Ship of Fools: Biblical Films?

Thread: Biblical Films? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Kater Murr (# 17479) on :

Some time ago, I watched Rossellini's "Il Messia", and even if I didn't like all of it, I'd consider it quite impressive in some ways.

Today I borrowed "King of Kings", finding it could somehow be diverting as well as educative to dig a bit through the world of films with biblical topics.

Are there any biblical films you'd want to recommend after watching, and if yes, for what reasons?

Greets

Murr

Posted by Pine Marten (# 11068) on :

First, Pasolini's 'Gospel according to Matthew', the best Biblical film in my opinion. Starkly shot in black & white with a cast of non-actors. Completely unsentimental.

Otherwise: 'Jesus of Montreal', about a group of present-day actors putting on a Passion play. Interesting take on the Gospel story, aspects of which take over the actors' lives.

A personal favourite: 'The Last Temptation', based on the excellent novel by Nikos Kazantzakis (which is much better than the film). Bizarre at times, but the underlying message is that Jesus did not give in to temptation but fulfilled his destiny on the cross.

That's for starters.

Posted by HCH (# 14313) on :

I have some rather old suggestions.

I liked "The Bible: In the Beginning" (1966, George C. Scott).

I suggest watching "The Ten Commandments" (1956, Charlton Heston), not as a great movie (highly questionable) but as a cultural reference point.

Also questionable but perhaps more worthwhile is "David and Bathsheba" (1951, Gregory Peck).

I also suggest watching "The Life of Brian" (1979).

Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :

quote:
Originally posted by HCH:
I suggest watching "The Ten Commandments" (1956, Charlton Heston), not as a great movie (highly questionable) but as a cultural reference point.

That is my favorite bad movie of all time- I watch as much of it as I can every Easter when they show it on TV. As I said over in the unwatchable movie thread (obviously not while calling it unwatchable), the way they manage to impose 1950s American concepts of freedom an storytelling onto Exodus can be unintentionally hilarious. I highly suggest watching it, but only with a willingness to laugh at the acting. Yul Brynner as Pharaoh and Edward G. Robinson as Nathan, the made-up Jew who toadies to the Egyptians and gets all of the lines about Moses leading them into the desert because there were no graves in Egypt are particular highlights.

You would be safe skipping Brynner's turn as Solomon in "Solomon and Sheba." I have a high tolerance for bad old movies, and even I had to give up on that one a half an hour in.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

How about the animation film 'Moses prince of Egypt'.

Ostensibly for kids, it 's very enjoyable.

Posted by loggats (# 17643) on :

Hello all (first post!).

Definitely second the recommendation to watch Pasolini's Il Vangelo secondo Matteo - I watched it recently(ish) during a short retreat at Mount Melleray (anybody else been there? amazing place).

There's something eerily beautiful about the whole film. Christ's monobrow makes him look like a walking Byzantine icon, and the young Virgin's performance is quite ambiguous. I guess that's the effect when the cast includes mostly non-actors.

The Passion of the Christ, because listening to dialogue in dead languages never gets old. A harrowing film to get through but you get an authentic glimpse of Mel Gibson's devotion (whatever you might make of it) and that's a rare achievement if nothing else.

DeMille's Samson and Delilah because it manages to out-Camp Ten Commandments and it's the kind of old Hollywood opus you should watch at least once.

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

Welcome aboard, loggats! [Smile]

Heaven is a great place to dip your toe in here on the Ship. I see you have already said hello on the welcome thread in All Saints!

jedijudy--one of the welcoming Heaven Hosts

Oh, and I enjoyed 'The Nativity Story' (2007). Someone else may have a different opinion, but I think it's a 'keeper'.

Posted by Pine Marten (# 11068) on :

Oh yes, I've seen that - it's certainly worth a look. And the gorgeously wonderful Ciaran Hinds plays Herod [Smile]

.

I'm going to vote for Ben-Hur - Charlton Heston one - because it is a terrific epic. And the Via Dolorosa & crucifixion scenes are well done, particularly for the time (1959).

And Stephen Boyd is a lovely Messala...

[ 12. April 2013, 20:45: Message edited by: Pine Marten ]

Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pine Marten:
I'm going to vote for Ben-Hur - Charlton Heston one - because it is a terrific epic. And the Via Dolorosa & crucifixion scenes are well done, particularly for the time (1959).

And Stephen Boyd is a lovely Messala...

Shudder. I already trashed this on the "unwatchable" thread. So let me just short-form it here and say that the silent Ben-Hur (1925) with Ramon Novarro and Francis X. Bushman is far, far better. Compelling watching.

Posted by loggats (# 17643) on :

Hello JediJudy, thanks!

I have fond memories watching Ber Hur (though I could say that about Gone With the Wind, one of the best worst films that will ever be made, ever) - it reminds me of lavender, sweet tea and Sunday afternoon.

Also... there's that animated film The Prince of Egypt, beautiful images and I enjoy this song very much (used to listen to it on a loop while I was studying Hebrew - note that the video is not from the animation!)

Posted by cliffdweller (# 13338) on :

What? No one mentions Life of Brian?

Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :

quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
What? No one mentions Life of Brian?

Did you mean to add "...other than HCH in the 3rd post on this thread"?

Posted by Kater Murr (# 17479) on :

quote:
Originally posted by loggats:
but you get an authentic glimpse of Mel Gibson's devotion (whatever you might make of it) and that's a rare achievement if nothing else.

I think a glimpse into Mel Gibson's devotion can be a scary thing! [Big Grin]

[ 13. April 2013, 08:13: Message edited by: Kater Murr ]

Posted by Pine Marten (# 11068) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:

quote:
Originally posted by Pine Marten:
I'm going to vote for Ben-Hur - Charlton Heston one - because it is a terrific epic. And the Via Dolorosa & crucifixion scenes are well done, particularly for the time (1959).

And Stephen Boyd is a lovely Messala...
Shudder. I already trashed this on the "unwatchable" thread. So let me just short-form it here and say that the silent Ben-Hur (1925) with Ramon Novarro and Francis X. Bushman is far, far better. Compelling watching.

Yes, I saw that thread [Razz]

! Never fear, I have both films, and I still love Heston's one... I also have a couple of other silent films, The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1905) and From the Manger to the Cross (1912), which are worth a look if you like old silent films.

Posted by Khuratokh2312 (# 17634) on :

I've always been rather fond of "The Robe" and "Quo Vadis" Peter Ustinov makes a brilliant Nero.
They used to be broadcast on the BBC every year round Easter.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:
What? No one mentions Life of Brian?

By far the best!

Of the others mentioned here, the ones I've seen I wish I hadn't, and the ones I haven't seen, I have avoided very intentionally.

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

There is a somewhat 'arty' Jesus film and I can't remember who did it (Derek Jarman possibly? I seem to recall a language other than english, but I could be wrong), but it has these long lingering shots on people's faces - and I mean long, but their expressions change and oddly you can read the narrative without being told anything really and it's not at all forced. the other thing it does very well (if memory serves) is that it has the principle characters (JtheB, disciples, Mary, Jesus etc) sitting around for quite a bit doing nothing very special at all and even fairly mundane shots of them doing menial daily tasks. In a curious sort of way it's very profound.

Posted by Kater Murr (# 17479) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Kater Murr:
Today I borrowed "King of Kings", finding it could somehow be diverting as well as educative to dig a bit through the world of films with biblical topics.

Now, yesterday I finally made to watch it. I'm not altogether sure if I liked "King of Kings". It had some well done scenes in it, other ones seemed very constructed. Also I found it quite a bit odd, that the things Jesus said (in contrast to all the other people talking in the film) where nearly completely cites from the gospel, what means that the German text was from Luther's translation of the bible. It somehow made a strange effect hearing Jesus talk in the german of the baroque era, while all the other persons in the movie had their talks in contemporary German... Anyway ... I think there are better films with a bit more deepness, which cover the life of Jesus, but "King of Kings" has nevertheless some quite entertaining parts.

Posted by Pine Marten (# 11068) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
There is a somewhat 'arty' Jesus film and I can't remember who did it (Derek Jarman possibly? I seem to recall a language other than english, but I could be wrong), but it has these long lingering shots on people's faces - and I mean long, but their expressions change and oddly you can read the narrative without being told anything really and it's not at all forced. the other thing it does very well (if memory serves) is that it has the principle characters (JtheB, disciples, Mary, Jesus etc) sitting around for quite a bit doing nothing very special at all and even fairly mundane shots of them doing menial daily tasks. In a curious sort of way it's very profound.

Derek Jarman made a film called Sebastiane in 1976, which was all in Latin and about St Sebastian, but it wasn't very... *ahem* Biblical... [Eek!]

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Soft porn, more like (well, 'hard' if you count the deleted/censored scene.)

Posted by Ged (# 16049) on :

I loved the the BBC's The Passion so much I got the DVD and gave it to my mum. For Christmas last year. It is four episodes rather than a single feature, so I hope it qualifies for the OP. I remembered it from its original broadcast several years ago. Two main things - reasonable amount of money thrown at the production and (to me) the Jesus was enthralling, beautiful, truly endearing and awe-inspiring. Cast includes James Nesbitt and Penelope Wilton.

Posted by redderfreak (# 15191) on :

Ben Hur lives with me for life.

'The race is not over, Judah.'

Posted by PaulBC (# 13712) on :

I would opt for "The Greatest Story Ever Told" early-mid 1960's. "the Robe" also works .But as for Mel Gibson's "The Passion" forget it too grafic & to controversial. [Votive]

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :

"Truly this man waas the Son of Gawd."

I was very disappointed it wasn't broadcast this Easter.

Thurible

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ged:
I loved the the BBC's The Passion so much I got the DVD and gave it to my mum. For Christmas last year. It is four episodes rather than a single feature, so I hope it qualifies for the OP. I remembered it from its original broadcast several years ago. Two main things - reasonable amount of money thrown at the production and (to me) the Jesus was enthralling, beautiful, truly endearing and awe-inspiring. Cast includes James Nesbitt and Penelope Wilton.

Yes, that was very good.

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