Comments on: Fireproof shouldn’t be critic-proof

By: phinehas

phinehas — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:24:51 +0000

I would strongly echo the comments by NOPOPREACHER. Well said.

By: NoPoPreacher

NoPoPreacher — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:23:58 +0000

I only read the first few words of your review. With more practice, I’m sure your writing will improve.

If you had wasted your time with the rest of the movie you would have found the message was much more powerful than any artistic value that you believe to be necessary. Personally, I have encouraged many to view FIREPROOF. The message is so compelling, its worth the time, money, and effort.

I discourage people from going to see blockbuster hits due to the great artistic value. The message is worthless and is a waste of time, money, and effort.

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By: jerald

jerald — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:25:31 +0000

“I haven’t seen the movie Fireproof, but underlying the discussion here is this conflict between “artistic values” and “moral values.”

It comes down to priorities. Do artistic values ever become more important than moral values (truth) for a Christian? It seems to me the reason people are willing to overlook lower quality art that still has a good message is because they value truth over art.

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By: SteveE

SteveE — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:44:52 +0000

I am definitely not one to rubber-stamp all Christian movies as worthy of praise. I thought “Left Behind” was a train wreck. “Facing the Giants” had a great message but a good deal of wooden acting. I don’t even like the “Jesus” film (very wooden acting; almost petrified). But I just saw and very much _liked_ “Fireproof”! And as I left the theater, I found my emotional mix included gratitude that someone had made a wonderful film like this, joy that Kirk Cameron is using his considerable acting skills to further God’s kingdom and ANGER that I almost didn’t see this film because of Mr. Smith’s review!

I would have to completely agree with the comments above from Jack2277, Alysse Elhage Watson, and Kippy (among others). You folks said it better than I could.

When I go to a movie and don’t like it, I can walk out because I’m there _to_be_entertained_. You, Mr. Smith, are there in a professional capacity and your having written such a review after walking out after 20 minutes is highly unprofessional. We all make mistakes and I can see that your writing style is good. Just please, Mr. Smith, don’t repeat this error with any other movie. Even better, why don’t you go back and watch all of “Fireproof” and then give us your opinion.

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By: Kippy

Kippy — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:25:49 +0000

A movie critic? Why in the world would anybody want to be a movie critic in the first place?

Does someone become an authority on critiquing movies because he or she has spent four years or more in some institution of higher learning and then receives a piece of paper that says they are “smart” enough to do such a thing as a lifetime career? Give me a break! I wonder if that is the same kind of a person who sits in church with his or her arms folded across their chest, staring at the preacher and thinking, “I dare you to make me believe what you’re saying so that I’ll change my mind?” Or maybe like the person who sits in church and corrects all the grammatical and typographical errors in that week’s bulletin thus missing what he or she probably needed to hear in that day’s sermon. (And the same for the writing of this comment that I’m now typing. Find any errors yet??? If yes, PTL I’m still human and haven’t yet arrived to perfection in this world like I believe, in MY opinion, most critics think they’ve arrived.)

I wonder if critics are married people and if so I wonder how long the marriages last? Hey…great idea Mr. or Mrs. or Ms. Critic. May I suggest a GREAT Christian film that is sure to help improve your marriage if you’ll SEE THE WHOLE FILM, instead of only 20 minutes, and heed its messages WITHOUT sitting there as a critic with a critical attitude? I promise you that you’ll learn something if you have an open mind and heart.

Christian films like Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof apparently were not made for people in the “Critic” profession. (Even though Critics will probably say they were just to be critical of what I am now writing.) Get my drift?

Critics are a dime a dozen and those who read them and make their decisions based on what they read or hear will be just like the the Israelites of old who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they listened to some real bad critics during their day and age. And what’s really sad is that some needy believers and unbelievers who really need to see these movies will probably never see them now because some “smart guy” with a critics degree from some institution of higher learning told them what he or she thought, about anything, and then believed them and will now be the worse off because of it.

I guess it’s just best to heed the advice that I heard more than 30 years ago when I heard it said that, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and be regarded as a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

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By: alysse elhage watson

alysse elhage watson — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:37:02 +0000

With all due respect to Warren Smith, I believe he should have stayed for more than 20 minutes of Fireproof before writing such a scathing review. I just got back from the movie myself (I saw the whole thing), and I’m angry because I almost did not see it all after reading Mr. Smith’s take on it. I don’t take issue with all of his critical comments, but I do take issue with the fact that his review could stop other Christians from seeing this film, as it almost stopped me and my husband. I can agree with him that the movie was not perfect, and it certainly had a few bad acting moments. But overall, it is a deeply moving film with a powerful message that everyone should see, especially married couples and young people considering marriage. In my opinion, sometimes the MESSAGE is far more important than how it is presented. So many marriages today are in crisis, especially in the Church, and the message of this film, that love is a choice, that marriage is worth protecting at all costs, that Jesus is the source of True Love, is something we all need to hear. I am no professional movie critic (and I don’t believe Mr. Smith is either) but I know a good movie when I see one, and with all the trash and family-destroying movies we are subjected to every day in this country, we should be praising the Lord that movies like Fireproof can be made on low budgets and actually get into the theaters for people to see. People in the audience were laughing at times during the movie, and at times, many in the audience were crying. To me, that is the judge of a good movie. Does it make you laugh, does it make you cry? And, even more importantly, does it make you want to be a better person? In this case, work hard to preserve your marriage? The answer to all of these questions is yes. Mr. Smith should have had enough respect for his fellow Christian brothers (and sisters) who made this film to stay until the end, and withhold his judgement until then. I think if he had, he might have come away with a different perspective, if not about the abilities of the Kendrick brothers, then about the nature of marriage and how important it is that we fight for its preservation. I am all for holding Christian artists, writers, producers, directors, politicans, to the highest standards, but God expects us to do our best with what we are given. With the resources they had, the makers of Fireproof did an excellent job and they should be commended for it.

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By: Teenage_Tinkerbell

Teenage_Tinkerbell — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:12:25 +0000

By the way I LOVE Fireproof!

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By: Teenage_Tinkerbell

Teenage_Tinkerbell — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:11:31 +0000

Graceland
How can you say God doesn’t reward our faith? Can you back it up with scripture? Becuase in Hebrews, Ephesians, and the gospels there are clear rewards to faith. Abraham became the father of a nation, Moses led his people from slavery, and Eshter saved her people. By faith we are saved. How can God not reward us for faith?

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By: Random Name

Random Name — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:16:24 +0000

If you went to a church on Sunday, and the minister was not very articulate and the sermon not very inspirational, but there was not anything “wrong” in terms of his theology and his faith, how would the congregation react?

I am not a church-goer and not a believer, but poor preaching must happen from time to time. How much do good intentions count in these matters?

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By: nctiger

nctiger — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:35:09 +0000

Shamaker:

The reason you see such defense of this movie (IMHO of course) is that it resonates in the hearts of so many who have seen it. Just look at the website for fireproof and see the lives and marriages that have begun to change because of this. A bad movie does not do this. I doubt Ishtar would merit such a response.

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