Beyond the Mask (2015)

Very well executed

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is a great movie for all ages. I loved the "National Treasure" feel of the characters and the spiritual undertone was what so many of us face. The redemption lesson presented at the end is not over stated and well worth the wait.My kids (10 and 13) were held captive as we waited to see if the good guys would win in the end! We loved the tidbits of fact revealed at the end tying the movie to possibly being "based" on something real. Very enjoyable. I am proud to have shared the movie more than once. We need more family friendly Action Adventures geared to entertain the whole family with a bright side as opposed to only a dark side.

"I will make a new reputation to save me from my past." Assassin William Reynolds, who worked for the East India Company, stated what he was in search of pursuing in the PG historical drama film. It wasn't until he changed his name to Vicar and fell in love with a woman, that he truly sought out change. The Mask placed in the title of the film, represented Will Reynolds's assistance in concealing his past, villainous life. A chain around his neck represented the hope he journeyed for. Beginning with the East India Company pendant, he changed it to a cross when becoming Vicar, finally slipping a ring on it in hopes he could earn Charlotte's love. Spirituality is placed deeply within the story as a dying man says, "Redemption –not revenge… There's only One Name with the power to make you new." Will didn't realize the meaning of this until he spoke to a preacher in jail; he then found that it was the Gospel story revealing itself when that man had died in attempt to save him. I liked the way Benjamin Franklin was brought to life with the humor he would have had in reality. He was a good comedy relief for the emotions/action piling in the story. Director Chad Burns exhilaratingly revealed what was behind the mask, in a way that you wouldn't believe unless you saw it with your own eyes. As PluggedIn reviews put it: On the same stage as National Treasure and Zorro!

I rented this movie online and at first I was curious and intrigued by the trailer but the disappointment fell really quick after 10 minutes watching it. The romance is suppressing and rigid, I will suggest either go all the way like 'Pride and Prejudice' or the extreme sexy/ love in 'The Tudors' . The action scene is confusing and certainly not exciting, especially I couldn't identify the servants worked for either the good side or the bad side (for some reason, there isn't any differences). It is quite a predictable story but the plots keeps jumping / certain scenes being shorten / inconsistency of the scenes in this feature, they are all confusing. I see the credits style is similar to 'Sherlock Holmes'(the one directed by Guy Ritchie), the music director/ producer seems to attempt to create a combination of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Emma' which is not a good idea. It is like too much going on in the feature and I couldn't focus not even on the lead actor/tress. However, I do have to say, well spent on the sets, costumes and lots of extras which proved the director really made some efforts there. The lead actor is quite motionless and not in the character from my point of view(as an audience). Overall, quite disappointed with this feature.

I loved the idea of this movie since the first time I watched the trailer back in August. The fact that Christian film makers decided it was time to venture into a new sub-genre was exciting to me. Is this a perfect movie? No, far from it. Is it a fun movie? Absolutely. I had more fun watching "Beyond the Mask" than I did watching any of the recent, big-box office, action movies that have come out. I highly recommend this movie to Christan families who sometimes get tired of the normal, low budget films that are typically made.Please keep in mind this is a Christian FILM. Which means that it's message is Christ-Based. I don't understand why people who right negative reviews of this film based on its Christian message. Again, it's a Christian film. If you didn't want to watch a movie that have a Faith-Based message in it, why would you watch it? As a Christian, I love this move and recommend it for fellow believers. I do not recommend it for people who watch Christian Movies, and complain about it being "Preachy"