Fury to Freedom

I happened across this on TV and saw the last 20 minutes. It may be the worst 20 minutes of TV I've ever seen.

So cheesy, scripted, poorly acted, and boring it would make a high school play seem like an oscar winner.

Christian movies are often seen as sub-par and this is a clear example of why.

Smh.

The true story of Raul Reese, an out-of-control young man filled with hate and anger that eventually led to his downfall and misery, until he found himself with no other place to turn for help.

This was a very POWERFUL film with a POWERFUL message. The quality is poor, and the acting just the same. But the message is WORTH the struggle. The story-telling is good, and the ending is AWESOME. a feel-good movie worth sharing with people who stuggle with an out of control life. I enjoyed this movie, even if it is VERY LOW BUDGET!

This is just a personal conversion testimony of Raul Ries put to film. As usual, it's better to read or hear the testimony as described by the person who experienced it, because a movie isn't going to explain what happened inside. The problem with a film that sticks closely to the account of this kind of conversion is it's not going to satisfy the movie watcher who wants a smooth and natural character arc, and the deus ex machina is not going to feel satisfying unless you happen to identify by having experienced the same kind of conversion. Also, most people won't find a sympathetic protagonist. He's literally a character only a mother (and Jesus) could love.

I was drawn to the movie because I recently saw Raul Ries in person and heard his testimony. The movie relayed his account, and I was able to appreciate it for helping visualize that account. The ideal target audience would be a combat veteran or someone who has deep seated anger issues and is at risk of committing physical abuse.

This movie can be seen in context of the recent "Jesus Revolution" movie. It's happening around the same time and place, and Raul Ries and family do become associated with Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith, who appears on the television Raul Ries sees in t Fury to Freedom. "Jesus Revolution" is far more watchable, but only because it inserted characters with tangible flaws and arc development that didn't occur the way we see in that movie. Sometimes in cinema you have to choose between factually accurate and relatable story.

This is based fairly closely on a true story. The truth within is where the power lays. It tells the story of an LA youth who is rebellion in a dysfunctional family. His dad is an alcoholic and his mom is unable to cope. He follows a path that many then and today would appreciate. His life is changed both completely and unexpectedly and he goes on to great things. Raul Ries has gone on to serve in an even more powerful way than the movie suggests, pastoring several very large churches in southern California. His messages are currently heard all over the world on radio and especially in south America. The production value is pretty low, just above college project level, but the story is strong and holds up well. The strength of the story more than makes up for the relatively low production value.