Review of Machine Gun Preacher (2011) by Richard F — 13 Mar 2012

*Machine Gun Preacher* somehow feels it is a very inspiring and moving story but somehow it feels dragged most of the time. I can see Gerald Butler as the title character, but he's more of a mercenary to me than a preacher (I'm talking about the actor not the real Sam Childers). What's wrong with this film? Well, a lot to say, but before that. I'm assuming to you that this is a film that has a similar subject like in some films like *Blood Diamond*. The point is that, here is a film that wants you to believe in the spirit and faith of this one man, despite of everything, he still wants to try to help those children in Sudan who are helpless, what a guy! But really, the movie gives it a complete misdirection, I don't see where is it really going or its goal as well. The performances are not that bad or good, I would've seen more human drama and more intense and intriguing scenario than looking at this Sam guy. I also felt that the movie is so rushed that wants to go to Africa without any setups on why are we about to see these people.

Some hated it, some loved it, well I'm split 50-50 on this. But, as soon as the film ends, there are some pictures and videos that shown the real Sam Childers that will you make you think, he's real and this film is all for real. And again, a movie without an ending, meaning there isn't an ending to the story of Sam Childers, it's like, it wants a sequel? So anyway, MGP, would've been so accurately poetic and very great storytelling if only the way the director directed it in a much simpler way, you don't need to see a killer to being a preacher? That's really weird, and does the film!