wow

2003 Feb 22 12:24

I just watched Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation Of Christ (based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis - link is to a wonderful essay) again, this time on Criterion’s DVD release (splendid master, I must say.)

Those of you who were put off from seeing this when it was released, perhaps because it was declared as blasphemy, you were too young, or it just didn’t appeal — go and rent it, or come over and see it. This film continues to amaze me, move me to tears, and fill me with joy every time I see it — and I’m not a Christian!

I want to say so much about the film, but really, all I can say is that it so accurately portrays the struggle of a human being coming to terms with a world that’s greater than he is, one that contains more forces than those inside the average human experience. Or — does everyone experience this same struggle? Is that the point, that humanity fundamentally will rediscover this turmoil one individual at a time?

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6 responses

canongrrl

cool movie, more so because I didn't know Judas was

canongrrl | 22 02 2003

cool movie, more so because I didn’t know Judas was from Brooklyn till that film ;-)

wohali

I love how the speech patterns shift, even for Jesus

wohali | 22 02 2003

I love how the speech patterns shift, even for Jesus — who starts off speaking like a Jew, and then shifts subtlely closer to the way, perhaps, a moderate Baptist might speak. Really fascinating dialogue work…

pennywyse

if you ask me that is one of the best

pennywyse | 22 02 2003

if you ask me that is one of the best books and films ever. the story is so compelling to follow. everytime it feels just as good to see.

anonymous

Never got around to seeing that one but I remember

anonymous | 22 02 2003

Never got around to seeing that one but I remember the hubbub & protests at the time. At least the filmmakers weren’t put on trial for blasphemy like those guys in the Middle East who did the story about Mohammed’s sex life.
My guess is these people need to believe their favorite prophet or messiah is perfect & beyond reproach and don’t want to hear about how they were flawed human beings like the rest of us.
Oh well, I’m agnostic now so it doesn’t really matter to me.

SirV

lemoicavalier

Wow!... I haven't read (remember) that film in ages. When

lemoicavalier | 23 02 2003

Wow!… I haven’t read (remember) that film in ages. When I first so it I was like 19 y.o. I’m going to buy it.

qulturquisinart

All I can say is: SOUNDTRACK BY PETER GABRIEL. Yessss. PS:

qulturquisinart | 23 02 2003

All I can say is: SOUNDTRACK BY PETER GABRIEL. Yessss.

PS: I was looking over old livejournal entries, and you commented on something I wrote about Dan Savage a long time ago (butIcan’tfigureoutwhoyouare). Anyway, hi.