>>Is a third-rate painting of Jesus better than a first-rate painting of Mick Jagger?

Um yes. Mick Jagger stands for nothing. Christ for everything.

>>Is a superbly crafted rap song always worse than a shoddy hymn?

Not if it's a gospel rap song. Big Daddy Weave has done some decent stuff in mainstream Christian music. There are some really great Christian contemporary songs that are fine contributions to worship and uplifting others.

>>Does every movie ever made about LDS missionaries automatically trump an R-rated film?

Well there was that one R-rated movie about the elder who turns gay and abandons his beliefs to pursue a gay dude. But other than that... yeah.

Here's another thought:

You don't have to go see movies. The world won't end if you miss the occasional trend-setting craze. And you don't have to have a constant stream of music in your brain.

Quiet is nice too.

Sometimes I think we're all so busy swimming in the cesspool of entertainment, looking for the most virtuous and lovely and good report that we forget we don't HAVE TO swim in it at all.

Fire Creek is finally coming out? I was an extra in that movie in the boxing scene (I was a boxer) like 4 years ago right when I came home from my mission! I thought the movie never came out because I never heard anything about it and couldn't even find it on google anywhere or anythig. I can't wait to see how much footage I am in.

Is it going to be in Utah theatres? straight to DVD? Online anywhere? Does anybody know?

If the movie has enough of a story line and content to make it a good move, it doesn't need the stuff that would make it a rated R movie.

The opposite also being true.

Is a rated R movie actually good? Would it still be good without the rated R parts? They why were the rated R parts put in?

I am glad I finally heeded our leaders guidance in avoiding rated R movies.

A friend of mine once told me:
"Do you hear that whooshing sound? That is the spirit leaving."

Movies are just movies and the end result of making any movie is to make money for that film-maker so that they can continue making a living. Patronizing a poorly made film is simply funding a poor film-maker just as patronizing a smutty film is paying a living to that smutty film-maker.

If a Mormon clothing maker made really poor quality clothing would you still buy it under the guise of "we have to support that person because they share our morals"? I doubt it.

Contrary to popular beliefs perpetuated by EFY and the Work and the Glory series...testimonies of the gospel do not come from popular entertainment. A moive will never truly convert someone to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I don't think "heart" cancels out "art." Rubbish is still rubbish, even if it's made with good intentions. And if we want to see better-quality LDS films, we should set our expectations higher.

There's plenty of excellent stuff in arts and entertainment. Seek it out, or create it yourself if you can, but don't endorse mediocrity just because it's harmless.

I as a LDS member will buy a LDS move "IF" it is any good and if not I will not buy it. I don't care who makes the move if it is a good clean family move I will buy it. There is a company called "Feature Films for Families" They have great family moves. I don't know who owns it put they put out good, clean, quality family moves, this is what I like and this is what I will watch. That me, people you watch what you won't and I wont condemn you for it for it is not I or any mortal to judge that is for God to do.