Pamela

I appreciate the message of this film. It's counter cultural, it's radical and most "worldlings" will say, "It can't be done!" Read the Gospels, the same things were being thought and said when Jesus was teaching the people.

The message is not wrong, it's just very difficult to hear in this day and age when everywhere you go the message is that you are to try a bunch of people out until you meet "the one." That is, until they annoy you or get in your way, and then you divorce them and find another "the one." Serial dating trains for serial monogamy, multiple marriages and divorces.

The movie also didn't do a very good job in showing how a young girl could be raised and interact with others her age to eventually meet the man she would marry. It should have shown her at church and at friend's houses (with parent's present) and other things for young people and families: picnics, bowling, hiking, amusement parks ... all the stuff that kids can and should do ... just not pairing off alone like people do today.

Then it could have shown how over a reasonable amount of time, the girl and boy got to know each other, went to church together, talked about their faith and then it would be more natural to lead to the point of him asking her father for her hand in marriage.

However, the acting is awful. The writing is painfully bad at times. But, I think the costumes and hair were extremely accurate as the story takes place in the mid/late 1980's and early 1990's. Believe me, I was there, and I am stunned that this film was made in 1998! The filmmakers must have raided a thrift store filled to the rafters with stuff from the 80's.

I realize these actors are all amateurs. However, we have more and more films being made by decidedly Christian writers and directors and actors. Can't we have more education in the area of acting and writing and directing? Isn't there a school that doesn't compromise moral values while at the same time teaching what needs to be learned here to the modern day audience? We've all spent thousands of hours watching movies and have become quite expert in discerning quality versus junk.

We need better than this! It's right to realize that films can be a great evangelizing tool.

God Bless

I was seriously disappointed and saddened when I read the reviews written here, mainly because it paints the perfect picture of how desensitized our church has become. Our God is not a God of low standards, yet we mock and ridicule other Christians for trying to be like Christ. A kiss is a big deal! The enemy seeks to destroy our families, and the person who said serial dating leads to the same habits in marriage hit the nail right on the head. If kissing is not intimate, can I kiss another man while married to my husband and it be okay! NO!!! It is intimate and it should be only for your spouse. It is it so ridiculous that Jesus said to hate your brother is as murder to God. Or to lust after someone in your heart IS adultery. God is a God of High standards, and when the Lord sees the comments people wrote about kissing to the contrary I am sure He is sorely disappointed and saddened too! It really does depend on far you are willing to go to TRULY follow Christ in EVERY area of your life! I loved the message and I lead a Jr high (7th and 8th grade) youth group in our church, and I teach the same standards there. And while its not the most popular view, the Lord has blessed my ministry. I live in a small town, and we run usually about 40 girls on Wednesday nite and they keep coming. So maybe its not so far fetched after all to think that kids these days would buy into this. Now for those who say this is the problem it just doesn't relate to them, well God doesn't lower the standard to relate to us, His standard is always the same, and He gave us power through the Holy Spirit to fulfill that standard in us through the death of His Son, and lowering standards never did anyone any good. People, read your bibles and get ready, do not lean on your own understanding or even the understanding of the culture around you. You can only trust 1 source 100% of the time, and that is the Word of God. Look there seek Him, and know the truth, for it is the truth that makes you free! Love to you all!! And loved the movie! Oh one last thing, this was a true story! How's that for realistic! :)

Well, it does display good Christian values, and strict ones by today's standards. It's very reminiscent of "Leave it to Beaver", only on a Christian scale. Believers from Independent Fundamentalist Baptist churches and those of like faith and practice will *love* this movie for the message that it delivers, even if the acting and storyline aren't very well done.

On the other hand, I think most people will think it is extremely corny, especially the more "church hardened" youth. (But frankly I was surprised at the relatively positive response given by the youth of a camp for kids that I viewed it with this weekend. These were unchurched kids, many of whom live in tough situations and with tough backgrounds, so maybe *I* am the more hardened one!) One value that was central to the film was the idea that one doesn't kiss until the pastor says, "You may now kiss your bride." To me, most people will find that idealistic at best and Pharisaic extra-Biblicalism at worst.

The bottom line: It's a somewhat cheesy movie with legalistic leanings. But some folks will love that!

It's been about a decade since I've seen this movie but I would never recommend it for anyone. I to found the acting and costumes awful, the dad creepy beyond belief and the entire basis of the movie which seemed to suggest that kissing automatically means loss of purity. Maybe not now but watch out! I felt that the message they were trying to get out was being handled very simplistically and even thoughtlessly. The entire thing seemed like a study in manipulation not careful decision making. Also I have to say that when I was given this movie it was done with much the same air that it was made in. My decision concerning this topic was made long before I even new what virginity was. I made it for myself after being empowered to do so by the same person that much later gave me the movie. If only they had realized that a few well placed words kept simple and empowering, said by someone who obviously was looking back with regret and trying to inspire me to reach for more had a far lasting affect that some creepy cheesy movie. When a woman knows who she is and that she has power to choose that makes all the difference in the world. A real father protects his daughter by inspiring her to dream and to value herself and others not by scaring or manipulating her.

As is usual with these kind of films the production values are not quite the standard of a major studio and that has to be taken into consideration when reviewing these film. The cast is pretty amateurish, but attractive. The lead, Serena Orrego, gives a good account of herself though all things considered, could have a future in mainstream films.

The message of abstinence is a given with Christian media and I wouldn't even argue the viewpoint, only that one should realize that in this complex world of our's not everyone will opt for that. We have to be ready to deal with those that don't choose abstinence.

But young Pamela is not allowed to even date. She quite properly asks the question, how is she ever going to meet her intended if she never does go out?

The ending I won't reveal, but to say it's a Pollyannaish ending is to put it mildly.