I wanted to like the movie, it was my idea to see it and I went into it with a good attitude. I am active LDS trying to support Christian films like this ... but it was just awful.
The Pros:
The Cons:
And what on earth was the scene with the bear in the cave and flinging the wolf pee? Why was that necessary? Did you notice that after touching the pee with his hands, the very next scene opens with him eating something with his hands? Lol
I wish it was better. I don't enjoy being negative but this is the honest review. I suspect the 10/10 reviews are illegitimate. This was a flop. It could have done without the messages before and after where he says it's a movie about inspiration, peace, love, and Christ - when it's really not about Christ or true Book of Mormon events at all. It's a vanity film that took so long to finish he literally lost the plot.
The Pros:
- Music was phenomenal
- Costume design was really believable
- Some solid cinematic shots
The Cons:
- They took a lot of liberty with the story of Moroni and portrayed him all wrong. Why did he marry a lamanite named Bethsheba? The way she was killed and the scene with the bloody feet and the baby hand was terrible.
- The plot holes are ridiculous. So many little plot points that never developed or did anything. I think the director really could have used a fresh set of eyes to give him feedback cause he missed a lot of obvious contradictions in the story. Like how much time would pass between Moroni and Bathsheba meeting, falling in love, learning a new language, getting married, getting pregnant, etc. Months? And yet the whole time the KING OF THE LAND is pursuing this runaway mistress accompanied by a small group of lamanites on foot.
- The villian / king has an accent that's constantly changing and not fitting of the story. And why is he so sarcastic if he's supposed to be menacing? Why does he make a joke about "sitting on my ass" right after his men are killed? Do better, writers.
- Discussing the film with my family afterwards, we are all confused about different elements like who was the angel in the armor and what actually is "the oath". And why did Moroni's body disappear after he died like Yoda? Give me a break
- Way too many vanity shots of "Moroni" flexing muscles in the forest. One scene he literally curled the golden plates and the camera focused on his bicep. Main character syndrome.
- the pacing is tough for the viewer. Probably because there's not a lot of plot in the 104 minutes of runtime. Lots of repetitive shots
And what on earth was the scene with the bear in the cave and flinging the wolf pee? Why was that necessary? Did you notice that after touching the pee with his hands, the very next scene opens with him eating something with his hands? Lol
I wish it was better. I don't enjoy being negative but this is the honest review. I suspect the 10/10 reviews are illegitimate. This was a flop. It could have done without the messages before and after where he says it's a movie about inspiration, peace, love, and Christ - when it's really not about Christ or true Book of Mormon events at all. It's a vanity film that took so long to finish he literally lost the plot.