www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Favorite Movies during the Lenten Season

Thought I would start a thread regarding movies that refresh and uplift us during this time of year. My favorite is Jesus of Nazareth,but I need to upgrade to the DVD, I taped the original from the TV debut and its getting worn. My second is Peter & Paul,its also very worn,

Anybody else ?

James

Jesus of Nazareth is excellent in parts, but I would have preferred that it used the Gospels for 99 pct of the script. Always found the part where the crown of thorns is taken off Jesus' head as very strange.

Personally I'd like to see Mel Gibson's movie.

Hmm, Silence of the Lambs.

Oh, that wasn't the kind of movie you were looking for was it?

Logos Teen

Brother Lawrence,

I am also waiting for Mel's film but it probably won't be released till next year. King of Kings was my favorite before Jesus of Nazareth(which was made in 1977) and had a excellent cast.

I have'nt seen Mary,Mother of Jesus and plan to rent it this week.

In Christ,
James

Dear All:

No to rain on anyone's enjoyment of biblical films, but does anyone else find such films strangely disturbing? Disturbing not in the sence that they protray horrific acts, but disturbing in the sence that they try to recreate events that might not be meant for modern theatre and film? On the other hand, maybe it's just my personal bias against "realism" in religious art and preference for byzantine iconography. Sorry for the ramble.

Yours,

kl

Actually, as a child, these movies did more to profoundly open my heart and soul to Jesus than any Sunday School catechism could have ever done. I had a keen interest in reading the New Testament as a child, and these movies really opened up my imagination and thus, my soul, to visualizing and more deeply understanding what I had read. I remember crying with deep love for Jesus during each of these movies.

... And I was lucky, because as a kid, there were no after school video games, computer games, or cable t.v. Only the standard five channels were around, and during Western Holy Week, each day, the 'four o'clock movie' on ABC played a different movie about Jesus' life. Can you believe it???

It is no surprise therefore, that even though I LOVE the Byzantine iconography you mention (as well as Medieval and Renaissance religious art...my degree is in Art History... ), I think that the power of visual film has great spiritual, religious and historical potential.

I am still waiting for a movie on the Byzantine Empire...I would love to see life there accurately depicted for my visual senses.

In Christ,
Alice

James,

I ordered the movie "Joshua" from http://www.christiannewstoday.com/CNTNews65.html (available on VHS or DVD at a very reasonable price), based on the book of the same title by Father Joseph Girzone, some years ago. The movie was quite an abridged version of the book, with most of the negative comments (i.e. "My Father never meant the church to . . .") about today's institutional (Catholic) church removed. However, it was still a good flick. We showed it at a small parish retreat two weeks ago, and it got good reviews from the participants. It emphasizes just "doing" the work of Christ rather than preaching about it. Enjoy and reflect!

Lory

Try Ignatius Press. They have a video about the Byzantine Empire.

http://www.ignatius.com/acb_ip/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=192&CATID=3

Paul

Hi Gang!

Well, my favs would have to be HAPPY EASTER CHARLIE BROWN, SONG OF BERNADETTE, then either QUO VADIS or BEN HUR.

Some of the Biblical epics REALLY get to me...

Although the Russian Easter scene in ANASTASIA (Ingrid Bergman verison) does it for me too!!!

so many eggs, so little time....

mark

I find this discussion quite remarkable. Here's a discussion of movies that folks would like to use for uplifting during the Lenten season; how times have changed. When I was a puppy, going to the movies (or other 'entertainment') during Great Lent was considered akin to eating meat on Good Friday: just NOT done. And during Holy Week, nothing but news programs and the weather. No music.

I guess it's because VCRs and DVDs are so ubiquitous, and most folks have the bazillion-channel cable hook up, that "going to the movies" is now just a pedestrian thing and no longer "entertainment".

Blessings!

Brother Mark,

Don't forget the classic "The Robe" with Victor Mature.

James

A movie I was inspired by is "The Fourth Wise Man"

Martin Sheen's politics stinks, but he acted well in this movie.

Paul

"Joan of Arc" The version I have stars Ingrid Bergman. What courage and faith this young woman had!!

Paul

The Robe actually starred Richard Burton. Victor Mature had a supporting role the servant to Burton's centurion. Mature starred in the sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators.

Another classic is The Silver Chalice, starring Paul Newman.

If memory serves, "The Silver Chalice" was Paul Newman's first film, and an embarrassment to him later in his career. It seems to have been made on the cheap, and also stars Jack Palance and Virginia Mayo, not usually associated with biblical epics.

"Joan of Arc" with Ingrid Bergman, while a little contrived, has a truly great performance by Bergman as Joan, the best I've ever seen. Her scene at the stake is extremely moving. It is currently only in VHS, and I don't know of a place to buy it, but one of our local Blockbuster Videos had it. (Blockbuster has a website where you can search for films before going to the shop.)

Another film of the "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" group, but gentler, is "Androcles and the Lion" which had some of the cast from the other two, but was based on an English playwright's work, as I recall. I don't know where it can be accessed, I'm afraid. Androcles was played by a character actor whose name escapes me.

For a period film about Rome with a slightly comic twist, try "Caesar and Cleopatra", based on another English play, but starring the woman who played Delilah in "Samson and Delilah", another Victor Mature film.