“The Celestine Prophecy” is based on the bestselling novel by James Redfield. Admittedly, I’ve never read the book (though it’s been on my “list” for many years) so I can’t compare the two. I did read several comments on the movie’s website message board that said the movie is easier to understand if you’ve read the book first. But I did enjoy the movie and its message without having read the book.
John Woodson is a history teacher who has just lost his job. He’s feeling disillusioned and confused about where his life is taking him. Not soon after, he receives a call from an ex-girlfriend. He meets her for dinner and she begins telling him about a recent trip to Peru. There, she tells him how she visited a retreat called Viciente where a group of people have been studying eight ancient scrolls that were reportedly written before the birth of Christ. The scrolls, which contain 9 “Insights” are to lead humanity to a spiritual awakening during a time of unrest in the world during the early 21st century. She encourages John to go and see for himself, telling him she couldn’t stop thinking about him the whole time she was there.
John doesn’t know what to think, but the next day he coincidentally (or not as we come to discover) receives a travel brochure to Peru in the mail. He calls the travel agent and impulsively books a flight to Peru.
John’s journey to Peru, and his time while he’s there, is froth with danger. While there are many who want to discover the truth of the scrolls and their prophecies, there are many who seek to stop the message of the scrolls from being spread around the world. In addition, the Viciente group is also searching for the elusive 9th scroll, which they know exists but have been unable to locate yet. As John talks with those who’ve been studying the scrolls, he is shown a new way in which to perceive the world. One where we are all connected, and that life is so much more than we normally perceive it to be. It does take John some time to truly “see” but once he does, he knows life will never be the same.
While the message behind The Celestine Prophecy is nothing but positive, there are some scenes of near violence that may be scary for young viewers. And, because this film is very philosophical, parents may enjoy viewing it with their teens (or even by themselves). It is slow moving at first, but once you get past the set-up, learning about the scrolls and their prophecy is really interesting.
Stars: Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Sarah Wayne Callies, Annabeth Gish, Hector Elizondo
Rated PG for some violence
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