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Machine Gun Preacher - dumbest American propaganda ever !

posted 12 years ago by ilokk
51 replies | jump to latest

Seriously, this film is such a propaganda that I don't even know where to begin :)

1. American who is ex-gang member and who in some miraculous, unknown way suddenly believes in Jesus. we don't even know what caused cold-blooded criminal to become some weird "form" of Christian. He becomes one just like that and even though he killed a man doesn't have a problem with that ;)

2. He wants to help so he builds a church. Of course he is not like the rest of Christians, I mean why would he want to go to an already built, old church. if he's a Christian, Sam thinks, it's HIM who has to build a church cause only him knows the best and only he is a REAL Christian so it's only HIM who has to preach ;)

3. He wants to help and this part makes sense for a while. He builds a church in Africa but of course bad guys decide to destroy it.

4. Now, our hero decides he will lead the soldiers and beat bad brothers even alone if he has to. Now more ridiculous part, it's NOT the soldiers who train him , hell no ! He's American have you forgotten ? he knows everything, he's a Rambo, Superman, Batman , you name it ;) He even explains to the black "brother" how to clean a weapon cause Sam Childers is an ex-gang member and Deng happens to be JUST a well trained soldier ;)

Sorry for my 3 buckets of sarcasm but I just had to say this.

NOW, it just happens that I KNOW about Sam Childers and believe he did some good job in Africa but I'm also sure that too many things in the film were exaggerated. Exaggeration always sells better.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] AmericanButNotGringo 12 years ago

so basically it is a true story filled with lies and fantasies?

[–] jamal89 12 years ago

Is that the first time you've come across such a movie? Let me know if it is. I'll point you in the direction of a few more like it.

[–] AmericanButNotGringo 12 years ago

Probably not, but I have seen lots of movies pretending to be "based on real story", and they turned out to be total fakes.

Go ahead and tell me which other movies are like this one.

Tks.

[–] BaronVonSwollen 12 years ago

The original Walking Tall series, for starters. Buford Pusser was given a full H'wood make-over. Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, The Green Beret, etc. stretched the truth in favor of entertaining cinema.

It's only a movie...

[–] greybabydaddy-1 12 years ago

my favorite "true story" was American Gangster. especially on the Special Edition DVD, where they had an alternate ending.

just like real life...

right?!

There is NO such thing as magic and love is dead.

[–] HeyFoxymophandlemama 12 years ago

My favorite true story is Fargo...

"Don't point that gun at him, he's an unpaid intern!"

[–] jgeorge-11 12 years ago

Hello people! It's a movie! They always add/change circumstance for entertainment purposes. It even says in the beginning and at the end that the movie is based on the life of Sam Childers, not that is it an exact replica of everything he has done.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] guasco-2 12 years ago

I've read interviews with the director, screenwriter, and the actual Sam Childers. Sam says the movie is all true, only that the action scenes are a bit hollywood-ized.
Other than that...he claims its (sadly to a degree) all true. He even says that he cried while watching it because of how bad and terrible of a person he actually was.

Sam isn't a perfect guy, but He definitely became a believer and though he still made mistakes, it doesn't change his determination to do what's right and fight for those who can't. People don't understand that kind of thing anymore. Unless you're a bunch of tree-hugging hippies giving small charities to african kids (which ultimately do nothing), then you're not accepted.

"God doesn't make the world the way it is...We Do"-Rorschach.

[–] n_groen 12 years ago

Besides the fact that the guy is an arms dealer, and the people he claims to be leading into battle say that they have no affiliation with him. His orphanage is also probly going to get shutdown soon because the kids are very neglected and malnourished yet Sam wont let any agencies help him with the orphanage.

[–] otakucode 12 years ago

"He definitely became a believer"... but in what?

Can't say as it sounds like he embraced 'But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.' so it's certainly not anything to do with Jesus.

[–] The-Last-Prydonian 8 years ago

I've read interviews with the director, screenwriter, and the actual Sam Childers. Sam says the movie is all true, only that the action scenes are a bit hollywood-ized.
Other than that...he claims its (sadly to a degree) all true. He even says that he cried while watching it because of how bad and terrible of a person he actually was.

Sam isn't a perfect guy, but He definitely became a believer and though he still made mistakes, it doesn't change his determination to do what's right and fight for those who can't. People don't understand that kind of thing anymore. Unless you're a bunch of tree-hugging hippies giving small charities to african kids (which ultimately do nothing), then you're not accepted.

My thoughts precisely and while I don't share Sam's religious convictions I still greatly admire what he did and still does to this very day. It's taken courage and determination for him to set out to do what's he's done. While he did make mistakes it's good that he was able to turn his life around and do something positive with it. There's rarely anyone you can say that about these days and his story is a testament to the fact that a Leopard can indeed change it's spots.

[–] Robert_duder 12 years ago

Wow. I don't even know where to begin with your comments OP. First of all...you must be one jaded SOB to call a story about a man who made and is making a difference in one of those war torn, genocidal dictatorships in the history of mankind. A story that makes you think about all the innocent children and victims in the Sudan and you call it American propaganda? This man could have been from anywhere...it had nothing to do with America.

Second of all...perhaps someone should tell you know that films don't follow real timelines. A year or months or days can easily pass in minutes in a film in order to condense it. Maybe you should make a movie that follows real time lines and see how that works for you? The point of Sam Childers becoming a Christian was told in a poignant but effective CINEMATIC way. I'm sure his being saved took time and effort on his part. Thousands of people who appeared to be beyond help, and considered "bad" people have found God and turned their lives around. Christian revivals have gotten through to many people instantly who turned their lives around. It's called spirituality.

Third of all...he didn't kill anyone. It's too bad you snoozed through the part where his buddy told him the man he stabbed DID NOT DIE. If you took the time to actually look into Sam Childers, maybe even read his book...or have it read to you...you'd find out that his life was anything but cut and dry. Movies are meant to inform and entertain and because of that certain things have to be shortened for dramatic effect. I'm sure Sam Childers ate a hearty breakfast three times a week for the last fifty years but shockingly they left that out of the movie. Weird eh? Your sarcasm is not even sarcasm. It is dumb comments based on someone who clearly watched the movie out of the corner of their eye and didn't pay attention. Childers explains to Deng how to clean a gun to demonstrate TO Deng that he is no light weight and can handle himself.

Any movie that entertains but then goes above and beyond and actually makes you think about what you can do in the world and how to make a difference should be heralded not torn apart because it wasn't a popcorn flick. Go see the Avengers 15 times and make it another billions dollars like the lemming that you are. Watch that last step at the cliffside.

[–] oh_pan 12 years ago

have it read to you :)))

[–] nj-ahmadi 12 years ago

well said......

[–] jojozlo 12 years ago

So if I go to a movie to be entertained and not educated I should walk off a cliff? Someone has anger issues and needs Jesus more than Sam did. And this movie was preachy, read the comments, you are in the minority.

[–] klinkecs_01 12 years ago

Robert - Could not have responded better myself. This movie brought tears to my eyes and made me take a long hard think about where my life is headed

[–] kaiserblade 9 years ago

Robert Duder I salute you sir, very well put. Just saw the film and came to read the threads. Excellent film and brilliantly dramatized.

****"Some folks call it a sling blade I call it a kaiser blade hmm hmm!"****

[–] dmcmillan01 12 years ago

ilokk, you are dead wrong in everything you stated. The film actually played down some of the horror so as not to turn audience's away. I have friends who have lived for a time in this region of Africa who can tell you all about the horrors going on there.

As far as Sam getting religion, that's more than most men of his caliber do. And because of that, no matter what kind of religion, he's done than more any any other American has, as far as I know.

So do not believe any of the ney-sayers. Some people, who sit on their butts and do nothing to make this a better world, just love to put down people who are putting their lives on the line to help others.

The DVD is out now, so check out the wonder EXTRA about how the score was developed for this film. It's really wonderful.

[–] RightersBloc 12 years ago

Seriously, this film is such a propaganda that I don't even know where to begin

Of course you "don't know where to begin"...and through some deep introspection you would ultimately come to realize you don't know where to begin because you're a partially functional imbecile.

[–] Farinsstones 12 years ago

Don't be a jealous dick. Sam childers is doing more with his life than you'll ever do. so move on.

[–] denmoab 12 years ago

So the movie would have been fine had the protagonist been changed to another nationality?

[–] antonsarse 12 years ago

ilokk is a troll who has officially made my 'Ignored User' list. I suspected he's a parent's basement living, sexually frustrated 20 something, with no job and no future, and nothing better to do than post drivel about a fantastic movie.

Have a nice life ilokk. Now that's funny :)