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Lisa S.
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 Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2003 11:48 pm Post subject: Aunt Lisa's review of Luther, the movie |
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http://www.lutherthemovie.com
For starters, let me admit that I wanted to like the movie... and I do. I
also recognize that it is not going to be the "Top Gun" or " Apollo 13"
recruiting tool for the Lutheran Church.
Many critics are distinctly ambivalent toward the movie, leaning somewhat
more towards the negative. When I last checked, there were forty five
reviews at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Luther-1125461/
I was interested to see that many people wanted more depth of theological
content and historical context. I tended to agree to a certain extent, but
I assumed that the kind of info that was missing would make a 92-hour movie
that even *I* wouldn't watch. (... and I like theology and history a lot!)
Still, they did try to touch on a few things that surprised me -- and
pleased me. They weren't exactly blatant about it, but I was able to pick
up on some of the following.
Luther was hardly the first within the Roman Catholic church to point out
some of the problems that he pointed out. Even within the Vatican at that
time (even with Pope Leo the tenth -- a Medici (remember reading Nicolo
Machiavelli's " The Prince"? That book was dedicated to this Pope, I
think.)), there was a good number of people saying a good number of similar
things -- before, during, and after the time of Luther. One of the most
wonderful pieces I've read was written in Rome from something like 1541 --
"The Benefit of Christ Crucified," by Don Benedetto
http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/dbbenefit.htm
They also did a good job of bringing out the fact that making choices and
taking a stand (even good and right) sometimes has terrible and unexpected
consequences. So does not making a choice...
Even though they crunched "The Peasants' Uprising" and "The Knights'
Uprising," along with a whole lot of political squabbling... I don't think
that most people will notice that. We did get the sense that the political
atmosphere in the German states, and in Rome, was a little bit like swimming
with hungry piranhas.
I liked Joseph Fiennes as "Luther." He played the man as a very human
man -- not like some grand icon of history. (I have to admit though... I'm
glad that they didn't mention his bowel troubles more than once.) They
brought out his abject terror of God -- almost to the point that he looks
deranged. They just barely, *BARELY* hinted at "Justification by Faith
Alone." The nailing of the ninety five thesis on the church door isn't
really the only thing that Luther was about... he wasn't just some priest
ticked off at Rome. He wrestled through doubt and fear of God into a
recognition that what Christ has done for us is everything we need.
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/FIENNES/FIN_L_5.jpg
Oh well... complex human beings rarely make it all the way onto the movie
screens... something winds up on the cutting room floor.
I think Peter Ustinov as Frederick the Wise was my favorite character in the
movie -- he is so smart-aleck and politically savvy. Okay... he is just
plain fun. My favorite quote from him is, "When I was a child, I thought
like a child, I spoke like a child, I was a child. Then the adults around
me made me into one of them, and I was appalled at how cheaply they thought
I could be bought."
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/USTINOV/UNST_L_1.jpg
Jonathan Firth as the papal legate, Girolamo Aleander, just about had been
drooling from the first time I saw him in this picture
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/FIRTH/FIR_L_1.jpg
It made me remember why I enjoy "men in tights" movies, in spite of the
poverty and dirt. Anyhow... he is talking to a Cardinal (another character
throughout the movie that I deeply admired, but I've never caught his name).
This Cardinal asks him what he wants most in life. When Aleander replies
that he wants to serve, the Cardinal says, "Then that is where you will be
most strongly tempted."
I think that's a pretty good summary of the theme of the entire movie...
maybe even of life.
I think they probably underestimated Emperor Charles the fifth. Torben
Liebrecht played him as something of a cross between spoiled surfer dude and
"I was a teenage werewolf/Emperor"... but then he wasn't on the screen all
that much.
Two other people that I would've liked to have seen on the screen a whole
lot more were Katie Luther
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/COX/COX_L_1.jpg
and John von Staupitz, the man who kept pointing the Luther to Christ and
would not rest until Luther found peace.
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/GANZ/GANZ_L_1.jpg
Like I said... the movie I would've made would've been ninety two hours
long... but go see this 1 instead. I think you will enjoy it.
--
Lisa S.
ICQ-27424429 Yahoo -WorthyWoman AOL-LCMSwoman
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/WorthyWoman
http://profiles.yahoo.com/worthywoman
http://community.webshots.com/user/qeyyoh
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I will
not find it given there. Nor must I hold to the suffering of Christ...in
knowledge or remembrance, for I will not find it there either. But I will
find in the Sacrament or Gospel the Word which distributes, presents,
offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the cross.
Therefore...whoever has a bad conscience from his sins should go to the
Sacrament and obtain comfort, not because of the bread and wine, not because
of the body and blood of Christ, but because of the Word which in the
Sacrament offers, presents, and gives the body and blood of Christ, given
and shed for me. (Luther)--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Lisa S.
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2003 12:27 am Post subject: Re: Aunt Lisa's review of Luther, the movie |
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I found the name of the Cardinal that I so deeply admired in the movie, and
found a little bit about him from the Catholic Encyclopedia
Tommaso de Vio Gaetani Cajetan
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03145c.htm
This is a truly interesting man
--
Lisa S.
If you know someone with health or financial issues, send them to:
HTTP://WWW.MANNAPAGES.COM/WORTHYWOMAN
ICQ-27424429 Yahoo -WorthyWoman AOL-LCMSwoman
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/WorthyWoman
http://profiles.yahoo.com/worthywoman
http://community.webshots.com/user/qeyyoh
"The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and
not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something
could have materialized - never knowing. *Jim Rohn"
"Lisa S." <worthywoman@mail.mannapages.com> wrote in message
news:bl4idt$mme1@baran22.ttnet.net.tr...
| Quote: |
http://www.lutherthemovie.com
For starters, let me admit that I wanted to like the movie... and I do. I
also recognize that it is not going to be the "Top Gun" or " Apollo 13"
recruiting tool for the Lutheran Church.
Many critics are distinctly ambivalent toward the movie, leaning somewhat
more towards the negative. When I last checked, there were forty five
reviews at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Luther-1125461/
I was interested to see that many people wanted more depth of theological
content and historical context. I tended to agree to a certain extent,
but
I assumed that the kind of info that was missing would make a 92-hour
movie
that even *I* wouldn't watch. (... and I like theology and history a
lot!)
Still, they did try to touch on a few things that surprised me -- and
pleased me. They weren't exactly blatant about it, but I was able to pick
up on some of the following.
Luther was hardly the first within the Roman Catholic church to point out
some of the problems that he pointed out. Even within the Vatican at that
time (even with Pope Leo the tenth -- a Medici (remember reading Nicolo
Machiavelli's " The Prince"? That book was dedicated to this Pope, I
think.)), there was a good number of people saying a good number of
similar
things -- before, during, and after the time of Luther. One of the most
wonderful pieces I've read was written in Rome from something like 1541 --
"The Benefit of Christ Crucified," by Don Benedetto
http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/dbbenefit.htm
They also did a good job of bringing out the fact that making choices and
taking a stand (even good and right) sometimes has terrible and unexpected
consequences. So does not making a choice...
Even though they crunched "The Peasants' Uprising" and "The Knights'
Uprising," along with a whole lot of political squabbling... I don't think
that most people will notice that. We did get the sense that the
political
atmosphere in the German states, and in Rome, was a little bit like
swimming
with hungry piranhas.
I liked Joseph Fiennes as "Luther." He played the man as a very human
man -- not like some grand icon of history. (I have to admit though...
I'm
glad that they didn't mention his bowel troubles more than once.) They
brought out his abject terror of God -- almost to the point that he looks
deranged. They just barely, *BARELY* hinted at "Justification by Faith
Alone." The nailing of the ninety five thesis on the church door isn't
really the only thing that Luther was about... he wasn't just some priest
ticked off at Rome. He wrestled through doubt and fear of God into a
recognition that what Christ has done for us is everything we need.
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/FIENNES/FIN_L_5.jpg
Oh well... complex human beings rarely make it all the way onto the movie
screens... something winds up on the cutting room floor.
I think Peter Ustinov as Frederick the Wise was my favorite character in
the
movie -- he is so smart-aleck and politically savvy. Okay... he is just
plain fun. My favorite quote from him is, "When I was a child, I thought
like a child, I spoke like a child, I was a child. Then the adults around
me made me into one of them, and I was appalled at how cheaply they
thought
I could be bought."
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/USTINOV/UNST_L_1.jpg
Jonathan Firth as the papal legate, Girolamo Aleander, just about had been
drooling from the first time I saw him in this picture
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/FIRTH/FIR_L_1.jpg
It made me remember why I enjoy "men in tights" movies, in spite of the
poverty and dirt. Anyhow... he is talking to a Cardinal (another
character
throughout the movie that I deeply admired, but I've never caught his
name).
This Cardinal asks him what he wants most in life. When Aleander replies
that he wants to serve, the Cardinal says, "Then that is where you will be
most strongly tempted."
I think that's a pretty good summary of the theme of the entire movie...
maybe even of life.
I think they probably underestimated Emperor Charles the fifth. Torben
Liebrecht played him as something of a cross between spoiled surfer dude
and
"I was a teenage werewolf/Emperor"... but then he wasn't on the screen all
that much.
Two other people that I would've liked to have seen on the screen a whole
lot more were Katie Luther
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/COX/COX_L_1.jpg
and John von Staupitz, the man who kept pointing the Luther to Christ and
would not rest until Luther found peace.
http://www.lutherthemovie.com/flash/gallery/GANZ/GANZ_L_1.jpg
Like I said... the movie I would've made would've been ninety two hours
long... but go see this 1 instead. I think you will enjoy it.
--
Lisa S.
ICQ-27424429 Yahoo -WorthyWoman AOL-LCMSwoman
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/WorthyWoman
http://profiles.yahoo.com/worthywoman
http://community.webshots.com/user/qeyyoh
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I
will
not find it given there. Nor must I hold to the suffering of Christ...in
knowledge or remembrance, for I will not find it there either. But I will
find in the Sacrament or Gospel the Word which distributes, presents,
offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the cross.
Therefore...whoever has a bad conscience from his sins should go to the
Sacrament and obtain comfort, not because of the bread and wine, not
because
of the body and blood of Christ, but because of the Word which in the
Sacrament offers, presents, and gives the body and blood of Christ, given
and shed for me. (Luther)--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.
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