Movie Review: **^RM (2003)

**^RM Kirby Heyborne stars as the returned missionary for whom everything goes wrong.  From his family getting the date wrong when he is returning, so he does not have a ride home, there having moved and not told him, mother pregnant and again he doesn't know to everything else going wrong.  His job is not waiting for him, and neither is his girl.  And so he is starting over.  He does meet a girl, Kelly Powers who is portrayed by Britani Bateman.  The funniest thing about this show is the comparison between the relief society, where they bring ice sculptures to enhance the lesson, and the Elder's quorum, where no one can remember whose turn it is for the lesson and no one has a manual, is too true.  Will Swenson stars as the best friend who didn't go on a mission, and ends up getting the RM into trouble with the law.  The decision comes down to one of being honest, even when it is hard.  I don't like the far out circumstances this show portrays, but then I was never part of a fraternity.

Mormon Movie Review: ***Singles Ward

***Singles Ward  This is an early Mormon Movie, which takes many Mormon cultural aspects, and takes a different look at them.  This includes putting a different tune to many of our favorite primary songs, taking a look at some of our Mormon meetings, and takes a laugh at ourselves.  However it does so in an acceptable fashion, as the lead character has his Enos moment, which leads to his repentance and new start.  There is another switch, as he waits for his missionary.  Will Swenson and Connie Young star as the lead characters Jonathan Jordan and Cammie Giles.  They get off to a terrible start as Jonathan's humor and rudeness over the phone make for difficulty when he meets Cammie in person.  Kirby Heyborne also stars as a young man excited to go on a mission to Boise.
The part about the car bungee jumping was a bit much for me.  I give this movie a mild recommendation.

Movie Review: ****Saints and Soldiers (2003)

This movie is very intense.  It is almost as intense as "Saving Private Ryan."  It starts with a group of American POWs, who are being guarded by a group of Germans.  Things get out of hand, and the Germans open fire on the Americans, in the confusion, a small group of Americans gets away.  They manage to get one gun.  However they are well behind enemy lines. Deacon is a sharp shooter, but he is suffering from lack of sleep and war trauma.  He tossed a grenade into a home, which turned out to be full of women and children.  This is now haunting him.  He sometimes has visions of the women or the children.  He is also LDS, a former missionary to Germany.  They rescue a British pilot, who says he has important information.  He needs to be taken to where he can report and give this information.  They are behind enemy lines, but start making their way to where he can report.  However they get snowed in.   They come upon a French home, and are able to take a meal but are snowbound. The English pilot decides he cannot wait for the storm, and leaves the party.  However a couple German soldier also chance by.  They surprise them.  One is killed, but our soldier who never misses, misses and the other gets away.  The Englishman brings him back.  He had gotten cold and decided to turn around, and was able to capture him.  Turns out he is known to our German missionary, who taught his family.  They talk, sharing old times, but the soldier lets him escape during the night, but not before they get some information about where to go to avoid the German soldiers.  The Medic confronts him for being too close to the enemy.  The talk about the Book of Mormon and religious beliefs.   This works for a while, but eventually they are in an area with many Germans, and they are in the midst of a fire fight.  Again they come upon the German friend who helps them.  They are able to command a jeep, with German uniforms, and go through a roadblock.  The Germans are now onto them and the front, but so are the Americans, who quickly realize their mistake.  Deacon holds them off, while the medic makes it back to the American lines with the pilot.  After the medic seeks out Deacon's body, and removes the Book of Mormon from him.