Movie Review: ***^End of the Spear (2005)

This movie is haunting, and tells of the struggle of peoples when cultures clash.  Five missionaries are intent on transforming the Waodani people of Eastern Ecuador.  This is an ancient tribe, which feuds with another tribe and the go back and forth killing each other.  For anyone to become a grandfather is not heard of.
The missionaries finally land, and appear to be making friends.  However language difference lead to the Waodoni with Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) as leader.  Among those killed is  Nate Saint (Chad Allen) and the story is told from the reference of his son Steve Saint (Chase Ellison and Chad Allen). Other important character , who are essential to the interaction with the Waodani are Dayumae (Christina Souza) who is Waodani  but taken by the whites and raised by them, and Aunt Rachel (Sara Kathryn Bakker).  She spearheads the visit of women to the tribe as tribal men are less likely to see them as a threat.  Opportunity comes for the mission to flourish, and for the two factions of the tribe to come together and stop killing.  This is also a movie of healing, as Steve Saint returns to Ecuador upon the death of his aunt, and Mincayani confesses his part in the killing of his father.
This movie is very thought provoking.  It is true that the Waodani couldn't continue their killing ways, and their lives are better from the change, but it makes you wonder whether outside influence is always good.

Movie Review: ***^The Saratov Approach

This is a Mormon movie, and presents Mormon themes and concepts in an entertaining way.  Two missionaries, Elder Tuttle (Corbin Allred) and Elder Propst (Maclain Nelson) are kidnapped while serving in Russia.  It is based on a true story.  They were kidnapped and held for ransom in 1998.  This is the story from the point of view of the missionaries. 

This movie does a good job of giving insights into the reaction of the missionaries.  It does this by using flashbacks, missionary teaching and in one case a dream.     Some of this is confusing, but it does create a whole that is well done.  The biggest tension is presented when the missionaries must decide whether to make an escape attempt, confronting their captors, or wait things out. 

I enjoyed this movie.  Miranda who is preparing for a mission watched it with us, and seemed to also enjoy it.  It has a very dramatic ending which is very teary.  With a child on a mission, and another a couple months from leaving, I felt for the missionary families.

Mormon Movie Review: ***^ One Man's Treasure

This was an enjoyable movie of a mission district taking their P-Day to pursue a treasure map left by an Elder that was transferred out of the town suddenly, and then there were no missionaries for a couple years. 

The missionaries who were just recently assigned to the area, are looking for success.  One elder, the district leader, has had no success, and has his doubts about the hunt for "a treasure." He agrees as long as the hunt is done before P-day ends.  Three sets of missionaries compete against each other.  The clues are fairly complicated, and the hunt is exciting as the missionaries explore the clues. What is more interesting, is that as they are being out, they meet people by being available to do a good deed, an inactive member who invites them over, someone who use to know the missionaries.  They actually have and appointment set up--before P-Day ends.  And as luck would have it, the appointment falls through.  This movie has a minor twist at the end, which was predictable, but was entertaining all the same.