By DAVE SCHEFCIK and BLAKE FERGUSON
Dave says: Well, Blake ...I guess this is it. The semester is over. Isn't it kind of fitting that our last conversation is about Christmas?
Blake says: I always knew you were a sentimental guy.
Dave says: Yeah, usually I am very cautious about the movies based on books that I see, especially the scriptures. I don't want some filmmaker to ruin my imagination so whenever I read the book, all I can see in my mind is the movie!
Blake says: Is that why you never saw the 'Book of Mormon Movie'?
Dave says: Yep, that among other reasons. But I really enjoyed this film. I thought it was very moving and very realistic.
Blake says: I thought it was a little dry. It needed more oomph, more story, more emotion, more movieness.
Dave says: Like helicopters with guns and exploding bombs? It was the nativity story! I thought it was very faithful to the scriptures. Plus Mary fell off the donkey once because of the snake.
Blake says: I know, but they could have made Mary doubt for a second or increase the stakes a bit.
Dave says: Sure. My favorite part was the wise men; they were like very subtle comic relief.
Blake says: I agree, plus the movie did seem like they did research and were true to the times. The costumes looked great.
Dave says: I liked how they delicately mixed modern Christmas carols into the score, making them feel like they were part of the landscape.
Blake says: Really? I didn't even notice.
Dave says: The one objection I have was the spotlight effect from the star. I guess that was the only way to show where the manger was, though.
Blake says: What are we going to do next semester? I've grown accustomed to our guy dates.
Dave says: I know! How am I going to live without seeing a new movie every week? I am going to have to go to the dollar theater!
Blake says: I'll miss you, Dave. Have a good vacation
Dave says: You too. Merry Christmas, Blake.
Blake says: Merry Christmas, Dave.
'I'm a religious painter, and that's the most authentic movie I've seen. I was impressed.'
- Jon McNaughton, 39, an artist from Elk Ridge,
'The angel/bird bit was a little Hollywoodish, but I liked the realness of the film. It was pretty believable.'
- Aisha Oldham, 23, a senior at BYU from Black Hat, N.M., majoring in advertising