This movie is promoted as a "gripping true story" (on the back cover of the DVD, and at online retailers, including IMDb's parent, where it's even described as a "documentary"), but the front cover of the DVD reveals (in much smaller print) that it was only "inspired by true events" but is based on a novel. That means it is a fictional story about a fictional character made up by the author and only "inspired by true events", as Star Wars was "inspired" by true events in the American Old West.
Phillip Schuman (the protagonist of this movie) is NOT a real person; he's not even a real person with a made-up name. He may be based in part on one or more real people, but that's true about all fictional characters. Han Solo may have been inspired by a real person who fought at the Alamo, but that doesn't mean Han Solo is a real person.
Aside from the fact that this fictional story is dishonestly promoted as being true, it is emotionally manipulative in a way I strongly dislike. It creates an extraordinarily vulnerable character -- a lonely, shy, sensitive, creative 15-year-old boy -- and subjects him to unimaginable, gut-wrenching cruelties and abuses ONLY so that it can resolve everything with a miraculous and completely unrealistic feel-good ending. Emotional manipulation like that disgusts me.
Some people love these "faith-based, inspirational and motivational" movies "the whole family can enjoy", movies that feature "forgiveness", "redemption" and similar lofty-sounding themes, and that's who give this movie ten-star reviews. I don't like movies with agendas, movies that are made not to tell an engaging story honestly but in order to lure viewers into accepting a particular view of life the movie-makers advocate. I don't like it when Michael Moore does it from the far left, and I don't like it when obviously evangelical Christians like these do it from their end.
Phillip Schuman (the protagonist of this movie) is NOT a real person; he's not even a real person with a made-up name. He may be based in part on one or more real people, but that's true about all fictional characters. Han Solo may have been inspired by a real person who fought at the Alamo, but that doesn't mean Han Solo is a real person.
Aside from the fact that this fictional story is dishonestly promoted as being true, it is emotionally manipulative in a way I strongly dislike. It creates an extraordinarily vulnerable character -- a lonely, shy, sensitive, creative 15-year-old boy -- and subjects him to unimaginable, gut-wrenching cruelties and abuses ONLY so that it can resolve everything with a miraculous and completely unrealistic feel-good ending. Emotional manipulation like that disgusts me.
Some people love these "faith-based, inspirational and motivational" movies "the whole family can enjoy", movies that feature "forgiveness", "redemption" and similar lofty-sounding themes, and that's who give this movie ten-star reviews. I don't like movies with agendas, movies that are made not to tell an engaging story honestly but in order to lure viewers into accepting a particular view of life the movie-makers advocate. I don't like it when Michael Moore does it from the far left, and I don't like it when obviously evangelical Christians like these do it from their end.