Rating: 
Summary: Insulting
Review: Like the feature character in this movie I spent many years in Tonga, but more years and spaced out over the past thirty years or so. I married a Tonga woman years ago, learned the language fluently and still speak it daily, raised children both here and in Tonga, and have done extensive studies the socio-cultural history of Tonga with a special interest in church and state.My Tongan wife I went to see the movie thinking it might in some way protray our romantic courtship and subsequent marriage in Tonga. As it turns out, I was grossly insulted and it was the first time I have actually seen my Tongan wife actually mad at something like a movie. Groberg and the producer so grossly mischaracterized Tonga culture and the Tongan situation that I question whether Groberg was ever stepped outside of the door of his Tongan fale the entire time he was in the Niua's and Ha'apai. If he did it was with his eyes closed and his brain tuned out. By the way, for those of you who may watch the movie belching is one of the most rude bahaviors in Tonga!! But belching is only the tip of the iceberg of cultural mischaracterizations in this belching movie. The native language was close to obliterated. Not that any non-Tonga who might watch the movie would know, but this demonstrates the depth of ethnocentricity and gross cultural insensitivity with which this movie was made. The producer was Morman. The Mormons have many dozens of churches, a large school campus, and even a Temple in Tonga. Mormons comprise more than 15% of the resident Tongan population. There are hundreds if not thousands of Tongans in Salt Lake city. One would think that under these circumstances the producer could "get it right." This grossly overdramatized film was obviously meant to be the cleverest of Mormon prosthletization productions. It re-created scenarios in such a way to grossly over-dramatize the experiences of a Mormon missionary while heaping great insults onto the gentle Tongan people and their wonderful culture. Good Mormons everywhere, but especially Mormon missionaries, should be so embarrassed as to demand that this film be removed from the market. Alipati & Mele
Rating: 
Summary: Reply to "Anthropologist's Nightmare"
Review: I would like to reply to the "Anthropologist's Nightmare." First of all, what is wrong with emphasizing a character's Christ-like qualities? John Groberg was aspiring to be like Christ, therefore he would then exhibit Christ-like qualities. The other reviewer does not even state how they feel about these Christ-like qualities being shown. The general feeling of that paragraph is negative, but there is no 'so what?' to their argument. The main character believes in being Christlike, and so what the audience believes does not necessarily make John Groberg's beliefs or anyone else's "wrong" or "bad." The reviewer also does not state what is so wrong about stories with suspense, temptation, good triumphing over evil, and miraculous rays of light. These elements were done very well in the film, using cinematography and lighting to show their belief that good triumphs over evil. And if they are not familiar with the original story, then how can they comment on the story unfolding like "crisp pages of a new book?" Perhaps that is how it really happened. One last thing I cannot forget to mention is that this film was directed by Mitch Davis, who has a Master of Arts from USC. He is *not* a film student at this point in time, although the term "student" is quite relative. I hope Mr. Davis, as well as the rest of the world, never stops learning. Overall, I give this film 4 stars. It is not perfect, in my opinion, but perfection is hard to achieve. I found The Other Side of Heaven's message very enlightening, inspiring, and uplifting. It was also entertaining and had romance, drama, humor, suspense, and action. I definitely recommend this film.
Rating: 
Summary: An Anthropologists Nightmare
Review: As an anthropologist, watching this movie did anything but inspire me. I was terrified, petrified, horrified, and astonished at the euphemism that "The Other Side of Heaven" preached. A Mormom missionary goes to the Pacific Islands intending to convert "pagans" to Mormonism, a then spreading cult in the western United States (during the 1950's), and he is faced with the challenges of sin, and misunderanding among his converts.
The film Christianizes the main character to the extent that when he departs for the Pacific Islands, his father remarks that he loves man so much that he has given "his only begotten son." Throughout the film the main character performs various miracles on islanders, and travels to surrounding islands establishing churches, thus symbolizing his "Christ-like" qualities. There is even an islander who reminds us of Mary Magdelaine. Although I am not familiar with the actual story, I do not think that the missionary's acceptance would have been so smooth and gracious. The story unfolds like crisp pages of a new book, with moments of suspense, temptation, triumph over evil, and miraculous rays of light from the hands of God [as symbolized in the movies constant return to a shot of the sun glazed over with a whitening effect, symbolizing the star that allegedly was revealed to the Native Americans when Jesus appeared in North America (The Book of Mormon)]. What hurts me more than anything is the emphasis the film puts on the pagan barbarism of the culture that existed before the missionaries presence. There is a funerary scene which shows a fat woman collapsing on her dead sons body (in part of a ritualistic dance), while the "converted" shake their heads, and roll their eyes in arrogant disbelief. It is the destruction of cultures like these that have created the modern, empty world that we now live in. This can be attributed to the "white mans burden," and the atrocious moral imperialism that Western culture has embraced and lain on the world. I cannot forget to mention that this film was directed by a film student who just graduated from Brigham Young University, so the interesting story and culturally interesting (emphasize "cult") [ideas] allows a high 1 star to low 2 stars. Doug
Rating: 
Summary: Best Movie I ever saw
Review: See when i went to see the movie for the first time i knew it would be good but i didnt know it would be great. It is about a mormon going on his mission to Tonga and it was so inspirating.
I knew about missions because im a mormon too but enen if you know nothing about it it doesnt matter. It is an aweome movie GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Hard to Find but Well Worth it!
Review: My entire family enjoyed the film, including my 73 year old mother. Simple, true story based upon simple moral principles. We need more of these films. I found it interesting that so many of the "so called" professional movie critics took issue with the movie. Michael Medved loved it and his views are always worthwile and valuable.
Rating:
Summary: A Must See..... One of the years best
Review: I came to The Other Side of Heaven with no expections having read reviews that critized the film for not building toward a climax. Let me tell you those critics are WRONG big time on this one. This is one of the most entertaining and inspiring films to come along in some time. It has a nice blend of drama and comedy, and it is refreshing to go to a movie without violence, sex, and foul language for a change. The characters are developed wonderfully, and the score, and cinematography are excellent. It's too bad this movie is produced by a small studio because that will probably keep it from receiving the Oscar consideration it deserves. I found this movie much more entertaining and inspiring than A Beautiful Mind.
Rating:
Summary: A Step Back?
Review: The Other Side of Heaven has a lot to admire in it. Great cinematography, pretty good acting, a fine score, and a great book to based on ("In The Eye of the Storm" now renamed "The Other Side of Heaven"). However, it is not a perfect movie.
Mitch Davis has done a good enough job with the screenplay but the man needs some help directing. Sure, the performances are fine, but the pacing needs some serious help. It's the same mild-mannered pace from beginning to end. Even in the face of danger, we are faced with the same pacing.
And, when watching this, you have to wonder if this is a step back for LDS stories on the silver screen? Richard Dutcher has created hard-core and GRITTY films about a faith that is overall a mystery to the majority of the earth (even to many of the members.) No grit in this movie though. It's the same peaceful feeling from beginning to end. Too bad.
But with all of these problems, it was still a very entertaining movie. The young man who played Feki (sorry, I have forgotten his name) was very entertaining and I found Christopher Gorham to be completely charming from beginning to end. Anne Hathaway served her purpose well, though her part is very limited.
It was a good enough movie, but you have to wonder if it's a step back for religious filmmakers.
Rating:
Summary: Gottta See
Review: This is an awesome, inspiring film. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A boy in paradise?
Review: This is (part of) the story of one 20 year old Mormon boy's experiences while on his mission to Tonga in 1954. It is an adventure story with an emphasis on faith and personal relationships.
It may be difficult for anyone without faith to understand why John Groberg, or any other young person, would go on a mission, but if you can suspend your skepticism, you will be rewarded. The missionary came across as a little nerdy, but you can't help but cheer for his successes and pity his failures as he deals with homesickness and culture shock while trying to learn Tongan and preach.
The scenery and musical score are beautiful, and you can almost feel the humidity and bugs that go with a tropical paradise. What I found most appealing of all were the Tongans themselves. I don't know if the actors are professionals or locals or local professionals, but they gave the movie its heart.
I found the movie/story so compelling that I went out and bought the book and the CD and look forward to someday visiting that part of the world.
Rating:
Summary: The Other Side of Heaven
Review: I throughly enjoyed the movie. It was quite faithful to the book. I felt the acting was believable the locations were beautiful. You can't find sunsets like that any where else, but the South Seas. It made me feel good and that's why I go to movies. I want to come away feeling like it was worth the time and money invested and this movie was. Now I need to book a trip to the islands.
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