Search results for

review

Unsung Hero Movie Review & Giveaway

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. My opinions are 100% my own.


Are you looking for the perfect spring-themed film the whole family can love? Then you’ll want to see the new uplifting biopic film release produced by Lionsgate, Kingdom Story Company, and Candy Rock Entertainment, with For King + Country Film, with Joshua Walsh, Luke Smallbone, Justin Tolley, and Joel Smallbon, from executive producers Candace Cameron Bure, Andrew Erwin, Tony Young, Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Mike Curb, Brian Mitchell, Bill Reeves, Jeffery Brooks, Gerald Webb, and Ford Englerth, written by Joel Smallbone, and Richard L. Ramsey, cinematography by Johnny Derango, and music by Brent McCorkle, “Unsung Hero,” the story of one family’s courageous choice to stay together and pray together.

This heart-warming story of overcoming familiar obstacles, centering on the musical hook behind country hit, “Unsung Hero,” isn’t solely about discovering to create chart-topping music, it’s about building long-lasting life lessons. David Smallbone (Joel Smallbone), a music promoter, at the top of his industry in the early 1990s, was known as one of Australia’s best Christian Music promoters. Behind him, is an excellent support system, made possible by his faith-minded family, including his wife Helen (Daisy Betts) and their children: Rebecca (Kirrilee Berger), Daniel (Paul Luke B), Ben (Tenz McCall), Joel (Diesel La Torraca), Luke (JJ Pantano) and Josh (Angus K. Caldwell). Who’s hard work has given them a life burgeoning from good to great-fancy cars, a stately mansion, private schools for his children, and out=of-this-world personal connections.

Soon, their familiar mettle is tested after David fails to sell out an Amy Grant concert during a nationwide recession. Losing all their savings, and his backup plan of bolstering the career of Eddie DeGarmo (Jonathan Jackson) stateside fails to come to fruition. With no other viable career options, and another baby on the way, Smallbones devises a plan to move his growing brood stateside and represent a new artist in Nashville, Tennessee.

Then, their arduous journey, fraught with personal and familiar obstacles, from uncomfortable customs detention to the psychological toll of David’s struggles to provide a life familiar to his growing family, never seems to lighten. As the Smallbones adapt to life’s new challenges, they discover their greatest challenge to date working together.

Smallbone must learn the new arc of humility and personal growth as his pressures overflow into his professional pressures. With the Smallbone matriarch, Helen must learn to embrace the new professional challenges her husband carries about daily. The couple learns to take on their share of heartbreaking challenges, embraces new challenges, and embraces what endeavors to be a family based on a life of sacrifice and humanity. All while producing Betts’ unmastered performance, set in the heart of America’s musical past-giving this film a much-needed punch of faith-based penance.

The film also interjects poignant moments on screen with thought-provoking moments rather than schmaltz. Audiences are graced with much-needed humor to alleviate tension-raising contextual challenges and personal struggles. Equal shares of heart-warming moments matched with much-needed ensemble cameo moments, on-screen.

Also worth noting is Katherine Tucker’s production design. Reflective of Smallbones’ true on-screen evolution, from familiar to career-driven, as was cinematographer Johnny Derango’s lighting cues that highlight character development, sharing dramatic and humorous narrative overtones throughout the film. Frequent sunrises and sunsets, represent the presence of David’s perpetually steadfast father (Terry O’Quinn), while not on-screen, adds to the finale’s intersection of generational character arcs.

While several Smallbone family members are portrayed in underinvested, subdued roles, not nearly as scripted as they could have been. With a lack of proper scripting, and despite its over-the-top, adult dramatic narration, focusing on the parents’ problems, despite their teenage daughter’s inner self-esteem struggles as a performer in her own right, the scripting divests from instances dealing with female angst and womanhood, is a miss in any book. The focus instead placed on young Luke and Joel, the future duo, For King + Country (providing the film’s closing credits ballad), receive unneeded parental attention. Leaving Ben, Daniel, and Josh relegated to characters defined by their jobs, not their fun-loving personalities or personal testimonies.

Throughout the biopic, moments of splendor can be found. From overcoming feelings of inferiority, and economic and career challenges, as well as noble tropes of a family’s Christmas season saved through goodwill and cheer. With the filmmaker’s consistent tropes to achieve not only the American Dream but overall personal discovery. Acknowledging that hard work, and not the sum of funds, is how solutions are made. Meaningful insight into American ideals and the similies of the Smallbone family dynamic. A film that will be as heartwarming to watch as dynamic to discuss.

“Unsung Hero,” is an uplifting family biopic worth viewing only in theatres starting April 26th, 2024. Remember, to buy tickets today to see Unsung Hero in theaters starting April 26th, here. With an MPA Rating of PG and a runtime of 112 minutes, you’ll want to make plans to see this film in theatres beginning today. Be sure to check out the film’s Instagram and X pages, too.

Also, Momentum Publishing is giving one Theladyprefers2save.com reader a chance at winning a $10.00 Amazon gift card in honor of the “Unsung Heroes,” cinematic release. To enter, please leave a comment on the post below letting me know why you’d most want to see the “Unsung Heroes” film with chances for bonus entries for commenting across my site’s social media pages, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X through April 28, 2024, at 11:59 P.M.

Please note: This is limited to US winners, only. The giveaway winner’s full name and email address will be verified, with multiple-site entries being eliminated. Submission entries received after April 28, 2024, at 11:59 Central Standard Time, will not be eligible for entry. Thank you for entering. Good luck!

7 Comments

The Hopeful Movie Review & Giveaway

Thanks to Hope Studios for providing a sample of this product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
#TheHopefulMIN #TheHopefulMovie #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

It’ll be of little surprise to you to know that this double major in college loves few things more than true passionate narratives of American true stories. Including, “The Hopeful,” a new film directed by Kyle Portbury, Emmy® Award-winning, 3-time Australian Directors Guild nominated writer and director of Resistance and Sojourner Truth, produced by Bin Li, Kyle Portbury, Martin Thorne, along with Mighty Sound, Hope Studios, Longstocking Studios, Kyle Portbury Films, and Spectrum Films, and written by Aaron Hartzler and H.G. Sloan, set in mid-nineteenth century America, tells of the harrowing early origins of the Seventh Day Adventist Church-a must-see in theatres on April 17th & 18th, 20204.

This film details William Miller’s life, a man whose faith is in ruins. After surviving a fierce battle in the War of 1812, Miller questions the validity of God having spared his own life. Searching for wisdom leads Miller to an internalized prophesy–the world was ending as he knew it. The Hopeful portrays Miller’s life, from the perspective of a man burdened with the knowledge of Christ’s return, his mission to evangelize his message to others, and coping with the scorn of his fledgling congregationalism.

Midway through this film, a young woman named Ellen Harmon, is transformed by Miller’s sermons. Through said sermons, Harmon’s preaching style grows into a holistic vision of how Christians should live and worship. Who, together with Miller, helps to create the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “The Hopeful,” set in the picturesque New England landscape, within the rich culture of the American mid-19th century, invites audiences of all ages to imagine who, and how, they could help change the world.

Opening in theatres on Apr 17, 2024, this rich spiritual drama, with a runtime of 1h 30m, distributed by Fathom Events, will be one film those interested in spiritual events or American History, won’t wish to miss. Buy tickets for yourself, and others, here. Watch the trailer for this upcoming film. You can also see more about this film’s message of hope on Instagram and Facebook, and read other reviews on this site, here.

Plus, our friends at Momentum Publishing are giving one Theladyprefers2save.com reader a $10.00 Amazon gift card. To enter, please leave your name, email address, and why you’d most want to see this film in theatres April 17-18th, 2024. Please note, winning entries will be verified. With, one winner will be selected from participating bloggers, only. This giveaway will run through April 12, 2024, at 11:59 Central Standard Time, P.M. Winners will receive gift cards directly from the publisher. Good luck!

Friends, now I want to ask, do you want to see “The Hopeful” in theatres this April 17-18th, 2024? And for those who have seen “The Hopeful“, what were the greatest takeaways from the piece? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

4 Comments

Someone Like You Movie Review & Giveaway

Many thanks to Karen Kingsbury Productions for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation. Thank you.

In her latest book-to-film adaptation, Karen Kingsbury, the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the acclaimed novel, “Someone Like You,” set to pleasantly surprise readers, and fans alike, in her latest acquisition from Karen Kingsbury Productions, releasing the film adaptation of the same name, for audiences of all ages. As Kingsbury recently stated, “While I was very thankful (for the other movies) it was never the movie that God put in my heart.”

In desiring to produce a work as close to both her protagonist’s life, and in her vision, this literary renaissance woman has self-financed, produced, and marketed this venture, entirely herself. From picturesque cinematography to wardrobe and score, Kingsbury has stationed her vision deep within her production value. Recently espousing to media outlets, “Everything went right and (the movie) was complete in 25 days. We prayed for wisdom and favor, and we got it.”

Fans of Kingsbury’s works will delight in knowing that “Someone Like You,” shot in the American chronicler’s home state of Tennessee, features panoramic scenes shot in both Franklin and Nashville, Tennesse, and picturesque eastern Alabama.

“Someone Like You,” details the romantic narrative of architect Dawson Gage (Jake Allyn) who falls for the impassioned London Quinn (Sarah Fisher) throughout secondary school, despite the story’s protagonist running away at his connection attempts. A decade later, the two star-crossed lovers gingerly navigate the waters of friendship, only to find themselves amid tragedy.

As the grieving Dawson, coerced by love to share in one final act of deep affection for London- embarking on a preposterous search for her London’s twin, Andi Allen, (Sarah Fisher), twins separated as embryos. Then, upon learning of Dawson’s forage through her family tree, London’s world is upended, leaving her feeling bewildered by her family of choice; her adoptive parents. Despite this fall, Dawson never planned to fall in love with London-never planned to fall in love, entirely.

Praise for the piece has been celebratory at the Franklin Theatre, premiere a triumph for Kingsbury’s production debut. Danica McKellar (Hallmark, The Wonder Years) stated the piece was a “Beautiful movie. Even with the loss of a child, you can find strength, through faith, through God, and the support of your family.” The Grants, Amy Grant and Vince Gill stated, “Vince and I want to support this movie and the arts. Karen Kingsbury has gone all the way. It’s important for us all to support the arts. This combination of being at Franklin Theatre, it feels like the best of being in a small town. And that is what Franklin is.” With Vince Gill praised the film’s score, created by Tyler Smith, and added “I am excited to hear the music. Nashville has popped up as a great city in which to make movies. It’s great for the town.”

Audiences will delight in Kingsbury’s redemptive storytelling when “Someone Like You,” opens in theaters on April 2nd. With Kingsbury’s additional book series “The Baxters” airing on Amazon Prime starting March 28th, 2024; with Seasons 1, Season 2, and Season 3 airing. As well as the “Someone Like You” movie premiere gallery-perfect for viewers and readers, alike.

Buy tickets today to see Someone Like You in theaters, starting April 2, here-or book a showing with a group or friends!

For updates on “Someone Like You,” be sure to check out visit SomeoneLikeYou.movie and follow the film on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. As well as follow Kingsbury on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and visit KarenKingsbury.com.

Friends, be sure to leave a comment on this post, or on my social media accounts, X, Meta, Instagram, Threads, or Pinterest letting me know which Kingsbury work you’ve most wanted to read or come to the silver screen. Winners will receive 1 signed copy of the book, “Someone Like You,” courtesy of the great folks at Momentum Publishing. Then, be sure to check out what else I’m reading.

Please note: This giveaway is limited to U.S. winners only. Winners will receive their books directly from Momentum Publishing. This giveaway will end on April 12, 2024, at 11:59 P.M. CST. Good luck, everyone!

2 Comments

Cabrini Movie Review & Giveaway

Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Having attended parochial school as a child, I often found myself fascinated by the lives of post-modern saints. Individiuals, like you, and me, that helped to make this country, this brave, beautiful world a better place. Through simple, deliberate actions, brave souls bettered their communities, created peace, feed the impoverished, and improved communities the world over. It is in this same spirit, I was draw to view the film, from the directors and producers of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde’s newest work, Cabrini. The powerful lifestory of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant arriving in New York City in 1889, and later becoming the Patron Saint of Immigrants of North America.

Set in the disease, crime, and impoverishment-riddled Post-Reconstructionist America, a time when Italian immigrants to America lived in poverty and were denied basic rights to affordable housing and hospital care-deplorible conditions still seen in many of America’s cities, today. Called, “dago” and “Guinea pigs,” names emcompassing the deplorible conditions faced by the average Italian American Immigrant of the late nineteenth century, it is here our story’s heroine, played by Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna, begins a daring mission to convince popal authority, and later the hostile American politicans and sexist religious institutions. Along with the greed-stricken residents of Guilded Age New York City to help secure housing and healthcare for society’s most vulnerable.

Despite her poor English, and even poorer health, having overcome a near-childhood drowning, one that left Cabrini with severe lung damage, she invested her strengths into creating better communities for her fellow fledgling new world homecomers. Through her genrous spirit, she inspired the ambitious gallies of New York’s elite to give in ways unlike anything the world had seen. Aiding in the creation of sixty-seven hospitals, orphanages, and schools. Leading to her canonization in 1946 by Pope Pius XII, Cabrini become the first American citizen to be canonized-four years later titled as, the “Patroness of Immigrants.“

This first-ever biopic dedicated to the life of Mother Cabrini premieres in theaters on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day. Making it a great time to take the amazing women in your life to see this film, this spring, too. Buy tickets today to see Cabrini in theaters starting March 8th! You can purchase tickets, here.

As the movie allows audiences to understand Cabrini’s ultimate theme-to “aim for the impossible. For, as she tells Pope Leo XIII, played by Giancarlo Giannini, “The world is too small for what I intend to do.” Showing audiences that if a mere woman, not duppose to leave the confines of her bed for the rest of her life, can make the miraculous manageable, you can, too.

With its hopeful messaging and prestine cinemography, Cabrini invites audiences to do something odd-to rejoice in our own shortcomings, and, perhaps, sign-on for making our communities better places to live-to be our own “social saint.”

In the words of Saint Cabrini, herself, to women, like you, and me:

“Let all your affections, O daughters, be concentrated in this beautiful Heart, and you will always, and truly, be happy;”

Now, friends, also be sure to enter to win a $10.00 Amazon gift card from Momentum Publishing. To enter, please let me know why you’d most want to see Cabrini in theatres starting March 8th, 2024. Please note: this giveaway closes March 3, 2024 at 11:59 P.M. CST. Giveaway winners are verified and cannot have won the same giveaway from a fellow, participating vlogger of blogger. Giveaway prizes will be provided directly to winners from Momentum Publishing. Good luck, everyone!

2 Comments

Ordinary Angels Review & Giveaway

With the cold embrace of the dark winter coming to an end, and

spring a few short weeks away, now is the perfect time to reexamine New Year’s resolutions and recommit to self-care. A the daylight’s limitless possibilities for self-improvement and change upon us, now is the time to look forward to brighter days ahead-including our positive movie viewing. Including Ordinary Angels– the new, seasonal faith-based drama, directed by Adam Graham, showcasing both the power of community empowerment.

Based on the true story set in Kentucky in the early ’90s, where an empetuious alcoholic becomes a community-focused do-gooder in Ordinary Angels, a faith-based drama about human connectiveness and the power of self-forgiveness.

Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, leads an ensebmled cast as Sharon Stevens, an imfamous good-time gal, who enjoys men, and honeyed country tunes. Later, as Sharon’s good times come to an end when her friend Rose, played by Tamala Jones, coxes Stevens to her first AA meeting. Initially, resisting the ablity to admit to alcoholism, later throws her energy into aiding a local widower and father, Ed Schmitt, played by Alan Ritchson, and his 5-year-old daughter, played by Emily Mitchell, who is in dire need of a hepatic transplantation, encourages her father to befriend the newfound stagnger. Who, after paying this family a visit, and becoming aware of their growing medical debt, becomes determined to aid this fledling family.

Initially, a skeptical Ed is resistant to a stranger’s goodwill, but soon agrees to allowing Sharon the ability to assist his family, while instilling within Sharon, a sense of purposeness-skillsets long-since missing in her everyday life. Such personal philanthropy that guides her simplistic actions to no longer view her life through the a drinking-induced haze, and ultimateky in the bettering of her own relationship with her estranged son, played by Dempsey Bryk.

Through the power of persuasion, Sharon is able to eleviate an $400,000 hospital bill Ed’s daughter’s encrued, while unifying two families, and the greater community at large. Giving audiences the impression that the possiblity of change- that which begins, first and foremost, in believeing in yourself, too.

Ordinary Angels director, Jon Gunn, screenwriter, Meg Tilly, writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig, have created a feel-good film perfect for the spring season ahead. With a runtime of 117 minutes, and a moving rating of Parental Guidance, this is one film you’ll want to see in threatres this spring season.

Ordinary Angels, with its seasonally-appealing reminder to love others, and ourselves, can be seen in threatres now. To purchase tickets, for yourself and family, click here. Or to gift tickets, click here.

Plus, the Momentum Influencers are giving one Theladyprefers2save.com a $10.00 Amazon gift card. To enter, please leave a comment on this post or on this film’s posting on social media, on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, letting me know why you most want to see this film. Please note, this giveaway is for a pair of tickets to see the film, “Ordinary Angels.”

Please note: This giveaway is open to United States residents, only. This giveaway will end on 2/28/24 at 11:59 P.M. C.S.T. .Entries spanning multiple partipants, on various participating blogs, will be void. All winners entries will be verified. Winners shall receive tickets directly from Momentum Publishers. Good luck, everyone!

Remember, its spring. Find your purpose. Make a difference. And remember that tickets for Ordinary Angels are currently on sale. Now I want to ask, why do you most want to see Ordinary Angels this season in threatres? Leave your comments, below.

Find out more about Ordinary Angels on social media:

Facebook Instagram Pinterest TikTok YouTube

#OrdinaryAngelsMovie #KingdomStoryCompany

The Shift Movie Review & Ticket Giveaway


Disclosure: Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a product sample for this review. My opinions are 100% my own.

Few things bring about the Advent season like new movies and films, This season is no exception with the new Christian thriller, The Shift, an eerily-set dystopian drama from Angel Studios, the film studio that brought you The Chosen, and Sound of Freedom, a must-see 2-hour, PG-13 film sure to pack energy enough for all members of your family and friends. Get tickets to see The Shift in theaters this season-starting Friday, December 1st weekend!

The Shift shares the story of a mysterious stranger, Kevin Garner, a man with seemingly otherworldly powers, including the ability to banish tyrannical characters set on disturbing the fragile social systems already on Earth and greater chaos that follows the path of regulating his former life including finding his wife. During this time our lead also meets a nefarious foe, “The Benefactor.” Upon offering and later an initial refusal, and with humankind’s survival on the line, Garner must escape his newfound totalitarian realm, fight to reenter the world he formerly knew and save the woman he loves most.

The Benefactor and his shifters each wear a reality-altering wristband, a “deviator.” The Benefactor has other supernatural powers, such as telekinesis, used to swap individuals from one reality to another. Each choice breeds a different reality, where we chose path A, set in the first reality, or path B, into the next. Leading the audience to wonder where each character will find themselves and if the ultimate goal, the choice between good and evil, plays into the reality we each, individually, interpret.

Featuring Kristoffer Polaha, as Kevin Garner, Sean Astin, also starring in The Goonies, Rudy, and The Lord of the Rings, as well as Neal McDonough, Elizabeth Tabish, and Paras Patel, and directed by Brock Heasley, this movie is a modern, fresh take on his short film “The Shift” (2017). The film’s lead, Kristoffer Polaha leads the franchise’s latest adaptations’ foremost protagonist, and Neal McDonough’s is a clever take on a modern dystopian lead.

If you’re a sci-fi fan, or C.S. Lewis’s The Space Trilogy, this movie will provide you that sci-fi thrills you crave with thought-provoking Christian themes. The Shift portrays the everlasting themes of man-the complexities of fighting sin and the paths of man, itself.

The Shift is a movie that you’ll not want to miss. Buy tickets today to see The Shift in theaters starting December 1st, here, Pay-It-forward for others to see the film, here, or enter the giveaway below. To enter, please leave a comment for a chance to win two free tickets to see The Shift in theaters! Please submit your full name and email address by 11:59 pm CST on 12/3/23. We will not be able to accept winners submitted after this date. Please note: This giveaway is limited to US residents only. Good luck!

1 Comment

Old Testament Handbook Review & Giveaway

Thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the below-reviewed product for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Throughout my lifetime, there have been many occasions I’ve studied the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This can be, obviously, a challenging task, both in terms of time and interest. So, when allowed to review the Old Testament Handbook, I could not think of a better time of year to consider the roots of my faith in the coming months ahead.

The Old Testament Handbook features a reader-friendly text of the Christian Standard Bible. Showcasing both the Bible’s original meaning, its original Torah teachings, and new, easy-to-follow, engaging scripture designed to highlight thought and individual Biblical responsibility. Allowing readers to quickly immerse themselves in the Old Testament Handbook, with its elegant, full-color Biblically-minded handbook styling that provides readers with a robust summary of conceptualized charts, maps, Biblical studies, illustrations, and summarized teachings. Something every member of the family can use as a daily Biblical reading, too.

Constructed with high-quality cloth covering and a double-sticked binding, the Old Testament Handbook is
designed to last a lifetime. The companion resource necessary for modern Biblical study for ongoing discipleship at home.

Plus, the text, beyond its durable, easily-cleanable, cloth binding and covering, can lay flat- a true necessity for late nights of Biblically study at home. The book is both elegant and sturdy in design. Including, a rich fabric ribbon marker perfect for easy referencing, teaching, gifting, or sharing. A gift that will bring meaning to its recipients for decades to come.

Making the Old Testament Handbook both a true companion for your personal bible studies and library, as well as the ultimate holiday gift for those looking to gift your nearest and dearest this holiday season-you’ll want to purchase your copy of the Old Testament Handbook this Christmas, too. For those looking to gift this book, please click here.

Moreover, you can also enter for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card between today, and 12/2/23. Be sure to click here, to enter! Friends, I now want to ask, what would you most want to research in your copy of the Old Testament Handbook? Please leave your comments below.

2 Comments