MovieChat Forums > Pride and Prejudice (2003) Discussion > An 'LDS' movie? Not quite...

An 'LDS' movie? Not quite...

posted 20 years ago by the_shark15
23 replies | jump to latest

I'm a member of the LDS church but have always been turned off by LDS-genre movies. I've always felt that they're too campy and inaccurate (especially those trying to portray lifestyles of full-time missionaries), I don't appreciate the portrayal of sacred ordinances without official Church approval, and I don't understand how they can make any kind of money from these films when nobody outside of the Church would understand them due to their plots being based on Mormon culture. "God's Army", "Brigham City", "The RM", and even "The Other Side of Heaven" -- they all kind of bug me due to one or more of the reasons listed above. I don't mean to say that there's nothing of value in those films, I just personally don't like them a whole lot.

However, "Pride and Prejudice" is completely different. I was dragged to the theater to see this film by my brother and two sisters, expecting the worst and wishing I could stay at home instead of watching another person's interpretation of my admittedly-unique culture, yet I was very pleasantly surprised at how universal the film's content is.

I do think that the film is a *little* more meaningful to members of the Church as it is obviously set near BYU campus and there are scenes and lines that are very Mormon-cliche, but I tried watching the movie from the perspective of someone who has little or no knowledge of Mormon culture and I found that it was still understandable and provided a lot of laughs.

I would like to have insight from someone who has seen it who isn't a member of the LDS church. Would you agree or disagree with me? What part(s) of the film did you feel alienated itself from you?

I would recommend this movie to anyone!

[–] wendieward 20 years ago

Well...I am not Mormon. I didn't know it was a Mormon movie until just before I saw it. I'm glad I gave it a chance. It was a fun movie...cute, sweet. I don't know that I would WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend it. Having said that, as a Protestant believer, I felt like there were actually themes that I could relate to. I liked that people weren't running around jumping into bed together... It definitley seemed on the conservative side (but not overtly so). For a non religious person it may be a little bit tougher to understand. Why did they never mention Mormonism though? If it's a Mormon film, why not just say something about it? They made little jokes here and there that I didn't really get, but they never came right out and said "LDS" or "MORMON." BYU was never even mentioned! If you are going to put the Mormon thing in, put it IN. Don't just make little jokes that only a small percentage of people will understand. I don't mean to be overly critical, because it was a cute movie! The girl who played Lizzy was fantastic, I thought that Jane was so sweet...I loved that they made her Argentinian. Ben Gourley was great. He has a really unique screen presence. The girl who played Lydia was so irritating (and not in a good way like Julia Sawalha in the BBC miniseries). I wondered if everyone invloved in the production was Mormon, or did it just have a Mormon theme?

[–] drawringfreak 20 years ago

No, not all of them were mormon, the person who plyed Lidya isn't, and also the guy who played Darcy, and I dont think that the person who played Lizzie is either. I dunno about the rest though.

I love to draw!!!

[–] drew_graham1 20 years ago

Okay, first of all, I would like to say that Richard Dutcher's use of ordinances in film was not inappropriate at all. He was showing public ordinances in a very sacred and reverent light.

Having said this, I thought P&P was a great film, ambitious, considering the original brilliance, but it adapted really nicely to modern singles student life. Yes, it didn't realy solely on the Mormon culture for its jokes, like The R.M. and The Home Teachers did (both ghastly, by the way), which is why it was much more entertaining. They actually wrote their own jokes, instead of making fun of Mormons (easy targets, according to those guys...).

[–] the_shark15 20 years ago

I think I concur with what everyone has said so far, and I appreciate your feedback.

However, I must disagree with drew_graham1 about Richard Dutcher's use of ordinances in movies. Without going too far in-depth, even though these ordinances are indeed "public", that does not mean that any Joe in the Church should decide how to portray them for the rest of the world to interpret. Any Church video or movie that is made will have been approved by a general authority, thereby guaranteeing appropriate representation. Just because anyone and everyone can come to a baptism or attend sacrament meeting, that doesn't mean that they aren't sacred or free for anyone else to interpret.

Another important point to remember is that attending these ordinances in person provides an opportunity to learn and gain insight for someone who isn't a member of the Church. These movies use the ordinances as part of a highly-dramatized, fictional story and therefore change the context in which they should be viewed.

To sum up what I've been saying, showing two men give a priesthood blessing which subsequently (and immediately) heals the blessee gives the world a false sense of what we consider the priesthood to be used for. Can the priesthood heal? Yes. But without proper explanation and teaching about the priesthood and what it's used for, its power and uses are misunderstood. I don't know how to further develop this point without comparing and contrasting with other religions, which I fear would be mistaken as offensive.

Drew, I respect your opinion and I hope this doesn't turn into one of those insanely stupid "hate threads" that plague the web, but I wanted to further develop my own personal insight. I hope you can read what I write without feeling like I'm attacking you, and that you can understand where I'm coming from even if you disagree.

-The Shark

[–] drew_graham1 20 years ago

No no, not at all, the Shark. I respect your mature and founded opinion. I see how you think people could get misconceptions about the church from Dutcher's portrayal of ordinances and blessings. I agree that they are sacred and people attending them can learn a lot and gain insight, but don't you think perhaps that people who watch Dutcher's films could also be inspired and enlightened, and maybe if they're not familiar with the significance of the events (even though he shows them as pretty darn important things), they could seek out what they're really all about.

I thought the use of blessings in God's Army and the Sacrament in Brigham City were of course dramatized, but shown in a very sacred and inspiring light. They show Catholic rites in movies all the time, and no one seems to mind about those, and why? Because they're public? Maybe. They're still sacred to the Catholics, aren't they?

Maybe we'll just have to agree to disagree, but I was intensely touched and moved by his films and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. He's made the best LDS films by far (especially compared to the abysmal Book of Mormon Movie and The Other Side of Heaven).

.... wasn't this on a P&P thread anyway?...

Ta.

[–] ColJ 20 years ago

As to "why wasn't it a Mormon film, if it was a Mormon film," I think the simplest answer is that it wasn't a Mormon film. It was a film made in Utah, starring characters that were Mormon, and primarily marketed within Utah to a Mormon audience. If anything, it's a Utah-film, but there are no religious issues to be overtly discussed. Someone could have said "The Book of Mormon" or "Hi, I'm Lizzie. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God" aloud, but it really would have been somewhat irrelevant. As I said in another spot, I don't necessarily know why this is considered a Mormon movie any more than the Godfather should be considered a Catholic movie. It's just a setting, but not part of the plot.

www.colinandbethany.com/phpBB2

[–] ArizWldcat 20 years ago

I am a Utahn who is NOT LDS, and I have always avoided the LDS genre movies. However, my sister rented this while my kids were visiting her in Arizona (she had no idea is was made by an LDS film company) and she told me it was pretty good. So we rented it, and I found it to be rather enjoyable. I wasn't alienated, really from any of it, because I live among Mormons and I'm kind of used to their slightly different lifestyle. I got a kick out of the fantasy scene in the movie where the characters are in church and the RM is blathering on about how evil Lizzie is, and she throws her hymn book at him! LOL!!

Maybe others who are not familiar with Mormon culture might even miss the LDS references, because I think they are rather subtle. I don't think this is an LDS movie, it's a movie that happens to be about people who are LDS. As others have said, I found it VERY refreshing to see MY values on screen...saving oneself for marriage is NOT impossible, and lots of people do it. I get so tired of going to movies where it's assumed that if two people are dating, they'll have sex BEFORE they marry. THis is just the new acceptable standard in movies today, and that it's unusual is very sad, in my opinion. I wish there were more romantic comedies that I could enjoy with my pre teen and young teen daughters.

[–] Sugar_Sprite 20 years ago

I don't think they should've even advertised it as a Mormon film because, as has been said, the only thing that made it an LDS film was that the characters were LDS; they didn't preach or use the movie as a converting tool at all. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but let's face it, using movies to convert people just doesn't work. Anyway, plenty of movies feature Catholic characters, but those movies don't get labeled as ''Catholic films''. I don't like it how Mormon films have to be set into their own genre and the mainstream critics don't bother reviewing them or anything, like no one takes them seriously as real films. I think that, for the movie's sake, it shouldn't have been advertised as a ''latter day comedy''. But I guess it didn't matter, as plenty of non-Mormons seem to have enjoyed it, judging by this board and the user reviews I read on Yahoo. There really wasn't anything I can think of in the movie that would offend non-Mormons; I mean, there was one scene that took place during a testimony meeting, and a reference to temple divorce--it didn't even play up the whole eternal marriage concept, like you'd think it would--but never did it go deep into their testimonies or anything, and they weren't even the most exemplary of Mormons. I went to see this with my friend and she told me that it was the same kind of comedy as ''Singles Ward'', but it wasn't until we were a little ways into the movie that I said, ''Oh--this is a Mormon movie?''

[–] kmcmorn 19 years ago

I read all the reviews of this film after I had watched the movie for the first time. Although it has been said it was an LDS movie, I myself being LDS, didn’t really pick up on any major themes that is until I watched the film with the “Mormon bits” added in. I thought it was a good film, and although not a bad representation of the book it was good enough. I liked this film, I thought it was well written and funny and I liked that the hint of LDS was subtle and not in-your-face. I also have to disagree with those who think that RM and The Other Side of Heaven was bad. I loved both the movies and thought they were well written; my friends who aren’t LDS loved them too which is a good thing. To me I thought it was pretty clear it was set in the BYU because that’s how I imagine the BYU to be, as I’ve never been there I cant really say if it is or not as I live in England. As far as Mormon movies go there has been worse, I thought the Book of Mormon movie was pants.

[–] Sugar_Sprite 19 years ago

I think it was filmed at BYU--I have been there and it looked like it. I think it was supposed to take place in that area even if it wasn't actually filmed there.
I really loved ''The Other Side of Heaven'' too. I've never seen ''RM'' but I want to; I really liked ''Singles Ward'' and it looks like the same sort of humor. Just last night I was watching the Book of Mormon movie at my cousin's house. I didn't get all the way through it, and I wasn't really paying attention as I was listening to my walkman, but I wasn't all that impressed with it either. The dialogue wasn't very convincing; it just sounded like modern-day talk and the acting could've been better. I wanted to like it, I really did.

[–] dancing_pears 19 years ago

Exteriors were filmed at BYU. If you look closely, there's a scene where Lizzy is zipping around in her bug and one of the places she turns right onto is Campus Drive. You can actually see the Welcome to Brigham Young University sign.

[–] Kargemari 19 years ago

Ok well I feel totally stupid and ignorant right now lol but I had no idea this was a Mormon film when I got it. I know it said "A Latter Day Comedy" but I didn't really know that referred to LDS I just thought it meant an updated version lol wow thats sad, like I said I feel really ignorant. But the only reason I watched it because I am a total P&P lover. I love Jane Austen's books and P&P is my fave. I loved the mini-series from 1995 and pretty much all adaptations so when I heard about this movie I went ahead and bought the DVD and watched it. I've watched it about 3 times now and up until today and reading this board I had no clue it was a LDS movie at all. I mean I know they were in the church and stuff but I didn't connect it. So basically I guess what Im getting at is that this movie appeals to much more than just the LDS audience. I got the jokes and found it funny without understanding the LDS culture and loved how it followed the novel. I agree with some of the other posters that it doesn't need to be classified as an LDS film because it doesn't really have any religious message and it is general enough to appeal to anyone who likes cute, funny, romantic movies and especially to people who like Jane Austen adaptations.

[–] tara_retro 19 years ago

No, I totally understand, Kargemari. I was excited to see this finally on DVD because I'm a total P&P nut and since I live in the midwest, it was never at a theatre around here. I had no idea that it took place in a Mormon setting, simply because I am unfamiliar with the Mormon culture/lifestyle. Upon second viewing I figured it out from realizing where it took place, that they were in church, etc. I don't think it's necessarily ignorance, I think it's just that they never really say anything about it, at least nothing that a non-Mormon person would probably recognize. That's just my own viewpoint, anyway, I can't speak for others! Bottom line, I thought this was a great movie and a wonderful, fresh adaptation of P&P. I also appreciated the fact that it was very clean and I didn't have to worry about my parents turning up while I was watching it, if you know what I mean!!

I highly recommend it!!

Grab & Go Girl

[–] dancing_pears 19 years ago

Can I just say that I think it is really cool that you guys found this movie appealing without knowing anything about the LDS culture. Wow... I myself am actually LDS, so it's difficult for me to sort of step back and try to watch it more objectively. I had no idea how this movie would be received by those who maybe wouldn't understand all the little mormony things. It's really cool to see that it didn't present a cultural barrier or anything. There are just so many horrible LDS genre movies out there, I'm glad that there's at least one film that doesn't pander to all the silly stereotypes.

[–] the_shark15 19 years ago

dancing pears,

AMEN!

I hadn't seen "The Singles Ward" until a few months after I made the first post on the top of the thread. Puh-lease! What a terrible Mormon film. I guess it was worth seeing once, and there are a lot worse movies to be seen, but the constant Mormon jokes made me sick. The only time I really laughed was when the main character was doing his standup routine and blatantly made fun of Mormons, thus angering his girlfriend and making her cry. For some reason the jokes he made were offensive to her and meant that he was a jerk without a testimony, yet I found it to be the funniest material the film had. "The RM" was a little better in that the humor was a tad bit smarter.

Anyway, I agree that "P&P" is great, and it's heartening to find an "LDS" film that isn't "LDS" -- it's universal.

-The Shark

[–] kroesermaja 19 years ago

Quote
I tried watching the movie from the perspective of someone who has little or no knowledge of Mormon culture and I found that it was still understandable and provided a lot of laughs.

I'm someone with little or no knowledge of Mormon culture. And if I would't read it in the web, I wouldn't know that it is a LDS-movie. I like it very much the way it is. It makes sense to anyone, Mormon or not. Maybe you must love Jane Austen. I think that is the important point, because of all the quotations in the movie.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] the_shark15 19 years ago

Thanks for your guys' input. It's awesome to see a film be so appreciated by a wide audience. To me, a movie is good when it can be entertaining for a specific audience, but it's best when there's something that EVERYONE can gain from, even if specific audiences may get more than others.

-The Shark

P.S. "Saints and Soldiers" is another LDS film that I feel accomplishes this.

[–] jerseygenius 19 years ago

yeah, I know my reply is a little late, but I just wanted to add a couple of comments. :) I'm agnostic, and had absolutely no idea that this movie had anything to do with LDS culture until I saw its comments and forums on the IMDB website. I really couldn't tell at all that it had Mormon influences! I just knew it was set in Utah. That said, I thought this was a really good movie. I liked that it was clean; I'm not adverse to rated R movies or anything, but sleaze gets old fast. This was a romantic comedy that really was just a lot of good, clean fun, and I appreciated that. I kind of wish I was able to catch some of the LDS references, but since I enjoyed the movie a lot anyway, I'm still happy I saw it.

[–] the_shark15 19 years ago

I didn't feel like the LDS references added a WHOLE lot to the film, but I guess if you really wanted to catch them you could spend a couple weeks in Provo, Utah and you'd probably get somewhat of an understanding...

-The Shark

[–] Julie-30 7 years ago

If you listen to the commentary you'll hear all about the LDS influences. Also, one of the special features has LDS scenes left in.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] mathmaniac 7 years ago

I enjoyed this movie! And, for what it's worth, I enjoyed 'The RM.'

[–] kevinswife 7 years ago

I had no idea before watching, but pretty quickly figured it out. I'm not LDS, but setting the movie in Provo made it apparent. All the references to church made it obvious.

I was a little surprised at the innuendo and the cruel treatment of Mary at the party, as well as the revealing clothes and make-out sessions...and the Diet Coke in the binge scene. I guess I must have missed the "caffeine-free" on the box?

It wasn't a bad adaptation, just a little over-the-top. Great casting for Darcy as well as Elizabeth, although the ultra-closeups on her were annoying after a while.