The Forge

I did not expect much from the description and movie cover, but all the greater the surprise to find a very solid Christian movie, which also proves that a high end production and faithful movie can go hand in hand.

PROS

+ A topic so often neglected and urgent to be covered - discipleship!

+ A very great motivation to give a chance to those we would normally not consider worthy. Joshua showed us the qualities JESUS desires from us, to look at a human from a much different perspective the world would have, to see potential, trust in THEOS and invest some time to make a great disciple (and worker!).

+ A very beautiful conversion, including a baptism which is sadly very rare to observe in a Christian movie.

+ Very beautiful to see the joy of his mother when things change, which means also a potential motivation for frustrated mothers out there.

+ A powerful display against video games, and for obedience to THEOS.

+ Perfect production quality.

+ Very great acting, except Joshua's prayer for his father, which was overly angry and barely within the limits of divine awe.

+ Very decent and intelligent end, to not include his date with Abigail and with his father as the typical happy-end within in the movie itself, but to put it in the epilogue.

NEUTRAL

o 'Joshua' should probably be an allusion to JESUS, and it is probably also not a coincidence that Joshua's group consisted of 12 disciples before they welcomed the 13th disciple, Isaiah. This is a bit odd and an explanation would have been nice why they chose this number. But in the end it is the orientation and example JESUS gave us - not meaning that everyone of us needs to have 12 disciples, but to raise the bar, especially when considering that most male Christians do not even have 1 disciple and fail the Great Commission.

O Many of the chapters of this movies had been obviously idealized and stylized, and such a story would not necessarily occur as such in the real world (e.g. His father standing in the gate or a boss opening his home so fast), but this is not to a detrimental effect because the movie makes a point, and gives us hope of what can happen, even though this might not occur in such an idealized manner. It might not be the boss, but another co-worker or acquaintance who takes the scepter and disciples such a young and lost soul. The movie achieves its aim, to state that not even a CEO should be too proud to take the least respected, and make him a great disciple of CHRIST and great worker.

• While a Christian movie should rather take a stance against overly competitive practises as shown in the movie (producing 3000 units over night), and the example should be rather to trust in KYRIOS while not trying to force things, it still makes a very important point, to precisely show how a lost soul cannot only become a great disciple, but even show leadership qualities.

CONS

• Derogatory remarks regarding truck drivers, which is an elitist and strongly anti-Christian attitude.

• Endorsement / appreciation of

North Presbyterian Church (Calvinist Church)

Rhema Intl. Ministries (Apostles & Female Teachers, Word of Faith inspired by Kenneth E. Hagin)

High prevalence of Baptist churches, but not problematic.