Yet again over the holiday season this year, Christmas day movie releases were pumped out in a large quantity, with many titles like The Interview and Big Eyes grabbing attention. With all the time away from school or work and time to spend with family, many flocked to bond with their kin as they enjoyed popcorn at the theater.

Although it wasn’t one of the “big names” at the box office over the holidays, Unbroken should have undoubtedly been counted as the best flick to be released on Christmas. Many that went to see it had previously read the incredible biography written by Laura Hillenbrand of the same title on which the movie was based. I myself have not read the book, although if it is at all comparable, then I will definitely be getting my hands on a copy of it as soon as possible. Talking to people that have seen the movie after reading the book, I found out that the movie did the book justice, and that is refreshing to hear. Normally when you hear about a book-based movie, the movie can never equal the book’s power of the story, especially when it is a true story.

If you were to not know anything about it going in and just looked at the movie description, you might not be very interested or maybe a little turned off by it. “After a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, Olympian Louis Zamperini spends a harrowing 47 days in a raft with two fellow crewmen before he’s caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.” The fantastic part of Unbroken, however, is the raw power and emotion felt by the viewer from numerous scenes in the movie. It shows the brutality of war, the sacrifices made, but above all, it shows Zamperini’s undying spirit. It makes it impossible not to root for him, and displays him as a real hero, which he is to the core.

If you get the opportunity, watch Unbroken not only because of the incredible true story it tells on the screen, but to leave with the feeling of hope and aspiration that a story like this could only give you.