His Only Son

I'm baffled at the high reviews. Angie Studios is asking for honesty so here goes. Confidence was high going in because Angel Studios was behind this film. Their work a low budget on The Chosen has been outstanding.

As soon as the first scene opened and we see a really bad wig we knew we were in for a disappointment. The acting, dialogue, and perspective were a throwback to why Christian films never reached The Passion kind of success and now The Chosen's kind of success. We see between these two budget doesn't matter. Quality of reality matters.

I can look past bad wigs when the artistic license to fill out a biblical account is riveting. This was too somber from the opening scene. The only smile or element of expressed joy in living God was at Isaac's birth. The theme of obedience to God being that of a slave to a mysterious master was overwhelmingly daunting. It didn't stir a passion in us to want to know this God. Sarah's negative demeanor toward God n her husband became exasperating. It would have been better to see Sarah enjoy God with points momentary days of disappointment rather than her entire married life being depressing.

The character relationships were one dimensional. My husband and I discussed why couldn't the relationship between Abraham n God been one of warm faith and desire? Where God was inviting Abraham to know through experience his own Father's towards the loss of His own Son instead of a dry obedience? Like He did with Hosea. Why couldn't we see Isaac and Abraham enjoying each other as he was growing up and Abraham was teaching him the ways of faith, the way of faith that rewarded him with Isaac. If that dimension had been built the attempted sacrifice would have slayed unbelieving hearts in the theaters. We would have seen a young man lay down his life for love instead of dry obedience.

I know this review is going against the majority. I think we are loving the story of Abraham as those who've read it a million times. I think we are loving we got one more Christian film in the theaters. I think we are missing the point of these films being a tool to draw the unbelieving into His love. This film drew us into obeying out of duty not out of affection for a Good Father who had proved Himself already as a giver of good gifts through Isaac.

We honor the writers efforts and we have prayed dimensions of revelation of Gods love for to come as he grows in his art. When we as a community can do better and pull out dimensions that stir the most holy of emotions in unbelievers. We did with the Passion and we are doing it with The Chosen. Deepen our writing dimensions Lord!

This movie made up elements and left out such important ones. God's covenant with Abraham, God's speaking with and providing for Hagar, the visitation by the Lord and prophecy of Issac's birth in the coming year (when Sarah laughed, giving Issac his name). I would have preferred the story to be told linearly so we could have agonized with Sarah over her infertility, rejoiced at Issac's birth then really felt the gut punch when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Also I would have liked to have seen more clearly portrayed Abraham's faith in God's promise that Issac would be the seed to generations and therefore God might even resurrect Issac if necessary. (Hebrews 11:17-19). The movie fell short of my expectations, but I'm glad it has spoken to so many. Hopefully the director will consider sticking more closely to scripture in his future endeavors.

It is easy to get your hopes up for a Christian based movie to make as powerful an impact as the Chosen has.

That said, I love the story, most of the actors are very stiff.

Abraham is far too stoic for a man who hears the voice of God.

The artistic license of the journey to the mountain is somewhat interesting.

The movie does not inspire me to grow closer to God. The sermons I hear from an everyday minister are more inspiring.

I didn't hate the movie because I'm happy that there is still a chance that it touches someone's heart and changes their life.

I am happy to have Christian based content available for my family. My grandchildren were bored in the first ten minutes.

When they watched the Chosen they were glued to the screen.

While is is unfair to compare the two, that is exactly what I find myself doing.

I desired to see this film. For subject, for Angel Studios . Indeed, with some not reduced expectations .

And I liked it. Maybe , just I loved it for a couple aspects.

It is very difficult to imagine the fair manner to tell this Genesis part. Because it is intense, complicated, dark and hopefull in same measure. So, I saw it without compare with the lines of Old Testament or with my images about characters. And, starting from this start point, easy was to appreciate the effort of actors, the atmosphere and the puzzle of events , not in chronological order but with interesting effort to put in honest form, the familiar facts. And, especially, the dialogue.

At the first sight, it is a film for a precise target. Indeed, Abraham has not one hundred years old and Sara seems too nervous, the young actor for role of Isaac represents not the most impressive option and the encounter with our Lord seems too simple solution.

But not strict accuracy or innovations / useful, in manz senses, must be the significant poinst, I suppose, but the message. And it is clear and loud .So, not being Choosen, it is a decent adaptation , not out of some good appreciations who it high deserves.

I finally had a chance to see this and I liked it. Is it a great film that can be ranked among the great film makers? No. The pacing is poor, the structure isn't great and some of the acting... well is amateurish. But consider the fact that this is the producer, writer directors first major film. So I'll give him a break there. The visuals are stunning. The actress playing Sara really brings it, and delivers a great performance. The actor playing Abraham, knows about one expression it seems. While this story plays out in a few pages in Genesis, it would be a challenge to stretch that material out for an entire feature film. So there was some filler that does not appear in the bible it does not add or detract from the story fortunately. There was plenty of emotion to be found and I did find the film up lifting. Give it a chance.