Based on James Redfield's worldwide best-selling novel, The Celestine Prophecy is a spiritual adventure film chronicling the discovery of ancient scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy and its nine key insights predict a worldwide awakening, arising within all religious traditions, that moves humanity toward a deeper experience of spirituality.
MPAA Rating: PG for some violence
1 hour 39 minutes
The Celestine Prophecy is one of my all time favorite spiritual adventure books!
If you have not read the book, I would highly suggest reading this wonderful book wrote by James Redfield.
Also rent and watch the movie, and let me know you opinion of it.
Although is has been quite a few years since the last time I read this book. I was very excited to hear that it was being made into a movie.
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Here is my review of the movie:
If it was to be a stand alone movie - I'm not sure that you would get the movie.
If you have read the book, I think you will enjoy seeing it done visually.
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Visually this movie was amazing!
From the very first intro scene to the very last scene - the use of composition and lighting was far beyond what you normally see in most movies.
What would have been a boring scene, was made interesting by a very well executed use of lighting and interesting composition. Hard and soft lighting was evident to convey different moods.
I felt that just the right amount of special effects where used to portray the parts of the book that you had to use your imagination to visualize while reading. I felt the use of these special effects was also very well done.
For Composition and Cinematography I give this movie a 10+ (rating from 0 -10)
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For character development I feel they could have done a little better - You kind of get a feeling for a little of the personality of the main actor - but not enough that you can really say you can relate, and care about him enough to make the movie something really "over the top" extraordinary.
Character development of the movie's main character I give a rating 4 out of 10
Some friends have said that the acting sucked. I did not feel that it was so much that the acting sucked, but that not enough time was spent on letting you get to know the characters better.
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Here is my brief view of how I felt about the actors, and the parts that they played.
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The lead character
MATTHEW SETTLE (John Woodson)
The movie starts off with where he is at in his life but it felt rushed, and I did not feel we got to care enough about this character in the beginning.
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THOMAS KRETSCHMANN (Wil)
Although not much time was spent on character development, it seemed easy to get to know what he was thinking and feeling. "Better Acting" - maybe...
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SARAH WAYNE CALLIES (Marjorie)
I really like Sarah in other things I have seen her in. I know she can act. I felt the direction was lacking in getting her into her role, and getting her to portray this character. It seemed as though no one was directing her. I really felt the directing of her character was poorly done.
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ANNABETH GISH (Julia)
Very easy to see and feel what her character was thinking and feeling. Liked her part in the movie.
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HECTOR ELIZONDO (Cardinal Sebastian)
Hector did a kick ass acting job in this movie! Most of the movie he speaks a language other than English with no subtitles. Yet his acting is so good you really know what is happening with his character. You can feel what he is feeling. Loved his role in this movie! Two thumbs way up!
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JOAQUIM DE ALMEIDA (Father Sanchez)
Joaguim did a wonderful job playing the role of Father Sanchez. Very easy to get to know and care about his character. Also felt the casting of this actor was perfect for this part.
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JURGEN PROCHNOW (Robert Jensen)
Jurgen did a very good job as the fear ridden (loosing his identity as leader of pawns) bad guy - who must squash what threatens his way of controlling others. - If his character was called the "human ego" it would be pretty accurate to this role.
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OBBA BABATUNDE (Miguel)
Thought he did a decent job of playing this role.
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Movies cost huge amount of money - you have to do the best to stay within the budget you have to work with.
I am assuming that is why this movie is only 1 hour 39 min. But I don't know for sure.
I would have loved to seen the movie be around 2 hours and 30 minutes and really work on the character development and further explain some of the things you are seeing on the screen. If you read the book, you got it, for those that did not, they might be lost.
For movies to be blockbusters they need at least these things...
* Get you to know, (and more importantly) "care" about the characters in the story
* Tell the story and hold your interest the whole time (pull you into the film)
* The movie must be able to get you emotionally involved, if you can't get emotionally you will not relate to it and the characters in it.
* Have huge advertising budgets to let people know this is a must see film
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All in all, having read the book several times years ago...
Did the movie convey the spiritual message of the book?
You decide when you watch it...let me know what you think!
I liked the film enough to buy the DVD, and I am very happy I bought it.
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