I Am Elizabeth Smart

Some will think this tale is too tall to be believed. I say, please compare it to all others. How rare is it that a victim survives such an assault? This poor girl's parents...my goodness, to feel so powerless against evil of this magnitude. In spite of the parents being such good, giving people... This poor little girl had her life stolen from her, and she's risked ridicule and scorn by actively working to create in society a higher level of alertness so it can better-protect other children.

As a movie, a lot was left to be desired. Acting, fit and finished were by far no cinematic masterpieces on par with Casino or Scarface or Gone With The Wind. But, this is a *True *Story!!! Who cares about the presentation, the acting, the absolute "fit and finish"? This is a devastating yet touching story brought to the public eye with great help from the survivor of a wicked tragedy. If this were a street race, this is the old car that wins races slowly but surely. Because it's not intended to entertain, it's intended to educate and broaden understandings. Don't break-out the pints and nuts and/or popcorn in preparation for entertainment. Open your minds as you would while watching any documentary-based movie. And learn a lesson in human nature in some people living in the US of A.

It's great to have the context from Elizabeth Smart herself in this movie. It's also really good to appreciate a bit more what she went through and how miraculous it was that she not only survived, but is mentally fine after all that abuse. Obviously, since Elizabeth herself is narrating the film, you can be sure that everything in the movie happened and nothing was needlessly dramatized.

However, from a filmmaker's standpoint, it could have been a bit better. They could have skipped back and forth between her point of view and that of her parents' to show their efforts in trying to find her and the developments that were going on outside her campsite. They didn't even explain how the police knew to find her (her sister remembered the voice of the suspect and they tracked him down).

I also don't like how through narration Elizabeth seems to try and justify all her actions throughout the piece. Does anyone doubt that she wanted to stop being abused? The film almost seems like a reply video to a bunch of people that question why she didn't yell for help. I dunno. To me, it's obvious and was forced a bit much, but maybe that's the audience Elizabeth was wanting to address in particular.

Overall, a great documentary of the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. Cinematically, it could have been improved, but it did the job for the purpose it was filmed for.

I wanted to offer this review because, as a self-defense teacher and as a film afficianado, I feel I am compelled to give my take on it. The importance of this movie is clear - to let people know how crazy the world can be, how fear overrides a lot of your decision-making, and to tell the unique story of Elizabeth Smart. This movie was done well in terms of acting with the two leads looking almost identically to the actual people. Undoubtedly you'll read in these reviews that viewers had problems with one thing - the clips of the actual Elizabeth Smart speaking about the experience during particular harrowing scenes. The problem is that it comes across as cheesy, stops the story cold, and seems like she is trying to convince the viewer that what she did was the ONLY thing that she could have done. I didn't personally think harshly on this, however I didn't care how it interrupted the story and flow of the film. If I were the one making this, I would have added her remarks (and even interviews with her family and past footage) at the end. While the movie, which is good for a Lifetime movie, follows Elizabeth at every moment, it would have been nice to see to what extend the rest of the world was invested in finding her. Movies like this about survival and perseverance should be made and certainly seen.

I remember when Elizabeth Smart was Kidnapped, I was eleven years old and I am from Salt Lake City Utah. My parents would watch the news reports and updates on her kidnapping, I remember some things but not a lot of things. I remember when she was finally found, and I remember feeling relieved and I was happy, I was a kid then and her situation scared me.

I heard about this 2017 tv movie and I decided to check it out at my local library, watching it all these emotions came to me, anger, disgust, hope, and fear. What makes this movie so real is the fact that it's based on actual events, and it is narrated by Elizabeth Smart herself. What this woman went through as a young teenage girl is horrific. The actors and actresses did an amazing job, Alana Boden who played Smart was phenomenal, and Skeet Ulrich did amazing as the psycho Brian David Mitchell the way he played Mitchell just sucked you in, Deirdre Lovejoy was amazing too as Wanda Barzee Mitchells psychotic assistant, and first wife. I believe everything that went on in this movie and how it was acted out, plus if it is coming from Elizabeth's mouth it is true and I believe it. I'm giving I am Elizabeth Smart 10/10, a story of a true survivor and what she went through.

This is how I had hoped the film would be: her view, and her view alone, with an explanation of why she did what she did. Now I get it. She truly didn't feel like it was as easy as that to escape or ask for help. They were both masters at mind games. I could see myself in her place believing at any moment he would kill the person she asked for help from and/or my family. I found myself admiring her and rejoicing in the little miracles that came her way. Acting, on everyone's part, was stellar. I would recommend this movie.