Tis true. First off the films were made for the LDS market, that was the audience, were it about catholics, mostly catholics would find it humorous. It's not that the main stream audience wouldn't find these films entertaining, but the fact is that The Singles Ward, R.M. and Home Teachers are niches films, they weren't expecting the broad audience to get it, because they weren't made for the main stream audience. I really enjoyed all three films, granted, the Home Teachers was my least favorate, and it's no surprise that yeah, I'm LDS.
Second, I love hearing criticism from other people about films. It reminds me that these same people aren't out making films of there own. Because if they were, they'd have more respect for the business, and the blood sweat and tears that goes into it. I'd love to take one critic and have him make a film and see what it takes to do so. People who do not make films have no idea how hard it is to make them, and then to just hear how stupid they are from people that couldn't make a film to save there life. Sure you can coment on films, but to nit pick and try and tear the filmmakers down, or berate them for a project is just lame. If you don't like the film, that's fine, but leave it at that. But give credit where credit is due, if you had any idea what it takes to get a film made, you would have a little more simpathy I think.
I offer a challenge to all critics of film, go out and make your own, and let us judge. I hate listening to film critics who get paid to watch movies, and complain about them, when the jerks have never writen a single page of a script, or even made a short film. Who are they, that everyone should listen to them, where is there authority? They didn't even go to film school! Just because there butt will fit in a stadium style seat in a dark room, gives them the right to tell the world if a film is good or bad, give me a break. Film critics should be filmmakers, that's all there is to it.
Ok, rant over, all have a good day. See ya.
Just incase you were wondering, no I have nothing to do with Halestorm, or the making of any of these films. I just really enjoyed them as a viewer and a filmmaker. bye bye.
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drew_graham1
20 years ago
Okay, first off, I AM a Mormon, and I still didn't think the cultural humor was at all funny, especially since this film relied mostly on situational humor ripped off almost directly from Tommy Boy. As for Latter Days and Orgazmo, those are hardly LDS films. They were made using LDS characters but the makers had a definitely negative agenda and knew little about the LDS culture or gospel principles they were portraying, and it's a little sickening how they're twisting the truth to fit their own putrid films.
The bottom line is movies shouldn't be poo, and this one is.
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dennis-251
19 years ago
Critiquing a film that is based on local prejudices is a lost cause. Home movies of your kids are great no matter what else anyone else thinks of them. The people who applaud these films also think green Jell-O with coconut is an epicurean delight. (FACT: Utah has the largest consumption of Jell-O per capita than any other place in the world.)
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ctr_rwh_ette
19 years ago
Okay, so I'll grant you, Home Teachers is my least favourite 'Church' movie, and yeah, I wouldn't really recommend it most of the time, but there were parts that anyone could appreciate, like the 'not so dedicated' guy opening the closet door when he floods the bathroom and all you can see is the wedding dress, that was hilarious to anybody. And furthermore, I am the only Church member in my family, but my brother absolutely loved the R.M. and is really looking forward to watching Singles Ward with me, and this kid is the guitarist for a political punk band and is a punk in every sense of the word. And for the record, the best Church movie out the is The Best Two Years, but again, it was not made for non-members. In a world of movies filled with foul language and immorality, we people who are trying to follow the Lord need some good clean movies to watch. Also, Napoleon Dynamite sucked, but I picked up on the fact that he was a Mormon(Scout Camp, Ricks College t-shirt, never says a single bad word in the whole movie, hmm, let's think about that one)...So yeah, Home Teachers isn't the greatest, but at least they are trying to give us good clean entertainment, and I completely give them props for that.
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imanactress4life
19 years ago
I totally agree with ctr_rwh_ette. It wasn't one of my favorite movies by Halestorm but I still thought it was funny.
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ctr_rwh_ette
19 years ago
I know that Utah has the largest consumption of Jell-O per capita, but for crying out loud, what is wrong with Jello? I'm from northern Alberta in Canada and we love Jell-O up here too. Plus, if you really wanted to make fun of the Utah people, start talking about casseroles or something. As a future 'Mormon-mom', I make fun of being a mini-van drivin', casserole baker more than the Jell-O thing. Don't get me wrong, I very much am looking forward to the day that I'll become the stereotypical Molly Mormon Mum, but you gotta find a better insult than Jell-O. Also, the other reason for Jell-O consumption is that it makes a wonderful addition to food storage, which must be rotated regularly, which shows that the people are smart for wanting to be prepare...Oi, do the research.
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lightlygrilledferret
19 years ago
You've posted in the Latter Days blog
"knew little about the LDS culture or gospel principles they were portraying"
I think JC. Jay Cox knows what he's talking about. He came from an LDS background and grew up in an LDS family. While the LDS church may not like the content of this movie, they cannot shy away from some truth in this fictional movie. Being cast out or shunned by family and church, being put through therapy to "cure" the individual; these are things that happened and still happen today. While electroshock therapy isn't used anymore, ( at least I don't think they do ) it is part of "LDS Culture". Do you believe that this is part of "gospel principles?" Quite honestly, I wonder if most LDS members even know about this. In the movie, when Aaron is being excommunicated, the father
mentions how much embarrassment and shame he's brought to his family, his church and his ancestors, just for being gay. But the church itself has a past that some would consider to be a "alternative lifestyle"
You cannot make claims about a director whom you know nothing about.
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bigfatman
19 years ago
i have to chime in here. first people being sent to therapy to get cured is not a mormon culter thing its an stupid thing that happens in just about every religion is the usa. to make it seem like only Mormons do that is an injustice. i know plenty of mormon families that have members who are gay. and they are not shunned. if you think its a mormon thing to shun gay people why don't you go talk to some gay people and ask them "is it the mormons who have made you life hell?" for heavens sake use your brain. you wonder if LDs member know about what? that there are stupid people out in the world who treat there kids like crap. yup we sure do. but to turn on your own family becuse they may not belive or act like you is not what the LDS church teaches. in fact we are tought to LOVE EACH OTHER NO MATTER WHAT. are there people in the church who shun there kids/family becuse of being gay. short anwser yes. does that mean they are right? HECK NO.
and secound yes the church members did practice poligamy oh about 150 years ago. talk about bringing up old news. and those who practice that today are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints.
but this is me stepping off of my soap box.
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