The Bible Series Bible-based movies - thoughts?

[Retro Rob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_(TV_series)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_(film)

My personal feelings are as follows:

While I think this can be very educational for those for and against the Bible, I also think that this can open a can of worms for Christian denominations around the world that have different interpretations of certain accounts, events, and charaters.

I think the real events and portrayal of certain characters can be scewed to appease the countless amounts of Bible-based religions across the world, or simply because the people making the movie simply may not understand the account(s) themselves and thus, misinterpret the events/persons.

I think the Noah's Ark one is easy to screw up and cause some offense -- some believe it only flooded in one part of the world, others believe it was a global flood that took place. The account of him being drunk and his grandson possibly "violating" him can also cause controversy among religions.

My opinion; The last thing I want to hear during or after a movie like this is people bickering about what the "real" account says happened, so I will not be attending, much I didn't, and have yet to see, Passion of the Christ.

Thoughts?

 

[cwjerome]

People who are mildly Christian will probably see it, appreciate it in a general sense, and move on. People who are deep, deep into their Christianity will probably either avoid it since it will probably offend the strict, narrow truth as they know it, or, they'll see it mainly to critique it (aka bicker). Just speculating.

 

[randomrogue]

I hadn't heard of this but it sounds interesting. Their expressed purpose is to draw people back to the bible so it will just be a story telling rather than a fact checking mission but it sounds entertaining nonetheless.

 

[JEDIYoda]

so it will just be a story telling rather than a fact checking mission

so how exactly do you fact check the Bible?

 

[K1052]

My opinion; The last thing I want to hear during or after a movie like this is people bickering about what the "real" account says happened, so I will not be attending, much I didn't, and have yet to see, Passion of the Christ.

The Passion of the Christ has long been on video, available to watch in the privacy of your own home with nobody around. Are you unwilling to watch theatrical interpretations of biblical events because you don't want to hear people argue or more because you're concerned these interpretations could challenge your own faith/interpretations?

 

[Retro Rob]

The Passion of the Christ has long been on video, available to watch in the privacy of your own home with nobody around. Are you unwilling to watch theatrical interpretations of biblical events because you don't want to hear people argue or more because you're concerned these interpretations could challenge your own faith/interpretations?

I've never watched Bible based movies, not even the Ten Commandments! If I want the account, I read the scriptures.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I've never watched Bible based movies, not even the Ten Commandments! If I want the account, I read the scriptures.

And the Ten Commandments has always been one of my favorite movies of all time, even though I now consider it a work of fiction.

I guess everyone approaches these things differently.

 

[Agent11]

Charlton Heston ftw.

As for all the various denominations bickering, that will happen regardless.

 

[Retro Rob]

And the Ten Commandments has always been one of my favorite movies of all time, even though I now consider it a work of fiction.

I guess everyone approaches these things differently.

There is not doubt in my mind it's a good film -- many people enjoy living through an account as if they were there. I know I do.

 

[randomrogue]

so how exactly do you fact check the Bible?

They did a whole research project on Noah's Ark and thought that they found it in Turkey. Turkey eventually shut down the research and I don't remember what became of it but that's the kind of thing I find really interesting.

 

[randomrogue]

The Passion of the Christ has long been on video, available to watch in the privacy of your own home with nobody around. Are you unwilling to watch theatrical interpretations of biblical events because you don't want to hear people argue or more because you're concerned these interpretations could challenge your own faith/interpretations?

I saw clips of that movie and it looked like a snuff film. No thanks.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I saw clips of that movie and it looked like a snuff film. No thanks.

Well, you have the knowledge that no one died making it, so hardly...

As for the merits of the film, the the acting, sets, costumes... flawless. Some of it is unbearably flawless. The story is very compelling. It is definitely brutal, but then again so is the story. I think many people who have never really read or thought about the torture and execution, nor visualized it might have their eyes opened to exactly what that story is. I would recommend any film lover to watch it because it is an excellent film regardless of anyone's beliefs.

As for the Bible on the History Channel, I can't wait to see it. The commercials I have seen make it look very well done.

As to the old Hollywood biblical movies, many of them are sensational. Ten Commandments is terrific.

I have no dog in the fight as to the truthiness of any of it. These are simply my thoughts from a film critic perspective. Taken as fact or fiction, the films are good.

Anyone see any of it yet? What are your impressions?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

oops, dp.

 

[Murloc]

I've never seen any but it makes sense to make movies about this (or even just inspired by this), it's still a story after all, regardless of how much you believe it.

 

[nanette1985]

The TV show is okay - I didn't like it much. Not enough humor. Gave me a major urge to watch Dogma.

 

[Fern]

so how exactly do you fact check the Bible?

Compare the movie story line with the Biblical account.

E.g., if the move shows Noah swallowed by a whale and Jonah stomping around the city of Jerico blowing a trumpet to bring down the city walls the producers/writers have messed it up.

Fern

 

[ivwshane]

I'm not really into religous films (although I did see passion). I prefer my religous entertainment to be based on the factual aspects. For example, I'll watch a show showing how the red sea could have been parted or interpreted as being parted, or how the plagues could have happened, etc.

 

[FerrelGeek]

I'm watching Vikings.

 

[randomrogue]

Well, you have the knowledge that no one died making it, so hardly...

As for the merits of the film, the the acting, sets, costumes... flawless. Some of it is unbearably flawless. The story is very compelling. It is definitely brutal, but then again so is the story. I think many people who have never really read or thought about the torture and execution, nor visualized it might have their eyes opened to exactly what that story is. I would recommend any film lover to watch it because it is an excellent film regardless of anyone's beliefs.

I don't understand this type of thinking. Are you suggesting that the only way I can understand Henry VIII or Hitler is to see a "snuff" film? What the fuck?! I don't need to see someone put on the rack or Catherine wheel to understand that they died a horrible death.

It's disgusting and doesn't give me any more insight into the life of Jesus.

When you go to Austwitz then do not need to recreate the horror for you to have your eyes opened.

Honestly, if you can watch that lashing scene and not question the sanity of the producer than all power of you but to me it was a snuff film and some kind of torture porn that Mel Gibson needed to masturbate to.

 

[stormkroe]

I don't understand this type of thinking. Are you suggesting that the only way I can understand Henry VIII or Hitler is to see a "snuff" film? What the fuck?! I don't need to see someone put on the rack or Catherine wheel to understand that they died a horrible death.

It's disgusting and doesn't give me any more insight into the life of Jesus.

When you go to Austwitz then do not need to recreate the horror for you to have your eyes opened.

Honestly, if you can watch that lashing scene and not question the sanity of the producer than all power of you but to me it was a snuff film and some kind of torture porn that Mel Gibson needed to masturbate to.

The torture is one of the main events of the passion. It's in the story so leaving it out would be like James Cameron showing the titanic make it to port.
Also, it gives an insight into just what kind of sacrifice Jesus made because, unlike the people in your examples, he chose to go through with it. If anything the movie didn't represent the torture brutally enough for accuracy.

 

[Retro Rob]

The torture is one of the main events of the passion. It's in the story so leaving it out would be like James Cameron showing the titanic make it to port.
Also, it gives an insight into just what kind of sacrifice Jesus made because, unlike the people in your examples, he chose to go through with it. If anything the movie didn't represent the torture brutally enough for accuracy.

Well, I have so much respect for Jesus that rehashing his torture is tantamount to recording and veiwing my own brother's torture. There's no way I can take that over and over again.. especially seeing the circumstance in which, according to the Biblical account, he was illegally tried and treated like a common criminal.

I can't stand to see innocent men put to death, let alone the graphic details that accompany it.

 

[ivwshane]

Well, I have so much respect for Jesus that rehashing his torture is tantamount to recording and veiwing my own brother's torture. There's no way I can take that over and over again.. especially seeing the circumstance in which, according to the Biblical account, he was illegally tried and treated like a common criminal.

I can't stand to see innocent men put to death, let alone the graphic details that accompany it.

I think that's the point. Movies are meant to evoke an emotion and that emotion you just described was most likely what they were going for.

Have you seen django? It ran with the same idea.

 

[Retro Rob]

LOL - I just saw one of the episodes of the Bible series, and though I enjoyed the story, I will explain why I don't bother to watch these sort of recreations:

Its in the Biblical account that the men of Sodom were homosexuals and wanted to have intercourse with the "two men that came into Lot's house" -- God's two angles. Lot offered his daughters to them to protect the two men, or angels.

The men refused and insisted on the two men. God then struck them with blindness.

While this is in the Bible, the story conveniently left out the fact that they were gay and wanted the two men, and it even left out how Lot offered his daughters in exhange to keep the men safe.

I reckon they did this to NOT offend the gay community, or the creators did this to keep themselves free from ridicule, in either case, they shouldn't leave out such critical elements to whatever account they're portraying. They fact that the men of the city were homosexual is a critical element to the Sodom and Gomorrah account.

Its not that I don't want my beliefs challenged, but I want them to atleast tell the whole story and not cherry-pick which parts they'll include and which parts they'll leave out.

This goes without saying ... I won't be watching another episode.

 

[sandorski]

Back when I was a Christian, there was always some disappointment in any Movie/TV series on the subject. It's the ultimate Book vs Movie scenario. Mainly because many believe every word of the book, according to their own interpretation.

Which brings us to another point: If the Bible is the "Word of God", why are there so many divergent interpretations?

 

[WelshBloke]

Compare the movie story line with the Biblical account.

E.g., if the move shows Noah swallowed by a whale and Jonah stomping around the city of Jerico blowing a trumpet to bring down the city walls the producers/writers have messed it up.

Fern

So check one possibly fictional account with another possibly fictional account? :whiste: