Amazing Grace

Marrying warmth and historical narration together really makes history exciting to discover and learn. This movie certainly delivers, bringing easy-to-love characters to life. It could’ve used more intensity or stronger extremes, perhaps, but the painful injustices that were fought and the wear and tear of the long-winded fight probably make subtlety and restraint good ingredients for presenting this account of the man (William Wilberforce) and his friends (John Newton, the author of the great hymn the movie is titled after; Thomas Clarkson, the passionate yet rough-around-the-edges patriot for this cause; and the youthful British Prime Minister William Pitt ... just to name a few) that had so much to do with the abolition of slavery. Ya gotta love a movie that is well-written and delivers great memorable quotes. Here’s a few: A poignant question is directed Wilberforce’s way as he wrestles with a career in the priesthood or politics: “So, you need to decide: are you going to use your beautiful voice to praise the Lord; or to change the world?” Newton shows his humility and wisdom in the following quote: “Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly: I’m a great sinner; and Christ is a great Savior.” And a great line that epitomizes the idiocy of human slavery was uttered when they saw the artifacts of the atrocities in an empty slave ship: “…we were apes. They were humans.” This might be one of those movies I’d like to keep around for future generations. Wow.
[Fox Video] Doug Van Pelt




Spiritual Relevancy: 100
Obscenities: 2
Scenes Of Gore: 0
Nudity/Sexuality: 0




This DVD review was originally published in the Jan/Feb Issue (#129) of HM Magazine. You can order the Print Version of this issue online or find this issue on newsstands. You can NOW read this entire feature in the online edition of HM Magazine. If you're a subscriber, you get a free online/digital subscription with your print subscription. You can purchase a single online/digital edition (which includes access to back issues) for only $1.99. A one-year digital-only subscription can be had for only $6.




©2008 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved



Return to DVD Reviews

Comments