trammie7

On the Fandango site out of over 5,000 people, more than 4,000 have given Fireproof a 'Must Go', which is the highest rating given any movie.

Needless to say, I was amazed that Fireproof doesn't even rate up to a 5 out of 10 so far on IMDb. They do state that the rating is not from raw data, but rather a 'weighted average', however they don't disclose exactly how they weigh that average.

I may be mistaken, but I thought Fireproof had been well advertised as a Christian-based movie. Those who don't believe in Jesus felt 'insulted' with the fact that the movie pictured Christ as an important ingredient in a marriage. It didn't say a couple couldn't have a successful marriage without Him, only that if a marriage was failing, perhaps that kind of love was needed to save it.

Personally, I'm 'insulted' by the fact that Hollywood doesn't see any need to make very many wholesome movies that you don't have to worry about the explicit language or sexual content. There a so few films made today that I feel comfortable enough to spend my money to watch - why is that? Shouldn't Christians have movies to see that they enjoy without others slamming them and the movies themselves?

I hadn't planned on writing a review which pits Christians against unbelievers, but after reading the so very different reviews and ratings on two different sites, I couldn't help but respond to what I saw.

I loved the movie so much I watched it three times. It showed people in desperate, difficult situations, either from within themselves or from circumstances beyond their control, and how all those things were ultimately overcome. How could I not love it? It started with despair, pain, and betrayal, but further on everything changed with hope, comfort, understanding, and love. Most importantly, it had a point. If some missed it, maybe later, somewhere down their own road, they'll see what it was.

I would have given the film a 10 until I saw the deleted scenes on the DVD and thought they left the best parts of the story on the cutting room floor. Perhaps they were removed because the theme of family, love, and God might have been viewed as too strong, or one-sided, or forcing someone else's beliefs on the audience. Their absence may have caused some to regard it as 'sappy', or then again, maybe not. Each of us sees things from our own perspective. What I consider my loss - the deleted scenes, some others' loss (in my opinion) - what it was really all about.