Martian Child

I saw this film on July 25th, 2007 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival’s Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.” Heartland gave that award to this film.

John Cusack is a grieving widower who tries to turn his emotional life around by adopting a young boy. The widower was an oddball child, but today is a successful and rich science fiction writer. But he calls himself only half-jokingly “…a deranged successful person.” He questions his ability to be a good father, but he dives in.

His young boy has a lot of problems. He stays in a large cardboard box during the day because he hates the sun. And, more importantly, he thinks he is a Martian, who someday will go back to his Mother Planet to report back on earth.

The widower tries to accept the boy the way he is and just love him, with the help of his sister and his friend who happens to be a woman. But it is not easy. The young boy has a wide array of quirks such as only eating Lucky Charms, borrowing/stealing items to study, constantly hanging upside down, requiring a gravity belt so he never floats away, and much more.

It quickly becomes apparent that the relationship is symbiotic. The widower needs the boy just as much as the boy needs the widower. But will the relationship making any progress? Will they both be damaged goods for life? It is unsure and the story has many ways to play out.

But through it all, the widower never gives up hope. The widower keeps faith that a good outcome is always possible. And he is willing to sacrifice everything to help the young boy. Whether he is successful or not, any parent, guardian, teacher, and mentor can admire the widower’s effort.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

The Seeker

I saw this film on September 25th, 2007 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival’s Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture “…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.” Heartland gave that award to this film.

Walden Media has a record of creating inspiring and moving fantasy films that are based on books and are driven by the story and characters and not the movie star(s); specifically, “Bridge To Terabithia” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” “The Seeker” continues this tradition.

Will Stanton seems like a normal 13 year-old schoolboy. He and his large family are in England because of his father’s work. But to his great surprise, he has been chosen as the only possible person to save the world from the darkness. Only he can go through time to seek and recover the six signs that are needed to succeed. The future of the human race rests with Will. And, he only has five days to complete his mission. Will, unbeknownst to himself, is a warrior.

And so Will’s adventure begins. Going back-and-forth in time he fights off dogs, snakes, barbarians, birds and more to attempt to complete his very difficult mission.

Will shows exceptional traits for a 13 year-old or for that matter any aged man. He has courage and spirit. He has faith and is willing to sacrifice everything. Will also gathers strength from his family, demonstrating it’s easier to succeed at anything when you have a good and supportive mother and father and siblings.

All Walden Media films have exceptional art direction and cinematography. They have big budgets and you see the budget on the screen. This film is no exception. This is an artistically lush film.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.