A different take on LDS cinema and war films

Rating: Null/10 (30 April 2004)

When S&S is compared to other war movies, S&S isn't bloody like Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers. I've also linked S&S to the movie, The Thin Red Line in which there is a lot of human emotion and deep thinking, but throw in some Mormon influence.
What makes S&S different from LDS films is that even though the main character is LDS, the film subtlely puts in the beliefs of the Mormons. I have seen a lot of LDS films (both in Seminary and in the local theater) but S&S doesn't put face forward the LDS beliefs. Rather, you would have to infer them.
For example, Deacon carries around a book and I inferred that it was a Book of Mormon. The LDS religion also has a strong focus on the family, and that is shown by Deacon. The other soldiers talk about how deacon doesn't smoke (Word of Wisdom) and missionary work is shown between the German soldier and Deacon.
I liked the location, seeing that i've actually been there. Just to let you know, i'm just 15 minutes away from the filming location of S&S. Robert Redford's resort, Sundance, was used and is a very nice play to walk around, especially during the fall season.
I'd recommend watching this film if you are into war films. It's not as suspenseful as most of the war movies, but it gets a message across. I'm not sure why this movie would even get an R rating the first time (though it has been reevaluated to a PG-13)