Seven Days in Utopia

I so rarely write reviews. I felt compelled to write one for this movie.If I understand where the reviewers are coming from who are not Christians and had issues with this movie and/or other movies of the like. I also understand that some Christians love Christian movies no matter how bad, how cheesy, how badly acted, etc. Everybody to me is entitled to their opinion.In my opinion this is not a "Christian movie." Yes there are a few Christian elements. However, the movie is mostly a wonderful message that is highly uplifting, with great life lessons in it that are not necessarily have anything to do with "Christianity." Indeed the Christian elements were only in the ending for the most part, and were not at all shoving anything down anybody's throat.Some complained that Robert Duvall mailed this one in. I did not feel that way at all. Maybe Robert "found God" as he is aging and growing closer to his end, or whatever. I really don't care because I think he did what he normally does which is put his all into his acting. And the acting of the other people (particularly the young golfer) was superb. This is especially true as this being even remotely related to a "Christian movie," puts it in the category of movies that usually can be done better by kids in elementary school pretending during lunch break with a smart phone and a simple editing app.Spoiler alert: do not read further if you're concerned about anything being given away...Yes the ending is a tad amorphous. Many reviewers here complain about that. I found it refreshing that the typical "you are already know what's going to happen ending" did not happen. People don't want to think anymore. They lack imagination nowadays. People's minds and getting lazier and lazier. Yes there was a mention to go to some website. It was not a big deal. It was not made a big deal of. I did not go there. There is no need to it if one does not want that. Way too much is being made here by reviewers of that in my estimation.I have not enjoyed a movie in a long time. Movies to me are slipping and sliding downhill so fast I cannot enjoy them anymore for the most part. Hollywood rarely has an original thought, especially without a particular one-sided political agenda that usually is pushed in Hollywood movies: AHEM. I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. I would even say it impacted me and my life to some degree.That all being said this movie has my highest recommendation. I give it five stars not because it is a 300 million-dollar mega-production with all the bells and whistles. It is not. This movie made me feel good, made me ponder, and made the think about things, and that is to me one of the best things a movie can do.Trust me, watch the movie, no matter what your spiritual and/or religious beliefs are, or not, you will enjoy. And if you want to watch it with your kids it is definitely family-safe in my humble opinion, which is refreshing to not have cursing, sex, violence, etc., thrown in just for the sake of it. I have nothing against these things. It's just that Hollywood doesn't have anything to say anymore so they just throw in those things because they have nothing else, and all they want to do is make more money.Watch it and if you wish to come back here and comment on my comment as I would love to know what you think.Whatever you do think about my comment, about the movie, about whatever, all I do is wish you peace. I wish people would/could just chill out and enjoy life without so much of the unnecessary drama.Enjoy.

The movie is about golfers, but any athlete and athlete's family will enjoy the film. It is somewhat fanciful in the methods the older man uses to help the young golfer, but the methods were used to teach life lessons more than anything else. I really liked the burial scene. the scene was largely symbolic, but burying lies and deciding to think and act differently is something we all must do get over the problems we face, the things that hold us back from living better lives and really, in the end, being better people.I rate movies on whether they do what they are supposed to do. This one is funny, gentle, and real. It worked, even if certain elements were a little fanciful and the ending a little too sweet. I did go to the website to hear how the final tournament ended. The author read the sequel which was really well done. I loved his prose which sounded more like poetry. I do have one major issue with movies about sports. I think there should be more movies done about how to lose. Most people don't win or play at that level. The book sequel hints at this. That made the movie's sweetness a bit more palatable for me. It would have been a four star if the author hadn't put that link at the end of the movie and read from the sequel. If you think this is a spoiler, you are wrong! Watch the movie and go to the link to find out.

Great movie and arrived without incident

Great movie

Though this is a "golf movie" and the lessons the main character learns are in that backdrop of golf, the lessons go far beyond golf and are applicable to any of us, whether you've played golf or not (I would be in the latter category). At the end of the day, this film has a strong message that it's good to examine your life and see what you're really living for. Is it to win a big tournament? Get in the record books? Be the next superstar? Have the world's wealth? This movie is all about causing us to put life in proper perspective.This is a generally feel-good, "down home" southern-feeling (Texas) film with practically no swearing or objectionable content. The story itself, however, I felt left something to be desired. I knew I was in for a bit of a bumpy ride early on in the film when the golfer ends up in this small town after a big defeat, and everyone in town seemingly is watching the Golf sports channel and thus finds out about his defeat. What kind of realism is that??? I know some people watch golf and all, but that's really stretching it...Anyway, this kind of implausible-but-predictable type stuff happens throughout the film. When you come to the place where you start to understand that this movie isn't really about golf, or really even too much about the story, as it is about its main points regarding life, you realize you can cut it a bit of slack. Of course, I didn't really come to that understanding until the very end of the movie...In fact, if it wasn't for the ending, I probably wouldn't recommend the movie. I won't give it away, but it honestly surprised me, especially because the rest of the movie was fairly predictable and full of clichés.The film's message is pretty generic and while seen by some as a "Christian movie", you won't find any real mention of Jesus. The main character's supposed "born again" experience (including with a song playing that boldly uses such words) isn't even remotely representative of a true Biblical "born again" experience, but it's more of just a general letting go of the past and what you've been living for to move forward kind of thing. Very generalized and watered-down, etc. Yet, because of the way it was portrayed, it didn't grandly concern me (though I do wish they would have chosen a different song that didn't use the "born again" verbage). The movie did a similar thing with its "see, feel, trust" thing that is used throughout the movie. It's all kind of generic, vaguely religious type stuff, rather than any real substance. (sidenote: the website that the movie directs people to at the end does have a page that's more specific regarding Jesus and brings more Christian-specific clarity to the movie). The movie's core message of examining your life to see if what you're living for will really matter in the end, I believe is one of great value.The acting and production quality were fine and sufficient and that's about all that can be said about that. Nothing stellar.This movie could be a perfectly fine "family night" type of movie, but I'd definitely recommend follow-up discussion to really discuss what some people live for vs. what the Bible says really matters, how we need to "see, feel, trust" in what's true and what's true is Jesus who IS the Truth, what being "born again" REALLY entails (i.e. repentance, faith in Jesus to save us from our sins, etc.) - that it's a whole new life in Jesus, how we need to strive for excellence in life (do everything well) but not lose perspective, the value of having a Godly mentor-like figure in our lives, etc.MoviesForChristians Movie Reviewslaughandlift dot com/moviesforchristians

An inspiring story about so much more than golf. Duvall's character shared his hard-won wisdom and had such a generous spirit. He helped Luke find his own truth and pursue his ambition without the ultimate outcome being all that mattered.

Great dvd. Enjoyed the movie.