Hillsong: Let Hope Rise

I have just finished watching this, and man I have not felt so warm and fuzzy inside as a Christian for a long time! Man they sell their message well, their songs just rock me to my Christian core, but I just kept feeling it was all kinda staged, not real just somewhat rehearsed, well you don't have to look to deep into them and the dirt comes to the surface. What I am trying say here is, they have talent, sing some powerful stuff, but hey as a Christian knows, it is the best story ever told (or sold), but we also know many will miss use it, and I think after finding some things out about them, they are a very believable package, but fake.

All up a good doco, makes you feel warm and fuzzy, even if you aren't a believer. Cult? yeah somewhat, but a wealthy one at that. Peace to all.

7/10 for me

If your into layers of self patrony then start here. This film seeks to promote the evangelical church movement to the vulnerable and followers of Brian Houston. Its a mess of self indulgent close ups, but as far as using theater and production to symbolize god. This movie seeks to add to the brainwashing effect that those fanatics in the euphoric movement, those self absorbed in colour and light and sound fail to see as literally the worship of HILLSONG itself. As such it would be blasphemous and idolatry in its continual use of light to imply the actual, literal presence of god, no, it was light, it was angelic singing, and slick production. Even this movie, with its million dollar budget is just a mass of mind manipulation through sound and light. Don't be fooled, it was a bore, has no place in cinema, is hypocritic, and expect the person who is into this movie to jump up and say hallelujah while they periscope.

I watched this in the theatre with about 7 other people, it was a spiritual experience. It was really nice to see the struggles people go through and overcome, and how God on occasion picks you up and walks you past the point where you would fail.

It also just instilled in me a view of the Church as it ought to be, without walls. There was a horror flick a couple doors down, with people waiting to get in. I think that if they had watched this instead, they would have had a memorable night, and left with more love and a stronger bond towards their brothers and sisters on earth, instead of weaker one.

It's nice to see light amid the darkness. Hopefully the right person will walk into the theatre to check it out, and start their journey on the path that leads back home.

The film is an emotive-styled documentary that follows the members of the band 'Hillsong United' as they prepare of the biggest concert of their careers. Sadly, the film has very little drama or conflict. Nor do I ever feel that anything is ever at stake.

Yes, I understand it's a documentary and the filmmakers we're dependent on real life for there drama, so I sympathize with their situation, but they were tying to make a type of documentary that more interesting in engaging their viewers heart than head, and those type of docos are reliant upon more tradition fiction style of storytelling to be successful. This doco has very little drama or internal conflicts nor did I ever felt anything was at risk.

In very general terms: stories are about people facing the biggest internal and external problems of there life. They use everything they have to overcome these problems and become better people in the process.

This documentary is about people who have both internal and external conflicts (but don't worry, God will solve it) and use there skills (well, technically, it's not there skills but God working through them) and overcome really mild problems and they stay exactly the same as a results. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with doing that, just the act of pray and the action of an Omnipotent God doesn't translate too well to the visual medium of film.

Also, God doesn't do anything too remarkable in the doco. I'm not here to debate the existence of God, but you get the feeling that if God didn't exist everything in the doco would have played out exactly the same. Nothing that happens the doco that non-Christians haven't already done without the aid of God.

So, what's the big external problem of the film. Hillsong UNITED has to play the biggest concert of there careers and things aren't going to plan. They've had a late night bump-in, running on a few hours sleep and a couple of songs still need to be finish.... sounds like regular band stuff. It's drama but nothing so unique or interesting that it requires to be filmed and retold.

What make things even less dramatic is when you realize they're probably playing to a very friendly Christian crowd and will overlook any mistakes.

So from there we go back in time and learn about the origins of the church and the band. The majority of the doco focuses on the band members of Hillsong United. So, this is were we come to the other big problem. All the main character are pretty much the same. With mild exceptions they have the same backstory, motivations and problems. Plus, they all give similar types of answers, most of which are "God" and it never really gets explored past that.

We then learn more about the main band members see them try and record a new album. They all seem like nice people but they come across being very 2-dimensional.

The doco has once scene that jumps out and kinds of overshadows everything else. The head Pastor (Brian Huston) talks about when his father Frank (ex-head pastor) confessed to him about being a child molester, and having to fire him. I'm not blaming Brian for the actions of his father, but I am blaming for him not calling the police. It's unconscionable conduct. I don't think Hillsong (who produced the film) really understands how bad this scene plays out.

This is a doco that didn't need to be made. It's not a story that's desperately needed to be told. It's an expensive promo video for Hillsong. That's probably not going to convert anyone (No one is getting past the whole 'not reporting the child molester' subplot).

The doco feels like the equivalent of engaging in polite chit-chat with a person you meet at a party. They seem happy and nice but they conversation wares thin towards to end and you know for a fact you have no desire to ever talk to them again, but you wish them well in life.

As a former worship leader/minister, I've always appreciated the heartfelt music of Hillsong. I will say the musicians and singers seem to never get the credit nor pay they deserve. The ministry in music is what prepares the heart for the ministry of the Word. And Hillsong has that.

The blend of instrumentation and voices joined with a heart that's ready to receive is what makes for an amazing worship experience.

But... I must and will add that "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed" shed light on A LOT in its ministry as well as on some of its pastors and policies.

All in all, if it weren't for the music, I doubt this church wouldn't have made it.