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Extreme Days
Review by Mike Furches (Mike's bio)
Corey Ng: Dante Basco
Bryan Davidson: Ryan Browning
Will Davidson: A. J. Buckley
Matt McKeague: Derek Hamilton
Jessie Jacobs: Cassidy Rae
Directed by Eric Hannah.
Rated PG for some thematic elements and crude humor.
While Hollywood has been addressing spiritual issues in many of its movies as of recent, the Christian market has finally begun to take the craft of making movies more seriously. Over the last few years numerous Christian movies have come to the forefront and attracted large Christian audiences. Up until recently the technical quality of those movies have been at best "Okay." There have been decent story lines in movies like Tribulation which starred Gary Busey, Howie Mandell and Margot Kidder. The Omega Code was greatly overhyped but still drew decent crowds despite the controversy surrounding the movie. These movies, while "Okay," still had some things to be desired. The making of Left Behind had the hopes up of many within the Christian market but left a greater number disappointed after the lackluster release and poor marketing process.
This last year has shown some promise with several movies delivering far more than anticipated. Carman's The Champion actually offered a decent story line and was not overly preachy. We were also surprised by Carman's ability to act. The Road To Redemption, a Billy Graham film was a very pleasant surprise that had a quality cast and is a movie that can be used effectively in reaching non Christians.
Many have anticipated the release of the new film Extreme Days, written by Eric Hannah and Craig Detweiler and directed by Eric Hannah. The film focusing on extreme sports has been released in limited markets. Major theatrical release is due in the next few weeks and I would encourage readers to see this as soon as possible and if you are smart you might even take a friend with you. Extreme Days has a nice marketing campaign that will help build its audience over the weeks to come. Its exceptional soundtrack and exciting movie trailers should help in drawing crowds into the theater.
Extreme Days, with its wonderful cast of actors and quality direction does not let the viewer down. What we have in this action packed, laugh out loud adventure is quite possibly the best intentional Christian film ever made, bar none and not even close at that. I saw this film in a theater 3/4ths full and was pleasantly surprised at the laughter and oohs and ahs of the audience watching the movie. There was even a couple of times the audience applauded some of the events of the movie. This was the first time I have heard this in a theater in some time. The theater filled with many from church youth groups still had a large portion of the crowd from non Christian environments and they enjoyed the movie just as much as the kids from church backgrounds. That is one of the pleasant surprises of the movie itself and one of the primary reasons that one should see this fun filled adventure.
While there are some technical aspects of the film that could have been better, for example, reference to their vehicle as a jeep with a Volkswagen engine when in reality it was really Volkswagen's, The Thing. While this is not a major point, I have a friend who I saw the movie with who is a car enthusiast who was bothered by this component of the film. "Why did they mess that part up?", he asked several times. The only other flaw was the lack of quality stunts involving motorcross motorcycle jumps. For a movie featuring a great deal of Extreme Sports it was disappointing to see the lack of stunts and weak stunts in this particular aspect. The most complicated stunt offered was one heal click, a fairly easy stunt, especially with an over abundance of far more complicated and impressive stunts.
While Extreme Days, lacked in these two particular areas the rest of the story and stunts were very impressive. From surfing (by the way some of the best surf footage I have seen in a movie) to extreme snowboarding, BMX Bicycle stunts, skateboarding and more. This movie offered ample eye candy to keep the viewer happy and if you know anyone who is into extreme sports this is a must see movie.
Extreme Days focuses on four men who graduate from Junior College after only 4 years of study (Now this should tell you something in and of itself.) They decide, after working the summer, to go on the ultimate extreme trip. Along the way they pick up Jessie Jacobs played wonderfully by Cassidy Rae in her debut role. Jessie is a young female who is tough to the hilt but also has character and morals that will not be compromised. The four young men along the way are taught lessons and experience challenges regarding growing up. Ryan played by Bryan Davidson begins to fall for Jessie and is challenged by her high moral ethics. Along the way he comes to understand that Jessie wants to save herself for marriage and will not be taken advantage of like many of the girls he has been around before. Her sincere beliefs in herself and in her God help him realize that there is far more to her than he realized and he learns that he likes not only her looks but her heart and her integrity. Cassidy plays one of the strongest female roles to come around for women in quite some time. She shows that maintaining moral integrity does not mean that she has to compromise her moral beliefs. It is those beliefs and her God, the focus of those beliefs that in reality gives her strength. This is a role that will have tremendous impact on many young women looking for role models.
While taking part in their cross country adventure the characters have to ask questions about life and death and actually ask God why it is that some people have to die and that bad things happen to good people. There is ample laughs offered up especially from the ensemble cast but the script does not shy away from many of the questions that our world faces. These unique and wonderful five characters have something about them that most everyone can relate to, regardless of age or habits.
There is some warning that some will be upset by some of the crude humor within this film. I found it to be typical behavior of a bunch of college guys, or for that matter even some youth pastors and adults. It is one of the things that gave Extreme Days a nice dose of reality. I can't imagine the actors making many of these scenes with a straight face. It is the type of attributes that some would find surprising that some Christians are actually just real people like themselves who like to have fun.
What did I like most about the film? Simply put, Extreme Days offers up a great deal of opportunity to discuss spiritual issues with non religious people. It is a movie that I as a Christian would have no reservations about taking a non Christian friend to see. I wouldn't have to worry about them being preached to and feeling as if I was taking advantage of our relationship. It is also a movie that would allow the discussion of religious issues, especially related to God and his son Jesus, but in a non threatening way. I understand that the movie makers have a study guide to go along with the film. I would like to see it if it does exist because I think that if done right this could be a great movie for reaching individuals into extreme sports.
While Extreme Days is quite possibly the best intentional Christian film made (by the way with an absolute kicking and wonderful soundtrack) it still lacks some of the high quality expected among Hollywood blockbuster films, but not by much. It will be films like this that will make it possible for Christian themed movies to be widely accepted in the non Christian market. That does not take away from the fun I had at this movie. I would see it again in a heartbeat and anticipate buying the video when it comes out. I have already purchased the soundtrack and my son, 11 years old, and I already know almost every word. It is a soundtrack and a movie that hits the mark and makes you feel good about listening to music and going to the movies again. It is also a film that will reach non religious people in a way that no movie has before. I actually forgot that I was watching a movie made by Christians and that is one of the highest compliments that I could give Extreme Days.
On a scale of 1-10 I'll 180 this baby with a very pleasing and enjoyable 8.
Copyright 2001, Mike Furches. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
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About Mike Furches: Mike is the senior pastor of United at the Cross Community Church in Wichita, Kansas. The church, located in the inner city of Wichita has a unique ministry to former gang members, drug addicts, prostitutes and others often neglected by the church. Mike also is involved in freelance writing and speaks nationally. Check out his web page for more information: http://www.furches.org/ E-mail Mike |
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