MovieChat Forums > The Christmas Shoes (2002) Discussion > Manipulative and worth missing

Manipulative and worth missing

posted 17 years ago by weberwein
29 replies | jump to latest

I am glad that some films are being made that attempt to uplift - but this was awful beyond words. Slow pacing to stretch the weak story to an hour, with a manipulative dying mother and crying child at the end.

There was no action throughout the movie, loose ends were left everywhere, and the "moral of the story" was never made. Are we to assume that buying that gift for the kid was what helped him get to med school, or it helped him love his own mother, or stop being such a "Mr. Cappuccino" jerk to everyone?

Sorry - this wasn't too good.

dadonfilm <dot> blogspot <dot> com

[–] cuckookazoo 17 years ago

"manipulative dying mother" - hmmm. Shame on her, dying like that, just to teach some people the things they needed to know. I think you mean you found using the mother dying was manipulative storytelling - but it was known she was sick from the start of the movie, so that ending was hardly manipulative.

No, buying the shoes for the kid wasn't what helped him get into medical school or help him appreciate his own family. It was but a single step in his growth, as told by the rest of the movie. Loose ends? Yes, it had a few, but "awful beyond words"?

And no, there wasn't any "action" in the movie. No car chases, no explosions. Stories of dying mothers don't generally warrant action scenes. Unless you count the Christmas shopping melee. That was pretty harrowing.

[–] weberwein 17 years ago

Sorry, you are right - I thought the film was manipulative, and the last scene with the crying kid and the dying Mom was formulaic and cloying. The Mother character was not portrayed as manipulative.

On the other point, the film opened with the Rob Lowe character musing how one simple act can change life forever, and then the story rolls. I never got that, and thought the film a big waste of time.

Here's hoping for a new crop of Christian films that aren't poorly made, and hit home. The great FLYWHEEL and AGAINST THE GIANTS are examples of this.

[–] cuckookazoo 17 years ago

I saw the "one simple act" of buying the shows as the turning point, but not the only thing that changed his life. Could those other things have been shown more effectively, rather than shown in passing? Yes, definitely.

The end scene being formulaic? Perhaps. But how does one show someone dying without someone else weeping, without being cloying? Sorry, I get annoyed (unduly so) when such scenes are referred to as manipulative, cloying, overly sentimental, cheesy, etc. People die and those who love them are sad, even with a hope of an afterlife. Maybe someone can offer examples of movies depicting these tragic events "done right". Maybe it's because I tear up easily, even over Hallmark card commercials, and have no sense of true emotion. :)

Haven't seen "Flywheel", but I did enjoy "Against the Giants", and I generally like sports movies only slightly more than I like sports (which isn't much.)

And I thought the sequel to this movie, "Christmas Blessing", which I saw first, a much better movie.

[–] BoultersCanary 14 years ago

teach some people the things they needed to know.

Yeah, I REALLY needed to know that you gotta buy shoes at Christmas.........

The church may shout but Darwin roars

[–] cuckookazoo 14 years ago

Um, BoultersCanary, you DID realize my comment was tongue-in-cheek, right? Or perhaps your resposne was the same?

[–] thedreamer-3 17 years ago

Some of the script was a little cheesy but seriously OP, how bitter can you get?

[–] YankeeDood 17 years ago

I agree, this movie is terrible. A very phony sentiment and sectarian pov that only appeals to Christian zealots.

-L31

[–] weberwein 17 years ago

Well then we don't agree ;> I am an enthusiastic Christian, and find this misses the mark both in terms of movie-making and theology. A nice try, and kudos for the producers to attempt to rise above the junk that makes up most television entertainment. And hope they keep trying.

[–] eliostar1 17 years ago

I liked it, but then I'm not a bitter person.

[–] swizzlestix 17 years ago

I liked it also, eliostar.

[–] Spycat 17 years ago

I liked it as well.
This "I'm gonna be cynical so I will look provocative" thing is WAY overdone :-/

[–] gmonny 17 years ago

I liked it too, but I agree about the plot. From an artistic value, it really has none. But movies aren't always about the art. As a media, it's about messages, and the message in this movie was clear. Sometimes you have to overlook your artistic and professional expectation in order to enjoy the message. Don't get me wrong, I hate hanging at the end of a movie. But I totally got the message and isn't that really what this movie was about?

[–] Spycat 17 years ago

gmonny,

You nailed it.
The internet has turned people into the biggest set of nit-pickers, nay-sayers, and cynics one can imagine. Its almost like finding the good in something is now a "bad thing".

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] flickmonger8 17 years ago

In the sense that certain "Christians" think the world owes it to them to make everything meet their needs, then yes, this movie is manipulative. Because it was made for the masses. But for the most part, it is good.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Florida2 17 years ago

The plot was weak, true, but, you're wrong in saying Mom was manipulative - she didn't do anything that anyone in her situation would do, other than her courageously trying to ready her husband and child for what was to come...

My own sister did the same on my behalf in 2006 (and to her own husband and children), and, as she lay dying in the ICU, the nurses overheard what she was telling me, and, they gave a sad laugh and said, "Your sister is still trying to protect you!", so, manipulative, no - caring, yes...

Personally, I thought the idea of the shoes was a good one - though I had to laugh that of all the shoes to buy, like Cinderella, the pair Mom was given fit just right...

Again, perhaps the story did mean more to viewers who have experienced the same in real life - that did "help" me to better discern the film's direction...

[–] hotabernfitchboy 17 years ago

sorry every movie cant be the way we want it.... like life, no ones perfect....

[–] MissLovelyEagle9 17 years ago

Why are people so cynical about the movie and the song? Have a heart, people; it's a Christmas movie. Christmas is about faith, hope, love, and charity. It does not necessarily need to be picked apart by all the critic-wannabes. I cried when I first heard the song and viewed the movie. I'm not an emotional person by any standards, but it made me understand how special our relationships are.

How long till this goes away?

[–] hotabernfitchboy 17 years ago

yea, of course theres gotta be some bad apples to ruin it for anyone else.....

[–] ldjb 16 years ago

Dude there is a second movie for a reason. Watch it.

[–] GForce59 16 years ago

You're a moron.

[–] weberwein 16 years ago

Nice to see how you've been able to put the message of the movie into practice in your life. Very charitable and insightful rejoinder.

[–] straw_hat_boy_luffy 14 years ago

I think people really miss the moral of the story. It's not about Nathan; it's about Robert. He was a materialistic jackass losing his family. His encounter with Nathan basically gave him a harsh smack of reality of what was really important, the things he was ignoring.

The shoes are thus, not the real point. They are merely a gesture a little boy gives to his dying mother out of love. The story is really about Robert.

I also do not see any plotholes and EVERYTHING is sentimental in film anymore, especially at Christmas. Come on, every Christmas movie is cheesy.

__
Writing is my favorite hobby. Writing something that many can enjoy is my favorite dream.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] knoxfan2008 11 years ago

How was he a materialistic jackass? He was working hard to save the farmers whilst he wife had no job and did nothing but bitch about him and patronise him for doing the job that puts food on their table and a great house over their head. His mother was also bitching about him.

This film is immensely stupid, pandering and disgusting, a terrible film like 'the book thief' made for people who know nothing about films who like watching melodramatic sob stories.