The Book of Mormon- Disneyfied
I ran across Liken It's page while looking at the schedule for the LDS Film Festival. They make movies taking stories from the Book of Mormon and the Bible and turning them into Disney type movies complete with song and dance routines. I guess the goal is to present the scriptures in a kid friendly medium. I can see this being a nice substitute for High School Musical or the Lion King on Sundays.
Currently, they have films about Alma and King Noah's Court, Ammon & King Lamoni, Nephi and Laban, Samuel the Lamanite.
I'll have to be honest. I thought this was a joke when I first started watching some of the clips. They have Nephi and his brothers doing an N*Sync routine, King Noah singing disco, and the Nephite Archery Core that shot at Samuel the Lamanite doing what looks like a scene riped right from Men in Tights (My question is why Mesoamerican archers look like Robin Hood and his merry men.) I laughed out loud as I watched these clips, but then I realized they were actually wanting me to take this seriously after watching Nephi and his mom sing this tear jerker of a song called "Thy Arms." (Check out the media center. You have to see them to understand what I'm talking about.)
I don't know what to think of these movies. They look hilarious. What makes them even funnier is that they're trying to be serious. However, I think if Liken It's goal was trying to get people to appreciate the scriptures more, they haven't done a very good job at it. Quite the contrary, I think they're just trivializing the scriptures. Haven't we learned from the Book of Mormon Movie that film makers should just leave the Book of Mormon alone?
Conclusion: Watch Liken It videos for some side bursting hilarity; read your scriptures to liken them unto you.
Currently, they have films about Alma and King Noah's Court, Ammon & King Lamoni, Nephi and Laban, Samuel the Lamanite.
I'll have to be honest. I thought this was a joke when I first started watching some of the clips. They have Nephi and his brothers doing an N*Sync routine, King Noah singing disco, and the Nephite Archery Core that shot at Samuel the Lamanite doing what looks like a scene riped right from Men in Tights (My question is why Mesoamerican archers look like Robin Hood and his merry men.) I laughed out loud as I watched these clips, but then I realized they were actually wanting me to take this seriously after watching Nephi and his mom sing this tear jerker of a song called "Thy Arms." (Check out the media center. You have to see them to understand what I'm talking about.)
I don't know what to think of these movies. They look hilarious. What makes them even funnier is that they're trying to be serious. However, I think if Liken It's goal was trying to get people to appreciate the scriptures more, they haven't done a very good job at it. Quite the contrary, I think they're just trivializing the scriptures. Haven't we learned from the Book of Mormon Movie that film makers should just leave the Book of Mormon alone?
Conclusion: Watch Liken It videos for some side bursting hilarity; read your scriptures to liken them unto you.
Labels: Kids, Movies, Scriptures
posted by Brett at
6:43 AM
6 Comments:
These things are useless garbage and they trivialize some of our most sacred stories. They are truly sacrilegeous. Any parent that thinks these are acceptable to have in their home does not deserve a temple recommend. There children will never develop deep testimonies based upon such shallow shows. They aren't even worthwhile for entertainment.
Sorry. I meant to say "Their children will never....". It drives me crazy when other people misuse "their" & "there" and in my old age I have made the same mistake. Goes to show you about looking for the mote in someone else's eye.
All I have to say is ...Pa-the-tic. I wouldn't show these to my kids. I totally agree with Michael that they are just "trivializing some of our most sacred stories".
Wow. Some strong feelings about these videos. Are the lame? Yes? Dorky? Yes. Done in bad taste? Yes. However, I don't think intense dorkiness necesitates revoking temple recommends from people.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think the videos have any teaching value. I said in my post that they trivialize the scriptures. I just get a kick out of these people being complete dorks. I feel so embarrassed for the actors, but I can't keep myself from watching. Them taking themselves seriously makes it even more embarrasssing. I guess I should repent of my schadenfreude (pleasure derived from the misfortuns of others).
I'll have to disagree. Children watching these are learning the stories from the scriptures. They know who Abish is, who Mordecai is, etc. Sure, it's not pure doctrine, and it's not meant to be.
I don't think the filmakers are trying to replace scripture study. They aren't even trying to improve it. They are trying to offer a wholesome entertainment that is fun and teaches good values.
As for the actors - they know it's cheesy. They know what they are doing, and I actually think it's a very cool thing, as cheesy as it is.
I would hope any parent showing these to their kids will sit down and read the actual story from the scripture afterwards, and make sure the kids understand what really happened.
Also...Michael, have you SEEN one of these movies? I was quite impressed with them.
Unless you have seen a complete film, watching a clip won't help you appreciate these movies. They start in present day with a child struggling with something-ie singing a solo in front of the school. A parent or other adult important to that child relates a story in the scriptures about a person who also did something big. The 'story' then is the childs imagination of events as the adult reads from the scriptures. My children have seen several, and they have increased interest in the story. We have sat and read from the scriptures. My children now understand what a big deal it was for Esther to approach the king. They have a -yes somewhat silly- visual of what it MAY have been like and it has opened up many conversations.
It's hard to sound intelligent criticizing something you have never tried.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home