Movie: Hill #1 ... worst Xian-made movie about Jesus ever

[bar Jonah]

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.

Thoughts? Anyone else seen this piece of low-budget, heretical nonsense?

[Piebald]

A clean-cut James Dean plays one of the disciples of Jesus, the brother of James -- John the Baptist! (WHAT??? Yeah, you heard me!)

Mr. The Baptist, it's good to see that you're recovering nicely from your neck accident.

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

Don't the Eastern Orthodox folks consider him a saint? That's really weird, IMHO

And you're right, that sounds like a pretty terrible movie

[Stephen]

Sad, the movies that tend to be more accurate, IMHO are the ones made by secular organizations. Sure, they don't add in salvation, but they also don't put in more than is scriptural to suit their doctrinal bias, which is a plus in my book.

[bar Jonah]

Today @ 08:16 PM post located here
Stephen:

Sad, the movies that tend to be more accurate, IMHO are the ones made by secular organizations. Sure, they don't add in salvation, but they also don't put in more than is scriptural to suit their doctrinal bias, which is a plus in my book.

Uhm, you mean like The Last Temptation of Christ?

[Dee Dee Warren]

Don't ever see The Omega Code. Ugh.

[bar Jonah]

Today @ 08:25 PM post located here
Dee Dee Warren:

Don't ever see The Omega Code. Ugh.

AGREED! That and Megiddo are tripe!

[Stephen]

Uhm, you mean like The Last Temptation of Christ?

Nah, I just mean the tv-only one's I've seen every once and a while.

But there was one I remember where Jesus' dad died and He was yelling at God and all this other weird stuff, forgot the name though. Have to put some melodrama into everything.

[Jin-Roh]

Yesterday @ 02:08 PM post located here
RightIdea:


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.

[...]

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:

The RCC's Rosary brigrade downplays Jesus and emphasizes Mary?
NO WAY!:dufus:

[Jin-Roh]

oh yeah, I try to avoid Christian movies anyway.

[bar Jonah]

Today @ 03:57 PM post located here
Jin-Roh:
The RCC's Rosary brigrade downplays Jesus and emphasizes Mary?
NO WAY!:dufus:

An understatement.

Conceptually, Jesus' great significance in the story is that He was an example of how we should be forgiving of those who wrong us. Mary isn't the central, focal figure, but she certainly is "played up" and very glorified, far above her place. The apostles calling her "Queen of Heaven and Earth" to her face, and asking her to become their leader? Oy vay.

Yes, Jesus rises from the dead... apparently not important to show on camera. This appears to have been no more special than Lazarus' resurrection. Jesus was simply more forgiving. Whoop-tee-doo. No soteriological value to this movie at all.

[TWells]

I didnt think anything could beat 'king of kings'....

Don't ever see The Omega Code. Ugh.

AGREED! That and Megiddo are tripe!

Don't forget Left Behind I and II and the rest of the Cloud Ten movies staring such tremendous actors as Mr. T (He pities da foo that dont 'cept Jesus) and Margot Kidder.

[bar Jonah]

Today @ 07:06 PM post located here
TWells:
I didnt think anything could beat 'king of kings'....

Don't forget Left Behind I and II and the rest of the Cloud Ten movies staring such tremendous actors as Mr. T (He pities da foo that dont 'cept Jesus) and Margot Kidder.

Left Behind is bad, but not as bad as Hill #1 by a long shot. Not even as bad as Omega Code and Meggido. But yes, it's junk, too. I've never even seen the Cloud Ten movies, but have heard how bad they are.

Btw, Margot Kidder openly attacks Christianity; she says she was stoned and drunk back then, and didn't even realize her agent had gotten her into a Christian movie until she was contracted. In fact, she says that whenever she plays an evil person in a movie, she makes a point of wearing a cross.

[Jin-Roh]

haha. Christain movie flamefest...


(I did like Jesus of Nazereth though, better than a lot of secular movies)

[Christianotaku]

NO i enjoyed meggido its a godm ovie you are evil!°!!!!

[Tobias Reiper]

Uhm, you mean like The Last Temptation of Christ?

The fact that Peter Gabriel released an album with music from and inspired by that movie made me go from a fan to just a very casual listener.