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Christianity Today Movies, 2008, reviews |

Gran Torino

Review by Brett McCracken | posted 12/12/2008 12:00AM

The first time I saw the trailer for this film in a theater, the audience laughed. It portrayed a senile, furrow-browed Clint Eastwood brandishing a gun and barking at Asian people to "get off my lawn." ...

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jt	Posted: September 02, 2009 2:52 AM


the best Christian film i've seen this year!

jg	Posted: July 24, 2009 9:13 PM

By far this is one of the most compelling films I have ever seen in my life. The story of redemption and sacrifice outweighed the language or racial slurs. I wept at the end of the movie because it was so powerful. I don't know if I could watch it again because the ending is so painful to watch But I would recommend this to adults who are not gonna get all bent out of shape because they hear an f-bomb every now and then. The themes are well worth the movie. 4 stars all the way!!!!!!!

bonita

Posted: July 20, 2009 9:28 AM

Yes, I totally agree that this is an excellent film! I am so glad that I saw it--the title made me think of car racing which had nothing to do with the content of the film... Despite the language and horrible racial slurs the movie had a wonderful message and the acting was terrific. It really is one of my favorites now! I loved the fact that the local priest attempted numerous times to get to this man and met him on his own turf--the local bar. I also loved the neighbors who saw through his angry exterior to the man inside. I could see what was coming at the end to some extent but the ending was truly redemptive and although sad, Walt knew he could not live the way he was living. You did see his life change--love helped him see that he needed change in his life.

John G.

Posted: June 12, 2009 10:56 PM

I just watched this movie. I thought it had meaning and really enjoyed it.I understand that Clint has said this will be the last film he will act in,and if it is I beleive he went out with style. I think that if peolpe would go out of thier way to be nice to neigbors and strangers ,as the Bible teaches, that we would have less hatred in this world! I wish that movies wouldnt feel the need to let us hear all of the foul language though.I like most others know all of these words and dont need them repeated constantly. The mind set that without them the movie would not be realistic at this point in time doesnt hold water , as far as I am concerned. Thank You P.S the foul words got it only 3 stars otherwise I would give 4 stars.

Ty	Posted: June 12, 2009 11:39 AM


The greatest movie I have ever seen! Clint singing at the end while the boy and the dog ride away, WOW!!! If you dont see this you are truly missing out. If clint doesn't win an oscar for this or the acadamy refuses to recognize the genius at his finest they are pathetic and need to go home!! You Rock Clint!!!

D.D.	Posted: June 12, 2009 10:26 AM

A most excellent, must see movie. Ikluna, with all due respect, Walt did not "have to" make the decisions he did. I believe what changed his thinking and his heart was how the "foreigner" neighbors next door actually came to him, not the other way around. If all foreigners who came to OUR country treated Americans with such respect we would not have the problems we do on the subject. Of course they did not go out of their way to try and be neighborly to Walt until they thought Walt had saved the boys life. But if the foreigners had a grateful mindset when they come to this country and reap its benefits and quality of life, due to our blood sweat and tears, rather than an entitlement (and sometimes bullish) attitude most of them have (or soon acquire), it would be wonderful to welcome them with open arms.

Jerry

Posted: April 11, 2009 6:35 PM


Overall a very good movie. Starts with a great deal of prejudice/racism... but shows that even an old dog can learn new tricks, or in this case, that someone can learn humility, kindness, and respect for those different than him or herself even at an advanced age. A good film for the young to learn from as well...

lkluna

Posted: April 06, 2009 8:48 PM

I wish all, no, just most neighbors in this changing world could come to the life-altering choices that Walt had to make. Prejudices exist on all sides of the once white-picket fence neighborhoods many of us grew up in; the 'foreigners' in Walt's neighborhood crossed that fence and reached to him. The images at the end of the film summed up the story of the film: self-sacrifice, lovingly and freely given.

Johnny

Posted: April 05, 2009 9:39 PM

This was the best 2008 movie I saw, although I didn't see it until 2009. It's an Eastwood classic. He plays a self sufficieny old retired man who has no use for minoeities or political correctness until minorities take over his neighborhood. He eventually becomes acquainted with his neighbors who are mostly, but not all, good people. He learns to love an Asian girl and her brother and learns that his old prejudices were unfounded. In the end, he goes the "extra mile" for his new friends. Eastwood's character is a lot my late father-in-law. A crust old guy with a heart of gold. My father-in-law showed me how to be a father. He died too early. Eastman's character lives a lot longer and despite uttering every racial slur imagineable, he's a sweet man lloking out for the innocent in his small world. Great movie. Go see it.

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