Saw it early this afternoon and though I had high expectations, I was pleasantly surprised as the movie exceeded them. Yes, I think it's that good.
I'm no movie critic so I'm not going to go into detail as to the acting, the plot, the character depth and all that hollywood stuff. All I know is that as a Catholic, I thought it superb and think every Catholic, whether faithful or nominal, needs to see it.
A number of characters in the flick stood out for me but two of them particularly. Andy Garcia as the atheist general taking up arms initially in the pursuit of liberty alone but whose heart is turned and the young boy played by Mauricio Kuri who will tear your own heart out.
Do youself a favor. Take your family, your friends, your significant others and anyone who will go with you and see this movie. Just do it.
And if you don't believe me, here, believe Ed Morrissey over at Hot Air as I'm seeing he put up a review earlier today (spoiler alert, be warned):
When we went to the theater last night, I was pleasantly surprised to find a half-full theater. By the end, we could hear audience members crying behind us, which started in earnest with the martyrdom of Jose, a difficult scene which recallsBraveheart in some aspects, as does the rest of the film. No one left the theater until the credits were almost finished, and almost everyone stuck around all the way to the end. People barely spoke until they got out to the hallway outside the theater. That was a testimony to the power of For Greater Glory.
Like most good historical films, For Greater Glory challenges the audience to consider the meaning of history and the conflicts involved rather than just give a rote retelling. The scenes between Garcia and Cabrera are especially good, as they touch on the very nature of faith and the conflict between faith and the fallen world. What does it mean to serve God? Can great good eventually come out of great evil, and if so, why? How does one serve God in evil times, or even in merely contentious times? Is religion a pastime for Sundays, or a way of life for every moment of our lives? The film doesn’t provide the answers as much as it shows the main characters struggling with the questions, and actors such as Garcia, Cabrera, Kuri, and Verastegui provide vibrant performances to spark contemplation of these questions among the viewers. That alone makes it worthwhile for me, but it’s a gripping film regardless.
I’d highly recommend seeing this in the theater — now, before it gets pushed off screens for more summer blockbusters.
I join in that recommendation.
Go see the movie and do so sooner rather than later. You will not regret it.
Comments