Comments on: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hmm… Is there anything that sets this movie apart other than that it’s just the latest one? It seems like other mini-films depicting Joseph have been “produced under the supervision of the First Presidency.”

Having said that, though, I wonder if this will discourage other LDS film makers from tackling the Joseph Smith story, since now we do have the 21st-century “official” and “inspired” version. Let’s hope not…

By: annegb

annegb — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

We had stake conference this weekend and it occurred, however you spell it, to me that we of the bloggernacle, however you spell it, are skeptical sorts. Negative, even cynical.

Because I was listening with an ear for how others here would perceive it. Would they criticize, find fault, find the holes in the argument? I had to set that aside and accept the counsel and spirit as they came to me that moment.

Perhaps this video about Joseph Smith is worthwhile as it is, without criticism or comparison.

I think we need to become more as little children here and try harder to walk that fine line between skepticism and apostacy.

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

annegb-

I’m sure this movie about Joseph Smith will be fine, probably even better than fine. I, myself, am excited to see it. Anything new from the Church that’s more than a conference talk or an Ensign article always excites me in a unique way.

And to clarify my last comment, I wasn’t really being cynical / skeptical when I put “official” and “inspired” in quotes. I have no doubt that this movie is probably both. I just hope it doesn’t somehow close the doors to anyone else wanting to make a movie about Joseph Smith, that’s all.

And I’m sure the movie is worthwhile without comparison, similar to how the Book of Mormon is worthwhile without comparison to the Bible. But I get more when I view things from different angles (be it the Gospel or the life of Joseph Smith). Of course, I stick with angles that promote truth. I’m not promoting any sort of anti- literature.

By: ed

ed — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is pretty interesting. At 60 minutes long, I expect the movie will be only a very superficial biography. I predict it will spend most of it’s time on the first vision up through the organization of the church. I’m interested to see how they segue into the martyrdom…I doubt they’ll mention the destruction of the printing press, for example.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

annegb, I don’t know how you get to skepticism and apostacy after reading my post unless you’re the kind of person who sees Satan lurking behind every tree. The question I’m posing is: How does a video depiction of the life of Joseph compare to a textual description of the life of Joseph? Certainly if the First Presidency issued a 20-page textual narrative of the life of Joseph, it would receive careful study and be accorded pseudo-canonical status, much like the Proclamation. So what is the status of a video depiction? It is an entirely legitimate question.

That might not be a conversation you want to be part of, fine. But don’t drop in on my thread and start muttering about criticism, skepticism, and apostacy. If that’s all you see at this site, I would politely invite you to go somewhere else where you find the conversation more uplifting and enlightening.

By: Guy Murray

Guy Murray — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m sure the contrast between the movie version and Bushman’s version will be stark–but hey, they are likely produced to accomplish different things I think. Personally, I was hoping to see Dutcher’s version of Joseph Smith. I hope he still makes it sometime in the future. I think Val Kilmer would make a killer Joseph. Someone somewhere, I think on T & S, threw out a line about “I’ll be your Huckleberry” in reference to Gov. Boggs. Truth be told, I think I’d be more entertained by Dutcher than the “official version” But, I’d still like to see it.

I think there is some truth in your point about the movie becoming an “official 21st Century depiction” of the Prophet’s life. Personally, I’d probably take it less seriously than that. It is after all just a movie, regarless of under whose direction it was made. For some reason I take the video productions as less “canonical” than say the Proclamation–but that’s just me.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You scooped me Dave. Serves me right for sitting on half written posts. The Director of the film is T.C. Christenses. He has done some local Mormon themed work as well as having been the director of photography for some pretty large documentaries, including the recent Lewis and Clark documentary. He also worked in the same capacity on the recent PBS docementaries written by Heidi Swinton. Co-director and screne writter Gary Cook was the producer for the Book of Mormon Movie. Some of the actors are from the local scene (e.g., Brigham City).

It looks as if the Church is happy to outsource this. Maybe they will start outsourcing otherthings? like, the bloggernacle will get to take a crack at the Sunday School manuals!

By: Kent

Kent — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dave, I was going to make a comment but realized that would mean dropping in on YOUR thread. I’m sure Annegb has learned her lesson as did I.

By: Extreme Dorito

Extreme Dorito — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bloggernakkle Sunday School Lessons for OT 2006:

1) Garden of Eden: Fact or Fiction, MO or No?
2) Fall of Man: Eve did it, and she meant to!
3) Cain: Framed? Still walking the earth? Steinbeck full of it, or what?
4) Abraham: Whats with the all the lying?
5) Sodom: Their real sin wasnt sodomy!
6) Dinah victimized, twice!
7) Exodus: Pharaoh Sucketh Mightily
…
15) Judges: WTF!?!
…
20) Ruth: Finally, a woman!
21) David and Jonathan: Great friends, SSA?
…
25) Psalms: I’m sorry, so so very sorry. Is that enough?
…
28) Elijah: Kicking donkey and taking names
…
32) Job: STFU
33) Jonah: Yeah, right
36) Isaiah: Lets talk about the weather
37) Isaiah: Lets talk about current events
38) Isaiah: Lets talk about politics
39) Isaiah: Lets talk about BYU football
40) Isaiah: Lets talk about the grandkids
43) Ezekiel: Why do we always skip chapter 16?
…
45) Esther: Well its about time we had another woman
…
48) Malachi: Tithe or burn baby burn

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Kent, I’m opposed to people who drop in on forums and try to shut down dialogue by a combination of fingerpointing and guiltmongering. I’d rather have you voice your opinion (on that point or on the substance of the post), but if you prefer to turn around and leave, it’s your choice to make.