Tag: christian movie

WEDDING WEEKEND 2 – A REVIEW

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PRODUCERS: Wole Adeyi & Mike Bamiloye
DIRECTORS: Damilola Mike-Bamiloye & Wole Adeyi
MAJOR CAST: Rosemary Adio, Imuetinyan Omere, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, Tumise Falana

LOCATION: Texas, USA
YEAR: 2024

REVIEWER: IFIOKABASI OKOP

If you saw “Wedding Weekend” in 2023, a sequel was released on the 6th of October, 2023 on Damilola Mike-Bamiloye’s YouTube channel.

So, go and watch it.

Alright, let’s get this review started.

“Wedding Weekend 2” follows the redemption journey of Valerie who has a bad name, a bad reputation, and a terrible past. Edmond is the person God uses to change her life but will she let go of her past and accept God’s promises for her life? Would the people who know her past accept or reject her, even though God has shown her mercy?

It is a story of redemption, restoration, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Let’s break it down.

THE PERFORMANCES

Rosemary Adio’s portrayal of Valerie is a standout in the film. She goes through many emotions, and she effortlessly takes me on those journeys with her. One particularly moving scene is when she cries and prays after her sister passes away—it is heart-wrenching because her acting makes me feel her grief.

Imuetinyan Omere plays Edmund, and I think he is a fine actor. He has a lot of heavy lifting in this film compared to the first one, and he gives a good, believable performance. He nails the comedic, dramatic, and romantic scenes well, and I look forward to seeing him portray other characters in future films. A standout for me is his bromance with his elder brother, Marvin.


Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, once again as Marvin is superb! DBaba delivers, forget it! Not only does he know how to write good scripts, but he also knows how to interpret them. He adds subtle acting choices that I noticed—in the scene where he hung up after Valerie prayed for him, I could see the confusion on his face as if he was hinting that he recognized the voice but just couldn’t place it.

Tumise Falana as Gabby has fewer scenes than her co-stars, but she does justice to her character. While I don’t like that she delivers her lines slowly, I appreciate that she shows a range of emotions in the film. Her best scene is the confrontation with Valerie when she shows up at their home—I love the switch in her character, and I was like, “Let’s go, sis, let her know what she did was absolutely wrong.“


Temitope Falana plays Emily, Marvin’s evil boss who wants to date Edmond by all means. She delivers her character with range and believability. Her transformation from a “nice” person to a villain takes a complete turn, and I was shocked by how unexpectedly her character becomes so evil and vengeful.

WHAT I LOVED

The story: This is a story that many Christians can relate to because God still works miracles in the most mysterious situations, and this film is a reminder to never to underestimate His omnipotence.

The music: I love Joshua Mike-Bamiloye’s music, and the soundtrack and songs in this film were just Chef’s Kiss. He also released a new song for this film titled, “Brand New Day”.


The location and set designs: I loved the houses used in this film. I wish I were as wealthy as the characters to own such large, beautiful homes. But maybe one day…

The ending. It made me cry. I didn’t expect it to, because it was spoiled in the comments section (I’d advise you not to read them until you finish the film) but I still cried. A combo of the acting and the soundtrack got me because nobody was cutting onions near me.

Comic Relief. Dami adds little pockets of humour throughout the film which I appreciate because they help ease the tension from the serious themes. My favourite comedic line – “I know Chatgpt helped you out with your proposal”.


WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE

1. Marvin’s appointment, coming a day after being fired by Emily, was too rushed in my opinion. If it had been discovered that she was involved in fraudulent activities, I would have preferred it to be shown, rather than told. I wanted Emily to be exposed for her wickedness and see the sorry look she’d have on her face especially after she had put the brothers through so much because of something so flimsy.

2. The forgiveness in the scene when Valerie is introduced to Gabby and Marvin feels too quick. Realistically, the couple would likely need time for prayers, self-reflection, or even a revelation before they could truly forgive Valerie and welcome her back into their lives, especially in such a close familial role.

3. Valerie moved on too quickly from her sister’s death. The film should have at least shown a burial scene where she could say a final goodbye to her sister and then move on.

“Wedding Weekend Part 2” made me laugh, cry, gasp, and hope for a happy ending for the characters and it didn’t disappoint. It is indeed a story of God’s mercy and how He can transform anyone regardless of their past.

What are you waiting for? Go watch it if you haven’t.

Movie Review: Paul, Apostle of Christ

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Production Companies: Affirm Films and ODB Films

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Release Date: March 23, 2018

Running Time: 106 minutes

Reviewer: Chidimma Nnagbo

pau apostle movie poster

Paul, Apostle of Christ is woven around Paul (James Faulkner), Luke (Jim Caviezel) who played the role of Jesus in “Passion of Christ”, Mauritius Gallas (Olivier Martinez) Prefect of Mamertine Prison and the Christians under the care of Priscilla (Joanne Whalley) and Aquila (John Lynch). It is a 2018 American biblical drama film written and directed by Andrew Hyatt and Produced by David Zelon and T.J. Berden.

Rome suffers a devastating fire outbreak and Emperor Nero pins the blame on Christians and unleashes judgment on them by torture, setting them on fire on the streets of Rome and slaughtering them on sight. As a result, all Christians go into hiding under the care of Aquila and Priscilla. Luke enters the city just when they need counsel on what next to do. They ask Luke to seek Paul’s wisdom during his visit to him in prison.

The movie is faith provoking and sad but at the same time lacks the ability to hold a viewer spellbound. Of all the accounts of Paul in the Bible, the makers of this movie chose to showcase the end of Paul’s life when he is old, weak and almost ineffective, which by the way the bible has little record of. He even whines about his bones racked with pains and his eyesight bad. The Paul in the bible was bold, influential and the most eloquent of all the apostles so portraying him the way he is portrayed seem almost dissatisfying. Luke is seen persuading Paul to pass wisdom and letters to the Christians in Rome and beyond. In reality, Paul was not someone that needed persuasion to preach the gospel. His character, even in his last days was poorly sketched.

The cinematography, lighting, and costumes are perfect but the set is flawed. An idea that Paul is in the darkest and most hideous part of Rome’s cells is given but Paul is seen in a relatively well lit and somewhat spacious cell. The movie is not as explicit as expected of a movie staged centuries ago. The only act of violence shown is a hung man being set on fire. Asides that, every other act is told, not seen. Compared to ‘Passion of Christ’, this film is modest. This limits the communication of the supposed hardship Christians in Rome are going through to a viewer. The flashbacks of Paul’s active days which should have been the highlights of the rather dull movie is so poorly staged.

Does the movie achieve its purpose? If it’s purpose is to remind Christians what Christianity is really all about in a time where everybody is ‘woke’ and fighting for one right or the other, then yes. The message of love is strongly advocated. Cassius (Alessandro Sperduti) is seen dividing the Christian refugee camp and calling for justice against Rome. After what they subjected Christians to and what they are still subjecting them to, one might think waging war against Rome and fighting for their lives would be absolutely right; but Priscilla and Aquila chose a different way. They tell him he and any other person that carries arms against the Romans would be banned because they are Christians and live a lifestyle of peace. When Luke reports to Paul the situation of things at the camp, he says ‘Let peace be with you because we live in the world but we do not wage war as the world does. Peace begins with you. Love is the only way’. Cassius breaks into the prison to release him, he still doesn’t go. Instead, he asks him of whose authority he acts because it certainly isn’t of God’s.

Paul’s discussion with Mauritius Gallas after Luke healed his daughter shows effortless preaching of the gospel and conversion to Christianity should be. After Paul preaches to him, he asks what if he doesn’t believe after everything that has happened. Paul tells him it takes just a moment and it isn’t him but Christ himself that looks down upon a person and shatters his defenses. At that moment one would realize how much God knows and loves him.  He says he will pray that moment comes for him.

The scene of the afterlife shown where Paul meets all those he persecuted in an open field with dry grasses with warmth on their faces is a picture of heaven as I hope it will look. Then, a man I suppose is Jesus is seen from afar walking towards him. Perhaps this particular scene was not given much thought. Maybe it would have been better to end the movie with Paul’s execution.

Here is the official trailer:

 

FACING THE GIANTS – The Review!

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A movie is many things to as many that see it!
This movie opens us up to the life of Coach Grant Taylor who’s obviously not having a field day with his career, family and life in general. As a good christian, he takes his misfortune in good faith but at the time we could get a peep into his life the problems in his life were definitely mounting to a fatal peak which would in the course of the film define the course of his life in the nearest future.
Coach Taylor’s character I believe represents all the millions of believing christians struggling in their lives. Sadly, most have come to their unfortunate end whilst still in this position. This I’ve come to agree is synonymous to the verse in th bible:
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” 2 Tim 3:5a
However in this wonderful motion picture we watch how Coach Taylor and any in His shoes can get out of the valley of depression and the burdensome cares of this world and rise to the heights of God’s grace and a limitless problem free life of joy and peace which in reality is HIS promise for us from the beginning!
The movie also reveals the word of God as a manual for life. With several manifestations of God’s miracle working power and a careful study and obedience of the word, we watch as lives transform and the most amazing testimonies abound! The place of prayer is in no way undermined in the character of Mr. Bridges who practically prays a revival to the school and also serves as an encouragement source for Coach Taylor. The amount of wonder that can be wrought by the word of God and prayer could never be understood and a glimpse into the beauty is what this film portrays.
With a cast well loaded with talent this amazing story produced into a motion picture by SHERWOOD PICTURES might as well be referred to as an epic tale but I guess I’ll hold my horses awhile. The message contained in the scenes are beautifully and intelligently portrayed with very laudable graphic, dramatic and artistic perfection.
The movie is directed by Alex Kendrick and stars Alex Kendrick, Tracy Goode, James Blackwell, Shannen Fields, Bailey Cave amongst others. The story on which the movie is based was written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. The movie also contains some songs from a personal favorite – Casting Crowns. In general the film is an absolute masterpiece meant for every man, woman and family. The lessons that could be learnt from this movie are beyond words. So I’ll just let you go get a peep, then possibly we could do a chat or something on what we learnt! Lol
Have a blessed day!

-by Ezeonyeka Godswill