La Forja

There's a serious theme, which underlies this Kendrick brothers effort and, without creating a spoiler, I have to underscore the message, more of a tagline from the end of the movie and it goes very near to the heart of this movie and as we look at our society on a longitudinal basis and see what's been missing for oh so many years and it will take dedicated people to live out the message ensconced in this movie, which is oh so well put together. In fact I'm going to review it in my mind and consider several of the characters and determine how they fulfill the meaning of their names, especially Isaiah and Joshua! As to spoilers I've not given any serious details, but skirted on the edges of the drama and I hope I've teased people into watching at least once and paying for others, so this brilliant message reaches oh so many more people and the theme is inculcated in our society as it's creators intended! Be blessed!

I found this movie on DVD at my public library. It is well-made with competent actors, none that I had ever seen before. It is not subtle, it is a Christian movie with a Christian message.

It focuses on Isaiah, a 19-yr-old black man living with his single mother. She runs a beauty salon and as the movie starts she is coming home with several bags of groceries. She yells for Isaiah to come and help her but to no avail.

Then we see Isaiah in the back room, his headphones on, talking to an unseen partner as they play one of those video games where characters hunt other characters and try not to get killed.

This is the setup for the rest of the movie. Isaiah is an intelligent young man with no plans. No plans for college, no plans for finding a job, just existing off his mother and trying to enjoy each day. Mom reads him the riot act, either get a job and contribute or find a friend that will let him sleep on their couch. When I was a younger parent we called this "tough love."

So the story arc is Isaiah meeting the right kind of people who show him some realities of life and the appreciation for others. How to become a fountain instead of remaining a siphon. The message is good but the movie offers no new concepts, just the tried and true of Christian life.

Over the years, the Kendrick brothers have brought Christian movies to the forefront. I wouldn't call myself religious, so I know these movies aren't really aimed toward me. Still, I gotta do my duty as a movie critic and see every movie I'm able to, to feed my never-ending love of movies, and for you guys of course. Their newest movie is actually a spin-off of their earlier film WAR ROOM, which I actually watched afterwards, for research purposes. THE FORGE is a movie about 19-year-old Isaiah (Aspen Kennedy), an irresponsible boy who plays basketball with his friends and plays video games "too much". Raised by a single mom (Priscilla Shirer) who has had it with his bull, gives him 1 month to find a job. This leads Isaiah to meet Joshua (Cameron Arnett), an older man who gives him a job and becomes his mentor, in the company and in life. You can definitely tell the director is a preacher. I know the powerful religious message is important, but it completely overshadows any resemblance of a movie. This felt exactly like WAR ROOM, with lower stakes. Sermons and melodramatic praying out loud for most of it, then they remembered it needs to be more than just a bible study, so they have a nearly impossible task that the company needs to accomplish, or they lose the business. The balance between message and movie was way off to one side. I will say though the acting is very good, leading to me getting a little emotional during some scenes (leave my heartstrings alone). While THE FORGE has many obvious tropes, I think Christians will enjoy this sermon, not as much for film critics. No wonder it doesn't have a critic's score on Rotten Tomatoes yet.

You know I was really surprised. I expected this movie to be a dud. It concerns a young black kid in the hood. Playing video games like all kids.

(Hey I got a in-law who plenty of time for video games and no time for a job).

And he gets a mentor, at the new job. His mother said get a job or pay rent. Now there was a lot of humor in this movie I didn't get. And quite frankly it is way too long. Chop off 40 minutes and it would be much much better.

The acting was good. Also someone was filmed inside a real factory and I really enjoyed that. Anyway probably one time watch for me but pretty good for a Christian movie. I was surprised.

I was sitting alone in my grief from just experiencing my first Christmas since the loss of my older daughter, who passed suddenly without warning at tge age of 35 in January 2024. I was doom scrolling through available movies, looking for a lost blockbuster. I don't know why I decided to give The Forge a watch. Maybe just the hope for a better future through each one of us choosing to make a difference, even if just for one of us. Without exposing spoilers, there were surprising moments that resonated deeply. I am a Christian, but far from what the Lord wants me to be. This film speaks to people like me and people looking for a path.