmmaking and not necessarily the message of the film. A film is not good just because it has a message that is important and has a great Catholic theme. I think that the message of the film is an important one for today but i was not impressed by the film due to the quality of the script. I am probably one of the few dissenting voices of Catholics who do not really like this film but I didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about the it. It reminded me of Braveheart. Freedom being oppressed by the ruling class. More historically accurate but less entertaining to watch as a film. Both have inspirational speeches given by the main character. I was often confused as to why certain characters were doing certain things (and could not tell certain characters apart) and didn’t think the transformation of certain characters (Andy Garcia) stood out in anyway. He seemed the same character throughout the picture. I would never discourage anyone from seeing the film but I wouldn’t encourage anyone to see it either despite some scenes that were inspirational (the martyrdom of the young boy).

My opinion (which I am entitled to before I start being branded as a heretic) is that it is a mediocre made film. 'Of God’s and Men is a much better film as well as some other Hollywood classics such as ‘In the Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ and ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ that touch on religious themes.
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I’ll watch OF GOD’S and Men. Apparently, you can bring it up on your computer. The other two were made in the 50s. Besides THE PASSION OF CHRIST, we haven’t had any religious movies. Yes, telling the characters apart was difficult. But it sure held our attention and no one moved until the credits were finished. At least it wasn’t the garbage we’ve sometimes spent our $ on…and walked out…happy to say.
 
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