Why is this movie's score so hi? - The Other Side of Heaven (2002) Discussion

[–] drew_graham1 21 years ago

Because the movie-going public (particularly the LDS movie-going public, who this was targeted at) loves frothy, fluffy stories with little substance but make you feel good inside.

I prefer something with some real foundation and meaning, not a mere series of events with no direction or lesson to learn. As far as cinematography and music go, I thought this one was okay, but my biggest beef is that it missed to entire point of why LDS youth serve missions in the first place: To put the emphasis on something bigger and more important than themselves.

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[–] 21 years ago

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[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

Why do you think LDS youth serve missions?
If you cannot see the foundation, meaning and substance in this movie from watching it, well then it is hopeless for me to try to explain it to you

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

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[–] ChrisGeo 21 years ago

well I am into "that kinda thing" and I agree it was poorly done. Good story... Bad movie. Not enough tragedy/joy conflict to get you emotionally attached, so it just ended up being sappy and a little unbelieveable.

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[–] 21 years ago

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[–] procrastin8or 20 years ago

well #1, i am lds
#2, it was not targeted for mormans it just so happens that mitch davis got luky and Princess Diaries came out before this one so it attracted some more audience
#3, it is not a low budget film! trust me, it took a lot of money to send everyone to new zealand and to a ton other places in the pacific
#4, please feel free to ask me anything about the movie

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] dino-141 9 years ago

unbelivable - you don't say.
It is based on an autobiography and the main character was even in the movie (read the trivia)

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[–] the43rdgunslinger 21 years ago

Well if you lack faith, you'll lack a taste for this movie. Not necessarily a faith in God, just faith in general. It's good to take a step away from movies composed mainly off of top-notch fighting sequences and unforgettable(yet sometimes lame) one-liners. It did not spice up the actual story with something ridiculous, and kept most of the situations "real". It did not get cheesy with a beam of light shining down with a physical hand of God coming down to heal the boy, attempting to display faith falsely. If you don't like it then oh well... the world has moved on; it's not "cool" to enjoy a movie like this anymore. Yet in retrospect, I can see how modern day cinema has desensitised an audience enough for one to see this movie as boring. Acting is good, concidering that most of the actors(except the leads) were inexperienced at the time. This was one movie that centered around religion and faith that I actually really enjoyed, as opposed to the two Left Behind films.

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[–] drew_graham1 21 years ago

Well, I think I have plenty of faith, and still I lack taste for this movie. My trouble wasn't that it was too long or boring or realistic, it was that it put the focus of the Mormon missionaries where it didn't belong. For the record I _AM_ LDS, and I really was hoping this movie would be spectacular, but I was very disappointed. But of course, I really don't expect a large number of people outside of our faith to like this movie, as it really is a culturally-driven movie filled with the fluff that has become Utah-Mormon mentality.

I don't think it's not cool to like this kind of movie. There are coming-of-age/religion/epic-style movies all the time and they're still popular. Fighting sequences and one-liners aren't what saves movies these days. It's believable characters and an interesting story. I guess this movie had a little of both (even if the characters WERE underdeveloped and the story was more a sequence of events rather than a fluent narrative), even though they seemed to avoid to portray just exactly why a missionary should serve and who he's doing it for (certainly not himself, as the cinematic Elder Groberg seemed to do).

If you really want a suggestion for a movie that tells what the LDS Gospel is REALLY about, but with less of the cultural fluff, try the cinematic masterpiece Brigham City (as I may have suggested before).

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[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

We should talk Drew, how would serving three years of your youth with no what the world calls "fun" to go to a third world country with no financial gain, infact you're the one paying for it doing something for yourself. He was serving the Lord, not on his time--the Lord's time. My brother is currently serving a mission dillegently and he had to do an incredible amount of work to become a missionary and for you to sit there and accuse any person who ardently completed his mission doing all that he could for the people as someone doing something only for himself deeply angers me. Elder Groberg did and does serve the children of God. Don't you dare accuse him of such base selfcentered mentalities! Do honestly think that Heavenly Father would have so blessed him and made his mission such a success if he were not ther for the right reasons?

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

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[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

Yes! You are beginning to understand the damaging effects of bad movies in desensitizing audiences simply to get money.
Thank you I AM NOT ALONE!!!!

with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

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[–] tdasma 21 years ago

A quick look at the ratings distribution will tell you why. The LDS have mobilized their rent-a-voter to gove lotsa 10's

Movies like this should have a mental health warning!

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[–] blairbecky78 21 years ago

Well, I'm not religious by any means and I loved this movie. I loved the simple way that this movie made me admire and come to care for the characters. The fact that this is based on a real man who gave that time of his life to that community made me want to be more compassionate. I thought this movie was beautiful and to assume because you didn't like it that nobody else did is just plain silly.

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[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

I have seen this movie many times and have felt the spirit every time.
with some movies, you merely watching people get paid to read lines

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[–] Rythona 12 years ago

That's kinda a funny theory!

I'm LDS and I only gave it a 7. I thought it was neat and sentimental but not a masterpiece. It's all a matter of opinion and the LDS church would never pay people just to boost ratings on a movie. Movies like this just mean more to Mormons.

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[–] SuryaVL 21 years ago

No, I do like good drama and *beep*, but it just didn't work for me, thisone

http://www.drumnbass.be/

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[–] LeoZ_48 21 years ago

I'm not exactly Mormon(nuetral on the issue, but that's another story), but my family(most of them) are. We just finished watching it, and I had no problems with. It was a happy "fluff" of a movie, but I don't see what it's makes it bad. Even if it IS based on a true story. If it's true, you can't say it's bad, since it's fact. And I get irritated about people who hate happy movies. Why? Why not have joy in your life. I love movies like Requiem For A Dream just as much as the next person, but disliking movies such as this JUST because it's "sappy and sentimental"? Please.

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[–] hokanu127 21 years ago

This movie is rated so high because it sells itself on the hope that if they don't mention that it is mormon, actual Christians will watch it. As it turns out they were succesful, because now non-mormons are seeing it and being "touched" by the fluffy nonsense about mormon miracles. Another attempt to draw people in and snag them. This movie had emotion but lacked a lot in character it's rating is high because only mormons enthusiastically take the time to coment and vote on it.

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[–] BillSandAnnienumber1fan 20 years ago

This movie was based on Groberg's memiors while he was on an island in the middle of the Pacific, so it's not like they had a whole lot to go on. I'm not a Mormon (If you study its history,you wouldn't be either), but I am a Christian and enjoyed this movie. It may have seemed a little hollow, but it was a good movie anyway. Anything with Annie hathaway is good!
VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE OF BILL SHUFF AT http://home.earthlink.net/~gnirps6/

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[–] drew_graham1 20 years ago

I just wanted to let you know, BillSandAnnienumber1fan, that I HAVE studied the history of the Mormon church, and I AM a Mormon, even though I know the background and quite a few details of the Church's history. You should avoid making such generalized, blanket statements.

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[–] young_country_gurl_2004 20 years ago

I agree with Drew_Grahm, and yes, I am a Mormon also.

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[–] the_musical_gal 20 years ago

I'm Mormon, and I really enjoyed this movie. It's so beautifully done and the scene where John Groberg leaves Tonga almost makes me cry every time I watch it. I think "God Be With You 'til We Meet Again" is now one of my favorite church hymns. It's also a very clean movie, which made me all the more happy. And I *love* how he handles being seduced and dealing with the girl's mother. So beautiful! I lent it to a non-Mormon friend of mine and he still hasn't returned it, I doubt he's even watched it. He's pretty absent-minded.

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[–] auxmpetrosky2003 20 years ago

Reminds me of Pearl Harbor.

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[–] luvmonkey5 19 years ago

just because some mormons who were excommunicated for bad things does not make us bad people. look at the missiorian history at the time of the early mrmons. the were horrible to the mormons. but we dont hate the missourians do we. so stop hating the mormons because of what textbooks say. i agree with you drew graham1. i am a mormon and have been one since i was old enough to be baptized. if you wanna learn more about the mormons read the work and the glory

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[–] luvmonkey5 19 years ago

btw the mormons are not the real name. the real name is THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

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[–] tvashtar2919 18 years ago

We know the name of the religion, but who wants to repeat all of that every time? This is done with other churches and most things in life. Anachronisms and shortcuts are a regular substitute when having a conversation.

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[–] everpure_17 19 years ago

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I love God and Jesus Christ who is my Savior who atoned for my sins in Gethsemane and died on the cross, then three days later was resurrected. I believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; I follow the admontition of Paul(Phillipians 4:8), I believe all things which God has said an that are written in the King James Version of the Bible, and I hope for all things that my Heavenly Father (God) has promised his children. I have endured many things and hope to endure all things that the Lord has asked of me. If there is anything that the Lord would find virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praise worthy I will seek after those things(see Article of Faith 13) I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me and I love him(YW Theme) and if that does not meet your requirements for a Christian then I don't want to be one! Not only do I KNOW what I have just stated is true, but I KNOW that Joseph Smithe Jr. was a prophet, the Book of Mormon and Doctrine &Covenants are the words of God. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Gods love for his children and the works and miracles of Jesus Christ. I belong to Jesus Christs true church, his restored church with prophets and apostles like in the New Testament. This I know to be true.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold I am the light and life of the world; and I have drunk out of the bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning" 3 Nephi 11:10-11

"Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." Doctrine &Covenants 45:5

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[–] luvmonkey5 19 years ago

we should talk sometime because youre messages really touched me. enthuiasism like this is great. my email is [email protected]. i am a member too

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[–] Rythona 12 years ago

I find that studying my history as an LDS member and descendant of Joseph Smith actually strengthens my faith. I actually know someone who joined only AFTER studying the history.

But yes, I agree that it was a little hollow but still good.

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[–] switzr1 19 years ago

I do know that the general public in Tonga hated this movie. They say it is a very inaccurate view of the people there. I haven't seen it myself, but my girlfriend (a native of Tonga who lived there until she was 20) saw it and said it was awful.

Uncle Bill, I don't want to go to Terre Haute!

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[–] lisha_lacey 19 years ago

Tongans don't like it because all the actors are Maori, not Tongan. That's why. How would you feel if people were walking around pretending to be British with Kiwi accents?

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[–] toymit 12 years ago

Reply to Lisha Lacey.

Only three of the actors were Maori,one Tongan and four Samoans.

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[–] 19 years ago

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