MovieChat Forums > War Room (2015) Discussion > Question for non-Christians who watched ...

Question for non-Christians who watched this movie

posted 9 years ago by cochrandarin
43 replies | jump to latest

I see a lot of non-Christian/believers on here trashing this movie. My question is simple...if you are not a Christian, why did you bother watching this movie in the first place and then get on here and attack the Christian message/s it conveys? If you don't like seafood, don't eat at Red Lobster. If you don't like looking at naked women, don't go into a strip club. I am not a Muslim, so I would not watch a movie about Islam and Islamic beliefs and then get on a message board and attack Islam. You knew this was a Christian movie about Christian beliefs before you watched it, right? If you thought the acting in this movie was bad, fine....critique the acting. But do not attack it's Christian message. If you don't like them or believe in them, you should not have wasted 2 hours of your life watching this movie. Now I know that some will attack these statements with a lot of little sarcastic comments and jabs, but I would really like to hear from some of the more mature, serious crowd on this matter. If you're not a Christian, why bother?

[–] cochrandarin 9 years ago

bump

[–] baby_mysty 9 years ago

I agree...

Dwight Schrute: Women are like wolves. If you want a wolf, you have to trap it...

[–] scottjanzen 9 years ago

Most of them HAVEN'T seen it. They watch the trailer and then trash it.

[–] cochrandarin 9 years ago

Some even admitted it.

[–] LeftyMcLefterson 9 years ago

I watched it with family, and remained as to not upset them. I found the movie to be poorly written, poorly directed, and poorly acted. The music was decent..

[–] artcurus-1 9 years ago

I watched it with family, and remained as to not upset them. I found the movie to be poorly written, poorly directed, and poorly acted. The music was decent..

So much this. My jaw literally dropped to the ground when that old woman commanded the mugger to drop the knife in the name of Jesus. WTH was she doing, performing an exorcism?

The situations were handled so unrealistically, and the characters completely plastic. Poor Jennifer (Danielle's friend) was about the only one whose reactions were at least reasonably normal. She should have ran screaming for the hills.

This family never seriously sat down and talked the real problems, the loss of trust, the money problems, etc. Danielle, instead of challenging her mom about not knowing who her jump rope coach was, etc, should have asked "are you getting a divorce?" That entire conversation between mother and daughter was self serving on the part of the mother, and completely ignored what Danielle was really worried about. The parents fought in front of Danielle, which is not cool at all.

Clara's actions were a complete contradiction, she actually prayed for God to seek out vengeance on her husband??? Really?? What they really needed was marriage counseling and better communication.

[–] browntable759 9 years ago

The movie implies that they had already tried talking and that they always ended up just arguing.

Why would Danielle be asking about whether her parents would divorce when she was feeling hurt because BOTH her parents were neglecting her? Yes, the mother was being self-serving. That was the point. She was so busy blaming her husband for everything and living her own life that she was neglecting her daughter. That was why Clara challenged her attitude (even though it was true that Tony was a jerk).

And for a significant part of the story, Tony wasn't even home. Exactly how was somebody supposed to offer them marriage counselling? Not to mention who. Who was supposed to give them this counselling? They evidently didn't go to church on a regular basis, and would Tony have listened to Clara?

[–] artcurus-1 9 years ago

In an abusive relationship, primarily physical, the child will typically avoid contact with the parents. In a controlling/bi polar situation, and to some extent, mental abuse, the child will still have some interactions with the parents, ie: still will go hug Dad when he comes home from work.

The point was that Clara wasn't really neglecting Danielle. That whole conversation (and this was after I re-watched it today to make sure I was right)was basic information that mother/daughters know already.

Kids always blame themselves when relationships go bad. Danielle would have been no different. She would have sensed the stress in the family, and since the parents were fighting in front of her, she would have been well within bounds to worry about parents getting a divorce.

And for a significant part of the story, Tony wasn't even home. Exactly how was somebody supposed to offer them marriage counseling? Not to mention who.

Pick up the phone book or look up a local counseling service on the internet and they make the appointment.

[–] augustbrender 9 years ago

Actually that taken from a true story where that happened in a Walmart parking lot. I can't post the link as I'm on a cell phone, but I read that article numerous times and it's very close to what happened. If I didn't read that I myself being a Christian, would cry baloney.

[–] cochrandarin 9 years ago

This is an honest critique of the movie. In it's defense, it had a meager budget and a lot of these folks are not professional actors...the lead lady is a Christian evangelist. I admit some of the acting was cheesy and the direction wasn't the best. But I wasn't expecting 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Shawshank Redemption' here. Let's just admit it, anyone who watches this movie should really just watch it for the Christian message. If you're watching it for any other reason, you'll be disappointed.

[–] artcurus-1 9 years ago

But the thing is though, I saw God is Not Dead, which was at least reasonably watchable but it suffered from the same faults as War Room. I was dumbfounded when the preacher prayed over the main character (and smiling about it) as he lay dying, instead of, oh I don't know, calling 911. Again, it seemed very self serving and implausible.

I will say that the acting and direction on God Is Not Dead was miles ahead of War Room. Like I said God Is Not Dead was watchable. Even though they did not explore the true premise of the movie deeply enough.

Heaven Is For Real, I'm sorry, I just call that one a straight out fraud.

[–] ellanegri 8 years ago

That's actually really interesting, because I think nearly everything about God's Not Dead (especially the acting) is atrocious, and War Room very rejuvenating for the faith. I think my problem lay in the fact that God's Not Dead tried to take itself too seriously and pander to non-Christian audiences who cried BS (as well they should - I also was half of the time, and I am a Catholic). War Room, on the other hand, was made by Christians for Christians to help the Christian faith. We'd probably just have to agree to disagree on that acting in it :) It's not perfect, but I didn't find it nearly as distracting as the main kid's idiot girlfriend in God's Not Dead.

[–] augustbrender 9 years ago

Very well said!

[–] SpiltPersonality 9 years ago

Like we can accept that Sauron would give an unbiased view about a Christian movie :)

SpiltPersonality

[–] SpiltPersonality 9 years ago

Like we can accept that Sauron would give an unbiased view about a Christian movie :)

SpiltPersonality

[–] tmontyb 9 years ago

.if you are not a Christian, why did you bother watching this movie in the first place

Albeit, I was raised Christian, I follow no religion at all as of now, but I loved this movie. I especially like the ending when Clara preached Raise Them Up.

Even if one has no religion, it still gives the message of hope.

I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ-Gandhi

[–] devanlund 9 years ago

The Raise Them Up part creeped me out to no end, actually. It was the closest thing I've ever seen to a "call to jihad" coming from a Christian. That, plus all the military/war imagery.

[–] artcurus-1 9 years ago

cochrandarin,

I do hope you come back and read this but there was one other thing that really bothered me. It was a scene toward the middle just before the couple had a major fight.

This family was dysfunctional, no question about it. However, Dads still love their children, and in this scene Danielle was sitting at the bar when Dad came in. He showed absolutely no affection toward her, zero, nada, zip. No kiss on the top of her head, nothing. She might as well been a bowl of cereal.

I know an 11 year old with a bi polar mother. While this mother has done some crazy shiat, such as locking her daughter out of the house, cutting the half the girl's hair off for no reason what so ever, but during the "calmer" times, the mother still shows some affection toward the girl.

That being said, if you can go back and watch the movie closer, you should see exactly what I'm talking about.

[–] seekingallthetime 9 years ago

You knew this was a Christian movie about Christian beliefs before you watched it, right?

This is called as CURIOSITY.
And that is among the basic human nature things.
I wonder how could someone say that, dont hear, watch, see things you do not already in it? amazing, kinda apologetic.
You know that the people from other religion/SOT's will not like your post, so why posted?
Excuse me, your opinion is really sick, you like yourself be kept in a utopia, you do'nt like any criticism and questioning.
I am neither of those two religions, rather humanity is enough for me, but again, its my own POV. But when someone makes a movie and advertise it without mentioning it as 'ONLY FOR CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS' then it is open for everyone, and all cons and pros are subjected to praise/criticism.
OR......
Did you OR the film makers tried to tell the world how stupid some people can be?

[–] cochrandarin 9 years ago

My problem is people attacking this movie for it's Christian message. I wouldn't watch the movie 'Ghandhi' and then get on here and attack the Hindu religion. That's not what this website is for. I'm a Christian and I think that homosexuality is wrong, but I didn't watch Brokeback Mountain and get on here and blast it because it was about 2 homosexual guys.

Critique the movie on the stuff you critique other movies on; plot, acting, direction, music, etc. But the people that are getting on here and blasting the movie's Christian message only appear to have some sort of problem with Christianity and they are attacking the movie because it is a movie about Christian beliefs.

And to answer your question, I never said that anyone that wasn't a Christian was stupid. I wouldn't call you stupid if you were an aetheist. Don't call me stupid for being a Christian.

[–] Cypher_Angel 8 years ago

...Gandhi is not about Hinduism. It's a biopic of a major public figure and his role in history.

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With trenches full of poets,
The ragged army, fixing bayonets to fight the other line

[–] ktsykes 9 years ago

My humble and candid opinion

Firstly you are chastising/critising the 'non-christians' for trashing the movie yet you now are doing the same but in a more personal manner - who made you Judge and Jury??

As a Christian are you not meant to promote and encourage those non-believers - maybe those non-believers after watching this movie may have some inner turmoil but now start thinking more deeply about God - but your comment would scare any one off...well done!

At the end of the day it is a movie and like most movies there are going to be good n bad reviews......"You knew this was a Christian movie about Christian beliefs before you watched it, right?" ........I usually watch the trailers so I know what the movie is about - I knew there are murders/violent scenes etc etc...but cos I knew that does that mean I can't have an opinion?

[–] cochrandarin 9 years ago

I'm not chastising or judging anyone. There is even a thread that someone started where they admitted to blasting this movie without even watching it, just after watching the trailer. The truth is, there is a large number of non-believers that are just attacking this movie because it is a movie about Christianity.

When you say there are going to be 'good n bad reviews' you're right, but the things that many are posting are not reviews at all. They are just attacking Christianity and the belief in God. Some posts I have read was just talking about how stupid people are for believing in God and prayer and if there was a God there wouldn't be suffering in the world, etc. etc. These things have nothing to do with this movie at all. If they want to review the movie and give it a bad review that's fine. Give it a bad review on the acting or direction or whatever. But leave it's Christian message out of it. Again, I would not watch 'Brokeback Mountain' and get on here and attack it because I think homosexuality is a sin and is wrong. That's not what this website is for. If I posted a review, it would be a review about the same things I reviewed other movies for, acting, plot, direction, etc.