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Reviews
17 Miracles (2011)
This is an outstanding and true story of the famous Willie and Martin Mormon handcart pioneers.
A few days before leaving for Utah I heard about this movie. While there in Utah we looked it up and made a special effort to go see it in the theater. At present time it is only being shown in the Intermountain West. We were not disappointed. This is an outstanding movie that shows the courage and faith of a people who were ridiculed and ostracized for their beliefs. You get a real feel of the fear one must feel when being threatened by mobs in almost every town that they stop in. You also discover the reason that they are in such a hurry to push on to the Salt Lake Valley, the sealing power of the Temple that binds families together forever. This is the real story of the famous Willie and Martin Mormon handcart company.
Their is a lot of comic relief and romance. The pure and deep abiding love and sacrifice that one can feel for another is present here in this story. Levi Savage who whiteness' the ugly effects of the Donner party when faced with starvation and death worries about the fate of the handcart pioneers who are leaving so late the season. All of the events have come from actual events recorded in the pioneers journals, including the amazing young men who unselfishly carried the weak members of the party across the ice cold waters of a river all day. And the recorded stories of people pulling the handcarts up hill, when they look back to see who is helping them, see no one there.
This is a great family film but not a movie for young children. I would suggest the age of 10 or older. The directing is first class. The acting is amazing. You feel like you are in the story. The score is a perfect blend for the look and feel of the story. You leave with a lasting impression of these amazing pioneers. This is not just a story for Mormons but for all Americans.
Rio (2011)
Good Family Fun Movie
Rio is a fun movie for kids. With a predictable plot and a happy ending it is a good formula for a family day at the movies. When little bird Blu is bird-napped from his lush tropical home in Brazil he is shipped to the frigid north where the crate he is packed in falls off the truck and he is lost. Little girl Linda finds and nurtures the traumatized Blu and years later we find the pair have become inseparable friends. Blu has adjusted and loves his home. Linda learns that Blu must return to his native land to mate in order to save his species. Of course things do not go according to plan and adventures begin.
The movie is colorful and action packed. I instantly fell in love with Linda and Blu who are both down to earth and easy to identify with. Some of the graphics were amazing, as I wanted to jump on a plane to visit the incredibly beautiful animated Rio De Janeiro and join in the "Carnival". It also helped us to remember there is a seedy side to Rio and to make sure that you watch out for thieves and pick pockets and other nasty sorts. The bad guy in the flick looked just like the male version of Cruella De Vil trying to steal exotic birds for gain with his two bumbling sidekicks. Another thing we noticed which seems to be a trend in recent movies is the males are portrayed as incompetent and weak while the females are smart, sure, and sassy.
This is a good movie for kids but I would still recommend that you watch this or any movie before letting your young children watch it. Everyone one has his or her own idea of what is acceptable content and what is not.