just watch it!

Good start, but then it gets ruined

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I honestly can't say why this film doesn't rate higher than a 5.6 because it is certainly better than this score indicates. Now, I realize that it doesn't paint a pretty picture of the Mormon movement during this time period. But the fact is that this terrible event actually happened and pretending that the Paiute Indians were the only culprits involved simply doesn't wash. Likewise, the fact is that we may never know what Brigham Young knew--or when he knew it. God knows. And that's what is ultimately most important anyway. Be that as it may, while this film does capture some historical facts the director (Christopher Cain) and the writers also added some fictional scenarios quite liberally as well. For example, there is a love scene thrown in that clearly never happened. But it makes for good viewing and that's what typically matters most to Hollywood. That said, although I certainly don't wish to diminish the horrible crimes committed at Mountain Meadow, I also don't want to tarnish everyone belonging to the Mormon faith either. So for the sake of brevity I will just say that this was a very good movie with good acting which managed to keep my attention throughout the entire story. But this isn't an historical documentary and so it shouldn't be confused for one. In short, this is definitely worth a watch for those who can appreciate a film of this nature. I'll leave it at that.

Everything that needs to be said has been said in these posts..... From the insanity of religious zealotry, to the obvious need for this story to be told even if the Mormon Church denies it (Why would they not?... since lying is the order of the day for all egomaniac humans and hierarchical structures). What really stands out however, is how strangely bad much of the acting, the voices of the actors, the dialog, and the music are. The core of the problem feels like it's the music. It doesn't fit anything about the movie. The music doesn't work with the timing, fit the action or complement the story line. It was amazing to feel like I was standing on one foot throughout this whole movie. The best cinematography, sadly, was the scene of the unfathomable massacre. I'm still shaking my head.

This film doesn't purport to be historically accurate, as far as I know, so I am not going to comment on the way the producers used the history except to say that it reminds me of The DaVinci Code applied to Mormons. Film makers have been using Catholics for years to make their points about religion. Now it's the Mormons' turn, I guess. Aside from that, I would like to point out that the dialogue is sophomoric and often laughable, the plot is predictable and sentimentalist, and the acting is pretty atrocious for the most part. The camera work is quite nice in places. I would have liked to see more landscapes. It would have relieved the boredom. Funny thing. This film reminded me of the LDS Church's docu-dramas. That was amusingly ironic. This movie is pretty much a fail in my view. It would be a fail no matter what the historical subject was.

I find it quite odd that so many folks have slammed this fine film. A masterpiece, no. A hateful 'attack' on Mormons, hardly. I know for a fact the LDS doctrine outlined in the film is what 'the church' holds. Why is this historical film off limits, I don't get it. The actors all did a credible job and Terrance Stamp was wonderful.This is a true Hollywood story. It is based on a real event. The Mormons murdered those folks on the meadow. It is no indictment on every living member of the LDS than a film about the crusades impugns every Catholic.The ending was a little over the top but it was a fine love story. All in all I have seen few films bashed this terribly that were so very good.