From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #221 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Monday, November 17 2003 Volume 02 : Number 221 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 09:38:08 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Review: The Elizabeth Smart Story Eric Samuelsen's sensible review of the Elizabeth Smart movie heightened my sense of his "right on" ability to make accurate comments about our burgeoning Mormon artistic endeavors. I too was SO GRATEFUL that the "sensationalized" facts of the case were downplayed. I agreed with everything you said, Eric. However, I think I'm remembering correctly (because I heard the same stories you did) that she said, "Thou saith," in the movie. And even if she added "I say it," it still sounds pretty crazy if we're to take the speech of teenagers today into consideration. What an ordeal! We have to consider that she was in a "marriage." I thought it was accurate and spectacular that she said "What's going to happen to them?" (The criminals.) By now of course she cared. With Katie Kouric (sp?) I thought it was interesting that she said, "It is as though it never happened." I know that took time, and the effort of many people (wisely including professional help) for her to reach this healthier state of mind(though the effects of course will always be with her). But her parents are good people. Oh, how I wish every abused child were cared about like the Smarts cared about her. As for the fact that people are jumping on the band wagon to denigrate Ed Smart--I appreciate your comments on that, Eric! I heard that and I about got sick! It is BECAUSE the Smarts were willing to come forward that the film doesn't have the "sensationalized" garbage in it. We all know what happened. But it wasn't necessary to put it into the film! The Smarts wanted to control this potentially harmful piece from the beginning. Actually, it shows how our terrible stories can be told without garbage in them. I wonder if we as a list (if we have people who agree with Eric and me) might write emails to Ed Smart telling him of our complete support (by the way, I thought Dylan Baker did very well also--as well as others!)? Does anyone have the Smart email address or their home address? I would just like for some of us to assure them (as artists, particularly) that we don't see it that way. The family is NOT benefiting or "exploiting." They were generous to SHARE this with us because an entire nation CARED. Their authorization was obviously a way of PROTECTING THEMSELVES from a very hungry and jaded media. I applaud their limited appearances and the way they have managed to maintain a good deal of their privacy (such as when Elizabeth first came home, she was wisely not seen). When they got all those offers for this and that, of course they did the right thing.=20 Marilyn Brown - ----- Original Message ----- From: Eric Samuelsen To: Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 10:43 AM Subject: [AML] Review: The Elizabeth Smart Story > Approved: cracker=3D20 > > Last night, we had the rare opportunity to watch one of two made for TV > fact-based movies, the one on Elizabeth Smart and the one on Jessica > Lynch. I watched The Elizabeth Smart Story, then switched to Jessica on > commercial breaks. I suppose it counts as Mormon lit. > > The Elizabeth Smart Story surprised me. The approach was low key, and > quiet, a good deal less sensational than most teleplays in the genre, > and it hewed fairly close to the facts, at least as far as I know them. > I did follow the Elizabeth Smart story with some interest, but I > certainly don't presume to know it well enough to know exactly when they > took artistic license. I did notice a few liberties: when Elizabeth was > found by Sandy police, she did eventually--after a twenty minute > interview--say 'thou sayist it.' I don't believe she added 'I say it.' > I think they were trying to make Elizabeth appear just that tiny bit > more volitional, just a tad less brainwashed. Understandable, and I > didn't mind it. I do know that they didn't have the Smarts escort > Elizabeth through a huge crowd of media when they took her home from the > station. > > The teleplay really downplayed the sexual aspect of Elizabeth's > kidnapping, and frankly, I was glad. Mitchell did call her his 'wife,' > and a note at the end referred to him being formally charged with > aggravated sexual assault. That's enough. Elizabeth's ordeal was > horrific enough; they didn't need to sensationalize the worst part of > it.=3D20 > > I read one review of the movie that criticized the acting. Frankly, I > thought Dylan Baker was fine as Ed Smart. I thought he met what seems > to me a tremendous challenge; playing a decent human being trapped in an > awful situation and dealing with it as best he could. It was a quietly > effective, non-histrionic performance. I also liked Lindsay Frost as > Lois Smart; again, she was quietly believable throughout. The scenes > where you see the pressure the kidnapping put on their marriage were > very well done, I thought. Again, nobody screamed at anyone; they > played it as two basically decent people, committed to each other and to > their family, but genuinely disagreeing on how to proceed.=3D20 > > The scenes with Amber Marshall as Elizabeth and Tom Everett as Mitchell > were less effective. Everett played Mitchell as a more or less generic > religious loon, instead of as a specifically Mormon loon. The writing > led him that direction, of course, but still, I didn't hear Mitchell's > former connections to Mormon culture in his speech patterns, in the > falling inflections and the word emphases peculiar to our = culture.=3D20 > > At the same time, I'm a bit relieved that that choice was made. Frankly, > I think most folks are able to see that it wasn't Mormon culture or > Mormon theology that produced Mitchell. Mental illness is what produced > him. But while our culture didn't produce him, it did provide him with > his unique vocabulary. Mormonism played a very small role in this > movie, and that was fine with me.=3D20 > > We didn't need to see much of Emmanuel's wanderings. Elizabeth may > indeed have tried as intrepidly to escape as she did in this movie, but > it's inconsistent with what else we know of the story. But really, the > story here is of Ed Smart, and his persistent unwillingness to give up. > He's the only person who initially believed Mary Catherine's > identification of Emmanuel (which still seems to me quite wonderful and > miraculous), and he's the only person who really did anything about it. > > The Salt Lake police come across as well-intentioned bozos in this > movie, and that's all to the good. There's not much question that they > blew the case five ways from Wednesday. I especially liked their > repeated assertions that 'we're doing all we can,' and 'trust us, we > know what we're doing.' And I thought Baker's gradual disillusionment > with such comments was very nicely portrayed. > > I thought it was quite a well done film, given that it was a made for TV > movie. And there's one last thing I need to say about it. There's been > a terrific amount of criticism aimed at Ed Smart in the Salt Lake > papers, and in the national media as well. He's seen as someone who is > cynically using his daughter's kidnapping for personal gain, as a > publicity hound, and so on. I'm quite astounded at how willing good > Utah Mormons are to judge the man. Let me just say a few=3D20 > things: first, we have absolutely no right to judge his decisions > anyway; second, there was going to be a movie and a book anyway, so why > not cooperate and retain some control of content?; third, the Smarts are > giving most of the money to charity, and fourth, Ed Smart has an agenda, > and has had since this event. He's been pushing for the Amber law. > He's been pushing for changes in how the FBI handles these sorts of > cases. And he wants to provide hope for other families facing similar > tragedies.=3D20 > > I'm just glad his daughter is home and safe. I'm glad Mitchell and > Wanda Barzee are in prison. I'm really happy for Angela Ricci, whose > husband's good name was dragged through the mud the way it was. (SLC > police were so tunnel vision obsessed with Richard Ricci, they ignored > far more plausible potential suspects, and that was very well > portrayed.) And I'm glad the movie was what is was, quiet, > nonsensational, reasonably non-sectarian. And over. > > The Jessica Lynch movie, on the other hand, looked awful, what I saw of > it. But that's another subject altogether. > > Eric Samuelsen > > > > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:17:49 -0700 From: "Annette Lyon" Subject: Re: [AML] Writing from another POV "I appreciated what she shared even if I disagree with her belief that men writing from a woman's perspective rarely get it right. There might be a lot that get it wrong, but there are a goodly share who have impressed me: WallyLamb was the first who sprang to my mind." I've only read one of his, _She's Come Undone_, and I think he did remarkably well with the female perspective--with one major exception that pulled me right out of the story. Without getting graphic, let's just say he apparently believes an old wive's tale about female response. If his editor was a woman, shame on her for letting that one get through. Annette Lyon - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:24:21 -0700 From: "Alan Rex Mitchell" Subject: Re: [AML] The Sugar Beet paper edition (SLT) Arithmetic check. Subject: [AML] The Sugar Beet paper edition (SLT) > November 10, 2003 > "There's only one thing you can do if you live in Utah: You can > be funny or you can be a nerd," Petersen says. "We're funny > nerds." To which I say: Todd Petersen, Chris Bigalow, and I are two of a kind. Alan Mitchell - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 09:37:21 -0700 From: "Paris Anderson" Subject: [AML] Review of private viewing of "THE PASSION" movie From: Bud Gammon Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 1:23 PM Subject: Review of private viewing of "THE PASSION" movie Here is an interesting review of Mel Gibson's upcoming controversial movie. What is different about this review is the author has actually seen the movie versus all those that have bashed it based upon pre conceived ideas. This controversial movie is going to be one shown for many years, just like the ten commandments... Mr. Fournier was among those present at a private viewing of the film. Deacon Keith A Fournier is a constitutional lawyer and a graduate of the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University, Franciscan University and the university of Pittsburgh. He holds degrees in Philosophy, theology law. He has been a champion of religious liberty and appeared as co-counsel in major cases at the United States Supreme Court. He is the author of seven books and, along with his law practice, serves as the president of both the "Your Catholic Voice Foundation" and "Common Good". Here is what he had to say about the movie: I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of anti-Semitic thought, language or actions. I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in Washington D.C. and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened. From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane to the very human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced. In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination (Deacon), or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, D.C. were shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth. One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A brutalized, wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross. His mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to him, she flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirt road outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him from the fall, she was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her with intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us through the screen) and said "Behold I make all things new." These are words taken from the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelations. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the film had been so difficult to see in His face, His back, indeed all over His body, became intensely beautiful. They had been borne voluntarily for love. At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive. The questions included the one question that seems to follow this film, even though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film considered by some to be "anti-Semitic?" Frankly, having now experienced (you do not "view" this film) "the Passion" it is a question that is impossible to answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his hand and responded "After watching this film, I do not understand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotely presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." He continued "It made me realize that my sins killed Jesus" I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the first to decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way. Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian" film, in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story that will deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its producer is a Catholic Christian=20 And thankfully has remained faithful to the Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are all in trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and Christians have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the greatest story=20 ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest right is the right to hear the truth. We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history of the world. The problem is not the message but those who have distorted it and used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor the message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson's filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion". It should be seen by as many people as possible. I intend to do everything I can to make sure that is the case. I am passionate about "the Passion." You will be as well. Don't miss it. And, I would like to add these thoughts. This film is going to receive=20 more scrutiny and be the focus of more public debate than any film EVER. The argument that this film is anti-Semitic will be played 1000's of time a day in every household across America... across the world. To me...a most crucial "discovery" of this man's "experience" is the reality that "my sins killed Jesus." The full weight of this truth is enormous! What an opportunity for millions and millions of people to "discover" this through the film. So... I encourage you to think carefully about how you're going to respond to the "debate" because there will be one. It's a great opportunity to witness about what it means to be a Christian... and nowhere is it appropriate or biblical to point a finger at the Jewish race. To do so is to stand squarely in His face and say... "You died for nothing!" Please pass this along to your Christian friends and family... to those=20 that will truly understand the message... so that they can be prepared to respond in such a way that bears a positive witness to Jesus' death and resurrection. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 10:45:24 -0700 From: Cathy Wilson Subject: Re: [AML] My Web Page Susan asks: Who else has a web page? I'm hoping to get one up but in the meantime I have had a serendipitous web experience. Years ago I found a website called Bizy Moms, www.bizymoms.com. Moms at home can write about their home businesses. I wrote about mine, blithely, and before long I was getting all sorts of inquiries about doing editing/ghosting/writing. Turns out Bizy Moms is an AOL site and if you type in ghostwriter, mine is often the first or second hit, if you're on AOL. The inquiries rise and fall with the economy, but it's been an interesting way to get business, all unbeknownst :). Here's the URL: http://www.bizymoms.com/ideas/ghost.html Cathy Wilson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:27:54 -0700 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: [AML] Quote of the day This is my new motto: My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. - -Ashleigh Brilliant, writer (1933- ) scott - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:16:33 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] SCOTT ANDERSON, _The Best Two Years_ THE BEST TWO YEARS A film directed by Scott S. Anderson Produced by Michael Flynn Screenplay by Scott S. Anderson To be released February 2004 by Harvest Films Distributed by Halestorm Entertainment "Quality Fluff" Richard Dutcher (why is it so hard to avoid mentioning his name when=20 discussing an LDS film, even one he had nothing to do with?) didn't=20 create the new genre of LDS film--he blew it away. His first two films,=20 _God's Army_ and _Brigham City_, established a nonexistent film genre=20 and set the bar for quality right from the beginning. It's been all=20 downhill ever since. To date, as an LDS film critic, my list of quality LDS films has been=20 very short: _Brigham City_ is the best, followed by _God's Army_, and=20 the barely noticed _Out of Step_ a distant third. _Charly_ was a=20 borderline movie, and all the others (that I've seen so far) fall under=20 that borderline of quality. I despaired of ever seeing another film that could be added to the quality side of that list until Zion Films=20 released the next Dutcher movie. But at the recent Association for Mormon Letters' fifth annual writers=20 conference, I had an opportunity to view a pre-release screening of the=20 film _The Best Two Years_. It's with no small sense of satisfaction that I'm able to add a fourth LDS film to the list of worthy additions to the genre. _Best Two Years_ falls squarely into third place, edging _Out of Step_=20 into fourth. Dutcher still reigns supreme, but the list of worthy lords=20 surrounding the king is finally growing after a long period of stagnation. What makes _Best Two Years_ a bronze medalist instead of silver or gold=20 is the fact that it's pure fluff. The plot is anorexically slim; the=20 climax as predictable as a Scooby-doo episode. But that doesn't harm the film, because that's all the film was ever intended to be. As fluff, it=20 succeeds admirably. As some lightweight, pleasant entertainment for an=20 LDS audience, it scores in all the required categories. _Best Two Years_ chronicles the day-to-day experiences of a district of=20 LDS missionaries stationed in the Netherlands. We join them as the=20 obligatory new greenie shows up, communicating in a language that none=20 of the railroad station officials can identify. The other missionaries=20 are familiar characters, including the one who has lost his zeal for the work, and maybe his testimony as well. The screenplay gets the job done, the acting serves the screenplay well, and the technical results are of adequate quality. Nothing overly=20 glowing here, but a competent effort that delivers. The plot exists to support the laughs, which come at a regular=20 frequency. It's not the slapstick bellylaughs of _It's a Mad, Mad, Mad,=20 Mad World_ (although some of the comedy does edge precariously close to=20 over-the-top), but the sort of comedy that arises out of the characters=20 and the situations they find themselves in. The serious moments are=20 gentle and effective--and thankfully sparse, because, after all, this=20 _is_ fluff. No attempt was made to justify this lighthearted piece of=20 entertainment with A Message so the filmmakers could be sure their=20 efforts were Building the Kingdom. And in the process, they _did_ build the kingdom. They created a film=20 that told a Mormon story with real (slightly exaggerated) Mormon=20 characters full of the sort of foibles one would expect from human=20 beings, even human beings engaged in the Lord's work. But never is the=20 dignity of the work itself compromised. It's just the sort of thing the=20 art of the Kingdom needs right now to crawl its way out of the=20 club-over-the-head approach to uplifting entertainment. Scott Anderson, the writer/director, adapted this film from a stage play he'd written some time ago. Perhaps that seasoned heritage is why the=20 film works so well. Halestorm is the company Anderson chose to=20 distribute the film. It's the first film Halestorm will be distributing=20 that it didn't produce itself. This film may be the film that puts Halestorm on the map as a=20 respectable contender in the LDS film industry. Until now, all they've=20 distributed are their own forgettable comedies, which made many Mormons=20 laugh for a moment, but are poorly designed to withstand the judgment of time. _Best Two Years_ has the quality to withstand. If its foundation=20 isn't quite rock, at least it's concrete, and will weather the storm of=20 criticism much better than the sandy foundations of _Singles Ward_ and=20 _The R.M._ The irony is not lost on me that the film that could make=20 Halestorm respectable is a film they didn't produce. But I give them credit for recognizing a film that is quality when it=20 came their way. _Best Two Years_ fits right into their modus=20 operandi--lighthearted comedic fluff--but does so at a level of quality=20 that is to be applauded--and seen. - --=20 D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 10:16:07 -0700 From: "Eugene Woodbury" Subject: Re: [AML] My Web Page > Who else has a webpage? > Susan Malmrose http://www.eugenewoodbury.com is mostly concerned with anime, manga, and other things Japanese. Plus, a semi-autobiographical, unpublished novel, some bibliographic materials, and various ad hoc pontifications. Eugene Woodbury - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 21:11:36 -0500 From: "Jamie Laulusa" Subject: Re: [AML] Review: The Elizabeth Smart Story Eric Samuelsen: >The writing >led him that direction, of course, but still, I didn't hear Mitchell's >former connections to Mormon culture in his speech patterns, in the >falling inflections and the word emphases peculiar to our culture.=20 There are specifically Mormon speech patterns? What are they? ~Jamie Laulusa - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:48:46 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] My Web Page At 04:56 PM 11/7/03 -0700, you wrote: >Who else has a webpage? I have one at www.storyengineer.com The Story Engineer: Barbara R. Hume Unleashing the power of story to promote your mission and message (801) 765-4900 barbara@techvoice.com www.storyengineer.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 10:10:56 -0700 From: owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: [AML] The AML Conference Thanks to the AML conference and Jon Enos's class, I just finished my movie script today. 96 pages. Yes, it probably needs editing. Yes, I had the idea and notes for it before. (And yes, it is media that avoids description and has a hard time telling what people think or true spirituality.) However, it can tell what they want. Now I need Jon Giorgi to tell me how to proceed. Alan Mitchell - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 10:14:35 +0000 From: "Andrew Hall" Subject: [AML] LDS comedy DVDs review (DN) Thursday, November 13, 2003 LDS-comedy DVDs aren't great laugh fests By Chris Hicks Deseret Morning News Here are some new DVD releases, starting off with a pair aimed directly at the Mormon market. "It's Latter-day Night!" (Halestorm, 2003, not rated, $16.95). Apocryphal or true, the story goes that Oscar-winning character actor Edmund Gwenn (best known as Santa in "Miracle on 34th Street") was on his deathbed when he famously said, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard." In LDS circles that might be paraphrased as "Clean is easy, funny is hard." Stand-up comedy has always been split into two camps -- those who do blue material and those who keep it clean. But it's more difficult these days to find the clean comics. Even Jay Leno, who was once the king of clean comedy on the stand-up circuit, has gone blue over the past decade while hosting the "Tonight Show." So Halestorm -- the guys who, for good or ill, brought us "Singles Ward" and "The R.M." -- are to be congratulated for attempting to demonstrate with this-straight-to-DVD show that clean stand-up comedy is still around and still has a place in the mix. But whether it's funny is perhaps more subjective. This 81-minute presentation of five male stand-up comics -- who are all LDS, and who all take pride in keeping it clean -- are actually funnier here when they stick to Mormon-specific themes. The opener, Shawn Rapier, begins his set with a hysterically funny lampoon of a stereotypical sacrament-meeting talk. But, sadly, nothing that follows - -- by anyone -- manages to reach that height again. As Rapier begins a series of self-deprecating fat jokes, he begins to sound like any number of comics who appear on Comedy Central's stand-up programs but whose names quickly fall from memory. Likewise, Adam Johnson and the more manic, pratfalling Michael B (who occasionally resorts to Gallagher/Carrot Top props), are talented guys with some mildly amusing shtick, but their material is inconsistent. Jeff Birk, a sort of Mormon Jim Carrey, is wild-eyed, mugging and all over the stage, but he lacks discipline and polish. And the less said about the Apple Brothers, the better. I also found the "commercial" spoofs (a killer handcart, a werewolf missionary) more amusing for their central ideas than their execution. More successful is Dave Nibley, wearing a suit and tie (a la Seinfeld), and whose (mostly domestic) observations, while not atypical, hit the mark more than some of his colleagues' gags. (Local DJs Jimmy Chunga and Kelly Chapman host.) On the other hand, since comedy is so subjective, you may watch this and disagree with my views. The live audience here seems to be enjoying everything. Extras: Full frame, backstage clips, spoof commercials, Chunga's warm-up act, trailers, etc. "I Will Go and Do" (Liken the Scriptures, 2003, not rated, $19.95). Think of the "Book of Mormon Movie" as a low-budget, very broad musical comedy -- or perhaps a big-budget roadshow. That will give you some idea of what to expect from this 45-minute live-action adaptation of some of the stories from 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. This mix of farce and sentiment will probably appeal mostly to children, especially with its wraparound story of a young boy in Primary who learns a lesson in the scriptures. His imagination brings to life the story of Nephi's family wandering in the wilderness, mixing silly contemporary one-liners with song-and-dance musical numbers. And, eventually, they try to get the brass plates from Laban, portrayed here as an overeating fop. (There are even outtakes of actors laughing and flubbing lines under the end credits!) I found the comedy flat and the songs unmemorable, but it's not a bad Family Home Evening video for families with young children. Parents can doze until it's over. Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, interactive game. Copyright 2003 Deseret News Publishing Company - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 00:32:26 -0700 From: starling@burgoyne.com Subject: [AML] Re: Sugar Beet promotion Sorry if I seem to be a prude, but as to the Sugar Beet coming out in print form, my vote is, "Don't bother". I actually used to like it the few times I visited their web site in the past, but several of the latest articles IMHO have crossed the line of good taste. I think you can be funny without getting dirty. (Now do I duck from the flames or "Stand for Something"?) Just my opinion, Robert Starling - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 12:05:08 -0700 From: Marny Parkin Subject: [AML] Tracy and Laura Hickman in SLC and Pleasant Grove I'm forwarding on this announcement from Tracy Hickman's newsletter: [moderator's note: If you are interested in viewing a comprehensive list of Tracy Hickman's publications, this can be found at the Mormon Literature Database at http://mormonlit.lib.byu.edu/lit_author.php?a_id=3D142] At 9:36 AM -0800 11/13/03, The Hickman Newsletter wrote: >In Salt Lake, Laura and I will be appearing at the Salt Lake City=20 >Public Library as part of their teens "Make a Racket" series on=20 >Friday and Saturday, November 21st and 22nd. Friday evening, at 7:00=20 >pm, Laura and I will be answering questions, signing autographs and=20 >talking about the latest developments in the Bronze Canticles=20 >series. Saturday morning we will be presenting our famous "Killer=20 >Breakfast" giving characters in Salt Lake the opportunity to make a=20 >lot of noise in the Library. That will be a lot of fun for all of=20 >us. You can read about our appearances and other game events at the=20 >library at: > >http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/events.jsp?parent_id=3D13&page_id=3D95 > >Laura and I will not be able to spend a lot of time there, however,=20 >as on that same Saturday, November 22nd, we will be making the trip=20 >south of Salt Lake to a somewhat smaller burg of Pleasant Grove,=20 >Utah to support the "Utah Sci-fantasy Festival" being held there for=20 >the very first time. Laura and I have done so many large conventions=20 >lately (Gencon & Dragoncon) with over twenty thousand attendees at=20 >each, we thought that it would be great to take advantage of this=20 >opportunity to support something that was just getting started.=20 >After all, it is the little neighborhood game store that got us into=20 >this business in the first place. You'll find Laura and I hobnobbing=20 >with folks right there in the basement of the Pleasant Grove Public=20 >Library at 30 E Center St. and part of your $10 to $15 admission=20 >costs go directly to supporting the library itself. So, if you=20 >happen to know where Pleasant Grove is and can get there, we hope to=20 >see you Saturday afternoon. You can check out the convention itself=20 >at the following link: > >http://www.fantasyrules.com/festival/index.html Whatever you think of his writing, Tracy Hickman has sold more copies=20 than most other Mormon authors (the only exceptions being Lund and=20 possibly Card). And he is a very entertaining and nice guy. For info about his new fantasy series, written with his wife, see=20 http://www.bronzecanticles.com Marny Parkin - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #221 ******************************