the end for the spear... a review

There I was – opening night. Unusually high expectations ever increasing, with the knowledge that the 7:20 showing I bought a ticket to was now sold out. I handed my pass to the ticket-ripper and my paper stub and I marched off to see End of the Spear – the story of five missionary men who were anticipating human contact with the Waodani tribe, but were instead tragically speared to death by the people they so desperately wanted to reach.

Coming from an entertainment industry background, as well as having an accurate knowledge of the Waodani story, I had high hopes for this film; maybe too high. Maybe like a Darth Vader apprentice standing in line, clad in a black robe, prepared with a light saber in my left hand and a Star Wars: III ticket in my right. Ok… I wasn’t that hopeful; but you get the point. I had expectation in my brain.

Throughout the film I had to repeatedly remind myself that the movie was “based” on a true story – therefore was not in fact a solid truthful account of what did happen. Pretty close… but not exact.

I appreciated the father/son sentiment that seemed to be quite present in a young Steve Saint (Chase Ellison) and his father, Nate (Chad Allen). I didn’t like that Chad Allen, who played Nate Saint in the beginning, also played the part of a grown Steve Saint at the end. I thought Jack Guzman did a great job playing Kimo. I didn’t like that towards the end of the film it looked as if the Abercrombie & Fitch wagon pulled through Ecuador, dropping off shirts and trucker hats to the rather primitive tribe. I believe Chad Allen did an exceptional job of narrating the film; however, I didn’t enjoy the frivolous portrayal of the missionary men.

End of the Spear definitely isn’t lacking in the inspirational-tear jerker sentiment, but, I’m afraid it might be lacking the prospect of a Golden Globe nomination.