The Work and the Glory II: American Zion

The riveting depiction of the history of the Mormon church continues via these screen adaptations of Gerald Lund's novels. The founding of the Mormon church clearly fomented intense, irrational hatred from the very beginning, especially vividly exposed in this episode. Some have wondered why? Because they were different? Because they banded together? Sometimes there is no rationale or justification for hatred -- it's just there.

The Mormons apparently wanted nothing more that to be left to themselves and their beliefs. Yet the raw emotion of fear and loathing caused men to perpetrate unspeakable acts of depravity. More so than against any other religious movement in America -- The Amanas, the Quakers, the Mennonites weren't driven out, pillaged, murdered and burned out by the mob! Hang your head in shame America!

This movie portrays this horrendous American period vividly, without exploiting the violence for the sake of shock-value. (We know what happens when hot tar is painted on bare skin without having to actually see it.) The fact that it happened, with the complicity of the government, (Missouri Lieutenant Governor Lilburn W. Boggs) is shocking enough. (The State of Missouri has only just recently apologized to the Mormon Church for the outrages committed against it.) This episode takes the Steed family from New York, to Ohio, then to Missouri, driven out each time because intolerant Americans refused to allow them their constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom and the government refused to do anything about it.

The first movie was dream-like, ethereal, almost idyllic. This movie is not any of those things. This move is gritty. Oh the movie is still very well filmed, acted, scripted and produced. But it is utterly gripping from the first frame to the closing credits. Not a bit preachy or condescending, just good. Much better than most of what Hollywood is cranking out these days. If you are a patriotic American, prepare to be angry that such things happened in our history -- shame on us. Let us resolve that such things will never be allowed to happen again.

The quality of the acting in this film fluctuates all over the place. In some scenes (especially confrontations between the Joshua, Nathan, and their dad), I was riveted by the intensity of the incredible acting. Other scenes, however, had me nearly laughing at the ridiculousness of the actors'/actresses' attempts at playing their characters. Other things I liked: Faster pace than the first movie. Depth of the conflicts (it's not complete good vs bad; both parties were genuinely hurt by the past). Incredible camera work. Changing points of view during the voice-over narration. Other things I disliked: The music score didn't fit the scenes. Awkward dialogue at times. A lot of things didn't carry over from the first film.

The movie was a bit violent, but then, those were violent times. Joseph and others were tared and today, that would be a crime which would place them into police custody. The movie was well done. I think the characters were very well (fleshed out). It was a pleasure to see the human side of the Prophet Joseph. I am sure he got tired and I know he grieved for his lost children. The cast have captured the flavor of the books, and I look forward to seeing the next installment. I think the clothing was well done, those shirts looked SO uncomfortable! I don't know if they were in the 1830's, but they surely didn't have the wonderful fabrics we do today, and everything was made by hand, and they were not wealthy people (except Martin Harris) so their clothing was a reflection of that. By the way, the narrator has a clear and easy to listen to voice. The only vague things were based on the relationships with Ben/Joshua and Joshua/Jessica. If some one hadn't read the books, or see the last movie, they might not really understand what makes Ben and Joshua so angry with each other. Maybe that should be a little more clear in the future. After all, if they are going to make (9) movies, people will need to understand each movie as though it were standing on it's own. It is a movie after all, not a mini-series for TV.

Save your money it was a good show but it will be an epic it doesn't get to Joseph Smith Murder, the show leaves off about the speed family and moving Missouri, it doesn't get to the Navoo temple at all, I fell this is wrong to have to wait for the next episode which at the end of the movie it doesn't mention a next episode if there is one at all, I fell ripped off I was excepting at least to the LDS leaving to Utah !!! and where it left off was years before that.

I am sure you folks will have to see for yourselves what I am talking about, but as for the movie it self it was great ! I was disappointed that it did not go further than it did.

Author Gerald N. Lund wrote a series of novels about the founding and expansion of Mormon Church entitled "Like a Fire is Burning." The Work and the Glory: American Zion is the second part in what will be a trilogy of films based on Lund's novels. American Zion is the Empire Strikes Back of the Mormon Church, if you will. But in all seriousness, religion or no religion (and I'm personally of no religious persuasion), it's a well-done, well-made, superbly-acted film that's a lot better than a majority of the crap that comes out of Hollywood these days.

The prologue briefly discusses everything that happened in the previous film, so even if you didn't see The Work and the Glory (Part 1), you can still jump into this movie and more or less figure out what's going on. In Part 1, the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith (played by a brooding-but-gorgeous Jonathan Scarfe… am I going to hell for calling a prophet hot?) forms the Church of Latter Day Saints. In American Zion (Part 2) we witness their brutal history of oppression and learn why the Mormons kept migrating west. Everywhere they went, they were attacked, threatened, and forcefully removed. It's gut wrenching to watch. Men are whipped or covered in boiling tar, while women and children are sent on death marches through the snow. The early Mormons experienced a fate similar to the Native Americans and the Jews.

Look, I'm not Mormon, but this is a great movie. Every character is believable and the story really does suck you in. After seeing the first two films, I'm now totally invested in this story. And it ends on such a cliffhanger that I honestly can't wait to see the next film – The Work and the Glory: A House Divided. This is top-quality historical drama, and any movie lover can enjoy it, not matter what their religion.