My Movie Review: The Forge
The Forge is a movie that really moved my heart and provoked my mind regarding religion, meaning, and change. Even at the initial stages of the film, I could sense that it was not a typical Christian film, it had some profound meaning, and the way God molds us through the hardships of life, similar to a blacksmith working with the fire and metal. The very title, The Forge, gives us an idea of the tone of a story that reminds us of the fact that the process of refinement by God entails pain, failure, and correction.
The film narrates about the life of a young man, Isaiah Wright, who is lost in life. He is confused, disillusioned and frustrated by his condition. As he comes into contact with God and people who care about him he starts to see how his brokenness could actually be used to be the means by which God can mold him into a better person. When I saw him changing, I wondered a lot about my life. I also noticed instances where I too became lost and not knowing what God was doing but at the same time, I knew that it was preparing me to do something more.
Among the most important lessons that I have acquired during The Forge, there is the idea that growth is most of the time achieved by way of discipline and surrendering. The lesson the movie imparts is that success lacks character and God at times sends difficult times to challenge and make us stronger. It made me realize that I need not run away when I am corrected or when I fail since it is a part of my personal process of forging. It also pushed me to the idea of having a different view on mentorship the example of Mr. Barnes the mentor of Isaiah demonstrated how mentorship, truth and patience can transform the life of a person altogether.
This movie, in my own life, allowed me to recognize the importance of remaining purpose-driven at a time when things do not add up. At one point, I felt like quitting dreams due to procrastination or discouragement but The Forge helped me remember that any procrastination could be a blessing of God. It has brought me a new appetite to live deliberately, to develop integrity and to have God work upon me every day.
Regarding the acting of the cast, I would say that cast did a fantastic job. Cameron Arnett, who was playing the role of Mr. Barnes, played the role with a lot of emotionality and fatherly wisdom. What he said seemed real and alive by the way he said it and his calm intonation. The actor who acted as Isaiah also managed to convey his plight, the confusion, the anger, and the humility and realization became believable. All of the supporting characters contributed to the story, particularly with regard to demonstrating how community can affect change.
Nonetheless, I believe that certain aspects in which the movie could be enhanced exist. In several scenes, the pace seemed to be very slow and there were some transitions between significant events which could have been easier. There was background music which at times overrode the conversation though it was inspiring. I also found that the finale might have been more demonstrative of Isaiah maturing into action, maybe a better visual of how he started to mentor other people or live his renewed purpose. Nevertheless, these are minor details that look at the impact of the film as a whole.
The Forge felt so true to life that it was what struck me the most. It never attempted to make Christianity appear easy or perfect- it demonstrated the struggle, the discipline and grace which are involved in walking with God. The movie provokes the audience to be in charge of their own spiritual development and purpose is not realized in a day.
To sum up, The Forge is a heart-to-heart movie. It is moving, thought provoking and very personal. It challenges the audience to look back and see how they have gotten there, to accept correction, and to have faith in the fire of God, who never intends to burn but to make them stronger and purposeful. It was more than entertainment to watch it, it was a spiritual experience.
In case I rate The Forge, I will rate it 8.5 out of 10. It is an empowering film that has an empowering message, good acting, and life lessons. Having a little more rhythm in the speed and the transitions of the scenes, it could easily become an eternal staple of Christian movies.