Fresh and Exciting

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Although this movie was very emotional, it is more than a soap opera. I think it speaks to religion and the pitfalls of blind faith. Also, I think the competent cast elevated it above mere soap.The story is about a family that functions at a high level - as long as there are no bumps in the road. When the family is tested, not every family member has the inner strength or character to keep the family together.The father sends the daughter away because 'he loves her so much he can no longer look at her'. The mother supports the father, blindly hoping things will work out. The daughter loves the father so much she believes he will change and call for her to come home. She desperately waits for him to call her home, suspended in a state of sadness and shame. She prays and relies on her religion to help her through it. But is is not until she seemingly gives up on God to help her that she slowly unravels from her despair. Weak and lost throughout the story, it it not until she finds the strength to forgive her father and mother so she can move beyond the past and find a life for herself.Once the father - the supposed rock the family was built on - is gone, the family unites again.

This is meant to be a sad and inspiring drama based on a popular novel. I hadn't read the novel and didn't know what to expect. While watching it though I couldn't help but find it hilarious. Not in a bad way though. They take the viewer into the image of a perfectly happy Christian family with no troubles and a great life. They quickly corrupt this image to their full extent with a series of rape, violence, excessive alcohol drinking, child disowning, child-abuse, illegal weapon use and near murder.The plot is fairly simple. A family must test their faith and selflessness when a series of vile acts are befell upon them.Not too intense though and not really the best movie to watch if your bored. It doesn't seem to go in too many directions. Stays fairly simple so the majority of people would probably leave their seat halfway through. But this movie is easy to just sit down too if you want to get in deep with your thoughts. 5/10

The Mulvaneys were the ideal, story-book family and every one seemed to have high hopes for his or her future ahead--but then tragedy struck one family member, forever altering the lives of the Mulvaney family. This movie is a real tear-jerker and its emotional impact can last throughout its entire run, from the time of the rape and that explosive car scene where Marianne has an apparent anxiety attack, to the ending (spoiler) when the father dies. I just love how this movie made you feel the compassion and empathy for the characters through the great acting and the writing. This movie also shows how a personal tragedy like rape can actually evolve to be not so personal after all. That single event created a chain of other tragedies that occur to the rest of the family. Rating: 8.5/10

I'm actually not a big fan of the movie itself, but I think it's worth watching if you want to see a marvelous performance by a great young actress. Tammy Blanchard is amazing as Marianne Mulvaney. Blythe and Beau are good as always but young Tammy is the star of this one. Not a great adaptation of the book though, 7.5/10