'The Pilgrim's Progress' Animated Film Adaptation Is Mediocre, yet Still Resonating

The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come – or simply The Pilgrim’s Progress – by John Bunyan is a novel that I grow to love more and more each time I re-read it.  As I grow in faith, my appreciation for how brilliant and powerful this Christian allegory is deepens.  It’s arguably on-the-nose – as Bunyan intended it to be – but on closer look, it’s truly profound and imaginative.

Thus, it’s also something I’ve always been hoping would get a major film adaptation someday.  However, sad to say, that is something that probably won’t happen anytime soon.  Christian filmmakers don’t have access to the type of budget, technology, logistics, and – sad to say – ambitions and talents that’s required to grant the “epic” big-screen treatment that its narrative and concept deserve.  The best that can be done as of the time being is Revelation Media’s cheap animated film adaptation, which covers the first part of the book, i.e. Christian’s journey to the Celestial City (teased in the end of the movie is a sequel that would cover the second part, which tells his wife Christiana and their children’s journey).

Released this year, The Pilgrim’s Progress is an attempt to introduce the classic tale to the younger generation.  Unfortunately, its effectiveness is a bit doubtful as its production value doesn’t measure up to the standards of the typical modern animated feature.  Its CG visuals are third-rate at best.

But, you know what?  I can sense that this movie, objectively mediocre it may be, is a labor of love.  It feels like something made by people who love the source material and simply made the best out of whatever resources are available on hand.  Passion is particularly apparent from the voice acting and direction.  Kristyn Getty, the singer of “In Christ Alone” (the greatest Christian song of the 21^st century, in my opinion), is even brought in to preface the movie as well as sing some of the soundtrack.

As a Christian, and as someone extremely fond of the source material, I was still moved by this movie despite its evident imperfections.  That would mean that its script has stayed mostly true to the essence of Bunyan’s narrative vision and Puritan tone, and has captured much of the story’s most important plot beats.

However, it also does its own spin on some of the story’s notable moments, and I’m not exactly a huge fan of the creative license it takes on these.  They seem somewhat aesthetically and conceptually off with what Bunyan was going for.  Also, it’s partly because I have a comic book of The Pilgrim’s Progress, and it has probably defined much of the story’s imagery for me.

All in all, The Pilgrim’s Progress is not a terrific adaptation.  But for those who have loved the book as I have, it will still resonate.  If nothing else, it should remind how great the book – or the story it tells – is.  And to young Christians who haven’t encountered this story yet, there’s the possibility that they may get a sense of its richness through this animated movie.