Passage to Zarahemla

They ought to put a warning on movies like this: THIS IS FOR BELIEVING MORMONS ONLY!

My wife and I scanning the net for entertainment got sucked into this mish-mash of bad acting and Mormon fiction. We have it all for a maudlin young folks story, the misplaced, unwanted kids with an erstwhile older non-druggie teen age sister and a potential gang- banger little brother who escape the government incompetent and uncaring bureaucracy and gang violence to come to the warm caring bosom of Mormondom with large families, doting parents and a wise grandfather steeped in Mormon mythology. Add some Aztec-like other- world fantasy characters from that great work of Joseph Smith fiction, mix it up and bingo! You got a movie to entertain young Mormons.

Mormons will love it, as indeed, the two true believing reviewers posted here did. Non-Mormons like myself will likely not be able to sit through all the pablum and fantasy passed off as "truth" to the end.

My objection here is not just based on passing off a set of myths and pseudo-history of a large religious corporation with documented cultic origins as fact: we're free to express whatever beliefs we want under our rights and liberties of freedom of religion, speech and social media. My review is based on the bad acting, the doggerel story line and the corny premise used in writing this mongrel of a movie.

This is a religious film. During the movie they state their family is Morman. So one should expect the religious content. Ok, we have people who believe in an entity that doesn't exist. They can't prove it exists. During the movie you find out that the main character as a young girl was bullied and made fun of for hearing and seeing things that the others claim do not exist. Wait a minute. isn't that the same thing as their religious beliefs? How smug of them. Religious people can not be trusted. There are a lot of people while growing up have imagery friends. As a child this is accepted. As you grow older the thought of talking to something that doesn't exist will get you a padded room. Yet, all these christians are running around talking to things and listening to things that don't exist. Why are christians not locked away for their safety? Religion is the root of all EVIL. Christians also blame their life on entities either it be good or bad. Their problems are never their fault. These type of people are the first ones to tell you to take responsibility for your actions. Christians are a bunch of hypocrites.

This is not your usual LDS fare. The movie might be a little intense for the youngest of viewers. I saw a few young kids turn away and snuggle close to their parents during some of the more intense parts. But they were laughing at other parts and were genuinely entertained.

If you're a Chris Heimerdinger fan, this movie is even more rewarding. It has great special effects, and a fun story. After getting burned out on recent LDS films, it was refreshing to sit down and feel like this was a 'real movie' for a change.

I followed a couple out of the movie theater and overheard the husband say to his wife, "This is the first LDS film that I have liked".

Good job raising the bar Chris.

This is a cute movie with a storyline better than I expected. It is intended for teens, no doubt, and certainly is going to appeal to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints more than the general public.

The movie really isn't overly preachy. It does have religious overtones, and Mormon theology/the Book of Mormon is dealt with explicity, but less in a missionary way and more as a vehicle for the story. If Mormon stuff is going to offend you, then this probably isn't the movie for you.

What makes the movie good are a couple of things...First of all, the sci-fi element. The whole time-travel/portal thing is actually kind of entertaining and kept me hooked on the story. Secondly, the eccentric grandfather. What a likable actor/character! His charisma really comes through and makes the movie fun where some of the other acting is a little too wooden and stiff.

It's low budget, but that's part of its charm. I wouldn't mind watching it again someday, but I understand this kind of thing isn't for everybody.