I remember fondly of the days of Video stores. It was someplace to go on, say, a Friday night. This particular night we had talked about The Last Temptation of Christ and decided, why not?
"Besides," I said, "I want to see Havey Keitel play Judas with a New Jersey accent." We laughed and took it home and it was one of the biggest surprises we ever saw. First of all, the story does not deal with the Bible, anymore than a rough draft of the story we all know.
Rather, it dealt with how it might feel to realize you might be the son of God and meant for bigger things. In an opening segment Jesus, as played by Willam Defoe, had seizure-like episodes and after one, his mother suggested it might be demonic possession and that a Devil can be cast out.
Rather, it dealt with how it might feel to realize you might be the son of God and meant for bigger things. In an opening segment Jesus, as played by Willam Defoe, had seizure-like episodes and after one, his mother suggested it might be demonic possession and that a Devil can be cast out.
Jesus answered, "What if it's God? Can you cast out God?"
We were pretty much hooked after that. It became one concept after another and Harvey Keitel nearly stole the movie with his portrayal of Judas. Christian purists of course condemned the film which gave it a left-handed recommendation for me and I kind of knew at that point we'd sample it as time went by.
It was long, of course like all of Scorsese's films but few films ever stayed with me nearly as long as this one. If anything, it re-awakened my Christian faith and humanized Jesus as nothing in my upbringing ever had.
Superb performances by everyone and a certain energy permeated from the cast that seemed missing in other tellings. Of course, if you're a right-wing Christian nut, don't bother but if you're filled with any part of wonder about the Christian faith find The Last Temptation of Christ and watch it. To me, it's a truly great film.
~~~
In Jack Savage's latest book, The Blazer of St. Clair, the story of three boys, working at a local cinema and then watching the movies and talking about them later over something to eat, is certainly presented effectively. Now I have found that Jack is, himself, a lover of movies... and reviews them! Cool, right?! So you know what I have in mind, don't you? Jack, interested in sharing your future reviews here at Book Readers Heaven?
For, of course, many movies are based, originally, on a book! But, I'm a movie fan too, even if I don't see as many as I would like these days...
I was happy to have Jack mention that, not only, did he watch it because it was banned by "Christian purists." But, I was also happy that watching the movie "re-awakened his Christian faith." In fact, I would include that I have read a lot of Christian-oriented fiction books, some of which were based upon Biblical characters. There is not one of them that I found "subject" for consideration of banning! And which, helped me to see, just how Jesus works within each of us!
If we are not to spend time learning about Jesus, then how can we truly come to know Him. If we read only one source of anything, can we truly say that we have studied the book and can speak about it with Truth and an awareness of how the story was presented, and what it meant to us?
Many of you may remember in earlier posts that I often refer to the only point where Jesus showed anger. I found this video and realized just how well it presented how and why I feel that He was indeed right to do what He did! Note that he did not become violent...He spoke eloquently, in my opinion, about the love of money being carefully intertwined into worship, where the priest was trying to explain that money changing was necessary!
As we look, right now, at what is happening in America, I believe even more in studying the actions of Christ our Savior. After all, He made it quite clear in my opinion, that He was a new beginning... Yet, even now, most cling to the old ways... the old teachings that Jesus clearly explained were to be put aside with those words that He would share with us...
(By the way, Jack is one of my oldest online friends--at least 15 years if not more, LOL, so I am confident that Jack will not be upset of using his words to expand upon my own agenda...
November 7th is Election Day
Use Your Mind, Consider what is Happening...
The Constitution supports our right to Vote
Don't allow fear to keep you away from your rights.
Perhaps Jesus is the Answer for these times?
Listen, Watch, Learn
Let us free ourselves from
Fear, Selfishness, and Pride
We must use our minds to truly understand
Common Sense, Logic, and Reasoning
Think through how and what you want to do to help things better here in America and Across the World. Each of us has a role to play, don't you think?
No comments:
Post a Comment