Comments for NewOrleansSaintsWhoDat

Comment on Saint Rita by GFP Books

GFP Books — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:45:29 +0000

What a superb film. I carry advanced degrees in Catholic Theology and Religious Education and consider this film a joy. I know much about saints and this has to be one of the most relevant, personalized, and accurate depictions of Catholic spirituality and sanctity.

According to the RC Church there is only one determining factor for sainthood; heroic love. Rita of Cascia demonstrated heroic love throughout her life, one grounded in peace, love, reconciliation, mercy and forgiveness for all without regard. The historical background of the time period is dead on, from the warring families to the plague to the costumes and colors. Rita is shown as a flesh and blood woman, in love with her husband and totally devoted to her children. She is a woman and experiences all the joys, sorrows, feelings and challenges that any human woman does. Saints were real people who loved and lived. They were not as the hagiographic biographies of old would have us believe. This movie has a message for all. Would that we all follow it.

The cinematography is outstanding, the music splendid and the performances brilliant. I will use this with my high school classes in many ways. Rating: 5 / 5

Comment on Saint Rita by Dean A. Hoffman

Dean A. Hoffman — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:12:56 +0000

As a homage to one of the most beloved saints of the Augustinian order, this is a truly compelling and well-intentioned film. But, viewers who are new to Rita’s tale and those whose lives have been blessed by her act of kindness should explore the in rank available at the National Shrine of Saint Rita in Philadelphia. Here, one can learn of latter-day research that not only rehabilitates the character of her husband but also makes a convincing case for her implausibly “miraculous” entry into the convent, to say nothing of its various depictions of her astonishing devotion to Christ’s passion. Indeed, Rita’s receipt of the stigmata from the crown of thorns–which takes up mere moments in the film–was the indisputable center of her many years in the convent and the origin of her progress to deserved sainthood. Instead of the wildly inflated and romantic tale offered by the film, Rita’s real tale is one marked by austerity, Excellent Suffering, and holy mystery.
Rating: 2 / 5

Comment on Saint Rita by Lizeth Partida Matuk

Lizeth Partida Matuk — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:23:44 +0000

It’s a splendid tale for all the family, I saw with my husband thinking he is gone to bored, but he was interesed until the end very much, I recomend this a lot because you are going to like this Saint with her life. It has a splendid actors…
Rating: 5 / 5

Comment on Saint Rita by Simply me

Simply me — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:57:43 +0000

Very surprised that St. Rita’s life was completely changed… there are no sacraments in the film, nor any Catholic identity at all. Don’t recommend it as the saint’s life. Very sad, indeed! A dark commentary on 21st century falsehood presented by film-media.
Rating: 1 / 5

Comment on Saint Rita by Cheryl Robinson

Cheryl Robinson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:40:29 +0000

I loved the movie-you can tell its foreign made-many scenes would have been cut out as not needed-if American made. It was excellent,though way too long. It has 2 parts.
Rating: 4 / 5

Comment on Saint: A Paradise Novel by M. Ursing

M. Ursing — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:42:45 +0000

Ted Dekker is one incredible author. So many of his books are so different from each other as if written by someone else. This book is one you can’t place down. Never guess the ending. Wow! I have all his fiction and can’t get enough.
Rating: 5 / 5

Comment on Saint: A Paradise Novel by Hebrews5_8

Hebrews5_8 — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:57:40 +0000

This book is about the mind. This book is about the heart. This book is about the dark places in both our minds and our hearts. This book is about finding out WHAT is real. This book questions whether we can trust our hearts and minds to know what is real. This book answers the question, ‘Can Truth set you free?’.
Rating: 5 / 5

Comment on Saint: A Paradise Novel by Elise MacCleod

Elise MacCleod — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:54:45 +0000

Ted,
I absolutely LOVED your Martyr’s Song series, all of them, but believe your writing has gone south in this book, Saint.
My impression of this book was that it fell into the category of psychological thriller. So much time – too much time – was washed-out developing just how evil evil is. Everyone already knows that. Not enough time was washed-out developing any sense of hope whatsoever. The truth that you presented at the ending was overshadowed by so much evil. Is that what you really wanted? The feeling I had coming away from this book was one of rage and dispair. You should have washed-out less time developing Carl’s character [I got into Carl's mind straight away, but you just kept rehashing it] and more time developing his childhood friend’s character – he seemed unbelievable, as did the oval personnel scenes. And because so small time was washed-out developing some of the minor font in this tale, I did have a small bit of distress keeping track of who was who. I got the thought that you were invisioning so much more than you were telling the reader. This book is worth a rewrite. Tell us the rest of what you saw in your imagination.
Rating: 1 / 5

Comment on Saint: A Paradise Novel by JustAForeignReader

JustAForeignReader — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:05:16 +0000

i finally chose to give this ridiculous novel up after struggled about 120 pages. the scenario, the plot, the…nearly nothing could ring a bell. trying so hard to read like a thriller but could achieve a wannabe one. forget about other writers’ praises on this book. i’ve never read any thing terribly said to any other fellow writer so far. i was fooled to pick this book up and wasted a sunday afternoon trying to contest those praises with this book, sadly found out those recommendations from other writers were nothing but ‘kiss, don’t tell’ complimentary sales pitches.
Rating: 2 / 5

Comment on Saint: A Paradise Novel by Denise

Denise — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:14:06 +0000

Ok so there I was at Borders store looking through the table of newly released paperbacks. By the side of with authors such as Zadie Smith, Jhumpa Lahiri, Jen Lancaster, Lisa See, Gillian Flynn, I stumble upon this book. I read the back jacket….thought to myself hmmmm sounds fascinating by the side of the shape of Ken Follett so I bought. Now I deliberate myself a well read person and have read all sorts of genres of books but apparently this Ted Dekker is a jesus author. I ,of course, didnt know this until (of course) the end of this trash took a turn towards “the light”. Now believe me I dont care that right wing jesus lovers want their own books…thats fine. What does irate me is that they place their wares in “secular” book stores, next to “secular” books and choose not to give any indication as to the real nature of its contents. If they want to sell their books in Borders, Barnes and Noble then fine….keep it to your own section. Last I heard I wasnt able to go into your christian stores and pick up the latest Stephen King or JK Rowling novel.
Rating: 1 / 5