As a Catholic Christian (yes, we Catholics are actually Christians), I have mixed feelings towards evangelical Christian movies (as I always have, even when I was an evangelical). Although I appreciate what Christian media does in an attempt to share Jesus, the results are often hokey and creates an "us against them" mentality. In this case, it's the all-atheists-are-out-to-get-Christians scenario. While there is a sense that growing secularism is attempting to restrict Christian freedom, most atheists aren't trying to outright destroy Christianity. Indeed, very few atheists are of the Christopher Hitchens/Richard Dawkins "God-is-evil" mentality.

Aside from that, these movies tend to paint an unrealistic picture of how things work. The harsh realities of life tend to get glossed over with the premise that while life is difficult, God will just magically make everything okay. Take Sorbo's character's loss of his son. He became a drunk who denied God, but no effort was shown that he needed to work through a grieving process before moving on. Instead the character has a near-death experience where he sees his son, ends up talking to his wife's pastor, then BAM--he's suddenly a Christian. The same happens when the wife is diagnosed with a brain tumor. As she is dying, she glosses over her (living) sons' fears by saying that her death will be like her "being in the next room." Sorry, but this is hardly comforting in the real world, even for a Christian. It is just too simplistic and denies the struggles that people face.

My thought is that if Christian media wants to be effective, they need to show faith being worked out in a strong, yet generic sense (as opposed to an in-your-face objective sense) with down to earth people truly working through their struggles.

As a side note, if we Christians truly want to make a difference in society we will focus more on prayer and righteous living, and less on propaganda.

The film starts off with a seedling of an interesting idea. Sol is exuberant in his hate of god. His beginning rant is entertaining, if a bit meandering. No, he's not an atheist. He should have corrected anyone who called him that. "I'm not an atheist. I'm a misotheist. Get it right! Gah!"

He also doesn't seem especially intellectual. They call him Doctor, but never say what his degree is in. He quotes Shakespeare at one point; maybe he has a literature Ph. D.? Since it's not part of the story, maybe they should have just dropped that bit.

He also never discusses research in the debate, like you might expect of a more academic type. He just shouts out his love of sex, drugs, and rock n roll. So why not make him an aging rocker? Or a writer known for his bitter polemics? Or *something* that fits the character shown.

Then there's the NDE. This could have gotten into some meaningful territory - turning his hatred of God into love. Confronting the monumental confusion that accompanies such a sharp challenge to previous attitudes.

Seeing his son could have led to a genuine transformation. The son could have said something personal to comfort and reassure his father. Instead we get a slogan. Apparently the big spiritual revelation involved a phone app and a publicity stunt.

If I could see my dad again, I can't imagine speaking to him in such cheesy cliches. It makes no sense that a child would speak to his father this way.

Anyway, there were some entertaining parts to it. A bit of comedy, a bit of melodrama. I'm all for that. But ultimately, it's more hollow than deep.

There was a quite a bit of hype on talk-radio about this movie and how great it is... well I disagree. While the basic plot premise is interesting, I found the end product lacking. The "flow" of the movie is concentrated in one direction --- holding your hand from one incident to the next, but this leaves the viewer disengaged. The dialog is at times unrealistically religious and it takes quite a leap of faith to believe that someone could be "transformed" in the manner set forth on the screen. The only real emotional moment happens at the end of the movie and by then it is too late. There is no resurrection joy, only sadness.