Machine Gun Preacher - dumbest American propaganda ever !
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jojozlo — 13 years ago(June 30, 2012 11:31 AM)
So if I go to a movie to be entertained and not educated I should walk off a cliff? Someone has anger issues and needs Jesus more than Sam did. And this movie was preachy, read the comments, you are in the minority.
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kaiserblade — 11 years ago(January 12, 2015 08:35 AM)
Robert Duder I salute you sir, very well put. Just saw the film and came to read the threads. Excellent film and brilliantly dramatized.
"Some folks call it a sling blade I call it a kaiser blade hmm hmm!" -
dmcmillan01 — 13 years ago(June 06, 2012 12:09 AM)
ilokk, you are dead wrong in everything you stated. The film actually played down some of the horror so as not to turn audience's away. I have friends who have lived for a time in this region of Africa who can tell you all about the horrors going on there.
As far as Sam getting religion, that's more than most men of his caliber do. And because of that, no matter what kind of religion, he's done than more any any other American has, as far as I know.
So do not believe any of the ney-sayers. Some people, who sit on their butts and do nothing to make this a better world, just love to put down people who are putting their lives on the line to help others.
The DVD is out now, so check out the wonder EXTRA about how the score was developed for this film. It's really wonderful. -
RightersBloc — 13 years ago(June 06, 2012 08:59 PM)
Seriously, this film is such a propaganda that I don't even know where to begin
Of course you "don't know where to begin"and through some deep introspection you would ultimately come to realize you don't know where to begin because you're a partially functional imbecile. -
antonsarse — 13 years ago(June 17, 2012 03:40 AM)
ilokk is a troll who has officially made my 'Ignored User' list. I suspected he's a parent's basement living, sexually frustrated 20 something, with no job and no future, and nothing better to do than post drivel about a fantastic movie.
Have a nice life ilokk. Now that's funny
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jenstar16 — 13 years ago(June 19, 2012 02:45 PM)
I agree, I expected a lot more after reading about this movie.
It is based on a true story, and not a documentary so my criticism is about the movie itself, not what Sam Childers actually did. (I haven't read his book etc)
I'm not saying Sam didn't do what he did in the movie, but the movie doesn't come across as believable - at all. With a different script maybe I even would've liked the movie.- So because he decided to come to church once he no longer needed heroin? Ok he had one relapse but that was it. His friend on the other hand needed more help. Sure his friend might have been a heavier user, and Sam's struggle with quitting might have been harder than it was portrayed here. Still, it was heroin, not normal cigarettes!
- As mentioned above, why have the scene where Sam shows the black guy how to clean his weapon? It didn't contribute with anything, apart from making Sam look like a arrogant, gun-crazy twat. (Again, maybe it actually happened just like that but in the movie it comes across as stupid - the scene should've been left out)
I don't doubt that Sam did a fantastic job and should be considered a hero, but this movie does not succeed in showing his greatness. Perhaps I would've enjoyed it more if I was a Christian myself, but I was just very disappointed.
So long and thanks for all the fish
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Sweet_and_Lowdown77 — 13 years ago(July 18, 2012 08:54 AM)
- Once he's released from prison, he sees that the world has changed. His wife, mother and daughter go to church and have changed their lives. But he resists this. he continues his ways. But then after a night where he robs and terrorizes a drug dealer, he gets high and picks up a hitchhiker who he believes he kills.
He realizes he can't go on like this. He needs to change. He asks his wife for help. She helps him. He gets clean and goes to church and works to become a better person.
This was all clearly shown. He didn't just "go to church" 1 time. - The scene with the gun was to show 2 things - 1, that Sam knew how to handle a gun. This makes the scenes more belivable when he's fighting. and 2, it shows how untrained the Freedom fighters are. They're simply given guns without knowing how to properly use them.
The film shows a man who went from only thinking about himself to thinking about others so selflessly, he risked his family and his life. You might not define that as greatness. I don't know if I would. But it does show a true arc and shows how everyone, no matter how bad, can be good.
I thought the film went on a bit too long, but I was moved in Sam's passion and the horrors of what's happening in our world that never gets reported.
- Once he's released from prison, he sees that the world has changed. His wife, mother and daughter go to church and have changed their lives. But he resists this. he continues his ways. But then after a night where he robs and terrorizes a drug dealer, he gets high and picks up a hitchhiker who he believes he kills.
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jenstar16 — 13 years ago(June 19, 2012 02:58 PM)
I agree, I expected a lot more after reading about this movie.
It is based on a true story, and not a documentary so my criticism is about the movie itself, not what Sam Childers actually did. (I haven't read his book etc)
I'm not saying Sam didn't do what he did in the movie, but the movie doesn't come across as believable - at all. With a different script maybe I even would've liked the movie.- So because he decided to come to church once he no longer needed heroin? Ok he had one relapse but that was it. His friend on the other hand needed more help. Sure his friend might have been a heavier user, and Sam's struggle with quitting might have been harder than it was portrayed here. Still, it was heroin, not normal cigarettes!
- As mentioned above, why have the scene where Sam shows the black guy how to clean his weapon? It didn't contribute with anything, apart from making Sam look like a arrogant, gun-crazy twat. (Again, maybe it actually happened just like that but in the movie it comes across as stupid - the scene should've been left out)
I don't doubt that Sam did a fantastic job and should be considered a hero, but this movie does not succeed in showing his greatness. Perhaps I would've enjoyed it more if I was a Christian myself, but I was just very disappointed.
So long and thanks for all the fish
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Ishallwearpurple — 13 years ago(June 30, 2012 11:41 AM)
being a meek and mild missionary wherever you are, but you are not speaking about the film I saw on screen. I wrote in my movie review:
"How can a story be propaganda if you make a film about what the person themselves has put on paper? Sam Childers wrote a book about what he did and now everyone is saying, in effect - "no you didn't. We know better. It was this way. You are a jerk and don't know what you're talking about!" I think people don't WANT it to be true, because that makes them feel superior.
But Sam thinks he did what he wrote. I have watched it twice and taken some notes. Remember - it is HIStory and we, the viewers, can't change facts to suit our preferences.
The films prologue sets the theme. It's 2003 and the atrocities in Sudan are unbelievable. Then we jump to what Sam's life was in 2003. Drugs, robberies, prison, etc. It is HIS story from then on and he pulls no punches in how bad and lost he was."
You say you are looking for donations and if we give to Sam's organization, yours is left out. The film did very poorly because the company distributing it went broke, so I don't think you need fear the compitition very much longer.
More of my review:
"The cast are good. Gerard Butler is especially good in the beginning
scenes showing the bad-boy biker persona. The same qualities that made
Sam an addict make him successful in other pursuits. Singleness of
purpose, and a laser-beam on what he wants to do. And of course, Butler
is fine in the action scenes. Looked real to me.
Michele is good as his no-nonsense wife. She loves him but stands up
for herself. Michael Shannon as Sams buddy, doesn't get much to do. The
actors in the Africa segment are all good, but Savane is a strong
presence. Madeline Carroll, as daughter Paige, is sweet and normal.
Wants some attention from her Dad.
The film was engrossing to me. 8/10"
Jane
My Movie Blog, The Ancient Pelican here:
http://purpleladyj.blogspot.com/ -
jamescole2035 — 13 years ago(August 01, 2012 01:47 PM)
I guess we should all be thankful that there are people like you who know exactly what God wants us to do, the perseverance to so thoroughly research the matter by reading a posting in response to a magazine article and the courage to post your opinion here under an anonymous name.
John 4:20 Read it and weep. -
traveler582 — 13 years ago(July 07, 2012 12:08 PM)
Yeah this really is a bad propaganda movie, kind of coincidental too considering the Joseph Kony youtube and Facebook videos came out not too long ago.
I'm not sure who's worse, the missionaries who propagated in Africa or the US Gov't with their new Africom, African Command trying to get a foot hold in Africa now.
We've already got troops in Central African Republic; I suppose if one gets killed the US will send in the Marines and we'll have another war on our hands. One we shouldn't be in, nor can afford with US troops lives or money, maybe we should try taking care of our own country first, with the economic problems we have here.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/world/africa/kony-tracked-by-us-forces-in-central-africa.html?pagewanted=all
I'm really forcing myself to see the rest of this movie, too bad, I really like Gerard Butler too, I guess his accepting this dumb movie tells me where his heads at. -
joerg-nezmeskal — 13 years ago(August 06, 2012 01:57 PM)
Sorry, I dont get why this one should be "propaganda"? Neither the americans are glorified (the protagonist gets nearly no help from his fellow countrymen and pretty much despises his own country and lifestyle therefore) nor did it glorified the christian religion (Childers, played by Butler, lost his faith in god and therefore religion during the latter half of the movie after all) and hell even the hero was show with a lot of weaknesses and faults (having a bad temper, being violent, leaving alone child and wife). Yeah, the whole movie might have been corny and not very authentic but it make the audience think how far you are willing to go to help someone or to do good (at least in your opinion) and if violence is an answer. During the movie, the hero, Childer is compared to his nemesis because they both use violence to make their point. And comparing our (the western civilizations) economic problems to the genocides in africa (and no, its not propaganda, people die there in masses) is a joke!