Rating: 
Summary: kim basinger... get a real job
Review: LIke another reviewer i agree kim basinger cannot act and this laughable film proves it! Basinger takes care of her niece, being dropped off by her drug addicted sister(who turns out will end up saving the world). and before you can say rosemary's baby basinger is involved with devil worship. from the opening scene on the bus to the end scene this movie is so bad its laughable. And kim, you just cannot act, get a real job!
Rating:
Summary: Memorable in its badness
Review: Just to recap, your drug-addict sister shows up at your home with a newborn baby, stays all of ten minutes, and then vanishes into thin air, leaving the child with you. Do you expect me to believe that in SIX YEARS a willing guardian would not have been awarded legal custody of this girl?
The plot of the movie is very much like the character of Maggie O'Conner as played by Kim Basinger--anemic. O'Conner (one assumes)is meant to be the heroine of the piece, yet Basinger plays her like a woman who would need divine intervention to choose a pizza topping, let alone go head to head with Satan.
As for the rest, Bless the Child is a string of cliches. The fallen Catholic finds faith and is aided by a crusty old priest who was censored by the Vatican. Teenages dressed in black always mean trouble. Ask for guidance, and a mysterious janitor will appear, spout a platitude, and vanish leaving a blooming lily in his wake. You know from the time Cody saves the life of the bird that by the end of the movie she will have to do the same for her aunt, just as you know that the fleeing figure in the white dress is a decoy. And, of course, everything works out fine in the end. The only surprise was that Eric did not spring back to life a few more times in a last minute "twist."
Rating: 
Summary: FINALLY THE GOOD WINS!
Review: Right off, let me say hats off to this fine movie. Bravo!
Maggie, played by Kim Basinger is thrust into immediate
motherhood when her sister leaves her infant child with
her to raise. Maggie takes the child into her home and
heart and as she grows fears that she is autism, but the
truth is she has supernatural powers from God.
As the story moves along, there is a string of murders
happening to children the same age as Maggie's niece Cody.
These children are being killed by a cult who are looking
for the child with the special gifts, who happens to be
Cody.
The race is on as they kidnap her and Maggie fights not only
for her life but for the future of the world.
I think the ending was the best, as the movie showed the
power of God and His angels, finally the good wins! Now
isn't that nice for a change in these types of movies?
I was encouraged and had a great feeling inside after watching
this and recommend it to all those who long to see that good
does triump over evil!
Rating:
Summary: Dreadful
Review: Kim Basinger never had talent and this film proves my point. This is just your typical Hollywood film with nothing special and it must be avoided at all costs.
Rating: 
Summary: Reasonable Effort
Review: I saw this movie at the cinema, having previously read the book. As with most movies adapted from a novel, the movie barely barely scratched the surface of the real story.
Unless you're able to sit back and watch it with an open mind, you'd end up comparing every little (and not so little) thing. You could spend hours doing this. For example, in the movie, Ghania was portrayed simply as a rather nasty looking Nanny figure (who admittedly was later revealed to be demonic) and was white, whereas in the book she was black, and an evil witch of phenomenal power. The prime nasty in the movie is Eric Stark (played nicely by Rufus Sewell); in the book he is Eric Vannier. There is also a relationship of sorts between Eric and Ghania that never made it onto the screen - probably for a very good reason. Jenna is rescued in the movie, and gives her sister Maggie full custody of Cody. In the book, Jenna is actually Maggie's daughter, and far from being saved, she ends up being ritually sacrificed by her 'loving husband' Eric, and is damned to Hell for eternity. And the final spectacular confrontation that results in Eric's death, the temporary demonic possession of Cody, and her ultimate rescue by Maggie (Grandmothers rock!) is reduced to a 'Showdown at High Noon' style finish.
The movie also fails to include many crucial characters that played a vital role in rescuing Cody.
I probably sound like I'm being overly critical, but read the book and you'll know where I'm coming from. Don't get me wrong - I definitely enjoyed the movie. It really wasn't anyone's fault that it came up a bit short. To fit everything in is an impossibility. To try and do that, they would have ended up with a mini-series, rather than a 2 hour film.
In all honesty the only thing that really disappointed me, I suppose, were the restrictions they had to place on Cody's true nature.
And in response to another previewer, no. Cody was never supposed to be autistic. This was a misdiagnosis on the part of doctors who could not comprehend any other reason for her behaviour.
In the movie, Cody is simply represented as a new prophet of God, someone who is almost messianic in their current incarnation. In the book, Cody is the Isis Messenger, a promised saviour from the Goddess Isis as far back as very ancient Egypt. The Cody character from the book encompasses not only Christianity, but every other religion that focuses on good rather than evil. Likewise, the nasties in the book encompass all aspects of evil, from multiple religions and sects.
All in all, the adaption was a very reasonable one. It's just hard to be completely open-minded when the book was so fantastic.
I would recommend this movie. There are some real gems of moments to be found in it - particularly the mental and emotional duels that take place between Eric and Cody. Both times, Cody wins out spiritually, much to Eric's fury.
There are some fine performances from Kim Basinger, Rufus Sewell, and Jimmy Smits as the priest-in-training-turned-cop who is an expert in the occult. Christina Ricci has a brief but notable role as the addict friend of Jenna who tries to escape the cult, and in the process warn Maggie of the real danger that Cody is in. The child actor who plays Cody also puts in a great performance as the little girl who is far more than she appears.
The movie lacks a little in substance, but that is more a time constraint problem than the fault of the director or the actors. They do a damned fine job with the material they have to work with. This is a movie worth having, but get the book as well.
Even if you aren't that much of a reader, this one is worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Bless the Child's child's a blessing.
Review: The battle between good and evil? We've seen it, but never quite at this intensity. A six-year-old autistic heavenly messenger? I doubted I would stay awake long enough to write the review. I couldn't have been more wrong. The effects were impressive, if not eyebrow-raising. The script was written passably well. Kim Basinger (Academy Award winner, 'L.A. Confidential'), cast as Maggie, remains expressionless and monotone (can Oscars be revoked?). Rufus Sewell ('Illuminata') is charmingly diabolical and manipulative as the standard "bad guy", playing it to the maximum height possible. Every mother in the audience readies to throttle him for tormenting little Cody, but we soon learn she can take care of herself. Indeed, tiny up-and-comer Holliston Coleman ('Supreme Sanction') is the shining star in this. Coleman, with soulful, intelligent eyes and a sweet smile wins the audience immedietely, bringing an intensity to the role that I've never seen in a seven-year-old or a thirty-seven-year-old. An old-soul appeal makes her perfectly believable, and her tears are not contrived but heartwrenching. This girl is one to watch. Angela Bettis ('Girl, Interrupted') is convincingly confused and desperate as Maggie's daughter/sister (differs between the book and film) Jenna, Cody's drug-addicted mother. Christina Ricci ('Casper') gives the best performance I've seen from her. Her usually-flat voice finds some expression here, although her eyes remain vacant.
A brief note to the writers: research autism before you write about it next time. Or perhaps Cody was never truly meant to be autistic?
The idea of the battles of extremes isn't so much what drives the film as the child herself. Cody and Maggie's relationship is what, in the end, rekindles some of our faith in the goodness of people.
Rating:
Summary: Not as Blessed
Review: Reading a review before the movie was out I was intrigued by the mysterious plot and wanting to see Kim Basinger perform made me order the vhs tape. But I must admit that I was disappointed. So much, in fact, that I didn't watch the whole tape.
Rating:
Summary: Forgettable but it`s Watchable.
Review: A Devoted Nurse (Oscar-Winner:Kim Basigner) Comes to Care to a Baby Girl, while her Younger Wayward Sister (Angela Bettis) leaves her Daughter to her Older Sister and the Nurse becomes the Reluctant Forest Parent. Five Years has Passed, while the Little Girl (Holliston Coleman), Who seems to be Austistic, who has a Gift of Power of Good from God, but She can also attracts the Forces of Darkness. When Satinists (Lead by Rufus Sewell), wants the little girl for her Power to Call Out Satan and the End of the World.Directed by Chuck Russell (The Blob-1988, Eraser, The Scorpion King) makes an Entertaining Supernatural Thriller but it`s not Scary or Creppy to make this an Memorable Horror Flick. Although Kim Basigner does gives a Good Performance in the Lead, Holliston Coleman does have Some Moments of her Own. But the Movie does have some Unintertional Laughs-Mostly coming from Rufus Sewell (Badly Miscast in This), who gives a Hammy Performance and the Visual Effects goes overboard at times. Based on the Novel by Cathy Cash Spellman and the Screenplay by Thomas Rickman, Clifford Green and Ellen Green. should have been more Convincing in this Intestesting Story-Line. DVD`s has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an Strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an Commentary Track by the Director and Visual Effects Supervisor, Tralier and Behind the Scenes Featurette-including Interviews. The Movie has near Camp Classic Potential but This isn`t that Bad for Entertainment. Panavision. Grade:B.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly Good!!!
Review: This is the first religious horror movie I have seen where you actually see the forces of God at work. I enjoyed it primarily for this reason because other movies of this genre usually just show evil and then at the end good triumphs. This was a refreshingly good movie. Except for a couple of profanities, I would recommend this to my fellow Christians.
Rating:
Summary: Ooh, this is bad.
Review: Possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. The number of ludicrous plot twists in this movie is really astounding. This has to be the only movie ever where Satan's plans are foiled by a dental appointment (Really!). This movie is just laughably bad. Those who have posted positive reviews must be people with absolutely no standards. This movie cannot be considered worthwhile entertainment by any means.
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