IMDb RATING
5.9/10
2.3K
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Seven geniuses, with IQs over 200, are plucked from their lives on Christmas Eve to try to solve the world's problems in one night.Seven geniuses, with IQs over 200, are plucked from their lives on Christmas Eve to try to solve the world's problems in one night.Seven geniuses, with IQs over 200, are plucked from their lives on Christmas Eve to try to solve the world's problems in one night.
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there are certain movies over the past decades that achieve a sort of raw emotion inside of us that can't be captured on purpose. this is a movie that is so simple, yet so unbelievably poetic that it is hard to to believe any Hollywood studio made it. i saw this movie the first time at the theater last year, and I never forgot how moved it made me feel.
the end of the movie is so unbelievably powerful that when stephen baldwin finally reveals his past, it feels like you have discovered the answers to the world's problems, our soulless humanity in search of God and ultimate meaning. i don't know of too many movies that can claim that. i read some cynical film critic's review and you know he's the type who would complain that mona lisa's nose is too small or picasso really wasn't all that. this is a movie that will never loses its power, even 20 years from now.
the end of the movie is so unbelievably powerful that when stephen baldwin finally reveals his past, it feels like you have discovered the answers to the world's problems, our soulless humanity in search of God and ultimate meaning. i don't know of too many movies that can claim that. i read some cynical film critic's review and you know he's the type who would complain that mona lisa's nose is too small or picasso really wasn't all that. this is a movie that will never loses its power, even 20 years from now.
"A criminal threatens to destroy Washington, D.C. with a nuclear bomb unless seven people with 200+ IQs can solve all the world's problems in one night." How's that for the premise of a Christian film? It sure beats "A pop star struggles with her faith," or "A man must convince his brother-in-law of the importance of Christ in the Christmas season." A lot of people, including many Christians, dislike Christian films because:
1. They tend to be lower-budget and lower-quality, cinematically speaking, then most other films.
2. In an attempt to be "family friendly" and "wholesome," they often avoid or trivialize serious issues.
While "The Genius Club" can't overcome the first criticism, it seems as if the filmmakers recognized the second criticism, and decided to make a film that does nothing but address serious issues. Welcome to a Christian film that is not family-friendly. I can't think of a single other Christian film where characters make statements like, "Cancer hasn't been cured because that would mean the loss of millions of jobs in a booming health care industry."
"Solving the world's problems" takes the form of a debate between the seven genius characters and the villain. As time goes on, the stakes get higher, and they go from talking about things like politics and war to things like good and evil. As long as the debate is going on, which is most of the film, the dialogue is pretty well-thought-out and covers deep ground (it slacks off during the breaks, though). You might expect a character to make a statement implying that all the world's problems would be solved if everyone became Christians, but that does not happen. Instead, the film's thesis seems to be that we need to let of greed, let go of hate, and love one another. One of the seven is a seminary student and another is an atheist, and there is some debate about God, Jesus, and religion, but it is not antagonistic like in, say, "God's Not Dead," since the seven characters are seen as working together against a common adversary. Actually, the villain here is a more reasonable and rational character than the professor in "God's Not Dead."
Overall, I enjoyed "The Genius Club" as much as I enjoy movies that I would normally give an "8," but I have to give it a "7" instead, since some of the dialogue and acting was very unconvincing, especially towards the very beginning and the very end. Even so, I consider it one of the better Christian films I have seen, as it has meatier and more mature content than most others. I recommend it to people who are open- minded about Christianity and, for that matter, budgets.
1. They tend to be lower-budget and lower-quality, cinematically speaking, then most other films.
2. In an attempt to be "family friendly" and "wholesome," they often avoid or trivialize serious issues.
While "The Genius Club" can't overcome the first criticism, it seems as if the filmmakers recognized the second criticism, and decided to make a film that does nothing but address serious issues. Welcome to a Christian film that is not family-friendly. I can't think of a single other Christian film where characters make statements like, "Cancer hasn't been cured because that would mean the loss of millions of jobs in a booming health care industry."
"Solving the world's problems" takes the form of a debate between the seven genius characters and the villain. As time goes on, the stakes get higher, and they go from talking about things like politics and war to things like good and evil. As long as the debate is going on, which is most of the film, the dialogue is pretty well-thought-out and covers deep ground (it slacks off during the breaks, though). You might expect a character to make a statement implying that all the world's problems would be solved if everyone became Christians, but that does not happen. Instead, the film's thesis seems to be that we need to let of greed, let go of hate, and love one another. One of the seven is a seminary student and another is an atheist, and there is some debate about God, Jesus, and religion, but it is not antagonistic like in, say, "God's Not Dead," since the seven characters are seen as working together against a common adversary. Actually, the villain here is a more reasonable and rational character than the professor in "God's Not Dead."
Overall, I enjoyed "The Genius Club" as much as I enjoy movies that I would normally give an "8," but I have to give it a "7" instead, since some of the dialogue and acting was very unconvincing, especially towards the very beginning and the very end. Even so, I consider it one of the better Christian films I have seen, as it has meatier and more mature content than most others. I recommend it to people who are open- minded about Christianity and, for that matter, budgets.
Its a very good movie. I like that they showed preeetty much how it really is in hell even thoe its a christian movie and they are cinda know for that they dont show explicit stuff. The acting is very good in my eyes but if someone would say that it is some times to much or a bit centered on religon I kinda have to agree BUT its a christian movie so what do you want. It has some very intense and funny parts and thats why i personally liked it even more. A very good movie to watch with the family. Aspecially with religios parents !!! Xd
BIG TIME PROPS for holding the values of Jesus that are challenged in these days and looked at if they would be the worst eeeever.
I´m not a big time reviewer and my english is sometimes still kind poor but I could talk about this movie for a while.
BIG TIME PROPS for holding the values of Jesus that are challenged in these days and looked at if they would be the worst eeeever.
I´m not a big time reviewer and my english is sometimes still kind poor but I could talk about this movie for a while.
'Genius Club' deserves all the superlatives you could possible use to describe it. Everything about this film is perfect, and if there's one film that literally everybody should be obliged to watch at least once in his/her lifetime, I think it ought to be this one. Sweaty, gritty, claustrophobic. A lesson in tight direction and editing, and with performances to match....
I do not often start my reviews with blunt and opinionated statements, but in this case, it's justified. "Genius Club" is righteously considered as one of the top 5 most genius movies ever made I believe. This is a classic film wherein where tension comes from personality conflict, dialogue and body language. Although it may sound ungallant, these 7 geniuses, are all right without distaff glamour. Their dramas are powerful and provocative enough to keep a viewer spellbound. Tim Chey, who is in his directorial debut, effectively modulates the drama without ever taking the camera out of the genius room until the verdict is in from the terrorist named 'Armand' I believe or 'Ormand' (?). As for the story,it was mechanically written, but within its own middlebrow limitations, it delivers the goods as it presents a powerful impact to the viewer.
Overall, this does deserve to be considered one of the finest American films of all time. It keeps the viewer riveted every step of the way.
I do not often start my reviews with blunt and opinionated statements, but in this case, it's justified. "Genius Club" is righteously considered as one of the top 5 most genius movies ever made I believe. This is a classic film wherein where tension comes from personality conflict, dialogue and body language. Although it may sound ungallant, these 7 geniuses, are all right without distaff glamour. Their dramas are powerful and provocative enough to keep a viewer spellbound. Tim Chey, who is in his directorial debut, effectively modulates the drama without ever taking the camera out of the genius room until the verdict is in from the terrorist named 'Armand' I believe or 'Ormand' (?). As for the story,it was mechanically written, but within its own middlebrow limitations, it delivers the goods as it presents a powerful impact to the viewer.
Overall, this does deserve to be considered one of the finest American films of all time. It keeps the viewer riveted every step of the way.
i expected a lot more out of these "genius" people. 1. the woman at the beginning doesn't even ask for ID and lets herself be taken. 2. pizza man? 3. the lady has an asthma attack every minute and fails to use her inhaler 4. the same lady that has asthma doesn't know what shes talking about when shes talking about how it wasn't chance that humans became humans and how the world is so perfect. humans are not perfect. far from it. if she ever took a biology class she would know why.
i can go on forever with this film but if u get passed all that nonsense, the message it good. and all those points i will agree on. all the questions that he was asking.
i can go on forever with this film but if u get passed all that nonsense, the message it good. and all those points i will agree on. all the questions that he was asking.
Did you know
- TriviaOver 50 set-up shots were filmed in 1 day during the biggest scene in the movie. All of the actors had to perform and memorize close to 20 pages in 1 day. Yet they came through with flying colors, performing admirably and everyone still went home at 6 p.m.
- SoundtracksRest in His Promise
By David Ruis
(from Vineyard Voices: Every Move I Make)
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $223,827
- Runtime
- 1h 59m(119 min)
- Color
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