End of the Spear (2006)

"End of the Spear" is the remarkable journey of a savage Amazon tribesman who becomes family to the son of a North American man he kills. Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) is a Waodani warrior who leads the raid that kills Steve Saint's father and four other missionaries. Through a suspenseful series of events Steve Saint (Chase Ellison) is able to visit Mincayani's tribe. Steve tries to learn which warriors killed his father but has to leave with his question unanswered. Steve returns to the Waodani as an adult (Chad Allen). Together Mincayani and Steve confront the true meaning of the life and death of Steve's father and the other men who were killed.System Requirements:Episodes & Bonus Features: Side A: End of the Spear - Full Screen Feature FOX Anti Piracy Trailer: 0:48 Beyond the Gates of Splendor Trailer: 1:32 Side B: END OF THE SPEAR - Widescreen Feature FOX Anti Piracy Trailer: 0:48 Beyond the Gates of Splendor Trailer: 1:32 Running Time: 111 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 024543245704 Manufacturer No: 2234570 Product Description

A Muddled, Stale Movie.

"End Of The Spear" is based on one of the most famous stories within Christian missionary circles, the story of a group of missionary families who ventured into the most remote areas of Ecuador's jungles in the 1950s to Christianize local indigenous tribes, tragically five men were killed when they attempted to make contact. This makes for interesting material, unfortunately, director Jim Hanon reduces his story to a muddled series of segments, an unclear narrative and a "Christian film" that never gets any sort of clear philosophy or message across.

The film kicks off with some gorgeous cinematography, fully capturing the beauty of South American landscapes, we also meet some fascinating Indian characters and the members of their tribes and families. All this feels very authentic and well-researched. The movie immediately goes downhill however, when the whole missionary storyline comes into play. The screenplay by Bart Gavigan, Jim Hanon and Bill Ewing introduces us to the missionaries, their wives and one son, and they comes across as nice, pleasant folks, but we never learn exactly what it is they are here for. They have set up a very Americanized camp where they live suburban 1950s American lifestyles in the middle of the jungle, but the film never explains what their specific ideas, plans or goals are as missionaries. They could be United Fruit workers for all we know. We hear a lot about "making contact," but what for? Is it to convert the natives to Jesus? Why do these people feel compelled to convert the Indians? This is never explored or ever explained. In a film about religious personalities, it is interesting and disappointing to see how the film simply ignores or evades the details of the spiritual drive behind these characters. Maybe Hanson believed this would make the film more commercially attractive. Consider that the term "Bible" or the name "Jesus" are never once uttered in a film which is about people supposedly destined to introduce these elements to the Indians, and you'll only know that if you research the story after watching the movie.

After the tragic, main event of the film takes place, the dead missionaries' widows go live among the Indians. This could have turned into a fascinating story of cultures meeting or a serious look at one foreign group trying to introduce an indigenous culture to their religion, like Salvador Carrasco's much deeper, realistic "The Other Conquest," serious philosophical, spiritual topics would have made for a riveting story. Instead the missionary widows become invisible, almost background characters while Hanson throws a bunch of "action scenes" at us including a river battle with an anaconda. There is quite a lot of carnage in "End Of The Spear," including battles with jaguars, women being hauled away to cook for conquerors and people being impaled, but it has no payoff. The ending gives the assumption that "forgiveness" is the main theme of the movie, but again, it is never explored with the kind of depth and attention it demands.

Christian films have lately become a hot commodity, especially in the Bush era, post-"Passion Of The Christ" America, but even the worst of the lot ("One Night With The King," "Left Behind") have clear, understandable messages. You don't have to agree with them, but you understand the theology or philosophy behind the story. "End Of The Spear" only offers bloody battles, even a surge of polio in the jungle, but we never get why characters are where they are, why they do what they do, or what they even think or feel inside. Indian characters change their views, one even converts to whatever the missionary women are offering, but we never learn why or how. There is never a single shot of a Bible being handed out or any of the missionary women actually teaching or saying anything to the Indians that would make them convert. "End Of The Spear" is a stale film with no story. It is a film that feels as if it knows what it's about, but never lets us in on the secret.

September 11, 2008

A Story Never to be Forgotten

Praise the Lord to those who produced & financed this movie. It is the true story of the ultimate sacrifice . . to give one's life so that others can, and will, see the Kingdom of God. Make no mistake, this movie has received much criticism. But that criticism comes from people who sit who would have never told this story themselves. Anyone knowing how most missionaries work know that the Gospel is rarely presented to the natives the first week upon arrival. They must first gain their trust.
I consider this movie FANTASTIC, and a MUST SEE for everyone, both Christians and non-Christians alike.
Like the movie "Amazing Grace", this movie concerns the way Christians should conduct their lives afer being saved, meaning that we are on a live saving mission the remainder of our lives. We should feed and cloth those in need physically, and we provide the Gospel to as many as possible before it it too late.
I could go on and on, but I think you get my point. This movie rates a 10 in achievement in just about every technical category I can think of, directing, cinematography, editing, music, etc.
YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS MOVIE . . . it ranks in the top ten of my over 200 DVDs collection. August 30, 2008

Powerful

This movie was so good that after I saw it I bought copies for several of my friends for Christmas gifts. My friends loved it and one of them told me that she has never been so emotional watching a movie.

It's an exciting story to begin with but when you remember that it's true the impact is multiplied x10!

I highly recommend it! July 30, 2008

vida real

esta pelicula es bien real a lo que sucedio en esa historia y como nos motiva a confiar en DIOS y a trabajar para EL. July 21, 2008

Worthy of your time

I highly recommend this movie. Based on a true story about a group of missionaries reaching out to a violent tribe in South America. The group find themselves victims at the end of a spear, because of a lie within the tribe. Amazingly, the family of the victims daringly reach out to the tribe with the boldness that only Christ can offer. Who would have ever expected the outcome? This is a must see. May 29, 2008

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