March Movie Madness - "My Brother's Keeper" and a Giveaway

This week I had the privilege to view My Brother's Keeper.  This movie is more on the serious side and opens your eyes to what some of our military deal with.  The movie centers around Travis Fox (T.C. Stallings), who returns stateside after losing a good friend in war.  Here, he must continue to fight the battle of PTSD while also dealing with the trauma of losing his parents.

Overall, I think this movie did a great job of portraying the soldier's struggle with PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Symptoms and severity may be different for everyone, but Stallings's portrayal sheds an authentic light on this hidden struggle that haunts some of our returning servicemen.  I often hear people use the term "PTSD" lightly, as in, "I am really suffering PTSD from all these exams I've had to take."  Having known people with real PTSD, this always makes me cringe.  First widely recognized after the Vietnam War - although previous war veterans certainly suffered with it just as much, at that time calling it "shell shock" - this mental health condition is crippling to those who have suffered extreme trauma and makes it difficult or nearly impossible for some veterans to adapt back into society upon their return stateside.

T.C. Stallings (Courageous, War Room) is joined in the cast by Joey Lawrence (Blossom, Gimme A Break!) and the lovely Keshia Knight Pulliam (The Cosby Show).  All three are gifted actors who delivered a great performance.  I loved the movie for showing a realistic view of someone dealing with PTSD rather than trying to tie it all up with a bow at the end and trying to act like one night of prayer healed them.  (A little spoiler alert but not too much):  The character in the movie sought both spiritual healing and medical help, both of which are needed and should not be left out.  Also, while the character had hope, he recognized he was in a long battle that would not be overcome quickly.  It was, however, unrealistic (spoiler alert) that Travis Fox would go right back on an Active Duty deployment immediately after being diagnosed with PTSD and starting medical treatment, and I felt a huge red flag when the therapist started dating a member of her therapy group.  Other than that, I thought it was a great movie and I highly recommend it.  While I've given you a few spoiler alerts dealing with the PTSD issue, there was much more to the plot, and I could not stop for a break once I started the movie!

My Brother's Keeper opens in theaters tomorrow!  Check your local theater for listings.  Watch the trailer here:  https://mbkfilm.com/?vid=YXhoafnfj3

There is also an exciting contest opportunity!  There's an open social campaign (linked below) where you can enter to win a warrior Bible! In addition, you can be entered to win a grand prize Zoom call with the lead actors in the film: T.C. Stallings, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Robert Ri'chard! 

Contest Link: https://my brother's mybrotherskeeper.iconic-promo.com/?trcd=6C6b7C21F9

And of course, I have a giveaway right here on my blog!  Comment on this post or on my Facebook page to be entered to win a free digital code to watch the movie!  (The code will be available once the film is released on home entertainment.)  Drawing will be held Tuesday, March 23!

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

#MyBrothersKeeperMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

March Movie Madness - "Church People" and a Giveaway

 

It is recurring theme in American churches.  Many of us grew up in small churches, sang hymns, sat on wooden pews, read the King James Version, and stood as the ushers brought the plates forward, singing the Doxology.  So our reaction - especially those of us who grew up in the 80s, during the coming-of-age of the Christian pop music genre - is to put on a big concert.  What can we do to overcome the old traditional ways and bring people in?  We have to bring them in and then just give them a morsel of truth while they are here.  Bigger is better.  More music.  More lights.  More flashy.  Bring in the smoke machines.  More, more, more!  When does it stop?  Forty years later, we are looking at church services becoming rock concerts, and we are wondering, Isn't the Gospel enough?

That's the question youth pastor Guy Sides is asking as PR people rain down beach balls on him on stage and bring a Superman costume for him to try on in the middle of his massive book tour.  (The writer in me is wondering how anyone ever got so popular on a book tour!)  He is "America's Youth Pastor."  And he's ready to give up.

Enter Pastor Skip with his tie-dye t-shirt; Tino with his worship and love songs; Carla, the preacher's missionary daughter, returned home with a heartbreak; Blaise, the overly passionate new convert; the mysterious Mabel; and two Baldwin brothers; and you have a full cast of highly exaggerated church stereotypes who represent real people with real issues who are just trying to share the Good News. 

Is the Gospel enough?

Church People is making the list of one of my favorites of the movies I've gotten to review, right up there with Mom's Night Out.  If you love good Christian comedy, you will love this movie!  It is a great lead-in to the Easter season.

Watch the trailer here:   https://churchpeoplefilm.com/?vid=Xvnr8b4IkEI.

Of course, I have a Giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a digital code for this movie from Momentum Influencers.  To enter, just comment on this post or on my Facebook page by Wednesday, March 17, 2021. 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

#ChurchPeopleFilm #ChurchPeopleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

March Movie Madness - Dolphin Island And A Giveaway!

 

The second movie I had the opportunity to review this month was Dolphin Island, and I loved it!  It has a slow start, but give it a chance and watch it all the way through!  I mean, a feel-good movie about living on a beautiful island with trained dolphins all around?  What could be better?!

From the producers:  

Fourteen-year-old Annabel lives with her fisherman grandfather on an island paradise. She is surrounded by an extended family of loving but quirky neighbors and her best friend - a dolphin named Mitzy. Everything changes when her maternal grandparents arrive with a shifty lawyer to bring her back to New York. It's up to Annabel and her friends to figure out how to save the day and prove that love conquers all!

The movie stars Tyler Jade Nixon as Annabel Coleridge.  I was surprised to find out that Tyler is actually turning 14 this year, the age of her character.  At first I thought she may be an older actress playing a younger part.  Her performance was excellent, and she had great chemistry with Peter Woodward, who played her grandfather, as well as with the other characters.  Of course, the real star of the show is Mitzy!

I was impressed with this film's character development, background music, and plot.  There were some unpredictable twists, which I always like.  While it is a movie about faith and hope, I felt it definitely came from a Christian worldview without awkwardly trying to proclaim itself as a Christian movie, if that makes sense.  It was a movie about real people with real lives who prayed and were blessed by God in a way that seemed natural, not "preachy."

If you wish to use this movie in an educational setting or a small group, there is a free discussion guide to download here:  https://dolphinislandmovie.com/discussion-guide/.  Ms. Annette Lovrien Duncan, who plays Sheryl Williams in the film, shares video clips and devotions.  This movie is fun for entertainment value, however, even without the discussion guide, and will not seem like an educational "school film."

Need more convincing?  Watch the trailer here:  https://youtu.be/SLiED6uT1mM!

And of course, we have a giveaway!  Comment on this blog post or on my Facebook page to win a digital code to see this movie.  There may be a little surprise, so trust me, enter to win by Tuesday, March 16!!

Make sure to follow my blog for more movie reviews this month!

Disclosure: Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

#DolphinIslandMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

March Movie Madness, A Momentum Review, And A Giveaway!

 

Hello, Readers!  It's been quite a while since I've posted, but today we begin March Movie Madness!  I will be posting movie reviews all month and will have several giveaways!

My first Momentum Influencers Review for March is not of a full-length movie, but of a cute new 3-D animated cartoon with a Christian Worldview.  Join Mom, Dad, Kip, Finn, Kara, and Archie Cubekin for a series of adventures where they learn more about following God!  I reviewed the episode "Invasion of the Cubecumbers."  The characters are cute, and I like the word-play around things that are boxes or cubes.  For example, Kara gets three box turtles as pets.  The family prays together, even baby Archie, they attend church, and I like the use of Scripture, which is quoted word-for-word.  I've always looked for things like that for my kids so that the fun entertainment would help them learn what is actually in the Bible, rather than just a vague lesson.  The only thing I wasn't too sure I was crazy about was the depiction of a picture of Jesus in Cubekin form hanging on the wall. 😳

There are also readers and coloring books available, making this a great supplement for homeschool.  Oh, and you can even get - wait for it - plush box turtles to go along with the show, from Kickstarter!

I would classify this show as being good for very young kids, maybe up to age 7 or 8.

Find out more about the Cubekins at https://www.cubekins.com!

Cubekins is an award-winning, wholesome, small-town tale of a rambunctious, seven-year old boy named Kip exploring his ever-changing world, while learning more about his never-changing God.

• ●  New Christian “Faith-based” Show for Kids, like Veggie Tales set in Mayberry

• ●  New, fun, family-friendly and faith-based content for children ages 3-8!

• ●  Created by two homeschool dads and their families

• ●  Buy/Rent Cubekins Ep. 01 Invasion of the Cubecumbers ​on the ​Cubekins website​ (or

  other available streaming platforms)

• ●  Check out exclusive member content, like coloring books, bonus videos, and more by

  becoming a fan member at ​cubekins.com​! Includes...

  A link to watch/stream our 22 minute Cubekins Pilot and Bonus Songs Content A digital download of our "Kip Loves God" coloring book.
  A digital download of our full color "Kip Loves God" Reader.
  Access to our Members Only section of the Cubekins website

  Access to future Membership perks

• ●  Dove.org review:​ “Cubekins​ is a great kids show—children will be entertained while

  learning morals from a Christian perspective. Parents need not worry about negativity or inappropriate themes. When looking for a wholesome way to teach and occupy their children, parents can trust ​Cubekins​ to fulfill those needs.”

Of course, I am having a GIVEAWAY!  Just comment on this post or on my Facebook page to win one free link to the episode (only valid for winners in North America)!  Drawing will be held Friday, March 12.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Brainy Pixel for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.  #Cubekins #CubekinsMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork