Heaven Is for Real (2014) User Reviews (196)

A Nice Family Drama, Not Even Remotely Preachy

[RichardSRussell-1 · 6/10 · 18 April 2014]

Heaven Is for Real (1:39, PG) — borderline, 3rd string, original

You might be surprised that this film attracted an atheist activist like me. But I went to see it because — as part of my self-imposed obligation to catch EVERY science-fiction and fantasy movie that hits town so I can review them for my listserv and at SF cons — it looked like it might have some fantasy elements. I ended up classifying it as "borderline", which is where I put movies that are not clearly SF or fantasy but might be if viewed from a certain angle. This one leaves it open to interpretation whether little 4-year-old Colton Burpo actually experienced a trip to heaven while he was unconscious on the operating table at death's doorstep with a burst appendix.

The Burpos are presented as being among the nicest people you could ever hope to meet, and not in any "holier than thou" sense but as solid, down-to-Earth working folk, a kind, loving, and happy family. The dad, Todd Burpo, a part-time Protestant minister in Imperial, Kansas, is humble and declines the title "Reverend", saying "Call me Todd" even to members of his own congregation. He wears a work shirt and sits in the pews with the other congregants while the church service is doing other things, like Bible readings or singing led by Todd's wife Sonja.

The skeptical attitude is clearly articulated by several different characters in the film, including Todd Burpo himself, who's obviously having trouble wrestling with and reacting to what his son has been saying about his brief sojourn in heaven. And the conclusion is not some grand revelation or depiction of the "real" heaven but rather an informal sermon in which Todd (well played by Greg Kinnear) talks thru his uncertainties and tells his fellow congregants that "on Earth as it is in heaven" means that we should each value the little bit of heaven we share when we appreciate the people who love us.

Frankly, an avowed humanist couldn't have put it much better.

Still, there's the obvious fact that little Colton has been drenched in religion for almost his entire waking life, and that such total immersion surely accounts for everything he claims to have seen. And the Burpos had been having serious financial difficulties, a not-so-subtle motive for playing Colton's story for any financial benefit it might bring. Nor does the film stint from dramatizing those perfectly naturalistic explanations.

In short, if you were expecting a piece of pious propaganda, this isn't it. It's more like a nice, non-saccharine family drama with unusual subject matter, kind of along the lines of We Bought a Zoo. On my 9-point scale, it rates a 6.

Finally a decent Christian movie that doesn't push it too much.

[SpiritMechanic · 7/10 · 19 April 2014]

I am glad to say that I enjoyed this movie. 99% of most Christian movies are pretty bad. I am a Christian myself and it hurts me to say that but it's true. Anybody who likes movies and is a Christian, knows what I am talking about. It's usually embarrassing. With that being said, this movie was done very well. It had great sound, it was shot well, and the story didn't give you that 'shove' that most Christian movies give you. You know, the movies that think they MUST push the Jesus message so strongly or else it wont be understood. Of course I believe that Jesus is the only way, period, but to make Christians look sad, weak and wimpy is just too much for me to handle when watching it portrayed as so. If people really saw Jesus as He really is, they wouldn't be able to stand in His presence. Plus, He is VERY masculine, not this pretty boy image He is always being portrayed as.

Anyway, back to the review.

I must say, the movie was a little slow, but, it kept my attention through it all. It worked itself out. If your looking for a major Hollywood blockbuster, of course this isn't it, but you will not be disappointed either.

The main events that happen in the movie are very far apart, but this is how the book was written and thats the way it happened according to the book and according to the testimony of the Burpo family.

The only real thing that bothered in the movie was the lack of belief and faith the main characters had when they found out what Colton experienced when he was in the hospital. I mean, Todd Burpo, the father, was a pastor. When i saw throughout the movie how much he wavered and didn't know what to believe because it was 'irrational', it was kind of upsetting to me. But i guess thats how he really was in the beginning.

Margo Martindale, who played Nancy Rawling, a board member of the church Todd Burpo was pastoring, is probably the character that bugged me the most. She had many issues that many face today in the church, and it obvious shows in her character role.

It was a good movie overall, and believe me, i would tell you otherwise even though i am a Christian. I rate movies for what they are, not what they are expected to be according to the Hollywood standards. Go see it. you won't be disappointed.

Loved the concept...

[Nebzyl · 7/10 · 3 July 2014]

When it comes talking about heaven and hell, we just start ignoring the fact that they might exist. Everyone has heard about it, but nobody wants to believe in its existence. Well, I doubt myself. Sometimes, I want to believe in it but something always stops me from doing so. The movie talks about it, but it's only from a Christian's point of view.

I liked the concept of the movie. They don't actually make us believe in the existence of heaven (or hell), but the good thing about the movie is that, they've kept an effort to show how the world would react when something extraordinary happens. Whatever, the story and the concept touched my heart. It would have been better if they had gone deeper than this. They could have taken the lines of Bible or so, in order to have a factual conversations.

Movie says, it's based on a true story but when there's talking about Jesus, it becomes a Christian's story, not universal. It's not a must watch movie but I would recommend it. I say, we've always watched Sci-Fi movies when we know they are not true, why don't we give a try to some spiritual movies? For most of the people today, they would be only as true as the sci-fi. There's no any magic in the story, just some story of miracles. What if it was 'Your' story? How would you make people believe in you encountering miracles?

While the movie may not be at it best, it's not bad for a one time viewing. My rating would be 7 for the story, acting, dialogues and well, because it has some sort of influence to the society...

"He went to heaven. And then he came back."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 1 August 2019]

Of course there will be disbelievers regarding a story like "Heaven Is for Real", but you also have many such explained phenomena, like people who have passed on a plane flight that went on to crash killing everyone aboard, or those who sense an impending disaster like a hurricane or flood that levels a town. The 1959-1961 television series "One Step Beyond" chronicled numerous instances of events that could only be regarded as supernatural or other-worldly. This film can be a deeply moving and spiritual experience for those who question their faith, much as Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear) did when his son Colton (Connor Corum) began relating his experiences from the other side. The story makes it a point to mention that Colton didn't actually die, though his sensations and observations did resemble those of people who have undergone a near death experience. Pastor Burpo was able to reconcile all those conflicting emotions shared by his wife, his parishoners and himself near the end of the film with that emotional, heart tugging sermon that elevates his congregation in a way that helps all of them understand that Colton underwent a life altering encounter. Personally, I like to keep an open mind on events like this, even if some of the specifics lend themselves to some questioning. The clincher in this story for me was when Colton revealed the identity of an unborn and unnamed sister he met while in heaven, which had to come as a shock to parents who never confided the information to their children.

Just Okay

[nikicianciola-702-657633 · 5/10 · 16 April 2014]

I saw this movie on opening night and there were only four of us in the theater (which was just fine with me). I will start by saying that I am a Christian, was excited to see this movie, and really like Greg Kinnear. Although I liked the story, I was not impressed with the movie overall. The acting was not great, and it was somewhat slow. Again, I like the story they were trying to tell, it just did not grip me nor did any of the characters pull me in. It does make one think about death and heaven and what happens when we leave this earth. I thought it was a very interesting story and am glad it made it to the big screen, but I also think they could have taken this so much further than they did. Please see for yourself though, do not let this review make you hesitate to watch on the big screen or rental at home when it comes out.

Heaven for everyone?

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 24 May 2015]

Or is it Heaven for the Christians? It's tough to sell to everyone just by definition. The concept is or should by familiar to everyone, whether they believe it or not. And the movie does take a few shots at it and the reaction people would obviously have if they were confronted with a "reality" like that.

All through the eyes of a child who seems to be saying all the right things at the right moments. Which brings issues into the family and the people close to the family. Acting wise this is really good and there are a few things that are a bit out there (a punching or two, screaming at God and some other things), that you might not expect. But it never gets out of hand completely. It's a movie for those who believe anyway, but has a nice speech by Greg towards the end that can be seen as uplifting.

A honey-sweet story based on a lie.

[mdentfineart · 2/10 · 3 January 2019]

I wanted to give this movie a try, and wasted 100 min. It's a lovely, idyllic story of a "perfect" family and their little boy who had a NDE, reportedly based on a real life story which was later debunked by the very boy who was supposed to have experienced it. So I'm not even sure why it's still on Netflix. The story might have been believable if it came from a family that does not believe in Jesus and God. But, let's face it, this boy Colton, was born to the reverend and has been hearing bible stories since the moment he took first breath. From technical side the acting was ok. The little boy wasn't fantastic, as some have written, though he is very cute and sweet, but he acts at the level of his age. He repeats what he is told to say. Honestly, the most enjoyable part of this movie were the landscapes and vistas of the Nebraska fields surrounding the Burpo homestead. Otherwise, it's a totally forgettable movie.

The Great "What-If"

[zkonedog · 8/10 · 3 March 2017]

After reading the book on which this film was based, I was excited to see what this adaptation would be like. I was not disappointed, as director Randall Wallace tells a story that doesn't go over-the-top, yet still manages to capture the wondrous story of Colton Burpo and his family.

For a basic plot summary (in case you haven't read the book!), "Heaven Is For Real" recounts the experiences of young Colton Burpo (Connor Corum), who has a near-death experience and claims to have see Heaven, Jesus, and many other experiences that a boy his age should not have known about relating to passed-away relatives and such. Father Todd (Greg Kinnear) and mother Sonja (Kelly Reilly) don't know what to think: are these experiences real, or did they come from the adrenaline-fueled memories of a preachers son?

Basically, if you enjoyed the book, I can't see why you wouldn't enjoy this film as well. It is well- acted, filled with emotion, and touches on the same emotional issues that the book delved into. Besides feeling a bit rushed in the end, "Heaven Is For Real" didn't leave me feeling like I was missing any key pieces of the story.

Of course, whether or not you believe in God and/or the Burpo's story is central to the emotional components of the film. I believe, and thus it perhaps has a more profound impact on me. I'm not without my doubts, but after reading the book and watching the movie I can't see why this would all just be "made up". But that's a bit off topic for this review. Regardless, one can criticize the subject matter if they wish, but I don't think the adaption/presentation deserves any of that criticism.

The bottom line? The story of the Burpo family is quite interesting no matter which way you look at it. It poses one of the great "what if" questions of the universe: what if you could prove that heaven exists? Would it change the way you lived your life? This film does an excellent job of posing those questions while also telling a tale of family, love, and friendship in the process.

Not Bad (Not a Believer)

[monastery27 · 7/10 · 2 December 2016]

Not religious or a believer, reviewing it strictly as a movie. It was pretty good, not cheesy at all (unlike probably every other Christian movie ever made with poor actors and annoying syrupy dialogues). Not suffused with proselytizing, thankfully, or overly emotional melodrama. Thought it was a sweet story and I enjoyed watching it as just that. Bad part, however, is how it normalizes bad, unhealthy eating and it was weird how the Pastor seemed to have nil concerns regarding their abysmal financial situation, most people would be a lot more distraught if they were $23K in debt. Not this family, they had no problems taking vacations and getaways, and towards the end, growing their family.

Heaven is not for bad movies

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 1/10 · 26 September 2014]

I first heard of Heaven is for Real when I was traveling back from New Jersey to Canada. I'm a fan of the films Never Let Me Go (2010) and The Lovely Bones (2009), and this film seemed to have a similar atmosphere so I picked it up when I got home when I saw it on sale at the drugstore.

What a bad idea! Heaven is for Real had one of those adorably sweet, so much that it's fake and disgusting, characters. A little boy to be exact, who tells his family after recovering from a dangerous operation that he briefly went to heaven and met Jesus. I'm not a religious person so maybe I wasn't understanding the whole "I see the light" concept, but the acting was terrible, the plot unoriginal, the soundtrack entirely unmemorable and it was a waste of time to watch. It was hard to take seriously, especially when the family is named the Burpos. That's right, BURPos. You might as well call them Mr. and Mrs. ChickenNuggets because it was impossible not to laugh at it.

I really don't recommend you waste your time or money on this film. I just sold mine online and bought a ton of books instead of keeping the DVD, it was a horrible film and a certain waste of space.

Surprisingly pleasant in contradiction of critical reviews.

[rhhdvh · 9/10 · 17 July 2014]

Wow, after reading the reviews that are at the extremes, I really didn't know what to expect. But I like to judge controversy for myself and so when the title came up at the $1.50 Theater we went. Surprisingly, the smaller auditorium was about ½ full. What a delightful movie, so far and away from what I was set up for by all the disparaging - bordering on hateful comments and low ratings. It makes we wonder if the low raters even saw the show, or have hearts of stone; their reviews discredit them. The movie is about a local minister, in a small church, who works several jobs to make ends barely meet, married with two small children. His parish loves him and life is marginally good. But then his four year old son gets a burst appendix, and their whole life gets turned upside down for fear their son will perish. The minister screams at God, his faith tested to the core. A pray chain is set up at the church, in the town, and the boy narrowly pulls through. Everyone is relieved and life gets back to normal. Or so it seems. But then the four year old begins innocently to reveal to his father, that he had had an out of body experience, and provides details of heaven, like seeing his father screaming at God in the hospital chapel. Over time, the boy continues to relate more material so that the father consults a psychologist who discredits the actual encounter as normal memory tricks. Somehow the news leaks out of the family, to the church and community, and public controversy ensues. What to believe? Yet still more and more facts come out from the child that could not be known to the child except from his encounter; that then convince the minister of heaven's reality, from his son's innocent testimony. The minsters faith waivers, but then finally returns to belief. The movie is a real tear jerker. The plot moves quickly and steadily; the acting is superb, the child priceless. It ends well, a happy ending and faith is explored. For me, it was a pleasant surprise and in all a fine little low budget movie that witnesses faith with honest reason and doubt. Definitely worth the $1.50 and the time.

A delightful movie of a little boy's visit to Heaven.

[TxMike · 2 August 2014]

There is no doubt this movie has a select audience. Those who either have no time for "faith-based" thoughts, or those who profess to be agnostic or atheistic, probably will waste their time seeing this movie. In fact most of them will vote this movie "1" even if they have not seen it, just because they feel threatened by the themes here.

But this is a well-made movie based on what is purported to be a true story. A story of a 4-yr-old boy, very ill with a ruptured appendix, on the verge of not making it, and in the process experiencing a visit to Heaven where he met some people important to his life. And one of those was his little sister that had never been born, but died during a miscarriage. A little sister he had no way of knowing about.

Could the little boy and the parents have made this up? Yes they could have. But it is possible it is all true? That is the more intriguing question.

Greg Kinnear is the dad, Todd Burpo, also a pastor of a small church in Nebraska, and also with a business installing and repairing garage doors. Young Connor Corum is the young boy Colton who visits Heaven.

The DVD extras has an interesting 4-minute spot which includes some words by the teenage Colton. Good movie, and I find myself hoping it is all true. It is nice to believe there is something for us after death.

Good solid movie

[gforce762 · 7/10 · 3 May 2014]

OK first off, I found that this movie was not overly preachy, in spite of what some reviews have said. It is not the best movie that I have ever seen, yet (as of this review 5/3/14) 925 users gave it a "10", putting up there with the best movies I have seen (Patton, Shawshank Redemption) while 585 other users gave it a "1", putting it down there with the worst movies I have seen (Borat, Napoleon Dynamite). The basic premise it simply one of perception. Rev Burpo is a real man, with real problems (financial and family) and his son's illness puts him in a position where he is questioning his own faith. You don't have to believe what he believes, but to see him go through this made me feel good in the end. I give it a solid 7.

Just Horrible

[darinfl1 · 1/10 · 12 June 2014]

Greg Kinnear has done a really good job with the few serious roles he's played. And this is no exception. But even if this film had compelling dialogue, and Kinnear nailed it down in an Oscar-worthy performance, this film couldn't be saved.

The premise itself is hopelessly lacking in everything but deception. In fact, the entire concept is a lie. There seems to exist enough verified events regarding some sort of hereafter to at least leave the question open to debate. But everyone knows Near Death Experiences (NDEs) in which people make claims some of which can be difficult to reject, require a few seconds to a few minutes of flatlining. Some sort of temporary death is a necessary ingredient to make the conversation interesting. In this story, young Colton Burpo is ill, but never dies. He never flatlines, the actions of the body necessary for life never cease. So how i the hell could he have seen heaven? The entire point of the film rests on this child seeing heaven. But he never acquires the state of lifelessness wholly necessary for the glimpse of the hereafter.

It should be apparent to all not blinded by their faith that this boy WANTED to see heaven— wanted to be a part of some sort of "truth" that would underscore his family's spiritual beliefs. His father, after all, is the prototypical small town preacher. Had be been brought up to believe that the savior of mankind was a grape ape circling the earth in a spacecraft and only hearing the pleas of humanity when prayer was accompanied by the ritualistic burning of a 14 ounce filet mignon, doubtless, young Colton would have come back from his fever-induced delirium with tales of a loving purple primate. That would have made for a much more interesting movie-going experience. But no change in plot would have been safe from the horrible, erratic, and often stone-like "acting" of Connor Corum.

This kid was awful, despite what you may have heard. As I left the theater, both those in my group of family and others, unrelated, couldn't stop salivating all over this kid and his alleged acting chops. They marveled about how surprisingly great he was despite his young age. But people love to see their faith "validated" on screen, and will rhapsodize about anything that masquerades as proof.

The plot holes, lack of detail, vague connections, et al. probably deserve a mention. But having to recall my viewing of this train wreck of cinematic buffoonery has left this reviewer exhausted.

If you must see this film, pretend it is a comedy and that the absurdity is deliberate. If the option existed to grant this film zero stars, I would have enthusiastically made that selection. Under duress, I selected a single star, which corresponds with "awful" on the IMDb scale.

A Film to Inspire

[taylor_king-890-815491 · 7/10 · 26 April 2014]

I really enjoyed this sweet, small-scale film with a talented case led by Greg Kinnear! He disappears beautifully into the part of Pastor Todd Burpo, real-life father of the little boy who experienced heaven during an emergency operation. I also appreciated that this was not a typical Hollywood movie in that the focus was on life rather than death. The drama of how Faith and Love empower the human spirit was inspirational, and I left the theater feeling better than when I entered.

The young actor who played Todd's son, Colton Burpo, was absolutely perfect in the portrayal of the awesomeness of his experience combined with the everyday desires of a four- year-old. The look in his eyes, facial expressions, the way he walked were all spot on, and the scenes with his father were touching as the sharing of his experiences helped the dad renew his faith during a time of many obstacles.

Hollywood ruined it.. read the book instead!

[dan-62-585693 · 3/10 · 8 August 2014]

Was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I've read most of the book and to be fair, there is nothing more in the book other than Todd's struggles, Colton's sickness and the aftermath of Colton's experience. Hollywood realizes the weak story-line and inserts fabricated struggles. Pastor Todd is unable to deliver quality sermons, doubts Colton's experience, and even struggles with the existence of heaven. It goes too far when Todd sorts out these issues from non Christian therapist who offers a relativistic view that afterlife experiences differ between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The gospel message is weak and Christian character traits are lacking.

So we've come to this, have we?

[A_Different_Drummer · 6/10 · 8 July 2014]

Much more interesting than the film -- as a film -- is how cynical we have become as moviegoers. I'm as guilty as everyone else. But the film is so slowly paced (as Don Rickles likes to remark, "as exciting as a fly crawling up a drape") the mind wanders. It can't help it. But if there is nothing on screen to mesmerize it, it wanders. And the first place the mind wanders, while watching HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, is to a very cynical place (definitely NOT heaven) where it starts to wonder how such an unspectacular production merited such a big-name cast and director ... and such lavish cinematography .. and such a major studio...?

And as the mind continues to wander (because what is on-screen is still not that mesmerizing) it goes to an even darker place (yep, still not Heaven) and wonders if the real money and clout behind the production was the religious right ... and if the audience was intended to be the same market...?

Folks I don't have the answers. I can't tell you if the writer of the story really went to heaven or if the producers of this film had an agenda. I can tell you that, if you really really really lower your expectations, and allow for the slower pace, it's not bad. Not great, but not bad. There is a scene where the sister of the main character punches out two boys in the playground for poking fun at her brother. It is short and fast and by itself worth the price of admission.

Not heaven. But not bad either.

Couldn't sit through the whole thing...

[michael-3234 · 1/10 · 2 August 2014]

I believe this movie (and book) to be an attempt to make money. There were just too many right things in the right place to be believable. Kind of like when you know it's too good to be true, or when you start to watch a movie and it's just way too predictable. Too many things just seemed to be strategically placed in to story to convince the reader or viewer of the story teller's viewpoint.

I did find it kind of ironic though that the boy saw a white horse with wings in his visions. I may be wrong, but didn't Mohammed ascended to heaven on a white winged horse? Maybe this movie is actually affirming the Koran and Muslims instead. Just saying...

Anyway, the movie was just plain boring. At least up until the point I turned it off.

Pleasantly Surprised By This One

[patsworld · 8/10 · 17 April 2014]

I read the book and really liked it, gave me plenty to think about. But in all honesty I couldn't imagine they would be able to make a good movie out of this. I was certain it would end up overly sentimental or artificial or that it simply would not live up to the book. However, they did it – hence the surprise. This movie IS the book brought to life on the big screen. The casting is superb. Greg Kinnear is the ideal father, Kelly Reilly is fine as the mom, and how they managed to find the perfect child to portray Colton Burpo is amazing. Connor Corwin is so natural and likable, he is wonderful in the role . This movie is not preachy. It does not tell the audience what to believe or not to believe. Like the book, it gives those of us who believe further evidence that we're on the right track. But for those in doubt, it gives you plenty to think about and leaves you with questions you must work out for yourself. It just might leave you with hope and the courage to think there might be something to this belief in Jesus and Heaven. All in all, this is a splendid movie and I'd recommend it, and the book, whole-heartedly.

Not sure what to think

[srmccarthy · 7/10 · 3 November 2020]

First of all, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. I am partial to children though. Whether or not I believe that Colton really went to heaven is the issue I address. One thing that impresses me is that Colten really had no reason to say the things he did, so it does cause me to believe there is a reason for this to be substantial. However, I have some difficulty believing his account, based on the information he described. First of all, the only people that received known information about the events Colten described is his parents, so we all know that we want to believe that our children are correct (at least those of us that maintain sanity). Also, looking at the goofs I saw that it was already noted that Jesus must have been of a darker skin color. The image of Jesus being white is the general depiction we are all used to, and don't want to change. My conclusion is that the story may or may not be true, however the movie is worth watching!

Not very exciting or uplifting

[aharmas · 4/10 · 20 April 2014]

"Heaven is for Real" is a nice narrative, but half-way through it, you begin to get tired of the writer's style. True, he's just a regular human being, but he should have availed himself of some support to its story. It wasn't necessary to invent anything, just to make the simplicity more powerful without losing half of the audience. The film has the same problem. It begins beautifully, pretty much setting up the atmosphere like "Field of Dreams", a film that evokes the spirituality in us in a much better way because it never loses focus. "Heaven" feels like it loses its way and desperately tries to make the message clear in not very subtle ways.

Connor Burpo has an out-of-body experience, which drives his pastor father and half the world a bit crazy because heaven couldn't be so literal or simple. If the director had tried to concentrate on the marvelous child with the difficult role, we would have been more satisfied with the overall product. Instead, we are treated to an overdose of zealous imagery and the power is almost lost.

Kinnear is not bad, but he doesn't have much to do but repeat and repeat and repeat what we already know. The problem is not the audience in the movie theater, but the audience of his preacher. Faith is not easily portrayed because it is intangible yet powerful; however it is not impossible but it has made its appearance in films that we wouldn't normally associate with such concept.

There are some moments that are very touching, most of them dealing with the difficult moments which result from Connor's emergency intervention. He's such a charming kid that watching him in distress breaks our hearts. Thinking he's dying is unbearable for his parents and us. A call to prayer is a really moving moment, but from then on, it is just a matter of hoping the film won't drag, and this it does very well.

I suppose it's a matter of interpretation, and through the eyes of the child, the message would have been pure and very powerful, but the film goes out of its way to present those elements that people are beginning to feel uncomfortable with. One of the characters in the film puts it very clearly: it's not to be taken literally. She never negates it happened, but how it's being presented.

Connor is after all, privy to something special, but it is the father's interpretation that is problematic. Some people will have no problem just following this path, but what about those who need to be convinced or kept from going astray? It's certainly not happening with this version of events.

Not overly religious and not preachy - which is a very good thing.

[danielendy · 8/10 · 21 April 2014]

I'm very spiritual but not very religious. This movie does an excellent job of sharing important information about the very real issues that near death experiences (NDEs) bring up. All the NDE stories have certain similarities and a judgmental God is not part of them at all. Religion doesn't matter either. All that matters is love for one another. IMO.

Those last few sentences were preacher than this whole movie -- which is a very good thing. It is very tough to tell a spiritual story without being preachy, but this movie does it very well.

If you have the slightest interest, you will enjoy this movie. Is it perfect? No, nothing is, but this movie is pretty good.

8 out of 10 stars. Acting is good too. Kudos to all involved in the production.

Epilogue: There's an odd phenomena happening with any movie that is religious or potentially religious, like this film. They get a lot of 1-star ratings. I'm certain these come from zealots. Mostly, I suspect they are militant atheists who think belief in God is the root of all of mankind's problems. I'm talking about the disciples of Richard Dawkins here. I'll bet serious money that most of the 1-star reviewers never saw the movie.

With a movie like this one there is another potential source of 1-star reviews, fundamentalists who like their religious ideas literal and straight from the bible. Those folks will not like this movie at all. Real spirituality is complicated.

Pokemon is Real to a Four Year Old

[temp-544-612798 · 5 June 2014]

I took my four year old to see the Pokemon movie. Not only was he able to identify dozens of characters which seemed interchangeable to me, but he could recite their relationships and histories with biblical accuracy. He does the same thing with dinosaurs. The capacity for a preschooler to memorize repetitive information and blurt it out is quite astounding.

I can only imagine how much better he would have done if I were in the Pokemon selling business and able to coach him myself, then act surprised that he's able to repeat what I spent his formative years drilling into his head. I could even write a book about it, in collaboration with my wife, claiming that the boy magically learned Pokemon names without any coaching--despite the fact that I'm in the Pokemon business and the ubiquity of Pokemon merchandise around the house.

Then we could make a movie about it, and tell all our friends who also work in the Pokemon field to give it 10/10 reviews on IMDb, merely for the fact that it propels Pokemon.

All this, proving once again that miracles DO happen. Pikachu bless you all!

Will Give Some Pause for Reflection

[bob-rutzel-1 · 7/10 · 24 July 2014]

This is based upon a true story.

At 4-yrs of age Colton Burpo (Connor Corum) has a near death experience and later claims to have been in Heaven, and saw Jesus, Angels and some family members.

The movie opens with a young girl, about 12-yrs of age, painting an All Seeing Eye on a gray sky background. More about her later.

Colton's father Todd (Greg Kinnear) isn't sure what to make of all these allegations. Todd is a minister in a small town in Imperial, Nebraska and becomes confused with many things Colton says because he knows they are true and these are things Colton couldn't know at his young age. But, he wants to believe. His wife, Sonja (Kelly Reilly) demands that Todd focus on things happening now as she doesn't believe what Colton is saying. She has an immediate change of heart later on when she and Colton have a heart to heart. This is quite a scene.

However, the townspeople are upset and want this to go away and there is even talk of replacing Todd as their minister.

This movie is not Religion specific, but it is definitely a Christian movie talking about Jesus, Angels and the like. I couldn't help thinking that Atheists may have a change of heart or at least have questions after seeing this. That is, if they bother to view the movie.

I am sure there was more in the best selling book with the same title than we were told in the movie. Colton says Heaven is Real, it's just like here only better, and that everyone there is young. When Todd shows him some pictures of what some painters portray what Jesus looks like, Colton says Jesus doesn't look like any of the pictures he is shown.

But when Colton is shown a picture, on a computer screen, of Jesus painted by Akiane Kramarek, he says, "That's him. That's s what Jesus looks like." Akiane is that young girl mentioned above and she is a real person (I looked her up on Wikipedia) who says she was told, by Jesus when she was 4-yrs of age, to continue her painting of images in Heaven.

I found the acting performances to be okay, but gave slack to some because my focus was on what Colton saw and didn't care if some didn't give an Oscar Worthy performance. However, Connor Corum as Colton gives an outstanding performance as you come to believe he wasn't just acting, but was actually there in Heaven. He was that convincing. Kudos.

The cinematography was outstanding as it should be in a movie of this consequence. The photography was exceptional.

I don't know about you, but I plan to purchase a book of Akiane Kramarek's paintings. I want to see more of Heaven. Don't you? (7/10)

Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.

Read the book, don't waste money on the movie

[eisbarjeff2k · 1/10 · 24 April 2014]

I went to see this movie with great anticipation after reading the very well written book by Pastor Todd Burpo a couple of years ago. In fact, I went to see it the very first weekend it was in the cinema. However, after having read "The Client" many, many years ago and then seeing the movie on the silver screen, I was very disappointed with what Hollywood can do to a book when they try to turn it into a movie, so I had a bit of apprehension, too, when "Heaven is for Real" started playing. About halfway through the movie, I wanted to get up and leave. The screenwriters left about 75% of the book out of the film entirely. The film wasn't centered around Colton Burpo and his incredible glimpse of Heaven, but rather it was largely about his father, Todd, and the struggles he encountered in dealing with young Coltons' revelations. Even the way Colton initially divulged his experience to his parents was different from the book. It seemed to me that the screenwriters wanted to dramatize the movie and create some suspense where there shouldn't have been any in the depicted struggles between Todd and his wife. Do yourself a favor and read the book instead. You will be sadly disappointed with the film if you've read the book beforehand.