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Conference bookie::movies

Title:Movie Reviews and Discussion
Notice:Please do DIR/TITLE before starting a new topic on a movie!
Moderator:VAXCPU::michaudo.dec.com::tamara::eppes
Created:Thu Jan 28 1993
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1249
Total number of notes:16012

804.0. "Last Temptation of Christ" by WECARE::FERRIGNO () Tue Apr 11 1995 16:04

    I am interested in viewing a film directed by Martin Scorcese, starring
    Wilhelm Dafoe, called "The Last Temptation of Christ".  I read the
    novel by Kazanztakis (sp) from which the film was derived many years
    ago.  It left a lasting impression.
    
    When the film was first released, there was much controversy from the
    right-wing conservative element.  While my daughter was a student at
    U of R in Rochester, NY, there was violence outside of the small
    theater attempting to show the film.
    
    I inquired at Blockbuster, but was told that though they own the film,
    all of their copies have been damanged or stolen and they choose not
    to replace them.  What I found troublesome, however, was the remark
    made by the young, teenaged clerk, "That's a terrible film to watch
    on Palm Sunday."
    
    I've tried my mom and pop video stores in the Nashua, NH area, but
    no luck.  Does anyone know where I can find this video to rent?
    
    Thanks in advance.
    
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804.1AIAG::WEISSMANTue Apr 11 1995 19:197
Try Videosmith, various locations in the Boston area - I'd suggest calling first
- they have a large selection but I don't know for sure that they have this one.
 Blockbuster tends to shy away from anything controversial and as a matter of
policy won't stock anything with an NC-17 or X rating.  They got caught with
their pants down, so to speak, a few years ago when it was discovered that they
had in stock UNRATED versions of various films - some clerk didn't realize that
these were effectively NC-17.
804.2Booooo for B.B. Video#MAL009::RAGUCCITue Apr 11 1995 22:4310
    
    
    figginin' Blockbuster has crap! only new releases and they never buy
    enough. Why? who knows. 
    	THE last temptation of Christ is a good film, made through
    the Directors eyes. What ever that clerk said, shows he's just a 
    clerk.
    I hope you find it and enjoy!
    
    
804.3WRKSYS::LASKYWed Apr 12 1995 12:488
    I never did understand what the big deal was about this film.  I
    thought the film was very well done and is a fine film for anytime of
    the year!!  All of the objectional stuff (Christ's last temptation) is
    about the last 10 minutes of the film.
    
    Rent it and judge for yourself,
    
    			Bart
804.4NETRIX::michaudKenny RogersWed Apr 12 1995 14:1111
> Rent it and judge for yourself,

	That was the problem when this film came out, most of those
	who were protesting it never even saw the film.

	I saw it when it first came out, and even though I dozed off
	(had just flown East to West the same day) I saw most of it.
	The parts they supposedly objected to (the Jesus character
	having sex for example) was all part of a dream sequence
	while the character was on the cross.  Ie. it was the Devil's
	last temptation of Jesus while he was on the cross about to die.
804.5HELIX::MAIEWSKIWed Apr 12 1995 15:0310
  I had the same impression. It is actually shows J.C. in particular and the
religion in general in a very positive light. 

  As for the film itself, it's very well written, well directed, well filmed
and the actors are very believable. In addition to the story itself it gives
you a good look at every day life as it may have been in the middle east 2000
years ago. 

  **** out of 5,
  George
804.6Burned any good books today?707VAX::ROGERW::MONAGHANMy logic was not in error, however I was in error.Wed Apr 12 1995 17:199
    re .0
    
    	"all the copies damaged or stolen" at BB.
    
    	Scary, huh? Almost sounds like book-burning.
    
    
    
    				Roger
804.7Video SearchSALEM::HINESWed Apr 12 1995 18:461
    See note 5. It included sources of movies, videotapes etc.
804.8WONDER::REILLYSean / Alpha Servers DTN:223-4375Wed Apr 12 1995 23:505
    
    Also... Blockbuster seems to have enough "Life of Brian"'s that don't
    get ruined.   Makes "Last Temptation" seem tame, imo.
    
    - Sean
804.9IMTDEV::BRUNOThu Apr 13 1995 15:288
    
         These comments kind of remind me of all of the non-native
    Americans on the TV news who couldn't understand why Native Americans
    didn't like the football team name "Redskins".  The simple fact of the
    matter is that it's very difficult to understand the feelings when you
    are not the one being insulted.
    
                                      Greg
804.10did you reply to the wrong note?NETRIX::michaudEddie MurphyThu Apr 13 1995 16:008
>          These comments kind of remind me of all of the non-native
>     Americans on the TV news who couldn't understand why Native Americans
>     didn't like the football team name "Redskins".  The simple fact of the
>     matter is that it's very difficult to understand the feelings when you
>     are not the one being insulted.

	Which kind of comments are you talking about? (there are several
	in this string .....)
804.11HELIX::MAIEWSKIThu Apr 13 1995 17:3613
RE                       <<< Note 804.9 by IMTDEV::BRUNO >>>

>         These comments kind of remind me of all of the non-native
>    Americans on the TV news who couldn't understand why Native Americans
>    didn't like the football team name "Redskins".  The simple fact of the
>    matter is that it's very difficult to understand the feelings when you
>    are not the one being insulted.
    
  But the point everyone is making is that the movie didn't insult anyone. It
showed J.C. and his religion in a very positive light. It was only rumored
to have been insulting.

  George
804.12YOU may think it wasn't insulting, but...IMTDEV::BRUNOFri Apr 14 1995 14:0511
    RE:              <<< Note 804.11 by HELIX::MAIEWSKI >>>

>>  But the point everyone is making is that the movie didn't insult anyone. It
>>showed J.C. and his religion in a very positive light. It was only rumored
>>to have been insulting.

    I am aware of the point you were offering.  My point is that it is
    difficult to know whether or not something is insulting if you are not
    the party on the receiving end of the insult.
    
                                    Greg 
804.13NETRIX::michaudGodFri Apr 14 1995 14:176
>     I am aware of the point you were offering.  My point is that it is
>     difficult to know whether or not something is insulting if you are not
>     the party on the receiving end of the insult.

	And my point in .4 is that those who claimed to be "insulted"
	never even saw the movie to make a fair judgement .....
804.14Art for the sake of art::::::::::::MAL009::RAGUCCIMon Apr 17 1995 21:227
    
    All the bad PR just gave the film more exposure than ever.
    what happened to "Art for the sake of Art" the MGM logo.
    Somebody somewhere will find something insulting or in bad taste.
    Especially in films. Just change the channel.
    
    
804.15RANGER::CERQUATue Apr 18 1995 16:5411
    re .0:
    
    I know you asked about rentals, but I saw a VHS copy (recently) for 
    sale at the Suncoast movie store at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, 
    NH (it was selling for around $20).  Since Suncoast is a chain, I would
    suspect that other stores in the chain would have it for sale or might
    be able to order it.
    
    I've seen it for rent on laserdisc in multiple stores...
    
    				- Paul
804.16Grassroots censorship ...ZPOVC::GEOFFREYFri Apr 28 1995 10:1115
    re: the "ruined copies" notes
    
    One of the tactics often used by "action groups" is to go down to the
    local video store, rent the movies they find objectionable (with Tape
    Guard, of course) and bring it back to the store the next day shredded.
    They then claim that their VCR trashed it, and Tape Guard insurance
    pays for it. These days, tape distributors rarely carry much backup
    stock, so the video store never replaces the tape.
    
    It reminds me of fourty years ago, when the same people would go to the
    public library and rip out all of the magazine pictures and articles
    that they thought were "filthy". It was hilarious to see old ladies
    ripping up underwear ads in Redbook and Vogue ...
    
    Geoff
804.17tell that Blockbust dupe Easter may be THE day to see itAPLVEW::DEBRIAEFri Apr 28 1995 13:5510
    
    	btw, the Siskel and Ebert daily calendar had a quote from Siskel on
    	the Easter 95 page that said (from memory): "People who haven't
    	seen the movie will find this statement to be offensive, out of
    	ignorance, but my top choice for a movie for Easter is "Last
    	Temptation," without doubt it is the best depiction of Christ I
    	have ever seen on film." -Siskel