90 Minutes in Heaven (12/1/2015)

Rated PG-13 for intense accident and injury images.

Hayden Christensen, Kate Bosworth, Dwight Yoakum and Michael W. Smith

Directed by Michael Polish (The Astronaut Farmer)

90 Minutes in Heaven is based on a true story about a real family that inspires hope, patience and love.

Don Piper died Jan. 18, 1989, when a semi-tractor truck crushed his car. Declared dead by the first rescue workers to arrive on the scene, Don’s body lay under a tarp for the next 90 minutes. Don’s soul, meanwhile, was experiencing love, joy and life like he’d never known before. Don was in Heaven. When another pastor’s prayers helped bring Don back to life, he became a living miracle! Yet this is one miracle Don wished never happened. Heaven’s bliss was replaced by excruciating pain and emotional turmoil. With the support and prayers of his beloved Eva, their three kids and friends near and far, Don clings to his faith in God and fights to regain a semblance of his previous life. The Piper family’s incredible true story of perseverance and overcoming the challenges of life—and death—will bring hope and encouragement to all who see it.

90 Minutes in Heaven is adapted from the best-selling book written by Don Piper about his real life experience of spending 90 minutes in Heaven. As expected, the reactions to the book and film have ranged from gospel truth to complete fiction. The fact that Piper was dead for 90 minutes can be supported by those in attendance of the accident. His story about being in Heaven can only be verified by Piper himself.

The film stars Hayden Christensen as Don Piper. I will go on record here and say that Christensen is my least favorite actor. I have tried and failed to like his films like Star Wars, Takers and others. Needless to say, I didn’t like him in this role either. But the film also has contemporary Christian music legend of Michael W. Smith…and how can you not like Michael W. Smith?!? Kate Bosworth is also great as Eva, a wife who can’t understand why the husband she once knew no longer wants to breathe or have visitors.

Director Michael Polish does the best he can to keep the film moving, but Don is in a hospital for over half the film, which causes things to slow down.

I understand that not everyone is going to enjoy this film because of the controversial story…let’s be honest, not every Christian is going to enjoy this film because of the controversial story, but I think it’s worth a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This film is fine for teenagers. This PG-13 rating is for the accident scene and the injuries Don receives in the accident.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. In the movie, what happened when Don died?


2. What was Heaven like as portrayed in this movie?


3. What do you think Heaven will be like?

Read Revelation 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Also read Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.


4. How does one get to Heaven?