Rhemalogy

“Lord, I have waited for you to lead us out of Babylon…”

I am a movie buff, who knows that today in Cineland, CGIs and special effects are often the ingredients for making some phenomenal movies. However, I still like great acting—which when minus the CGIs and special effects should be able to stand on its own. That is what I found in this cinematic gem; within Robert Miano, Andrew Bongiorno, Lance Henriksen, and Kevin McCorkle. Each actor reflects his character in a way that helps construct the spiritual efficacy of The Book of Daniel.

I also found Bongiorno’s young Daniel to be an exacting prelude to the elder. From his youth, throughout his adult life, Daniel remained faithful to God in the face of an adverse and idolatrous culture. He never compromised his position concerning the things of God. He could not be bought or sold. Which is a good lesson for us today.

When it comes to Christian films I am always looking to see how close to the scriptures they remain. And honestly, The Book of Daniel did just that — stayed true to the Holy Scriptures, more so than any other faith-based film I’ve ever watched, including Cecile B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments. And even with the creative licensing, this movie never lost the true translation of the first six chapters of Daniel.

This movie purveys Daniel’s (Robert Miano) account of his service in Babylon to four Kings. Nebuchadnezzar the Great, Belshazzar the Foolish, Darius the Deceived, and Cyrus the Shepherd (Lance Henriksen). You will appreciate the timelines and the artistic definition of the scriptures referencing “Daniel in the Lions’ Den”, “The Fiery Furnace”, and “The Handwriting on the Wall”. And how good the prophecies were told—specifically the one about the statue with a head of gold, shoulders of silver, chest of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Zielinksi’s interpretation of this film makes the scriptures come alive!

Miano’s role as Daniel was the woven thread throughout the film. The props are well-made and accurate; as are the costumes. This movie may not have had an epic budget—but is an epic in its own right. There are many valuable lessons that can be learned from this film, whether you are a believer or not. Although a political prisoner, Daniel as an example of boldness and faithfulness to God, in the most adverse circumstances, had an eternal impact on the people and kings he encountered. The Book of Daniel is a must-see and a must-have in your film collection.

Originally released in 2013, The Book of Daniel is 90 min and is rated G. Can be seen on PureFlix and may be purchased at Amazon for $7.99 and many other online outlets.

Director: Anna Zielinski.
Writers: Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon.
Stars: Robert Miano, Andrew Bongiorno, and Lance Henriksen.

We give The Book of Daniel

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