User reviews

First of all, we watched "The Encounter" without knowing what it was about. We were basically just looking for a film to watch before we fell asleep, something not too challenging. This film was excellent. It held our attention the entire time. The acting was superb, not cheesy with bad sound and worse dialogue like some of the other Christian movies we've watched in the past. The film gracefully and unashamedly tackles some of the really hard questions Christians face with answers that are refreshingly genuine. We were left with lots of food for thought, and afterward we had a very lively discussion about several of the points raised in the film. We shared it with one of our adult children, who was intrigued and plans to watch it as well. I would wholeheartedly recommend this film for all age groups. Finally, it was also very funny in some parts. We laughed out loud, and you will too.

Many a times we blessed with Christian movies that take you down a path of character change, showing you the strength of holding on to faith and never letting go.

With movies like Facing the Giant and Fireproof, these movies touched the lives of many by setting for them examples in which they could follow but The Encounter is different. The movie just deals on remembrance, here is a movie that the main Character is Jesus himself (played by Bruce Marchiano) and all his is trying to do is to make people remember that he has always been with them and to make them understand that all that they have been facing in life was leading to this moment, where he will call them to live the darkness and come into the light.

The movie does star Jaci Velasquez, who is a notable Pop and Gospel singer, I actually expected mediocrity from her but I have to say that her acting was quite good enough for me to respect and say that was not bad. Also in the movie is the wrestler Sting (Steve Borden), who has publicly declared that he is a Born Again Christian. Sting who has already had many acting experience his acting was in a way head over shoulders above everyone.

But the Character that gets your smile is the man who played Jesus (Bruce Marchiano) he did a good job his smile was just beautiful.

The movie plot is about 5 people all heading down a road way when a storm caused them all to divert and stay in a diner, where they met a man who claimed he was Jesus. His claim stood as he was able to tell each one intimate secret about them. The 5 people were: 1. Kayla, who is a runaway teenager that Hank refused to pick even after he heard a still small voice telling him to. 2. Hank, who is a God fearing Christian but he allows his wife to take control of his life and his marriage 3. Catherine, who is Hank's wife, she is a controlling lady that wants to leave Hank and chase after something she will never have 4. Melissa, who was heading to go see her boyfriend, hoping to receive a proposal, she too is a born again Christian like Hank and she obeyed the voice and picked up Kayla. 5. Nick, he is a self made millionaire who doesn't want to have anything to do with God.

Like most Christian movies the antagonist is the devil. The movie did have some flaw in the cinematography area, but you do have to cut them some slack, as most Christian movie makers have to source for finances independently, but that is not saying that what is worth doing is not worth doing well. The cinematography is a low 4/10.

What can I say, a good Christian movie to me is one which I am able to learn something from, here I learned that all sin has their root in pride and that God has placed in front of us the path of love and worship and the degree which we can experience this love is the degree in which we are willing to bend to his will.

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I started watching this movie and I was thinking OK typical Christian movie all heart and bad acting. The acting was not as bad as facing the Giants although i put it behind Facing the Giants because it had a better theme. No i am not a die-hard Christian fanatic although i do enjoy some of the movies that are put out there because they put me back in my place.

The basic concept of the movie is five people end up getting sidetracked by the devil because of flooding and get sent back to a diner where Jesus is trying to save each individual from going down the wrong path. The movie overall had a great concept but it got a little too deep on the religion side although i do understand the reasoning but it got pushed over the top a little. I rank this a 7 out of Ten and i put Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and To Save a Life ahead of this small treasure of a movie.

When I initially saw the beginning of the movie I was not impressed until I stopped and paid attention to the storyline. The setting was one in which a girl is walking on a remote road and looking to catch a ride as cars are passing and a storm with lightning and heavy rain is quickly approaching. The key players are those that pass her on the remote road, as well as the one girl who is prompted by a voice to pick her up. The story unfolds with the players about five or six ending up at a road crossing where a police officer stops them because of a possible washout of the road. They are turned back and all end up at a diner that was not supposed to be at the location. In any event, they all enter and encounter a person named Jesus. Lives and legacies are unveiled in a unique way making application of the Biblical scriptures as well as modern concepts like what it would be to encounter the savior. The story as well as the approach is very thought provoking and leads a person to consider their life and the events of their life in an effort to make a decision for Christ. I have enjoyed a lot of movies, Christian and non-Christian. By far this is one of the best written, staged and acted movies I have seen. It is well worth the time to see it and a great tool for sharing how life takes us down a variety of avenues. I would add that the movie really should be viewed with an open mind to see what the message and points are. It is not a heavy action flick…just a thought provoking hear-felt movie that is well worth the time.

So I looked at the New arrivals on Netflix and saw the title. I thought it was maybe a horror movie so I loaded it and waited but what I got was a really really good movie that touched me and made me feel good and wanting to be better. It's a movie that needs to be on TV, Hulu, and anywhere possible. I enjoyed it and I do believe in God and Jesus and not ashamed to say it. I do not go to church weekly but I have him in my heart and my family believes in him.

Many out there will make negative comments about this movie and that is there right but it is also my right to praise the movie and the message it gives to all. Too much hate goes on in the world and this movie reminds you whether you like it or not that there is good if we can find it in ourselves to make it good. I hope you will give it a chance I think you will be surprised if you believe and maybe if you don't you will be touched.

The constant use of 'God' and 'Jesus' became a little bit overbearing. Ultimately, though, the film delivers a powerful message - not only from a religious perspective.

I enjoyed the setting in the diner on a dark and stormy night. I enjoyed the various characters. The acting in general was very good. Bruce Marchiano, especially, was believable as Jesus. He certainly sold the character to me. We also see Steve Borden (wrestling star Sting) in a very different role, which he does wonderfully.

Whether your religious (Christian in particular) or not, this is a feel-good, inspirational film (despite being one-dimensional).

This movie covers the heady topics of Pride, Suffering, Sin and Brokeness in a very poignant but also uplifting way.

It certainly broaches topics that the character Nick, and some of the like-minded reviewers here (the haters) would prefer not be discussed. It's almost as if they are possessed the manner in which they spew venom at the mere mention of Christ's message.

All of this and a lot more is covered in this movie.

I highly recommend this movie.

This movie was amazing! It is different then what we normally watch, but in no way was i left feeling disappointed. The story was a 10/10 but the acting had a little to be desired. The meaning and purpose is very clear.

I am purchasing this DVD, I watched it twice on online and now I find myself wanting to watch it again and again. Both times, I was left feeling very comforted and loved. After watching I can imagine what it would feel like to spend some time in Jesus presence and how much he loves me.

It is great family movie, also recommend for one trying to find their way to Jesus (or even if you already know him). I rank it as my favorite feel good movie. Highly recommended!

1 November 2016: I saw this movie twice, yesterday and once three years ago. The cast is good, the story line is good. God is a Holy Spirit and God came in human form as Jesus Christ (Yeshua) to forgive us, save us and die for us.

My two favorite actors playing Jesus Christ / Yeshua is Diogo Morgado and Bruce Marchiano. Bruce does a good job as Jesus an ordinary man, who is proved to be Not ordinary.

I liked this movie from start to finish. I was happy that near the end, Jesus finally showed a bit of power over Satan in the café when Satan after convincing "Steve Borden as Nick Crusher Crushetti to follow him, Satan said "that's one for me." In a flicker Jesus lets Satan know who is still in control and who has the power.

Jaci Velasquez and the rest of the cast is fairly okay. The best supporting cast was actor, Jaime Nieto and actress Dinah Williams.

I give this movie two thumbs up.

I watched this movie. Then I re-watched it. Then I watched it again -- 3 times in one week! It's a simple story done on a low budget, with no big action or special effects. Yet I found it so captivating.

I'm quite taken with the depiction of Jesus here - it's spot-on to the way I've envisioned him for years -- NOT as some unrelatable, mysterious, stoic dude in robes as depicted in so many Jesus movies. Here we have him as he really is: omniscient, loving, genuine, earnest, wise, and concerned. Yet not a pushover, and authoritative when he needs to be. And totally unflappable even by overt hostility.

Beyond that, I thought everyone else's acting was generally pretty good. And the story delved into several complex issues that have come up in debates for many years, and it handled them really well. So overall, I was very encouraged by this movie and highly recommend it.

First of all I find it unsettling that there are some who attack people's ratings of this movie because of a failure to meet a cinematic standard they want to see in a movie or others beliefs as Christians. We're suppose to rate the movie, not peoples ratings or their beliefs.

This is a low budget film, of course it's not going to be on the same level as a major Hollywood blockbuster. But what it lacks in that is made up in the content of the film. The actors chosen for this film are perfect for their roles.

What I enjoyed about The Encounter is the reality of Jesus who knows everybody and how he intervenes and reaches out even when they don't know he is there. The concept of meeting him at a diner I found to be brilliant, making him personable and real. It's put a fresh new perspective of him in my life and how simple it is to reach out back to him.

This is a different Christian movie than most others and really refreshing. It really showed the reality of the choices we are faced with and the consequences, both good and bad of those choices, and the constant battle between good and evil.

If you're a Christian, you'll love this movie, if you're not, it's definitely worth giving it a chance because believe it or not, this movie shows a real side of Jesus you won't find anywhere else. It succeeds in showing how real and approachable Jesus really is. There are much worse things you could waste your time watching.

I would have given it a 10 except that there were times the camera shook, like the camera man either moved the tripod or the shot was hand held. Even for a low budget film, camera shake is really not acceptable.

I rated this movie an honest 4. The only reason it has such a high score rate is because 90% of the Earth's population believe in God and more than 2 billion in Jesus. But if you're a atheist or agnostic you should skip this one because it's nothing more than a cinematographic summarization of the Bible, including the naive, child-appropriate story telling, fight between God and the devil and so one. Bad acting, bad directing, scripting, effects and everything related to cinematographic art is bad. The way the main character talks will remind you of a very passionate priest or pastor or Jehovah's Witnesses on a Sunday morning. The only thing I liked was the initial idea: a horror-like movie where you gather a bunch of people in a diner on a bad weather and things happen... but despite a classic film where people die in terrible pain and horror, this time only good and wonderful things take place. But besides that, there is no action, no story line, the characters are weak and flat, the ideas and philosophy are STRICTLY religious and the dialog disputes "don't stay in court". As an agnostic, I always like a good religious dispute but I was deeply disappointed this time. If you have one chance to face God what questions will you ask him? I have a bunch of them prepared and ready but non were heard in this film, nothing to upset the All Mighty, nothing to make the watcher think more than she/he should. If the biblical dialogs were more elevated and smart it would have made a good religious documentary. If you would take the whole religion idea out, it could have been a good movie.

Let me start by saying there are no 'hidden' messages in this movie. Everything is out in the open, from 5 minutes into the movie. I really hadn't expected that and it kind of lowered my expectations for a few moments, but I'm pleased to say that this in no way ruined the movie. It was actually kind of refreshing.

I don't think I would have chosen the actor who played Jesus, but he did a very good job just the same. There were some very good questions asked of him by the prideful character named 'crusher', about how a loving God could let so much pain and hurt go on. The answers may not satisfy the critics, but that's probably because God doesn't work the way we do.

This movie does an excellent job at revealing God's love for each of us and how he moves in each of our lives, whether we believe or not. A must see.

The Encounter is a nice piece of independent Christian cinema. It doesn't star Sir Lawrence Olivier or boast a cast of thousands. The low budget production values clearly show but they don't distract. The cast is not sterling and the script could have used another draft or two. Still, the movie was decent and thoughtful and generally enjoyable.

There isn't any violence or obscenity or sex in it. That's a welcome relief these days. You can actually sit down and watch it with the kids and not cringe.

If you like a quiet Christian movie that will leave you feeling good and slightly more humble, this should fit the bill nicely.

Horrible. Production quality is OK. The movie would be better as a play... in a church. I am a Christian but this movie is all I hate about Christian productions. Zero subtlety. Other people can get their point across through careful character development instead of such obvious church propaganda. Why can't Christians who have God to give inspiration do the same? Diner owner named Jesus? Really? Only serving water? Then he gets right into the weirdness and creepy behavior and bad duologue and quotes from the Bible. I am so depressed after watching 10 minutes of this. Please some Christian should make a movie for people with a brain.

This movie was better than I expected after looking at the reviews and the message it told was one that we all need to hear. It really touched me, and I think it will you too! Too many times people do not hear the call of God or see how he is working in their life, but this movie serves as a good reminder of that. This movie tells a message many people need to hear and I hope that after people see it they will share the message. To me it showed how Jesus is always reaching out to us and offering us the Love we are looking for and we only have to accept it and follow him. I will say that it seems like it was a low budget movie but I think they did the best they could with what they had and it worked.