1. clira

   10

   This is an exceptional film that clearly portraits in less than 3 hours the war for religious freedom in Mexico. If you did not experience the cruelty of the government against our people, our ancestors, in my case Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, and of all our relatives and beloved priests and children getting killed for practicing their religion, you will not understand this film. This is the best that could be done in less than 3 hours. I STRONGLY recommend this film. It was very close to reality. It was a bloody struggle, of course!! a bloody battle that the Mexican government of that time initiated. WE, the audience, LOVED IT!!!!! THUMBS UP!!!!!!!… Expand

   • Helpful? 4 of 6 users said Yes.
2. sunshine85254

   8

   I found this movie to be outstanding. The cast and Andy Garcia were excellent. I was riveted during the entire movie and was stunned at the blood shed for religious freedom no so long ago. I was rating it a 10, but this scale saved "8" whllst I was still rating
   My rating is a 10.… Expand

   • Helpful? 2 of 4 users said Yes.
3. 5StringMark

   7

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have never written a public movie review before so bear with me. This movie begins with about 30 minutes of below par screenplay and over-accelerated back story. After that, the film gets really good. Occasionally very disturbing and moving. Amazing telling of an historical event that I never knew had happened just south of the border. Almost Nazi level atrocities against Catholics. Andy Garcia in other movies is sometimes a good actor and occasionally a bad actor. In "For Greater Glory" he is excellent. Interesting parallels between what happened 100 years ago in Mexico what is happening in present day U.S.A. with tendencies toward the abolition of respect for religious freedom, especially for Catholics. Satan is putting in overtime these days. You can see it even when you read the critics' reviews for this film. Check out the review from Roger Ebert. His was the most positive I've seen and it was only two and a half stars. His biggest complaint? Too Catholic. Here's a quote, "It is well-made, yes, but has such pro-Catholic tunnel vision I began to question its view of events. One important subplot involves a 12-year-old boy choosing to die for his faith. Of course the federal troops who shot him were monsters, but the film seems to approve of his decision and includes him approvingly in a long list of Cristeros who have achieved sainthood or beatification after their deaths in the war." and in his final paragraph, "If it had not hewed so singlemindedly to the Catholic view and included all religions under the banner of religious liberty, I believe it would have been more effective. If your religion doesn't respect the rights of other religions, it is lacking something." QUE' !?! I'm sorry... that was Spanish. WHAT !?! You get the feeling that a Wiccan subplot in early twentieth century Mexico would have elevated the movie's credibility in Ebert's eyes. Start with a pound of Catholicism add a dash of Islam, a pinch of Hinduism, and then add 3/4 cup of Shinto. Roger Ebert's perfect recipe for "Creed Stew", history be danged. What I find astonishing about Ebert's views is the way they reveal his complete lack of understanding of the Catholic faith. He describes these events with a spirit of condemnation. For Catholics, the granite faith of a twelve year old in the face of torture and eventual martyrdom is glorious. What he faces is horrific, but his response is an example that we all should aspire to. I can't help but believe that if the Catholic boy and his Federales abusers' characters were changed into a Jihadist and his interrogators in Guantanimo Bay Ebert would have seen the Jihadist as a victim hero. How did everything ever get turned this upside down? It absolutely should be seen on the big screen. I fear it will be gone very soon. The average of all the reviews is a 35 out of a possible 100. That's the equivalent of about one and a half stars. In this economy people are going to spend there movie cash on a three and a half star movie like the Avengers before a poorly rated film. But, this is no one and a half star movie. I personally give it two stars for the first thirty minutes and three and a half stars for the rest. Overall? Easily a three star film. Low ratings across the board? (note the disparity between the critics' reviews and the "Must Go" rating of ordinary movie goers. They gave it an average of 7.9 out of 10.)… Expand

   • Helpful? 2 of 3 users said Yes.
4. seancriswell

   4

   An interesting story that needs to be told, but in a less manipulative way. The characters her are all cut from the back hat, white hat mold and consequently when the emotional scenes appear, we mostly know how they will unfold and care very little. The acting here was not bad but unfortunately the actors were not given a very good script to work with.… Expand

   • Helpful? 2 of 3 users said Yes.

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