The screenwriters made a valiant effort of filling in story details which the Bible does not provide. Unfortunately, the dialogue and acting were often cheesy, particularly the main villain, named Rallah. That said, I was relieved the film was neither slow-paced, nor preachy. Overall, I give the film a solid C.
120 Reviews
Not Bad but not great
john_s_johnson1 March 2018
It had its moments
subxerogravity28 February 2018
Not a bad movie, Overall.
Based in the Bible tale of Samson, it was more action packed and adventurous than I was expecting. Pureflix did a decent job bringing the tale to life. Taylor James is not the most intriguing actor. He definitely looks the part though, and that was important for the moments of feats of strength. Not the best movie or the best adaption of the story but it was a good film to watch.
Based in the Bible tale of Samson, it was more action packed and adventurous than I was expecting. Pureflix did a decent job bringing the tale to life. Taylor James is not the most intriguing actor. He definitely looks the part though, and that was important for the moments of feats of strength. Not the best movie or the best adaption of the story but it was a good film to watch.
Not even close to a faithful representation of the Bible
starrywar18 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I went in with an open mind--didn't read any of the reviews, etc. I wish I would have.
They tried to make this a story about a humble man in love who made some bad choices, but that is not the story of Samson. Samson was a proud man who had been strong all his life (and took it for granted) and was driven by lust. I understand certain liberties here and there, but when they try to make the story about love and forgiveness, that is not Samson's story. The only time Samson asked God for strength was at the very end when he was blind and his hair had started to grow back. Then he asked God to give him strength one last time to avenge him for his two eyes. It was then that he killed more Phillistines at his death than he had during his life. I liked the actors, the costumes, the scenery.
Discrepancies abounded: The dialogue from the Bible wasn't even used most of the time. There was a younger brother Samson never had. What should have been in the movie, but wasn't: Samson's wife had pressed him for the answer to the riddle for the 7 days of the feast (not just the last night) under threat of death from the Phillistines. Samson set the Phillistines cornfields on fire after her father gave her to his companion because he was angry with her(which was also not in the movie) After Samson's wife was burned to death with her father, he announced he would be avenged for the Phillistines killing her and that is when he killed them with a great slaughter. After the men of Judah "delivered" Samson to the Philistines is when he used the jawbone of an ass and killed 1,000 men. Delilah had been approached by the lords of the Phillistines and promised 1100 pieces of silver from each of them if she found out the secret of his great strength. Clearly, the woman never loved him, she was just using him. He lied to her several times and she said "the Phillistines are upon you" each time, and each time he got out. She got mad at him and kept after him until he finally told her his secret. She never had remorse for betraying him, she was only in it for the money.
This was as frustrating and disappointing as the revisionist version of the Bible miniseries by Roma Downey and Mark Bennett. I never thought Christians would butcher the Bible as badly as Hollywood has (think of Noah and Exodus). I expected better from Pure Flix. The people who read the Bible and know the story will be upset (as I was) with the lack of respect given to the word of God. Those who didn't read the Bible before the movie probably won't after this to get the real story, but even if they do, they'll probably wonder why they didn't stick to the truth since that's what we're supposed to be about.
If they wanted a redemptive story, they could have had it narrated by a father in the future Israel teaching his sons not to be like Samson who was driven by pride and lust.
They tried to make this a story about a humble man in love who made some bad choices, but that is not the story of Samson. Samson was a proud man who had been strong all his life (and took it for granted) and was driven by lust. I understand certain liberties here and there, but when they try to make the story about love and forgiveness, that is not Samson's story. The only time Samson asked God for strength was at the very end when he was blind and his hair had started to grow back. Then he asked God to give him strength one last time to avenge him for his two eyes. It was then that he killed more Phillistines at his death than he had during his life. I liked the actors, the costumes, the scenery.
Discrepancies abounded: The dialogue from the Bible wasn't even used most of the time. There was a younger brother Samson never had. What should have been in the movie, but wasn't: Samson's wife had pressed him for the answer to the riddle for the 7 days of the feast (not just the last night) under threat of death from the Phillistines. Samson set the Phillistines cornfields on fire after her father gave her to his companion because he was angry with her(which was also not in the movie) After Samson's wife was burned to death with her father, he announced he would be avenged for the Phillistines killing her and that is when he killed them with a great slaughter. After the men of Judah "delivered" Samson to the Philistines is when he used the jawbone of an ass and killed 1,000 men. Delilah had been approached by the lords of the Phillistines and promised 1100 pieces of silver from each of them if she found out the secret of his great strength. Clearly, the woman never loved him, she was just using him. He lied to her several times and she said "the Phillistines are upon you" each time, and each time he got out. She got mad at him and kept after him until he finally told her his secret. She never had remorse for betraying him, she was only in it for the money.
This was as frustrating and disappointing as the revisionist version of the Bible miniseries by Roma Downey and Mark Bennett. I never thought Christians would butcher the Bible as badly as Hollywood has (think of Noah and Exodus). I expected better from Pure Flix. The people who read the Bible and know the story will be upset (as I was) with the lack of respect given to the word of God. Those who didn't read the Bible before the movie probably won't after this to get the real story, but even if they do, they'll probably wonder why they didn't stick to the truth since that's what we're supposed to be about.
If they wanted a redemptive story, they could have had it narrated by a father in the future Israel teaching his sons not to be like Samson who was driven by pride and lust.
Boring, tedious, bland and highly insulting to such films of cinematic history.
authorcamilson-499-1568583 May 2018
Samson (2018) - There is a reason MOST directors should never, EVER try to take on the GIANTS of film, such as Cecil B. DeMille or Alfred Hitchock. This is one such classic film that has been cut to crap by a amateurs.
Being a remake of the classic Samson & Delilah (or whatever they want to call it) I found it quite boring. If you are going to "try" and do a remake of what that DeMille did, make sure you are worthy enough to step into his shoes. Even the scene where Samson kills he lion is very poorly done compared to the 1949 version. Story was full of plotholes and endless scenes that were non relevant to the actual story. This seemed to be a hybrid story to appeal the followers of Twilight at best.
Boring, tedious, bland and highly insulting to such films of cinematic history.
This version at the box-office worldwide raked in $4.7M only, while the 1949 version ranked in $29M in the US alone (nearly 300M today). What does that tell you? :)
Rating: 0 out of 10. Rating for Cecil B. DeMille 1949 classic: 10 out of 10.
Being a remake of the classic Samson & Delilah (or whatever they want to call it) I found it quite boring. If you are going to "try" and do a remake of what that DeMille did, make sure you are worthy enough to step into his shoes. Even the scene where Samson kills he lion is very poorly done compared to the 1949 version. Story was full of plotholes and endless scenes that were non relevant to the actual story. This seemed to be a hybrid story to appeal the followers of Twilight at best.
Boring, tedious, bland and highly insulting to such films of cinematic history.
This version at the box-office worldwide raked in $4.7M only, while the 1949 version ranked in $29M in the US alone (nearly 300M today). What does that tell you? :)
Rating: 0 out of 10. Rating for Cecil B. DeMille 1949 classic: 10 out of 10.
Do NOT waste your time....
scate-6697321 February 2018
This was painful to have to sit through, torture basically. The bigger names that were in this were the only wavering grace, their parts to small to make this worth seeing.
Over acting, choppy disjointed storyline, nothing flowed.
The script, the accents, the screenplay horrible.
Not worth spending a dime on.
Horrible terrible no-good very bad movie
honeychile-107-18296312 March 2018
I was hoping that the movie might actually reflect well on the well-known Bible story -- after all, the original story has plenty of drama and intriguing characters, but no. It was just awful. It was not faithful to the original story and, in fact, added so many things that the story was almost unrecognizable. The acting was terrible and characters poorly chosen. After a while I couldn't help but laugh at the horrible overacting. And the accents! Some had British accents, some American. Ugh. The very worst thing is that rather than let Delilah be the villain she was, there was an attempt to make her seem like a good girl under pressure and fear. Double ugh. Don't bother.
well-cast, well-shot, exciting and fun
dave-mcclain18 February 2018
"Samson" (PG-13, 1:50) is a 2018 American action-drama based on the titular Biblical character from the Book of Judges, one of the best-known and most interesting Judeo-Christian legends this side of Moses. The story takes a few liberties with the scriptural account, but only in the details. The major plot points are all still there and the spirit of the tale remains the same - that of a flawed, but practically super-human Hebrew leader chosen by God to help his people stand up against their Philistine overlords.
When we first meet Samson (British actor Taylor James, in his first major feature film role), he's a young man living with his devoted brother, Caleb (Greg Kriek), and his cautious, but supportive parents (1980s action hero Rutger Hauer and Lindsay Wagner, best known as Jaime Sommers, TV's "The Bionic Woman" in the mid-late 1970s.) Samson is a charming and mischievous character with a weakness for the ladies - Philistine ladies - and, in particular, a sweet and innocent young woman named Taren (Frances Sholto-Douglas). However, Samson's fatal flaw is his pride, which often leads him to stray from his destiny.
As Samson learns to use his god-like physical strength (sometimes for selfish purposes and sometimes in service to God's plan for his life), this incredibly large and physically fit man becomes increasingly famous among his own people - and the ruling Philistines, who increasingly see him as a threat to their control of the region. Samson's perpetual enemy is the cruel, power-hungry Rallah (Jackson Rathbone), leader of the Philistine army and heir to the throne of his tough, but naïve father (Billy Zane). As the rivalry between Samson and Rallah reaches its inevitable climax, Rallah attempts to use the sexy and wily Delilah (Caitlyn Leahy) to finally gain the upper hand over the imperfect, but resilient Hebrew hero.
"Samson" is a worthy and very entertaining re-imagining of the famous Bible story. The minor changes from the scriptural account enhance the drama and its religious significance, while highlighting the message of the importance of staying focused and fulfilling one's destiny. The film's well-cast, well-shot, exciting and even fun. The production values are high (with a few exceptions in some of the sets) and the dramatic elements are effective (in spite of occasionally crossing into melodrama). This one should appeal to the religious faithful along with the non-religious who just want to see a good action movie. "B+"
When we first meet Samson (British actor Taylor James, in his first major feature film role), he's a young man living with his devoted brother, Caleb (Greg Kriek), and his cautious, but supportive parents (1980s action hero Rutger Hauer and Lindsay Wagner, best known as Jaime Sommers, TV's "The Bionic Woman" in the mid-late 1970s.) Samson is a charming and mischievous character with a weakness for the ladies - Philistine ladies - and, in particular, a sweet and innocent young woman named Taren (Frances Sholto-Douglas). However, Samson's fatal flaw is his pride, which often leads him to stray from his destiny.
As Samson learns to use his god-like physical strength (sometimes for selfish purposes and sometimes in service to God's plan for his life), this incredibly large and physically fit man becomes increasingly famous among his own people - and the ruling Philistines, who increasingly see him as a threat to their control of the region. Samson's perpetual enemy is the cruel, power-hungry Rallah (Jackson Rathbone), leader of the Philistine army and heir to the throne of his tough, but naïve father (Billy Zane). As the rivalry between Samson and Rallah reaches its inevitable climax, Rallah attempts to use the sexy and wily Delilah (Caitlyn Leahy) to finally gain the upper hand over the imperfect, but resilient Hebrew hero.
"Samson" is a worthy and very entertaining re-imagining of the famous Bible story. The minor changes from the scriptural account enhance the drama and its religious significance, while highlighting the message of the importance of staying focused and fulfilling one's destiny. The film's well-cast, well-shot, exciting and even fun. The production values are high (with a few exceptions in some of the sets) and the dramatic elements are effective (in spite of occasionally crossing into melodrama). This one should appeal to the religious faithful along with the non-religious who just want to see a good action movie. "B+"
Almost so bad it's good, but not quite.
Hellmant23 February 2018
'SAMSON': One Star (Out of Five)
A biblical drama retelling the classic story of Samson (played by Taylor James). Samson was a super strong Hebrew, who was called on by God to lead his people out of slavery. The film costars Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Caitlin Leahy, Lindsay Wagner and Rutger Hauer. It was directed by Bruce Macdonald (who also helmed 2015's 'THE PERFECT WAVE'), and it was written by Jason Baumgardner, Zach Smith, Timothy Ratajczak and Galen Gilbert. The movie has received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it's also a disappointment at the Box Office as well. I found it to be painfully bad to watch, most of the time, but it's also mildly amusing in a few brief moments.
Samson (James) was a rebellious young man who was gifted with enormous strength. He knew he was meant for something, but wasn't sure of what, until his bride was murdered by the Philistine Army. Samson then decided to wage war against the evil empire. God continued to give him the super strength he needed, to accomplish this powerful rebellion.
The film is almost so bad it's good, but not quite. It's so cheesy and melodramatic, but it does have some entertaining B-movie action scenes in it (that are reminiscent of a bad Conan flick). It's weird to me that a Christian movie company would even put this film out though, it's so trashy and laughably bad. If that's what you're looking for, you'll probably enjoy it, but I can hardly even believe this movie was released in theaters!
A biblical drama retelling the classic story of Samson (played by Taylor James). Samson was a super strong Hebrew, who was called on by God to lead his people out of slavery. The film costars Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Caitlin Leahy, Lindsay Wagner and Rutger Hauer. It was directed by Bruce Macdonald (who also helmed 2015's 'THE PERFECT WAVE'), and it was written by Jason Baumgardner, Zach Smith, Timothy Ratajczak and Galen Gilbert. The movie has received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it's also a disappointment at the Box Office as well. I found it to be painfully bad to watch, most of the time, but it's also mildly amusing in a few brief moments.
Samson (James) was a rebellious young man who was gifted with enormous strength. He knew he was meant for something, but wasn't sure of what, until his bride was murdered by the Philistine Army. Samson then decided to wage war against the evil empire. God continued to give him the super strength he needed, to accomplish this powerful rebellion.
The film is almost so bad it's good, but not quite. It's so cheesy and melodramatic, but it does have some entertaining B-movie action scenes in it (that are reminiscent of a bad Conan flick). It's weird to me that a Christian movie company would even put this film out though, it's so trashy and laughably bad. If that's what you're looking for, you'll probably enjoy it, but I can hardly even believe this movie was released in theaters!
Oh come on, it was not that bad.
finesherry11 May 2018
Ok, it is no Cecil B Demille epic and there are no Oscar winning performances. But it was engaging enough, and it did hold my interest, and entertaining enough. To tell the truth only watched it because the bloke out of those British Vanquis credit card adverts was in it.
If you can get passed that it is made on a budget obviously, you might enjoy it, give it a try though.
Actually, I am going to watch it again. Watched it on the pc first time round, now going to watch it on our 50 inch tv for a better experience.
Well got round to watching it on our bigscreen tv, and I still think it is good, not brilliant, but good. Put it this way, I gauge how interesting a film is by if I go to the toilet while watching it, if I am bursting and hold off going till the end of the film, that means the film was good to me, I needed to go desperately, but held off, because the film had me hooked. Oh and I have upped the rating to 7 from 6 also.
Well got round to watching it on our bigscreen tv, and I still think it is good, not brilliant, but good. Put it this way, I gauge how interesting a film is by if I go to the toilet while watching it, if I am bursting and hold off going till the end of the film, that means the film was good to me, I needed to go desperately, but held off, because the film had me hooked. Oh and I have upped the rating to 7 from 6 also.
So-so rendition upon the Biblical story dealing with the long haired strongman who fatally falls in love with tempter Delilah
ma-cortes21 April 2019
Last rendition based on the mythical brave hero who vanquished Philistines, but was finally deceived by Delilah robbing him his strenght by shearing his hair . Samson is a valiant and hunk judge from the tribe of Manasseh. His violent and troublesome existence is told in the Bible, books 13 to 16, book of Judges. Here are narrated the usual episodes about his life as his loving affairs, fight against a roaring lion , removing enormous doors, firing land and harvests, his impressive battle thousands of Philistine soldiers by using a donkey jaw , falling down the temple of Dagon along with the giant sculpture of the pagan idol and many other things. Samson had two vulnerabilities, his attraction to untrustworthly and treacherous women and his hair, without it he was powerless. These vulnerabilities proved to be fatal for him. Samson is the strongest man alive in Israel and he unfortunately falls in love for a Philistine girl, but after being rejected by the mighty hero, Delilah discovers his dark secret based on an incredible strength provided by the hair, as she informs his enemies and while shearing his curls.
Known Biblical episode, being here decently narrated with some nice scenes and other ones extremely absurd and disconcerting. Spectacularly horny as well as corny tale that uses excessive computer generator effects, and Chrome digital visuals. Regularly starred by Taylor James as the bouncing Samson, Greg Kriek as his brother and gorgeous, charming Caitlin Leahy playing the tempter , vindictive vixen Delilah. But Jackson Rathbone as the astute Rallah steals the show as a nefarious villain. Other important secondaries are the very old Rutger Hauer and Lindsay Wagner as his parents. And Billy Zane as the mean and powerful king Balek. The motion picture was middlingly directed by Bruce MacDonald and Gabriel Sabloff.
Other films dealing with this Biblic figure are the following ones : Samson and Delilah 1950 by Cecil B DeMille with Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr, Angela Lansbury, Henry Wilconson. I grandi condottieri or The Biblical Judges 1965 by Marcello Baldi and Francisco Perez Dolz with Anton Geesink, Rosalba Neri, Ivo Garrani, Barta Barri, Fernando Rey. 1984 by Lee Philips with Anthony Hamilton, Belinda Bauer, Max Von Sidow, Stephen Match . 1996 version of the Biblical romance by Nicolas Roeg with Eric Thal, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael Gambon, Dennis Hopper, Jonathan Rhys Davies, Alessandro Gassman, Daniel Massey, Paul Freeman, Diana Rigg. Furthermore, this huge figure starred a lot of Sword and Sandals movies or Peplum, usually played by Steve Reeves, Reg Park, Alan Steel, Brad Harris, Gordon Scott and many others.
Known Biblical episode, being here decently narrated with some nice scenes and other ones extremely absurd and disconcerting. Spectacularly horny as well as corny tale that uses excessive computer generator effects, and Chrome digital visuals. Regularly starred by Taylor James as the bouncing Samson, Greg Kriek as his brother and gorgeous, charming Caitlin Leahy playing the tempter , vindictive vixen Delilah. But Jackson Rathbone as the astute Rallah steals the show as a nefarious villain. Other important secondaries are the very old Rutger Hauer and Lindsay Wagner as his parents. And Billy Zane as the mean and powerful king Balek. The motion picture was middlingly directed by Bruce MacDonald and Gabriel Sabloff.
Other films dealing with this Biblic figure are the following ones : Samson and Delilah 1950 by Cecil B DeMille with Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr, Angela Lansbury, Henry Wilconson. I grandi condottieri or The Biblical Judges 1965 by Marcello Baldi and Francisco Perez Dolz with Anton Geesink, Rosalba Neri, Ivo Garrani, Barta Barri, Fernando Rey. 1984 by Lee Philips with Anthony Hamilton, Belinda Bauer, Max Von Sidow, Stephen Match . 1996 version of the Biblical romance by Nicolas Roeg with Eric Thal, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael Gambon, Dennis Hopper, Jonathan Rhys Davies, Alessandro Gassman, Daniel Massey, Paul Freeman, Diana Rigg. Furthermore, this huge figure starred a lot of Sword and Sandals movies or Peplum, usually played by Steve Reeves, Reg Park, Alan Steel, Brad Harris, Gordon Scott and many others.
Samson (2018)
rockman18218 February 2018
On the weekend where everyone and their mother is watching Black Panther, I watched Samson on opening night..... I do have plans to see Black Panther in a day or two, so no worries. With Samson I was expecting a pretty bad film but something that could bring cheesy fun. When you go in with expectations like that, you get exactly what you ask for. Samson is bad, its cheesy, nonsensical, and poor on cinematic effects but did you really expect any different?
This film is the live adaptation of the story of the same name from the Book of Judges. Its about Samson, a man with incredible strength given by God and his rival Prince Rallah. Rallah murders Samson's wife and sends his army after Samson. Ultimately, Samson is betrayed by Delilah, and Samson loses his power. If you aren't familiar with the religious story, I'd say its quite an interesting story which was the main reason why I wanted to see it. Its bad, make no mistake about it.
The lead actor looks rather identical to Taylor Lautner if he was more buff. The acting and dialogue all around is atrocious. Samson himself becomes an annoying character because you realize how incredibly illogical some decisions are. The film has a lot of dumb moments but its laughable at least. The visual effects, especially the scenes where they show the ancient city look very computerized. At least the film had chubby Billy Zane though.
I doubt many people know about this film or even want to ever watch it. Overall, its a wreck and its exactly what is expected from a film about a historically religious character. The film sets up a tease for what seems like David v Goliath so I think we might have to prepare for a Religious Cinematic Universe.
5/10
This film is the live adaptation of the story of the same name from the Book of Judges. Its about Samson, a man with incredible strength given by God and his rival Prince Rallah. Rallah murders Samson's wife and sends his army after Samson. Ultimately, Samson is betrayed by Delilah, and Samson loses his power. If you aren't familiar with the religious story, I'd say its quite an interesting story which was the main reason why I wanted to see it. Its bad, make no mistake about it.
The lead actor looks rather identical to Taylor Lautner if he was more buff. The acting and dialogue all around is atrocious. Samson himself becomes an annoying character because you realize how incredibly illogical some decisions are. The film has a lot of dumb moments but its laughable at least. The visual effects, especially the scenes where they show the ancient city look very computerized. At least the film had chubby Billy Zane though.
I doubt many people know about this film or even want to ever watch it. Overall, its a wreck and its exactly what is expected from a film about a historically religious character. The film sets up a tease for what seems like David v Goliath so I think we might have to prepare for a Religious Cinematic Universe.
5/10
Don't bother
ewarner13017 February 2018
Failure of Biblical Proportions
rgkarim18 February 2018
Biblical movies are hot topic films that often don't get their fair reviews, wedged between two extremes that are unrelenting. While there have been some amazing films to capture the lessons of the Lord, there are others that fall short of the glory. This weekend, another attempt to bring the stories to visual splendor this time focusing on the tale of Samson and Delilah. You may not have seen the trailers, but the teaser did not hold much promise for this film, with a Taylor Lautner look alike taking center screen amidst a lot of extras. Still, yours truly hits another round of movies to bring you another review. Does this film succeed or is it just bleeding your pockets dry? Let's get started on the analysis, shall we?
LIKES:
Orchestra work: Not the most unique or creative, but the orchestra work in Samson brings an emotional curb to the scene or sequence it is covering. The booming cannons, the sharp trumpets blaring honorably, and the deep drums all combine to form a symphony that mirrors the ferocity of Samson's strength. Without this track, the edge portrayed in the trailer would not be there.
Biblical Look: Okay, okay I'm drawing straw here, but the setting looked like a decent representation of old world towns, palaces, and shacks. Samson's cast have a bountiful environment to work in, from dried up forests, to the open desert plains. The shots are beautiful, and some of the made-up settings look legitimate, especially the outside shots of the CGI built palaces. A nice start, but the budget needed to be expanded to really clean up the rougher edges of the setting.
The Biblical Message: In these types of movies, one strives to learn the Lord's lessons, perhaps as a means to reconnect with their spiritual side. Samson manages to do this, using both the narratives and physical prowess scenes to help spread the message of going to God. The latter in particular are very pronounced prayers, going out of the way to dramatize the kneeling and shut eyes as he communicates with God. This usually follows with some super hero feats, from bashing a person's rib cage in with a punch or pushing open a gate that has no chance of opening. Combined with the music, church goers will love seeing the power of God manifest in Samson's deeds.
DISLIKES:
Unpolished Acting/Writing: One major problem with Samson is that much of the movie feels unfinished, unpolished, and quite weak. Many of the characters act at one extreme or the other, with many of the performances almost feeling like they were uninterested in the part. When dramatic moments hit, the prolonged speeches, and acts of passion were on the other end of the spectrum, very melodramatic and a little cheesy. I can't pinpoint if this is due to the writing, the direction, or something else, but it didn't meet the Oscar quality they might have been shooting for.
Rushed Story: The acting can be stomached, but the story, well that is where things really take a dive. Samson's tale is epic, and one would hope to see that legendary story have all the meaning and development it needed. Sadly, this film failed to bring the story to full light. All the major points are covered, but much of it is a rushed, diluted mess that lacks suspense, quality, or even satisfaction. Character deaths happen in the blink of an eye, punishments lack the movie magic to actually make you feel the pain in your heart and given the writing/acting...things don't feel believable in the performance. Like many movies, they seemed to try and cram everything in to a short run time and it didn't work for me.
The Action: Okay, seeing a Hebrew take on corrupt, pigheaded soldiers, is always satisfying given the portrayal of bad guys in Hollywood. However, Samson's strength falters not in terms of power, but in terms of quality in the fight scenes itself. Much of the movie is just the well-toned body of Taylor James being framed in a close up, with him performing the same, habitual punch/bash over and over again. Oh yeah, they have a little mix up, but it's nothing impressive as it resorts back to the usual bashing before seeing a shot of a poor extra pretending to die. Sword play is lacking, suspense again is gone, and even the main bad guys feel weak in terms of epic villainy and thrilling fights. Like much of this movie, they cut corners on this aspect and it didn't pay off.
Overall:
The legendary story of Samson is an epic one about the power of God and filled with morals about trusting the Almighty one with your life. Sadly, this film was not able to glorify it the way it needed to be. Whether it is due to a limited budget, a short time limit, or rookie status, the movie cut too many corners as they tried to cram everything they could into a short time frame. Mediocre acting, rushed story, and lackluster action more than overshadow the visuals and message in this movie, setting another example of how Hollywood doesn't necessarily mean quality. So, while the spiritual power is good, Robbie recommends skipping this installment at least until RedBox that is... and I can only marginally recommend this.
My scores are:
Action/Drama: 4.5 Movie Overall: 4.0
LIKES:
Orchestra work: Not the most unique or creative, but the orchestra work in Samson brings an emotional curb to the scene or sequence it is covering. The booming cannons, the sharp trumpets blaring honorably, and the deep drums all combine to form a symphony that mirrors the ferocity of Samson's strength. Without this track, the edge portrayed in the trailer would not be there.
Biblical Look: Okay, okay I'm drawing straw here, but the setting looked like a decent representation of old world towns, palaces, and shacks. Samson's cast have a bountiful environment to work in, from dried up forests, to the open desert plains. The shots are beautiful, and some of the made-up settings look legitimate, especially the outside shots of the CGI built palaces. A nice start, but the budget needed to be expanded to really clean up the rougher edges of the setting.
The Biblical Message: In these types of movies, one strives to learn the Lord's lessons, perhaps as a means to reconnect with their spiritual side. Samson manages to do this, using both the narratives and physical prowess scenes to help spread the message of going to God. The latter in particular are very pronounced prayers, going out of the way to dramatize the kneeling and shut eyes as he communicates with God. This usually follows with some super hero feats, from bashing a person's rib cage in with a punch or pushing open a gate that has no chance of opening. Combined with the music, church goers will love seeing the power of God manifest in Samson's deeds.
DISLIKES:
Unpolished Acting/Writing: One major problem with Samson is that much of the movie feels unfinished, unpolished, and quite weak. Many of the characters act at one extreme or the other, with many of the performances almost feeling like they were uninterested in the part. When dramatic moments hit, the prolonged speeches, and acts of passion were on the other end of the spectrum, very melodramatic and a little cheesy. I can't pinpoint if this is due to the writing, the direction, or something else, but it didn't meet the Oscar quality they might have been shooting for.
Rushed Story: The acting can be stomached, but the story, well that is where things really take a dive. Samson's tale is epic, and one would hope to see that legendary story have all the meaning and development it needed. Sadly, this film failed to bring the story to full light. All the major points are covered, but much of it is a rushed, diluted mess that lacks suspense, quality, or even satisfaction. Character deaths happen in the blink of an eye, punishments lack the movie magic to actually make you feel the pain in your heart and given the writing/acting...things don't feel believable in the performance. Like many movies, they seemed to try and cram everything in to a short run time and it didn't work for me.
The Action: Okay, seeing a Hebrew take on corrupt, pigheaded soldiers, is always satisfying given the portrayal of bad guys in Hollywood. However, Samson's strength falters not in terms of power, but in terms of quality in the fight scenes itself. Much of the movie is just the well-toned body of Taylor James being framed in a close up, with him performing the same, habitual punch/bash over and over again. Oh yeah, they have a little mix up, but it's nothing impressive as it resorts back to the usual bashing before seeing a shot of a poor extra pretending to die. Sword play is lacking, suspense again is gone, and even the main bad guys feel weak in terms of epic villainy and thrilling fights. Like much of this movie, they cut corners on this aspect and it didn't pay off.
Overall:
The legendary story of Samson is an epic one about the power of God and filled with morals about trusting the Almighty one with your life. Sadly, this film was not able to glorify it the way it needed to be. Whether it is due to a limited budget, a short time limit, or rookie status, the movie cut too many corners as they tried to cram everything they could into a short time frame. Mediocre acting, rushed story, and lackluster action more than overshadow the visuals and message in this movie, setting another example of how Hollywood doesn't necessarily mean quality. So, while the spiritual power is good, Robbie recommends skipping this installment at least until RedBox that is... and I can only marginally recommend this.
My scores are:
Action/Drama: 4.5 Movie Overall: 4.0
Samson the ... Maciste(?)
kosmasp19 May 2021
This is quite the throwback for me to movies I used to watch as a kid. I can only imagine that this was what the aim was from the filmmakers themselves. Maybe you are nostalgic to those times and movies and find something to love here ... something others couldn't see.
Having said that, there is a lot of "cheese" and there is a lot of unintentional comedy. Like when the bad guy kills of a main character and says "I may not be as strong as you ..." and so forth (he may have used different analogies) - basically saying, I am not worthy .. but at least I'm alive. By the way the expressions of the person killed are ... really good actually! Almost feel too good a "death scene" for such a cliche moment/movie.
Anyway some really funny things than, but overall you have to be a swords and sandals fan to even make it all the way through. It's not really bad, but will feal like torture for those unprepared and unwilling to suspend their disbelief.
Having said that, there is a lot of "cheese" and there is a lot of unintentional comedy. Like when the bad guy kills of a main character and says "I may not be as strong as you ..." and so forth (he may have used different analogies) - basically saying, I am not worthy .. but at least I'm alive. By the way the expressions of the person killed are ... really good actually! Almost feel too good a "death scene" for such a cliche moment/movie.
Anyway some really funny things than, but overall you have to be a swords and sandals fan to even make it all the way through. It's not really bad, but will feal like torture for those unprepared and unwilling to suspend their disbelief.
Sooooooo Bad
natalienaught3 May 2018
This movie just helps prove that the bible isn't even as well-written as most b-list hollywood garbage these days.
I found 0 entertainment value, the story is hilariously poor (as is the acting, of course). I can't imagine how full-grown people can actually believe in tripe like this. I really can't understand how anyone believes it enough to fund this debacle.
I found 0 entertainment value, the story is hilariously poor (as is the acting, of course). I can't imagine how full-grown people can actually believe in tripe like this. I really can't understand how anyone believes it enough to fund this debacle.
5 out of 10
caw-0492827 April 2018
You know your going into a low budget Biblical narrative movie don't expect tons of crazy dark night action. You know the story lines if you have done any research on the topic. At times the movie is slow and boring and it almost makes up For it with action at times but there is limited things they can do with this type of story line. It is a good 1 night dvd rental
Pathetic
jahshammah18 May 2018
Seriously, anyone who rates this movie over a 4 either works for Pure Flix or is trying to be funny. The acting was poor, scenes were choppy, and way too many liberties taken with the biblical storyline. As a writer, I was saddened that this was even made into a film, how they could find someone to invest is beyond me. I'm sure the writers were hoping they had a hit, but somebody should have been honest with them. And for Pure Flix to add their name to it, just shows they get it wrong more than they get it right. The fact Christians didnt support it at the box office is telling. Don't waste your money or your time. And for those who gave it high marks on here, well you know where liars end up.
Don't Mess With Samson
iquine3 March 2020
(Flash Review)
This is the story of a large and jolly big galoot who has the eye for the ladies and a heart for God. The Philistines were adversaries of the Israeli people; who Samson was part of. It is written he killed a lion with his bare hands, killed 1,000 Philistines with the jaw bone of an animal, ripped a castle door off its hinges yet was tricked by Delilah to telling her the secret of his immense strength. Watch how this biblical story plays out with plenty of action. This was at okay movie. They put the CGI bench warmers in the game yet the actors performed admirably and Samson was easy to root for. The tone of the movie was lighthearted but at times it shouldn't have been. Not sure how biblically accurate it is but it did showcase the significant moments.
This is the story of a large and jolly big galoot who has the eye for the ladies and a heart for God. The Philistines were adversaries of the Israeli people; who Samson was part of. It is written he killed a lion with his bare hands, killed 1,000 Philistines with the jaw bone of an animal, ripped a castle door off its hinges yet was tricked by Delilah to telling her the secret of his immense strength. Watch how this biblical story plays out with plenty of action. This was at okay movie. They put the CGI bench warmers in the game yet the actors performed admirably and Samson was easy to root for. The tone of the movie was lighthearted but at times it shouldn't have been. Not sure how biblically accurate it is but it did showcase the significant moments.
Better than I expected, Worse than I hoped
beejai0615 May 2018
Honestly, I was surprised that I enjoyed Samson more than I thought I would. I went into this movie knowing almost nothing about it and when I saw that it had been created by Pureflix my heart sank a little. The best they can do is OK and the worst...
Well, anyways, the acting was OK. There will be no Oscars handed out for these roles, but it wasn't so bad as to be distracting... most of the time. The scenes and backdrop were beautiful. It almost makes me want to get on a plane and visit South Africa. The fight scenes were not all that impressive. When Samson picked up the jawbone to kill one thousand men... I kid you not, I laughed the whole way through that bit.
Like I said, overall it was not really all that bad for a Christian film. What truly bothered me far more than the production value of this film was the way they warped the message in an attempt to add spiritual value. If you look at the Biblical account of Samson he was not a good man. Delilah was definitely not a good woman, and yet in order to make this movie more appealing to their target Evangelical audience (of which I am a part), this film comes off making both decent, or at worst Byronic, heroes. Rather than creating a Biblically sound movie, the end result is more of an apologetic for Calvin's just war theory.
Well, anyways, the acting was OK. There will be no Oscars handed out for these roles, but it wasn't so bad as to be distracting... most of the time. The scenes and backdrop were beautiful. It almost makes me want to get on a plane and visit South Africa. The fight scenes were not all that impressive. When Samson picked up the jawbone to kill one thousand men... I kid you not, I laughed the whole way through that bit.
Like I said, overall it was not really all that bad for a Christian film. What truly bothered me far more than the production value of this film was the way they warped the message in an attempt to add spiritual value. If you look at the Biblical account of Samson he was not a good man. Delilah was definitely not a good woman, and yet in order to make this movie more appealing to their target Evangelical audience (of which I am a part), this film comes off making both decent, or at worst Byronic, heroes. Rather than creating a Biblically sound movie, the end result is more of an apologetic for Calvin's just war theory.
Moving and Powerful! We Loved the Samson Movie.
paulteamteasdale25 February 2018
The acting was excellent. The entire production was very good. The movie in general historically accurate. I have been to 5 movies in the past month and this is my favorite. My wife and I went with our friends. I found the movie thought provoking and inspirational. Don't listen to the critics and haters. Just go and enjoy the movie.
An almost-superhero movie that had me in stitches. Would especially recommend if you've read the source material
josephusername31 May 2020
Most "Christian movies" rise to mediocrity at best. This one stands out above the rest in my eyes for one reason: it is extraordinarily campy. I'll try to describe it as best I can without getting into spoilers.
First off, already knowing the story helps. If you know the story you'll be able to set your expectations for how cheesy an upcoming scene will be, and this movie WILL DELIVER. on that expectation. Even if you don't, I think a quick six page read might be worth your time, because this movie, uses every detail of the source material it can in the most gloriously corny ways possible.
The first scene sets the tone of this tragic literary drama turned hyper cheesified superhero comedy film perfectly and from then on you can prepare to ride on a rollercoaster of cliché to cliché. Special shout out to the actor portraying the main villain, whose over the top evilness never fails to entertain.
By the way, the biblical story is dark and is potentially graphic. This film doesn't shy away from depicting these events, while keeping a family-friendly PG-13 level of detail.
First off, already knowing the story helps. If you know the story you'll be able to set your expectations for how cheesy an upcoming scene will be, and this movie WILL DELIVER. on that expectation. Even if you don't, I think a quick six page read might be worth your time, because this movie, uses every detail of the source material it can in the most gloriously corny ways possible.
The first scene sets the tone of this tragic literary drama turned hyper cheesified superhero comedy film perfectly and from then on you can prepare to ride on a rollercoaster of cliché to cliché. Special shout out to the actor portraying the main villain, whose over the top evilness never fails to entertain.
By the way, the biblical story is dark and is potentially graphic. This film doesn't shy away from depicting these events, while keeping a family-friendly PG-13 level of detail.
And she called for a man, and caused him to shave off his seven locks...
nogodnomasters8 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Samson is the Hebrew retelling of the story of the sun god Shamash. Sun gods are quick to temper, lustful, and judges. They have long hair which symbolizes the rays of the sun and their great strength. They lose their strength in winter when their rays no longer shine and the sun goes blind.
The story left a lot to be desired starting with the acting and dialogue. The Philistines where shown to be far more evil than archeology would have us believe. The Samson character lacked the passion associated with the Biblical character and was rather serene by comparison. The script added details to the biblical tale in order to make a cohesive tale, yet failed in a very important aspect to stick to the story. The Bible does not state that Delilah cut off Samson's hair as the movie erroneously shows, but rather she instructed a man to shave off his seven locks (Judges 16:19). Didn't anyone on the set every read a bible?
Billy Zane plays a boring bad guy who gives us the British pronunciation of "privacy."
The story left a lot to be desired starting with the acting and dialogue. The Philistines where shown to be far more evil than archeology would have us believe. The Samson character lacked the passion associated with the Biblical character and was rather serene by comparison. The script added details to the biblical tale in order to make a cohesive tale, yet failed in a very important aspect to stick to the story. The Bible does not state that Delilah cut off Samson's hair as the movie erroneously shows, but rather she instructed a man to shave off his seven locks (Judges 16:19). Didn't anyone on the set every read a bible?
Billy Zane plays a boring bad guy who gives us the British pronunciation of "privacy."
Hedy's Deliaha and Victor's Samson, still the best combo.
korevette15 February 2018
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