War Room Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

War Room Blu-ray Movie Review

The power of prayer.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 16, 2015

Director Alex Kendrick has become a cornerstone of the Christian movie market over the past few years. Titles like Facing the Giants, Courageous, and Fireproof have not only made him a Christian household and local church name but also proof that filmmaking success can be just a message, a prayer, a chance, and a willing audience away. The films have encouraged and strengthened millions of churchgoing Christians and perhaps even touched a few nonbelievers. Christian bookstores are packed with supplemental study materials centered on the films. They're quite the big deal in the Christian community. But the movies have also garnered plenty of mainstream criticism, much of it legitimately defendable based on perceived technical shortcomings but also a few pockets that are critical simply for the cross that's at the movies' centers. Kendrick's latest film is War Room, a study of the power of prayer and belief and the transformative processes that emerge from earnest time alone with God.

It's time to change.

Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla Shirer) is a successful real estate agent and a happily married mother of one. Her husband Tony (T.C. Stallings) is a hotshot pharmaceutical sales rep who is raking in some serious coin. But he's growing distant and finds himself tempted to stray when he meets a beautiful woman on the road. Elizabeth is struggling, too, even if she doesn't really know it yet. Her spiritual life is a shell of what it needs to be, and that realization hits home when she meets the elderly widow Clara Williams (Karen Abercrombie) who is putting her home on the market. Clara shares her favorite room in the house, a small closet just large enough for a chair. In it she prays. Hard. She convinces Elizabeth of the power of prayer. As Elizabeth prays over her family and dedicates her life to God, her marriage and everything she knows and loves reaches a crossroads where it could either turn into something special or crumble before her eyes.

War Room follows a fairly linear, tried-and-true Christian movie formula, but as with many movies in this category, its success comes from reinforcing faith-based ideals in an approachable manner that more pulls on the heartstrings and less presents in a totally organic manner. The film presents a fairly cookie cutter series of ebbs and flows, of problems on the home front that are quickly, but not painlessly, remedied by a turn to God. Some of the performances feel a little forced -- Elizabeth verbally expels satan from her home in one scene that has the anger and vocal projection but not a real, truly legitimate sense of anger and force -- but the movie succeeds by way of its ability to convey a strong and proper message on the power of prayer, deeply held faith, family togetherness, honesty in life's dealings, and above all a trust in God that He will see people through their darkest hours of need. It's about approaching God with no filters, no preconceived notions, no ifs, ands, or buts. The film is an unmitigated success in its depiction of family healing when family includes God in the middle, but it's also a movie that essentially reshuffles the formula rather than present any sort of spiritual breakthrough.

Yet it's the message that counts. Neither War Room nor any of the other Kendrick films are about sprawling story creativity. They're about spreading a message of hope and faith and the power of a staunch spiritual life. The films are concerned only with other elements insofar as they're necessary to get the end product on the screen and present the message in an agreeable, relatable manner. They're not innovative movies, but they're grounded in an honest belief in the ideals they espouse. War Room takes a rather direct approach that will work with the church audience but might turn off the people the film hopes to convert. This isn't the best movie to serve as a digital messenger to spread the Word, but there's something to be said for reinforcing and reminding believers, which is this film's unquestioned strength. Yet it's no slouch from a technical standpoint to be sure. The direction is stable. performances are largely solid outside of a few moments that feel more forced to get the message or point across than to organically develop the characters. T.C. Stallings is particularly impressive as a self-centered father whose growing distance from his family drives the story. But it's Karen Abercrombie who sells the movie as the prayerful elderly lady who inspires Elizabeth to turn her life around not by the ways of the world but by drawing closer to God and lifting herself and her family up in serious prayer.

War Room Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

War Room's 1080p transfer is splendid all around. The digital photography presents a clean, crisp look. It never pushes flat or glossy but instead offers an intimately detailed and impeccably clear appearance. Details are excellent throughout the film, with facial features and Clara's clothing the standouts, but background photographs are sharp and well defined, stone work inside the Jordan home comes effortlessly textured, and hardwood floors reveal plenty of fine wear and tear details. Colors are robust and bright. Natural greens are the standout, but American flags, colorful T-shirts at the jump rope competition, and other support colors are cheery and balanced. Black levels are deep and accurate and flesh tones are full and healthy. Minor noise creeps in at the very end, but the image is otherwise free of any noticeable banding, macroblocking, aliasing, or other eyesores. This is a pristine, top-shelf transfer from Sony.

War Room Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

War Room features a proficient and active DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is rich and lively, presenting with terrific clarity, a wide spread, and a healthy low end. Mandisa's Press On is a particular standout and example of the track's impressive musical reproduction qualities. There's not much action. The early Vietnam segment features some slicing helicopter rotors and some background explosions and gunfire. That's about it in terms of deep action. Mild ambient effects enter the stage to define various outdoor locations and a jump rope competition in chapter 15, which plays with a good bit of active crowd detail across the back. The movie is largely dialogue heavy, however, and the spoken word enjoys clear detailing and effortless prioritization in the center channel.

War Room Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

War Room contains a lengthy collection of supplemental content, headlined by an audio commentary track and deleted scenes. A UV digital copy voucher is also included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary: Director Alex Kendrick and Producer Stephen Kendrick participate.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 10:50): Scenes are not selectable individually from the main menu, contrary to the Sony norm. Included are Tony and Elizabeth Argue in Car, Tony At Medical Center, Dr. Bunji, Phone Argument, Tina's Revenge, Phone Call After The Hold Up, Tony Leaves Veronica At Restaurant, Tony At the Community Center, Moving Ms. Clara, and Danielle's Snacks.
• Bloopers & Outtakes (1080p, 6:00).
• War Room in 60 Seconds (1080p, 1:14): A humorous and condensed version of the story with special scenes filmed just for this extra.
• The Heart of War Room (1080p, 6:06): A closer look at the film's central message: the power and importance of prayer.
• The Making of War Room (1080p, 11:12): This piece examines shooting locations, spiritual life on the set, Beth Moore's work in the movie, bits of divine intervention in the movie, building the Vietnam War set, editing, score, and the movie's success.
• From Auditioning to Acting (8:19): A look at casting and the qualities the main cast brought to the film.
• The Art of Jumping Rope (1080p, 2:33): A quick glimpse into the film's jump rope sequences, both making them and the role they play in the film.
• A Pastor's Call to Prayer (1080p, 2:31): The importance of prayer in a worldwide spiritual revival.
• Behind the Scenes: Color Grading (1080p, 4:12): An interesting look at the contributions of Senior Colorist Keith Roush in making the movie look just right.
• The Church On Its Knees (1080p, 7:52): Another piece that looks at the importance of prayer, this time in the church.
• Molly Bruno: Modern Day Miss Clara (1080p, 7:50): Audiences are introduced to a 91-year-old woman who dedicates her life to prayer.
• Investing in the Next Generation (1080p, 3:10): A look at the filmmakers' work with film students from Christian colleges.
• Music Video (1080p, 4:34): "Warrior" by Steven Curtis Chapman.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

War Room Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

War Room isn't quite so radically moving as Courageous, but it's an honest, heartfelt Family film about the power of prayer and the purpose of living a God-centered life. The movie will likely appeal more to those who find reinforcement with its message rather than those who have yet to submit their lives to God. The movie is well made, nicely acted outside of a few forced moments, and breezes by even at two hours in length. Sony's Blu-ray release of War Room features superb video, excellent audio, and a broad array of bonus content. Highly recommended.