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Shiloh Christian Academy, a reputed school, has an average football team. Head Coach Grant Taylor has not had a single winning season for six years. So, when a promising star running back decides to switch schools and join a crosstown rival, it’s pretty obvious that the next season is going to be the same. Some of the team promoters are not satisfied with this and start working against the coach without his knowledge. They start forcing the administration to have Coach Taylor replaced. This ultimately puts a lot of weight on Grant’s already burdened shoulders. To add to the misery, his car is broken down, he is forced to live in a stinking house, and to top it all, he and his wife are starting to believe that they will never be able to have kids.
What remains unknown to Coach and his crew is a post season match against the state’s most daunting team the undefeated Giants, who are led by a bulldog of a coach known for chomping through rivals and fond of lollipops. However, Facing the Giants is more than a mere David versus Goliath fable on the football field. It’s a story of faith against the odds and the necessity of working toward God’s will.
Positive Elements
Seeing the positives that surround Facing the Giants nowadays is not an easy task. The screenplay falls into too many categories so I will set the record straight with a couple of reasons that stick out. Coach Taylor was able to have an epiphany on how to properly run his program and I was shocked to hear him inform the team, “Our goal is not to win games; it’s to honor God.” His new Edison like approach is working for what seems like a neglected team. He especially makes a point to take a team captain suffering from a strong dose of cynical skepticism and help him out.
Another player the coach personally follows up on is a young man who has difficulty with his father. Taylor suggests to him that we ought to respect our parents, even when they seem wrong. The boy learns the lesson and makes up with his father. A different father, who himself is quite disabled, works as a motivational figure to his very timid son by encouraging him to try, despite the numerous challenges he faces.
In this way, the Shiloh Academy players as well learn to evolve from a group of constantly quarreling children into an actual team. They, like the parents and other pupils, are looking for role models. He is an assistant coach who wants to get back at his employer, but chooses to use the position for his benefit. Some of the team boosters realize that through these despicable actions, they have also contributed to embarrassing Coach Taylor, and one of them goes to apologize to him. (In his new state of mind he understands that he has some things ass backwards.)
A very encouraging couple, Taylor and Brooke are parents of three and are happily married. They always put each other first and motivate each other during tough periods.
The story revolves around the ongoing conflict for Coach Taylor because of what he believes to be God’s purpose for him to fulfill, his family, and the team. He is shown reading the Bible and talking with God. He prays with Brooke and keeps asking her if she is willing to love God even if he will not give them their child, which they want so badly. During a breaking point for her, she surrenders her needs and tells God that she quite lovingly still does love him. For Coach’s part, he says,” I am all set to give to God every bit of effort I can, and in return, I will allow him to determine the outcome.”
An individual walks through the unoccupied corridors of the Christian institution while praying for the pupils. This is an example of a spiritual boost which comes into play in the movie and aims at strengthening one of the central ideas: Trusting in God’s provision must be accompanied by our “very best.” He uses a story to illustrate two farmers who both pray for rain. One of the farmers waits for the rain with hopeful anticipation. On the other hand, there is a farmer who while “awaiting the rain is also preparing his fields.” His concluding question is whose farmer is truly placing faith in God?
In no time, the example of the coach becomes known to the rest of the school leading to a slight outbreak of a revival.
The setting depicts students and teachers grouped in prayers scattered over on different parts of the campus. The character that makes amends with his father first sails through making peace with God. He explains to his father, “I got right with God today. I just want to tell you that I’m sorry, and I acknowledge your authority.” Every football team member prays together before each match.
On the gridiron there are multiple films of bone crushing hits and vicious tackles. Coach Taylor, showing his frustration and anger, throws his clipboard and goes into the locker room where he bonks one of his players over the head with his cap.
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