Ok so here is my dealio with this movie. No I did not come to class because I knew what we were watching and I have seen it before. The Last Temptation of Christ to me is possible the most offensive movie of all time. I may not be the most religious person on the planet, hell, I know I'm not, but when a movie like this comes out I feel I need to speak up. I do not appreciate the views of Jesus in this movie. I thin the thing that bothers me the most is the fact I have the knowledge he died for OUR SINS. Not his own sins, he didn't have sins he took on all of our sins when he was here, and another thing... He had no sexual relations with anyone! And for Satan in the movie... Umm, Jesus knows who Satan is, how he wouldn't know Satan was his guardian angel in disguise... yeah right he would know. This movie is so full of false crap and in my view ultra offensive to me. I know this movie is not based on the bible teachings and what not, but this to me is just a subject that should NOT be messed with. I just couldn't bring myself to come to class and watch it again. This being a controversial film class I hope you understand my reasoning. I have seen this, and I don't have a problem with R rated shows... shoot it take a lot to offend me, but this is one of those subjects that is too much for me. I was not going to subject myself to watching it again. Let me compare to The Passion of the Christ. I saw that movie, but I didn't feel bad for watching it. It to me though was to much. There was no need to show all of the violence and blood because we aren't supposed to remember Jesus as someone who was treated like that.... This movie made me feel sick and knowing I was lied to about true stuff made me angry. I see no entertainment value from this movie and think anyone who has a desire to watch it shoul seriously think twice on that. Awful movie in my opinion that just should be burned. Every copy of it.
My opinion of this movie is very similar to dalton88's. I know that this class discusses controver sial topics and we were warned that we would be offended at least once. I guess this was my chance so I can't be upset. I actually didnt stay to watch the whole film. So I can't really discuss it. However, I knew this movie would be horrible the minute I saw the Green Gremlin as Jesus... sorry, but what the hell were they thinking!!
hi all i guess i will be the second person to post on this movie. i agree with the previous post on almost all points, but in trying to be objective and for a different read i will take a defferent view of the movie. from what i read in the link that we were given for the author of this book we can see that he is personally lost and tormented. as i look at the movie and try to understand it from the aoint of view that the author might have had, i think that it is sad that he felt so torn and so lost and so twisted. maybe he felt that the only way to get his personal feelings out to the public and not have them ignored by all, was to place them on Christ. this act in itself promised that he would have infamy for a very long time and that there would be a a great deal of commotion about his book. truely a travesty in my opinion and from my own personal experiences you cannot do the things that Christ did in his life without certanty in your heart. i personally dont know all that ways that satan tried to temp and distract Christ from his mission here on earth, but i do feel that he was not torn and tortered like the author of this book was. on the other hand i am sure that there are many people in this life that feel some sort of confusion as to what their body wants and what their heart wants. good luck to all in figuring out thier personal meanings to this movie.
Where to start?? There is so much garbage in this movie it would take days, weeks or even months to comment on each specific instance. In the end I think that those who are confused about the true nature,mission and divinity of Jesus Christ (as were the author and director)want to belive that Jesus was just as confused as they are and will like this movie. Those who know that Jesus is our Savior will not like it. Jesus knew from the very begining who he was what his mission was and exactly how to accomplish it! Which he did!!
This movie was over the limit. I trying the understand the reasoning and logic behind that. But, because it is not so endurance. If this movie base on religious it will never get permission to public or churches. Too Violate. Well, I didn't get the feeling at all. It was kinda boring and confusing. If some one wanted to fun or con damed Religious. I thought, I just their choice because this country most of us believe in freedom of choice to worship their belief. But you have to sleep to believe it. Any way, These comrades wanted to com dam and destroy and moral and liberty of peoples of United States. I just want to bit the shit all of them. By the way, After this movie I remembered and asked myself like The Principle of Eric (American History X)IS MAKE YOU ANY BETTER? absolutely not. I make me unhappy and sorrow instead hope of life and freedom.
Okay, I had a hell of a time staying awake throughout this movie. I am sure my post will likely be met with a lot of criticism but I really don't give a shit. So, first off, I am an atheist (yeah here we go) I almost skipped class because I didn't want to watch no religious bullshit about "Jesus" and really, I didn't find it all that controversial. I GUESS I could see how it could be controversial for those who bought that ridiculous story, but I really don't care. I hope this is the last time we touch ANYTHING religious in this class. After two weeks, with one movie that was somewhat boring but still interesting, and another movie that was PHENOMINAL, I couldn't wait to come to class this week, and now we have some movie thats gonna take two weeks. I hope we move back to decent movies.
WOW!! So many deep seated emotions, I am neither surprised nor disappointed. I figure that I should start with MY history on Jesus. I was raised to believe that Jesus IS The Redeemer. However, looking at this film from the view of the author, I found it fascinating.
Nikos Kazantzakis wrote this story based on HIS beliefs. He was a man with MANY influences. He found Nicci a man that said that God is no longer having an influence on man or “is dead”. He questioned {Kazantzakis} his own being and wrote about how Christ could relate to him.
He painted Jesus as a mortal, a man with weaknesses. He viewed him as a man that was true to his convictions. He issued a portrayal of Jesus in His mortal form. He was shown as a "guy" that was subject to EVERY form of temptation that this world offers.
I found that his picture of Jesus was closer to reality than many would like to believe. I was taught that Jesus had every available opportunity to sin, just like the rest of us, but he resisted it all.
I was taught to believe that He was a tormented man, often having to accept His own mortality and weaknesses. However, he overcame them.
Let’s look at the stoning of Mary Magdalene in the film. The Bible says that Jesus told a multitude of people to cast the first stone if they were without sin. This movie portrayed that. If a man has such deep convictions to really practice what he preaches, he would have done such things as suggest another take a stone larger than the one he intended to throw and punish her for her short comings and violation of he law.
How about the time where he told the crowd that he would teach them using stories, parables, to be exact? This is how Jesus was supposed to have communicated, I use the same procedure. It is referred to as analogies in our modern vernacular.
What about the raising of Lazarus? Do you think that a man that believes this could happen would be surprised when it actually occurred? I think if this is a historical fact, Jesus was as surprised as the rest of anybody that witnessed it.
Ultimately, here’s the deal. Jesus is a historical person with significance. People believe that in the after-life, Jesus is their biggest cheerleader. People also believe that he was the anti-Christ. Either way, when you tap into the human psyche, perception is reality.
Let’s look at a final point, in THIS film, He resisted the temptation and died for His cause. If this is the cause that you believe I celebrate it with you. You have found something that brings a completion to your being. If you are the opposite or anywhere in-between, the same to You.
We often believe what works for US.
I often turn to humor as grounds for relativity. In the film, Saul/Paul said that his Jesus was bigger and better than any Jesus than even he original could offer. Remember, many people think of Jesus in the Cristmas sense, in a tuxedo t-shirt or fighting ninjas.
I guess in my summation, GREAT controversial film!
you know for all the interesting comments on the film, the only thing I disagreed with was the whole fact that William Defoe played the Green Goblin, not the green gremlin. The message I got from the movie though was something like. Remember kids William Defoe gave his life trying to kill Spiderman, shouldn't you do the same?
Wow, I certainly was not expecting the reactions that are being expressed on this blog. Fist off people if I, the only “black” student in the class can choose to come and stay in class knowing that we were watching a movie about the Arian nation you can come and open your mind. They said the word “nigger” it seems a hundred times. How do you think I felt!!??? It’s healthy to know different opinions no matter how it makes you feel GROW THE FUCK UP! Everything in life isn’t going to be easy face your fears and you will be a better person for it.
Now this movie I thought it was kind of confusing and all over the place but I also laughed a few times. I was raised “Christian” but as I become more educated I find more and more holes in religion as a whole.
Christianity divides people and breeds hate and every catastrophic and devastating war EVER has been over religion. It makes you look down on and pity people who aren’t Christian. If you believe in a God that’s fine but can you even count the number of ways Christianity is being taught now...lol well I can’t it’s preposterous.
In reality, NO ONE really knows who this guy was or if he even existed or how many times through THOUSANDS of years this story could have been manipulated. Yes, MANIPULATED to fit the needs of the masses. No matter how RELIGIOUS you are, you REALLY don’t know. If your thinking my faith says he’s real, well you can’t prove faith it’s just an ideal. ANYONE that believes ANYTHING without asking questions where something doesn’t makes sense IS A SHEEP AND WILL ALWAYS BE A SHEEP. OPEN YOUR MIND, ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS BASED ON COMON SENSE. “God” Bless whomever he or she maybe.
damn I think a lot of people were offended by this movie due to there religious belief. I know some people were taught to believe Jesus Christ live and acted a certain way, and thus seeing him as a tormented mortal man, suffering from temptations would highly offend them... but like R@iray said "No one really knows the truth about Jesus!" but I do respect everyone views and points.
I really don't believe in much, but I do believe in treating others with respect, helping others when I can "especially the unfortunate ones", and love your family and friends. I also believe in Karma!
All I can say is to keep your mind wide open, and be very open minded to everything you hear or see in life. Absorb and retain knowledge and facts from other without being judgmental of one's opinions...that alone will provide you a better understanding of the world.
My personal opinion about this show is that I didn't like it at all. I believe that Jesus came to this earth with a sole purpose to die for our sins. Also, one thing that bothered me in this show was the guardian angel, Jesus knows who Satan is and in what form he can transform to, he of course knew that the guardian angel was actually Satan. Another one is Judas, I really hate how they changed his position as a traitor to a follower of Jesus and Jesus himself the traitor. All in all I didn't enjoy the film at all, regardless if it was shot well or the acting was good, I couldn't get over the story therefore causing me to hate the film. I don't like movies like this one that wants to persuade you into question your faith.
I knew what movie we were watching but I didn't know what the movie was about. This was the first time I watched this movie and will also be my last.
Yes I am a Christian and I am firm in my belief that Jesus is our Savior. That is my belief and my opinion. I don't force it on others. I respect others' beliefs and opinions and I would expect the same respect back.
First off, the disclaimer in the beginning of the movie is fine as it shows its not supposed to be based on the Gospels in the New Testament but based on the book by Nikos. The view itself is an interesting story but the way its potrayed on film seemed different to what my view of how the life of Jesus was.
Jesus knew who he was what he was meant for in this life. I did not like how it was shown how Jesus was "tormented" by the voice of God. Nor did I like the explicit nudity and sexual scenes throughout the film. This was the biggest red flag for me during the film and I was caught by surprise when it was first shown.
As far as the guardian angel was concerned, she seemed ok at first and she did make some sense, which convinced Jesus the suffering was over and that God wanted only to test him as he did Abraham and that he wanted him to live a life of a regular man. However, when he married Mary Magdalene (sp) and she died, the angel told him there were other "Maries" and he married Mary of Lazarus and her sister (?). This also I did not like. However once its shown that the angel was in fact the devil, Jesus recognized this was a temptation and a sin for all he did and tried to repent to God for it. However, the whole thing was a dream. He did end up dying on the cross.
Here is the last 6 minutes of the film we didn't get to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxt4Qq76vB0
Once again, this is an interesting point of view but I do not agree with it. I did not like it and do not feel comfortable watching it again. This is the first and last time I will watch it.
I'm only posting a second time to state more clearly a point of why this movie is so offensive not only to me but looks like others as well. R@iRey, we are grown up. That is part of the initaiative we are taking by expressing ourselves on this movie. You seem like someone who is questioning a lot of religious things, that's only my opinion, but for those of us who truly believe what we do about Jesus this movie was extremly offensive. Like I stated before, I didn't even come to class because I have seen it before and I wasn't going to subject myself to seeing it again. I am pretty sure that American History X was offensive to you, but in my defense, it was offensive to me as well. That family in the movie that was so racist is the kind of scum sack of shit family I have been trying to avoid my whole life... Not my parents, but grandparents and uncles and cousins. It disgusts me. This is a whole different issue for me. You just won't get it unless you are the actual person it is offending. It's not that we need to, in your words, GROW THE FUCK UP, just realize some people are going to have stronger opinions on subjects than you. I don't want this to seem like an attack, it's not, I just feel like the people who are offended by this movie are being attacked and need to just let this out. I could rant and rave about this for hours,but I won't. I know there are people out there that like this movie, but that doesn't make me like them less. IT'S JUST A MOVIE, BUT IT SPARKS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY. This is my second post on it for fuck sake! I just feel very strongly about this, and when I see on here someone telling me to grow the fuck up I do and will become very angry. In my defense why doesn't EVERYONE grow up and just look at both sides. I didn't want to subject myself to watching this movie again, and if anyone doesn't ever want to watch American History X again of JFK for some reason that's cool... Don't. No one cares either way, but wow. This movie sure does have us going.
Couldn't we have just watched my all time favorite book witch happened to be written by Kazantzakis, "Zorba The Greek".
This movie was an interesting interpretation, infact it's an interprtation of a interpretation. All though I have never read the book, I would be willing to bet that it was slaughtered. Movies are never as good as the book.
It was at an early age that I heard my first alteritive version of Christ. I remember the uneasy feeling it left on me. Since then I've heard many more... Though I don't agree with most of Nikos' ideas and philosophies, good for him to question because the truth will show it's self eventually. He is still an intelligent man and the author of my favorite book.
As for the movie, it was painfully boring. infact just when in started getting good with a twist at the very end, you shut it off.
Oh and the key point of this movie was the "disclaimer" in the beginning. It said this movie is not based on scipture. To alot of people The Bible is nothing more than a fictional story, and they are certainy entitled to think anything they want.
ok this movie goes against most things that we have been taught since childhood which is christ was a perfect being but this movie goes so much agianst that i find it kond of funny that most of the comments go horribly against this movie and that this movie should be burned and is filled with filth which i find amusing well all i have to say to that is holy cow peole be a little more open minded just because you dont think its right doesnt mean its trash hell i dont believe in almost anything in this movie but for one its a movie two did it make you think a little more about the man that was jesus about who he really was and i think that was a big point of the movie was just to make people think because we take all of what we hear at face value maybe it will make you go and research your beliefs a little bit more thats never a bad thing and what if this movie really was his belief about jesus so what thats just what he thinks about the whole thing you dont have to believe but i dont really think you should go around calling it smut and complete garbage do you?? and besides its a movie it says in the begining not based on scripture but i wont even get into that thats a whole different subject well anyways i thought the movie was very thought provoking and interesting not one of my favorites but interesting and glad that i saw it
I can understand why so many people are all upset about this movie but can't you understand that other people may have different beliefs about this topic? Maybe Kazantzakis was just trying to point out that just because something is written in a really old book that we should still question its truth. His version might be different than yours but his opinion is just as valuable as yours, is it not? I agree that this movie was not convincing at all and I don't believe any of the bullshit it had to offer, but that doesnt't mean I didn't give it a chance.
I am a firm believer in Jesus, that He is the Christ. I hated this movie... but I think it was perfect for this class. Look how it is making people think and express themselves. Only controversy can bring out opinions so strongly in people. I think the movie was the best choice for the objectives that our teacher has to teach us.
I think for all the other religious people in the class, including myself, remember, like julious29 pointed out, 1. THIS MOVIE WAS NOT BASED ON THE GOSPLES. Therefore the movie can express whatever it wants. And 2. YOU ARE IN A CONTRIVERSIAL FILM CLASS this should not come as a shock to you. Expect it.
I think for all the Atheists and non religious people. Keep your minds open!!!! Don’t be like the skinheads in American History X and delude yourself so much to anger and hate. That just leads to sorrow!
I am not one to force my beliefs on anyone and I would hope EVERYONE, religious and atheist alike, are the same. Keep your minds open.
I would never watch this movie again, and I felt uncomfortable watching it. But after reading all the bloggs it all makes sense the teacher chose this film and I am glad we had to watch it.
I liked and disliked this movie. I think that it put a different spin on his life than that of which we would like to portray him as being. We love that view of him being perfect in every way. But what we don’t realize is that he was human to a certain extent. What would have that been like. All the religion books about Christ portray him as a nice loving perfect individual that did no wrong and never question what he was doing here on earth. There is a part in every religionist story about Christ that is not written down anywhere. What did he do during his “teenage” years? So I liked it because it said a different story about him. I didn’t like that it portrayed him why then I see him. But that is life you sometimes have the best view and sometimes you don’t. That is why you have to take everything with a grain of salt. If you took every view of Christ in the world and put them together then you would have a pretty good idea of what he was like and what he did for us.
I liked in this movie how he made Jesus more human. Although, that is contrary to most of the people in the world believe, I find it to be a different view which makes us think a little more. Event though I do not agree with alot of the information given in this movie, I do like how he takes this story and changes it up. For example, every movie with Jesus I have seen shows him as a strong, confident man who knows what he must do and is perfect in every way. In this one however, Jesus seems to be lost, scared, unsure of himself and not very confident in some parts. I think this is where Nikos experiences came into play. He seemed to be very unsure of what he believed and had alot of information from many countries. I think the main story to all of this is his own questioning of the information he retained. I think all of us have asked what was Jesus really like. Maybe Nikos was giving us his stance on what he wanted Jesus to be like, or from all the time he spent traveling how he really thinks he would of been. I did not find this movie to be offensive in any means, because it is one persons view on the subject, and I think we all deserve that right to express it the way we want. I must say I found it hard to try and see what he was saying, but that did not turn me off to the movie. It actually made me think about it more actually. I just really enjoyed seeing a different way to see Jesus. I like it because religion is so set on their ways and I kind of like when some one challenges the norm. It was a movie that made us all think about our own personal stance and that is what I like best about it.
I was way confused for most of this movie! I kept falling asleep too haha but I thought this movie was hard to watch. I believe in Christ and I just didn't like how this movie portrayed him. I guess some people might believe this story of Christ but I definitly dont. I was way confused the whole time trying to figure out what they were doing with this movie. It finally all made more sense when the little guardian angle went into flames. This movie was very stange and I had some weird feelings while watching it. I haven't really liked any of the movies we have watched so far though.
I don't know how to say to this movie.... Let's just say it's wasting of my time. Confused, and crazy, I think some people in the film just talk CRAZY, especially Jesus' talk! I don't want to watch this film again. I'm not a believer of the Bible, so that's why I wasn't really buying this of any religious talk film very much. Those things will only annoying me. But for some strong religious people, they will think this film is nothing but disrespect to Christ. Of course, this just a film, so we don't have to argue about it too much. To my personal view, the religion is suppose to make us feel better, not to controling us.
Well the only thing I can agree on is the fact that William Defoe played the Green Goblin. I actually didn't want to watch this movie, so i left class. I had a lot of homework to do that day and wasting my time on a film like this just didn't seem like the smart thing to do. That's just how close minded I am. I have 2 movies I can miss this semester and im glad I took one of those passes and used it on this film, from reading the majority of the other post's, it sucked. From the looks of it we'll be watching brokeback mountain soon. There goes my second pass....Let's start watching some movies that dont leave us depressed as hell. Herbie the love bug anyone? One of the most debated films of our time.
This had to be one of the more blasphemous films I had ever seen! Of course thats totally my opinion seeing as how I've been raised with certain beliefs that I've challenged at some point or another in my life but I have come to know are true based on experience. Granted Hollywood's screen writers used their creativity to show me something different and they state that the story is not based on the Gospels; but when it comes to Jesus Christ, I don't think its something that should be tampered with. Thats just me. The whole movie made the authors portrayal of Christ look like a violent, confused, idiot. Those traits seemed to dilute His glory and greatness I've read about, but it did show more of the wild ferocity of His fear, frustration, and anger that may have been with held internally that isn't stated in the Bible? I've got no problem with new ideas of how things may have been but when it comes to Christ personally, it draws a very fine line for me. Overall it was a very uncomfortable and confusing film for me and I don't plan on watching it ever again. I have to agree with Steve when I say lets watch some less depressing films.
Let me start off by saying that I understand how different people can have different points of view, especially something as controversial as the topic of Jesus Christ. I mean I am a member of the LDS Church and I served a mission and I've seen this first hand many times. However, having said that everything that I have ever been taught as a christian was pretty much thrown out the window with that movie.
The only roll that Jesus could have played is the one that he did, as the savior of the world. He wasn't an angry Jesus, he wasn't a crazy Jesus, he was a loving Jesus and he knew his roll from day one.
I have alot of thoughts running through my head about this but it is proving hard to actually write them out. In conclusion, it was a hard movie to watch, and yes I did feel offended by it, but I tried my best to keep an open mind.
The entire purpose of the following blog is to shit on the first five or so entries submitted. If you feel that people should be allowed to think what they want, that is fair but, to quote blog 1 "I felt the need to speak up". The Christian faith, the Catholic church and LDS churches in particular, have been the single biggest fascist, hated filled, propaganda spreading serpents to ever wrap it's tentacles around mankind. They have harmed me in so many ways it's impossible to count, from what I can or can't do with my spare time, to my most sacred deeply rooted feelings on love, sex and relationships. Their hate fill interpretations have, over the course of my life, waged war on my psychology, so much so that I spend a great deal of my time deciphering which thoughts our mine and which our the churches. Their will be a few of you who know what I mean and for the rest perhaps a brief look at the evolution of the church, and the devastation that it has brought to our entire planet may serve you well. The venomous hate that spews from the gospel of the powerful is proliferated by the closed door policies demonstrated by our class mates specifically blogs 1-4. Anyway I do agree in one aspect, I thought the movie was lacking a certain aw, deserved by a man as inspiring as Jesus Christ. Willem Dafoe is normally a good actor but he falls short in this roll. It's an older movie so the production quality is not great. I thought the organization could use some work but then again I haven't read the book. As for the portrayal of Satan, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek." [1596 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 93] Sorry if some find this offensive I am available to talk in further detail.
My opinion of this movie is very similar to RaiRey's. I know that this class discusses controversial topics and we were warned that we would be offended at least once. I can't make sense of the reactions that are being expressed on this blog in regards to this movie, people its only a MOVIE...CRY ME A RIVER, BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT!!! I could care less about the movie...I mean it doesnt mean anything to me. I actually didnt stay to watch the whole film because I've seen it before and it's a complete bore, So I can't really discuss something that I dont have a strong oppinion about. However, the only oppinion I do have is that the movie was HORRIBLE!!!
Well this wasn't the best movie ever made... I personally think it was the worst movie ever made. I know its based off someone's belief but I don't agree with some of the things said or done in it.
First off, Jesus was perfect and comitted no sin, which means he couldn't have sex with another women because back then it was against the law to commit adultry. I also believe that Jesus knows who satan is and has ALL power over him so he knows what he is capable of.
He also died on the cross for ALL of mankind!!! It even states it in the gospels that he died on the cross for us. There was one thing they got right and that was Judas betraying Jesus.
It definatly wasn't the best choice of movie but we all can learn something from it.
I thought it was a interesting film but not one of the best ever made. I knew coming to class that we were going to be watching a fiction film about Jesus Christ, so I tried putting my own personal beliefs aside. I was raised in a catholic environment and I could definitely hear my religious raising in the back of my mind saying "hey, this film is BS" I could also picture my grandmother becoming enraged while I watching this. As I've become older, I've come to disagree with organized religion regardless of who teaches it. In my opinion most of the world has become separated because of it. I have my own belief system now because I do think it's important to have faith in something greater but I dont want someone telling me how I should be doing it so, for the most part people know when they are doing something wrong but there are still those who need religion to help them do the right thing, which I completely agree with but once you let religion become extreme, it really separates us as people, just look at how many wars there have been and still are going on because of religion. It's really interesting, because when you take two religions and analyze them, the similarities are so close that it's amazing that they are at war when they are practically the same, just my thoughts on it.
I am sorry to say this, but I do not like that movie. I am not really religious person, but I believe in God and Jesus. I read Bible before (not all of them). But Jesus is not weak like in the movie. He is not afraid of anything because he knows that his father loves him. I know not everyone think things same way as others and I think that is very important. Some story and movie is fun to view in difference way, but I do not think a story like about Jesus is not good one to do especially in weird way. If Jesus is like that for real like in that movie, there are not so many people Christian in this world right now. If that is real Jesus, I do want to follow him. He is scare of everything!!!! Most weird thing in this movie is Jesus did not that Satan was tricking him. It is understandable that human like me was tricked by Satan but not Jesus. And even Satan tries God should help him somehow. But it is just movie. They can make movie the way they want.
this movie was sooooo boring. i am an agnostic and i really don't care what other people believe, so this movie was not really ofensive to me at all. You guys know that there is no actual concrete proof that jesus ever existed? I really don't like super religious people either. Becuase most people when you mention something like vodoo or pagan religions they automatically think that they are evil because of what they have been taught. "this is my blood and body" and what is the religious segnificance of eating someone? also the story of jesus and the story of the egyptian god horus is very simalar. And why would someone believe a guy with a head of a hawk ever existed? http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5.htm
After watching the movie I did not agree with it at all. I am a religious person and know alot about my religion which made me keep asking myself how someone else could ever imagine this concept. Note, I am aware that everyone has their own beliefs and some are more extreme than others but for me the movie was maybe a little too extreme. I don't believe anything the movie tried to portay. I have my own beliefs in Jesus Christ and how he had lived and died for. Even though I will probably never watch this movie again, it did remind me that people have their own outlook on things and for me to get really upset and just tear the movie apart isn't something I could do. I understand that people did get offended by this movie but they should remember....in the disclosure for this class it did state we would be watching movies like this which I find surprising people didn't realize. This movie was suppose to get that reaction out of us and it did. So job well done on selecting a movie that would finally get some people talking more than they would have. Kudos.
Throughout this whole movie I was just like "what the hell" this is the weirdest thing Ive ever seen. I'm a christian but I'm not offended by the movie it was just boring. What the movie does is just question things and its okay to question. Especially life, I think that is all this movie is doing is questioning sure even being a christian I some times feel agnostic and some times I feel like I don't care if I go to hell or heaven. I do think however that people are freaking out for no reason. Nikos Kazantzakis obviously didn't right the book to get people to think about Jesus in a weird way. Personally I just think that old Nikos was putting his own characteristics into Jesus. I mean come on no one is going to buy a book or watch a movie called THE TEMPTATIONS OF NIKOS. He was a writer and he just was portraying himself into a character that people would pay attention to. Anyways to everyone who is freaking out come one if there was a Jesus than he was a bad ass and doesn't need you to all feel sorry for him.
Hello. Yes, while I am both religious and someone who believes in Christ I didn't really get offended towards this movie. Just because the movie exists does not make it true. We each can believe what we want to believe and no movie (or bible for that matter) can persuade us if we don't want to be persuaded. With that idea in mind I am going to make my comment based off of more what I saw then what I believe.
This is the story of the human Jesus. This is a story told about a man who struggles with his calling. To pull some message and meaning from this movie I would say that this movie helps people realize that sometimes it is okay to doubt your calling in life. Sometimes we doubt what we should be doing. Everyone else has it easy why should my trials be the hard unique ones. Often times we find ourselves wanting to take the easy way out. But as this movie showed us, if the direction we are supposed to go has felt right before and we have worked hard to get there, we should let nothing distract us from the end goal. Distraction in the final minutes was the last temptation of Christ and it is often times the last temptation in our own personal goals.
It is easy to let your faith or lack of religion get you caught up in the inaccuracies told but putting aside the sinner, time-traveling Jesus and looking at the message of endurance this movie is not has bad as it seems.
I did not like the movie at all. I don't like William Defoe as an actor, I think he is a little creepy, so it kind of ruined the movie right off for me when I found out he was playing Jesus. I was taught different things about Jesus then growing up and this movie was not what I believe in so for me the movie seemed a off and I disagree with a lot of it.
This movie was little strange to say the least, but for the art of entertainment I think the movie hit it right on. I'm not religious with Jesus, I have my own ideas on life and this movie does not bother me, people can have their own ideas. In the movie, towards the end when Jesus is an old man with his family, and he notices a another man preaching about himself and he gets very upset. He scolds the other man for telling "lies." In the movie it was true the man was not saying correct facts about Jesus but the preacher defended himself with the idea that its not who Jesus is, but more for what he stands for. To come to my point, in today's world we have many great arguments. People arguing for who is right, who's god is better, and what religion is truly divine. This scene to me reflected the great debates of the world and gave a solution. To give an example of one of the many great debates, look at the responses from students in this class over the movie. People do not like or agree with the movie because the its not who Jesus is to them. I understand the curiosity of wanting to know the true Jesus and I understand sticking behind your beliefs, but in today's world, how are we really going to know who Jesus was or what he did? The answer the preacher gave to the old Jesus was a solution to many problems. He did not care what Jesus was telling him, he believed in HIS Jesus and he walked away ok. People need to individualize religion, but then understand that its more about the morals of the story. There's no right or wrong to religion, you could have religion towards anything, beer, snow,anything, and if people understood others, and did not take things so literal we would have less conflict and more understanding.
Let me start out with a quote from the first poster: "I see no entertainment value from this movie and think anyone who has a desire to watch it shoul seriously think twice on that. Awful movie in my opinion that just should be burned. Every copy of it." that is copied and pasted.
wow this isn't right. you want to burn peoples ideas because they differ from yours? i'm glad you have no power what so ever.
now the definition of religion from dictionary.com Religion: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects
okay now notice it says beliefs not facts now lets look at the bible here is a website that i looked at i also looked in the bible. http://www.latinvulgate.com/verse.aspx?t=1&b=1&c=4 it says in the bible in matthew chapter 4 that jesus was tempted in the desert by satan thats strange? don't believe me look it up! remember this scene in the movie? with the snake yes this is actually in the bible so what do we know? according to the bible jesus has been tempted before! in my opinion to be tempted with something of that magnitude portrayed in the movie to be tempted with a normal life and still choose to suffer and die only would prove he is the messiah in my opinion how ever before you choose to burn my ideas do a little research and besides its a hollywood movie!!!!!!! whats the purpose of this movie? to make money!!!!!!!! if you can't handle the heat drop the class bottom line!
While I generally prefer to comment just on what I observe in the film, there have been so many outraged comments that will at least partially address some of what was expressed in addition to my personal interpretations of The Last Temptation of Christ.
It is troubling that so many in the class are fixated on how the film’s presentation differed from that of their faith traditions: disrespectful, sacrilege, garbage, blasphemy, etc. The irony is that this film, because of the message it is based on, offered the greatest opportunity to those in the class who follow a faith tradition that celebrates Jesus Christ as their Savior. When you note the quote by Kazantzakis, (and you know, did the reading), you understand the framework from which the story is told. The film adapts Kazantzakis’s cathartic search for the meaning of the dual nature of Christ as both fully human and fully divine. Kazantzakis seeks to understand this dichotomy and so explores Jesus’ ability as a man to be tempted to avoid the burdens of pain, suffering and responsibility he must bear as not just the Son of God, but as God himself (and although LDS dogma doesn’t believe in the Trinity, understand that Kazantzakis, as Greek Orthodox, would have stressed this just as much as he did the Last Supper and the importance of Mass.)
Many people also expressed concern over the fact that when facing the threat of death and damnation, Jesus could be tempted and not see the truth of the evil tempting him. However, when considered in more depth, we have to consider what it means that at the moment of his death, God turned his back on his Son (“Eloi eloi lama sabachthani?/My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Severing the connection would leave Jesus vulnerable, terrified and open to temptation. Kazantzakis uses the idea of the moment when his Savior faces damnation (to atone for our sakes) to explore the fact that as a man and as fully divine, he is as corruptible as we are, but ultimately remains unblemished. This search for meaning is therefore not the blasphemous assault or questioning of biblical relevance it has been seen as, but is a deeply devout exploration of Kazantzakis’s personal understanding of Christian faith.
Those who have simply been insulted have, to put it mildly, missed the point entirely. By merely tolerating the film, and not allowing their beliefs to be changed and strengthened those who profess devotion to a Christian tradition have missed a rare opportunity to deepen and mature their faith. Seeking greater understanding of beliefs, philosophies and moral foundations is the only way we grow as people.
Personally, I didn’t find this film either particularly interesting or controversial, probably due to my personal and educational background. As I’ve already had cause to explore the Divine Mystery of the duality of Christ, the themes being explored here are simply not innovative enough for me to find inspiration or new truth. I had more interest in considering the reasons why so often religious depictions are whitewashed. It has always bothered me to discover blonde or sandy haired Christs or Madonnas, and this film was no different. I would love to talk to the casting director who believes that there were any ginger-haired Jews around in the Holy Land two thousand years ago.
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After reading all these blog posts I kinda wish I could have made my post as entertaining and controversial as all these other one!I want to start a blog arguement! haha..
The Last Temptation of Christ is a movie that I found boring, confusing, and long. The whole three hours was filled with very cheesy dialog that it was hard to stay wake and be entertained or interested in. Every minute I was nodding my head and taking a snooze, and then I would be awakened by another over acted scene. The “green goblin” freaked me out more in this movie than in his quest of killing Spiderman.
I can understand how people can see this movie to be offensive. For example the movie shows “Christ” living a normal life, with a wife and having a classroom full of children after resuscitating from the cross. But I didn’t see the movie to be offensive just untrue in some parts. When seeing the movie, viewers have to see it with an open mind and know that everyone has different views of how Christ lived and came about, though I don’t know who would put themselves through another three hours of seeing naked people and their bad acting.
When seeing the movie I kept asking myself what the hell just happened? I was confused through the most part; like the scene when “Christ” is sitting in the middle of nowhere trying to connect with God and all of sudden he sees a lion. Is that God? Or the scene where we find a crazy dude with a long beard baptizing people who seemed possessed, dancing around and bobbing their heads to background devil music. I didn’t understand how these scenes related with Christ’s voyage to spread the” word” and how he died for our sins.
OK Retards. The Green Goblin has a name. It's Willem DeFoe. He is a bad man. He cannot compare to Jesus Christ on a cross, I cannot believe how closed-minded a lot of the people here are! I grew up here... Then moved away, (thank God!), and got to see things in other parts of the country. I learned that I may not have to rot in hell just because I'm not a mormon, as some of my Utah brethren seem to believe. PHEW!!! Jesus Christ is a fucking Saint. None of you can COMPARE to him, I can't compare to him, and I really doubt that ANYONE ever will. Willem DeFoe didn't. Jim Caviezel didn't. But they both put in a damn good effort... Let's burn them down for it... Typical. The story is amazing. It's in billions of books. I liked this writer's version of it, because he put into perspective... Sin can sometimes be disguised. Even in happy, pretty little things... Like Satan. Satan=Sin. OUTRAGEOUS, like Jesus being a Saint... Right?
It's not like they are personally saying the things most poeple believe, aren't true. they are just analying the religion in its faulness in a creative way. It took the entire story of what happened and put in into an entirely different way that it went down. Even LDS people question their beliefs sometimes, this guy just put his questions into a crazy film and made a new story to substantiate his questionings.
At first this movie really pissed me off and I still dont like it and would never watch it again but I'm over it, its just a movie.. but my views are completly one sided completly LDS sheltered and in my opinion beautiful. The real Jesus Christ is the only way to find true happiness. The movie hurt my feelings because its not how I saw him but after thinking about it and readings these opinions I realized that my religion can not be forced upon anybody and I have never questioned Christ. Openly questioning it is very scary for an LDS person and fear brings anger so I think alot of people including myself have trouble facing the oposition to our beliefs. I think it is important to take in consideration all beliefs but remain identified by ones own.
I know this was a controversial movie for a lot of people in this class but not me. I think that the movie was simply trying to show a different point of view of the life of Christ. I know a lot of people have their faith invested in the idea that Christ was the perfect man and never had an impure thought but I cannot believe that. The movie shows a more realistic view for me on what his life was probably like instead of the spoon fed reality certain religions try to force feed you.
I understand this is a very sensitive subject for a lot of people. After reading some of these comments, i really find it hard to believe how closed minded some people are in this class. Growing up here in Utah, (non-LDS) This state has taught me alot about myself because unfortunately, religion has a very powerful voice. I would consider myself rather agnostic these days, I do believe Jesus Christ did live at some time, but i do not think He is the son of God. I believe Jesus had an important message for all to hear. He taught the right beliefs and values which are important for everyone to practice. Jesus was a man who we (mankind) created into a God like figure. We could sit here and debate all day and night about whether or not Jesus was the Son of God, or whether or not He even existed at all. But the bigger picture is that Jesus was a person whos ideals and beliefs were important enough for people to remember and practice for thousands of years to come. The debate on whether or not he was even the Son of God is, I think, rather irrelevant.
Overall I thought The Last Temptation of Christ was a rather long and boring movie. The narrative got rather old and carried on for too long at some points. However, I would recommend this movie because of the different interpretations of Jesus Christ. I believe in order to expand your beliefs one must question one's one personal ideas.
I really didn't like this movie at all. it made me really unconfortble. it was one of the most creepy things I have ever seen. i really don't think that that should have been made in to a movie. christ wasn't supposed to have any temtations and he wasn't as week as man. I hope that I won't ever have to watch this movie ever again. probably the worst movie ever made in my opinion
Although i do believe in God and Jesus Christ i wouldn't consider myself very "religious". The movie did offend me a little bit but i thought moreso that it was just kind of bizarre and all over the place. The movie was obviously made to be very controversial considering it goes after the most controversial, fought over, argued subject in world history... religion.
I thought that The Last temptation of Christ was a different movie. I find it interesting to see someone else point of view of christ and what he went through. I dont believe a lot of the thing that was in this movie. I believe that Jesus know when the devil is tempting him and he would follow into satan traps.
I found the movie very boring, being agnostic I don't think it was offensive. my mom was telling me when the movie first came out they only watched becuase people were pickiting around the movie theater and they had to push their way through to see the movie... for another class i had to go to a church that's not my own, being agnostic i had many choices ^.^ so i went to a Babtist church and the revernd/pasture said a great line "(he was African-American)King Jr. died for my rights but Jesus died for my wrongs." i thought it was avery powerful message. But the movie was about a guy going insane... obviously a geinous to be carring a defibrillator at that point in time to bring Lazurus back to life... and after doing so much to change the way we look at life whats wrong with him taking it easy and having a life...
i did not like this movie at all. the entire film seemed like a stab at the greatest man ever to walk the earth. I found it strange when for half the movie was focused on jesus' fantasy. It was also wrong portraying judas as the most loyal apostle when he was the really a traitor. this movie is controversial and it offeneded me hopefully the next movies will be better.
Despite what anyone else says, I thought this movie was ok, and pretty decent, it was a bit boring but I was able to stay awake. I went to church when I was younger for a few years, so I could remember few of the things that had happened. Even though I didn't know much about jesus' life, this gives me some insight on his life, I don't know if any of this is true? But a few things I didn't like was the abuse of jesus and getting spit on etc... it was a bit weird how he would have different dreams and have different things to follow, one night he would believe one thing, the next night it would be another. But I am very glad that he really believed in what he thought and didn't just give up when his dreams changed. And the part with satan really confused me as well, I didn't really understand that part.
Truthfully I really didn't like the movie at all, I nearly fell asleep watching it. I've heard different stories of Jesus Christ and this one was just out there.. I wasn't offended in any kind of way though like others, I just think that the whole story line blew. I'm not to much of a religious person but when I hear something like this I just don't really believe it what so ever. I believe that Jesus was put on earth for a sole purpose but not to pay for peoples sins. All in All bad movie, hope to see something for intense next time.
This movie was, well...outrageous. I know that it wasn't based on the four gospels, or didn't necessarily follow the bible. It almost seemed like it was a story fabricated for the sake of making a story about Jesus. I knew from very early in the movie that it did not follow my religious beliefs at all. However, I kept watching, with the intent to learn something; maybe take something from it that could strengthen my own convictions on Christ's role and ministry. However, I was left wanting. I kept thinking that it would get better...but to no avail did that happen. It just got more and more outrageous. It came across in the movie, that Christ almost had no clue what he was doing...that he just B.S.ed His way through everything. I know of no christian faith or religion that teaches that Christ was anything BUT perfect. From birth to death He did not falter once. He did not give so much thought to any of satan's temptations...He recognized the deceiver, and cast him out. Also...the part about John the Baptist was the most ridiculously bizarre thing I have ever seen in my life...wow...that is probably the most far off enactment of his ministry.
Talk about a controversial film. I can't think of a single movie, that we could watch the rest of this semester, that would be more controversial than The Last Temptation of Christ. It threatens peoples beliefs and the way people view Jesus Christ. I particularly did not care for the movie. The Jesus in this film is not the Jesus that I have grown up to believe in. Nikos Kazantzakis is entitled to his own opinion just as all of us are. Though I did not care for this film, I respect Kazantzakis' views on Jesus Christ as well as anyone elses. In return I would only expect the same.
i was very offended by this movie, i dont know how anyone could create the character of jesus making croses for the romans. although the director and everyone else is entitled to their own opinions, i dont believe in buddah but tons of people do so more power to everyone and their own beliefs, but back to my point it seems as if Nikos made this movie to be controversial, to get some sort of a rise out of christians around the world. i am a christian and i do believe in christ, but it is a totally different view, so it is very hard for me to sit and watc something depicting the same man as otherwise.
I was intrigued by this movie. I liked how Nikos threw a completely different spin on a story that so many people know just as one way. Granted I do believe in Jesus dying on the cross for us and all of that but no one knows how it actually went down and it could have gone like his dream we don't know! Probably my favorite part was when he tore down all the vendors at the churches they don't belong there go him!
This was an interesting portrayal of Jesus's life. Although it really didnt follow the bible or really many of the ideas that we are used to it was a persons idea. I was offended by quite a few things and confused at a few others. I can easily see how it is a controversial film because I mean look at the controversy from these posts. The ways that they had John the Baptists and all the people there when he baptized Jesus was a little different and looked like they were all posessed but I dont know how it was? I dont think it was like that but who knows?
Ok so here is my dealio with this movie. No I did not come to class because I knew what we were watching and I have seen it before.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Temptation of Christ to me is possible the most offensive movie of all time. I may not be the most religious person on the planet, hell, I know I'm not, but when a movie like this comes out I feel I need to speak up. I do not appreciate the views of Jesus in this movie. I thin the thing that bothers me the most is the fact I have the knowledge he died for OUR SINS. Not his own sins, he didn't have sins he took on all of our sins when he was here, and another thing... He had no sexual relations with anyone! And for Satan in the movie... Umm, Jesus knows who Satan is, how he wouldn't know Satan was his guardian angel in disguise... yeah right he would know. This movie is so full of false crap and in my view ultra offensive to me.
I know this movie is not based on the bible teachings and what not, but this to me is just a subject that should NOT be messed with. I just couldn't bring myself to come to class and watch it again. This being a controversial film class I hope you understand my reasoning. I have seen this, and I don't have a problem with R rated shows... shoot it take a lot to offend me, but this is one of those subjects that is too much for me. I was not going to subject myself to watching it again.
Let me compare to The Passion of the Christ. I saw that movie, but I didn't feel bad for watching it. It to me though was to much. There was no need to show all of the violence and blood because we aren't supposed to remember Jesus as someone who was treated like that.... This movie made me feel sick and knowing I was lied to about true stuff made me angry.
I see no entertainment value from this movie and think anyone who has a desire to watch it shoul seriously think twice on that.
Awful movie in my opinion that just should be burned. Every copy of it.
My opinion of this movie is very similar to dalton88's. I know that this class discusses controver sial topics and we were warned that we would be offended at least once. I guess this was my chance so I can't be upset. I actually didnt stay to watch the whole film. So I can't really discuss it. However, I knew this movie would be horrible the minute I saw the Green Gremlin as Jesus... sorry, but what the hell were they thinking!!
ReplyDeletehi all i guess i will be the second person to post on this movie. i agree with the previous post on almost all points, but in trying to be objective and for a different read i will take a defferent view of the movie. from what i read in the link that we were given for the author of this book we can see that he is personally lost and tormented. as i look at the movie and try to understand it from the aoint of view that the author might have had, i think that it is sad that he felt so torn and so lost and so twisted. maybe he felt that the only way to get his personal feelings out to the public and not have them ignored by all, was to place them on Christ. this act in itself promised that he would have infamy for a very long time and that there would be a a great deal of commotion about his book. truely a travesty in my opinion and from my own personal experiences you cannot do the things that Christ did in his life without certanty in your heart. i personally dont know all that ways that satan tried to temp and distract Christ from his mission here on earth, but i do feel that he was not torn and tortered like the author of this book was. on the other hand i am sure that there are many people in this life that feel some sort of confusion as to what their body wants and what their heart wants. good luck to all in figuring out thier personal meanings to this movie.
ReplyDeleteWhere to start?? There is so much garbage in this movie it would take days, weeks or even months to comment on each specific instance. In the end I think that those who are confused about the true nature,mission and divinity of Jesus Christ (as were the author and director)want to belive that Jesus was just as confused as they are and will like this movie. Those who know that Jesus is our Savior will not like it. Jesus knew from the very begining who he was what his mission was and exactly how to accomplish it! Which he did!!
ReplyDeleteThis movie was over the limit. I trying the understand the reasoning and logic behind that. But, because it is not so endurance. If this movie base on religious it will never get permission to
ReplyDeletepublic or churches. Too Violate. Well, I didn't get the feeling at all. It was kinda boring and confusing. If some one wanted to fun or con damed Religious. I thought, I just their choice because this country most of us believe in freedom of choice to worship their belief. But you have to sleep to believe it. Any way, These comrades wanted to com dam and destroy and moral and liberty of peoples of United States. I just want to bit the shit all of them. By the way, After this movie I remembered and asked myself like The Principle of Eric (American History X)IS MAKE YOU ANY BETTER? absolutely not. I make me unhappy and sorrow instead hope of life and freedom.
Okay, I had a hell of a time staying awake throughout this movie. I am sure my post will likely be met with a lot of criticism but I really don't give a shit. So, first off, I am an atheist (yeah here we go) I almost skipped class because I didn't want to watch no religious bullshit about "Jesus" and really, I didn't find it all that controversial. I GUESS I could see how it could be controversial for those who bought that ridiculous story, but I really don't care. I hope this is the last time we touch ANYTHING religious in this class. After two weeks, with one movie that was somewhat boring but still interesting, and another movie that was PHENOMINAL, I couldn't wait to come to class this week, and now we have some movie thats gonna take two weeks. I hope we move back to decent movies.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! So many deep seated emotions, I am neither surprised nor disappointed. I figure that I should start with MY history on Jesus. I was raised to believe that Jesus IS The Redeemer. However, looking at this film from the view of the author, I found it fascinating.
ReplyDeleteNikos Kazantzakis wrote this story based on HIS beliefs. He was a man with MANY influences. He found Nicci a man that said that God is no longer having an influence on man or “is dead”. He questioned {Kazantzakis} his own being and wrote about how Christ could relate to him.
He painted Jesus as a mortal, a man with weaknesses. He viewed him as a man that was true to his convictions. He issued a portrayal of Jesus in His mortal form. He was shown as a "guy" that was subject to EVERY form of temptation that this world offers.
I found that his picture of Jesus was closer to reality than many would like to believe. I was taught that Jesus had every available opportunity to sin, just like the rest of us, but he resisted it all.
I was taught to believe that He was a tormented man, often having to accept His own mortality and weaknesses. However, he overcame them.
Let’s look at the stoning of Mary Magdalene in the film. The Bible says that Jesus told a multitude of people to cast the first stone if they were without sin. This movie portrayed that. If a man has such deep convictions to really practice what he preaches, he would have done such things as suggest another take a stone larger than the one he intended to throw and punish her for her short comings and violation of he law.
How about the time where he told the crowd that he would teach them using stories, parables, to be exact? This is how Jesus was supposed to have communicated, I use the same procedure. It is referred to as analogies in our modern vernacular.
What about the raising of Lazarus? Do you think that a man that believes this could happen would be surprised when it actually occurred? I think if this is a historical fact, Jesus was as surprised as the rest of anybody that witnessed it.
Ultimately, here’s the deal. Jesus is a historical person with significance. People believe that in the after-life, Jesus is their biggest cheerleader. People also believe that he was the anti-Christ. Either way, when you tap into the human psyche, perception is reality.
Let’s look at a final point, in THIS film, He resisted the temptation and died for His cause. If this is the cause that you believe I celebrate it with you. You have found something that brings a completion to your being. If you are the opposite or anywhere in-between, the same to You.
We often believe what works for US.
I often turn to humor as grounds for relativity. In the film, Saul/Paul said that his Jesus was bigger and better than any Jesus than even he original could offer. Remember, many people think of Jesus in the Cristmas sense, in a tuxedo t-shirt or fighting ninjas.
I guess in my summation, GREAT controversial film!
Jeremiah
you know for all the interesting comments on the film, the only thing I disagreed with was the whole fact that William Defoe played the Green Goblin, not the green gremlin. The message I got from the movie though was something like.
ReplyDeleteRemember kids William Defoe gave his life trying to kill Spiderman, shouldn't you do the same?
Wow, I certainly was not expecting the reactions that are being expressed on this blog. Fist off people if I, the only “black” student in the class can choose to come and stay in class knowing that we were watching a movie about the Arian nation you can come and open your mind. They said the word “nigger” it seems a hundred times. How do you think I felt!!??? It’s healthy to know different opinions no matter how it makes you feel GROW THE FUCK UP! Everything in life isn’t going to be easy face your fears and you will be a better person for it.
ReplyDeleteNow this movie I thought it was kind of confusing and all over the place but I also laughed a few times. I was raised “Christian” but as I become more educated I find more and more holes in religion as a whole.
Christianity divides people and breeds hate and every catastrophic and devastating war EVER has been over religion. It makes you look down on and pity people who aren’t Christian. If you believe in a God that’s fine but can you even count the number of ways Christianity is being taught now...lol well I can’t it’s preposterous.
In reality, NO ONE really knows who this guy was or if he even existed or how many times through THOUSANDS of years this story could have been manipulated. Yes, MANIPULATED to fit the needs of the masses. No matter how RELIGIOUS you are, you REALLY don’t know. If your thinking my faith says he’s real, well you can’t prove faith it’s just an ideal. ANYONE that believes ANYTHING without asking questions where something doesn’t makes sense IS A SHEEP AND WILL ALWAYS BE A SHEEP. OPEN YOUR MIND, ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS BASED ON COMON SENSE. “God” Bless whomever he or she maybe.
damn I think a lot of people were offended by this movie due to there religious belief. I know some people were taught to believe Jesus Christ live and acted a certain way, and thus seeing him as a tormented mortal man, suffering from temptations would highly offend them... but like R@iray said "No one really knows the truth about Jesus!" but I do respect everyone views and points.
ReplyDeleteI really don't believe in much, but I do believe in treating others with respect, helping others when I can "especially the unfortunate ones", and love your family and friends. I also believe in Karma!
All I can say is to keep your mind wide open, and be very open minded to everything you hear or see in life. Absorb and retain knowledge and facts from other without being judgmental of one's opinions...that alone will provide you a better understanding of the world.
My personal opinion about this show is that I didn't like it at all. I believe that Jesus came to this earth with a sole purpose to die for our sins. Also, one thing that bothered me in this show was the guardian angel, Jesus knows who Satan is and in what form he can transform to, he of course knew that the guardian angel was actually Satan. Another one is Judas, I really hate how they changed his position as a traitor to a follower of Jesus and Jesus himself the traitor. All in all I didn't enjoy the film at all, regardless if it was shot well or the acting was good, I couldn't get over the story therefore causing me to hate the film. I don't like movies like this one that wants to persuade you into question your faith.
ReplyDeleteI knew what movie we were watching but I didn't know what the movie was about. This was the first time I watched this movie and will also be my last.
ReplyDeleteYes I am a Christian and I am firm in my belief that Jesus is our Savior. That is my belief and my opinion. I don't force it on others. I respect others' beliefs and opinions and I would expect the same respect back.
First off, the disclaimer in the beginning of the movie is fine as it shows its not supposed to be based on the Gospels in the New Testament but based on the book by Nikos. The view itself is an interesting story but the way its potrayed on film seemed different to what my view of how the life of Jesus was.
Jesus knew who he was what he was meant for in this life. I did not like how it was shown how Jesus was "tormented" by the voice of God. Nor did I like the explicit nudity and sexual scenes throughout the film. This was the biggest red flag for me during the film and I was caught by surprise when it was first shown.
As far as the guardian angel was concerned, she seemed ok at first and she did make some sense, which convinced Jesus the suffering was over and that God wanted only to test him as he did Abraham and that he wanted him to live a life of a regular man. However, when he married Mary Magdalene (sp) and she died, the angel told him there were other "Maries" and he married Mary of Lazarus and her sister (?). This also I did not like. However once its shown that the angel was in fact the devil, Jesus recognized this was a temptation and a sin for all he did and tried to repent to God for it. However, the whole thing was a dream. He did end up dying on the cross.
Here is the last 6 minutes of the film we didn't get to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxt4Qq76vB0
Once again, this is an interesting point of view but I do not agree with it. I did not like it and do not feel comfortable watching it again. This is the first and last time I will watch it.
I'm only posting a second time to state more clearly a point of why this movie is so offensive not only to me but looks like others as well. R@iRey, we are grown up. That is part of the initaiative we are taking by expressing ourselves on this movie. You seem like someone who is questioning a lot of religious things, that's only my opinion, but for those of us who truly believe what we do about Jesus this movie was extremly offensive. Like I stated before, I didn't even come to class because I have seen it before and I wasn't going to subject myself to seeing it again.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that American History X was offensive to you, but in my defense, it was offensive to me as well. That family in the movie that was so racist is the kind of scum sack of shit family I have been trying to avoid my whole life... Not my parents, but grandparents and uncles and cousins. It disgusts me.
This is a whole different issue for me. You just won't get it unless you are the actual person it is offending. It's not that we need to, in your words, GROW THE FUCK UP, just realize some people are going to have stronger opinions on subjects than you.
I don't want this to seem like an attack, it's not, I just feel like the people who are offended by this movie are being attacked and need to just let this out. I could rant and rave about this for hours,but I won't.
I know there are people out there that like this movie, but that doesn't make me like them less. IT'S JUST A MOVIE, BUT IT SPARKS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY. This is my second post on it for fuck sake! I just feel very strongly about this, and when I see on here someone telling me to grow the fuck up I do and will become very angry. In my defense why doesn't EVERYONE grow up and just look at both sides.
I didn't want to subject myself to watching this movie again, and if anyone doesn't ever want to watch American History X again of JFK for some reason that's cool... Don't. No one cares either way, but wow. This movie sure does have us going.
Couldn't we have just watched my all time favorite book witch happened to be written by Kazantzakis, "Zorba The Greek".
ReplyDeleteThis movie was an interesting interpretation, infact it's an interprtation of a interpretation. All though I have never read the book, I would be willing to bet that it was slaughtered. Movies are never as good as the book.
It was at an early age that I heard my first alteritive version of Christ. I remember the uneasy feeling it left on me. Since then I've heard many more... Though I don't agree with most of Nikos' ideas and philosophies, good for him to question because the truth will show it's self eventually. He is still an intelligent man and the author of my favorite book.
As for the movie, it was painfully boring. infact just when in started getting good with a twist at the very end, you shut it off.
Oh and the key point of this movie was the "disclaimer" in the beginning. It said this movie is not based on scipture. To alot of people The Bible is nothing more than a fictional story, and they are certainy entitled to think anything they want.
ok this movie goes against most things that we have been taught since childhood which is christ was a perfect being but this movie goes so much agianst that i find it kond of funny that most of the comments go horribly against this movie and that this movie should be burned and is filled with filth which i find amusing well all i have to say to that is holy cow peole be a little more open minded just because you dont think its right doesnt mean its trash hell i dont believe in almost anything in this movie but for one its a movie two did it make you think a little more about the man that was jesus about who he really was and i think that was a big point of the movie was just to make people think because we take all of what we hear at face value maybe it will make you go and research your beliefs a little bit more thats never a bad thing and what if this movie really was his belief about jesus so what thats just what he thinks about the whole thing you dont have to believe but i dont really think you should go around calling it smut and complete garbage do you?? and besides its a movie it says in the begining not based on scripture but i wont even get into that thats a whole different subject well anyways i thought the movie was very thought provoking and interesting not one of my favorites but interesting and glad that i saw it
ReplyDeleteI can understand why so many people are all upset about this movie but can't you understand that other people may have different beliefs about this topic? Maybe Kazantzakis was just trying to point out that just because something is written in a really old book that we should still question its truth. His version might be different than yours but his opinion is just as valuable as yours, is it not? I agree that this movie was not convincing at all and I don't believe any of the bullshit it had to offer, but that doesnt't mean I didn't give it a chance.
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer in Jesus, that He is the Christ. I hated this movie... but I think it was perfect for this class. Look how it is making people think and express themselves. Only controversy can bring out opinions so strongly in people. I think the movie was the best choice for the objectives that our teacher has to teach us.
ReplyDeleteI think for all the other religious people in the class, including myself, remember, like julious29 pointed out, 1. THIS MOVIE WAS NOT BASED ON THE GOSPLES. Therefore the movie can express whatever it wants. And 2. YOU ARE IN A CONTRIVERSIAL FILM CLASS this should not come as a shock to you. Expect it.
I think for all the Atheists and non religious people. Keep your minds open!!!! Don’t be like the skinheads in American History X and delude yourself so much to anger and hate. That just leads to sorrow!
I am not one to force my beliefs on anyone and I would hope EVERYONE, religious and atheist alike, are the same. Keep your minds open.
I would never watch this movie again, and I felt uncomfortable watching it. But after reading all the bloggs it all makes sense the teacher chose this film and I am glad we had to watch it.
I liked and disliked this movie. I think that it put a different spin on his life than that of which we would like to portray him as being. We love that view of him being perfect in every way. But what we don’t realize is that he was human to a certain extent. What would have that been like. All the religion books about Christ portray him as a nice loving perfect individual that did no wrong and never question what he was doing here on earth. There is a part in every religionist story about Christ that is not written down anywhere. What did he do during his “teenage” years? So I liked it because it said a different story about him. I didn’t like that it portrayed him why then I see him. But that is life you sometimes have the best view and sometimes you don’t. That is why you have to take everything with a grain of salt. If you took every view of Christ in the world and put them together then you would have a pretty good idea of what he was like and what he did for us.
ReplyDeleteI liked in this movie how he made Jesus more human. Although, that is contrary to most of the people in the world believe, I find it to be a different view which makes us think a little more. Event though I do not agree with alot of the information given in this movie, I do like how he takes this story and changes it up. For example, every movie with Jesus I have seen shows him as a strong, confident man who knows what he must do and is perfect in every way. In this one however, Jesus seems to be lost, scared, unsure of himself and not very confident in some parts. I think this is where Nikos experiences came into play. He seemed to be very unsure of what he believed and had alot of information from many countries. I think the main story to all of this is his own questioning of the information he retained. I think all of us have asked what was Jesus really like. Maybe Nikos was giving us his stance on what he wanted Jesus to be like, or from all the time he spent traveling how he really thinks he would of been. I did not find this movie to be offensive in any means, because it is one persons view on the subject, and I think we all deserve that right to express it the way we want. I must say I found it hard to try and see what he was saying, but that did not turn me off to the movie. It actually made me think about it more actually.
ReplyDeleteI just really enjoyed seeing a different way to see Jesus. I like it because religion is so set on their ways and I kind of like when some one challenges the norm. It was a movie that made us all think about our own personal stance and that is what I like best about it.
I was way confused for most of this movie! I kept falling asleep too haha but I thought this movie was hard to watch. I believe in Christ and I just didn't like how this movie portrayed him. I guess some people might believe this story of Christ but I definitly dont. I was way confused the whole time trying to figure out what they were doing with this movie. It finally all made more sense when the little guardian angle went into flames. This movie was very stange and I had some weird feelings while watching it. I haven't really liked any of the movies we have watched so far though.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to say to this movie.... Let's just say it's wasting of my time. Confused, and crazy, I think some people in the film just talk CRAZY, especially Jesus' talk! I don't want to watch this film again.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a believer of the Bible, so that's why I wasn't really buying this of any religious talk film very much. Those things will only annoying me. But for some strong religious people, they will think this film is nothing but disrespect to Christ.
Of course, this just a film, so we don't have to argue about it too much. To my personal view, the religion is suppose to make us feel better, not to controling us.
Well the only thing I can agree on is the fact that William Defoe played the Green Goblin. I actually didn't want to watch this movie, so i left class. I had a lot of homework to do that day and wasting my time on a film like this just didn't seem like the smart thing to do. That's just how close minded I am. I have 2 movies I can miss this semester and im glad I took one of those passes and used it on this film, from reading the majority of the other post's, it sucked. From the looks of it we'll be watching brokeback mountain soon. There goes my second pass....Let's start watching some movies that dont leave us depressed as hell. Herbie the love bug anyone? One of the most debated films of our time.
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ReplyDeleteThis had to be one of the more blasphemous films I had ever seen! Of course thats totally my opinion seeing as how I've been raised with certain beliefs that I've challenged at some point or another in my life but I have come to know are true based on experience. Granted Hollywood's screen writers used their creativity to show me something different and they state that the story is not based on the Gospels; but when it comes to Jesus Christ, I don't think its something that should be tampered with. Thats just me.
ReplyDeleteThe whole movie made the authors portrayal of Christ look like a violent, confused, idiot. Those traits seemed to dilute His glory and greatness I've read about, but it did show more of the wild ferocity of His fear, frustration, and anger that may have been with held internally that isn't stated in the Bible? I've got no problem with new ideas of how things may have been but when it comes to Christ personally, it draws a very fine line for me. Overall it was a very uncomfortable and confusing film for me and I don't plan on watching it ever again. I have to agree with Steve when I say lets watch some less depressing films.
Let me start off by saying that I understand how different people can have different points of view, especially something as controversial as the topic of Jesus Christ. I mean I am a member of the LDS Church and I served a mission and I've seen this first hand many times. However, having said that everything that I have ever been taught as a christian was pretty much thrown out the window with that movie.
ReplyDeleteThe only roll that Jesus could have played is the one that he did, as the savior of the world. He wasn't an angry Jesus, he wasn't a crazy Jesus, he was a loving Jesus and he knew his roll from day one.
I have alot of thoughts running through my head about this but it is proving hard to actually write them out. In conclusion, it was a hard movie to watch, and yes I did feel offended by it, but I tried my best to keep an open mind.
The entire purpose of the following blog is to shit on the first five or so entries submitted. If you feel that people should be allowed to think what they want, that is fair but, to quote blog 1 "I felt the need to speak up". The Christian faith, the Catholic church and LDS churches in particular, have been the single biggest fascist, hated filled, propaganda spreading serpents to ever wrap it's tentacles around mankind. They have harmed me in so many ways it's impossible to count, from what I can or can't do with my spare time, to my most sacred deeply rooted feelings on love, sex and relationships. Their hate fill interpretations have, over the course of my life, waged war on my psychology, so much so that I spend a great deal of my time deciphering which thoughts our mine and which our the churches. Their will be a few of you who know what I mean and for the rest perhaps a brief look at the evolution of the church, and the devastation that it has brought to our entire planet may serve you well. The venomous hate that spews from the gospel of the powerful is proliferated by the closed door policies demonstrated by our class mates specifically blogs 1-4. Anyway I do agree in one aspect, I thought the movie was lacking a certain aw, deserved by a man as inspiring as Jesus Christ. Willem Dafoe is normally a good actor but he falls short in this roll. It's an older movie so the production quality is not great. I thought the organization could use some work but then again I haven't read the book. As for the portrayal of Satan, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek."
ReplyDelete[1596 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 93]
Sorry if some find this offensive I am available to talk in further detail.
My opinion of this movie is very similar to RaiRey's. I know that this class discusses controversial topics and we were warned that we would be offended at least once. I can't make sense of the reactions that are being expressed on this blog in regards to this movie, people its only a MOVIE...CRY ME A RIVER, BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT!!! I could care less about the movie...I mean it doesnt mean anything to me. I actually didnt stay to watch the whole film because I've seen it before and it's a complete bore, So I can't really discuss something that I dont have a strong oppinion about. However, the only oppinion I do have is that the movie was HORRIBLE!!!
ReplyDeleteWell this wasn't the best movie ever made... I personally think it was the worst movie ever made. I know its based off someone's belief but I don't agree with some of the things said or done in it.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, Jesus was perfect and comitted no sin, which means he couldn't have sex with another women because back then it was against the law to commit adultry. I also believe that Jesus knows who satan is and has ALL power over him so he knows what he is capable of.
He also died on the cross for ALL of mankind!!! It even states it in the gospels that he died on the cross for us. There was one thing they got right and that was Judas betraying Jesus.
It definatly wasn't the best choice of movie but we all can learn something from it.
I thought it was a interesting film but not one of the best ever made. I knew coming to class that we were going to be watching a fiction film about Jesus Christ, so I tried putting my own personal beliefs aside. I was raised in a catholic environment and I could definitely hear my religious raising in the back of my mind saying "hey, this film is BS" I could also picture my grandmother becoming enraged while I watching this. As I've become older, I've come to disagree with organized religion regardless of who teaches it. In my opinion most of the world has become separated because of it. I have my own belief system now because I do think it's important to have faith in something greater but I dont want someone telling me how I should be doing it so, for the most part people know when they are doing something wrong but there are still those who need religion to help them do the right thing, which I completely agree with but once you let religion become extreme, it really separates us as people, just look at how many wars there have been and still are going on because of religion. It's really interesting, because when you take two religions and analyze them, the similarities are so close that it's amazing that they are at war when they are practically the same, just my thoughts on it.
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ReplyDeleteI am sorry to say this, but I do not like that movie. I am not really religious person, but I believe in God and Jesus. I read Bible before (not all of them). But Jesus is not weak like in the movie. He is not afraid of anything because he knows that his father loves him. I know not everyone think things same way as others and I think that is very important. Some story and movie is fun to view in difference way, but I do not think a story like about Jesus is not good one to do especially in weird way. If Jesus is like that for real like in that movie, there are not so many people Christian in this world right now. If that is real Jesus, I do want to follow him. He is scare of everything!!!! Most weird thing in this movie is Jesus did not that Satan was tricking him. It is understandable that human like me was tricked by Satan but not Jesus. And even Satan tries God should help him somehow. But it is just movie. They can make movie the way they want.
ReplyDeletethis movie was sooooo boring. i am an agnostic and i really don't care what other people believe, so this movie was not really ofensive to me at all. You guys know that there is no actual concrete proof that jesus ever existed? I really don't like super religious people either. Becuase most people when you mention something like vodoo or pagan religions they automatically think that they are evil because of what they have been taught. "this is my blood and body" and what is the religious segnificance of eating someone? also the story of jesus and the story of the egyptian god horus is very simalar. And why would someone believe a guy with a head of a hawk ever existed?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5.htm
After watching the movie I did not agree with it at all. I am a religious person and know alot about my religion which made me keep asking myself how someone else could ever imagine this concept. Note, I am aware that everyone has their own beliefs and some are more extreme than others but for me the movie was maybe a little too extreme. I don't believe anything the movie tried to portay. I have my own beliefs in Jesus Christ and how he had lived and died for. Even though I will probably never watch this movie again, it did remind me that people have their own outlook on things and for me to get really upset and just tear the movie apart isn't something I could do. I understand that people did get offended by this movie but they should remember....in the disclosure for this class it did state we would be watching movies like this which I find surprising people didn't realize. This movie was suppose to get that reaction out of us and it did. So job well done on selecting a movie that would finally get some people talking more than they would have. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this whole movie I was just like "what the hell" this is the weirdest thing Ive ever seen. I'm a christian but I'm not offended by the movie it was just boring. What the movie does is just question things and its okay to question. Especially life, I think that is all this movie is doing is questioning sure even being a christian I some times feel agnostic and some times I feel like I don't care if I go to hell or heaven. I do think however that people are freaking out for no reason. Nikos Kazantzakis obviously didn't right the book to get people to think about Jesus in a weird way. Personally I just think that old Nikos was putting his own characteristics into Jesus. I mean come on no one is going to buy a book or watch a movie called THE TEMPTATIONS OF NIKOS. He was a writer and he just was portraying himself into a character that people would pay attention to. Anyways to everyone who is freaking out come one if there was a Jesus than he was a bad ass and doesn't need you to all feel sorry for him.
ReplyDeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteYes, while I am both religious and someone who believes in Christ I didn't really get offended towards this movie. Just because the movie exists does not make it true. We each can believe what we want to believe and no movie (or bible for that matter) can persuade us if we don't want to be persuaded. With that idea in mind I am going to make my comment based off of more what I saw then what I believe.
This is the story of the human Jesus. This is a story told about a man who struggles with his calling. To pull some message and meaning from this movie I would say that this movie helps people realize that sometimes it is okay to doubt your calling in life. Sometimes we doubt what we should be doing. Everyone else has it easy why should my trials be the hard unique ones. Often times we find ourselves wanting to take the easy way out. But as this movie showed us, if the direction we are supposed to go has felt right before and we have worked hard to get there, we should let nothing distract us from the end goal. Distraction in the final minutes was the last temptation of Christ and it is often times the last temptation in our own personal goals.
It is easy to let your faith or lack of religion get you caught up in the inaccuracies told but putting aside the sinner, time-traveling Jesus and looking at the message of endurance this movie is not has bad as it seems.
I did not like the movie at all. I don't like William Defoe as an actor, I think he is a little creepy, so it kind of ruined the movie right off for me when I found out he was playing Jesus. I was taught different things about Jesus then growing up and this movie was not what I believe in so for me the movie seemed a off and I disagree with a lot of it.
ReplyDeleteThis movie was little strange to say the least, but for the art of entertainment I think the movie hit it right on. I'm not religious with Jesus, I have my own ideas on life and this movie does not bother me, people can have their own ideas. In the movie, towards the end when Jesus is an old man with his family, and he notices a another man preaching about himself and he gets very upset. He scolds the other man for telling "lies." In the movie it was true the man was not saying correct facts about Jesus but the preacher defended himself with the idea that its not who Jesus is, but more for what he stands for. To come to my point, in today's world we have many great arguments. People arguing for who is right, who's god is better, and what religion is truly divine. This scene to me reflected the great debates of the world and gave a solution. To give an example of one of the many great debates, look at the responses from students in this class over the movie. People do not like or agree with the movie because the its not who Jesus is to them. I understand the curiosity of wanting to know the true Jesus and I understand sticking behind your beliefs, but in today's world, how are we really going to know who Jesus was or what he did? The answer the preacher gave to the old Jesus was a solution to many problems. He did not care what Jesus was telling him, he believed in HIS Jesus and he walked away ok. People need to individualize religion, but then understand that its more about the morals of the story. There's no right or wrong to religion, you could have religion towards anything, beer, snow,anything, and if people understood others, and did not take things so literal we would have less conflict and more understanding.
ReplyDeleteLet me start out with a quote from the first poster:
ReplyDelete"I see no entertainment value from this movie and think anyone who has a desire to watch it shoul seriously think twice on that.
Awful movie in my opinion that just should be burned. Every copy of it." that is copied and pasted.
wow this isn't right. you want to burn peoples ideas because they differ from yours? i'm glad you have no power what so ever.
now the definition of religion from dictionary.com
Religion: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects
okay now notice it says beliefs not facts now lets look at the bible
here is a website that i looked at i also looked in the bible.
http://www.latinvulgate.com/verse.aspx?t=1&b=1&c=4
it says in the bible in matthew chapter 4 that jesus was tempted in the desert by satan
thats strange? don't believe me look it up! remember this scene in the movie? with the snake yes this is actually in the bible so what do we know? according to the bible jesus has been tempted before! in my opinion to be tempted with something of that magnitude portrayed in the movie to be tempted with a normal life and still choose to suffer and die only would prove he is the messiah in my opinion how ever before you choose to burn my ideas do a little research and besides its a hollywood movie!!!!!!! whats the purpose of this movie? to make money!!!!!!!! if you can't handle the heat drop the class bottom line!
While I generally prefer to comment just on what I observe in the film, there have been so many outraged comments that will at least partially address some of what was expressed in addition to my personal interpretations of The Last Temptation of Christ.
ReplyDeleteIt is troubling that so many in the class are fixated on how the film’s presentation differed from that of their faith traditions: disrespectful, sacrilege, garbage, blasphemy, etc. The irony is that this film, because of the message it is based on, offered the greatest opportunity to those in the class who follow a faith tradition that celebrates Jesus Christ as their Savior. When you note the quote by Kazantzakis, (and you know, did the reading), you understand the framework from which the story is told. The film adapts Kazantzakis’s cathartic search for the meaning of the dual nature of Christ as both fully human and fully divine. Kazantzakis seeks to understand this dichotomy and so explores Jesus’ ability as a man to be tempted to avoid the burdens of pain, suffering and responsibility he must bear as not just the Son of God, but as God himself (and although LDS dogma doesn’t believe in the Trinity, understand that Kazantzakis, as Greek Orthodox, would have stressed this just as much as he did the Last Supper and the importance of Mass.)
Many people also expressed concern over the fact that when facing the threat of death and damnation, Jesus could be tempted and not see the truth of the evil tempting him. However, when considered in more depth, we have to consider what it means that at the moment of his death, God turned his back on his Son (“Eloi eloi lama sabachthani?/My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Severing the connection would leave Jesus vulnerable, terrified and open to temptation. Kazantzakis uses the idea of the moment when his Savior faces damnation (to atone for our sakes) to explore the fact that as a man and as fully divine, he is as corruptible as we are, but ultimately remains unblemished. This search for meaning is therefore not the blasphemous assault or questioning of biblical relevance it has been seen as, but is a deeply devout exploration of Kazantzakis’s personal understanding of Christian faith.
Those who have simply been insulted have, to put it mildly, missed the point entirely. By merely tolerating the film, and not allowing their beliefs to be changed and strengthened those who profess devotion to a Christian tradition have missed a rare opportunity to deepen and mature their faith. Seeking greater understanding of beliefs, philosophies and moral foundations is the only way we grow as people.
Personally, I didn’t find this film either particularly interesting or controversial, probably due to my personal and educational background. As I’ve already had cause to explore the Divine Mystery of the duality of Christ, the themes being explored here are simply not innovative enough for me to find inspiration or new truth. I had more interest in considering the reasons why so often religious depictions are whitewashed. It has always bothered me to discover blonde or sandy haired Christs or Madonnas, and this film was no different. I would love to talk to the casting director who believes that there were any ginger-haired Jews around in the Holy Land two thousand years ago.
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After reading all these blog posts I kinda wish I could have made my post as entertaining and controversial as all these other one!I want to start a blog arguement! haha..
ReplyDeleteThe Last Temptation of Christ is a movie that I found boring, confusing, and long. The whole three hours was filled with very cheesy dialog that it was hard to stay wake and be entertained or interested in. Every minute I was nodding my head and taking a snooze, and then I would be awakened by another over acted scene. The “green goblin” freaked me out more in this movie than in his quest of killing Spiderman.
I can understand how people can see this movie to be offensive. For example the movie shows “Christ” living a normal life, with a wife and having a classroom full of children after resuscitating from the cross. But I didn’t see the movie to be offensive just untrue in some parts. When seeing the movie, viewers have to see it with an open mind and know that everyone has different views of how Christ lived and came about, though I don’t know who would put themselves through another three hours of seeing naked people and their bad acting.
When seeing the movie I kept asking myself what the hell just happened? I was confused through the most part; like the scene when “Christ” is sitting in the middle of nowhere trying to connect with God and all of sudden he sees a lion. Is that God? Or the scene where we find a crazy dude with a long beard baptizing people who seemed possessed, dancing around and bobbing their heads to background devil music. I didn’t understand how these scenes related with Christ’s voyage to spread the” word” and how he died for our sins.
OK Retards. The Green Goblin has a name. It's Willem DeFoe. He is a bad man. He cannot compare to Jesus Christ on a cross, I cannot believe how closed-minded a lot of the people here are!
ReplyDeleteI grew up here... Then moved away, (thank God!), and got to see things in other parts of the country. I learned that I may not have to rot in hell just because I'm not a mormon, as some of my Utah brethren seem to believe. PHEW!!!
Jesus Christ is a fucking Saint. None of you can COMPARE to him, I can't compare to him, and I really doubt that ANYONE ever will. Willem DeFoe didn't. Jim Caviezel didn't. But they both put in a damn good effort... Let's burn them down for it... Typical.
The story is amazing. It's in billions of books.
I liked this writer's version of it, because he put into perspective... Sin can sometimes be disguised. Even in happy, pretty little things... Like Satan. Satan=Sin. OUTRAGEOUS, like Jesus being a Saint... Right?
It's not like they are personally saying the things most poeple believe, aren't true. they are just analying the religion in its faulness in a creative way. It took the entire story of what happened and put in into an entirely different way that it went down. Even LDS people question their beliefs sometimes, this guy just put his questions into a crazy film and made a new story to substantiate his questionings.
ReplyDeleteAt first this movie really pissed me off and I still dont like it and would never watch it again but I'm over it, its just a movie.. but my views are completly one sided completly LDS sheltered and in my opinion beautiful. The real Jesus Christ is the only way to find true happiness. The movie hurt my feelings because its not how I saw him but after thinking about it and readings these opinions I realized that my religion can not be forced upon anybody and I have never questioned Christ. Openly questioning it is very scary for an LDS person and fear brings anger so I think alot of people including myself have trouble facing the oposition to our beliefs. I think it is important to take in consideration all beliefs but remain identified by ones own.
ReplyDeleteI know this was a controversial movie for a lot of people in this class but not me. I think that the movie was simply trying to show a different point of view of the life of Christ. I know a lot of people have their faith invested in the idea that Christ was the perfect man and never had an impure thought but I cannot believe that. The movie shows a more realistic view for me on what his life was probably like instead of the spoon fed reality certain religions try to force feed you.
ReplyDeleteI understand this is a very sensitive subject for a lot of people. After reading some of these comments, i really find it hard to believe how closed minded some people are in this class. Growing up here in Utah, (non-LDS) This state has taught me alot about myself because unfortunately, religion has a very powerful voice. I would consider myself rather agnostic these days, I do believe Jesus Christ did live at some time, but i do not think He is the son of God. I believe Jesus had an important message for all to hear. He taught the right beliefs and values which are important for everyone to practice. Jesus was a man who we (mankind) created into a God like figure. We could sit here and debate all day and night about whether or not Jesus was the Son of God, or whether or not He even existed at all. But the bigger picture is that Jesus was a person whos ideals and beliefs were important enough for people to remember and practice for thousands of years to come. The debate on whether or not he was even the Son of God is, I think, rather irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteOverall I thought The Last Temptation of Christ was a rather long and boring movie. The narrative got rather old and carried on for too long at some points. However, I would recommend this movie because of the different interpretations of Jesus Christ. I believe in order to expand your beliefs one must question one's one personal ideas.
I really didn't like this movie at all. it made me really unconfortble. it was one of the most creepy things I have ever seen. i really don't think that that should have been made in to a movie. christ wasn't supposed to have any temtations and he wasn't as week as man. I hope that I won't ever have to watch this movie ever again. probably the worst movie ever made in my opinion
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do believe in God and Jesus Christ i wouldn't consider myself very "religious". The movie did offend me a little bit but i thought moreso that it was just kind of bizarre and all over the place. The movie was obviously made to be very controversial considering it goes after the most controversial, fought over, argued subject in world history... religion.
ReplyDeleteI thought that The Last temptation of Christ was a different movie. I find it interesting to see someone else point of view of christ and what he went through. I dont believe a lot of the thing that was in this movie. I believe that Jesus know when the devil is tempting him and he would follow into satan traps.
ReplyDeleteI found the movie very boring, being agnostic I don't think it was offensive. my mom was telling me when the movie first came out they only watched becuase people were pickiting around the movie theater and they had to push their way through to see the movie... for another class i had to go to a church that's not my own, being agnostic i had many choices ^.^ so i went to a Babtist church and the revernd/pasture said a great line "(he was African-American)King Jr. died for my rights but Jesus died for my wrongs." i thought it was avery powerful message. But the movie was about a guy going insane... obviously a geinous to be carring a defibrillator at that point in time to bring Lazurus back to life... and after doing so much to change the way we look at life whats wrong with him taking it easy and having a life...
ReplyDeletei did not like this movie at all. the entire film seemed like a stab at the greatest man ever to walk the earth. I found it strange when for half the movie was focused on jesus' fantasy. It was also wrong portraying judas as the most loyal apostle when he was the really a traitor. this movie is controversial and it offeneded me hopefully the next movies will be better.
ReplyDeleteDespite what anyone else says, I thought this movie was ok, and pretty decent, it was a bit boring but I was able to stay awake. I went to church when I was younger for a few years, so I could remember few of the things that had happened. Even though I didn't know much about jesus' life, this gives me some insight on his life, I don't know if any of this is true? But a few things I didn't like was the abuse of jesus and getting spit on etc... it was a bit weird how he would have different dreams and have different things to follow, one night he would believe one thing, the next night it would be another. But I am very glad that he really believed in what he thought and didn't just give up when his dreams changed. And the part with satan really confused me as well, I didn't really understand that part.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully I really didn't like the movie at all, I nearly fell asleep watching it. I've heard different stories of Jesus Christ and this one was just out there.. I wasn't offended in any kind of way though like others, I just think that the whole story line blew. I'm not to much of a religious person but when I hear something like this I just don't really believe it what so ever. I believe that Jesus was put on earth for a sole purpose but not to pay for peoples sins. All in All bad movie, hope to see something for intense next time.
ReplyDeleteThis movie was, well...outrageous. I know that it wasn't based on the four gospels, or didn't necessarily follow the bible. It almost seemed like it was a story fabricated for the sake of making a story about Jesus. I knew from very early in the movie that it did not follow my religious beliefs at all. However, I kept watching, with the intent to learn something; maybe take something from it that could strengthen my own convictions on Christ's role and ministry. However, I was left wanting. I kept thinking that it would get better...but to no avail did that happen. It just got more and more outrageous. It came across in the movie, that Christ almost had no clue what he was doing...that he just B.S.ed His way through everything. I know of no christian faith or religion that teaches that Christ was anything BUT perfect. From birth to death He did not falter once. He did not give so much thought to any of satan's temptations...He recognized the deceiver, and cast him out.
ReplyDeleteAlso...the part about John the Baptist was the most ridiculously bizarre thing I have ever seen in my life...wow...that is probably the most far off enactment of his ministry.
Talk about a controversial film. I can't think of a single movie, that we could watch the rest of this semester, that would be more controversial than The Last Temptation of Christ. It threatens peoples beliefs and the way people view Jesus Christ. I particularly did not care for the movie. The Jesus in this film is not the Jesus that I have grown up to believe in. Nikos Kazantzakis is entitled to his own opinion just as all of us are. Though I did not care for this film, I respect Kazantzakis' views on Jesus Christ as well as anyone elses. In return I would only expect the same.
ReplyDeletei was very offended by this movie, i dont know how anyone could create the character of jesus making croses for the romans. although the director and everyone else is entitled to their own opinions, i dont believe in buddah but tons of people do so more power to everyone and their own beliefs, but back to my point it seems as if Nikos made this movie to be controversial, to get some sort of a rise out of christians around the world. i am a christian and i do believe in christ, but it is a totally different view, so it is very hard for me to sit and watc something depicting the same man as otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by this movie. I liked how Nikos threw a completely different spin on a story that so many people know just as one way. Granted I do believe in Jesus dying on the cross for us and all of that but no one knows how it actually went down and it could have gone like his dream we don't know! Probably my favorite part was when he tore down all the vendors at the churches they don't belong there go him!
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting portrayal of Jesus's life. Although it really didnt follow the bible or really many of the ideas that we are used to it was a persons idea. I was offended by quite a few things and confused at a few others. I can easily see how it is a controversial film because I mean look at the controversy from these posts. The ways that they had John the Baptists and all the people there when he baptized Jesus was a little different and looked like they were all posessed but I dont know how it was? I dont think it was like that but who knows?
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