The Journey: A Music Special from Andrea Bocelli

Bocelli! The man who has sold 90 million albums has a voice that is beyond compare. And to think he struggled to get into the business and was told "no" by many. Not until age 35 did he break through.

The story of the movie is of a blind man, his wife and some friends traveling from Rome to his home over the same trail used by the apostles; a distance of over 200 miles. The Pope sends them off from Rome. That's how big Bocelli is.

Along the way, Bocelli and his friends sing in some stunning venues. The camera work is first rate.

If you need to be lifted up, go see this movie. Bocelli's voice sent chills down my spine. He's that great.

This film is an awesome presentation of beautiful music, outstanding singing with great musicians all combined with lush photography of the Italian countryside.

Bocelli himself is an inspiration, riding on horseback along the ancient road Via Francigena, visiting beautiful ruins, monasteries and rolling hills. He is accompanied by his wife and great guest singers including Michael W. Smith, Tauren Wells and others.

The aerial photography is breath taking, especially on a big Imax screen.

You will come away from this film truly inspired by the strong music and awesome Italian scenery.

This film is well worth your time!

On the surface this journey brings us through 200 miles of stunning landscapes and historical architectural marvels in Italy. Andrea, family and friends ride horses from Rome to their home, stopping along the way at cathedrals and other religious venues for phenomenal performances. Along the journey Andrea and friends discuss faith and hope and triumphs through diverse personal pilgrimages. The music, like the landscape is stunning and features a diverse group of artists performing faith based inspirational music along the way. I am so grateful that I found this film. The comforting presentation was exactly what my heart needed.

If you come to the theatre to watch robotic fiends battle or actors reduced to props in yet another thriller you should turn back.

This is not a movie. It is a visual and audio journey much like the experience you get when you sit and listen to an old wise man or woman talk. Then, as in this journey, you should be quiet. Enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside and listen to artists use their gifts to enrich your soul.

Soak it in. Andrea has been on a journey few can fathom and fewer can describe. Blessed with a gift he could not deny, his journey, like the 200 trek are metaphorical twins.

He is not alone. The other artists took different paths to their destinations.

It isn't about the destination. This is about the journey.

"I was blind, but now I see." Indeed.

This was one of the strangest films I've ever sat through. I don't know what I was expecting but what I got was just Andre Bocelli and his wildy wealthy entourage riding horses through Italy for some inexplicable reason and stopping at historic churches so he can perform in the most grandiose fashion imaginable.. Nothing was candid, everything overwrought and overproduced. The music was fine but the way they brought it was an overimagined fever-dream.

The other artists who join him don't seem to know what's going on either - a couple of them seem like hostages.

At one point his daughter who is probably 10 joins him and he says they are going to sing a song together... a song that he taught her when she was a little a girl. And i think, well maybe this will be sweet and show some humanity on this otherwise completely pretentious self aggrandizing train wreck.

So she stands beside him at the piano and he belts out Ave Maria like he's performing in front of 4,000 people at the NY Met. She sings but you cant hear a note because he's in full scorched-earth opera mode.

Another time his son joins him and reads a letter to him while Bocelli strums a guitar that he produces out of thin air. They affected that this should be very moving but what I got was sheer eyeroll.

And of course he drops in on the Pope so they can chat like old friends and get that on camera.

This is the most pretentious, self-promoting mess i think I've ever seen at a theater.

Ive never been happier to see a film go to credits.