bar Jonah
August 9th 2003, 05:08 PM
I just watched the worst Christian-made movie about Jesus that I've ever seen.
Hill #1 -- 1951, starring Roddy McDowell, Lief Erikson as Pontius Pilate, and James Dean as John the Baptist. 60 minutes.
When I saw that it was made by an organization called The Family Rosary Council, and produced by St. Paul Films, I knew I was in for a scary ride. Then the movie began... on a WWII battlefield, fighting over Hill #34. LOL A very hokey frame story of some soldiers contemplating the meaning of life... when naturally an Army chaplain rides up in his jeep (in the open, in the middle of a battle with cannons blazing) and proceeds to tell them about the most important victory of all time, on "hill #1."
The story begins after the crucifixion, which is never portrayed. In fact, Jesus never appears anywhere in the movie, not even from behind or in shadows. (One of its few good points... it's the only movie about Jesus I've ever seen where a European caucasian didn't play Him! LOL)
But on a serious note, the movie primarily conveys fiction and superstition. Here are just some of the ridiculous aspects of the story.
The centurion who thrusts the spear into Jesus' side then experiences Jesus' blood and "water" washing over his face, which then cures him of his partial blindness. (An active centurion who is partly blind?)
The disciples anticipate the resurrection of Jesus; they expect it.
A clean-cut James Dean plays one of the disciples of Jesus, the brother of James -- John the Baptist! (WHAT??? Yeah, you heard me!)
Emphasis is placed on the relics of Jesus' crucifixion, including the crown of thorns, pieces of the cross, etc., which the disciples go out of their way to recover for the benefit of future generations.
Pontius Pilate's wife is an ally of Jesus' disciples, and runs away to be with them, helping them carry out their plans.
It is strongly inferred at the end that Pontius Pilate himself is saved, which is based on an apocryphal writing that isn't even accepted by the RCC as far as I know.
Worst of all, the movie naturally almost deifies Mary as literally the Queen of Heaven and Earth. I believe it is Peter who says in the upper room meeting after the crucifixion:
"We are like little children, Holy Mother of the Crucified. Wanting to run and not knowing the direction... Your words shall counsel us in our dark hour... Will you lead us, Holy Mother?"
After the film ends, there is a message from an RCC priest who pleads with the viewer to practice the Rosary because this is the only way a person can fulfill the will of God.
Overall, the movie takes very little from the four Gospels. I would estimate that about 90% of the actual story is either spoken out of scriptural silence or comes from Catholic (and possibly even non-Catholic) apocrypha and false church histories. The Bible itself was clearly a very low priority to the producers of this film.
I am destroying this piece of tripe as soon as I'm finished creating this thread. If I see more copies in stores, I'll buy them if I can. With the majority of the Body as ignorant and weak as it is today, I wouldn't want to leave another copy of this junk on a store shelf. I don't expect any movie about Jesus to be perfect. But watching this made me feel ill. :ill:
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this piece of low-budget, heretical nonsense? :rant:
Hill #1 -- 1951, starring Roddy McDowell, Lief Erikson as Pontius Pilate, and James Dean as John the Baptist. 60 minutes.
When I saw that it was made by an organization called The Family Rosary Council, and produced by St. Paul Films, I knew I was in for a scary ride. Then the movie began... on a WWII battlefield, fighting over Hill #34. LOL A very hokey frame story of some soldiers contemplating the meaning of life... when naturally an Army chaplain rides up in his jeep (in the open, in the middle of a battle with cannons blazing) and proceeds to tell them about the most important victory of all time, on "hill #1."
The story begins after the crucifixion, which is never portrayed. In fact, Jesus never appears anywhere in the movie, not even from behind or in shadows. (One of its few good points... it's the only movie about Jesus I've ever seen where a European caucasian didn't play Him! LOL)
But on a serious note, the movie primarily conveys fiction and superstition. Here are just some of the ridiculous aspects of the story.
The centurion who thrusts the spear into Jesus' side then experiences Jesus' blood and "water" washing over his face, which then cures him of his partial blindness. (An active centurion who is partly blind?)
The disciples anticipate the resurrection of Jesus; they expect it.
A clean-cut James Dean plays one of the disciples of Jesus, the brother of James -- John the Baptist! (WHAT??? Yeah, you heard me!)
Emphasis is placed on the relics of Jesus' crucifixion, including the crown of thorns, pieces of the cross, etc., which the disciples go out of their way to recover for the benefit of future generations.
Pontius Pilate's wife is an ally of Jesus' disciples, and runs away to be with them, helping them carry out their plans.
It is strongly inferred at the end that Pontius Pilate himself is saved, which is based on an apocryphal writing that isn't even accepted by the RCC as far as I know.
Worst of all, the movie naturally almost deifies Mary as literally the Queen of Heaven and Earth. I believe it is Peter who says in the upper room meeting after the crucifixion:
"We are like little children, Holy Mother of the Crucified. Wanting to run and not knowing the direction... Your words shall counsel us in our dark hour... Will you lead us, Holy Mother?"
After the film ends, there is a message from an RCC priest who pleads with the viewer to practice the Rosary because this is the only way a person can fulfill the will of God.
Overall, the movie takes very little from the four Gospels. I would estimate that about 90% of the actual story is either spoken out of scriptural silence or comes from Catholic (and possibly even non-Catholic) apocrypha and false church histories. The Bible itself was clearly a very low priority to the producers of this film.
I am destroying this piece of tripe as soon as I'm finished creating this thread. If I see more copies in stores, I'll buy them if I can. With the majority of the Body as ignorant and weak as it is today, I wouldn't want to leave another copy of this junk on a store shelf. I don't expect any movie about Jesus to be perfect. But watching this made me feel ill. :ill:
Thoughts? Anyone else seen this piece of low-budget, heretical nonsense? :rant: