October Baby: Ready or Not, Here It Comes

I have been meaning to deliver this post to you for a while now. The movie October Baby came out on October 30th, 2011 and therefore this review is a bit over-due.

Being that it wasn't a huge Hollywood production, October Baby was only playing in select theaters.... that is, unless your community made a big enough fuss to get it into your local theaters. I had checked to see which states/theaters the movie would be playing in and was bummed to see that my state had not made the list, however, I was lucky enough to live in one of those persistent cities. And so, on the last day it was playing, a Sunday in April to be exact, I went with a group of friends to view the film.

Now, if you've read my post, The Christian Critic's Conundrum, you might suppose that I went just to prove that October Baby was not all it was cracked up to be. I'll admit, I did want to see if I had gone overboard in my presumptions, but as I settled myself into a theater chair I was determined to clear my mind of any preconceived notions and simply watch the movie. I wasn't planning to spend my money to dislike the movie before it even started, anyway. I watched the flick with an open mind and an open heart. Wishing, hoping and desiring that it would be one more beacon of light in the corrupt onslaught of entertainment from a pathetic film industry. A movie representing Christ, Christianity, the pro-life movement and homeschooling?
No, I didn't want October Baby to be a failure.


"As the curtain rises, Hannah hesitantly steps onto the stage for her theatrical debut in college. Yet before she can utter her first lines, Hannah-unscripted-collapses in front of the stunned audience. After countless medical tests, all signs point to one underlying factor: Hannah's difficult birth. This revelation is nothing compared to what she then learns from her parents: she was actually adopted ... after a failed abortion attempt. Bewildered, angered, and confused, Hannah turns for support to Jason, her oldest friend. Encouraged by his adventurous spirit, Hannah joins his group of friends on a Spring Break road trip, embarking on a journey to discover her hidden past ... and find hope for her unknown future. In the midst of her incredible journey, Hannah learns that every life is beautiful." Written by Jon Erwin

Though I found it to be a bit slow paced it was a decent flick with great cinematography and up-to-par acting. I was pleased as far as the material aspects were concerned but there were a number of things that I found to be lacking.  

October Baby was made to be pro-life but the entirety of the movie wasn't as moving or convincing as the four minute clip during the ending credits of the real life story of Shari, who acted as the biological mother. Though Hannah's story shows that living through an abortion can leave lasting traumatic effects I learned more about abortion survivors on IMDb's "Did You Know" trivia.

I felt like there were scenes in the movie that only someone who was a Christian and/or homeschooled would understand. This isn't bad but it may narrow the viewership and/or the number of lives it touches, which is the ultimate goal of the making of a movie.

Then there was the focus on the relationship between Jason (the childhood friend) and Hannah that seemed way too sketchy to me. I had to wonder if I had come to watch a Christian, pro-life film or a teen drama. It was almost as if the producers had wanted to prove that even Christians can have fun and are 'normal' too. The questionable relationship is kind of redeemed at the end of the film when Jason asks Hannah's dad for permission to date his daughter: permission given. Maybe they were just trying to make sure that Hannah didn't come off as too goody-goody? Granted, Hannah was going through a rebellion of sorts, trying to discover who and what she was ...but I'm not sure that having such a testy display was a positive thing and it definitely subtracted from the main purpose of the movie.

Towards the end of the movie Hannah goes into a Catholic church where her adopted mother had found the flyer for failed abortion survivor/babies in need of adoption. A priest comes up to Hannah and gives her advice on forgiveness quoting Paul the Apostle (I do not remember the exact verse used but I believe it may have been Ephesians 4:32, "...forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."). You have to wonder where was her pastor? What about her Baptist faith? Good advice can come from anyone and the priest's advice was very good, but it really seemed odd that the ONLY Biblical advice in the whole film came from a priest who's faith and religion are quite different from that of Hannah's. It seemed like more of a promo for the Catholic church that it was for Jesus Christ. 

The scariest part was that throughout the movie I would occasionally find myself thinking, "...maybe it would have been better that she had just been aborted." This is absolutely contrary to my convictions and I would have to remind myself that "of course it was a good thing and that she was lucky and blessed to be alive!" Clearly the focus and the direction of the movie stands on thin ice if the viewers are left with any doubt of the message. 

In view of all of this I am assured that the points I made in The Christian Critic's Conundrum were right on the mark. Anyone who watches the movie Courageous will walk away from the film affected or at least without any question that it was a pro-Christian, pro-family, pro-father message. October Baby had so much potential to be an excellent pro-Christian, pro-family, anti-abortion film but I do not feel that it  accomplished what it could have. Therefore I still wholeheartedly concur with my previous sentiments.

Although I wouldn't say that October Baby is a failure, and I definitely can't put myself in the shoe's of someone who is an abortion survivor or someone who's had an abortion, I would say that it was a disappointment and will do very little to further the cause of Christ or save babies. 

Tell It Like It Is

 

David McCullough Jr.  giving a speech to High School graduates. The essence? You are not special. 

...watch the video, listen to the speech. I think you'll agree.

Unearthly

As I stood watching from the door, I had never seen anything so unearthly before. Like out of a movie the red sky behind the treeline, behind even the clouds made me feel small. Like there was, millions of miles away, a huge galaxy that I was catching a glimpse of through the window of this blood red sunset.

I felt minute and vulnerable as I beheld layers of atmosphere with my bare, fleshly eye. The expanse of a vastness I had never comprehended fully was taking hold of my senses as if beyond this vast depth of awesome space, normally concealed by a mask of blue sky, a shroud of clouds or dark night, lay the true reality.

I inhaled a breath of air as if to see if I was really in this world.

The finite, mortal confines of my mind accepted this test, but deep down my spirit marveled at how truly real and majestic it's Creator is.

Lightning over my head flashed and thunder shook the clouds in it's wake, like it was testifying that even the power of the air could be divided, and for a moment my soul soared with my spirit at the knowledge that it was a part of something bigger, something greater.

Before my brain could remind me that my feet were on the ground and bind my heart in earthly fear, I truly understood that I was a spiritual creature living out a physical experience.

I felt like I was in a StarWars movie, in a spaceship. That feeling you know every astronaut must get as he looks and sees the earth he's left behind him.

Then I realized once again where I was at and turned back to my work. My eyes blinked as if to find their bearings. The feeling that a body gets after a long flight. Jet lag. Trying to catch up to reality.

Rain and wind surged through open windows. Outside I saw the foliage twisting in the wind.

If ever there had been a magnificent sight the night had covered it in an oppressive darkness and with such fury the wind blew as though to get rid of any remaining evidence.

In punishment the wind relentlessly wailed upon the earth.

Truant strokes of lightning crossed the sky as I went out to bring the last few cows into the barn to be milked. I took note that, for once, my parents have turned on every light on the first level of the house; even the back porch light for good measure. Since I had fully regained my physical senses I was grateful knowing there would be light to guide me home.

A sigh escaped my lips as I turned back to my job. 

Back to earth, still looking for that blessed hope.

Titus 2:13