Bless the Child

Starring:Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Holliston Coleman, Rufus Sewell, Angela Bettis, Christina Ricci, Michael Gaston, Lumi Cavazos, Dimitra Arliss, Eugene Lipinski, Anne Betancourt, Ian Holm, Helen Stenborg, Matthew Lemche, Dan Warry-Smith, Elisabeth Rosen, Tony Del Rio (II), Nicole Lyn, Michael McLachlan, Jonathan Malen
Director: Chuck Russell
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

When Maggie (Kim Basinger of L.A. Confidential and Batman) comes home to her apartment building one night, she discovers her estranged, drug-addict sister Jenna huddling in the doorway. Jenna promptly abandons her newborn baby with Maggie, who proceeds to raise the child as her own, despite evidence of autism. But as the little girl, Cody, gets older, what seemed to be autism starts to manifest itself in more startling ways. At the same time, a series of child murders are sweeping the city--murders conducted by a mysterious cult with supernatural matters on their mind. Bless the Child starts promisingly, with subdued, creepy scenes contrasted with more outrageous moments like swarms of computer-generated rats. Fans of religious horror movies will enjoy its twist on The Omen, with an angelic child instead of a demonic one--only the child is still pretty eerie. The special effects go a little overboard towards the end. Jimmy Smits (Price of Glory) costars as an FBI cult chaser, and Rufus Sewell (Dark City, Cold Comfort Farm) gives a pleasantly restrained performance as the charismatic cult leader. Also featuring Christina Ricci as a cult escapee and Ian Holm as a Jesuit priest. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil.......2007-02-16

Bless the Child, love it! I've watched it before many years ago and i was excited to find it on amazon! i had to have it! The only flaw would be the cover shown on amazon is not the one thats on the dvd case, its a diff cover, still exceptional but a lil deceiving. The cover shown is actually inside the case with scene numbering and titles as many other dvds have. other than that still rates a 5 star!

Good Movie.......2007-02-07

I first off wanna say that this movie was well done. Even though the story is controversial, that is, a girl playing what should be a boy Jesus. I thought that was going to turn my interest off when watching the movie. But instead, I was applauding at the effects that used in the movie and the End Times that was thrown into the story to make it more suspenseful. I thought the acting was well done and the lines were good too. But...of course all movies can be chessy with some lines and I like that there wasn't very much. Now, I wanna say that if you look at the movie as a fictional story it plays well. But if you ask yourself the question, "What if Jesus was was born a girl and not a boy?," I think it's interesting but don't let that question make you think that the authors idea was just bad. It's an interesting fictional twist that will never be true but still interesting enough to be a good supernatural suspenseful movie. So there you got it, my review.

The Hidden Powers..........2006-11-14

Although there are some gory moments in this film I did enjoy the triumph of good over evil. I also especially enjoyed the way in which the film depicted the cosmic powers: both good and evil, and how they are associated with earthly events. You see this especially in the last scene of the movie, but it is also depicted in other parts as well. It is a "horror movie with heart".

Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job.......2005-12-19

It takes a brave person to willingly view a film with a 95% "rotten" rating on the "Tomatometer" but when the cast includes Angela Bettis, Christina Ricci, and Ian Holm you begin to get interested. Then when the same critics are overwhelmingly praising an exercise in excess like the new "King Kong", you begin to wonder if their judgment can be trusted about a film like "Bless the Child". Not that "Bless the Child" is a small independent film, it had a $40 Million budget although there is little sign much of that money actually made it onto the screen; except that the DVD has far more extensive special features than some low-budget production.

Anyway, if you are curious enough to view "Bless the Child" and if your expectations are modest, you should find it a pleasant surprise. Not because of Ricci (who has only two scenes although both are done well). Or because of Holm (who makes an extremely short appearance of little consequence). And not because of Bettis, although she gets a fair amount of screen time and has one especially good scene at the start of the film. And not because of top billed Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, who give competent if unexceptional performances.

The real star is young Holliston Coleman (best known as the "Me" in the television movie "Miss Lettie and Me") as six year old Cody. Director Chuck Russell (The Mask," "Eraser") gets a restrained but glowing performance from Coleman as a six-year-old savior sent by God to restore mankind's faith. At the start of the film, a strung-out Bettis brings then 9-day old Cody for a long over-due visit with older sister Maggie, a NYC psychological nurse. Once Maggie starts fussing with the baby, Bettis sneaks out, leaving Cody behind to be raised by Maggie.

At first it is thought that Cody is autistic but when she starts resurrecting dead birds and performing small scale miracles her Aunt Maggie (Basinger) begins to realize that she is something else. Without the right actress and the right level of performance this whole idea would be truly awful, but Coleman deftly alternates between playful and serious, giving the character a believability that has to be seen to (dare we say it) be believed.

The suspense is provided by a self-empowerment guru named Eric Stark (Rufus Sewell), who is actually an agent of the devil and intends to kill Cody if he cannot turn her to the dark side. Stark first appears about midway into the film, which begins to go steadily downhill from that point.

There are a couple of good thrills (including a bedroom full of rats), one great scare (the nanny's face changes suddenly and unexpectedly into that of a demon), and some lame special effects stuff that doesn't work well (Maggie's drive against the flow of traffic). In a cool and perversely funny scene Maggie threatens Eric with a gun and he says, "Are you really going to shoot me? Right here in front of Cody?" Maggie simply tells Cody to close her eyes.

Religious Escapism.......2005-05-02

Coming from a long line of religion themed thrillers and horror films, this could have been much worse. On a scale of 1 ('End of Days') to 10 ('The Omen'), this falls right in between. If you're looking for a no-brainer thriller, you've come to the right place.

Basinger plays Maggie, who's just adopted her sister Jenna's child after she ran out on her, never to be seen for six years. Jenna randomly comes back on her daughter's sixth birthday with a mysterious man who appears to be a doctor. They want to take the child, but Maggie refuses. Alas, the child is kidnapped, leading Maggie into the world of a satanic cult to figure out why the child is so important to them. Smits plays a preist turned detective helping Basinger out.

The movie is not the greatest, but it does entertain and is not as bad as many may lead you to believe.

Average customer rating:

God Bless this Movie!
ooh what a movie
The Best Movie I've Seen Depicting The Homeless
A Must See!!
My Favorite Movie In The World

God Bless the Child
Starring: Mare Winningham , Grace Johnston , L. Scott Caldwell , Obba Babatundé , and Dorian Harewood
Director: Larry Elikann
Manufacturer: Evg
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Go Toward the Light
Darkness Before Dawn (True Stories Collection TV Movie)
For the Love of Aaron
The Burning Bed
Stone Pillow

ASIN: B0001JXOMG
Release Date: 2004-02-12

Customer Reviews:

God Bless this Movie!.......2007-03-27

This is a riveting, heartwrenching account into a cycle of the "system" working against a mother who desperately tries to keep the only thing she treasures above all--her child. It is an indictment (without being preachy) of a system that won't work for her.

I first saw this movie when it appeared on TV, and I have never forgotten it. I am thrilled to own a copy which I use as a teaching material in conjunction with reading Herman Melville's "What Redburn Saw in Launcelott's-Hey."

ooh what a movie.......2005-11-09

i am glad to see this movie is availible on dvd this movie will make you cry make you think this is one of the best movies of all time BUY IT!!!!!

The Best Movie I've Seen Depicting The Homeless.......2003-05-06

If I had known in advance that this was a movie about the plight of the homeless, I might not have watched it. I'm so glad I did. A wonderful movie about about a loveable little girl and a loving mother in a terrible (but unfortunately not uncommon) predicament.

A Must See!!.......2002-12-08

Moving simply Moving, wish it was on DVD or VHS

My Favorite Movie In The World.......2002-10-10

I Thought this movie was very uplifting.It shows the plight of the world. It shows us how the other half lives and what its like to be homeless and have nothing. I just thought it was a fabulous movie and would love to add it to my collection.

Average customer rating:

God Bless the Child
Starring: Akuyoe , Obba Babatunde , L. Scott Caldwell , Jayne Eastwood , and Ali Giron
Director: Larry Elikann
Manufacturer: Evg
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000JMKJSM
Release Date: 2004-02-12

Average customer rating:

God Bless the Child
Starring: Akuyoe , Obba Babatunde , L. Scott Caldwell , Jayne Eastwood , and Ali Giron
Director: Larry Elikann
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0007ZSHAI
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Average customer rating:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil
Good Movie
The Hidden Powers...
Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job
Religious Escapism

Bless the Child [Region 2]
Starring: Kim Basinger , Jimmy Smits , Holliston Coleman , Rufus Sewell , and Angela Bettis
Director: Chuck Russell
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Stigmata
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The Seventh Sign
End of Days
Stir of Echoes (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00005A3OD

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil.......2007-02-16

Good Movie.......2007-02-07

The Hidden Powers..........2006-11-14

Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job.......2005-12-19

Religious Escapism.......2005-05-02

Average customer rating:

The Chariot are hilarious.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Chariot

Manufacturer: Solid State Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Originally made for a tour only DVD from The Chariot. Featuring over an hour of live footage plus bonus stuff: commentary, deleted scenes, a short film, and more. Ex-Norma Jean.

Customer Reviews:

The Chariot are hilarious........2006-10-25

First things first, I purchased this DVD directly from The Chariot for $15, so don't order it from anyone on Amazon charging more than $15.

Secondly, I have watched this DVD multiple times. It's way over an hour long, fill mostly with footage of them between shows and on tour (Cornerstone) in 2004 before their debut was released. I was disappointed that it features only four live songs: "Yellow Dress:Locked Knees," "The Company, The Comfort, The Grave" "Dialogue with a Question Mark" and "And Then, Came Then" during which Tony Medina (original guitarist) injures his leg while the group plays at a skating rink.

All in all, it's good for a few laughs, but if you are looking for live Chariot footage, there's just not a lot. It mostly contains The Chariot doing what they do best: act like goofballs. I enjoyed it because it was a different aspect that not many bands like you to see.

ALSO: Features complete (sometimes entertaining, sometimes vain) commentary from the singer Josh Scogin as well as an alternate Introduction.

So. Yeah, worth a watch if you are a die-hard fan.

Highlights: Their tour van window getting broken out by Keller, Their van getting stuck in mud, sunburns, calistenics, their intricate sports game, rolling down hills, and Tony "Taco" Medina injuring himself.

Average customer rating:

just one deceiving flaw, but i love it stil
Good Movie
The Hidden Powers...
Holliston Coleman Does a Nice Job
Religious Escapism

Bless the Child [Region 2]
Starring: Kim Basinger , Jimmy Smits , Holliston Coleman , Rufus Sewell , and Angela Bettis
Director: Chuck Russell
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video