Kevin Burtt

Author's details

Name: Kevin Burtt
Date registered: June 3, 2010

Latest posts

  1. Review: Fireproof (B) — May 7, 2012
  2. Review: Cleanflix — April 20, 2012
  3. Review: Children of Joseph — April 12, 2012
  4. Coming April 6th — Redemption (PG) — April 3, 2012
  5. Review: Scout Camp / Down and Derby — March 18, 2012

Most commented posts

  1. Review: Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates (B-) — 21 comments
  2. The State of LDS Box Office in 2010 — 17 comments
  3. Casting Standards for Church Films — 17 comments
  4. LDS Film: The Need For a New Distribution Model — 15 comments
  5. Review: 17 Miracles (B+) — 14 comments

Author's posts listings

Jan
26

LDS Film Festival 2012: Overview & Day 1

LDS Film Festival

Notes from Day 1 of the 2012 LDS Film Festival: Looking through the final schedule, this year’s LDS Film Festival has the usual variety of feature films, short films, and documentaries, but new this year are some “musical interludes” before screenings featuring local musical artists.  Undoubtedly a decision made to broaden the scope of the …

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Jan
16

Christian Films vs LDS Films — A Re-Review of Island of Grace (Rescued)

Island of Grace

Island of Grace is the “Christian-ified” version of the film Rescued (one of Candlelight Media’s dual release films discussed in a previous post).  While I wasn’t a huge fan of Rescued, I was curious about the differences and decided to re-watch both films to see what changes were worthy of note. You may ask:  why?  Why spend …

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Jan
10

LDS Film Festival 2012 Schedule Announced

LDS Film Festival 2012

The 2012 LDS Film Festival will be taking place January 25th through the 28th at the SCERA theater in Orem, Utah.  The primary schedule has been announced at the official site, although there will be further updates of showings and presentations closer to the festival opening. Some highlights of this years schedule: Redemption — a drama …

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Jan
05

Review: The Book of Life (B+)

The Book of Life

[The Book of Life -- written and directed by Marco Lui -- is now available for general viewing through Audience Alliance.  The following is a reprint of my original review, posted in January 2011 at the LDS Film Festival]

Dec
19

Review: Christmas Angel (B-)

Christmas Angel

Just in time for Christmas, let’s look at Christmas Angel, a holiday-themed movie directed by Brian Brough (Turn Around, Rescued, Beauty & The Beast) and released to video in 2009. Christmas Angel stars Bruce Davison as the title character, a rich retiree who spends his remaining years doing “Secret Santa” service for those around him.

Nov
15

Review: Overcome / Turn Around (C-)

Overcome

Overcome, written by “Dani Franklin” and directed by “BJ Alexander”, stars “Jaycee Lynn” and was released to video in 2008. Yes, I’m using quotes deliberately here.  “BJ Alexander”, “Dani Franklin”, and “Jaycee Lynn” do not, in fact, exist.

Oct
31

Review: Johnny Lingo (1969)

JohnnyLingo

The short film Johnny Lingo was produced by BYU in 1969 and has long held a celebrated place in LDS culture over the past forty years, despite no real LDS content.  (While largely “adopted” into LDS culture, it is based off of a Women’s Day article from Patricia McGerr, a Catholic, and references to the article and “eight cow …

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Sep
27

Sexual Content vs. Violent Content in Movie Ratings

sv1

Conventional wisdom says movie ratings in the US are far more tolerant of violence and gore than sex and nudity, in contrast with Europe and Asia where it is usually reversed.   Restrictive NC-17 ratings that would keep younger viewers away entirely are primarily given for sexual content, while films with extremely violent content routinely …

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Aug
22

Review: Take (A-)

Take

Saul sits in chains and stares blankly at the sterile prison walls around him as the film opens.  He is on death row and about to be executed. Ana stares blankly at the featureless desert outside her car as she travels across the state to witness his execution.  She has a personal connection with Saul’s …

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Aug
13

Coming Soon: Joseph Smith Volume 1 — Plates of Gold

Joseph Smith Plates of Gold

Director Christian Vuissa’s (One Good Man, The Errand of Angels) latest directorial effort Joseph Smith — Volume 1: Plates of Gold has started screening in select theaters around the country and will arrive in Utah theaters on September 2nd.  The official site will have details as to theater location and release dates for states around …

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