Showing posts with label Robert Amaya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Amaya. Show all posts

Friday, October 7, 2022

Nothing is Impossible

The most recent release on PureFlix.com is Nothing Is Impossible. In this film, we will take a center-court seat to a journey of transformation as Scott Beck (David A. R. White) gets a second chance at life and love. Can he let go of past pains and open himself to God’s purpose? Or will new challenges keep him from the future he always hoped for?

20 years after being the high school basketball star, Scott is now working as a janitor at the same school and volunteers as the assistant basketball coach. His trophies line the halls, but his former dreams faded as he struggles just to make ends meet. When the local NBA team, whose new owner is the woman Scott once hoped to marry, suddenly announces open tryouts, a high school janitor gets a second chance at both love and life. Will Ryan (Nadia Bjorlin) and Scott overcome the past failures and broken dreams? This time will Scott trust God’s plan and purpose to learn that with Him, nothing is impossible?

Watch Nothing is Impossible on PureFlix now.
See the trailer below:


MY REVIEW: I enjoyed the film! The perseverance of Scott to accept life without simply spiraling downward despite shattered dreams is to his credit, but he's now at a crossroad with an ailing father, mounting bills, and a future that is looking bleak. A glimpse at another chance of the career he dreamed of, plus love restored gives him hope, but will fear of failure stop him. Scott's willingness to surrender to God's plan rather than fighting for his own way is a wonderful lesson. Trusting God with your needs makes a tremendous difference.

There's also a wonderful cast that includes fan favorite, Robert Amaya, Stella Parton (yes, Dolly's sister), Mark Christopher Lawrence as Pastor Lawrence and Vincent de Paul as Coach Hamilton. Scroll down to see all.


Disclosure: Many thanks to PureFlix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Please enjoy this interview of Nothing Is Impossible star David A R White with Momentum Influencer Network's Jean Thomason.

 

Cast

David A.R. White, Scott Beck (“Love on the Rock,” “God’s Not Dead,” “Revelation Road”)

Nadia Bjorlin, Ryan Aikens (“Days of Our Lives”)

Harry Lennix, Coach Russell Banks (“The Blacklist,” “Justice League,” “Transformers,” “Batman v. Superman”)

Steven Bauer, Archie Touraine (“Love on the Rock,” “Better Call Saul”)

Robert Amaya, Nick Carter (“An Unlikely Angel,” “The Farmer and the Belle,” “God’s Compass,” “War Room,” “Mom’s Night Out”)

Mark Christopher Lawrence, Pastor Lawrence (“Family Camp”)

Stella Parton, Ruby (singer and songwriter, younger sister of Dolly Parton)

Leanne Crawford

Ethan White (“Me Again”)

Marcus Haislip (former NBA player)

Vincent De Paul, Coach Hamilton ("TESLA," "Gods Not Dead: We the People," "Love on the Rock,” “Madam Secretary")
Writers
Tommy Blaze
Andrea Gyertson Nasfell
Director
Matt Shapira


Pure Flix is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.


Tagline

Your Home for Wholesome Faith & Family Streaming

Pure Family. Pure Fun. Pure Faith.


Bible Verse

Whatever is pure … what is admirable … think about such things – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

An Unlikely Angel

 

An Unlikely Angel is about Janie Caswell (Jillian Murray), a workaholic who is falling apart at the thought of becoming a first-time mom. When Janie whispers a small, but desperate, prayer for help, it's answered in a very unlikely way by an angel (Robert Amaya) named Gabe. Gabe uses an unconventional method to get Janie to slow down, but will she be able to make better choices when given a 2nd chance with her family (Aaron MeesDelyla de Castro)?

An Unlikely Angel is a recently added comedy feature to PureFlix. Sign up at PureFlix.com to see the film (or see details on my blog to win a Subscription!) View the trailer below:



My Review: Are you trying to do it all and finding out it's hard? Perhaps your "control freak" personna is losing control. Many of us are trying to juggle so many things at once that we lose sight of what and who is most important. It's a lesson to be learned, and what better way than with humor and watching another person experience a "do-over."

Just seeing the name Robert Amaya assures you there is going to be fun, and probably a quirky character involved. He never lets me down when I see him on film. The rest of the actors have wonderful performances that evoke several emotions; I was especially delighted with the comedic timing of Jillian Murray ("Jane") as she attempts to adapt with unexpected changes.


This film reminded me a bit of What If? which is also available on Pure Flix (and I recommend it!) but the stories are not the same.

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

See Robert Amaya's interview with Jean Thomason of Momentum Influencer Network:





READ: Back to the Basics: Activities & Ways to Simplify Life


Pure Flix
is a one-stop shop for faith and family-friendly movies and shows where you can confidently stream in your home with the entire family. With new premium and exclusive original entertainment choices every week, Pure Flix streaming service has the largest variety of high-quality, curated, positive, encouraging, wholesome movies, series and kids' content in one service. Pure Flix is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, alongside AFFIRM Films.


Tagline

Your Home for Wholesome Faith & Family Streaming

Pure Family. Pure Fun. Pure Faith.


Bible Verse

Whatever is pure … what is admirable … think about such things – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)



Thursday, May 12, 2022

Family Camp

 Family Camp is a Christian family comedy that’s fun


for the whole family! See it in theaters beginning May 13th!

The Skit Guys have been performing live and creating mini-movies for churches, events and youth groups for years. Their initial venture into feature films is sure to please their fans... plus bring in new fans. Invite your church, small group, etc. to have a movie night!! BUY GROUP TICKETS

SYNOPSIS: When their pastor encourages the congregation to sign-up for a week away at family camp, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker) believes she’s found the perfect cure for her imperfect clan—even if they’d all rather be anywhere but at rustic Camp Katokwah.
 


The fantastic Family Camp cast includes The Skit GuysTommy Woodard and Eddie James —along with Leigh-Allyn Baker, Gigi Orsillo, Robert "🐍👑"
Amaya, Cece Kelly, Mark Christopher Lawrence, and Heather Land. Writer/Director Brian Cates and writer Rene Gutterridge are also to be commended for this fun film.

MY REVIEW: I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I believe it's safe to say that this is a very funny film... but also with a message that will touch hearts. I have attended church camp a few times, but never as a family. I now wish I had been given that opportunity, but I had the fun of watching this film and the adventures of the Ackerman and Sanders families.
The Skit Guys, Tommy and Eddie, are hilarious as competitors wanting to one-up each other. I was also happy to see Gigi Orsillo as Eddie's wife; Gigi was "Miss Adams" in CARMAN's Great God video. But a surprise for The Chosen fans is the appearance of Brandon Potter in a small, but very amusing role.

Family Camp opened TODAY in many locations. Choose your desired Date/Time and BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE!

GIVEAWAY: Win a $10 Amazon Gift card!! Use #FamilyCampMovieMIN in a comment under a review post to be entered. The deadline to enter is May 20, 2022.


Disclosure: Many thanks to K-LOVE Films for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

LINKS:

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Courageous Legacy

Ten years ago, COURAGEOUS opened in theaters across the world. With the Kendrick Brothers trademark combo of both tears and laughter, combined with action, a strong message, and inspiration, the film made a impact on millions about the importance of a father.

Courageous is the story of four law enforcement officers (Alex Kendrick, Kevin Downes, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies) who face danger daily and who have developed a bond of friendship outside of work, along with their new friend Javier (Robert Amaya). When tragedy strikes, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their families, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives.




On September 24th, the remastered, special-edition is coming to theaters as COURAGEOUS LEGACY. This updated version of the film includes an enhanced
look and sound along with impact stories, new scenes, and a new bonus ending you don’t want to miss!

If you are thinking, "I saw it the first time," or even, "I recently watched the original online," you may wonder if it's worth going to see COURAGEOUS LEGACY in theaters. YES!! More than ever we need a reminder of
God's promise in Malachi 4:6 to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers." Our world has changed drastically during the last decade and this film should have an even greater impact. The additions, especially the updated ending, are exactly what the film needed.

LINKS:

Giveaway: 2 free Fandango codes to see Courageous Legacy in theaters! You will be entered to win if you leave a comment (on blog or social media post) with #CourageousLegacy by 11:59pm Sept. 26, 2021.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Sony Pictures for providing this product/product information for
review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Robert Amaya Rounds Out Cast of "The Farmer & the Belle: Saving Santaland"

Robert Amaya (Courageous, Moms' Night Out) will be playing the memorable character, Vinnie Scavo, a hilarious NYC agent, who appears throughout this family, Christmas comedy movie, The Farmer and The Belle: Saving Santaland. Scheduled for release this Christmas season.

Amaya is a dedicated family man from Miami with a love of film and musicals who first won audiences' hearts as the funny, yet endearing, Javier the "Snake King" in Sherwood Picture's, Courageous. He has since become a family favorite in many uplifting films including Mom's Night Out. The producing partners for The Farmer and The Belle franchise, Gotzon, Chandler and Joel Bunkowske are thrilled to have Amaya's comedic genius round out their film. NYC based casting director, Stephen DeAngelis, shares in the delight.

The Farmer and The Belle: Saving Santaland provides a pathway for moms, daughters, and grandmothers to discover inner beauty. The story is about a NYC model who spends the holidays in a small town. She falls in love with her childhood pen pal, a pig farmer, and helps save his hometown's Santaland learning true beauty comes from the heart, not just a pretty face.
This 87min picture directed by award-winning filmmaker Wes Llewellyn stars Jenn Gotzon (My Daddy's in Heaven), Jim E. Chandler (Lodge 49), John Schneider (Duke's of Hazzard), Corbin Bernsen (Major League), Natasha Bure (Home Sweet Home), Sandra Lafferty (Hunger Games), Roxzane Mims (Greenleaf), radio personality Delilah, Christian pop artist Beckah Shae, stand-up comedian Henry Cho and more.

"Given that this story is based on true events adds to the movie's appeal... The Farmer and The Belle: Saving Santaland has a very strong Christian, biblical worldview with an emphasis on finding one's worth from the truth of God rather than the world's low standard." - Movieguide.

Distributed by Vision Films, Lise Romanoff is in talks with several broadcasters for this audience charmer. Contact lise@visionfilms.net for inquiries.

The Farmer and The Belle franchise has created three products incorporated into the movie's storyline. They include the five-charm biblically inscribed #Beauty Bracelet (in talks with major home shopping channel) accompanied by its devotional book, Divine Beauty: Becoming Beautiful based on God's Truth written by Michelle Cox (devotional series for Hallmark's When Calls the Heart) and Gotzon. The children's storybook, Beautiful Mable is written by VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki. All products focus on discovering inner beauty.

Sign up for promo codes: http://www.TheFarmerandTheBelle.net
ChristmasComedyMovie@gmail.com

Contact
SDI Entertainment
***@gmail.com

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/12824056/1

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Altar Egos Digital Download

Pastor John (Robert Amaya) has a dream of reaching out to potential new members by making a few changes ... including updating the 🎄CHRISTMAS PAGEANT!! Mary Margaret (Sallie Wanchisn), the choir director, immediately calls for a boycott by the choir...and for a Pastor Search Committee to be formed!! As his wife (Erin Bethea) helps by lining up interviews, Pastor John tries a different approach. Pulling son Jack (Max Morgan) into his scheme, they use Jack's theatrical make-up from his school play to create colorful characters to gain insider info. Toss in Jack's co-star (Lindsley Register) whom he has a secret crush on and her man-crazy mom (Victoria Jackson) and you have a sure-fire recipe for humor. More than just a comedy, though, the film touches on some deeper issues too. Read my review from last August: Altar Egos review.

Bridgestone Multimedia Group just released this clip from the film:



GIVEAWAY: Win 1 Free Digital Rental by commenting on the blog post or in comments under the social media post. Deadline to Enter is End-of-Day on Dec 20, 2017. Winner will be announced Dec 21, 2017.



ALTAR EGOS is now available on DVD and digital, for purchase or streaming.

ChristianCinema.com    Buy or rent digitally at Christian Cinema.
ChristianCinema.com/Altar Egos

Amazon Prime Video    Stream, FREE for Amazon Prime members.
Amazon.com/Altar Egos

CBD.com        Buy the DVD or rent or buy digitally.
ChristianBook.com/Altar Egos


Merry Christmas!!

Friday, October 27, 2017

Champion DVD

Friendship and forgiveness are at the heart of the story in Champion, coming to Digital and On Demand on October 24, 2017, and DVD on November 7, 2017, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. An impactful and inspiring tale perfect for the entire family, the poignant film stars Andrew Cheney (Beyond the Mask, Seasons of Gray), Gary Graham (Star Trek: Renegades, Alien Nation) and Robert Amaya (Courageous, Moms’ Night Out). Champion on DVD and digital is overflowing with compelling bonus features including music videos, never-before-seen outtakes and a featurette that take viewers behind the scenes of the beautifully crafted story.
Sean Weathers (Cheney) is a hotshot dirt track racer with a thriving career, adoring fans, and a loving daughter. Jack Reed (Graham) is a successful businessman working to reconnect with his estranged son (Stratton). When a single mistake results in tragedy, it leads the paths of these two men to cross, and an unexpected bond forms between them. Together, they must work through the painful journey toward healing. But as secrets come to light threatening to destroy all hope, can they put their faith in God and discover a way toward redemption? Experience this story about the power of faith, love, and the true freedom of forgiveness.

I reviewed "Champion" several months ago. You can read my review here: Champion. I really liked the film and found it to be more in-depth than I expected and certainly more than a little racing movie. At this year's Christian Media Association conference, Content17, Champion won 2 awards: Best Cinematic Quality (Wes Llewellyn) and Best All Around Trailer (Judd Brannon).

GIVEAWAY: Now you can win a DVD of your own---thanks to Icon Media !To enter, simply leave a comment on the blog or under one of the posts (I advise tagging me to make sure I don't miss you. All entries must be made by end of day, Saturday, November 4, 2017.
LINKS:
ChampionTheMovie.com
Champion the movie on Facebook

Follow @ChampionMovie on Twitter

Follow championthemovie on Instagram

Champion on IMDb

  • BONUS FEATURES on DVD & DIGITAL:
  • The Heart of Champion – The story of how the movie came about, the grassroots efforts that made the film possible, the crafting of the story, and what the filmmakers hoped the viewers would experience.

  • Music Videos
  • Outtakes
  •  Original Theatrical Trailer  
          
FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Andrew Cheney, Gary Graham, Robert Amaya, Isaiah Stratton, Cameron Arnett, Faith Renee Kennedy
Directed By: Judd Brannon
Produced By: Steve Hyland
Screenplay By: Missy Reedy and Sarah Inabnit
Executive Producer: Judd Brannon
Line Producer: David Cook
Music By: Cliff Duren
Costume Designer: Teila Meyers
Edited By: Steve Hullfish and Judd Brannon
Production Designer: Marcela Shaw
Director of Photography: Wes Llewellyn

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: November 7, 2017
Copyright: 2017 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61192954
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Rating: PG for thematic material
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French (Canadian) Subtitles 
Sound: English Dolby Digital 2.0
Run Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Altar Egos

Desperate to see their church grow, Pastor John (Robert Amaya, MOM’S NIGHT OUT, COURAGEOUS) and wife Betsy (Erin Bethea, FIREPROOF) do the unthinkable and change their church Christmas pageant. Flabbergasted, elderly choir director Mary Margaret (Sallie Wanchisn) leads the choir to boycott. Facing termination, Pastor John resorts to disguising himself as an old man to bridge the generation gap, win over Mary, and lead the choir back to the church. When he discovers that the wounds run deeper than he first suspected, Pastor John must learn to love the unlovable or risk the ruin of his church and family. Also stars Victoria Jackson (SNL). Written and directed by Sean Morgan, the film uses the themes of loving the "unloveable," reconciliation, conflict resolution, and change vs tradition. 


Altar Egos is a good "popcorn" movie to enjoy with family or friends. It's not one of the funniest films I have ever seen, but it is amusing. The themes of the film can be told in a very heavy-handed way, so it is refreshing to see points made in a more humorous way. To quote Mary Poppins, a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. Some of the scenes were a bit too silly for me, and some left me puzzled, but it was overall entertaining. There were also a couple of editing issues that I wish had been fixed, but that is not uncommon in any movie. 

Good acting throughout the film. Robert Amaya and Victoria Jackson are excellent any time they do comedy. But, I have to mention 2 of the younger cast members. Lindsley Register lit up the screen each time she appeared. I loved her portrayal of Holly. But, the standout performance for me was Max Morgan! He was good as the teen-aged Jack, but when he would transform into the elderly Frank, I could not take my eyes off of him as he tried to fit into the senior crowd and made attempts to get them to loosen up a bit.

Conflict and resolution are the major staple of most films, and I thought Altar Egos did a good job in the "and they all lived happily ever after..." style while still making their points. Sometimes we need to see things from a different point of view to gain a greater understanding.
 
ALTAR EGO LINKS:

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Champion

In the supercharged world of dirt track racing, a single mistake causes the lives of two men to change forever. One must fight for his family, the other must fight to forgive.

Dirt track racer Sean Weathers was at the top of his game...an unstoppable career, scores of fans, and an adoring daughter. When a rivalry with another racer turns personal, the ego that propelled him to success causes a tragedy, sending his life into a tailspin.

Jack Reed was attempting to make up for past mistakes. He had prospered as a businessman but failed as a family man. In a sudden turn of events, his chances for reconciliation are ripped from his grasp.
Sean and Jack's lives collide, and an unexpected bond forms between them. Working through a painful journey of healing together, they each learn about second chances and the true freedom only forgiveness can offer. 
(from the website)

Champion will be opening in select theaters May 19th. You have a great opportunity to plan ahead and take your group, organization, or community by bringing Champion to your local theater. Perhaps your church or school could buy out a show time to see as a group or as part of an outreach. Get information on how to do this at moviegrouptickets.com/champion.




My Review: I must confess that I was very pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this movie. I agreed to watch it in advance since many family members love racing and I thought it may be a movie several of them would enjoy. Fantastic performances by the actors! Andrew Cheney (Beyond the Mask) as Sean Weathers and Gary Graham (Renegades, Star Trek: Enterprise) as Jack Reed are amazing in their roles of two flawed men who have made mistakes, but need each other as they each deal with grief and guilt. Faith Renee Kennedy is phenomenal is her role as Gracie and I expect to see much more of her. Who doesn't love Robert Amaya? This is not one of his more comical roles, but his trademark humor is a part of the film. Cameron ArnettIsaiah StrattonPortia Cue....and, honestly, all of the actors were wonderful. This is the first film that Judd Brannon has directed, and he did very well. Writers Missy Reedy and Sarah Inabnit put together a fascinating film that centered on forgiveness, but used fatherhood, friendship, and foster care as elements in a richly developed story.

There were a few moments where things seemed a bit rushed or I would think, "But what about....?" as I watched, but it kept my attention and I don't remember rolling my eyes or deeply sighing in frustration either. Those are good signs for me. By all means, bring this film to your nearest theater if it is not scheduled already. It has a powerful message in an interesting story and there are several aspects that will lead to a good discussion. I definitely recommend Champion!


LINKS:


ChampionTheMovie.com


Champion the movie on Facebook


Follow @ChampionMovie on Twitter


Follow championthemovie on Instagram


Champion on IMDb


THANK YOU to Icon Media Group for giving me the opportunity to review CHAMPION. An honest review was all required and all opinions in this review are my own.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

A Long Way Off

A Long Way Off is a modern day retelling of The Prodigal Son. Jake Abraham (Jason Burkey) works for his father (John Diehl), a prosperous farmer in North Carolina. Jake doesn't feel like farm living is the life he was meant to have, so tells his dad that he is quitting, and, by the way, would also like to have his inheritance NOW! He has to have money to invest it... and will need a few dollars to live on as he waits to get richer.

When he reaches the big city, he meets a new friend, Summer (Zoe Myers), who works at a nearby coffee shop, but is drawn to actress, Laura (Johanna Jowett), despite the fact that she appears to be in a relationship with Frank (Robert Davi). Spending money freely, it appears he will waste it all until one of his investments pays off big. However, when the investment falls through, Jake is left with no money, no friends, an angry mobster who is threatening him...and no where to turn.

A chance encounter at a homeless shelter with Al (Rusty Martin Sr.) leads to a job on a pig farm, and some wise advice. Setting aside his pride and fears, he throws himself on the mercy of his father. Will he be accepted or rejected?

  
A Long Way Off also stars Dave Blamy (as Jake's brother, Seth), Robert Amaya and Edie McClurg. Written by Jon Macy and co-directed by Michael Davis and John Errington. Davis also serves as producer; Gerald McGlothlin and Christy McGlothlin are the executive producers for ProdigalFilm LLC. For more info on the film, visit their website at  www.alongwayoffthemovie.com.


My Review: This film is based on one of my favorite parables told by Jesus, "The Prodigal Son". For any unfamiliar with the story, it is the ultimate example of God's grace and forgiveness toward His children who reject Him (but don't hesitate to take His blessings) and His acceptance of those who humble themselves, ask forgiveness, and return to Him. I cry each and every time I read about or see a re-enactment of this Father and child reunion.

This film was no exception! I don't feel like I am giving away anything. The basic plot of the story in in the Bible, and the difference is in the setting and the details. This was a well acted story and looked great. Those looking for foul language and signs of nudity will be disappointed (thank goodness!). Some parts are not necessarily suitable for younger children, but even the worst is better than the average person sees daily. It is certainly suitable for teens and up. Jake's lavish lifestyle may look attractive, but is also a prime example of how quickly people will desert you when you are no longer useful to them. 


I admit, that I am more prone to identify with the older brother in this tale. I loved the way this part of the story was handled, and thought Dave Blamy was excellent in the role of Seth, the "good" brother who felt his efforts were unappreciated. Jason Burkey is an outstanding actor and easily portrayed a believable character who made a complete turnaround with his life. John Diehl was also remarkable as the dad who reluctantly gives in to his son's demands, and his part in the climactic scene will long remain with me, especially when I am reading this story in my Bible.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Edify Media and Word Entertainment for providing me with a copy of this dvd for review purposes. No expectations were given for a positive review; only an honest one.