The Religious Test (2012): Mormon Movie Reviews

Quality: 

 A few days ago we posted a picture in our Mormon Memes section of our Facebook Page.  It was a fun picture of Mitt Romney saying, "Top of the Mormon to ya!"  The comment we made was, "The only thing that I think is more silly than people who only vote for Mitt Romney because he is Mormon, is those who won't vote for Mitt Romney because he is Mormon."  We got a huge number of "Likes" and shares, and even some great comments.  I am not sure if what motivated people was the picture itself, or my comments, but people are certainly interested in Mitt Romney and his Faith

   The Cultural Hall Podcast asked us to review a movie for them about how Mitt Romney's faith effects his campaign for president.  Documentaries are not normal fare for us, but the theme was really intriguing.  The Religious Test is a feature documentary film that explores why roughly 20% of Americans have said they would not support a Mormon (a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for President of the United States. It attempts to inform viewers about perceptions and misconceptions regarding Mormon faith and culture. The film avoids dogmatic discussions and does not seek to promote any belief system. This independent production is not affiliated with or endorsed by any church or political candidate, party, PAC, or caucus.

   The Religious Test pulls some big names to discuss a range of topics from religious freedom to divisive social issues.  Even Us Senator and former Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman gives a positive view of the role of a candidates faith.  

   The interviewees come from several backgrounds.  Many or not of our faith, or are members who have more liberal views.  They are all very respectful.  I enjoyed the comments from an Evangelical couple who have used this moment to better understand their Mormon neighbors.    

   One the interviewees brings up a great point when discussing a sort of open season when it comes to Mormons in the Media.  He speaks of how horrified people would be if we were to substitute Jew, Black, or Muslim with some of the headlines we see in mainstream media.  In fact Hilary Clinton called the trailer for the controversial "Innocence of Muslims" "disgusting and reprehensible," yet didn't say a word when she saw The Book of Mormon musical on Broadway.

   Another interviewee explains that if you want to find a good taste of anti Mormon sentiment, find any major news

source that has posted a mildly complementary story.  You will find an explosion of views that are just awful, and not fit for civilized company.  I read a recent CNN article about the change in the missionary age.  Just about every comment is disparaging about the Church.

   The narrative of the documentary is a little hard to follow.  Although the film is separated into themed segments, there seems to be a lack of direction as there is not a narrator guiding us through the story.  

   The final segment of the film really gives a great perspective on the result of the gallop poll.  We should not see the results as 20% of Americans would not vote for a Mormon President, but that 80% of Americans would!

Content:

   The content of the Religious Test is completely safe for all audiences.  The interviewees are respectful to our views, even though some might not agree with them.

Mormon Media Reviews gives honest and frank perspective on movies, music, shows, and other entertainment from an LDS perspective. Ratings are given based on the Quality of the media and the appropriateness of the Content.  If you would like to read more of their reviews you can read them here at The Cultural Hall or at www.MormonMediaReviews.com.  

Here Comes the Boom (2012): Mormon Movie Review

   It's Mormon Movie Guy Monday! He writes a great blog similar to ours reviewing movies from a Latter-day Saint Perspective. The review was written by him, but the star ratings were applied based on my interpretation of his review. We got invited to a screening of Here Comes the Boom, but we couldn't get there in time and missed it. Now I am not as bummed about it. I didn't love Paul Blart: Mall Cop, but I respected that it was PG. Here Comes the Boom seems to follow that same vein. It is in Theatres now, but you might want to wait for the DVD or Dollar Theatre. 

Quality:

Here Comes the Boom, the just-released inspirational romantic sports dramedy (got that?) asks audiences to believe two preposterous notions. The first is that Kevin James, the portly fellow who amused us in Hitchand TV's King of Queens, could be competitive in mixed martial arts. The second is that Kevin James could have a chance with Salma Hayek. Does it succeed? Not quite, though it comes surprisingly close on both counts. 

First of all, James shed a lot of fat and put on a good deal of muscle, training for 14 months to play a biology teacher who takes up UFC fighting to save his friend's job (a music teacher played by Henry Winkler). Despite James' physical transformation, it's still tough to believe that he could compete against seasoned fighters, no matter what his determination level. The far-superior Warrior (one of 2011's very best movies) had a similar storyline; that film barely got away with it, and actor Joel Edgerton was in phenomenal shape. I must admit, however, that James surprised me with his athleticism here, both as a "fighter" and as a physical comedian. As for the romance, James and Hayek have far more sparks between them comedically than chemically. Their scenes together provide some of the film's funniest dialogue.

Speaking of humor, Here Comes the Boom never quite decides whether it wants to be a comedy or an inspirational sports drama. It veers unevenly, back and forth, between the two. As a drama, it pales in comparison to the superior films it imitates (the aforementioned Warrior and the Rocky series, most obviously). Nearly every plot point is wholly predictable, as sports film cliches are trotted out one after the other. A school principal comes across as a one-note villain whose inevitable change of heart feels inauthentic and unearned.

As a comedy, however, it fares much better. There are quite a few belly laughs here, including one moment that had me chuckling until my sides hurt and tears streamed down my cheeks. There's quite a few great one-liners, as well as some expertly-played physical comedy. The supporting characters are mostly solid; retired UFC Heavyweight Champion Bas Rutten is particularly likable in a warm and funny role. On top of that, it's PG and clean (see content overview below). Despite its flaws, Here Comes the Boom is a worthwhile excursion for those looking for inoffensive fun. It also portrays Christianity positively, which is always a nice bonus. 

Content:

 Here Comes the Boom is rated PG. It has plentiful mixed martial arts fighting and a pair of mild obscenities. A woman reveals some cleavage in a tank top and men fight shirtless.

Messages to Discuss: The story of Jacob wrestling a messenger of the Lord and earning a blessing, as referenced in the film, is found in Genesis 32: 24-30. With  hard work, faith, and unity we can restore atrophied things, people, communities, and systems to their former lustre and beyond (Words of Mormon 1:16-18). 

gblue C5 A2DP Music Bluetooth Stereo Headset: Mormon Product Review

Quality: 

If you have ever read any of our Music Reviews, you know that we love good music.  What you might not know is that in my day job I'm a window cleaner.  Sometimes I am on a long job and want some music to keep me entertained.  I am real big on being professional, and there is just a negative connotation with a serviceman with headphones on. It just makes me think of Sid (The Trash Guy) in Toy Story 3 banging mail boxes and trash cans.

  So a weeks ago I bought an A2DP Bluetooth Headset.  That is a wireless headset that lets you listen to music.  I chose the gblue C5. It looks and acts like regular Bluetooth headset, so I look like a professional.  It also plays music so I can keep up my pace and listen to music, review General Conference, or enjoy the latest edition of The Cultural Hall Podcast.

   The headset works great.  One of my favorite features is that it comes with a plug in headphone, so you can use it in both ears. (for when I'm off the clock.)  It was charged and ready to go right out of the box, and I was able to pair it pretty easily and use the buttons to switch songs.  It can also be used for phone calls.  Answering and redial was simple, but I could not get it to activate Siri, like on my other headsets.   

   The few buttons do multiple tasks so you will need to read the manual, and the audio quality is not the finest, but at under $16 you certainly get more than you paid for!

   The gblue C5 is available on eBay for $15.98 shipped, but similar styles are also on Amazon.

How to Watch Downton Abbey Season 3 in the US Before it Airs on PBS

   Downton Abbey has been spreading all over and with Season 3 already on the air overseas, many of you have been chomping at the bit for when PBS starts broadcasting it in the US.  There are a couple of Guides I found, and I wanted to share with you some of my favorites.

   If you are one of our UK readers you can simply go to iTV's (the English broadcaster of Downton Abbey) and watch it from their site.  But if you are here in America you get an error, "This Video in not Available to Play in Your Region."

  You could use a Torrent site, but it is ill advised for the novice.  Torrent sites are notorious for pop-ups, misleading links, and malicious viruses.  Here are some of the more secure ways to watch Downton Abbey now instead of waiting until January.  

   Rachael at Grasping for Objectivity found a program that will help you overcome the region restrictions.  It's called Tunnel Bear and I like it just because of the name!  You can pay $4.99 a month for unlimited use, but there is also a free option with some limitations.


   Quora.com offers a guide on how to purchase the season through iTunes using a UK iTunes Giftcard from eBay.  Then change the region of your iTunes to the UK.

   Becky at Utah Sweet Savings used to have them posted on her site, but chose to remove them. 

  

   If you are not quite sure what Downton Abbey is all about Season 1 is available on Netflix and Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Hulu.  It might be time to know what all your friends at work are talking about by the water cooler.

   How do you watch Downton Abbey?  Are you waiting for January?  Let us know how these ideas work for you!

Pitch Perfect (2012): Mormon Movie Review

Quality: 

  We got to see an advanced screening of Pitch Perfect tonight.  It is midnight, but I wanted to make sure we got this out to you.  If you see any typos, just let us know, but I will probably proof read tomorrow.  You might want to see if there are any screenings in your area as they are really trying to promote this movie.  If there aren't, Fandango has a buy 3 get 1 free deal for advanced ticket sales!

   Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

   I am of the firm opinion that Glee is destroying America's young vocal talents.  But there is something about collegiate a Capella music gives me hope.  It is an original style that takes a vocal skill and a keen ear.  It can't just be produced in a studio with a beat machine and auto tune.  With TV shows like "The Sing Off" and groups like BYU's Vocal Point gaining national attention it was only a matter of time before it became a feature film.  Pitch Perfect even takes a few jabs at Glee which made me happy.

   The music in Pitch Perfect is such a pleasure.   Covering popular tracks like Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone" (I refuse to spell i with a "U") and Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." keeps the music relevant.  Pitch Perfect is also timeless as it takes some hits from the 80's like Ace of Base's "The Sign" and breathes new life into them.  Music is a magical thing and several times during the movie I left goosebumps as chords would build or keys change.  The singing is done very well and the ladies and gentlemen of the film have proved they can do more than dance.  You will want to pick up the soundtrack!

   When I was walking out of the theatre I heard a comment from the girls behind me; "Pitch Perfect is the PG-13 Bridesmaids."  I have to say they had a lot in common.  The ensemble cast is all very talented.  There wasn't a weak link in the group.  Anna Kendrick's "Beca" is very fluid and likable.  The balance of being aloof and guarded is struck in a way where we see she is a bit of a loner, but she is likable to the audience so her character progression seems natural.  Her friendship with rival group member Jesse, played by Skylar Astin, is real and heartwarming.  

      Rebel Wilson really steals the show though.  You might remember her from the trailer as "Fat Amy."  Although Amy is a bit crude, she is also brutally honest.  as a credit to Wilson, most of her lines were just improvised and she kept the cast and crew in stitches and she would go on and on until they told her they had enough.  Hopefully the DVD has some outtakes.  (They saved one of the best ones for during the credits though.)

   Producer Elizabeth Banks also has a surprise cameo as one of the announces of the vocal competitions.  She is a delight on screen.  It reminds me of her performance in The Hunger Games.    

   The trailers for Pitch Perfect really focus on the comedy of the movie, but the solid vocal performances is what will keep your eyes glued to the screen and ears wide open!

   

Content: 

 Pitch Perfect is a great teen film.  There is some implied sexual content and a handful or excrement related curses.  Some of the rules of "The Bellas" is that they do not have sexual relations with the guys of their rival a Capella group.  The leader of The Bellas says the reason is to keep their dignity and to be taken seriously. There is also a scene of under 21 drinking.  Some of the dance moves and outfits are a little provocative, but I think what really makes the girls appear attractive is their ability to make beautiful music and the confidence they have in themselves as they perform stage.    

Revolution (2012): Mormon TV Review

Quality: 

   If The Walking Dead (our review) didn't give you enough motivation to get your one year supply of food storage, Revolution certainly will!  NBC has been posting some of the pilots to their new shows online.  It is how we were able to get our review of The New Normal online before it aired.  It is an interesting tactic, but shows the confidence NBC has in their Fall Lineup.  They know fans we infiltrate the blogosphere with their thoughts on the new shows and feel it will be in their favor.  Right now it is available for free on Hulu.

   Revolution hits the ground running.  We see two kids sitting on the couch glued to TV's and iPads.  30 seconds later Dad, Tim Guinee, busts into the house with all the canned goods he can carry with a warning, "It's all gonna turn off.  It's gonna turn off and it will never ever turn back on."  Two minutes into the show and suddenly all the power in the whole world goes out.

   Then we pick up 15 years in the future.  We see a small community where everything in being done manually, farming, hand sewn clothes, sheep pens, bow hunting. For a pilot the sets are done very well.  It is amazing to see some of the earth reclaiming the land.  

   The 2 minute into really leaves a lot of questions, who caused the black out, can it be fixed, how did the Dad know it was happening.  Many of these answers will be revealed via flashback.  One of my favorite flashbacks takes us back to the night when everything turned off.  Ben Matheson (Dad) is clearing out the freezer and gives his daughter a whole half gallon of ice cream since it will soon melt anyways.  If a touching moment he looks his little girl in the eyes and says, "Slow down.  I want you to really remember what it tastes like."  It is like he is saying, the world is about to become a very harsh place and he wants her to be able to retain her innocence as long as possible.

   The federal government has fallen, and roving militias have formed their own governments run through tyranny and fear.  It feels a lot like Kevin Costner's "The Postman."  If you loved it like I did, you will really enjoy Revolution.  If you didn't you may want to give it a pass.  

Content: 

   The world has gotten ruthless and we see some of the brutality. The violence is not extremely graphic, but we do see blood.  The language is clean with only a few PG curses.  There is a scene of attempted sexual assault, but it is not carried out.  

   Seeing the condition of the world, it makes me wonder what our last days will be like.  I think a similar outcome is possible.  What would you do if you couldn't look up recipes on Pintrest, drive to the store to get milk, Google a fact you didn't know the answer to, or get a message to your loved ones via text, Facebook, Twitter, or email?

Brandon Flowers Defends His Mormon Faith

   When the "I'm a Mormon" campaign featured Brandon Flowers, of The Killers, I was a little hesitant to be fully behind it.  Last I heard he wasn't very involved with the Church, and I was concerned it was just a publicity stunt.  Like if there was a commercial featuring Ryan Gosling or Katherine Heigl.  The message was very positive, yet was more focused on family rather than the Church.  

   I had asked a friend about the video. (Who is another popular recording artist and is Mormon, I didn't ask for permission to share this so I won't include his name.) But he said they had played shows in the same area together and that Brandon was a real stand up guy, and they spent time talking together about their faith.  It really made be respect Brandon.

   Then yesterday another friend shared this video with me of Brandon Flowers as a guest on Skavlan, a Swedish talk show.  He was brought on to promote The Killers' new album "Battle Born," but spent little time talking about it. First I just thought it was odd they were hosting the show in both English and Swedish.  Then as I listened to the questions they were asking the tone of the conversation changed to his faith.  At first they were pretty inquisitive (2:49), but then the show really takes a turn at 5:07 to more accusatory.  When one of the panelist asks him if he truly believes the story of the gold plates and Joseph Smith.  In his response he talks about the need to gain your own testimony and affirms that he truly believes.

I'd slap you, but I can't... I'm Mormon

   At 7:20 they bring out Richard Dawkins, who is a famous atheist.  He speaks for a few minutes about science, then he proceeds to berate The Book of Mormon and calls Joseph Smith a charlatan right to Brandon's face on television.  I think any of us would want to just shirk away at this point.  But Brandon defends his faith and says outright, "When I hear you call this call this man a charlatan, I take offense to that."  He tells Mr. Dawkins that he needs to do his research.  

   At that point (12:20) Brandon is excused to join the Killers backstage to prep for the performance of "Runaways" shown at 19:00.

   Seeing the way Brandon spoke about the Church and defended his faith with someone fully versed in debate helped me to gain a new found respect for him.  Shame on Skavlan and Richard Dawnkins for railroading Brandon in an interview that he expected would be about The Killers, and not with a panel of atheists ready to challenge his faith.  I also wanted to apologize to Brandon (because I am sure he is a huge fan of the blog) for any thoughts I might have had towards his conviction towards the gospel.  I know he has a testimony and I hope he can return to be with his wife and kids soon.