Machine Gun Preacher [DVD]

This film is so full of emotions you won't be able to stop thinking about it for a good few hours after you've seen it. I brought this film, not knowing who Sam Childers was, and because I admire Gerard Butler. This film shows you a charcter at his worst, and his best. There are people who feel the real Sam Childers walked into a situation he shouldn't have, their are others who believe he really has saved so many, and continues to do so. I think the transformation of the character in this film is astonishing and I cried throughout this film at Gerard Butlers portayal of Sam Childers.This is not a film you watch just to stare at Gerard Butler for 2 hours. This is a film that says yes this is based on a real person and their real actions. It wakes you up to the real world and the horrific things that have happened and still do happen in Africa and other areas of the world, and you cannot believe the cruelty and suffering that some people face on a daily basis. The film shows some of these horrors, but without being too horrible to watch, but they are shown with enough strength to make you realise that the situations were not easy to stomach.When Gerard Butler - playing Sam Childers, decides to help the situation in Sudan, I was amazed at the strength he had whilst facing the horrors of war in Africa, and the suffering. HIs ability to provide help to so many was truly moving. The children stole this film, and I thought they were all amazing.My only personal upset was I felt that Sam did seem to "Forget" his wife and child in America, and instead became so thrown into "Helping" that he seemed to let go of his family and that made me sad for them. I felt his wife and daugther were left to get on with things whilst he went back to help in Africa. Obviously Sam didn't want his family to be put into danger, or to let them see how things were in Sudan, but he left them too much for my liking.This film probably didn't get the publicity it deserves because of the subject matter it contains. It's not a rom com, or super hero movie, its a portrayal of real events and people. Gerard Butler was superb, as were the other cast members. I very moving film, and although difficult to watch in places I am so glad I have seen this film. I hope you enjoy it too.

Great Film

I'll come clean. My husband now knows that his wife is unashamedly in love with Gerard Butler. Some might call me misguided but I like him - a lot.I bought this before it was available in Australia and I wanted to see why Gerard Butler had cut his fee for this movie as well as co-produced it. Say what you want, but if Gerard Butler likes a project he seems to be 110% behind it. He researched the role, spent time with the real Sam Childers and really believed in the story. I'm not sure why people constantly think Butler should be doing roles like "300" all the time but he makes movies he believes in and with this one, I believed in it too.It may seem far-fetched that a guy turns his life around from being a jailed druggie to finding God and then going to Africa to help people. Yes, it does seem the stuff Hollywood stories are made of but this is real.Childers is portrayed by a man a lot more handsome than he is in real life but the passion is undeniable. We see people going abroad as missionaries be they Christian or even Mormon to spread the word about Jesus and we don't think anything of it. However, if that person turns out to be a reformed drug addict and one-time jailbird, we seem to manage to pour scorn on this and this may be the reason the movie didn't do as well as it could have. Maybe Butler didn't fully explore the character or perhaps the movie could have been longer to allow more character development, who knows?The final scenes are where we are seeing not just Sam Childers, but I also believe we are seeing the real Gerard Butler. The joy on those childrens' faces when they understand that they are safe is wonderful and it shows Butler really enjoying himself playing football with them.We may not agree with Childer's methods but he deserves to have his story heard. I certainly look forward to any chance I may have to hear him speak.The movie is entertaining and I did wonder how it was going to end and although the ending looked nice and pat, we can only hope that the real camp itself enjoys peace and stability.

From start to the end we like it very much, thank you.

A good performance by Butler, who I like as an actor, but not a great film. Sam Childers is not a nice person, and I suspect despite the work he's doing, probably still isn't. Shows the brutal side of Africa, with children being forced to become child soldiers, something which unfortunately is still going on today, and Childers trying to do something to help. The film seems to touch very lightly over everything, and just stops, pretty much in the middle of an event leaving you wondering what happened next. Obviously it ended up ok because he's still out there working, but still an odd way to leave it. Worth the £3:00 I paid, but glad I didn't pay more.