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Bryce_Tech
Reviews
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
One of My Favorite Movies
This movie hits me on a personal level because of my own childhood memories. Few people acknowledge genuine cases of demonic possession today. Even the church denies help for individuals suffering possession. The Exorcism of Emily Rose acknowledges something churches today deny. It acknowledges that a Christian can be possessed. Something I know to be true. I was raised in a Hindu cult that led to my own demonic experiences. I do not like to discuss these experiences in detail. I will only say that once when my parents took me to a psychic séance, the psychic told a woman she was talking to her dead sister. I saw an apparition in the form of a girl standing next to the psychic. The psychic gave a description of the girl to the woman, and the woman verified it was her dead sister's description. Afterward, as we were leaving, I looked over my shoulder and saw the apparition of the girl change its shape. What I saw scared the hell out of me. I realized I wasn't seeing a ghost, but something else I wasn't supposed to see. This was the beginning of a series of horrific experiences which only got worse the more I tried to get away from my parents' religion. At age 17, I converted to Christianity without my parents' knowledge. I'd love to say the experiences suddenly stopped when I did, but they actually got worse, and I eventually came to understand the reason. These entities hate God with such intensity that they seek to condemn anyone who follows God. However, my faith in Christ is the reason I am still alive today. These experiences nearly cost me my life and the lives of people close to me. I believe that possession is very rare, but it can happen. This movie is the most realistic film on this subject. It conveys an important truth: Most cases of possession do not result in the victim becoming homicidal. Quite the opposite. In most cases, the demon seeks to kill the possessed, as is the case in this movie. It was also the case with Anneliese Michel, the girl this movie is based on. She never killed anyone. Instead, she was the one who got killed. Further, she did nothing to invite these things in, which is often the case with possession. Usually, possession occurs in a child who is sexually abused, as was the case with me. However, Anneliese Michel was not abused. She targeted simply because of her faith. This is something else the church denies, and unfortunately the church blames the victim of the possession, saying it has occurred due to a lack of faith. The other myth this movie debunks is the false belief that a simple Christian prayer will make a demon (biblically a fallen angel) go away. Unfortunately, this is not the case. This film accurately portrays how hard it is to get rid of something like this by the fact of the failed exorcism. Even the bible states that some of these spirits can only be driven out by continuous prayer and fast. It also warns that once cast out, these entities will search for another host, but when unable to find one, will return to their original victim with seven demons more wicked than itself. This shows how hard it is to fight something like this. Anneliese Michel had several exorcisms performed on her. They all failed. Why? Because these entities have no fear. They operate on a fierce determination born out of pure hatred. This movie does an excellent job of portraying the horrific nature of these fallen angels without using blood, violence, or ridiculous special affects. The movie is frightening for what it truly is. It has sparked serious conversation and deep thought among Christians about the subject of possession and why it really happens. I strongly recommend it to believers and nonbelievers alike. It isn't just a horror movie. It's also a spiritual drama with a deep purpose. I'm not easily impressed with movies on this subject, but this movie exceeds all my expectations. Don't expect a Hollywood ending, because you won't get one. One thing this movie makes clear is demons are nothing to mess with. In true form, they look like angels, because they used to be angels. All the more reason to be careful. None of us would leave our children with someone we don't know just because he/she looks nice. Most criminals look normal and decent. Demons are the same way. They don't look frightening. They can take forms intended to frighten, such as the hooded figure Lucifer takes in this movie. I have seen similar forms in my life by things like this. However, they will only take frightening forms to those who pose a threat to the evil they are trying to reap. They will take these forms to intimidate the individual they see as a threat or to intimidate the person they are possessing. This is the case with the priest in this movie. Lucifer appeared to him in the form of a hooded figure in an attempt to frighten him from performing the exorcism. I cannot list enough reasons why I appreciate this movie, but I will warn anyone who hasn't seen it that it is very disturbing. I would not recommend allowing young children to see this movie. I will one day recommend my son watch it, but not until he is old enough, and only if he feels he can handle it. My wife was unable to watch the movie because of her own memories, and this is very understandable. This movie is not for everyone. For those who have encountered something like this, this movie may be too frightening. It frightens me, and I am not easily frightened. However, I admire the courage that Emily Rose and Father Moore show in this movie, and find this movie to be an inspiration to me as a man of faith.
Powder (1995)
A deeply moving story, thought provoking, and unforgettable.
It is rare that I see a movie as unforgettable and unpredictable as Powder. I am not a man who is easily impressed with special affects, but in this movie the affects always served a purpose instead of covering up the fact that there was no purpose. In an age where movies have become multiple scenes of graphic violence and corny excuses for stories, Powder is refreshing, filled with the meaning of humanity, and moved me to tears throughout the entire film. With most films, I am able to predict exactly what will happen and when. With Powder I could never quite tell what was going to happen next, and the ending was something I would have never imagined would happen and could only be described as extraordinary. There are so many elements to this movie: The paranormal; the challenge to everything we think we know about science and the capabilities of the human mind; the human capacity for cruelty; love and forgiveness; and the hope that our own humanity will one day advance beyond our own technology. Most of all, the raw emotion of this great masterpiece reaches deep into the heart and leaves an impression that stays with you. This is one of those rare movies that you will never forget, a true classic that illustrates truths about humanity that have existed since the beginning of time.