SpiritMechanic's Reviews

Gran Turismo (2023)

8/10

25 August 2023

Being a big game racing fan of the Gran Turismo series,Need for Speed, etc, i was shocked that i didn't even know about this. Must have been when i went to the Philippines and brought my wife back and was too busy...:)

I loved Need Foe Speed, and the first Fast & Furious movie. This movie is not that. Need For Speed was a great movie thats just pure adrenaline with no too much character development.

This movie deliverers the same 'rush' that we need, along with a good story to back it up. It could have used a little better back story with the father and son dilemma, but hey, the action and driving sequences make up for it.

Definitely a must watch.

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Big George Foreman (2023)

8/10

Better than expected

29 April 2023

I was invited to see a screener of this movie a couple of months ago. I was a little skeptical since it tells the story of how George Foreman went from angry bad guy, to a man of God.

So i went in thinking it would be way too preachy since most Christian based movies tend to be, and lose a lot of people.

I was pleasantly surprised.

It does get a little preachy in the 2nd half of the movie but it doesn't over do it.

This movie does a very good job in what it is supposed to do.

I wish there were a little more details in some of the events, but it was already a 2hr long movie so i get it.

I would definitely recommend this.

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Jesus Revolution (2023)

9/10

Like a lost episode of The Chosen, ...kinda.

27 February 2023

This is how you make a Christian movie.

This is how you make a movie that makes a person think and feel a certain way when you leave the theater.

Like i've said many times, i rate movies by what they are suppose to accomplish and not the other hyped up things that dont matter.

This movie hits the nail on the head perfectly (for me anyways). It preaches to ALL audiences saved or not, and makes you think and makes you FEEL what the writer wants to say without hitting you over the head with a bible and losing 99% of the audience.

Very well written.

Very well acted.

Great sound track.

Awesome cinematography.

Didn't feel intrusive or too 'preachy'

It was a little preachy, but not in the same way most christian movies are.

I didn't know coming into this that this was also about Greg Laurie and his beginning. It didn't affect anything for me. Actually, it fit perfectly for me.

Watch this. You will NOT be disappointed.

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Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023)

3/10

Im embarrassed

30 January 2023

Oh my.

I so wanted to give this movie at least 5 stars when i saw the preview. Not going to happen sorry to say. Look, like i have said before, i rate movies on what the movie is trying to do.

I really don't know what this movie was trying to do. It was all over the place, messy, preachy, bad acting, horrible writing, and way too much propaganda even if it was true and needed to be said. It was just done completely wrong and misplaced. On top of all that, it preached to the choir. I imagined being unsaved watching this movie, and i felt NO emotional content to keep me attached. I actually felt embarrassed as a christian seeing how we are being portrayed in some of these christian movies. I'm grieved having to say this, but these kinds of movies give us a bad name and push people away more than grabbing their attention and wanting more information. So so sad.

Many other people on this review board have already said things that I don't need to repeat but are true. Some reviews are just plain rude to the Christian faith and are totally ignorant of anything biblical even though they sound educated.

Also like i have said before, i hate to leave bad reviews for christian movies. But i have to do what i have to do. Sorry, not sorry.

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The Peripheral (2022)

6/10

Not what i was hoping for

3 December 2022

This started out really interesting from the start. I was hoping to get like a "Ready Player One" feel. It was not. THAT was a great movie and more original, and can actually see it happening today seeing how the net is becoming more real and people are becoming more and more dumbed down.

This show kept my attention and wanting more each episode to reveal more things, but eventually it slowed down almost to a complete stop.

Lots of plot holes and long dialogue that gets really confusing trying to follow was really irritating.

Shows are supposed to start somewhat slow and get more ramped up as they go along and the finale is supposed to close the deal with an ending that we didn't see coming.

This series goes in reverse.

Too much boring and confusing dialog. At least it was only 8 episodes.

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The Batman (2022)

7/10

Nothing special.

8 March 2022

Its was good, but nothing special. I was hoping foe a new bad assery kind of Batman and it didn't happen. Lots of political jargon but oh well.

It was done very well and had a great cinematic look. I liked the characters, but it wasn't anything different than any other Batman movies done before in the way of 'new', it was just another story done another way that could have been done in the 90's as well as today.

It just didn't do it for me especially with a 3 hr run time. I was expecting way more. Not bad, just not what you would expect with all the hype.

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Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

10/10

This show is NOT a 10....

8 January 2022

Ok folks.

This show is a 1 star AND a 10 star.

It has a great story and great writing with some pretty funny stuff from Sensi Lawrence being a meathead and not knowing the times.

It has a great story sticking to the rules of the past and taking us all who grew up watching the Karate Kid back to memory lane and feeling that sense of hope that once lived inside of us that many have wished to go back to. This is the 10 star.

Here is the 1 star.

This movie has some, if not the WORST fighting i have ever seen in all of the 80's movies if not ALL of the fighting movies i have ever seen.

The irony of what this movie is somewhat about; the fighting stance, the balance, the kicks and punches, the incorrectly tied belts and the most horrible fighting sequences i have ever seen.

If anyone knows a shred of martial arts, you can see the flaws in every of fighting scene. Whether in practice at the dojo, or in a real fight. It's totally embarrassing. For a show that is mainly about fighting correctly, they have absolutely NO CORRECT fighting styles, kicks, punches, and especially balance. No one ever throws a punch and just waits 2 seconds for the person to throw the next onslaught of horribly scripted blows into the air. If anyone of these kicks or punches ever landed in a real fight, their wrist, arm, leg, or foot, would be broken from wrong form. You could just push anybody from these horrible stances they were in and they would fall right over.

So this is why i absolute HATE this series, and at the same time i cant wait to binge the next season and LOVE it because it takes me back to when America was America and we had hope and dreams.

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American Underdog (2021)

9/10

Only 3 reviews so far. All with 10 stars. So why is it rated 7.6?

26 December 2021

Being a Christian and almost always being embarrassed by Christian movies, I was a little nervous going in to see this screening in October. I knew really nothing about Kurt Warner.

Wow. I was pleasantly surprised.

Even though a 'Christian' produced movie, i didn't even notice that when i watched it. It kept God in the movie without shoving down people throats. No preaching, no sappy moments we've all seen a million times before. Just an amazing movie about an amazing guy.

Anybody who watches this will be satisfied.

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8-Bit Christmas (2021)

7/10

Good. Not great.

28 November 2021

I guess you cant expect TOO much from a movie like this.

Loved the soundtrack.

Loved the memories it brought back.

It was a good watch, i just wished it had more to offer. Didn't like the ending too much. It didn't really tell why it ended the way it did. The ending would have made it better. Kind of a downer.

Overall good flick with some good funny parts that i could actually relate too.

I miss the 80's. :)

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Love on the Rock (2021)

5/10

It is what you expect.

21 November 2021

Nothing new here really. Even though it has David White, this is not a Christian movie per se, even though it hints at it from time to time.

It might have been better if it was written better and had a better believable villain. If you can rent it for a few dollars then go ahead. Don't expect much sorry to say.

If they had the budget to to make this movie they could have done a better job. David Whit needs to stop trying to be a tough guy. He just doesn't fit the role. Stick to comedy drama or cast someone else please.

I hate to rate Christian movies or actors low, but hey, it is what it is.

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Copshop (2021)

6/10

Why?

22 October 2021

Why can't anyone have a good ending anymore? Please tell me.

So many plot holes and same ol same ol. People getting sliced and shot multiple times with no real danger and keep fighting till the end.

The ending is not finished. I HATE these kinds of endings. For some reason producers think that a movie with enormous amounts of blood and actions scenes makes up for the ending that everyone is waiting for. HATE IT!

This movies stars out great but gradually sinks lower and lower until you are left in the dust.

Please please please someone make some movies that have an ending that makes you feel satisfied or at least makes you think about the movies afterwards.

Im losing hope in movies. So sad.

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My Name (2021)

8/10

Better than most

20 October 2021

Warning: Spoilers

The only complaints i have are the same with most movies or series.

Too many unbelievable fight scenes.

Too much punishment a person can handle,especially a woman, and keep fighting non stop without bleeding to death.

The horrible ending that is either unnecessary, or just plain dumb with no real closure.

I love so many Koreans movies and series EXCEPT, why can't anybody have a great ending? WHY?

Why is this so hard? Even for American movies its so hard to have a great ending thats not predictable or leaves the audience wondering.

And for those commenting about the part where the last boss kills the cop at the end, if you notice his reaction when she tells him that he killed another person that she cared for and no has more reason to kill him. His split second reaction meant he didn't know. Im believe he killed the cop so she could escape and come to him. He didn't know she wanted out and to live like a human again. I believe he did have remorse for that but he had already gone too far and had to finish to the death no matter what.

Other than that, this was a very well made show and i loved it except for those few things listed above.

Just please for the love of God, MAKE BETTER ENDINGS PEOPLE!!!

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Maria (II) (2019)

5/10

Could have been much better

15 August 2020

The cinematography was great. The writing was the worst thing about this movie. Try's way too hard to beAmerican cliche but ruins the whole move. The 'boss' is totally ridiculous and in no way to be taken serious or threatening. I know fight scenes are never realistic but we watch them anyway for fun, but this, totally ridiculous even though the choreography was done well. The special effects were very poor and way to much blood spray in every scene. This effect has been way over used in many films and does not look realistic at all. I felt nothing for the main character as i should have but there was no character development except for when they kill her family. Even then, it was too rushed. Had high hopes for this but it failed. I would recommend Buy Bust with Ann Curtis for a better movie all together.

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Overcomer (2019)

8/10

Better than i thought.

24 August 2019

So here we go again, and let me remind people of how i review movies. I rate them according to what they are trying to achieve. If you are looking for a summer blockbuster, this isn't it. This is a Christian made movie, for Christians. Meaning, it IS a little on the 'preachy' side, but, that's what is was intended for and it did hit that mark. It might have done it (the preachy thing) a little too much and too soon for me It was a little heavy. It was funnier than i thought it would be at the same time. That being said, it was a very well made movie and a very heart felt one at that. It will make you tear up at the least if you have any kind of soul at all. The high moments were good and hit home, and the preachy parts were a little too rushed for me. I think there should have been a little more depth to the characters in the beginning before they went off on the 'God loves you and me' part and then went right onto the whole 'God stuff' moments. Of course don't get me wrong, I am a strong Christian myself and have nothing against this kind of stuff in movies at all, i just wish it was more properly placed and timed right so it can hit harder when and where it is needed. But thats just me as an aspiring film maker myself. This movie was well made and it definitely hits home in a lot of areas. I would surely not miss it. These movies are getting better, but remember, a lot of them are preaching to the choir, which this one does, but it does it well.

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Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)

5/10

Almost fell asleep

31 March 2018

I felt like this movie was part 3 of a 4 part mini series and we missed the first 2 episodes. The movie was made very well in terms of production, but i felt i needed more through the whole thing and wished it would have went deeper into the beginning of Paul's transformation. That would have been interesting so see. If the audience knew nothing about the bible already, this movie would have been extremely confusing. The movie was more about Luke and the 'warden' of the prison than anything else. I really needed more of Paul's development and more of the effects of it after to feel this movie was complete. To see Paul just quoting scriptures that weren't even written yet and then to have Luke remember them all without any mention at all in the movie about those words being inspired by the Holy Spirit, really took away the root and the meaning of the scriptures for me. To me, sorry to say, there was no depth to this movie. I felt so bored for the first hour or so and was nodding off which i never do. I've said this before and i will say it again, if we are going to make Christian movies for the lost, the we need to give them something they won't soon forget after leaving the theater, not just the Christians loving it because it was made for them and they understand what the whole story is all about and they can fill in the missing elements that weren't shown in the movie. i will continue to support Christian movies, but this one left me feeling like i was at a buffet and there were only scraps left in the pan and it was almost closing time and thats all i will get. The best parts were already gone and there's no more coming...

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Let There Be Light (I) (2017)

3/10

Where was the light in this?

7 November 2017

Warning: Spoilers

Ohhh man.... I want to support Christian movies...but c'mon now. This one was pretty bad. I like Kevin Sorbo so i thought it might be good. Even he couldn't make this one work. I HATE to bash Christian movies but i have to (again) tell the truth about of some of these movies. This movie was so rushed and unbelievable it was hard to get interested. OK, i need to say something here. If your making a Christian movie, and you want to entertain christians, fine, make anything about God and all of us will try to be entertained and be happy. But lets really get down to brass here people. If you want to make a Christian movie and try to make non christians wonder and think when they leave the theater, you need to have some common sense! I don't want to go on and on but here are the main points: If you want someone to believe in God and have hope in Him, please for the LOVE OF GOD, don't have the main character have lost someone like a child and then tell people you have faith in a God now and then make the movie were now your wife has terminal cancer and prays and loves God but still ends up dying a slow death also! I always watch Christian movies from the point of view of a non believer to see if it entices me to think about what is being shown after or during the movie. This one made me so angry i couldn't sit still. The acting was totally horrible! The wife and kids were so unbelievable it was hard to watch. No emotions, no feeling for the characters at any time. So the protagonist in this movie gets saved because he saw his son in a tunnel of rotating pictures for a few minutes and he says "let there be light daddy!" Thats all...? Then he comes back to earth a changed man. He goes to his wifes' pastor and gets saved immediately and right after becomes baptized. He is then totally sold out to God in about a week. Then the wife is diagnosed...well just watch it if you want. There wasn't any character development what so ever. I felt nothing for ANY of the actors, there was no time put in to feel for them. And most of all, what and where was the light...?! If a non believer sees this movie, this is how it would be portrayed: Believe in my God- Why?- Because He is the Light of the world. What for?- Well, he really wont do much for you, but believe in Him anyway.

This movie really gives people no hope. if your going to make a movie about God, please please please give the people something they will remember at least. Lets be real for a moment, Christianity is kind of like being in sales, im trying to get you to buy my 'product', i need to show you the features and benefits of my product and why you need to have it, even though you might not want it. But still, you need it. Right? Isn't this how sales and marketing work? Everyone sells the sizzle more than the steak itself. Why in the world do we try and 'sell' Christianity with nothing beneficial for the buyer? Now of course, when i say 'sell' i mean we are trying to save peoples' soul from a very bad ending. Why cant we do this correctly? A great movie could be made without any preaching at all and have people crying when they walk out. Its all in the way and wisdom it is done. Not terrible writing and acting and blaming everything on Isis and telling people to believe in God without any sizzle. You get children to come to you with candy, not medicine.

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Risen (2016)

8/10

Was worried at first glance...

13 March 2016

I was worried at first glance of the trailer i saw during a preview of another movie. I thought it would be a let down of some off the wall 'Christian' movie. I was pleasantly surprised. The movie was done very well in all aspects. I just wish there was a movie that depicted Jesus a little more 'manly' than He has been shown. I believe He was a little more stern than we think. He was always rebuking His disciples and loving everyone else to bring them in with His love. Not that He was mean, but don't parents always treat their own children differently then the friend who comes over for a visit? I'll leave that thinking up to the reader,,,

It hits the marks it needed to except for a few minor things i wont mention because they probably didn't bother anyone else. My review is late on this one, so not many people will probably read it. Jesus doesn't have a lot of dialogue in this but it doesn't need it like you might think it would. If you haven't seen it, i highly recommend it.

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The Young Messiah (2016)

5/10

Tries too hard

13 March 2016

Warning: Spoilers

I think to make a movie about a non fictional character without any information or facts of the actual story, is a mistake. Especially this kind of story. There were things done in the beginning of this movie that were just plain wrong, and clearly wrong according to the biblical writings. He didn't do ANY miracles until the age of 30 the bible clearly states and i'll leave it at that. I wish people would stop trying to make Jesus someone other than He really was. This movie felt like it stole a little from 'Risen' which was a very good movie, surprisingly. Too much free license with this movie left me cringing many times at the things that were shown. The Devil, the ignorance of Jesus, Mary being worry full and Joseph being the strong minded one, quoting from the King James version of the bible which wasn't even made yet... Little stuff like that bugs me. If this wasn't a movie about Jesus, i could see it being a decent movie. But, it was. And it falls flat for me because they tried too hard to make it fit into what we would want it to look like if we could really see Him at such a young age. "Risen" had a great concept because it could have actually happened, but the way this move was written, it could not have happened the way it was portrayed. it is what it is i guess.

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Woodlawn (2015)

7/10

Worth seeing

15 October 2015

Saw s screening of this a couple of months ago. The movie is pretty good even though i think there should have been a little more development in some of the characters. It would have came together a little better in the end. I would definitely recommend it though. This is a Christian move so of course there will be many haters just for this fact. Yes it is a little preachy but not so embarrassing as a lot of others. If this wasn't based on a true story, i would have given it a lower rating because it seemed to be a little too far fetched ( in a good way ). But i asked one of the persons at the screening who was involved with the picture if this really happened as it was shown and he said yes, it was. This isn't just a football movie. Its a lot more, so don't go in expecting just another Christian football movie. If you do want a good Christian football movie, see 'When the Game Stands Tall' So it is a great story that really happened. There are a few things that weren't explained fully that left me wanting more but nevertheless, i liked it. You wont be disappointed..

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War Room (2015)

10/10

A 10/10 for Christians- A 2/10 for non-Christians

18 September 2015

I saw a pre-screening of this a few months ago and put a review up but it got deleted before the movie came out so i will try it again. This is the only movie i have ever gave a 10. Why? Because it does what it is supposed to do. It's not big budget, its doesn't have any special effects and it doesn't have main stream actors. But lets be real here, this movie is for Christians, not the secular world, mostly anyway. This movie had a message and it delivered it. Plain and simple. It did a fantastic job. Putting any doctrine aside, i couldn't find any flaws with this film. And believe me, i am VERY picky about my Christian movies. If you are a Christian, i don't care about your denomination, GO SEE THIS MOVIE. If you hate anything to do with Christians or God, you will get what you expect. NOTHING. Stay home and watch Bill Maher. He will guide you into enlightenment.

6 pages of 9+ stars on IMDb and maybe 1 page of negative reviews and War Room gets a 6.0 rating??? I wonder who controls the IMDb universe...

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90 Minutes in Heaven (2015)

5/10

Should have been called 90 Days of Recovery-90 seconds in heaven

18 September 2015

Warning: Spoilers

I don't know what it is about some Christian movies. They just don't get it. Just because you have a catchy title and a theme about 'GOD', the producers seem to think it will be a big hit. Im sorry to say, this movie was completely boring to me. The cast and acting were OK i guess. I think the wife in the movie was kind of cold and unemotional considering the events surrounding her. I was OK until i kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen other than this mans' pity party to be over and from his recovery to be over. He says he saw Jesus at one early point in the movie (complaining to himself) and then complains about being alive and alienating his entire friends and family the other 95% of the movie! Really? Who would do this? By the time the movie is almost over he finally talks about his Heaven experience. Its nothing more than we have heard a million times already. A bunch of people he knew before, standing in front of a big light, an open gate, a relative, and an old friend standing there smiling at him. Thats it! And by the way, the people looked the same as they did here on earth! Of course we will look the same in appearance, but to have an old face with wrinkles and still have your dentures? Come on! It breaks my heart to give this review. I really really really HATE giving bad reviews on Christian movies being a Christian myself but i must say the truth in how i feel. Someone has to tell the truth even if it hurts or seems negative. We need to stop giving Christian movies high ratings just because they are Christian movies. Here's my prediction: Hollywood will say, "Wow! There is money to be made with these Christians! Lets make them ourselves!" They will screw them up with their ignorance. My God, have you seen Noah, or Exodus? Don't get me started... If you want a good Christian movie in theaters, GO SEE WAR ROOM.

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Superfast! (2015)

3/10

Had potential, but failed

25 April 2015

This movie really should have been called Superstupid. The parts that were funny were actually pretty funny, but, the other 98% of the movie was terrible. I mean, the actors actually did a good job in portraying who they were supposed to be but that was all that was done right. Most of the time they tried waaaay to hard to be funny and it made me cringe. At other times it made me laugh out loud. This had such great potential but failed miserably. I actually had to fast forward through most of it to get through it. So sad, this could have been a great comedy spoof but no one will do it again, and of course the incident with Paul Walker would just be tasteless at this point. If you liked the Scary Movie series, drink about six 40 ouncer's of Old English 800, and get really high of some weed you found in the street, you might like this movie.

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Wild Card (2015)

6/10

Not Bad...

5 February 2015

...If you can make it to the last 1/2 hour, then it gets good. I'm a Statham fan, so had to see it. It's a little slow, but it was worth watching. Not too many fight scenes, but when they happen, they're good! Kinda 'The Gambler' meets 'The Equalizer' movie. Milo Ventimiglia best known from Heroes as Peter Petrelli does a great job as the bad guy in this film. Wish he had more roles in mainstream movies. Not a huge blockbuster but worth the watch if you can wait until the story gets going. I cant think of much more to write but i have to have ten lines to submit my review so here they are. ( i think short reviews will get better responses. It was great; it was bad, don't see it, etc..) Why do we need such a long review? I myself don't like to read long reviews, just tell me if the movie was good or not!

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Project Almanac (2015)

7/10

Entertaining

31 January 2015

Warning: Spoilers

Decent movie. Lots of camera shake due to entire movie done with hand-held, but not distracting like some others. Wish ending was little more tied up, but its worth seeing. Nice concept. Better than most of these kinds of movies out there. Butterfly Effect probably my favorite. But only the first one...

Spoilers below: Why didn't he tell his dad not to leave when he finally met him again?

Why did he say at the end,- " I have a feeling we are about to change the world"? When he destroyed the blueprints after last jump and now could no longer be built?

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The Remaining (I) (2014)

8/10

Should have been called 'Left Behind' instead of the Nic Cage one...

21 January 2015

Warning: Spoilers

This was a much better showing of what the rapture might look like. People on this site who hate this movie and hate Christian propaganda will always dislike ANY Christian themed event no matter how good or how bad it is. I really liked the fact that this movie showed that even good people got left behind. It's not goodness that allows us to be saved from the coming events, it's being QUALIFIED. Sorry, i don't care how much you kick and scream that you don't believe any of this. People who are high on hallucinating drugs REALLY BELIEVE THEY CAN FLY, until they spread their arms and drop off a motel balcony. And sad to say, this is how the unbelievers are also. They really do believe there isn't any consequences or a real just God. The Christian name tag has become like that of a car salesman. RUN if you see him coming! This movie does a great job in what message it was supposed to do. Its about time to add more action and thrill to a Christian themed event instead of weird garbage they have been portraying lately in the theaters. It is what it is and i enjoyed it. The DVD can be bought at ChristianCinema.com

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