Well crafted, but sometimes rather over the top

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2004)

This movie is what I think is called a "well crafted" movie. It makes use of dramaturgy, camera-work and music effectively and some of the acting is really good. I particularly liked Tom Hanks in this one. But on the other hand, some scenes are well over the top, for example the visualization of the healings. Although the story is very emotional, the "message" is rather contradictory: How can you promote "the Good" and at the same time subliminally justify violence in some scenes? Does the story make a statement for or against death penalty? The esoteric-religious background gets in the way of a reasonable evaluation of existential problems relating to real life.
7 out of 10