Why the reaction to this film is so lopsided
Mormons have been to see the film and write positive reviews. See a screen cap of the instructions: http://www.nearingkolob.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/meet-the-mormon s.jpg
What a pathetic attempt!
Hate to say it. But that letter looks like a fake. Being reimbursed for movie tickets would never pass an audit. I know. I've been a financial clerk. Also, even though it is possible some leadership in some wards/stakes may have written letters encouraging people to go, this would definitely be done by local leaders and not as some sort of instruction from the top. There are other elements that make this letter suspect. Such as the implying that people showing up to the movie would have any impact or bearing on future contracts with Netflix et al. Netflix doesn't care if a film or documentary made it big in theaters or not.
I've not seen the film. So I'm unable to comment on it one way or the other.
"Also, even though it is possible some leadership in some wards/stakes may have written letters encouraging people to go, this would definitely be done by local leaders and not as some sort of instruction from the top."
Here is Elder Holland "encouraging people to go":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_5z1K2Ryx0
Definitely encouragement "from the top."
Specifically, he:
1) encourages members to request the movie
2) encourages groups to buy out the theater (if they have the ability to follow through)
3) encourages members to share it on social networks
4) encourages members to attend it (if circumstances permit with the caveat that this is not a commandment)
I'm not sure you can say that "Netflix doesn't care if a film or documentary made it big in theaters or not." Netflix must pay to license the content it shows. I would imagine that it pays much more for content that was popular than for content that wasn't popular. But we don't know because we don't have access to their licensing deals. I'm just curious if you have some business ties to Netflix that gives you insider information?
Sounds like you're not familiar with the Prop 8 campaign where Mormons all over the country were instructed "from the top" to spontaneously contribute money and time to effect the outcome of an election in California.
Let's look at this thing reasonably. They spent a lot of time and money making this movie which amounts to a commercial people are expected to pay to see. Who's going to do that? I mean, who besides Mormons? And you can see exactly what's happening on Rotten Tomatoes. Established critics have all seen it and reported it for what it is and the audience reviews are stratospheric, by which I mean that they exceed the praises of legitimate blockbuster movies that actual people pay to see.
So they get their numbers. They get the enhanced profile for Mitt and he launches a new presidential campaign. How else does this make any sense?