Religious Films

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Religious Films

Post by Mr. Broken »

You had to see this coming Cail, give us your best, and your worst religious film, who got it right? who got it wrong? and why?
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Post by Cail »

I generally don't watch religious films for their religious themes, rather I look for good films.

I really enjoyed The Third Miracle and The Ninth Configuration. I appreciated what went into The Passion, but I'll never watch it again. The Life of Brian is easily the best parody of Christianity (and the best Python film by far).

I thought Dogma was childish and unfunny. As religious allegory, The Matrix and its sequels were horrid.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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Post by Mr. Broken »

I dont know if it was the best religious film I ever watched, but I have watched Kingdom of Heaven 4 times and Im not tired of it yet, as far as bad one's, I cant even think of one at the moment unless you want to count the wretched over acting in the Ten Commandments, and that can be blamed on its niche in Hollywood History.
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Post by aTOMiC »

Ben Hur has to be my favorite. An amazing piece of film making whether you watch it for it's message or not.
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Post by [Syl] »

I can't think of any bad religious movies offhand, except for Northern Express. And that was just bad because it was thinly veiled religious stuff (which, hey, is fine, but not for kids' movies). But then, I don't seek out most religious stuff. Oh wait, City of Angels sucked.

Good ones, then:

The Prophecy
The 7th Seal
The Last Temptation
Life of Brian
History of the World Pt. I
Dogma

Constantine was watchable.
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Post by Cagliostro »

Does Legend count?


No?


It had a devil. With a butt chin.



Umm...



Okay, I'll just...play over here then...


Oh, yeah, I just remember that it wasn't especially good either. Great mood though. Thanks probably to the soundtrack.


Sadly, it probably is Life of Brian for the best. Saved was a lot of fun too.


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Post by Menolly »

Do y'all consider Streisand's Yentl or Diamond's The Jazz Singer religious films? Streisand's treatment of Singer's story... *sigh* while Diamond doesn't do too bad a job of showing the choices observant and non-observant Jews make in modern American culture...
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Post by aTOMiC »

Considering the posts that make up most of this thread I'd say your choices are fine, Menolly.

How about Nuns on the Run or The Saint?
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Post by dlbpharmd »

The Life of Brian is easily the best parody of Christianity (and the best Python film by far).
LoB is more than just a parody of Christianity, it's a parody of organized religion of any kind. I definitely agree that it's the best Python film.

I haven't and probably won't ever seen The Passion. The Greatest Story ever told was the best film about the life of Christ.

I love Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments. I don't think it's fair to criticize Commandment for over acting when that was the standard for every actor back in the day. Just look at Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, etc. Remember, this was before Stanislavsky and method acting. Everyone stared wistfully away while delivering their lines. Most actors thought they were still on stages.
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Post by Montresor »

As an atheist, I still enjoy some religious films. I'd probably have to put The Passion at the top of my list as the best (I'd normally say The Exorcist, but I don't think of that as a religious film) - few other films can match its depth of atmosphere.

Other excellent films with religious themes include:

The Mission
Black Robe
Ben Hur
The Ten Commandments
(only up until the parting of the sea, really)
Life of Brian
The Seventh Seal


My pick for the worst is King of Kings.
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Post by Cail »

Ahhh yeah, The Mission is excellent.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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Post by dlbpharmd »

Montresor wrote: My pick for the worst is King of Kings.
Yeah, King of Kings was horrible.
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Post by dANdeLION »

The Apostle and Leap Of Faith are two of my favorites. The Name Of The Rose is another one that I think was good, but I haven't seen it since it's theatrical release.....
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion


I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just a dandelion
a fate I don't deserve.


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Post by Montresor »

The Name of the Rose is incredible.
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"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!" - Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado.

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Post by dANdeLION »

Yeah, I thought I remembered it was good. I'll have to get it on dvd.
Dandelion don't tell no lies
Dandelion will make you wise
Tell me if she laughs or cries
Blow away dandelion


I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just a dandelion
a fate I don't deserve.


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Post by Zarathustra »

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Post by Cail »

Malik23 wrote:Frailty.
Oh Hell yes! That is hands-down one of the coolest movies I've ever seen.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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Post by aTOMiC »

Considering the subject matter I wonder if Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade qualify. The Jewish and Christian aspects of each film take a back seat to action adventure but they are there none the less.
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Post by Marv »

I liked Signs.
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Post by Usivius »

Ben Hur DEFINATELY...
someone mentioned The Mission.... very cool and underrated.
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