 SAVED!
MPAA Rating:
 for strong thematic issues involving sexual content, pregnancy, smoking and languageReviewed by: Jeremy Landes Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
 Primary Audience:
Teens
Genre:
Comedy
Length:
1 hr. 33 min.
Year of Release:
2004
USA Release:
______
     Relevant Issues
Judging from all the HYPOCRISY in the church, why should anyone want to be a Christian? Answer THE NEW TOLERANCE - It’s politically correct, but does it hold danger for followers of Christ? Is love the same thing as tolerance? Answer The director/writer of SAVED! says: “They can’t all be wrong, and they can’t all be right.” Are all religions basically the same? Is there any valid reason that Christians should insist that one must believe in Christ to be saved? Answer With so many cults and denominations, how can I decide which are true and which are false? Answer  Questions about sex How can I deal with temptations? Answer Should I save sex for marriage? Answer What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer How can I tell if I’m getting addicted to sex or pornography? Answer  Questions about homosexuality What’s wrong with being gay? Answer What should be the attitude of the church toward homosexuals and homosexuality? Answer What about gays needs to change? (It may not be what you think.) Answer Can a gay or lesbian person go to heaven? Answer Brian Dannelly’s upcoming film, Saved! is a comedy-drama centered around the fictional Eagle Mountain Christian High School, where Jesus' name is spouted as if He’s a popular soft drink - complete with advertising buttons ready to be pinned onto anyone’s backpack and make them eternally popular. The mostly white students live within wealthy suburbs, venturing into the city only long enough to picket abortion clinics. Audience members are asked to believe this is a community where one might win the “Christian Home Decorating Award of the Year” to wild acclaim. During high school assemblies, the one teen who rebelliously mocks her Christian classmates is targeted by a spotlight, as the school principal asks if anyone wants to get saved. “Getting saved” in Saved! is a flip decision that a three-year-old who knows no better may make. True repentance for sin, freedom from its bonds, and laying down one’s life for your friends are none to be seen here. In fact, based on this movie, one could easily get the idea that calling yourself an evangelical Christian puts you in the categories of judgmental, rude, violent, and stupid. It comes as no surprise that the credits give special thanks to George H. Smith for his book, Atheism: The Case Against God. How can we know there is a God? Answer
The formulaic plot of Saved! deals primarily with Mary (Jena Malone), a self-identified Christian whose boyfriend, Dean (Chad Faust), announces, “I think I’m gay!” Moments later, Mary nearly drowns, and she believes Jesus appears, telling her to help Dean. She interprets the “vision” to mean that Jesus wants her to become sexually involved with Dean. Soon after, she is pregnant and furious with God for betraying her. We watch Mary reject God while looking at a cross and trying out several profane words for the first time, defying God to prove His existence to her. Meanwhile, Dean’s Christian parents ship him off to a care center after finding his pornography, hoping to keep their son away from a homosexual lifestyle. Dean is shown having a great time at the center, where he shares a room with another teen who is there for the same reason. Dean is shown lusting after this boy, and they are soon sweethearts at the prom who are proud of their homosexual choices. When Mary tells her friends where Dean is, she swears them to secrecy. Her best friend, Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore) promises to keep quiet, then she reveals the secret to their school via a prayer meeting flyer. Through this plotline and some other scenes, Christians are depicted as notorious gossips. 
The principal of the Christian school, Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan), is married to a woman who left him years ago to serve as a missionary in South America. He uses “hip” jargon, ridiculously asking students, “Are you ready to get your Jesus on?” Skip performs round-offs, and he rejoices in Christian music that sounds just like mainstream rock, so the gospel message can be subtly slipped in. Pastor Skip begins an affair with Mary’s mother, who also professes to be a believer. Through this plot point, Christians, especially leaders, are depicted as liars, adulterers, and hypocrites. Christians are portrayed as violent and devious. Hilary Faye and Mary practice shooting handguns, in order to protect their bodies from rapists, at the “Eye for an Eye Shooting Range” - a location presumably designed to welcome Christians. Later in the film, Hilary Faye and her friends forcibly tackle Mary and attempt to exorcise demons from her. Failing that, Hilary Faye throws a Bible forcefully at Mary, hitting her on the head. Hilary Faye later frames Mary and her friends by painting lewd graffiti around the school, which leads to their expulsion. As Hilary Faye, actress Mandy Moore is given the unenviable task of portraying evil incarnate, and her acting lacks subtlety or depth. The only explanation given for her viciousness is the fact that she was once very fat. They may as well have cast the Wicked Witch of the West to play the role. Besides Mary, the other heroes of Saved! include Roland (Macaulay Culkin), Hilary Faye’s handicapped brother who has rejected Christ, and Cassandra (Eva Amurri), a rebellious Jewish teen who delights in mocking and abusing the Christian kids. In perhaps the film’s most offensive scene, Cassandra pretends to speak in tongues at a school assembly, while she exposes her body to the school. Hilary Faye finally steps in and utters the lewd phrase Cassandra had been actually communicating under the guise of pig Latin. While the film’s message is being preached during a stand-off at the prom, the character Dean, home from rehabilitation, crashes the dance with his gay lover. Dean says emphatically, “I know in my heart that Jesus still loves me!” Young men and women may see Saved! and take away a message that Jesus accepts them despite whatever sinful actions they may choose. To read more about what the Bible says about this, click here. Despite the fact that Saved! takes a lot of farcical low blows at Christians (too many to name in this review), this comedy merits very few laughs (besides its own cliché-ridden and predictable plotline) and hammers home a saccharine message of universal tolerance and goodwill that writers of “Barney” might have discarded as too obvious and trite. As a follower of Jesus, I regret having seen Saved! in the same way one might regret visiting a classroom of ninth graders who’ve been programmed to mock you. I know that the movie was not made with a Christ-centered audience in mind; rather, it appeals to Americans who, according to most polls, believe a God exists but can’t agree on whether He has called them to live according to any standard. The heroes of the film (who challenge their hypocritical principal, parents, and classmates) acknowledge God with their lips, but they live according to their own desires and moral standards, not Christ’s. Over the last few months, there has been a new wave of worldwide interest in Christ because of Mel Gibson’s The Passion… Saved! feels like a backlash - a picture of how many people in Hollywood view evangelical believers. At least one of the plot points may convict believers - those who choose to spread gossip via prayer requests. Don’t count on much more of Saved! to point out your sin - its characters are mostly too broad to believe or identify with. Believers who choose to respond with anger or hatred toward Saved! may inadvertently mimic the judgmental cardboard cutout “Christian” characters presented in the film, and Christ’s name will continue being tainted. If believers choose to combat the ideas in Saved! with the following Scripture in mind,
…a watching world may note the contrast. Movie Critics
“…though director Brian Dannelly has every right to address and relieve his obvious beef with right-wing Christianity… he makes absolutely no distinction between the good Christian and the right-wing nut…this is a film that sees only in black-and-white …not to promote kindness amongst the masses, but to mock a belief system…to promote anti-Christian resentment…” “…a sad, bigoted, anti-Christian movie that mocks the Christian faith…” “…the adults are all idiots… An irreverent, punchy jab at the more hideous transgressions of fundamentalist Christianity…” Ted Baehr, founder of the Christian Film & Television Commission ministry, says that the new Hollywood movie SAVED! is a sad, bigoted, anti-Christian movie that mocks the Christian faith. An interview with the producers and cast Producers Sandy Stern and Michael Stipe were sent the script for Saved! in 1999 after the success of Being John Malkovich prompted a flood of scripts to their company, Single Cell Pictures. Stern said,
Producer Stipe agrees with Stern:
Stern admits that the Saved! storyline also held a particular personal appeal.
Writer/director Brian Dannelly (who co-wrote the script with Michael Urban while they were enrolled at the American Film Institute) says Saved! came about as a result of his own diverse background.
Recalling the strict rules of his school years, Dannelly says,
Co-writer Urban had similar experiences with his “fundamentalist” upbringing.
To get into their characters, prior to the beginning of principal photography, Dannelly and a number of the principal cast members were taken to a “Salvation Rally” in Anaheim Stadium, California. In British Columbia the whole cast also attended another teen Christian rally as part of their research.
Controversy According to the producers, the script’s look at “fundamentalist” Christianity eventually caused the production to lose several locations during production - and a rock band. The owner of the home that was to serve as Mary’s house “decided at the last minute there would be no room at the inn” after hearing about the comedic aspects of the story. As a Christian, he claimed it would be inappropriate. Similarly, a Lutheran church originally slated as a location “backed out” of the deal after perusing the script. A United church, however, happily offered to host the production. Also, a well-known Christian rock band had agreed to perform in the film.
In discussing the potential controversy raised by Saved!'s subject matter, the cast and filmmakers claim that…
Jena Malone says there will very likely be some debate about Saved!'s subject matter, but feels the film actually promotes religion, when it’s practiced with tolerance.
Co-star Eva Amurri feels that religion needs to be adapted to modern life and needs.
Mandy Moore says she believes the film is sending out “a very positive message.” “Obviously some things are exaggerated for comedic effect,” she says, “but the message of this film is not about mocking Christians. It isn’t anti-anything at all. It is about discovering who you are and what you believe in. It’s about tolerance, acceptance and diversity.
Producer Stern says, “We sent her the script, and seven days later she committed to the movie. I have never had an actor come onto a project so easily and joyously as Mandy. It was incredible.” Moore reports that when she read the script “I was just on the floor in hysterics laughing - and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Macaulay Culkin reports, “I knew coming into this that some people might not like it, but I didn’t make the film to be controversial. I think we’re making a wonderful film with a very important message. Just because it takes place in a Christian high school and concerns Christianity, some might not agree with it for one reason or another. But I agree with what the film says, so I hope people just walk in with an open mind and take it for what it is.” “Before you make up your mind how you feel about something, you should be able to challenge it - religion, politics, or whatever,” says Heather Matarazzo. “When speaking about something, it shouldn’t just be empty words with feeling behind them. It should be educated words with feeling behind them. That is what we’re trying to convey. I hope everyone likes it, including Christians.” Producer and REM singer Michael Stipe, who openly describes himself as a “queer artist” (Time, 2001), is adamant about the film’s positive stance on religion.
About the film’s design One of the most notable creations made for the film is the giant 25-foot tall billboard of Jesus wearing running shoes looming over the parking lot outside the school - it’s a billboard being painted in the film’s opening by “Christian Jewels” Jena Malone and Mandy Moore. Following Dannelly’s idea of using contemporary artwork influenced by Nike ads, Devenyi says they decided to go for something “cool that kids could identify with. We made a Jesus wearing running shoes, drawn in a fashion familiar to anyone who picks up a teen magazine today.” Production designer Devenyi explains how color was used to introduce some of the story’s standout characters.
The modern high school, which provides the focal point for much of the film’s action, was chosen for its unusual design as well as its proliferation of windows and skylights. The filmmakers found the Clayton Heights Secondary School in the suburb of South Surrey to have exactly the look needed for the film’s American Eagle Christian High.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS BRIAN DANNELLY (Director/Writer) was born in Wurtzburg, Germany. At age 11 his family relocated to a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. After Catholic elementary school, Jewish summer camp, and Baptist high school, Dannelly eventually graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (Visual Arts), then became a directing fellow at the American Film Institute, graduating from their directing program in 1999. Dannelly met writing partner Michael Urban at AFI and they wrote Saved!, Dannelly’s first feature film. MICHAEL STIPE (Producer) is the singer/songwriter of the band R.E.M. (formed 1979), and has two film production companies: Single Cell Pictures, which he started in 1995 with Sandy Stern, and his other production company, C-Hundred Film Corp, formed in 1987. Stipe’s production credits include “Being John Malkovich,” “American Movie,” “Velvet Goldmine,” “Spring Forward,” “Girls Town,” “Our Song,” and “Stranger Inside.” SANDY STERN (Producer), whose first feature was the teen film “Pump Up the Volume,” has produced many other films for both film and television. He has also produced “Red Hot” for HBO, “Equinox,” and “Freak City” for Showtime. Stern partnered with Michael Stipe in 1995 and their productions together include “Being John Malkovich,” “Velvet Goldmine,” and “Thirteen Conversations about One Thing.”  Negative - Simply Stated: “chistian-ized” (definitely in quotes)
POSTMODERISM… I encourage anyone who is not familiar with Postmoderism
(one of the most influential philosophies of the current era) to study its
impact, as it is one of the largest challenges to honest Bible-based Christianity of our time. I can not emphasize enough how damaging the so called “positive tenants” of this film are to the Christian moral standpoint. Negative - I went to see this movie because I love Mandy Moore and Macauly
Culkin. I HAD a deep respect for both of them as actors until today. I
find it utterly disappointing that they didn’t think more about the
feelings of christians they may be offended by this movie. People were so
worried about “The passion” offending Jews, but no one cares that this
movie offends Christian young people like myself. I have been to many teen
Christian conventions, and they are not like this movie AT ALL! Positive - Make no bones about it, this film can be offensive and should not
be taken lightly. Showing it to those with a young faith might be
detrimental to them. That said, I watched this movie, and I saw myself. At
some point in my life, I’ve had something in common with every character
in this movie. I’ve struggled with lust. I’ve used my faith to make myself
look good. I’ve been the boy who lost his faith, because he couldn’t
overcome a sin. I’ve felt rejected by fellow christians for the same. I’ve
raised my hands during worship because everyone else did. It hurts only
because it’s true. Negative - Portraying young “Christians” as ignorant, brain-washed racists — this movie is another example of Hollywood’s liberal bias against conservative Christianity. If this movie was based instead on Judaism, Islam, or any other religious faith, it would be soundly condemned and stir up civil disobedience in protest. Yet Christ and Christians are considered good and acceptable targets in liberal media today. I recommend that all people - especially Christians - stay away from this blasphemous movie. Negative - …It is films like this that keep the teenage suicide rate high, keep teen abortion high,with so many teen resorting to alcoholism and drug abuse. Why do I say this, because you are destroying the one thing in life that will give any human a reason for living and a purpose in life and that is our belief in God. even “the heavens declare the glory of God” this movie is a lie. Why not give them something that will benefit their lives. Neutral - I don’t think this is as offensive as this page seems to indicate. I don’t agree with the stars, either, that it’s faith-affirming or pro-Christian. The movie implicitly condemns the hypocrisy of Christian culture, not so much the Christian faith itself, but it also fails to provide any positive examples of truly loving, Bible-believing Christians. It’s not so much what’s in the movie as what’s left out that makes it skewed. We see no positive role models. Positive - I LOVE and FEAR God and this movie fairly represents the Christian community. We are all sinners! I have seen so many Christians like the ones in this movie both antagonist and protagonist. We make mistakes and all the Christians in the movie realize their mistakes by the end! What this movie bashes are the people who sin constantly and never repent while using the bible as a weapon rather than a guide for life. As a Christian this movie made me reflect more on how I behave in and how I need to recognize the results of my actions. Positive - I thought “Saved” was fantastic. Yes, it is a satirical look at a group of popular teenagers at a Christian high school struggling with some major choices, and that will freak some people out. And most of the characters call into question their faith, but by the end EVERY character is strengthen by their experiences and renews their commitment to Christ. I really liked it. Negative - I realize this movie was supposed to be a comedy, and the characters portrayed were supposedly exaggerated stereotypes, but NONE of the people in the movie who were followers of Jesus were portrayed in a positive light. In fact, the further away from Jesus the character was, the more sympathetic, without exception. The fact that we are all sinners in need of a Savior was ignored for the more popular (and easier) tenet that tolerance should be the be all and end all of Christianity. That means that as Christians, we are not allowed to point out that adultery, teen sex, homosexuality, etc., etc. are actually SINS that we need to repent of. Instead “good” Christians accept these behaviors and get on with our lives. This is COMPLETELY against the gospel Christ preached? There was no repentance whatsoever for any of the bad behaviors; only defense for “if it feels good, do it.” God gave us commandments to follow. Jesus had to DIE for the kind of behavior that is glorified in this film. I know, it’s a comedy…lighten up! I love comedy in films, and I believe I can laugh at myself…but this one was just mean-spirited. It seems to me that everything should be tolerated (in the filmmakers' minds) except for Christians who actually follow Christ. Positive - I am a Christian, and I enjoyed this movie…This movie shows we should be tolerant of others.
God loves all of us Christian or not. This movies shows how it is so easy to preach the word of God, but striving to live the word of God and our actions are often more important. Positive - I’m having a hard time giving this film a proper moral rating… From a traditional Christian standpoint, I’d agree that the film was offensive. On the other hand, having been walking with the Lord for 10 years and having seen my fair share of real life stories like the one in this film…not to mention my experiences with the real life Hilary Faye’s (women and men) whom I’ve encountered in church, I give it a rating of Excellent! I don’t believe this is an anti-Christian film. I believe this film was ordained by God to convict us. While we are hiding in church on Sunday morning, the world around us is dying…and many of us do not care. All we do is congratulate one another for being “saved” and take pity on the world because they are not like us. That is just as sinful in the eyes of Christ as homosexuality is. In the end, this film is a reminder of Jesus’s command to take the plank out of our own eyes so we can help our brothers and sisters with the speck of dust in theirs. I fully support and endorse this film. Positive - I wasn’t one to really be offended by this film. I thought it was an interesting take on CCM Christianity and wasn’t attack on God, the Bible, or even Christians. More so, it was an attack on Christians who are condescending to the rest of the world that don’t realize that kindness leads towards repentance. The writers clearly have a belief in Christ because when Jena Malone is talking at the end after she’s been through all of this, she still sincerely says that she really does believe Mary to have been a virgin when Jesus was born. Even Mandy Moore at the very end when she screws up and realizes how much bad she was to everyone, says, “Jesus still loves me.” As does the homosexual character, which its true, we can’t argue that. And the truth is, it does show a good side of Christians in the Pastor’s Son, played by Patrick Fugit. He’s the kindest and most gentle of all the characters and just spent three years as in South Africa or whatever as a missionary. I can understand why some Christians would be offended, but they
shouldn’t. We need to think and be level headed about films and pull away what truth we can from each one. This one is no exception. Positive - …This film does not mock Christianity — it mocks those who see Christianity as a license for exclusion. Christ loves everyone, warts and all — this film reinforces that message. True Christianity has nothing to do with logos and rock bands — it’s about living like Christ, which includes loving those who may have made different choices than may be considered optimal. An important film. Not recommended for the ignorant. Positive - …I thought this movie was genius…I thought this movie showed that god loves us all, and that we are all screwed up and need god to guide us through life. Did everyone against this move not hear the last line that the main character said “what would Jesus do? I’m not really sure, all I know is I’m going to keep searching it out together.” I think that this is what we all should be thinking and feeling. At the end of the movie when the picture was taken of all of everyone in the hospital I was brought to tears because I saw love humility and commitment like it
should be. Positive - Growing up in a fundamentalist Christian home, attending two Christian schools and being forbidden from doing the most basic things as say the word “Liar” or “darn” due to the fact that “Jesus doesn’t like those words,” I can say that “Saved!” has a ring of 100% authenticity. For the record, I believe in Christ and I believe in his teachings…but organized Christianity is archaic, outdated and on the way out. Something tells me that Christ is EXTREMELY upset at the things that are carried out in his name and that all of these evangelists who rob their church, ushers who molest their kids and youth pastor who have affairs with the church pianist (and then get her breast implants, no less) will have to answer to the Big Guy when it all comes out in the wash. And that list, by the way, is of events that I have SEEN with my own eyes in the church. Like it or not, “Saved!” has more truth to it than any Christian-themed film in years (minus “The Passion” of course). Negative - This is a movie made by art house liberals, for art house liberals. It never really makes an attempt to show true fundamentalists, only hypocrites who have given the word a bad name. I know that homosexuality and adultery are sins and should not be endorsed or encouraged by anyone who believes, no, knows the Bible is true, while at the same time, those who commit such sins should be forgiven, included, and shown the right, Biblical thing to do. A true fundamentalist follows the Bible exactly, but the film makes no effort to explain that. That being said, the film made some interesting points about the “bubble” we tend to put around ourselves, but I believe the Bible, and not pretentious liberalism, contain our solutions. Positive - Just saw this film with my wife tonight and being “saved” myself for the past 22 years (I’m 30), I have to sadly say this film portrayed the Christian community correctly. Yes, there were moments where things were dramatized for entertainment’s sake, but most of it is a direct reflection of how the world sees us. Separatism, “God-talk,” legalism, pride, setting the bar for other thinking we’re doing a good thing for God - this is how we’re viewed. Maybe this film will open our eyes and kick us in the butt to be more like JESUS. He didn’t hang out with the high priests - he spent all his time with the people of the world because that is why he was sent. Anyway, check the film out yourself and lets discuss it! Positive - I found this to be an excellent film. Its message is not one of anti-Christianity, but rather one of anti-intolerance. It properly skewers those who disguise their bigotry in false claims of Christian faith. Intolerance is not the heart of Christianity. After all, Christ is an anti-establishment, liberal radical who celebrates the outcasts of society. If you find this film offensive, it’s time for you to re-examine your convictions. Positive - This is an excellent film in that it challanges all believers to
reflect on and think about how they are portraying themselves as a
Christian! I would reccomend this movie to anyone, believer or not. Negative - In my opinion, this movie makes fun of Christians and
portrays Christians incorrectly. I regret that I saw this movie.
I do not recommend the movie, especially not to teenagers. Positive - Lighten up. It is a wonderful comedy. If we learn to laugh at
ourselves, maybe the rest of the world wouldn’t make movies like this. Positive - What viewers of the film should keep in mind is that the
characters who were considered the outcasts were not rejecting Jesus per
se. What they rejected was the community which labelled them and
ostracized them based on who they were and what they were going through.
Make no mistake about it, Jesus was all about unconditional love. The
laws, rules and standards that have been justified and institutionalized
in his name came after the fact. Negative - I saw a screening of Saved at a film festival which was attended
by Mr Donnelly, the director of the film. I believe my encounter with him
revealed much. I introduced myself as a Christian and began my comments
with positive statements about the film then quietly asked how he would
feel about a film which portrayed gays in the same sterio-typical way as
his film depicts Christians? He never answered the question. He did began
to light up a cigarette as he stepped close to my face. I told him I was
allergic to cigarette smoke. While telling me his background in Catholic
schools and how wrong I was, he continued to light up. I agan quietly told
him I am allergic. Stepping even closer he persisted in lighting up. I put
my hand over the cigarette and quietly told him “I told you I am
allergic.” At this He ran to his friends shouting “She’s crazy.” and
labled me “Aggressive.” Let’s be clear about this. Deliberately, knowingly
exposing a person to an allergen is an attack. Positive - I though that this was a great movie. I’m suprised at how negative
the CSM review was. I’ve been a christian for as long as I can remember
and have come into contact with people who acted exactly like the
characters in the movie. I’ve never attended a christian high school, but
I know several christian friends who have, and tell me stories about how
incredibly judgmental and unforgiving their christian peers can be.
These friends most often found themselves pushed towards non christians
who showed more compassion than their christian schoolmates. Negative - As an agnostic who went to a Christian school, I can honestly say
that it was not at all like this film. People respected me no matter what
my beliefs were. I had a better time than at public school. No one
gossiped, people respected one another. This movie is nothing but
propaganda, and evangelical Christians have every right to be offended.
If this movie was about any other group, it would have been called hate
speech. My Christian friends poke fun at themselves all the time,
everyone should, but this movie is a cinematic with hunt. Positive - This is a wonderful movie. It is well-written and funny, and very
touching. The only reason a Christian would be offended by the content of
this movie is that it shows us who many of us really are. If you’re
offending by this movie, you’re probably offended by your own behavior.
SAVED! has a basically Christian theme. None of the Christian characters
step away from their faith over the course of the movie — they grow up,
and their faith changes a bit, but never does the movie mock Christianity.
It mocks Christians, but not faith and not God. Positive - Just as this movie tells us, we must be open to others. We may not agree with the choices that are made in this film, but we should be able to see what is wrong so that we may improve our lives. Love one another as I have loved you, applies to everyone, including non-Christians and homosexuals. Hate the sin love the sinner. This movie was great, and I recomend it very much! Positive - Despite the highly controversial nature of the film, I think that
this film brings a very positive message. First, it reminds us, that we
are human, and that, unlike our Lord Jesus, we are apt to fall.
Secondly, as an alumna of a religious school (Note: I went from preschool
through 12th grade), I feel that Saved addresses something I found a
number of times: hypocrites. This film challenges us to look at the way
we live our lives. We are Christians, yes, but do we always live as it?
Chances are, no. For instance, Mandy Moore’s character, is a devout
Christian, yet she uses God as a crutch for her own gain, and is
definitely not filled with Christ’s love. This character alone challenges
us to live a better life, and find Jesus' teaching as our primary goal in
life. Positive - I need to disagree with this review. I think this movie could be
an excellent tool of discussion for families with anyone over the age of
12. The movie brings up many points of how close minded some Christians
have become. One of the two most powerful scenes in the movie is when
Hilary Faye throws a Bible at Mary who picks it up and says “This is not a
weapon.” Unfortunately many Christians have turned the Bible into a weapon
to cut down others. The other scene is when Dean and his friends from
Mercy House come to the prom. While many of you may think I’m crazy for
saying this, I believe that Patrick and Mary, not Pastor Skip are correct
in this situation when they point out that the Bible is not all black and
white, there are gray areas. Positive - [Non-Christian] As a former Christian, I understand why so many people are upset
about this film. At the same time, I hope that people are willing to
watch it and let it be a lesson in caution. Zealots like the characters
here do exist, though generally to a lesser degree, and manage to drive
many away from Christianity. I once passionately believed in Jesus, but
today, because of the hypocrisy of the modern church and its members, I
am one person who will never believe the Christian Dogma again. So take
this movie with a grain of salt, and try to learn that you won’t reach
anyone if you are driving them away with fanaticism. Positive - The film certainly captured the Christian Bubble/ Subculture that
likes to make it self look as good as possible by sweeping anything deemed
bad beneath a rug. After attending a Christian University myself, the
movie only echoed what is going on in what seems like every Christian
University and many churches. To me, the film didn’t show many
stereotypes, and from hearing interviews from the cast, they did their
research by attending Christian events targeted to youth. The film to me
basically was speaking to the people in the Christian Bubble saying “This
is who you are, this is what you do, now…what are you going to do about
it?” By the way, how are we as Christians supposed to address teen age
mothers and homosexuals? Hand them a Bible, remind them Christianity
doesn’t allow that, and tell them to get on their way? Comments from young people
Negative - I regreted seeing this movie after I did. The whole movie is offensive, from the many gay things to the fact that they make fun of Christainity. It was awful. Negative - Yet another judgmental film about “tolerance.” Or if we translate from Hollywood to English, “Accept whatever we like or we will call you racsist and ignorant.” Neutral - This movie was nothing special in terms of moviemaking quality. I would like to point out, however, that it is unfortunate that Christians are so adverse to criticism (or even good-natured ribbing; Christians had a collective hernia over Dogma) - Jesus was perfect, but his followers are not, and although this movie is from the perspective of an apparent non-Christian, many of the criticisms of modern Christianity are valid, unfortunately. Do not think that a movie containing criticism of our religion is blasphemous simply because we don’t like what it says. That said, I still didn’t really care for the movie, on the grounds of it not being all that funny… Positive - The movie hit the nail on the head as to what a lot of my
christian friends are. It was a fantastic eye opener to how non-Christians
see us. I feel that the movie taught me about how I should treat other
people and what kind of witness I should be. The message in this movie is
clear, don't be a hypocrite! Positive - I have met a lot of hypocritical people in my life. Most of them
would hate to admit that what they practice is totally different then what
they preach. This movie targets that “type” of person exactly. It is
not, by any means, mocking Christians, but opening the eyes of those who
don’t realize that not everyone is what they seem. Jesus was friends with
prostitutes and lepers. Some Christians today have forgot about that-
not everyone is perfect. Saved’s message is one that proves that God is a
loving, forgiving being. I highly recommend this movie to any Christian up
to realizing that their religion may not be completely perfect. Positive - I believe in Christ totally, but recently I had trouble with Church denominations and organized religion…the movie is a wake-up call to …extremely prideful hypocrites…I loved the movie and its visual direction is credible and its writing is good.
Negative - Normally I’d be worried about a film like this, that takes the worst examples of a single people group, and then uses a guilt by association tactic, but judging how poorly it did in its opening weekend (23k), I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Most people seeing this film are just stuck up liberals in art houses, looking for something to do in between visits to Starbucks. Its biggest promoters are lefty media elites, so anyone with common sense will smell the rhetoric, and go see “Troy.” Negative - Thank God for The Passion of Mel Gibson.I sincerely hope people don’t get brainwashed by this rude film and understand what's the real meaning of being a Christian. Negative - Let’s reinforce negative stereotypes shall we! So all Christians are perverted hypocrites, and the only way to cure it is to accept some backwards liberal ideology. Give me a break, the nicest people I have ever met have been fundamentalists, true fundamentalists who follow the Bible exactly (which excludes racsism, and adultery). There is no truth to this movie, only an agenda. Positive - …As a believer, it really challenged me make sure that I’m portraying Christ’s love to others instead of simply spouting out rules from the Bible. The last line in the movie about figuring out what Jesus would do really got to me, as well as when Hilary Faye realized that she had done wrong and they told her that Jesus still loved her. I thought that it was an excellent film that will help any Christian in their strive to grow in Christ. Neutral - I didn’t think the movie was very offensive but I didn’t think it
was funny, either, with the exception of one part. It just wasn’t very funny at all. |
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