Movies that caused religious uproar
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http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/at-the-movies/a524609/6-movies-that-caused-religious-uproar-da-vinci-code-the-devils-more.html
I remember reading about these- "The Devils" and
"Life of Brian" were both banned for ages in my
native Ireland.
Another film that caused controversy was
"The Message" by Moustapha Akkad, about the
origins of Islam,
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/obituaries/12akkad.html?_r=0
Can you think of any others?
I remember reading about these- "The Devils" and
"Life of Brian" were both banned for ages in my
native Ireland.
Another film that caused controversy was
"The Message" by Moustapha Akkad, about the
origins of Islam,
"The Message" was declared sacrilegious by a group of black American Muslims, who took hostages in three Washington locations when the movie opened in the United States in March 1977, demanding that it not be shown in America.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/obituaries/12akkad.html?_r=0
Can you think of any others?
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Down with this kind of thing!
Pasolini's Gospel According To St Matthew - again, think it's a masterpiece. But some critics didn't like its Marxist interpretation of Christ. Though apparently it's on a Vatican approved film list now :eek:
Careful now.
The Exorcist - the catholic church was none to happy about it.
And they end up giving the film lots of free publicity so lots more people go to see what the fuss is all about
Priest (Linus Roache) (only in the UK and Ireland)
The Last Temptation of Christ (only in the US and the UK, and maybe Ireland?)
Departures (only in Japan)
The Final Judgement (only in Japan)
Wonderful Life a.k.a. Afterlife (only in Japan)
Couple of friends came from Gdansk to see that.
any protests against it (perhaps they were PR-savvy enough to know that would merely
fan interest in it).
Do you remember that bit when St. Tibulus, he tried to take that banana off the other lad?
Ironic, as William Peter Blatty is a devout Roman Catholic,
who reportedly wrote the original novel in order to
show the Jesuits in a good light.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
I recall it being American religious evangelicals who were up in arms about The Exorcist. In the 'Fear of God' documentary, William Friedkin mentions the preacher Billy Graham claiming that there was "evil in the very celluloid" of the film. Friedkin claims that it was one of the stupidest things he'd ever heard.
1968 was a vintage year for heathens!
Some of my favourite movies are in that list.
It's never made sense to me for Catholics and the church to be against The Exorcist...it's the ultimate good triumphing over evil movie...god wins in the end, priest selflessly gives his life to save the girl, the demon is banished and the young girl lives...happy ending, Pro-Catholicism.
Indeed the priests in the movie are portrayed very realistically and almost heroic, though Karras is obviously wracked with guilt and doubts his catholic beliefs, but yet the events ultimately reinforce his beliefs, leading to the ultimate sacrifice.
I have two uncles who are very conservative
Roman Catholics. (I remember one of them
complained loudly about both "Priest" and later
"The Da Vinci Code").
I bet they'd have joined the LoD if they'd been around then...
http://www.capalert.com/capreports/index.htm
One particular piece of ungodly evil was Matilda apparently.
One of the funniest films ever made
They also hated the Jack Black "Gulliver's Travels" for
http://www.capalert.com/capreports/gulliverstravels.htm
...even though that was one of the few bits also
in Jonathan Swift's original book!
It's quite hilarious some of the stuff they criticise films for. It seems to me that the only film that would be suitable for children to watch would be one where a normal family who treat each other with respect go to church together and absolutely nothing else happens.
Even that would have to be careful though, they couldn't start the film with the family getting up in the morning because that could show a clothed couple in bed together, or showing someone in nightwear could be considered revealing dress and God help them if they showed one of those standard shots of a child in pyjamas crawling into bed..."close-up of (clothed) child's buttocks".
(I didn't actually see it for years but knew most of the script!)