Wuchak Released in 2012 and directed by Dean Wright, "For Greater Glory" (subtitled "The True Story of Cristiada") chronicles the Cristeros War in central Mexico, a veritable civil war from 1926-1929 where Catholic citizens had no recourse but to take a bold stand against the atheistic Mexican government, ran by President Calles (Rubén Blades), who sought to stamp out Catholicism by forbidding masses, destroying churches and exiling or murdering priests. Andy Garcia plays the Cristeros general, Enrique Gorostieta, who's initially an atheist, but is eventually inspired by the events. Oscar Isaac and Eduardo Verástegui play his subordinates while Eva Longoria plays his wife. Peter O'Toole is on hand as an aging priest while Mauricio Kuri appears as a boy moved to join the Cristeros. All the main characters are based on real-life people. While this is a historical war/drama/action movie it could also be designated as a Western, albeit a Mexican Western. But don't expect some of the stereotypical staples of most Westerns, like quick-draw showdowns, saloons, cavalry vs. Indians, saloon girls, stampedes and cattle drives. This is a realistic detailing of the events with quite a bit of action and an occasional eye-rolling dramatic sequence.Some of the comments by critics are clueless in that they try to argue that the actual situation in Mexico at the time was more complex than the movie shows. Ya think? What else is new? All movies based on historical events try to simplify the situation to make the story palatable to viewers. Critics also argue that the movie's too "one-sided" and some even attempt to defend Calles' tyrannical oppression. Seriously? No matter how you slice it he tried to stamp out a deep-rooted religion in his country through oppression and murder. He actually thought he could rid the populace of Catholicism in a year's time. He was wrong. He also underestimated the Cristeros and was thoroughly humbled. By 1929 the Federals had 100,000 troops whereas the Cristeros only had half that, and many of them were women. During the three years of fighting the Federals lost 57,000 soldiers while the Cristeros 'only' lost 30,000. Altogether an estimated 250,000 people lost their lives and the same number fled Mexico. This is a good movie to remind us that "the government" can easily morph into a tyrannical dictator in a moment's notice if the citizenry isn't vigilant. Consider the USA, for example: If Americans keep electing doofus Demoncraps to high office the so-called Supreme Court will eventually have a libertine majority and, faster than you can blink, Christianity and religious freedom would be eradicated overnight. Suddenly it would be a "hate crime" to say such-and-such is a sin and evangelizing would be outlawed. Make no mistake, it could happen in a heartbeat. Remember in 2014 when the city of Houston subpoenaed pastors' sermons as part of a crackdown on preaching against homosexuality? The movie was based on the 1976 book The Cristero Rebellion, a chronicle of the war written by French historian Jean Meyer who resides in Mexico, and was naturally approved by Catholic organizations (probably funded to some degree, as well). However, the movie's not completely "one-sided," as critics claim, which is admirable. For instance, President Calles (the "villain") offers peace terms to General Gorostieta (the "good guy") in a secret parley that seems reasonable to me, but the general is too proud to accept them. Once the dust settles the war concludes based on essentially the same pact Gorostieta rejected, with the mediation of the United States ambassador (Bruce Greenwood), who happened to be related to Charles Lindbergh. The USA government then provided Calles with machine guns while Mexico granted protection for America's oil interests. So it's not all black and white, and you have to give kudos to a film that honestly chronicles political & moral ambiguities.A Mexican production, the movie runs 145 minutes and was shot entirely in Mexico. The locations are awesome, by the way. The screenplay was written by Michael Love. On the DVD there's a 27-minute documentary on the Cristeros War & the movie, which is worth checking out. GRADE: B

mc1966 The war between the atheist Mexican government and the Cristeros is a little-known part of history, which well deserves being known, since it is said that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". And history does repeat itself, with so many - and especially Christians - being persecuted because of their faith in our days as well. The film makes an especially good job in showing the impact on characters' lives of the sudden shift between ordinary times, the ending of religious freedom, and the subsequent revolt. Peaceful priests becoming guerrilla commanders, soldiers transforming into mindless slaughterers of their own people, and boys becoming martyrs. These shifts can occur quite quickly, and this gives the message that we should be very careful to defend our current well- being at all times. The cast does an overall good job in acting. However, what I didn't like much was the direction of the movie, which alternated standard western-style action with relatively slow-moving and predictable dialogs.

fgholguiniii History is written by Hollywood but i get bummed out on movies where the heroes lose. The acting was good, the story was awesome, the fight scenes were well made this is a grade A movie. The only thing i had a problem with was the long drawn out talking and planning with the characters. It was just like the writers slapped something together to make the film longer? For me the kids death scene was to much as well. There were no women fighters as well it just showed them cooking and smuggling ammo. In the real wars the women fought along side of the men that is why Mexican women are so tough. So i kind of felt it was a little disrespectful towards the women who did fight along side of the men in these wars. This was a very important lesson in history and now we can see why our founding fathers wrote in our Declaration of Independence the importance of freedom of religion. Good movie i wouldn't pay at the movies (10 dollars) to see it but i would definitely rent it on a rainy day from Redbox (99 cents) and watch it. It would have been a better movie if it was more realistic.

Armand or just great. sure, for directing and performance of actors. but not only. because its courage is more important. this film is a manifesto. in time of globalization and hard attacks against Christian Church - the rite not matter - , in the age of relative truth, in a period of entertainment in easy forms, as indicated fever, this extraordinary film is a fresh air. its subject - delicate problem of present. its first virtue - precise speech about faith and far for protect it. the second - acting. measure is the law. not pietism slices, not pink fresco. homage to a Church who, grace its women and men resist in a dark time. a lesson about fundamental values. about roots. must see it ! not only for feed your faith. but for rediscover measure of things. and, not last, to remember be free.