Pamela

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!

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 don't doubt that this film appeals to a Christian audience, but even for a Christian film, it's idealistic and naive.

However, it makes for great riff-fodder. This film has taught us a number of things:

1) A guy only needs to say "Prove you love me" to get a Christian chick in the sack 2) Dating is the gateway to all evil...until you graduate. 3) Why have your own social activities, when you can benefit from the social network of your father's workplace? 4) You can't forget to pray with your father before you have sex on your wedding night...you just can't. 5) Always ask for the promotion BEFORE you ask if you can drive your boss's daughter to a remote area out of nowhere, right after she's hit the big 1-8

I played the part of Jerry and I agree 100% that this movie was probably the worst movie ever created and sends a terrible message to teens. Oh, by the way the movie was filmed in 1989, so for all of you that said the hair and wardrobe were outdated, well you now know why. That still doesn't excuse the way everyone was costumed, especially Pamela! I was hurt by one of the reviews/ comments made by wadechurton that said,"In addition, notice that the only boys who are interested in Pamela seem remarkably less-than-macho" Really wadechurton? I thought good Christians didn't judge people or put people down. Talk about destroying one's self confidence! Anyway, I apologize the movie was so horrible. If you got anything from the movie, hopefully a ton of laughs on the horrendous acting and just the worst attempt in history in creating a movie!

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.