biblical movies. the movie vs the message

[shapeshifter]

So I have noticed with movies like "the passion", "the nativity story" and even "bruce almighty" and now "evan almighty" that religious movies have moved out of the straight to video genre and into the theaters. So here is where i need some help. are these movies things you can just go to and enjoy as a movie experiencs? story acting, character development and so on? Or are they purley spiritual experiences? is it possible to find a middle ground? is the message dominating the movie?
help me out.
plus whats up with all of these churches adopting "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe"?

 

[Tempest19]

Never saw Nativity Story.

Passion- Purely spiritual experience

Bruce Almighty- Comedy, more about using God to bring in the humor (having god-like abilities) than being anything preachy. And if so, just the same as all other films with some kind of message attached.

Evan Almighty- Neither. Great film, but felt like a biblical story come to life thus more religious than Bruce, but not as religious as Passion and Nativity.

"The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe" was written by a very famous Catholic theologian whose Catholic books are still taught and used today for religion class in private schools- I know, I had to read one of them. The lion also is a form of representation of Jesus with the death and ressurection elements and I am sure there are many other Catholic motifs in the film as well.

 

[Mr. Socko]

You can go in and enjoy Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty as just movie experiences.

The Nativity Story and Passion go far beyond that, of'course. They are spiritual experiences. But I think Passion would go under both, because not only is it a spiritual experience but also a very well made film.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I think it has to do with making a good movie that, while has the themes within the story, doesn't beat you over the head with it. Examples of this could be Bruce Almighty, and The Prince of Egypt.

However, if they're just purely whalloping you in the head with the themes, like Passion, it gets to the point where it annoys me. Besides, I seriously don't want to watch a movie about Jesus getting the living s**t kicked out of him.

As for your last question, the whole Chronicles of Narnia were intentially made to be parables to Christian stories by CS Lewis.

 

[Gilpesh]

Dogma has a better message than any other religious movie ever.

 

[Tempest19]

JRK, 'The Passion' was meant to be a purely religious experience. I personally don't know what you went into expecting, but the film was a way to relive and "experience"/ see the crucifixion of Christ. It was meant to be a spiritual film.

It was really well made as well, but the purpose of the film was more to take the audience back to that time for a religious experience and spiritual "awakening" as it were... not to be an easily 'enjoyable' film. It was religious, spiritual, and serious- all which it set out to be.

I don't quite understand why you didn't think it would be a purely religious film 'whalloping you' with it, when it was a movie about Jesus' crucifixion. There's no room for light hearted comedy or any of that other stuff, so frankly- I don't understand that comment... if you were talking about some other film, not about a point in Jesus' life, I would understand that. But, we aren't- we're talking specifically about Jesus, in which case it would be a pure religious and serious film with in some people's opinions is "whalloping", but that's more due to the nature of one's view towards religion and how much they can and want to take than about the film itself which had to be that way.

 

[Symbiotic]

You can go in and enjoy Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty as just movie experiences.

The Nativity Story and Passion go far beyond that, of'course. They are spiritual experiences. But I think Passion would go under both, because not only is it a spiritual experience but also a very well made film.

Agreed. (I'm a Christian but had no problem with this movie at all. I consider it one of Carrey's best.)

 

[shapeshifter]

did you like it because of the religious content? or because carrey was funny and it was well written

 

[Tempest19]

Bruce- purely Carrey

Evan- Carrell and that it reminded me of a bible story come to life. I don't know how to describe it, just had that kind of tone to it, imo.

Passion- Because of it's religious content.

 

[Symbiotic]

did you like it because of the religious content? or because carrey was funny and it was well written

option two. (mostly). The religious stuff was ok though. I don't get "offended" by this stuff.

 

[shapeshifter]

i don't either, i just find religion to be a very serious subject uncomfortably so and it made it hard for me to laugh at the movie

 

[Spider-Fan]

The Last Temptation of Christ was fabulous. I can watch that many times over.

I don't care if a movie is overtly religious or preachy, but it has to be done well.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Lol no love for Evan, symbiotic!

 

[Tempest19]

That's weird. No offense.

Maybe even though I went through 4 years of Private School, I don't take offense to that stuff and take religion rather lightly and whole heartedly.

To me, Freeman's God is the closest to the kind of God that I imagine exists. I don't see this all omnipotent Zeus type guy, but a guy with a personality more like the God in Bruce and Evan Almighty. A father figure, no pun intended, who is a kind and loving father with a good sense of humor and the type of guy one wants to be around a lot rather than scared of. For me, personally, Freeman pulled that off phenomenally.

Could also be though that none of my religion classes, which I took four years of, (not talking sunday school) never acted as though it had to be serious 24/7. When it was serious it was serious, when it wasn't- it wasn't.

It's also funny the different ways religion goes about being taught. In sunday school it was all serious and never laid back. In Catholic Private School it was laid back and then a little serious, but not overly. After four years though your faith kinda trembles, but my teacher said the smartest and most enlightened thing- "If you believe that there is good in this world, you believe in God. God is good. You don't necessarily have to think of God as this all powerful being." More New than Old Testament.

 

[shapeshifter]

That's weird. No offense.

Maybe even though I went through 4 years of Private School, I don't take offense to that stuff and take religion rather lightly and whole heartedly.

To me, Freeman's God is the closest to the kind of God that I imagine exists. I don't see this all omnipotent Zeus type guy, but a guy with a personality more like the God in Bruce and Evan Almighty.

Could also be though that none of my religion classes, which I took four years of, never acted as though it had to be serious 24/7. When it was serious it was serious, when it wasn't- it wasn't.

i wish i had your outlook.
i grew up with painfully strict baptist relatives. i try not to be to swayed by it, but there are still some leftovers

freeman was a sweet god though
deep voice, kind, patient, sense of humor. A+

 

[Symbiotic]

Lol no love for Evan, symbiotic!

Never!t:

 

[Mr. Socko]

God with a long beard and toga as represented by Michelangelo in The Sistine Chape.

 

[The Chairman]

I didn't see The Passion Of The Christ, The Nativity Story or Evan Almighty. Bruce Almighty was funny. I'm Catholic, didn't offend me. Freeman's God was awesome.

Though no Biblical epic will ever beat The Ten Commandments.

 

[superhero]

their also omage code and left behiend. they both have two or three movies. their also one called oh god! it had gerog burns in it. its sotra like bruce almighty. its about this guy hes not even a christian and he tells people hes talk to god. they think hes crazy.

 

[The Chairman]

Oh, God is a great movie. Too bad there's going to be a remake.

Heaven Can Wait is also supposed to be really good.

 

[Green Goblin 1964]

God with a long beard and toga as represented by Michelangelo in The Sistine Chape.

what's that...??? dam...that's smallt:

 

[Venomfan]

"The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe" was written by a very famous Catholic theologian whose Catholic books are still taught and used today for religion class in private schools- I know, I had to read one of them. The lion also is a form of representation of Jesus with the death and ressurection elements and I am sure there are many other Catholic motifs in the film as well.

Lewis definatly was not Catholic. Tolkien and him used to fight over it all the time cuz Tolkien wanted him to become a Catholic but Lewis didnt want to, he was a Christian, but not a Catholic

 

[shapeshifter]

what's that...??? dam...that's smallt:

i know, really kind of odd considering Michelangelo was into men.
maybe he did it out of anger and frustration

 

[shapeshifter]

Lewis definatly was not Catholic. Tolkien and him used to fight over it all the time cuz Tolkien wanted him to become a Catholic but Lewis didnt want to, he was a Christian, but not a Catholic

lewis also started off as a hard core athiest.
tolkien and lewis also argued over mythology, politics and a bunch of other topics.