Religious Films
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- Mr. Broken
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Religious Films
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?
Wide Eyed Stupid
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.
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
_____________
"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
_____________
_____________
"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
_____________
- Mr. Broken
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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.
Wide Eyed Stupid
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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.
Good ones, then:
The Prophecy
The 7th Seal
The Last Temptation
Life of Brian
History of the World Pt. I
Dogma
Constantine was watchable.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
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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.
"Let's die, mommy...let's die."
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.
"Let's die, mommy...let's die."

Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life
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.The Life of Brian is easily the best parody of Christianity (and the best Python film by far).
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.
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.
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.
"For the love of God, Montresor!"
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!" - Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado.

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

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
_____________
_____________
"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
_____________
- dANdeLION
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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.
High priest of THOOOTP
*
* This post carries Jay's seal of approval
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.
High priest of THOOOTP

* This post carries Jay's seal of approval
- dANdeLION
- Lord
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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.
High priest of THOOOTP
*
* This post carries Jay's seal of approval
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.
High priest of THOOOTP

* This post carries Jay's seal of approval
Oh Hell yes! That is hands-down one of the coolest movies I've ever seen.Malik23 wrote:Frailty.
"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
_____________
_____________
"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
_____________
- aTOMiC
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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.
"If you can't tell the difference, what difference does it make?"

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