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shrinutah
Reviews
States of Grace (2005)
Excellent acting, lots of action, but certainly not a feel-good movie. Just the opposite. Depressing.
I was sorely disappointed in this movie. Twice I was temped to walk out because segments of the movie were so demoralizing and depressing. The movie has elements that allude to all the seamy things in life (pornography, murder, suicide, fornication, hatred, gang warfare). The graphic nature of the violence in this movie was particularly disturbing.
And Richard Dutcher does a great disservice to the LDS Church in portraying missionary attitudes, commitment, spirituality, and obedience as unfocused and lackadaisical.
My biggest objection to this movie, however, was that it is the exact opposite of a feel-good movie.
Dutcher's God's Army One was okay. His Brigham City was quite good. This movie, in terms of casting, acting, and drama was his best. But in terms of being inspiring or uplifting it was as awful as it could be. In fact, this movie so demoralized me that I am sorry I went. I have lost interest in ever again supporting Dutcher in an LDS-themed movie with a ticket purchase.
The Singles Ward (2002)
A very entertaining and fun movie for the LDS (i.e., Mormon) audience.
This movie was a very clever comedy on LDS ways and things. My wife and I needed an evening of fun and relaxation--a break from stress--and this movie totally filled the bill. We laughed and laughed both in the movie and in reviewing it with each other on the drive home. Key descriptors of the movie include: clever, creative, entertaining, silly, fun, and in a few places a little bit romantic and heart-warming. Tremendous one-liners in the movie. Nothing in the movie is offensive or in poor taste. A PG rating was solicited by the producers (as opposed to a G rating) to increase marketability. Also, good-looking stars add a pleasant dimension to a movie, and the starring actor and actress in this movie are both very good looking. Nothing in the movie is offensive or in poor taste.
Warning: Non-LDS--not recognizing this movie's play on idiosyncrasies of the Latter-day Saints--would find this movie somewhat strange if not outright "stupid".