Today’s Prayer Focus
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MOVIE REVIEW

Do You Believe?

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for thematic elements, an accident sequence and some violence.

Reviewed by: Alexander Malsan
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Excellent!
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Teens Adults
Genre: Christian Drama
Length: 1 hr. 55 min.
Year of Release: 2015
USA Release: March 20, 2015 (wide—1,320 theaters)
DVD: August 4, 2015
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Relevant Issues

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Copyright, Pure Flix Entertainment Copyright, Pure Flix Entertainment Copyright, Pure Flix Entertainment Copyright, Pure Flix Entertainment
Featuring Alexa PenaVega … Lacy
Sean AstinDr. Farell
Mira Sorvino … Samantha
Cybill ShepherdTeri
Lee Majors … J.D.
Delroy Lindo … Malachi
Ted McGinley … Matthew
Andrea Logan White … Andrea
Joseph Julian Soria … Carlos
Senyo Amoaku … Kriminal
Brian Bosworth … Joe
Shane Carson … Detective
Valerie Domínguez … Elena
Mavrick Von Haug … Nefarius
Delpaneaux Wills … 40 Ounce
Liam Matthews … Bobby
Tracy Melchior … Grace
Makenzie Moss … Lily
Shwayze … Pretty Boy
Carly Nykanen … Lacy’s Nurse
Madison Pettis … Maggie
Director Jon Gunn (Jonathan M. Gunn)
Producer 10 West Studios
Pure Flix Entertainment
Toy Gun Films
Distributor Distributor: PureFlix. Trademark logo.Pure Flix Entertainment, a subsidiary of AFFIRM Entertainment, a Sony Company

“From the creators of ‘God’s Not Dead’”

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” –James 2:14-17 (ESV)

Twelve people. Twelve lives. Twelve different stories. What do all of these people have in common? A yearning, a desire, a calling to be more than how the world views them. “Do You Believe?” takes viewers into the lives of each of these people. An EMS worker persecuted for sharing the Gospel with a dying man. Parents grieving over the loss of their daughter. A man trying to start a life off the streets. A girl dealing a teen pregnancy alone. A veteran trying to return home. A daughter, abandoned by her own family. A mother and her child fighting homelessness on their own. Each of these people will have to ask themselves the ultimate question of all time, “Do……you…… believe?”

These three simple words strike the very core of the Christian faith. They beg us to look not only at our lives as a private intimate relationship with the Almighty, but to be driven by the immense joy of being God’s own to share and spread that faith to others. It means giving our lives—serving as examples of Christ’s love. It means living a life so complete that people see the difference in you, see the hope in your eyes, see the example and say, “What is it that makes you the way you are?”

That is the stance “Do You Believe?” takes. Powerfully told through good performances, “Do You Believe” is a film that may shake your soul to the very core (it was created by the same team behind “God’s Not Dead”). As I sat in the theater, I sat on the edge of my seat as I watched each story unravel and intensify. At the end, I felt this pull, this urge inside, to shout, “Yes, I believe!” Each of these stories are genuine, every day stories that can happen, and the fact that they CAN happen and the power that the Cross make this movie that much more riveting and powerful.

I would rank Do You Believe’s cinematic qualities at the same level of the everyday Hollywood film. As I said the performances by each and every character are powerful and impressive. The camerawork is excellent as well, providing appropriate angles for each of the different scenarios. The pacing of the story is well done, not too fast and not to slow. In fact, I didn’t even notice 90 minutes go by, a rare occurrence indeed.

“Belief takes you to your knees, then raises you to your feet,” says Pastor Matthew in this film.

Content Issues

Violence: There are scenes involving gunfire and one character is killed in the process. One character bleeds to death. There is a car chase scene involving the police. There is also a scene involving an explosion. The film also deals with suicide (including “cutting”).

Sex/Nudity: Minor. A couple shares a kiss, and one of the unmarried characters is pregnant.

“Do You Believe?” is a powerful, well written and performed, thought-provoking film serving as a testimony and a reminder to all of us… what are you willing to give up for the cross? I strongly recommend this film for viewing by all Christian families.

And in closing, I leave you with this Scripture…

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” —Matthew 16:24.

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—I watched this movie with my husband last night, and we both thought it was amazing. Cinematically, I was impressed, especially for the Christian genre of movies. I enjoy them very much, though sometimes they bear a very cheesy overtone. The acting was great. It was so nice to see such well known actors in a good film talking about our relationship with Jesus. The movie had a huge impact on my life. A huge impact on the life of our family (my husband and children).

I grew up in the church, in a lukewarm Christian family. I never actually had a relationship with Jesus. Last night I was crying so hard towards the end of this movie. I have been lost for awhile now. I knew I needed to accept Jesus and let Him into my life. I kept rejecting Him. My husband kept on witnessing to me. At the end of the movie I was convicted and cried out that I wanted to accept Jesus and live my life for Him and not hold back. I got on my knees with my husband and prayed and confessed my sin and surrendered my life to Jesus.

Then we prayed as a couple and praised God for His work in our lives. Praise God! I’m a child of God!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Jessica, age 33 (USA)
Positive—My wife and I saw this on Friday afternoon the day it was released. I thought it may be a repeat of “God’s Not Dead,” but this far exceeded our expectations. The message of Christ and what he did on the cross was clear from the beginning. I thought starting with this would be bad for the film. However, the acting was fantastic, it brought my wife and myself to tears, several times, and the action-packed, surprised filled ending was great.

My wife and I usually disagree on how good a film is, but we both just loved this and would go to see it again. This film raises the bar for all Christian films.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Tim, age 64 (USA)
Positive—Excellent movie and inspiring biblical message clearly portrayed. Would hope that all churches promote this film, so that we can continue to have good family movies at our local theatres.

Faith without actions is indeed dead. We as Christians need to be reminded continually, so that our faith has good works to back it up with Love—wonderful message, great acting and lots of tears. A must see movie for the entire family!! Please don’t miss this one…
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Paul, age 58 (Canada)
Positive—I loved this movie. I hold Pureflix in high regard. I admire their desire to produce and /or distribute Christian entertainment. This film is a follow up to “God’s Not Dead,” in that now that God exists, what are you going to do about it? 12 lives intersect in this film, and I love how you see one storyline playing out as a character from another storyline walks right through the shot. Unbeknownst to them, God is working in them and through them.

The movie weaves a tapestry that we get to see. As it says in the end, oftentimes we are on the other side of that tapestry and don’t get to see how our lives are a thread in that tapestry, our part to play. This is an intense film. My 9 year old turned to me and said “Is this PG-13, because I feel the way I felt during ‘Godzilla’?” not that the 2 movies have anything to do with each other, but she was scared. She said she didn’t know if she should cry or throw up, and that it was violent. So be wary of the age of a child you bring with you.

I, myself, found it intense, gasping at times, crying at others. It was emotional and powerful. It does contain violence, shootings, depression and PTSD that leads characters to contemplate suicide, blood, death, teen pregnancy, apparent wine at dinner, stealing and gangs. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Andrea, age 42 (USA)
Positive— I enjoyed this movie. Saw it with a pastor buddy of mine, and we both agreed it was very good. These twelve lives weaved together to learn the message of the cross. My favorite characters are Joe and Lilly—Joe, the character who loves Jesus and puts others first—Lilly that adorable girl who reminds us there are angels all around.

Go see this movie, than ask yourself DO YOU BELIEVE? If you were acused of being a christian is there enough evidence to convict you? Are you sharing Jesus or keeping Him to your self?
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 4½
Rockinron, age 52 (USA)
Positive—Great message, great movie, great stories. They give the message without holding back. That is so awesome. The producer David White is on the right track for sharing Jesus from beginning to end. I hope God´s people pray and invite someone who is not a believer to go with them an watch this one. Great evangelistic tool through a movie well done.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Ozzie, age 56 (USA)
Positive—An excellent film. I was concerned it would be hokey, in the beginning, but the film really drew us in from the 10 year old to the 50 year old. The surprise was all the prominent actors, some haven’t been seen for a while in mainstream cinema, but their talent remains. The ending was so strong: emotional and suspenseful as any big budget movie, with a twist on the ending that was very satisfying. Highly recommended!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5
Karen Winkelman, age 50 (USA)
Positive—If you’re a fan of film and are always hoping for Christian-produced movies that rise above the level of a Jack Chick tract, well… “Do You Believe” does a good job—not perfect, but very good. The production values are fine, with good direction and cinematography, and the acting is certainly above average for the genre. While the script-writing keeps things interesting, the dialog occasionally dips into cliché, but is saved by the quality of the acting. Mira Sorvino, in particular, turns in a an affecting, nuanced performance as a recently-homeless single mother with a young child. She never over-acts and elevates the level of the whole film when she’s on-screen.

Hurting the film is the relentlessly dreary score, which seems omnipresent, but never engaging. The story is a composite of several (12) lives and how the circumstances of each one seem to converge at the climactic—and well done—car pile-up. Yes, there’s a lot of bad driving in these Christian films… but I digress. Maybe one less character, 15 minutes worth of editing, and a totally new score, and this would be quite an impressive film. Emotionally engaging.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 3
Bert Saraco, age 62 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—I encourage everyone to support Christian films. With all the offensive and morally subversive pulp Hollywood produces, it is a breath of fabulously fresh air to see a Bible based movie. Having said that, I wish there would be more artistically written and directed Christian films, but, unfortunately, most are Amateur Hour productions, at best. “Do You Believe” has some quality actors, but the rest of it is below par. The reason is due to its heavy handed, blunt message. There’s no mystery, no tension, no subtlety whatsoever in it.

Take for example “Chariots Of Fire.” That film appealed to Believers and Non-Believers, alike, because it was beautifully acted, written, filmed, and directed. We can’t keep “preaching to the choir” with films like the one we are presently reviewing. We must preach the gospel to all the world—as we are commanded in the good book.

So I must, reluctantly, say “Do You Believe” is limited to not only Christians, but to very young or very new Christians who are not yet ready for the solid food of sophisticated religious films.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 2½
Leonardo, age 73 (USA)
Neutral—I enjoyed this movie, as I do any one that is focused on characters. Suspended disbelief has long been suggested as the appropriate mindset for “story time”. It is refreshing to emotionally connect for a short while to condensed portrayals of either familiar or unfamiliar circumstances that have dramatically affected people created for the experience. To me, sports events lack the variety possible in movies because they are confined to the same game format every time. Because I think this way, I can enjoy a sensitively constructed film artwork, regardless of its subject and content. See all »
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Don, age 65 (USA)

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