Ring the Bell {Movie Review and Giveaway!}

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 I love baseball.  I love the music of Casting Crowns.  I love a "feel good” family movie.  It was a “no-brainer” to respond the email to say “Yes, I would like to review the movie Ring the Bell.”

Rob Decker isn’t just any sports agent.  He’s also the President and CEO of his own agency. He’s at the top of his game and he’s picked out the next baseball superstar. There’s just one small problem. Shawn wants to go college. He doesn’t want to go straight to the big leagues. Other agents from other agencies have tried to sign Shawn but failed. Rob must go himself to the small town and get Shawn to abandon his plans and sign with Decker Sports Group.  Rob finds out that it isn’t going to be so easy and his life is going to change.

For some reason I thought this movie was going to be about Shawn. (I had baseball on the mind, I think.) Nope. It’s about Rob and his journey to discovering that there really is more to life than working all the time in the big city and making more and more money.

About Ring The Bell (from the promotional email):

Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.

Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, who all play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.
This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production. 

Ring the Bell is available NOW on DVD for just $19.95! DVD Special Features:

• The Heart of "Ring the Bell"
• Casting Crowns “The Well” Music Video
• On Set with Casting Crowns
• Famous Faces
• A Very Special Movie
• Ringing the Bell
• The Artists and Music of "Ring The Bell"

My Family’s Thoughts:

We are Eastern Orthodox Christians so we have a slightly different perspective on evangelism, nevertheless, this was an enjoyable family movie with a wonderful reminder message of just how much we need Christ. We watched this movie as a family the weekend before entering into Holy Week. The theme of repentance and restoration of the movie was a wonderful preparation for those same themes of redemption we find in our Holy Week services. I think this DVD may become a “start Holy Week” family movie night tradition.

I also think this movie, with it’s unabashedly Christian theme, would be great for church camps or youth events especially when followed by discussion with church leaders. I appreciated the reminders that I must turn from self and turn back to Christ. My favorite line in the movie is about accepting Christ.  Accepting Christ is really “accepting that God has accepted you.”  I think we all need to be reminded of God’s great love towards us.

And though it is a little thing, I really liked the baseball trivia sprinkled throughout the movie.

Website:  http://ringthebellthemovie.com
Watch the Trailer: http://ringthebellthemovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RingTheBellTheMovie

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