So, it’s been a few months since the movie came out, and after days of stewing, I’m ready to tactfully unload.
The Mountain Between Us––Did you go see it? Well, as an avid Charles Martin fan, I gleefully ran to the theater! My mother and I bought our tickets, carried a bucket of popcorn and an Icee to our seats, and settled in to watch a favorite book come to life!
Let me stop and back-fill a bit! My mother and I listen to audio books ad nauseam. I love (love, love!) Charles Martin novels! Charles is a genius storyteller! The first novel of his I listened to was A Life Intercepted. I remember calling my mother saying something like, “Mom, I found a new author, and when I grow up as a writer, I hope to be like him!” She downloaded the book, and likewise fell in love! He possesses a brilliant ability to pull you into a story so thoroughly you feel like you’ve sat next to each character!
Back to the movie. After thirty-minutes, I looked at my mother with a, “This is not the story I read,” look, but we stayed! The movie played on, and it was increasingly clear that Hollywood ruined a beautiful story! It you haven’t read the original novel where the female lead is Ashley, not Alex, you cannot possibly know what I’m talking about.
The Charles Martin story unfolded like a breath of fresh air! The only aspect of the movie that held true to his story was the plane crash, the dog, Ben’s name, and the location. Other than that, Hollywood muddied the waters and made a mockery out of a story that was otherwise beautiful, full of love, and tragic all the same! I won’t spoil the book, but if you haven’t read it, I encourage you to!
Before you click off the page because I’m too critical, let me say the movie was good, but it wasn’t the story I read, and loved! When we left the theater, I was so disappointed that my stomach was in knots. I was dissatisfied and honestly, righteously angry at one of my favorite author’s! Disclaimer- After a trip to Charles’ website, my faith in him is restored!
You see, Charles is a Christian author, but not in an overly pushy way! Like I said, he is prolific with words, and adds the faith component so tastefully that it’s not overbearing. As a lover of Jesus, I appreciate that about his writing because Jesus gives everyone free will!
Obviously, Hollywood removed ALL aspects of the faith component, and ruined the story altogether when Ben and Alex had sex, even though she was engaged! This was not a Nicholas Sparks film in which the viewer was prepared for the heart-pounding, passionate sex scene! This was a love story, yes, without sex, that was beautifully written and magnificently portrayed!
This is where I’m upset! Brace for it because I’m going there…Why? Really, just why? The story was remarkable because there was NO sex! Truly, the journey Ben and Ashley traveled would no doubt tempt the best of us to relent and get caught up in a passionate exchange, but they DIDN’T! Their morals ruled the day, which made the characters strong and noble!
I know the thought of waiting until marriage is taboo for most, but to many, it’s not just a thought, it’s a way of life! Ben and Ashley in The Mountain Between Us were that way! Oh, I wish Hollywood would let the original stories unfold the way it was written!
One thing I learned––many viewers of the movie had no idea who Charles Martin was until they watched the movie! Now, people who normally wouldn’t have read anything he wrote are reading his stories! Perhaps that’s the grace of Jesus shining through!
Matthew 5:15- No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
Shine on, Mr. Martin! Shine on!
Signed,
The Gray-scale of life
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