End of the Spear
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Movie Reviews of End of the Spear
Movie Review: "Waengongi had a son. They speared him but he didn't spear back, so the people spearing him would one day live well."
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't think I've ever heard such a concise distillation of the Gospel as my title line, spoken midway in this film by a native Waodani woman who had grown up among Christians. It's really John 3:16 in terms the primitive tribe in Ecuador would understand, given as an answer to an Indian's question as to why martyred missionaries hadn't shot the Indians when they could have. It's the powerful turning point of the movie.
I cringed during the first half of this film, awaiting the massacre that I knew would come. But though the anticipated scene was brutal, ethereal background music gave it spiritual overtones that prevented it from descending into sensationalism.
If anything, this movie understates the Gospel. One would be hard-pressed to know the five men going into the jungle are missionaries at all. One pronounced indicator of the spiritual theme is the dramatically changed countenance of the first Indian brave that believes in Waengongi's Son, as he becomes caring and peaceful. Toward the movie's end we see a homemade translation of the Gospel into the Waodani language, and finally there's a flashback to a heavenly vision at the time of the missionaries' deaths. On first viewing, that seemed to be about it.
But as I watched a second time, a lot of things hard to absorb the first time around became clear, and I saw that the Gospel is really what this movie is sublimely all about. The stone age Waodani were very concerned, indeed, about eternal life. It actually was their theology, of all things, that drove them to their fierceness, as they believed they had to become strong warriors in order to "jump the great boa" that guarded the way to heaven upon their dying. Otherwise they would fall to earth and spend eternity as termites. Theirs was a dramatic form of fear-based works salvation.
So when the tribal leader, Mincayani, loses his young daughter he despairs. How could one so small have any chance of jumping the great boa? Mincayani was out of answers and full of despair.
But in his antipathy to the missionary families now living among his people, Mincayani was also working hard to suppress a witness that had been made. When the missionary he had speared, Nate Saint, had lain dying, the entire war party, along with Saint himself, had seen a vision of heaven opening up to welcome home the five martyrs in Christ. (Manifestations like this are relatively common in unreached cultures. See Don Richardson's awesome "Eternity in Their Hearts"). With his own eyes Mincayani saw that Saint, in a scene reminiscent of the stoning of Stephen in the Book of Acts, had "jumped the great boa" even while he was still alive. This was the power Mincayani sought, the power that could give even someone as weak as his daughter eternal life.
It was just a matter of time before the truth and the love of Christ won out. At the end, when Mincayani eventually confronts himself about his guilt in the murders, he becomes free. And so does Saint's son Steve, as he realizes that, as it was with Christ, no one took his father's life; rather, he gave it.
This is one beautiful movie. The first half was hard for me to watch, because of the anticipation of the massacre. But the second half redeems it all. Superb.
And I found the acting to be very good. It's refreshing to see other than the designer-label Hollywood elite on the big screen. Especially considering the low budget, everyone involved here should be gratified to know they have produced such a beautiful and effective film. In that sense it reminded me of Chariots of Fire. And for its setting it reminded me of The Mission. And all three films share similar spiritual themes.
That simple distillation of the Gospel gets to me every time: "Waengongi has a son. He was speared, but he didn't spear back..."
The Waodani were on the verge of self-extinction due to their warlike theology. Because of the sacrificial faithfulness of some followers of Christ, they have indeed learned to live well.
This movie shows that there sometimes is loss in Christ, but the gain far outweighs it. The missionary families here lost loved ones, but they gained an entire tribe as beloved family in Christ. The Kingdom of God prospered, and eternal rewards were secured. This is a very heartening movie about triumph in Christ.
Movie Review: Missing the Point (Pun Intended): A father/son story becomes a Father/son story....
Summary: 5 Stars
The very first line of "End of the Spear" reveals what apparently many are not getting: that this version of the well-known account of the missionaries to the Waodani is not primarily about the Waodani, nor the missionaries, nor a 4-point gospel message, but about both the glorious end of a journey for Steve Saint, the orphaned son of missionary pilot Nate and the equally glorious end of a journey for Mincayane the Waodani tribesman who plunged the spear into Steve's dad. Failing to understand this could lead to viewer disappointment that there is no verbal gospel message or clear depiction of the present situation with the Waodani as a whole. The special relationship of little Stevie and his father is palpably conveyed. Before Nate Saint and the other 4 missionaries flew off to what would be their death, little Stevie teaches his dad a sentence in Waodani that would be his poignant last words. And when Stevie asks his dad if they'd use their guns to defend themselves if attacked, his dad says, "Son we can't shoot the Waodani, they're not ready for heaven, we are." And so it happens, after befriending the Waodani, 2 young tribal lovers go off together, and as an alibi upon their return, they blame their disappearance on an attack by the missionaries, and this misinformation leads to the missionaries' martyrdom--a depiction that is true to actuality, as from having seen the documentary "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" and its live footage, I can say that the missionaries left behind detailed notes and video of the events of that day, the camera was rolling. And so the journeys of the orphaned son and the murderer begin. The spectacularly poignant closure for both Steve and Mincayane is at the very end of the movie and comes after marvelous new revelations of Nate Saint's death, which bring a ceasing or end to the metaphorical spear that pierced son Steve and also a ceasing of the use of the spear by Mincayane and his tribe, which had been so violent that more than half of the Waodani tribal population died by intratribal spearing. The Christian viewer is reminded of He who Himself was speared at Calvary and thru whom we have access to grace from the Father of the fatherless, even grace at the point of death and also grace in our grief. For the nonChristian viewer, the movie may seem quite absurd--having a gun, yet instead laying down one's life to be killed by the very people to be helped. But perhaps this very absurdity portrays a sacrificial love so radical that it will attract, that it will soften the heart, or to mix metaphors, prepare the soil that the seed of the gospel might later be planted. Not everything has to be a 4-point plan of salvation. It's about the son, yet still about the Son.Movie Review: A movie of importance to all true Christians
Summary: 5 Stars
In this day and age of hackney religion by people like Dan Brown, Pagels, Borg, and Spong, to name a few, it is good to see that a message of true Christianity is being placed out into the world so that the world may see the truth that is God through Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus alone. A movie like this contains the powerful truth that the Gospels are true, despite what so many liberal Christianphobics like Brown and Pagels like to say. The film you are reading this review is almost as important as The Passion of Christ. The film is not perfect, no film is, but God is indeed here in this film. I don't want to go over the acting or the scenes, instead of that, I wish to explore the worldview of the film. The worldview is this: Through Christ, change can come. No matter who you are, no matter what situation in life you are in, God can change your life and show the power of grace, forgiveness, and holiness. Though the brave men were killed, the story did not end. God does not end in death. God is eternal and God is powerful. The movie explores how hope can shine even in the darkest of circumstances, something we need to realize in this post-9-11 world. I hope, truly hope, that you will give this movie a chance and when the movie is over, when you sit back and consider what you just saw, that you will bring your Bible out and read the messages of the Gospels--that there is indeed good news for all of us through Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Light and the Life. This is an encouraging film and a film that anyone who is considering going into the ministry, especially the ministry field of missionary work, needs to see. God calls us to leave family, life, home, and take up the cross, when we say goodbye, it is not a goodbye forever, as seen in this movie. For I know by faith and by trust that the wives will see their husbands again, the children their fathers again. Let this movie change and challenge you to live your life for the One that matters, Jesus Christ.Movie Review: Terminal Point
Summary: 5 Stars
As a non-Christian, although I had heard an intriguing preview for The End of the Spear on the radio, I was reluctant to buy a "Christian propaganda" movie. No one I encountered had seen the movie, so I waited. I finally bought a used copy for three dollars, and have since bought other copies for family and friends. The simplicity of this movie is amazing. For once, a movie has been made about the modern world meeting the ancient world that is not simply another "Cowboys vs. Indians," "Americans vs. Underprivileged Country" or "Christian vs. Barbarians" theme, but a kind and gentle story of two cultures clashing and, out of mutual necessity, reconciling their differences. The remaining Waorani tribe members, who also appeared in this film are one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. To refer to them as savage and primitive is, in itself, barbaric. A warrior's life is, by definition, violent, and it took a wise warrior to realize the benefit of putting down his own arms in favor of peace. It was an act of wisdom, acceptance, and compassion for the Waorani to accept the Christian God without deserting their own, which not only deserves, but should command the respect of anyone who sees this movie. The scenery is captivating, the acting is clean, and the movie itself is unexpectedly memorable.Movie Review: A Story Never to be Forgotten
Summary: 5 Stars
Praise the Lord to those who produced & financed this movie. It is the true story of the ultimate sacrifice . . to give one's life so that others can, and will, see the Kingdom of God. Make no mistake, this movie has received much criticism. But that criticism comes from people who sit who would have never told this story themselves. Anyone knowing how most missionaries work know that the Gospel is rarely presented to the natives the first week upon arrival. They must first gain their trust.
I consider this movie FANTASTIC, and a MUST SEE for everyone, both Christians and non-Christians alike.
Like the movie "Amazing Grace", this movie concerns the way Christians should conduct their lives afer being saved, meaning that we are on a live saving mission the remainder of our lives. We should feed and cloth those in need physically, and we provide the Gospel to as many as possible before it it too late.
I could go on and on, but I think you get my point. This movie rates a 10 in achievement in just about every technical category I can think of, directing, cinematography, editing, music, etc.
YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS MOVIE . . . it ranks in the top ten of my over 200 DVDs collection.