Force for Good (movie review of "Amazing Grace")

National Review ^ | 2/23/07 | Steve Beard

[Guenevere]

bttt

[Mr. Jazzy]

Heard about the flick on "Focus On The Family" and it sounds really good. Was going to see it tonight but my daughter Molly, my 8 year old, came down with the flu this morning. Mr. & Mrs. Jazzy will have to wait until Molly is better.

[exit82]

Saw a tombstone in an old cemetery in Franklin Twp. NJ from 1805, of a twenty seven year old woman. Engraved on it was the first stanza of Amazing Grace.

Shows it was a well known hymn back then.

[gracesdad]

"I feel confident that you will see precious little of the momentous force that inspired Wilberforce--his faith in Christ."

Well I guess that would be a good reason to avoid an inspiring and positive movie.

[youngjim]

Thanks to you both for reminding me of the Hornblower series. I first saw this actor (I cannot figure how to pronounce his name) there and loved the series.

I will definitely see this film and report back.

[Ciexyz]

FYI, Ioan Gruffudd pronounces his name "Yo-an Griffith". The spelling is the Welsh form of his name. Both his parents are teachers in their homeland in Wales, and he was raised to speak both English and Welsh at home. As a youth, Ioan starred for several years in a Welsh-language soap opera on the BBC.

[Teacher317]

Too bad that Islam has no similar impulse... most slaver nations today are Muslim-dominated (as they were back in our colonial period).

[SnarlinCubBear]

I just saw the movie and was so blessed by the obvious impact of his Christian faith. It is a GREAT movie, with a great message. Hope you see it.

[healy61]

One of the producers of the movie spoke at Hillsdale College. They are producing several movies. Imprimis, the monthly letter from Hillsdale College excerpts the speech. The producers are committed men and women of faith who are intent on telling the great stories of faith and literature.

[VOA]

bump

[Delphinium]

“Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be fore you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.”

Can't wait to see the movie. I was hoping it would be about Albert Finney.

Slavery is past, now we must stop baby sacrifice.

[Varda]

This is a movie worth seeing. The cast is excellent and the script, locations and sets are good. The people that made this also made "Ray" and know how to craft a film. I was glad that Christianity wasn't given short shrift, it really was the setting for the story.
I went to see it this morning and was surprised to see plenty of people there.

[SnarlinCubBear]

That is great news. We need more pro-Christian messages.

[Jessamine]

Does anyone know opening weekend numbers for this movie? Hope it was good.

[kjam22]

I feel confident that you will see precious little of the momentous force that inspired Wilberforce--his faith in Christ. Be prepared for a twisted history revisionist tale told by secular humanists.

Sorry... but you would be mistaken. I saw it this past weekend. Excellent movie. Every Christian should see it.

[GretchenM]

Members of Congress Inspired by Amazing Grace

"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitols, is that both parties...love Wilberforce." [quoth the film producer]

Pete Winn/AH (Mar 5th, 2007)
Source: Citizen Link
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000004039.cfm

The new film depicting the life and inspirational stand of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, is apparently making an impact on members of the U.S. Congress.

Giving the movie a standing ovation, is Sen. Sam Brownback from Kansas. "Wilberforce has been a model for me for many years," said Brownback. "I've studied his life and what he did—and bringing, in a positive way, his active faith into the public square and the fight for human dignity. It is a fabulous film," he added. "It is a modern-day story of commitment and grit, and active faith in the public square."

Likewise, Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, agreed that the film was an "inspiration" to fight for what is right—for as long as is needed. "It may take years, it may even take decades," Lamborn said. "This story is a real inspiration, because we have those kinds of issues today that really need to be turned around."

The movie was recommended to other members of Congress at a recent bipartisan prayer breakfast, by Rep. Todd Akin. According to the Citizen Link report, Erik Lokkesmoe, the project manager for Bristol Bay Productions, producer of the film, pointed out its bipartisan appeal.

"What we've seen on Capitol Hill, and in state capitals, is that both parties—Republicans and Democrats—as well as conservatives and liberals in each of those parties, love Wilberforce," he said.

The producers of the film also created The Amazing Change campaign to expose the harsh reality of modern-day slavery—in the form of human trafficking. Lokkesmoe says, "We've seen 75,000 people sign petitions to end modern-day slavery. We've seen people give money to organizations working to end slavery."

Similar to what Wilberforce did in the movie, the producers of Amazing Grace plan to present the petitions to members of Congress on the third week of March.

Sen. Brownback, who has also been working to stop human trafficking, said the petitions would be welcome. "We've got to be active in banning this trade," he added, warning that modern-day slavery is "expanding in some regions of the world."

[ConservativeDude]

Have you seen it yet?

I saw it and I think it was very Christian. Would be curious as to your opinion, though.

I thought it was much more Christian than Tip of the Spear, and that was pitched to us as a Christian film.

[ConservativeDude]

Slavery is past, now we must stop baby sacrifice."

To me, this was the message for today. It didn't look like Wilberforce had much of a chance for long periods of time. Eventually, right prevailed. It will yet again, but only if we are diligent, like he was, and never give up.

[stillonaroll]

No, I've not seen the movie yet.