Reviewing the Reviewers

Based on the strong review from your paper, my husband and I went to see “Frailty” (“A Powerful Depiction of Human ‘Frailty,’” by Kenneth Turan, April 12). Let me use dialogue here consistent with the creativity shown in the script: You’ve got to be kidding!

Everyone walking out of the film was shaking their heads and laughing. The man next to us said, “I can’t believe I sat through the whole thing.” It is, without a doubt, the most misrepresented and worst movie I have ever paid to view.

SUSIE MITCHELL COVER

Torrance

*

It amazes me how “enlightened” minds clap shut and remain clamped tight regarding the power of faith in God.

Jan Stuart’s review of “The Other Side of Heaven” (“On a Spiritual Mission in the South Pacific,” April 12) was condescending at best, and pointedly insulting at worst. Dismissively detailing no more than the bare bones of the plot, Stuart sweepingly deemed the film full of “Mormon propaganda,” “thrillingly awful moments,” “white Christian chauvinism” and “a clueless air of self-congratulation.” Whew! Could it really be that bad? I decided see for myself.

Funny. What I saw was a story of young John Groberg, who learned to love a people very different than himself. He learned their language, ate their food, worked beside them, mourned their losses, lived through their trials. He gained respect for the rival minister and learned wisdom from those with more life experience than he. His tools were humility, determination and an ability to laugh at himself. Stuart didn’t take time to review the directing, acting, cinematography, etc. What he did review, in supercilious tones, was the premise that a spiritual disciple could actually experience a profound odyssey such as Groberg did. People do, you know. Even young, white Christian males.

TERESA LOVE

Los Angeles