Runtime: 109 Minutes – Country: Australia
This film is referring to a rather common storyline which basically consists of a fight between the good and the evil. But let me be more specific here: the story is set up in some kind of intermediate world where a lot of souls are longing for a final decision. The light is sending out 7 archangels to save them, by finally bringing back the light into this gritty city. But the dark side which currently is in overall control; is not sleeping as well… lead by their powerful leader Samael (Dwaine Stevenson), the fallen ones have already gained a lot of power. But by the appearing of Gabriel (Andy Whitfield) all hope is raised again, since all other 6 archangels seem to have failed on their mission…
Gabriel, played by Andy Whitfield (I added a lot of brightness – since the film actually IS very dark)
Concerning the overall storyline I am kind of torn between… on the one hand it is certainly a well known thing. Just like this: watching God and the Devil representatively sending out their troups to fight on earth or elsewhere… but considetared otherwise it definitely had some interesting philosophical dialogs which I could not encounter in any alike film yet.
What I escpecially liked was the overall look that manages to impress ever since the beginning. A nicely realized intro sequence, a very dark mooded scenery, interesting scenes… and a lot of talented, expressional and fresh actors who are emphasizing that impression. The camera handling was not that professional, and some scenes seemed way too dark… but that basically was ok with me. It is an average film; but still: sometimes you are getting the feeling that this film can not really express what maybe was intented, but is moving waveringly between the genres instead. For example, I did not like the overall fighting scenes, which were basically described by one person fighting against many others, just shooting everything down – they could have better fit in a totally different film.
Gabriel is desperate – will he be able to save the others ?
But the main thing which bothered me most is the world this is set in – it is just not very believable, mainly because it is reducing itself to some major parts of the city, where almost the whole action takes place. and not really introducing much characters at all. The audience can not get a good feeling for what is happening there, neither that is is something of a major importance. The fight between archangels and fallen ones is drastically reduced, for example by not having any influence on anything or anybody. Even the end could not solve this; the city is enlightened finally – but who cares ? At least that could not really be transported, I guess. The intermediate zone just had too less towards a special relevance; the whole thing could have just well played on earth, or elsewhere…
Gabriel’s # 1 enemy Samael. Or could it be that…
Finally – the most powerful archangel Gabriel fighting against all evil; set up in this awkward scenario… being overall successful. But, and by referring to one quote of the film: the last decision he must make certainly is the most difficult – since he must make it as a human being… – 5.4/10. Of course, it contained many technical annoyings. Points because of the interesting dialogs and the good open end which could leave you thoughtful – absolutely recommendable if you are into the overall topic anyhow.
This Dvd at Amazon.com – The trailer on Youtube
I like movies like this but really their is no intermediate zone. When you die and enter the God zone perfection is achieved. Good go to paradise and Evil are tormented in hell. nothing in between but a huge gulf. Good spirits and Bad spirits cannot mix. Only with this physical flesh barrier can this happen. Why is there no intermediate? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross which takes away all the sins of anyone who believes on him. You get his perfect holy spirit living in you so that when God looks at you all he sees is the Perfect spirit of Jesus Christ and nothing else.
I have has an experience with that. I has been staying awake all night and all day. And I got to the point where it was getting so hard to stay awake. I was our and standing and was wavering between sleep and awake. I told the person that I cannot stay awake and he kept ignoring me and talking about mud wrestling with some other people and suddenly I felt this force repel me away from this person. I was shocked and my friend tried to drag me off to another place. Maybe he just thought I just didn’t want to do the wrestling but that wasn’t. I stood my ground and said I have to sleep now and you can do whatever you want but I am going to sleep.
When you get to that state where you weaken the flesh by not doing what it wants the spirit takes over and that is were righteousness leaves. No more mixing of good and bad. That is why the Devil does not live in heaven anymore.
Joyangel123
http://gatesofrighteousness.blogspot.com
Hmm… I think the idea that “good and bad” souls cannot mix isn’t a very promising one at all. Since there cannot really be a thing like a “pure and good” soul – living within a human body – these two things seem to exclude each other somehow. As you said, the “flesh” – or let’s call it the physical part – is one thing which characterizise us the way we are, as humans. We cannot eliminate that fact; by, for example suppressing the sleep-wake cycle. Some people say that they have deeply-going “religious experiences” when they are doing that – what I would rather and simply associate with the complex physiognomy of the brain; the result of a physic deficiency syndrome. I don’t think we should really fight those basical physical needs; if we would do this anyhow, we’d more than ever loose some important part which makes us human at last.
Also: who or what can really decide on who is (purely) good and who is (totally) evil ? If we think about this in a human approach, one can just fail, that’s for sure. But I also don’t like this total differentiation here, since every “evil” maybe has some good parts left; what was also briefly described in this movie. Therefore I liked the idea of the “intermediate zone”, where one could maybe get a “second chance” – not only being judged about by the events experienced for living only one human lifetime; getting another chance to be convinced about the right way (which is hard to tell). But, to state that here, this movie refers more to archangels, which aren’t purely human at all (in this case they are only “made” that way, for a short period of time) and in some kind of superior state.
But talking about “evil souls”… what makes them evil at last ? If we are talking about one single human soul here, it maybe isn’t hard to figure out: I think it’s the time we are living as humans on this planet; which is shaping you towards many different and unique directions. One could say that there is a pure evil, living in some humans ever since their birth – but that would go way to far, rather being a fanatic belief. I rather think that a soul is neutrally brought into life with birth; and that it’s time being ends with death. That would automatically mean that valuations are only made concerning this unique lifetime. Even though I tend to belief that there might be another ways… it will stay non-available to us anyhow; same as – for example – the overall understanding of the universe and the reason it actually exists.
Don’t get my wrong, it’s not that I’m trying to offend anyone – at least one should discuss about it, since this a difficult topic where many ideas are totally drifting apart.
So thanks for the comment and the inspiration.
Greetings,
Ikarus