It’s been a long time since I’ve shared a movie review here on my blog. I subscribe to Great American Pure Flix to stream and watch family oriented and faith based films. Great American Family merged with Pure Flix on June 15, 2023, and though, Sony also is part of the company, I decided to subscribe on June 18, 2023. I used to subscribe to Pure Flix, but when David A. R. White and his wife, Andrea Logan White, who starred in many of the Pure Flix films and had something to do with running the company, decided to divorce, I noticed that quite a few movies Pure Flix began to offer were no longer as family friendly nor faith based, so I canceled my subscription.

So, when I found Great American Family Pure Flix and found that Candace Cameron Bure has a say in what they offer, after leaving the Hallmark movies because they began to offer themes that went against her beliefs, I decided to check out the Great American Family Pureflix offerings. I liked what I saw and subscribed and have been happy with all the movies I’ve watched on that streaming service so far.

So, now for my review of Peaceful River:

Peaceful River is the story of Casey, who comes from four generations of cowboys and military men. He grew up with a Mexican girl named Maria, and when he decided to enlist in the military after high school, he asked her if she’d wait for him. However, he participated in a high school rodeo, after which, he made some bad choices. Then he enlisted in the military and trained for special forces. He led a team of four other men in an operation in Afghanistan after the 9-11 attacks on the United States. When Casey finally came home, it seemed that he had lost everything that had meant anything to him.

I really liked this movie. I liked the way the characters developed throughout the movie. This movie was character driven and I came to care for the characters and wanted to see them succeed and obtain their dreams.

The war scenes were not gory, but they were definitely realistic and matched all that I had learned about the war in Afghanistan.

This movie gripped my emotions. Sometimes I smiled. Once or twice I lauged out loud. I also cringed and flinched at some scenes, and I shed quite a few tears.

I always say that books and movies that evoke so many emotions — emotions that make me both laugh and cry — are the books and movies I like most. They are also the books and movies I remember best and for the longest period of time.

I usually only need one tissue for books and movies that make me cry. It’s rare that I need more than one tissue, but Peaceful River was a two tissue movie for me.

I highly recommend Peaceful River for anyone who loves cowboy movies and movies that evoke lots of emotion. Peaceful River also teaches some great lessons in a strong, direct, but gentle way.

This movie is rated PG-13 for its adult themes. However, it is a clean movie, and as I said, it’s not graphic nor gory, and the Christian life and faith are woven throughout the story.