Old Fashioned

This is a favorite movie, a very simple and beautiful love story with an amazing finish. I watch and re-watch this one and look forward to the next viewing! I am amazed that the main character also wrote and directed the movie!!

You cannot watch this movie once, and the first time round you might be a bit let down where it ends (lol, because you wanted more, like the wedding). The reason why you can't watch it once is not only is it appealing to the pangs for the deeper divine soul binding of one man and one woman in the Light of God's Word, but that Swartzwelder loads the movie with details, words, signs and meaningful scenery that speak of spiritual truths but also consumate the detail found in the end. You have to pay attention.As a Christian can I criticize the movie for the lack of spiritual clarity and preachy doctrine given in utter perfection? Yes, but the movie wasn't a sermon or a blatant Bible study but a soulful passionate romance quietly pointing to Christ. Oh Rick pops that out in the open here and there but quietly drapes the whole picture. Marriage is God's institution yet no two joined together by God in this temporal evil age is without sin, without sinner's baggage and scars, some less but others deep for all have sinned. By the grace of God two are joined, stay faithful and passionate till death do they part and glorify God. You're serving God throughout in this union but when does the moment come when your eyes first lay hold of the ONE God chose for you? How do you come to know they are the ONE? Clay walks into the store from the workshop hearing Amber playing a record on an antique record player and Rick makes sure we catch that moment and the courtship quietly begins. It starts by business, by necessity, and then outright passionate scheming to create moments by stealth to get to know the other despite the other's righteous and good barriers. Then the finally mutual campaign with Amber submissively bringing herself underneath Clay's wings and Biblical virtue to pursue marriage. They both are passionate but the courtship is not without problems, due to lack of understanding, misunderstanding, baggage and sin of the past that nearly becomes the destruction of both, but by God's grace the healing of one and the conversion of the other. Oh how your heart sinks when sin seems to have the upper hand once more to destroy this relationship which you want consumated in holy matrimony. I wont give details.Sorry there is no "stop the movie here" moments, where you're instructed to open your Bibles or marriage manuals. You have to have understanding, a Biblical worldview by God's Word already to catch many things, to be "old fashioned" yourself. Like Amber, buy a Bible.I gave it 5 stars for writing, direction, cinematography, acting but above all the intent to promote holy courtship and matrimony despite the non perfect circumstances. Oh okay I admit also for the simple yet passionate romance. Best scene begins where he drapes her warm with his coat and they end up in a diner he frequents and she discovers his pocketed notes of his thoughtful love campaign for her in his coat. Though not his intent for her to see, it melts her heart and creates a moment of a deep informed passionate glance into each other's eyes and mutual exchange of words of love. What could go wrong?! You have to watch the movie to see."I don't want normal, i want YOU"~Amber

It took me totally by surprise. I wasn't expecting to be so emotionally moved by a romantic movie like I was. I even shed a few tears of joy watching it. All 6'4" 310 lbs of pro athlete, me! LOL! God renews us in such a beautiful way it's hard to describe. I lived a former lifestyle as the male lead character in the movie which made the movie even more personal but Jesus helped me grow up. 1 Corinthians 13:11 - "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." The thing I loved best about the movie is how he humbled himself so often and constantly fought temptation while often giving glory to God for everything. The female character was excellent. I loved how she respected his faith enough where she met him halfway while she was trying to understand him.NOTE: I read someone's review that gave it 3 stars -"I was very much eager to watch this movie because I am a Christian and I agree with the worldview of the main character; but I also found the personality of the main character very awkward and somehow unreal. It reveals someone fearful and full of issues. I don't know... It did not convince me to recommend it..."I think this person missed one of the great points in this movie and about God's grace. We, as Christians or believers, are like little babies sitting on a floor trying each day to sit up. We rock left and rock right, and tumble over losing our balance in our efforts each time. The one day we are able to stand up. We're still rocking and wobbling on our feet. Then we get to the point where we can run, even awkwardly. But we fall again losing our balance. MY POINT? As a believer we are ALL "awkward", damaged and infants according to God. But that's what makes his grace that much more beautiful. We get to fall and tumble again and again, trying to walk as God wants us to in life. But God is there to pick us right back up! EVERY SINGLE TIME! The character in this movie had it right and wrong. He trusted in God's command to be obedient to the word. But he sometimes forgot to give the forgiveness, grace and compassion "to others" in the same way God gave it to him. He beat himself up trying to be perfect! IMPOSSIBLE! That seat is taken by jesus! This self-beating isn't from God. This negative "I am not worthy or THEY are not worthy" attitude comes only from the enemy - Satan! Don't fall for it. We, as Christians and believers, will continue to fall and rock during our walk for the rest of our lives! BELIEVE that God will always be there to pick us up because HE WILL. He promised to and he always keeps every promise. I love the character's grandmother for hitting him with the hard and direct truth! Thank you Jesus!

A VERY good movie! Very uplifting, positive, hopeful and enjoyable. Recommended to all those that believe in~or want to believe in~true love and the good outcome of our life's GOOD choices!

Viele christliche Filme, so hat man das Gefühl, legen den Fokus mehr auf die Botschaft, die mit aller Gewalt rübergebracht werden muss, als auf gutes Schauspiel und eine ansprechende Story. Nicht so dieser Film, der in Amerika zeitgleich mit Fifty Shades of Grey startete. Die christlichen Werte und Referenzen sind zwar präsent, halten sich aber angenehm zurück und die Frage, ob die Protagonistin sich am Ende bekehrt, bleibt der eigenen Interpretation überlassen. Das Ambiente ist sehr schön herbstlich gehalten, der Soundtrack besticht durch einen Mix aus Sing-and-Songwriter- und Countrystil und enthält sowohl explizit christliche als auch nicht-christliche Songs. Die beiden Protagonisten Amber und Clay, gespielt von Elizabeth Ann Roberts und Rik Swartzwelder (der auch als Regisseur und Drehbuchautor fungiert), sind sehr sympathisch, man kann sich gut in beide hineinversetzen und ist nach kurzer Zeit mit ihnen warm geworden.Das Ende mag etwas unrealistisch erscheinen, ist aber mMn sehr stimmig und lässt noch genügend Fragen und Spekulationen, wie es mit den beiden weitergeht, offen.Wer sich mehr mit dem christlichen Hintergrund beschäftigen möchte, findet auf der DVD ein Bonus-PDF mit Bibelstellen und Diskussionsfragen (für christlich. Jugendgruppen o.ä.).Ich finde es etwas schade, dass der Film hierzulande bei einem eher kleinen Label erschienen ist und dadurch auch wenig Aufmerksamkeit außer eben aus der evangelikalen Ecke erfährt, denn er hat definitiv mehr verdient. Man sollte sich von dem Etikett "christlich" nicht abschrecken lassen und ihm auch als nicht-religiöser Mensch eine Chance geben (ich sehe mich selbst zb. als konfessionslos).Wem der Film gefallen hat, der kann sich auch den zugehörigen Soundtrack und den (leider etwas schwächeren) Roman zum Film (unter dem Titel: Mr. Walsh und die vergessene Kunst der Liebe) und das nur auf englisch erhältliche Devotional "The Old Fashioned Way" anschauen.P.S. Auch nach dreimaligem Anschauen wird der Film nicht langweilig und man entdeckt viele Kleinigkeiten, die beim ersten Ansehen nicht aufgefallen sind.

One of the best movies I have ever seen, its a must watch. Great !

One of my favourite films, let alone favourite romantic comedies. Clearly Christian in its message, but certainly unconventional in its presentation, it does not give easy answers, and offers an excellent balance between realism and idealism. All of us are flawed individuals, but broken hearts can be fixed if we allow real Love to shape our dreams.

The way boys should be taught to treat a girl. All men should watch this film for their daughters sake. All men dating should act like this