Joshua (2002)

A wonderful, sweet parable

Watch this with your family (all ages invited) or thoughtfully alone. It's a story, from the Joseph Girzone novel, of a stranger that arrives in a small town. The tale unfolds obviously into a 21st century mirror of Jesus' experiences in the 1st century gospel story . . . healing, Pharisees, patience and compassion, persecution, love.

Without question, any believer will take issue with SOME theological difference they can locate in this presentation. But if you are a follower of Jesus, or Yeshua if you prefer, I encourage you to set aside theological wrangling and don't miss the opportunity to enjoy this. Let your imagination run with this "what if" of a visit by Jesus.

Some critical production observations -- the hometown scenes early in the movie are indeed a bit trite. Much of the humor is corny, and some of the "good people" a bit oafish, many examples of over-characterization. The town is too clean. Even the ruins of a destroyed church are orderly (a typical Hollywood treatment). Kind of a made-for-TV feel, but still, this keeps it safe for kids. There is much wisdom in the story (the Gospel story!), so please try to get past some of the Hollywood weaknesses and think about the tale. By the way, Kurt Fuller delivers nicely as Joshua, and F. Murray Abraham is spot on as an unlikeable priest.

The payoff -- the story builds toward a trip to the Vatican for Joshua and an audience with the Pope. A bit of awesome footage of that location, and a very profound ending.

I'll give it 4 stars for enjoyability and the inspiring story. It could have been handled more carefully, I'll reserve a star for that. I expect that you will enjoy it.

June 28, 2008

Amazing Movie

One of the absolute best Christian movies available. Very touching. Keep watching it over & over. June 21, 2008

good movie

The best reason I can think of for owning this movie is to be able to watch for the little details the second time you watch it that you might have missed. (look for the Challah bread!) My family and I really enjoyed this movie. Some of the parts of the movie were very clever in how they used passages from the bible in the context of this story (for example, "I am what I am"). June 9, 2008

Funniest movie I've EVER seen!

When my roommates and I got "wrecked" last night and decided to find a movie to watch, we had no idea what wonder awaited us on our DVR. Our local Christian channel had broadcasted the cinematic gem, Joshua. Our lives would never be the same.

As soon as the fat, bald guy from Ghostbusters II delivers his first putrid line of narration, the laughs become endless. Enter the bad guy from Ghost, who can miraculously carry an 800 lbs. treetrunk ten miles while two fat halfwits follow him and gamble.

15 to 20 years ago, F. Murray Abraham would have looked at this script for a maximum of 30 seconds before throwing it in the trash. One of two things must have happened: (a) he truly found the Lord, or (b) (more likely) he was living under a bridge and took the role so he could buy his Oscar statue back from the guy he traded it to for heroin.

The attempts at comic relief are so pathetic that they are actually funny. Priceless one liners such as, "Oh, ye of little fish" and "I don't know what's worse, my snapper or my marriage," send any aficianado of bad movies into fits of raging laughter.

Joshua's symbolism is comedically trite, evidenced by an angry, long-haired teen wearing a t-shirt that says "Lost" before joining a talentless Christian rock band called, aptly, Lost and Found; and a woman receives an intricately-carved wooden heart from Joshua (aka, Jesus), which is broken by her redneck trucker husband after he tastes her disgusting snapper. Joshua (Jesus) comes to the rescue, mending her broken heart with the touch of his hand and teaching her how to make her snapper more tasty and edible.

This masterpiece is tied together by an unforgettable score by Michael W. Smith, who, despite lacking a shred of talent, has been profiteering off of religious people for many years.

Tie all of these elements together and you have an hour and a half of pure comedy gold you won't soon forget. May 11, 2008

Great Movie

Wholesome movie for the whole family. Joshua is in a sense Jesus Christ in the flesh, he touches everyone's heart in a very special way and brings the whole community together. Wonderful movie. May 9, 2008

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