By REY FLORES
If I could do a one-word review of Samson, that one word would be “Wow!”
This is one action-packed film that had me gripped from beginning to end. Thanks to this great new film from Pure Flix, our younger generations can learn about real heroes like Samson, not just fictional ones in bodysuits and tights.
Based on Samson, the man chosen by God to deliver the Chosen People of Israel from the Philistines, actor Taylor James gives a great portrayal in not only the strength, muscle, and the long hair which are things we all know about Samson, but James has a great likability factor — the kind of guy that the ladies want to be with, and guys want to be like.
I loved this film. The actors were all terrific, the scenery, costumes, and overall cinematography are all top-notch. It reminds me of all the biblical epic films Hollywood legend Cecil B. DeMille made, except better.
Maybe it’s because I like the fact that Bible-based stories are teaching me about our great faith history, but when they entertain as well as Samson does, all I can say is that I hope Pure Flix and other movie studios keep films like this coming our way.
I’m not sure about you, but I have always enjoyed watching actors play a good, solid villain. Actor Jackson Rathbone plays the wicked Rallah, a Philistine commander who is about as spiteful and despicable as one could imagine.
Rathbone did a great job in playing the main nemesis of Samson. He was smarmy, sleazy, heartless, and contemptuous. With this great combination of character flaws for a villain, Rathbone pulled it off with flying colors.
Throughout the film, Rallah seethes with a hunger for power fueled by jealousy and envy of Samson’s strength and his own father’s power as king of Moab. He plots and schemes and wields his power the way he wields a sword on a whim to behead a Hebrew. He is deliciously wicked.
King Balek, the king of Moab in the Old Testament, is played by veteran actor Billy Zane. While Zane’s villainous character is just as evil as his son, he is a more subdued ruler, but nevertheless as heartless. Zane has a terrific ability to make a statement simply with the many expressions on his face.
Actress Caitlin Leahy portrays a conflicted Delilah who loves but betrays Samson. In this film, the emphasis wasn’t on Samson and Delilah, but on Samson, with Delilah being only one of the many people surrounding Samson life, albeit a huge and important one. Leahy plays the amazingly beautiful Delilah who is one of the few weaknesses Samson has…a pretty face.
Speaking of pretty faces, actress Frances Sholto-Douglas plays Samson’s first love and wife Taren. Theirs is a short-lived marriage, doomed from the start, as Taren is a Philistine servant of Rallah and of course Samson is a Hebrew. Sholto-Douglas was the pretty maiden who stole Samson’s heart for the first time and distracted him at a fight no less, causing Samson to get sucker-punched in the first fight scene.
The best message that this film conveyed to this reviewer is that Samson always gave glory to God. Sure, like most of us, he had his doubts and pains, but nevertheless when Samson sought the Lord for strength, He never failed him. It is this powerful reminder which we must all remember. Always give glory to God in good times and in bad times and He will never abandon us.
Director Bruce Macdonald says it best about this film: “Most people know that Samson had long hair, Delilah cut it off, and that he lost his strength. . . . But there’s so much more. Samson was an unwilling hero, and his journey to regain his faith — the whole story — is relevant in 2017.”
I couldn’t agree more. Jesus, the apostles and saints, certain historical figures and even ourselves as parents, should be the real heroes our children look up to. That’s what we are called to do, just like Samson, especially in the face of adversity and difficult times in our lives.
Samson is the latest release from the creators of God’s Not Dead and The Case for Christ. Pure Flix hits another home run, and despite its PG-13 rating, I personally would not have a problem calling it a family-friendly film for ages seven and up.
Samson comes to theaters nationwide on February 16. As always, I strongly encourage you to attend the opening weekend of solid faith-based films like this one. We need to send a message to the Hollywood moguls that America wants great films with moral values, and not the usual toxic garbage of gratuitous sex, violence, leftist-political propaganda, and dumbed-down humor they like to churn out.
Visit samsonmovie.pureflix.com to view the trailer and purchase group tickets.
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(Rey Flores reviews books and films for The Wanderer. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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