Genres

Visitors Review

raleighgranprix 2012-05-25 21:56:32

Worth a try.

Years ago, there use to be a dramatic Christian TV show called 'Faithfor today', having seen it makes me think that these kinds of newmovies are a bit of a modern version of that genre, dramatic Christianprogramming while at the same time, I have to say, it is not 'overtly'Christian in it's message vs. in comparison say 'Facing the Giants' butonly in that Wake Forest is a Christian University, the "Deacs", DemonDeacons. Also in one scene in the Abbate household, I believe one mightsee a cross on the wall but even that seems a bit unfocused in thebackground and then, there is a short part in the Church but no "BibleThumping" by any means.One should not be expecting a Hollywood production. You have to thinkoutside the box. The movie has a message and in the end is moving anddoes recount that story well. The football action is fairly well donewhen it shows games. I give it 6 stars as being on the plus side ofaverage. For a "football movie", I'd rate it as about 7 stars actually,interesting when you think of Wake Forest as I do as mainly abasketball power which they are vs. football. It may not be 'Brian'ssong' or 'The Knute Rockne story' but it might be slightly reminiscentof the feel of those movies and I would think of it as being more alongthe lines of 'We are Marshall.' It's definitely worth a try. Yeah andparts of it do make me a bit teary eyed. Also, from a sports angle, theparts with South African trainer Steve Uria are good, it makes me thinkof some of the real exercise parts of the movie 'Hoosiers.' Honestly,if you are into sports, the exercise portions may be something you wantto try for yourself. Wake Forest is more famous for it's basketballteams, even at the football game, I saw some of the student supportersjumping up and down which is something I tend to see all the timewatching basketball games of some Universities like, I've got to sayit, Duke University. So, in the final analysis, I think there is quitea bit to this movie and it is worth watching.

intelearts 2012-05-25 13:45:19

Shockingly manipulative and so not inspirational at all

I love inspirational sport movies - who doesn't? But they have to beinspirational, meaning something that lifts because it moves usgenuinely. I found the 5th Qtr to be probably the most paint by numbersfilm in this genre I've ever seen.I appreciate the story, I get why it should have moved me, and inplaces it does - but it is so "now feel this" and "now you should feelsad, now feel glad" that I am no longer a viewer, I become simply amannequin devoid of my own choices. Fox Faith made this, and it shouldtherefore have excellent production values and some real thinkingbehind it. But it sorely lacks power, even in those scenes where itshould.It is clichéd, from a dull script, to a musak score that assaults thesenses, to frankly, and amazingly, dull football scenes. It has greatvalues, real heart, but slushes it all away, through telling us how tofeel all the time.A sad waste of a good idea -honestly, wanted to love this, but couldbarely watch it in places. Inspirational? Not for this reviewer, I'mafraid.