Gang,

If I may be so selfish as to pimp a movie I was in and worked on, Saints and Soldiers is WELL WORTH SEEING! I've seen it (obviously) and it ROCKS! Yes, it has an LDS theme, but it is so diluted you could see the movie and not realize it. The action is first class! When you see those explosions and body hits *clears throat* think of me. I worked on the special effects crew. And I was an extra (I'm among the mass of soldiers in the begining and at the end).

I would like to persoanlly extend an invitation to each of you to see this film. This is not an ego feed for me. This film was shot right here in Utah, most of it in Utah County. We need to support worthwhile film projects here in Utah so that more people will be willing to film here.

If my word isn't good enough, this film won "best picture" at 14 of the 16 or 17 festivals it entered. Watch it, enjoy it, and let me know what you thought. The director is a friend of mine and would be interested in the feedback!

Oh I'll definatly be seeing it! I've been awaiting this one almost as much as EP III!!

I can't wait to see it.

I just got back from seeing it. Wow. It was very well done. It reminds me of a story I once read with a very similar setting that revolved around the french woman's home.

The ending was bittersweet. I was very touched and could appreciate the kinship between Deacon and Rudolf, though on opposite sides of the war. It was great to still be able to understand what they were saying in German. Almost took me back to my days as a missionary in Germany.

I remember seeing the kid who played Deacon at the Provo parade. When we rode the float back to our staging area, I saw him in a jeep which was promoting the movie and he gave us a short nod. That was kind of cool. What was this movie rated anyway? I hope not R, but I doubt it. It didn't say on the sign out front or on my ticket. Just curious.

It's PG-13. I'm glad you liked it, Marc! Thanks for going to see it today. The opening numbers were very important, and I think it did really well.

I was an extra in this movie too. I had a great time at the filming days I went to . I was on of the German extras and even got to shoot a gun! I liked the movie as well and I took my parents to it when they screened it at BYU and they ennjoyed it too. A great movie done on a tight budget but just as well done as an big hollywood WW2 movie.

Wow!

My friend and I were on our way home from a gig in Castle Dale and we decided to stop in SLC and see Saints and Soldiers so we could help out it's opening weekend numbers. She had seen it at a screening last November and has been talking about it since. Needless to say, I've been anxiously awaiting this movie since then! I will now venture two reviews. One short so those of you who don't care can stop reading my post then, and one long so that those of you who want to know more details of my opinions can read as long as you have the stamina! (I'm rather long winded when it comes to some movies. . . )

The short version: I loved it. I will be seeing it again. I will buy it when it is available for sale, and hope there are loads of special features on the DVD.

The long version: As I mentioned, I've been looking forward to this film for a very long time. I actually like war movies (not common for girls, but I'm a gal who loves all genres of movies -- except perhaps scary, gory films. . .) Anyway, the point is that I've seen loads of war movies in my day. What I loved about this film is that, though low-budget, it never shows, and the special effects get the point across without being overwhelming (ala a few war movies I wont name.) The movie is really about the heart of the characters. I felt thier journey -- I didn't just watch it, and as a desensitized soul in this silly entertainment industry, that is VERY important to me.

I thought the acting was brilliant. I first saw Corbin Allred (Deacon) in a MysteryScience Theatre 3000 movie "Quest of the Delta Knights." Lets just say Corbin's talent has taken leaps and bounds. He was splendid. I felt that Kirby Hawthorne's (Oberon) was the best I've seen and though I could tell his accent was fake, it wasn't distracting and I was easily able to suspend my disbelief. The other three soldiers were perfectly cast and I could go on and on about them, but I wont. Suffice it to say, they were good.

I LOVED the cinematography! It was simply beautiful.

I will only say that the costumes were fabulous because if I say anymore I'll go on forever (being a costume person. . .)

The story was a beautiful and very touching one, and left me with the desire to be a better person, something I definitely look for in good film or theatre. I liked that it explored different aspects of humanity and that it doesn't matter what race or nationality you are, there are good and bad people everywhere. I thought that was really important.

Wow, I'm getting really long winded. I'll stop now (hope this is good enough feedback, M'Lord!) and say: "GO SEE THIS MOVIE!"

I saw this movie in Layton a few months ago as a test audience.

It was fantastic. Great job on the special effects Mark! The story and the great photography and effects really draw you in.

If I may make a correction to LadyLuke, Kirby's last name is Heyborne. One thing I wondered, though, is how he managed the cigarette smoking scenes. Any input there, m'Lord? I have come to like watching ol' Kirby in action in his various films. I liked him in "The best two years".

I don't care much for some of the "Mormon" slapstick flicks. I hope that these LDS films become more fine tuned and I think they will. I think that Saints and Soldiers is one of the best, if not the best.

There are theatrical cigarettes that are made from herbal ingredients like rose pedals and such. They have no tobacco in them at all, but still burn and look like real cigarettes. These are obviously still "smoke", some of which I'm sure still gets in your lungs, but apparently it's not that bad for you.

I played Lt. Shrank in West Side Story years ago and there was some discussion of me using these theatrical cigarettes, but the director decided to just have me have an unlit cigarette in my hand and not puff on it.

I performed a scene with these cigarettes where I was pretty much a chain-smoker. They are AWFUL, let me tell you!! First of all, I'm not a smoker and I'm sure it showed. Second, you do have to figure out how to smoke without actually inhaling into your lungs. Third, while it doesn't smell bad WHILE you're smoking them (kind of like catnip, actually), the aftersmell is more like pungent marijuana. And it's soaked into your clothes, hair and fingers. NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was REALLY glad when that week was over.

They now have other theatrical cigarettes which I think look silly but some people use - they have a powder in the end so if you actually blow instead of suck, a little powder puff will come out the end to simulate smoke. Then there's the type that have mylar in the tip so when the light catches it, it LOOKS like it's lit but it's not - that's the least dangerous of all!

It appears I know WAAAAY too much about theatre-smoking. . .


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In case you missed this in the first run theaters (or like me, couldn't AFFORD to see it there), it's now at Movies 8 in Provo. Matinees are $1, usual price $1.50, or come on Tuesdays for .75 cents!

Good catch M'Lord. And for those up north, it's showing at the Kaysville Theater too (21 N. Main Street, Kaysville).

Show times are 7:15, 9:20.

Closed Sunday. All shows $2.00, 2 yrs. old and up, except Friday and Saturday $3.00 after 6:00 p.m.