When my step-dad insisted that I watch this movie, at first I kind of internally groaned. I knew it was a Christian movie, and, while I am a Christian, I also respect a lot of film critics, and something I've definitely noticed a lot is that Christian movies always either tend to be so sheltering that they end up unrealistic, or the director goes off the deep end and it ends up too traumatizing to reach its target audience.I am very satisfied to say that to save a life did neither of those. It's so far the only Christian movie I've seen that actually felt like a professionally done film with a down to earth premise. The story is great, the antagonist is what I consider to be the second best written antagonist in any movie(best written being a tie between Kirie Fujou from "Kara no Kyoukai: Fuukan Fukei" and the Joker from "The Dark Knight"), and it's the best Christian film I've seen. I even consider it to be among my favorite movies in general, though it is very different in tone from what I usually watch.There is one plot point that seems kind of forced, but I'm willing to overlook that, due to this being the first Christian film I've seen that didn't pander to its target demographic or go off of the deep end, and because of my liking for the movie as a whole.If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. It's the best Christian movie available because it's the first one that actually knows how to be a movie, and everyone involved did a great job.

This is kind of a typical high school story, and specifically a story about bullying. Acting is probably among the poorest performances I've seen all around. The story isn't exactly focused on the bullying issue, eventually starts jumping around topics, all important topics, don't get me wrong, but way too many, until you reach the point where all that is missing is some kind of terminal illness to be complete and have all the tragedies a sixteen year old could ever suffer; and of course, the movie falls short on truly developing all the topics and questions it raises, and eventually find some sort of closure. It is filled with clichés and common places and everyone is a stereotype. It has a lot of references towards God and Christianity, which is OK for those who believe or find it helpful; but for the rest of us, it makes it really hard to relate to the idea that all your problems could be prayed away and all solutions could be found in God. As for the technicals, cinematography is poor, editing is really poor, "drama" sequences are predictable, soundtrack is obvious teenage soundtrack... In the end the proper definition for me would be that it's not really a BAD movie, the correct term is poor... everything is poor and shows little- to-none respect for the viewer's intelligence.

Well, let's just start out by saying I AM a Catholic and a VERY sharp critic of Christian movies. I've seen many of them and the majority of them are lacking, and I realize that. When the general public hears the two dreaded words "Christian Movie", they immediately think Low-Budget, Low Production quality, abysmal acting, laughable special effects, so on and so forth. And honestly, could you blame them? Most Christian made films are because the makers of the film are more interested in preaching than entertaining and telling a story. Facing the Giants is blatantly guilty of that offense as well as the Left Behind series. Then "The Passion of the Christ" was made and it was a spark of hope for us Christians. And "Bella", which could be considered not Christian but let's go ahead and throw it in. And some others were lukewarm at best. And then came "To Save a Life".....Welcome to the new world of Christian-made movies, folks! We have arrived to the 21st Century and are here to stay! Why is this film so good you ask? Superb acting, fantastic cinematography, good, strong storyline, upbeat, steady soundtrack to just name a few things this movie does to break the mold. But the best part about this movie, by a long shot is, the filmmakers found that delicate balance between preaching and entertaining. The Christian-Jesus element is there and you can't miss it, but it is NOT the overriding theme of the movie. Your Christian and Atheistic teens will both love this movie because it's message is deeper than church walls and pulpits. It deals with human emotion, with the day-to-day struggles and anxieties every teenager faces and it shows us that all is not well with the generations following us. "To save a life" is real life, and that's something teens never see on MTV or Teen Nick.The story centers around a High School senior named Jake Taylor who is the All-American teen archetype, good athlete, kind of quiet, has a beautiful girlfriend named Amy, plans to go to a good college, lots of friends and is no stranger to having a good time. But a terrifying event changes his life and awakens his conscience and he is forced to make some very tough decisions. He decides to change his current lifestyle, reevaluate what he values most in his life and meets Jonny, an introverted, tormented soul who has given up on life and hope. Can Jake find the inner strength and put everything on the line in his life, to save Jonny's? Every possible choice, idea and issue teens face every day is portrayed in this movie with brutal honest and passion. On facebook and twitter the stories of teens which this movie has saved is too many to count and they are truly the true reviewers of this movie because this is their life. We just try to give our impute but, if you're reading this and are wondering if you should watch this movie, find a teen who has seen this movie and ask them. Trust their word more than mine. With twists and turns at every corner and an ending you won't expect, "To save a life" will have you and your teen child asking the question, "What would I do to save a life?"

This is such a gripping tale of the suffering kids face these days. With suicide rates high, people need to understand what the mocking and outcasting of people does to them. I believe this is a great movie to show that even the little things we do to hurt people, can end up as a big thing that person does to hurt them self's or others. People have become hard to the pain of others. Hopefully this will awaken some softness in more people. This movie showed me I need to be more aware of the people around me, and their pain. Jeff Buckley put it a great way, he said "Sensitivity isn't being wimpy; it's about being painfully aware that a flea landing on a dog is like a sonic boom". So don't think you're being 'wimpy' for caring, You're being strong enough to show you care. This movie has left such an impression in me, and I believe it will in any one else who watches it. So please do.