Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

alinda98418 I first saw Saturday's Warrior as stage play back in the late 1970s. A friend of mine was performing in a local production of the play that her church was putting on, so I went to see it. It helped me to understand a little more about the LDS culture and gave me my first real introduction into the church. Even though, at the time, I was not yet involved with the Mormon church, I thoroughly enjoyed the play. The script was thought provoking, the music was fun, and I left the auditorium with a warm feeling that stayed with me.This movie does an excellent job of bringing that play to film. Rather than put it in a "real world" type setting, they filmed the movie on a minimalistic stage-play type set. This isn't just a camera placed in front of people performing the play though. The filming is done in true multi-camera movie style. Only the set is minimal and stage-play like, and I feel that the presentation is all the more effective because of it.While the Saturday's Warriors movie will never win any awards for special effects, it is a well produced film that my family continues to pull out every few months and enjoy.

emilykrycek-1 People who aren't members of the LDS church will most likely not like this movie. People who are members of the LDS will quite possibly not like this movie either. In fact, the only people I know who do like this movie (and this includes me) are those who grew up watching it on Sunday afternoons and for whom it triggers a trip down memory lane and possibly some enthusiastic sing-alongs.For those who didn't grow up on this movie, Saturday's Warrior has little to offer: mediocre acting, low production values, and a somewhat skewed view of LDS doctrine. (I know I'm not the only LDS girl who spent a lot of early childhood thinking, because of this movie, that someday I would meet the man I was supposed to marry and promptly receive divine affirmation that we had known each other in the pre-existence. That, however, is what we call "false doctrine.") The movie does have a few things going for it, however, including a sincere (if cornily delivered) message about the importance of family and of the choices we make, and some surprisingly catchy and/or compelling musical numbers with strong vocal performances.The bottom line: if you're LDS, it might be worth a viewing, just to see what everyone's talking about—but take it with a grain of salt. If you're not LDS . . . maybe a whole salt lick? But whoever you are, if you do watch it, invite me over so I can sing along.

NineLivesBurra I've seen this movie numerous times over the years and own the DVD.It shows the LDS beliefs in simplistic way which can be easier for some people as it can be so very different to traditional faiths. The idea of being a family from the pre-existence through to the after-life is so appealing and is shown beautifully in this movie.Also the idea that even though we have flaws in our characters, family life is so important and family can help us through anything.It shows that love conquers all things and even if we choose to go our own way, Our family will still want us back.This might be idealistic but it seems such a wonderful way to live.Yes, it's a little outdated in costume etc but it's more than 20 years on from it's conception. The story it tells is ageless.

rick7475 This is a stage play that was video taped!It takes a few liberties with Mormon beliefs and pokes fun at Mormon culture in a light-hearted way. Basically it is about a Mormon family and the issue of Mormon pre-existance, large families, and over-population. Some of the songs are nice, but Lex de Azevedo is a well known composer of LDS songs and usually does a good job.This was fairly big in Utah in 1989-90. Erik Hickenlooper (who plays Jimmy)was a minor celebrity for a while.If you're not Mormon, you probably won't enjoy it. And even if you are Mormon, you may find the plot a little corny. At BYU or in Utah it may be appreciated. I enjoyed some of the songs, and the parts about the Mormon missionaries.But if you're looking for a story on Mormon missionaries or a little of the culture, rent "God's Army" or "The Other Side of Heaven" instead. Mormon films are starting to make inroads, especially Richard Dutcher's stuff. But this one is really just a Mormon Ward play made into a video.When I first saw it in Utah in 1989, I liked it, because I was part of the culture there, so I gave it a 7/10. But having been removed from Utah culture for a number of years, and looking back, I would give it a 5/10, because some of the song are still nice.