Frozen (2013): Mormon Movie Review

Quality:

 

   Fearless optimist Anna (voice of Kristen Bell) teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

   During the 2nd Golden Age of Disney that was ushered in with The Little Mermaid we were treated to movies that had beautiful visuals, compelling stories, and moving music. I'm convinced this age died with Tarzan for one reason, music! Disney movies were basically animated musicals, but without that piece we were given films like Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, and Atlantis. They aren't bad movies, but they can't hold a candle to Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King, which have both been turned into Stage Musicals.

   When Tangled came out in 2010 we saw a reemergence of this era. Frozen continues this pattern of beautiful visuals, compelling stories, and moving music.

How do you Celebrate Thanksgiving and Black Friday?

   There have been some heated arguments online this week about "Grey Thursday" and being "Part of the Problem." I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts.

   The world is careening down a path to increased secularism. We see it in how Christmas is portrayed in the media. When you think about your favorite Christmas Movies, there are very few that actually mention the birth of Jesus Christ. Usually they are about helping Santa save Christmas, getting along with family, or finding the special toy for your child. Although if Jingle all the Way is your favorite Christmas Movie you have a whole other set of issues besides increased secularism. Luckily there are still Christ centered Christmas films, (Amazon made a great list) but they are getting fewer and fewer.

   I see a similar thing happening with Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving has been celebrated in many ways since the Pilgrims, it was Abraham Lincoln who instituted that national holiday as we know it today.   During the Civil War when old and young were fighting, and dying, the President chose to set aside time to remember our blessings.  In an excerpt of the proclamation he states;

Why Did I Change My Blog Format?

   We have been getting a lot of questions lately about our format change.  For those of you who are new here, let me bring you up to speed.  Back in 2010 I started a Movie & Media Review Blog to help like minded individuals find content that is entertaining without being offending.  I love movies and I love writing about them!

Guest Post: Opt-In Pornography Should be Required in America

Source: This Week in Mormons

   Geoff and Al records a weekly Podcast about what is happening in the world of Mormons.   Currently there is a petition gaining signatures with the purpose of making online pornography an opt in feature with ISPs, just like it is Cable TV.  Geoff writes a convincing argument as to why this is in the better interests of our faith and society as a whole.  Geoff has written for us before on the revival of Arrested Development, this post is of a more important matter.

Thor: The Dark World (2013): Mormon Movie Review

Quality:

 

   Marvel has done a great job of establishing a cross franchise universe in Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and the other Avengers.  Because of this success Thor got an extra 20 million in its budget and it really shows with some great actors.  There were some real missed opportunities though.

Ender’s Game (2013): Mormon Movie Review

Quality:

   My November 1st daily gratitude Facebook update was, “I'm grateful for books. For without them, we would not have awesome movies."

  In the near future, a hostile alien race has attacked Earth. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Graff and the International Military seek to find a future leader who can save the human race. Ender Wiggin, a shy but strategically brilliant young mind, is recruited to join the elite, where he's trained to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth

Repost Commentary: Wallflower

   One of the things a lot of people don’t know about me is that I’m a bit of an introvert.  Like my sister Summer at Made by Munchies Mama posted about herself two years ago we are really good at faking it.  For those of you who know me personally, or listen to the Podcast I seem pretty outgoing.  But here is my trick, I rarely initiate conversation.  I just don’t.  I don’t know what to say or even if that person even cares to chat. 

   Once the ice is broken (usually by the other party) I can hold my own and be very charming and entertaining.  For me to approach someone it is a very conscious decision that takes a lot of pumping myself up.  But here is the funny thing, I don’t really mind.  I can go through a church 3 hour block and be perfectly content to limit interpersonal conversations to a few handshakes, smiles, and a friendly nod of the head.