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Pretty Good

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Absolutely Brilliant!

Despite being LDS, I didn't expect much from the film. Handling matters which are sacred to anyone is difficult, and I appreciated the film's ability to deal with the subjects frankly without beating anyone over the head. The film has a nice balance between telling a family's story and the religion's. I think the Steed family was wonderfully portrayed, each performance engaging and unique. I'm looking forward to seeing the second film and then the third that just came out ... assuming they ever bother bringing it to New York State.My one casting beef was with Joseph Smith - also the hardest one to cast. While the actor does a good job showing that he really believes his account and is trying his best to live among people who don't, he gets this head-shake thing going on whenever he discusses spiritual matters as if he is trying to prove his sincerity in his body language and that was very distracting by the end of the movie.

Okay first I am non religious and Gay also. But I do support anybody having beliefs that help them in life. I do have an interest in the historical aspects of religion and probably Joseph Smith is the most important American historical religious leader having founded a major and ever growing denomination.Having read the recent Newsweek cover article on the Mormon religion I was rather excited to find this DVD in the bargain bin. The restoration story being in 19th century America you could relate to it in a more interesting and historical fashion than the Biblical times. But the movie seemed to want to soft peddle the Joseph Smith story and focus on a rather boring love triangle between the Steed brothers and the girl.There are plenty of evil doubters in town, all actually wearing black hats and the Book of Mormon gets thrown in the garbage. People who believe Joseph are shunned and caste out by the towns people...mmm kinda reminded me of how gay people are shunned by LDS. I didn't mind the movie's point of view that Joseph's visions were real but we got no understanding his journey from man to prophet.The movie was visually interesting and the music worked well. There is one commentary on the DVD but not much else... the LDS missed a chance to add some extras about their religion.

This is a great period drama and captures the essence of the time period in Palmyra New York. Attention to detail is good and the the screenplay well written portraying best selling author Gerald N. Lund's intentions.The scenery is beautiful and attention to detail is strong. However, my one criticism is that the shop keeper's daughter seems to well dressed against the backdrop of the other's authentic dress which seems more believable. I found the characters very dramatic and the casting in general is a credit to the casting director. The story line blends fiction with historical facts. The whole story is very controversial if left alone as a piece of history. This film brings everything to life and brings a greater understand of Joseph Smith and this period of time, along with the story of the Restoration. Sam Hennings portrayal of Joseph Smith was very true to the character that others have recorded.

Because I was very disappointed in this movie. This movie to me was no better than any daytime made-for-T.V. special on some religious channel. The acting and storyline were so horrible and forced my friend and I laughed and joked throughout the whole flick. At the beginning of the movie we were surprised and glad we were alone and the only people in the whole theater; ten minutes into the movie we found out why. The actors had absolutely ZERO credibility, the dialog was inane, and just how did everyone seem to have the most beautiful, shiny, perfectly shaped, pearly white teeth when dentistry was almost non-existent back then? Hmmm...The only thing I did like was the great cinematography, as there were some really gorgeous Tennessee landscapes. Good scenery, bad script.A sugary, homogenized waste of what could have been a really good movie. Two thumbs down.(unless you are Mormon then you'll probably LOVE this movie, easy now...it's only my opinion) ;)