April 6, 2011 12:07 PM
Soul Surfer - Bethany Hamilton - opens Friday 4/8
Soul Surfer is opening Friday and I strongly recommend it for families, youth groups and teens.
I saw this inspirational movie - the true story of surfer girl Bethany Hamilton and how her faith sustained her after losing an arm to a shark attack - at a preview last month. Bethany is from a family of surfers - mom, dad and two brothers - who live a carefree Hawaii life in a house overlooking the ocean, where Bethany has been surfing since she was a little girl. The scene is set with shots of the things that make up her life: family life, friends, parties, Sunday open-air worship, church youth group, surfing, and a smattering of homeschool (so she can prepare for competitions).
It's an idyll that seems like it could go on forever. But the unthinkable happens one day when Bethany is practicing with friends: the shark attack which made national headlines and left Bethany - whose only dream is professional surfing - with only one arm.
When it comes to the triumph of the human spirit - working with God's grace - you can't beat a true story. Though the movie has its hokey moments - Carrie Underwood is more of a singer than an actress, but God love her, she is a real Christian so right for her part as youth leader - it is genuinely moving and I found myself in tears a few times as Bethany's faith was tried and proven true.
Since Bethany went on to prove that she could still compete - with honor - this is a story with a very happy ending.
I want to qualify my recommendation by saying that though I am asked to review lots of Christian movies, after watching them I often pass on writing about them. That's because I love movies, and so often movies with a Christian agenda are disappointing because the agenda is too high and the quality too low.
Soul Surfer is an exception. Picked up by Sony, it boasts a cast of real movie actors: Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt and pretty good production values. Also, since it is based on a real story, the scenes of Bethany's family worshiping and youth group activities blend into the narrative rather than looking tacked on to get the audience saved.
Especially moving is the part of Bethany's story when she goes on a post-tsuanmi missions trip to Thailand, where she sees that some people have even greater trials then her own and she teaches children not to be afraid of the water. Brink a hankie.
Those enamored with movies like The Black Swan and No Strings Attached will probably not go for Soul Surfer. But millions of viewers not so encumbered will. In other words, leave your cynicism behind, go with an open heart and see someone who had no reason to think her faith would be put to the test go through the worst and come out the best.
Also, please note that moviegoers make or break a movie in the first week or two after it opens. Whether a studio produces similar fare depends on the immediate box office response. In other words, if you would like to see Sony and other major studios produce similar inspirational fare, go see Soul Surfer this weekend or next.
Find a theater at Fandango.
Posted in Inspiration, Movies | Permalink
Comments
Barbara,
I say this in absolute love because you know I love you to pieces...
Have you seen the reviews on this movie? It's pretty scary. Apparently, the true story is pretty wonderful, while the movie is full of nudity, or um.. near nudity. I wanted to love this movie, but my husband watched the trailer and said that our boys would not be seeing this movie. Then I read the reviews on the LAF website, and learned that it's even worse than we thought. Plugged-In online has a warning about the nudity as well...
Just a heads up.
With love,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2011 3:07 PM
Hi Lisa -
I understand your concerns. I saw the movie myself. It is scary in that a shark bites off Bethany's arm, but there was not an emphasis on gore - I thought they handled it in good taste. They are telling a true story, after all. But every parent knows their child best and can judge (with the help of the Holy Spirit, who doesn't give us all the same answer) which if any of their children will benefit from the story. Over the years, I've become less inclined to protect my kids from violence. There are children all over the world who face violence every day - and our children may fact it too eventually. I'd rather have them see it first with me and their dad so we can talk about it.
Bethany wouldn't have a tale of leaning on Jesus to tell if she hadn't suffered.
As to the bikini-clad girls, here are my thoughts: It's obvious from everything in the environment, that Hawaii is a different place than were we live and this is obviously part of the surfer culture. I think probably boys who live there grow somewhat less vulnerable because they grow up like that. I never felt that this was a gratuitous thing in the film or that it was exploited to draw more viewers - just as I felt the portrayal of praise&worship or missions was not added on just to get the audience saved.
It was all a natural part of the story - just as the native nudity in The Mission is part of a powerful story of redemption. Ten minutes into both movies, I stopped noticing what anyone was (or wasn't) wearing :)
The story in Soul Surfer is also powerful and especially compelling for teens.
That said, I know I have a little more latitude and I also know how strongly some Christians feel about this. If a movie has a strong message, I assume God's grace will cover my kids just as it covers missionaries who work in other countries where nudity is not an issue.
That said (yes, again), the bottom line is this: as parents, we are in the position of determining for our individual families - and for children within those families - what we will allow our children to see. Because we are not made from cookie cutters and because God has different tasks for each of us to fulfill, it is important to be guided by the Holy Spirit rather than make decisions based on what one person or one group says. When Tripp and I were in doubt about a movie, we saw it first and then decided. That is something you might consider.
Each of us is accountable to God for our decisions regarding our kids. I'm not taking that lightly. But we need to make decisions based not on legalism but on individual merits. I respect anyone who feels that they want to avoid this movie, but I hope you would seek the Holy Spirit before being scared away by a review.
Posted by: Barbara | April 18, 2011 4:27 PM
Barbara,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.
It really was the bikini thing. That was the big issue. With a house full of boys, my husband was pretty bummed when he saw the trailer before it came out. He is really careful about this issue, and even came home from the beach talking about it last summer... We've taught our boys to look the other way when they see immodesty, since they can't avoid it. It just seemed hypocritical to go see a movie with the stuff we've told them to avoid, KWIM? My boys are very aware of what they are not to be looking at, and when to look the other way...
I appreciate your thoughts, of course I have to go with my husband on this one even if the message of the movie is good.
Thanks for talking openly :)
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2011 8:07 PM
I completely respect your husband's opinion. Tripp has taught me that men see things differently than we women do :)
Sometimes it would be nice if life were more simple. . . . .
love.
barbara
Posted by: Barbara | April 18, 2011 9:13 PM
