Sarah’s Choice

Netflix delivers again!

I found this sweet movie, starring Rebecca St. James of all people! The story of a young woman faced with the toughest choice of her life – the job promotion of a lifetime or becoming a single mom with a deadbeat boyfriend.  The journey with “Sarah” is believable and relevent, without being preachy or judgmental. A good prequel to “October Baby”, yet far from the same movie quality or acting performance.

Rebecca does a great job – multi talented lady 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGtEQ2tbxaU

October Baby – a must see!

I love it! More and more high quality films with GREAT, solid, engaging stories are making it into our movie theaters and homes! Hallmark productions – step aside! You don’t have monopoly on this genre anymore!

October Baby, released in March 2012, is another top-notch production with a powerful story, with good actor/ress performances and splendid videography. Right up my alley. When it was all over, I felt like I had just read a wonderful, captivating novel that I just didn’t want to end. Unlike the “typical Hollywood” films, this one skips the sex, the profanity and the predictable happily ever after ending. In other words – a movie most of us can relate to in some way and be moved by.

Two thumbs up and I hope the Erwins make more of these kinds of movies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7oTLVevO5g

Courageous! The Movie and The Novel

I just finished listening to the audio version of “Courageous”, the novel by Randy Alcorn. WOW! Let me say it again – WOW! If you thought the story, characters, suspense, drama, and humor of the “Courageous” movie was great – the novel is even better!  

Interestingly enough, the novel was written after the movie by the Kendrick brothers (makers of “Fireproof”) was complete. So instead of the movie being based on the novel, it’s the other way around. Randy Alcorn was asked to be the author, and he did an excellent job re-rendering the story for the reading audience.

I don’t normally get very emotionally involved in movies, but the book really captured my heart, my imagination, my emotions, and my attention. The novelized version of “Courageous” teaches, inspires, provokes, encourages, entertains, shocks, grieves, and LOL’s the reader/listener for 8+ hours. Alcorn added some characters and sub-plots to his version that gives his novel a much greater insight into the main characters’ lives. We get to experience the story from the inside, sharing in their thoughts, emotions, struggles, motives, and spiritual journeys. We can feel the tension, the desperation, the fear, the adrenaline rushes, the pain, the confusion, the temptations, the disbelief, and all the other emotions the characters are dealing with as Alcorn so cleverly unwraps the story of 5 very courageous men. The audio set is available at the library, the Christian bookstores and the internet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw9QbeuIYXs

For those of you who tend to think that movies often ruin great books – I would recommend sticking with the novel. The actors/esses of “Courageous” do a good job, but Randy Alcorn + your imagination, do a much better one!

http://www.courageousthemovie.com/home

 

Update Jan 28th 2012: I have finally watched the movie and am happy to say; It is REALLY good. I am impressed at how far Sherwood Baptist Church and the Kendrick brothers have come in their productions! From their first movie “Flywheel” in 2004 until “Courageous” in 2011, the advances have taken them to results that are really showing professionalism and high quality movies. Very worth seeing and owning!