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Celestine Prophecy, The

EMAILPRINTCelestine Films Holding Company

Celestine Prophecy, The reviews
23
4.9 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Adventure

Written by: James Redfield (also novel)
Barnet Bain
Dan Gordon

Directed by: Armand Mastroianni

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 21, 2006
DVD: December 19, 2006

Running Time: 99 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG for some violence

Starring Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Sarah Wayne Callies, Annabeth Gish, Hector Elizondo, Joaquim de Almeida, Jürgen Prochnow, and John Aylward

Based on James Redfield's worldwide best-selling novel, The Celestine Prophecy is a spiritual adventure film chronicling the discovery of ancient scrolls in the rainforests of Peru. The prophecy and its nine key insights predict a worldwide awakening, arising within all religious traditions, that moves humanity toward a deeper experience of spirituality. (Celestine Films)

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...

50

Variety Dennis Harvey

Celestine Prophecy demands all skepticism be left in the lobby. That's a leap few may be willing to take -- few beyond those millions who bought the book, that is.

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42

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

As to claims that the book provides a path to enlightenment, I'm an agnostic. But I can swear on a stack of ancient scrolls that the movie plays like 90-odd minutes of purgatory from which you feel you may never escape.

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40

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

The film taps the same spiritual thirst and anxiety that has made cultural phenomena of "The Da Vinci Code" and the "Left Behind" series. And it’s just as cheesy.

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33

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

It's hard, bordering on impossible, to evaluate this movie without stepping on people's beliefs.

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30

Los Angeles Times Mark Olsen

The movie is flatly acted and extremely ill-paced, lacking any sense of urgency, momentum or fun. "Romancing the Stone" it is not.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

A big disappointment.

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25

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

Redfield's fans will rejoice, if only to see the beloved novel illustrated on the screen, no matter how tediously. The rest of us probably should stay away.

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25

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Arguably as effective as Ambien at inducing sleep, but possible side effects include uncontrollable laughter.

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20

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

The Celestine Prophecy's biggest stumbling block (and there are many to choose from) is that the film's dramatic arc hinges on John's awakening to the prophecy. But spiritual epiphany is tough to convey onscreen.

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10

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

This delectable fusion of New Age babble and luridly bad filmmaking may not "open" you up, to borrow one of the film's favorite verbs, but it might leave your jaw slack and your belly sore from laughter.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 4.9 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sarah B. gave it a2:
Only people who don't read enough or see enough film would enjoy this lame film adaptation of an even lamer book. My only spiritual revelation here was that I wanted those two hours of my life back to spend doing something more meaningful.

Bob C. gave it a2:
As a work of Inspirational fiction, the book is quite good. But like most New-Age philosophy, it is full of basic psychological concepts merely wrapped in the fourishes of mysticism and spirituality. Fans who see the book dogmatically will no doubt enjoy the film - as it reinforces their conviction in this brand of pseudo-spirituality. People unfamilar with the book, or reader of the book who enjoyed it strictly for the fiction will find the film version serious wanting, as much of the internal monologue in the book serves to balance the fictionalized spirituality, but is absent from the film. While the "DaVinci Code" failed in it's overhollywoodization of a great book, the cinematography and translation of this very visually written book leaves much to be desired.

Angel P. gave it a10:
I have been holding the vision for 6 years now.The book changed my life -the film made certain parts of the book easier to realize-I am hoping for The Tenth Insight film-and others-only when it is time will each person find if the path and the messages are for them.When it is time-they will understand.

Julia G. gave it a10:
loved this film and especially since i'm a fan of the book.... I recommend the Celestine Prophecy to all.

Lou M. gave it an8:
Better than expected, especially given the jaded reviews, and far better than "What the Bleep," its closest genre mate. Better than the book, too, for that matter. Entertaining and sincere, fairly well executed in terms of craftsmanship and acting. Stretches "normal" credence, of course, but that's what it was meant to do.

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