My Experience With The Bom (the Movie)

[prisonchaplain]

I haven't completed the book yet, but I did see the movie, and was reasonably impressed. See my full report at the following:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002C3P0...glance&n=404272

Feel free to leave your + or - vote. :)

Also, this might be a good place to talk about the movie, and about the use of film as a means of proclaiming the message.

[Ray]

Heh, don't judge all LDS movies or movies about LDS beliefs by that movie. My wife and I watched it, and it was kinda good, but the book is very definitely much better. And yes, we do have it in our collection, but only because it was given to us as a gift.

I do really appreciate the "Work and the Glory" movies, though. They are both movies we do and did want to buy. The first one came out sometime last year, and the second one is coming out soon. And there is also going to be a 3rd one coming out, but we really don't know exactly when.

[Guest ApostleKnight]

I haven't seen it for the very reasons given in the Amazon.com reviews I read. Those I know who've seen it said it was awful for a story of such gravity and religious importance. I suppose I should rent it Netflix-style. If I do, I'll post my thoughts.

Being a budding cinematographer myself (who might do religious films somewhere down the road) I think viewing the movie will provide many "what NOT to do" teaching moments. Having seen some doozies myself (awful films), I realize the audience can only be expected to suspend their disbelief so far.

One question: How was the music? The fingerprint of a lame film is almost always in its score/soundtrack. How'd you guys like it?

[prisonchaplain]

Heh, don't judge all LDS movies or movies about LDS beliefs by that movie. My wife and I watched it, and it was kinda good, but the book is very definitely much better. And yes, we do have it in our collection, but only because it was given to us as a gift.

I do really appreciate the "Work and the Glory" movies, though. They are both movies we do and did want to buy. The first one came out sometime last year, and the second one is coming out soon. And there is also going to be a 3rd one coming out, but we really don't know exactly when.

Hey...let this post wander...what made the Work and Glory movies so much better. I haven't seen them, but will check if Netflix has them available.

I haven't seen it for the very reasons given in the Amazon.com reviews I read. Those I know who've seen it said it was awful for a story of such gravity and religious importance. I suppose I should rent it Netflix-style. If I do, I'll post my thoughts.

Being a budding cinematographer myself (who might do religious films somewhere down the road) I think viewing the movie will provide many "what NOT to do" teaching moments. Having seen some doozies myself (awful films), I realize the audience can only be expected to suspend their disbelief so far.

One question: How was the music? The fingerprint of a lame film is almost always in its score/soundtrack. How'd you guys like it?

I thought the music was acceptable. The used what seemed to be a good-sized ochestra. My sense is they were trying to create an "epic" feel--so went with big-sounding music.

BTW--I got this from Netflix, so it might be worth a try. My sense is the movie was probably a bit better than your low expectations.

[Bob_oz]

I have seen both movies,

I thought the BoM movie was "ok" not the same quality as the Work and the Glory which I found portrayed the spirit behind the story better, the BoM movie I thought tried to grab for the stun effect and failed, some of the parts simply are not in the book, there is a dramatization(s) effect rather than a contact with the spiritual message and that is where it lost out but I also thought it lost as being a tad amaturish hollywood. I guess if yopu are going that way (hollywood) you need a presence from at least one actor, now if they could have got hold of Charlton Heston! (is he still alive?)

Maybe I expected too much.

W and the G was pretty good I didn't think it try to go Hollywood and I thought it worked.

Considering LDS type films where the film is good quality and really much better than I expected take time to look at "Saints and Soldiers", outstanding.

Bob

[Ray]

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I do really appreciate the "Work and the Glory" movies, though. They are both movies we do and did want to own. The first one came out sometime last year, and the second one is coming out soon. And there is also going to be a 3rd one coming out, but we really don't know exactly when.

Hey...let this post wander...what made the Work and Glory movies so much better. I haven't seen them, but will check if Netflix has them available.

For one thing, they're very close to the quality I've come to expect from movies or short films and videos produced by the Church. One of those kind of things you kinda have to "feel" to know what I mean.

Another reason was probably because I hadn't read the books, although my wife had, so I wasn't comparing the movies to the ideas and images I had in my mind.

Another reason was because the movies don't even pretend to be true stories, although the stories do revolve around actual events that occurred in the history of the Church during those days. Basically, the stories revolve around the lives of members of a fictional family during the time of the restoration of the Church… with some of them accepting, and some disbelieving, the Prophet and teachings of the Church.

Another reason was because I liked the way the actors and actresses played their parts, with costumes and make-up that did NOT distract from the story.

My main “gripe” with the BoM movie was with the actors who had pearly white teeth (you know they were definitely bleached) and a fresh change of clothes (in perfect condition) practically every day (despite their wandering in the wilderness) which WAS very distracting from the story. But I also had read the book, so I was comparing the movie to the images I had in my mind. And who knows, maybe they did have teeth that white, and they mended their clothes in the wilderness while continuing to make new clothes.

I did like certain things about the movie, though, like how they portrayed how the angel who “popped in” to stop Laman and Lemuel from beating on Nephi. And I also thought the story itself was good, with life-like scenery as the backdrop to the story. I don’t remember the music, though, and I think I would recall if it was distracting, because I also agree that music helps to convey the “feelings” involved in the story.

[Guest ApostleKnight]

For one thing, they're very close to the quality I've come to expect from movies or short films and videos produced by the Church. One of those kind of things you kinda have to "feel" to know what I mean.

I do want to point out that the LDS Church did not produce--or for that matter endorse--either the Book of Mormon Movie or The Work and the Glory movie/s. They are private productions involving LDS members true, but I just didn't want anyone confused about whether they were official productions or not (like, say, "Finding Faith In Christ," or, "The Lamb of God," which I thought were very tastefully done).

[Ray]

Good points. Thank you. I agree. :)

[boyando]

Heh, don't judge all LDS movies or movies about LDS beliefs by that movie. My wife and I watched it, and it was kinda good, but the book is very definitely much better. And yes, we do have it in our collection, but only because it was given to us as a gift.

I do really appreciate the "Work and the Glory" movies, though. They are both movies we do and did want to buy. The first one came out sometime last year, and the second one is coming out soon. And there is also going to be a 3rd one coming out, but we really don't know exactly when.

I believe it will be in November. Seems they like to release the Work and the Glory movies around Thanks Giving (US).

[boyando]

I may be the only one in the Salt Lake valley, so I may have an advantage over the rest of you when it comes to Mormon movies. The best Movie I ever saw was called Testiments and the Church produced it. The advantage that I have is that the Church has a large screen (not a IMAX) at the Joseph Smith building. The film was shown in 70mm format. They change the movie every couple of years and they are now showing what I hear is a great movie about Joseph Smith. I have not seen it but my wife says its great.

Before I saw Testiments, everyone who had seen it warned me that I would need a hanky. A big guy like I am, I thought that I could hold back the tears. Pride goeth before the fall. I did very good untill the last sceen when Christ called the man that the film was about, by name, with so much compasion. Full on body shaking, balling.

I'm still a big fan of the movie that started all the other Mormon movies (not produced by the Church) God's Army. It's a low budget semi-autoboigraphy of the directors mission. He (Richard Dutcher) also did a movie called Brigham City. Brigham City is a great movie that I recomend if you are looking for something unexpected. I have to warn everyone it is rated PG 13.

I think that what I like about the movies that are made by Mormons and not by the Church is the way that they piont out our weekness and our strengths. Here is a list of the films like this that I have seen and my short reviews.

Gods Army- three and a half stars (out of four). really captured what it was like to be on a mission, but because it was only his second film, he lacked the money needed for good film stock.

Brigham City- three stars. Very good mystery

The Singles Ward- three stars. Great comedy that pionts out were we could all be humbled. About half of the jokes won't make scence to some one who doesn't hang out with other mormons.

The Home Teachers- two stars. Takes to long to get to the piont.

The R.M.- three stars. See singles ward above

Saints and Soilders- four stars. Not for everyone. A World War II movie that is once again, not what you think.

Mormons and Mobsters- two and a half stars. The title gives it away.

The first and second Work and the Glory movies- two stars. Both movies have great plot and story line. Both movies have some pretty good actors. I have two problems with both films. It seemed that the director was trying to keep both films on one emotional level. To me it was like, when some one would get angry the action was there but no one would raise there voice to match. Also I thought the choice of music was great but needed to be edited to fit the sceens better.

keep in mind this is just my opion

[Guest ApostleKnight]

The advantage that I have is that the Church has a large screen...at the Joseph Smith building....they are now showing what I hear is a great movie about Joseph Smith.

The Testaments is indeed my favorite Church-produced movie. Aside from the spray-on-Nephite tans (I saw the female lead in person and she is very caucasian!) it was an amazing movie I have seen 4 or 5 times. I've been wishing the Church would release it on DVD like The Lamb of God or Finding Faith in Christ. Now that there's a new movie showing at the JSB, maybe they'll finally release The Testaments for private ownership. Hallelujah!!!!