Comments about ‘'Return with Honor' preachy, misguided’

After the overfried comedies of Halestorm, I actually thought this movie was a nice breath of fresh air. Your comedy suggestion would have been all wrong for me.
The show is a bit over earnest, and the main character does come off a bit preachy as you've noted, but I thought it added to the human reality of the character. After all, I've met a lot of Mormons who really are that preachy, and come across as self-righteous, but who do have good intentions and others interests deep down in their heart. They just lack tact. So the representation didn't bother me the same way it did you.

I am just amazed, so many people gripe that there are no good LDS films available and when someone makes one the only thing people can do is make fun of it and gripe. I guess that if the film producers had 150 - 200 million dollars to make a film people would complain that the movie producers spent way too much money.I think that people should support those who make LDS films and just enjoy them for what they are...entertainment, why does everyone have to think of themselves as a film critic?

Preachy.

Was Jesus preachy?

I suppose he was tactful.

But there is a time and a place for everything.

I haven't seen a lot of movies lately.

Thanks for the update.

I'll take the "Preachy" Elder over one who sleeps with the girl next door and then slits his wrists in the bathtub rather than face his father who would prefer he came home in a pinewood box.

I am confident that this film will do mildly well in Utah and be unheard of in the rest of the world. And if the review is accurate, Mormons should be pleased that the rest of humanity won't understand the preachiness and self-righteous attitude had by most Mormons.

LDS topic-based movies shouldn't have some sort of santuary as far as criticisms go. When all is said and done, in spite of the message, it is a movie. A movie made by mere mortals. Some people interpret criticizing an LDS cult film like they're condemning the church. Such is not the case.

All in all, I am picky when it comes to movies and entertainment. I should hope that critics do their jobs and keep me informed of good and bad entertainment. It is then up to me to decide if I agree with the critics and see it despite their warnings or praise.

Besides, I think that the missionary-based movie topic has been burnt to the ground. It's all been done - both done well and poorly. Anyone attempting a missionary-based movie from here on out is facing an uphill battle.

Shaun-

So are you suggesting that we should be watching and praising films simply because they're made by LDS filmmakers? Even if they're failures as films?

While I'm no believer in the idea that a movie has to make money in order to be good, the problem so far is that a vast majority (with only a very few exceptions) of LDS films have not been good, nor (I don't believe) have they made much money.

If an LDS filmmaker made a good film people might not "make fun of it and gripe" as much.

They still might not go to see it, but that's been a problem of many great films from around the world - films of artistic worth and high entertainment, that for some reason or another go overlooked by mainstream audiences. It is unfortunate that most audiences today view film only as an escapist entertainment, and not as the artform that it is, but oh well.

As arrogant as it sounds, I still have far too many of the great films of directors such as Eric Rohmer and Micaelangelo Antonioni to see (and too many great books to read and great symphonies to hear, etc...) - works that are actually "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy."

I agree with filmmaker Richard Dutcher's assertion that LDS filmmaking (so far) has not come anywhere close to its potential as being some of the finest in the world. I think that day will come, eventually, but to say that LDS filmmaking is currently in its infant stage is almost making it sound more advanced than it really is. The influential film critic Pauline Kael once make the distinction between "great art" and "great trash", So far, LDS filmmaking has failed to be either.

Shaun,
Why should we enjoy a movie for no other reason than some LDS people made it? People go to movies to be entertained. If they pay money to see a movie, that entitles them to like or dislike the movie. As for everyone being a film critic, the person who wrote this story is paid to do just that. And whether you see it or not, LDS cinema is absolutely horrible. It has nothing to do with money, it's a matter of talent.

Short and sweet - portrayal of diety is always wrong.

"some suggestive talk and mild sexual humor, and scattered, mild profanity (religion-based)"

Why must we have these things in LDS movies? I realize they probably are used by "non-members," but seeing they're in the movie at all makes me not want to see it. In LDS books & movies, I am searching for the "virtuous, lovely, & of good report." "Charly" did it, as did "Best Two Years."

The Book of Mormon does a great job of describing challenges, etc. without using profanity or suggestiveness. Why can't we?

Just to let you know, Return With Honor was made by a non-member.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Anonymous (9:23am, Sept 14).

Of all genres, LDS-oriented films should be free of "suggestive talk", "sexual humor" and "profanity". Some LDS filmmakers and writers are apparently so absorbed in Hollywood's standards (of today that is) that they can't do a production without these vices.

To think that it wasn't that long ago when Hollywood would not include sexual content, profanity, gore, etc. in its fare because it (Hollywood) had righteous standards and a sense of responsibility. Yet today even LDS filmmakers (and audiences) do not have the standards Hollywood once had. How ironic.

As Elder Hales said recently at our Stake Conference, many LDS are staying a few paces behind but nevertheless slowly accepting Hollywood's declining standards.

I'm hoping to get to a mission to Vegas next year. Do they still have the ridiculously cheap meal deals if you stay up to 2 or 3 in the morning? It was great last time we were there, but it's been a while so I imagine things have changed.

I was able to see this movie at the LDS Film Festival, and I must say it is one of the best made in the LDS genre. Comments about it being preachy and comedic are completely unfounded. The message is real and powerful.

Tim

We should not support movies just because they are produced by LDS Producers, but neither should we go off one or two film Critics opinions!!!

Here in the UK one film is released today featuring a top young UK star, one national newspaper gives it NIL and another gives it 3 stars, that is personal opinion. Me I take no notice of either if it interests me I watch it and make my own opinion.

Finally about content of movies with an LDS theme it would be completely wrong if content was restricted, that takes away the talent of a producer or writer - it should never be hidden what is happening in the world.

The radio ads give a very vague synopsis, something about an LDS missionary & a car crash and being sent back to finish his life. Mildly deceptive, I think. If people are going to write LDS missionary-themed stories turned to films, can't we just have at least one with a true-to life presentation? Best Two Years comes close, but my mission was largely uneventful. Nobody died. Nobody pointed a gun at me. Nobody beat me up. I didn't crash the car. I didn't fornicate. I wasn't sent home early. This supernatural stuff is just cartoonish. Sorry to say, but LDS films are mostly junk. Too bad. LDS can do much better. If in fact this one is the product of a non-LDS, it shows. Only a LDS has the full LDS perspective.

hey jeff i think your over exaggerating the violence and vulgerness of this film especialy if you are suggesting that people hope the main character dies in the start of the film in a car wreck.i think thats vulgar in its self more so than i saw in the entire movie

Lighten up. Don't take things too seriously. Perfect movie? No. But I saw it and thought it was actually pretty cute.

they need to stop making movies that only LDS people can relate too and make movies that are LDS friendly.

Why is it necessary to stop making movies that LDS people relate to? If you have a problem with it, don't watch it, it's that simple.