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End of the Spear
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 33 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Bill Ewing
Bart Gavigan
Jim Hanon
Directed by: Jim Hanon
Release Date:
Theatrical: January 20, 2006
DVD: June 13, 2006
Running Time: 111 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Language(s): English / Spanish
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence
Starring Louie Leonardo, Chad Allen, Jack Guzman, Christina Souza, Chase Ellison, Sean McGowan, Cara Stoner, and Beth Bailey
Mincayani is born into the most violent society ever documented by anthropologists, the Waodani in the eastern rainforest of Ecuador. As he grows he learns what every Waodani understands, he must spear and live or be speared and die. Mincayani's world changes when he and his family kill five missionaries. This incident propels Mincayani's family group down an extraordinary path that culminates in them not only departing from violence, but also caring for the enemy tribe they had once violently raided. (Bearing Fruit Communications)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The New York Times Stephen Holden
Inspiring enough to make you wish that the filmmakers had reined in their sentimental excesses.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Scott Foundas
This is exceedingly earnest stuff, dolloped with Christian goodness and solid production values.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Joshua Katzman
While Hanon's film stints on character development, he convincingly portrays the events that foster redemption and forgiveness, as over time the Waodani shed their culture of violence.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin
In spite of End Of The Spear's fundamental conservatism, the missionaries' disastrous initial encounter with the Waodani ultimately teaches the progressive message that when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of foreign cultures, Bibles and superior technology are no substitute for a thorough understanding of their language and culture.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Mark Holcomb
Spear has all the earmarks of a middling Indiewood product, from its competent second-tier cast (including "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" hunklet Chad Allen in a dual role as a slain missionary and his grown son) to its earnest plotting and leaden pacing.
Read Full Review >Variety John Anderson
Although overly earnest and often stilted, the film should find great favor principally among religious auds.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Robert Abele
What creeps in is the dramatic simple-mindedness attendant with a purity-of-purpose mind-set.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
It might have been inspired by actual events, but End of the Spear is, literally and figuratively, simply too dull to make any impact.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
Shot in Panama, with a cast of local Indians and B-tier Latino and Anglo actors, End of the Spear has neither the marquee heft nor the artistic gravitas of "The New World."
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Wesley Morris
It's not remotely as luscious or half as bold as Malick's movie, but it is shorter and more educational.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Desson Thomson
The movie is tentative, dramatically speaking...The most powerful moments come at the end -- documentary excerpts of Steve Saint, the son of one of the missionaries, and his friendship with Mincayani, the man who killed his father.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Steve Davis
The naiveté with which the missionaries approach their initial meeting with the Waodani, whose propensity to violence was well-documented, appears at once incredibly stupid and divinely loving.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
A sincere but underwhelming dramatization of one of the biggest news stories of 1956.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jami Bernard
In documentary footage played over the closing credits, the real warrior is introduced to American fast food and returns to his people too fat and sluggish to spear himself a snack, let alone a missionary.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Ken Fox
This ersatz jungle adventure is really a thinly disguised Sunday School lesson in faith, charity and the savagery of life without Christ.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt
A childish and visually repetitive movie, ham-fisted, proselytizing and overtly simplified.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Ruthe Stein
A Christian-themed film about redemption with almost no redeeming qualities as entertainment.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jacob K. gave it a10:
I wached this movie without knowing what to expect... It appears that the majority of people and orginizations rated this movie with extreme bias. They gave no mention of the acting, sound track, and scenery in this movie (Even with a poor storyline it should rate at least a 6 by itself!!!!). The movie was incredibly gripping, character development was astonishing, and itis based on a true story. If anyone rated this movie less than a 7, it is because they are bias because of the Christain nature of the film. Both sides, anti-Christian and Christian, have this bias problem. Read the posts, its either too politically correct or too religious. Anyhow, from a true critic, The most gripping and moving movie I have seen!!! Its too bad it likely won't win any awards.
Elizabeth W. gave it a0:
There was no point to the End of the Spear. I remember when those missionaries were killed, and this movie did a dreadfrul disservice to them. Those who say the critics are biased because this is a "Christian" movie are deluding themselves. There is nothing Christian about it. A miserable, boring, flop.
Jim J. gave it a0:
Simply Horrible. The entire movie completly ignores the side of a indigenous peaceful civilization, completely ignores the introduction of polio to indigenous societies through missionaries...etc. Another attempt which proves Christianity's intolerance towards people with a different point of view about being "civilized". Watch only if you want to regress as an open minded person, and love colonialism.
Leah M. gave it a10:
A very good movie, I really enjoyed it, and would watch it again.
Pookie D. gave it a1:
if you want to see a good engaging film about missionaries you should skip this one and see 'The Mission.' This one's just a sales tool for christian colonialism and an attempt at justification of oppression of non-christian cultures.
Karen A gave it a9:
As a young adult, I had heard of this story that took place in 1956, where five missionaries were killed trying to save a brutal tribe of people. (One of the wives has a radio program in our area.) I had no idea concerning the details surrounding it. I was fascinated viewing this movie. Watching it and knowing it was a true story showed the ultimate in forgiveness. I greatly appreciated being able to see what one of these five families experienced. It was awesome to see how good can come out of such evil.
M Sb gave it a2:
Simply dreadful. A dull and often times ridiculous testiment to how converting people to christianity makes them more civilized somehow. The brutality of the tribe was actually more of a relief to me. Those missionaries are portrayed as the good guys but I was somehow relieved to see the ends of several spears go into some of them. I felt no sympathy for any of the main characters, I had no sense of enthrallment or enjoyment during this bloody and pointless justification of all things that christians do to save your soul. Useless.
