Movies that caused religious uproar

Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
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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,
"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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  • RebelScumRebelScum Posts: 16,008
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    The Passion of St Tibulus
  • muntamunta Posts: 18,285
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    The Last Temptation of Christ. That didn't go down too well with Christian Fundamentalists .
  • kegsiekegsie Posts: 2,800
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    The Passion of St Tibulus

    Down with this kind of thing!
  • jeff_vaderjeff_vader Posts: 938
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    The Passion Of The Christ - well, it was directed by Mad Mel, so to be expected :D. I think it's superb.

    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:
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    kegsie wrote: »
    Down with this kind of thing!

    Careful now.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,832
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    "Religious uproar" usually = a handful of dullards spouting nonsense and mass indifference from the other 99.99999999% of the population.
  • Susie_WilcoxSusie_Wilcox Posts: 1,014
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    The Song of Bernadette (1943) caused some upset among the nuns at my school when we were shown the film because in the film Saint Bernadette has a boyfriend and we were all told by the hyperventilating nuns that it wasn't true and to ignore it :D.

    The Exorcist - the catholic church was none to happy about it.
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    afx237vi wrote: »
    "Religious uproar" usually = a handful of dullards spouting nonsense and mass indifference from the other 99.99999999% of the population.

    And they end up giving the film lots of free publicity so lots more people go to see what the fuss is all about :)
  • TakaeTakae Posts: 13,555
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    The ones I remember most are:

    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)
  • eugenespeedeugenespeed Posts: 66,695
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    The Passion of St Tibulus

    Couple of friends came from Gdansk to see that.
  • Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
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    The Scientologists weren't very happy about "The Master", although they didn't make
    any protests against it (perhaps they were PR-savvy enough to know that would merely
    fan interest in it).
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    RebelScum wrote: »
    The Passion of St Tibulus

    Do you remember that bit when St. Tibulus, he tried to take that banana off the other lad?
  • Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
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    The Song of Bernadette (1943) caused some upset among the nuns at my school when we were shown the film because in the film Saint Bernadette has a boyfriend and we were all told by the hyperventilating nuns that it wasn't true and to ignore it :D.

    The Exorcist - the catholic church was none to happy about it.

    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.
  • CLL DodgeCLL Dodge Posts: 115,625
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    Quite a long list here (films condemned by the Legion of Decency, an American Catholic organisation):

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
  • woot_whoowoot_whoo Posts: 18,030
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    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.

    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. :D
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,832
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    CLL Dodge wrote: »
    Quite a long list here (films condemned by the Legion of Decency, an American Catholic organisation):

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency

    1968 was a vintage year for heathens!
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    CLL Dodge wrote: »
    Quite a long list here (films condemned by the Legion of Decency, an American Catholic organisation):

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency

    Some of my favourite movies are in that list.
  • Ted CTed C Posts: 11,730
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    woot_whoo wrote: »
    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. :D


    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.
  • Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
    Forum Member
    CLL Dodge wrote: »
    Quite a long list here (films condemned by the Legion of Decency, an American Catholic organisation):

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency

    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...
  • Finny SkeletaFinny Skeleta Posts: 2,638
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    According to this website just about every film ever released.

    http://www.capalert.com/capreports/index.htm

    One particular piece of ungodly evil was Matilda apparently.
  • RyJaRyJa Posts: 900
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    Monty Python's The Life of Brian.

    One of the funniest films ever made :)
  • Residents FanResidents Fan Posts: 9,204
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    According to this website just about every film ever released.

    http://www.capalert.com/capreports/index.htm

    One particular piece of ungodly evil was Matilda apparently.

    They also hated the Jack Black "Gulliver's Travels" for
    Part of the typical "humor" of Black's style was him putting out a large Lilliputian fire by urinating on it.

    http://www.capalert.com/capreports/gulliverstravels.htm

    ...even though that was one of the few bits also
    in Jonathan Swift's original book! :D
  • Finny SkeletaFinny Skeleta Posts: 2,638
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    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! :D

    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".
  • SillyBillyGoatSillyBillyGoat Posts: 22,266
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    I seem to remember The Golden Compass causing quite a stir.
  • loracanloracan Posts: 914
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    I attended a girls catholic grammar with a few nuns on the teaching staff when Life of Brian was released - we were all warned off it. And took great delight in quoting it at every opportunity.

    (I didn't actually see it for years but knew most of the script!)
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