UPCOMING FILMS

- MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST (April 2010)

FILM REVIEWS

The Nativity Story

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Peter and Paul

Final Inquiry

JESUS

SAVED

Can the Bible Be Funny?

...Problems with The Nativity Story
A New Line Cinema Release

by Rick Dack
Founder and Director of HVTB Int'l

With all of the uproar over the theatrical release of The Da Vinci Code I assumed there would be an examination of The Nativity Story. So far I have heard nothing but positive P.R. (Commercials, interviews etc;) and little or no criticism from those who have an influence via radio and television. They should know better.

Note: In Fall 2007 "30 Days of Night" was released by New Line Cinema. I find it interesting that in 2006 it releases a film about the Son of God then in 2007 they release a film that in the film trailer on TV it proclaims "No God."


I am very disappointed with leaders in the Christian Church and Christian/Conservative radio (Ted Baehr, Frank Wright, Anne Graham Lotz, Hank Hannegraaf and Hugh Hewitt). To be fair, Hewitt did not necessarily promote or endorse this film unlike the others but did interview
Mr. Rich.

Christian/Conservative radio should be aware of inaccurate depictions of the Bible and not run ads promoting such films. Be a Berean. Check it out before you promote it! It's important that productions about the Bible are accurate.

I am concerned about the following quotes

“THE NATIVITY STORY is a biblically faithful and artistically superb expression of the most momentous event in human history – when God became a man. For a generation of movie-goers unfamiliar with this truth and its implications for their lives, this magnificent film may well be transformational.”

 – Frank  Wright, Ph.D., President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters

“From what I have observed, THE NATIVITY STORY is Biblically accurate, historically authentic and visually stunning. Written with heart, directed with sensitivity, produced with excellence and performed with artistic grace, it is destined to become a beloved, cherished classic.”

– Anne Graham Lotz, AnGeL Ministries

“I give it five stars and two thumbs up,” raves Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Graham's evangelist daughter, who saw it during a preview in North Carolina.

Source:www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20061118-9999-mz1c18story

Nov. 10, 2006 - “The Nativity Story,” a new movie that tells the narrative of the birth of Jesus Christ, won’t be in theaters until December, but Anne Graham Lotz has already seen it. Lotz, who is Billy Graham’s daughter, was one of the dozens of pastors, religious scholars and historians who were consulted on the script.

Source:www.today.msnbc.msn.com/id/15657823/site/newsweek/

Read my comments (below) and see why I am upset with an inaccurate film about the birth of Christ.

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Mary, Mother of Jesus
(NBC)

Summary: The film begins with a discretionary prologue, "While dramatic license has been taken, we believe this film reflects the spirit and historical significance of the biblical story of Mary and Jesus."

This film begins with Roman soldiers coming to attack Mary's village announcing the Census, continues with the Angel meeting Mary (prior to birth of Jesus) outside of the city in a Wilderness location (not Biblical) and going through the childhood of Jesus (what is known and some inaccuracies). The adult Jesus is a Carpenter who must deal with the death of his Father as well as figure out his mission but it seems only Mary truly knows and Jesus struggles. There is very little presented on Jesus' Ministry and his trial. Jesus is Crucified and Resurrects but Mary instructs Jesus' Disciples on what to do next. There is no indication of a Pentecost or a time frame.

Opinion: If you can pick out the errors it's worth the purchase. But rent it first to make sure. (anything not contained with the error section one can assume to be Biblically accurate.)

Errors:
1) cheap models/Special FX (Mary's home town)

2) Obelisks in Jerusalem? In the scene after Jesus fist fight, Jerusalem is divided among the common square building architectures with Obelisks that contain a split at the top of the structure which forms a pyramid. Weird! This isn't any 1st century Jerusalem I have seen.

3) Mary encounters the angel while in the wilderness/desert (Biblically, the Angel is sent by God to a city: Nazareth and when the angel "enters" he greets Mary..see Luke 1:26-28).

4) Mary tries to rescue a girl being stoned on the journey to see Elizabeth

5) Joseph goes to see Mary at Elizabeth's

6) Biblically, Mary was not threatened by the locals with stoning

7) There is no indication there were 3 Wisemen as the film portrays.

8) Herod ordered the death of children 2 years and younger (Matthew 2:16) not 6 months or younger in the film. Nor did Mary and Joseph flee as the soldiers entered the town but left at night (Matthew 2:14) or was it "day" or was it "night." (read below).

9) Note to the editors of the film: Soldiers enter the city during the day but in the following scenes are killing infants at night. Wow! Bethlehem must be huge! (A little sarcasm hurt no one).

10) Mary tells Jesus the "Good Samaritan" story at age 12 (story originates with Jesus not Mary).

11) After fist fight with a neighborhood boy, Jesus (age 12) doesn't know why he (Jesus) is opposed to fighting during a conversation with Mary (seems to not know his divinity but does in the Temple at Jerusalem at the same age). Does Jesus have an identity crisis? He must according to this NBC script.

12) Jesus, in the film, is assumed to have left where he was staying earlier (in the morning) to speak in the temple (age 12) but the Bible says that at Passover all 3 went to the Temple and Jesus stayed behind which prompted Mary and Joseph to look for him (Luke 2: 41-46).

13) Mary prompts Jesus to go to John the Baptist.

14) Jesus refers to his "mission" as not "he" but "we" when talking about it with Mary as if she was part of the plan for his ministry and not simply his Mother.

15) Jesus claims to have not heard from God for 18 years since age 12 (at the Temple).

16) Mary is Baptized after Jesus by John.

17) After Jesus' Baptism he tells Mary he now knows what he must do and will tell the stories that "she" told him., referring to his parables etc;

18) Jesus questions his Ministry, "is it right"? Says he feels different after the Baptism, has new powers, can perform wonders.

19) Jesus says he needs "guidance" to know what to do, he goes on the 40 day Wilderness Journey.

20) John the Baptists death: According to Josephus, John was killed at Macherus (a high prison fortress) under orders of Herod Antipas not a public prison location as shown in the film.

21) Aspects of Jesus' three year Ministry is limited to only a few scenes

22) The actor playing the Apostle John is known to have been a teenager when he walked with Jesus, the actor in the film looks approximately twice as old as John.

23) Nothing in the gospels say that Mary recited the Lords Prayer at Golgotha

24) Jesus' death on the cross in the film is shortened to a matter of minutes rather than hours nor is there any indication that a lengthier period of time had elapsed prior to his death.

25) Mary confronts the Disciples after Jesus' death.

26) Mary recites part of the Great Commission and the Disciples seem to be unclear on what to do next. There is no indication that this is prior to or after Jesus' Ascension.

( Note: The film was produced by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Bobby Shriver so many of the inaccuracies may be based upon Catholic "tradition," Gnostic texts or simply ignoring the Biblical text altogether while the script was written.

Buy this Video: 1-800-NBC-4144

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Peter and Paul (1981)
MCA/Universal Gateway Films, Vision Video.
194 minutes

Summary: This film starts a few years after the resurrection of Jesus. Peter (Robert Foxworth, Falcon Crest) gathers on a dark street corner with 3-4 other believers discussing the pseudo-trial of Stephen. The story continues with the death of Stephen by stoning and Saul, later Paul (Anthony Hopkins, Nixon) observes his stoning. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus leads to his pre-journey meeting with Peter, attempts on his life and his travels with Barnabas (Herbert Lom, Pink Panther film series) and Silas (John Ryhes Davies). The film concludes with Pauls meeting with Festus and his eventual execution in Rome followed soon by Peters crucificion.

Good aspects of the film: The only actor that comes close to Robert Foxworths Peter is Denis Quilleys portrayal of the character in A.D. but in all honesty they tie. Foxworths intensity as the former fisherman is greatly needed because so many before him have turned the character into an eyes glazed over zombie. I was impressed with the passion and zealous spirit he brought to this character. Herbert Lom (Barnabas) greatly surprised me. His character showed a deep compassion and wisdom that no other actor, in a biblical film, before or since has brought to the screen. I applaud his performance as one of Pauls journey companions. Mr. Hopkins toward the middle of the film improved. I have never been a big fan of the stoic, blank faced, slow of speech, zombie like performances of those attempting to "appear" righteous. Mr. Hopkins does loosen up which makes for an enjoyable performance half way through the film. Watch for his performance on the beach at Malta.

Poor aspects of the film: The attempt at the righteous "look" (slow of speech, the religious stare) is always a turn off for me. I just want to see a film portray biblical characters as ordinary people in extraordinary situations not bearded weirdos. Mr Hopkins' performance starting with his meeting with Gamaliel (Jose Ferrer) contained this type of dialogue/performance which continued until the journeys began. Bad casting also plagued this movie. Eddie Albert (Green Acres) looked uncomfortable, perhaps looking for Eva Gabor and Mr. Haney. Raymond Burr as Herod looked like he was wearing a circus tent. The greatest error in this film was not in the characters performances but in the script. The problematic scene was apparently taken from Acts 15 where some believers wanted the Greeks to first become circumcised to become Christians, the Church disagreed (Acts 15:19). This belief was carried over into the issues of Greeks having to abstain from food equated with idols, blood, sexual immorality etc;. The film script said that no restrictions should be placed upon Christian Greeks. Biblically, Paul was clearly against sexual immorality according to Acts 15:28-32 but Hopkins' character was greatly opposed to this "restriction." I believe this would be a good movie to rent or buy but as Mike Brady said to Peter, caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.

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THE FINAL INQUIRY
(2006/2007)

Embarrasing bad film about the search for the body of Jesus after his Resurrection. Bad dubbing, too much of a chick flick, some blond/blue-eyed Hebrews in the cast (refugees from ABBA?). Disappointing. Jesus holds his hands up like some Byzantine painting as Lazarus rises..looks like he running for office trying hush a convention crowd. F. Murray Abraham should do an Apostle Paul film as the lead...please read the Bible account before you write the script!! PLEASE! Why is this concept so difficult to understand? Dolph Lundgren also stars as a 1st century bodyguard.

A better film on this subject was the "The Inquiry" by HBO in the 1980's.

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JESUS
(2000)

The CBS film called Jesus that was released in 2000 begins with a Joan of Ark figure being burned at the stake and couples it with a scene out of WWII where soldiers are shown fleeing from the enemy. This dramatic introduction to the film is all part of a dream from which Jesus wakes up. The film then explores a supposed romance between Jesus and Mary, sister of Martha, in which he confesses to his father Joseph that he loves her but cannot be with her. Joseph, Jesus, and Mary are then confronted with Matthew, the tax collector, who breaks into their home to take taxes. That evening, Joseph bemoans the suffering of the Jews, and Jesus is offended by the assertion that he is the expected Messiah who can relieve the present suffering. Jesus then storms out of the room. After Joseph's death, as Jesus is mourning, Jesus says that he has only one father and that is Joseph. Jesus is then prompted by Mary to go on his mission, and he visits John to be baptized. John does not view Jesus as the Messiah but calls him a sinner who needs to repent of his sins. Soon after, Jesus is baptized, then he (Jesus) becomes the Messiah and confronts Satan in a bizarre interpretation of his temptations.

Jesus is first confronted by Satan in the form of woman with a red sash. The woman is then transformed into only the flowing sash. The Devil is then transformed into what is best described as a businessman with a really nice Armani suit. The Devil takes Jesus to a poverty-stricken South American village filled with starving victims, and then Jesus is magically removed from the area. Jesus is then taken to the Temple in Jerusalem, Satan is turned back into the woman with the red sash, and Jesus is shown the entire world from outer space. Jesus and the satanic businessman are soon back in the desert setting where it is decided that Jesus has passed the temptations. The devil will have to bide his time. .... Jesus' ministry finally begins. He collects his disciples, and Mary tells him the story about their Egypt experiences. In a flashback, Mary recalls the situation in which Jesus and a few friends accidentally kill a bird and Jesus resurrects it. Jesus is depicted as living in Egypt at five to six years of age. Did Herod die in 4 B.C. or didn't he? If Herod was dead, why did the family stay in Egypt? Jesus and the disciples then attend the wedding at Cana, and Jesus apologizes to the Disciple Andrew because the disciple expected Jesus to defeat the Romans. The final insult in this film is the depiction of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, prior to his address to the crowd, tells his disciples he has nothing to say. Luckily for us all, he comes up with something.

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SAVED
(2003)

Starring Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin.

I saw the film and was not impressed. I attended a Christian School and have spoken at a few. If the writers, actors etc; took the time to "attend" Church, atleast to do research, they would realize that the language and actions by the main characters are completely exaggerated, unreal and over-the-top. It's hard to believe that a writer for this drivel attended a Christian School for any period of time - maybe he just peeked his head in one afternoon...impressive! Anyone who says this is NOT a rip on Christianity must be on Crack. The scene where the Pastor is reading the Christmas Story and the main character is thinking to herself that perhaps Mary was not a Virgin meaning she lied about it. C'mon folks. The Virgin Birth is a basic, central belief of Christianity...this is a duh. > Biblical/historical retardation knows no bounds, the proof is the over 250 people that have reviewed this film and liked it. Perhaps the saddest epilogue to this travesty is the promotion of the Mandy Moore film "A Walk to Remember" by Salem Christian Radio stations around the U.S. during the 2001/2002 film season. Then the slimeball (Moore) turns around and does this. What a Jerk!

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CAN THE BIBLE BE FUNNY?
Intentionally and Unintentionally? Uh huh.

In order to "read on" further you must....

• Have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor as well as a serious side and can tell the difference.
  
  
• You must understand that the purpose of these pages is to inform individuals who watch Films, T.V. and Documentaries on Bible Archaeology and Bible Characters on the truths, errors and downright stupid "attempts" of Cable and Network TV to produce an "accurate" program.
  
  
• Not speak in slow, righteous King James (Yeseth, this meanseth thee) and think that stern, sour looks show your piety, they don't. It doesn't impress me nor does it God.
  
  
• Not be a person who is easily offended. Who isn't?
  
  
• Not think it's okay to produce a television show or movie about the Bible and over half the cast has blond hair and blue eyes. What? Didn't make the auditions for ABBA?
  
  
• Not think it's okay to produce a television show or movie about the Bible and the actor that plays Goliath (Giant) is shorter than the David character so they put him on a rock. Whether I'm on a rock or not, I'm still short. What? Can't find a tall wrestler to do the role TNT? What about WWE?
  
  
• Not be a Writer, Producer or Director who thinks it's okay to produce a television show or movie about the Bible and uses Potsie, Ralph Malph, Lurch, Joanie Cunningham, Horshack, Barry Williams or Eve Plumb ( both from Brady Bunch ) because they're out of work and cheap.
  
  
• Not be an actor who thinks it "looks Biblical" to stare off in the distance with a glassy-eyed stare and speaks in a slow, boring manner (like Robert Powell who played Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth ). No my friends that not Bible that's called drug addiction.
  
  
• Not be a talk show host ( Bill Maher) who has the insatiable desire to convey as much inaccurate and uninformed information one person can manage without a cerebral hemorrhage.

Noah's Ark (NBC)
The worst Old Testament film "ever"

Noah's Ark seems to be a favorite topic of ridicule for Filmmakers and Documentary Producers. The NBC production called Noah's Ark, one assumed, would be a close enough parallel to the Bible story to please all audiences but something went terribly wrong. The film begins with a disclaimer that in essence says that scenes were changed for dramatic affect. The Sodom and Gomorrah scene has Noah pleading for the people to be saved from Gods wrath but this event is not recorded in the Bible. The conversation between Noah and God actually took place between Abraham and God (Genesis 18). Noah wasn't a contemporary of the people of Sodom (2000-1900 B.C.). After the scene where Noah (actually Abraham) pleads with God for the lives of the Sodomites he is chased down a Mountain during a volcanic eruption and is in danger of being burned alive by the hot lava. Where is this in the Bible? Confusion continues to reign after he meets up with his friend Lot (Abraham's nephew) but where is Abraham? Sodom is eventually destroyed and Lots family flees to the Mountains but his daughters are no where to be seen. Lot has no daughters in this film (Genesis 19).

The story gets even more bizarre when Noah's family enters a pagan temple and the pagans are stricken dumb by God. Noah's soon goes on a drinking binge and God decides to build what remains of the Ark but that is not biblical either (Genesis 6:22). The Flood finally comes (I was hoping that the Deluge would take out the entire NBC writing staff) and the people on the earth perish or do they? Once the waters calm, Noah sees some ships on the horizon and more people have survived the flood. Soon the film turns into The Road Warrior on water and Lot and his fellow pirates attack the Ark and try to set it on fire but soon God sends a Waterspout (Tornado) to wipe out the pirates. So now the film has transformed itself from The Bible to the Road Warrior to a bad adaptation of the Wizard of Oz. God soon tires of all this violence so he decides to wipe out everyone, including Noah, and he (God) wants to start anew. Noah proceeds to go mad, takes some Perphenazine (my insertion - Mental Health medication) and decides to dance before God. God (a whimsically voiced deity) likes the dance so he decides not to destroy everyone. Yeah!!

The Life of Christ (Spanish)
The worst New Testament film "ever"

The film print I saw from a local Mpls. tv station around 2002 included a Jesus that looked like Barry Gibb (The Bee Gee's); an Angel with fake paper mache or cardboard wings; Color that would change various shades throughout; bad dubbing of character expressions (John the Bapt waving his arms with expression but the dialogue was monotone); Jesus at age 12 with dialogue that I have no doubt was improv; film score music that would not blend from scene to scene but would suddenly drop; The Massacre of the Innocents scene that looks like the actors were placed in a bandshell or small stage (obviously if there was to be any killing they would all be together in a clump); audio out of sync (someone hammering on a door but the sound would come not at impact but the opposite); camera shots where you had to search for who was talking; and Jesus' Resurrection where he would not rise into the air but the camera would pan to the left. This film is an Atheists dream come true.

The Greatest Heroes of the Bible (1979)
Shick Sunn Classic/Republic Pictures
50 minutes per episode

Summary: Never before in the history of mankind has there been more blond hair, blue eyed Hebrews in the Middle East! I say this tongue in cheek of course. This short lived TV series which took place in the late 1970's was filmed in Paige, Arizona. Sure it looked like the Middle East but the continuous use of practically the same sets every 5th episode, the use of a minority of extras as a crowd of hundreds of thousands of Jews, and the glowing angels may be an indication of their budget but I do applaud the attempt. The following is a list of actors that were well-known television stars in the sixties and seventies that lost their income once their series ended. It was either this The Love Boat or Fantasy Island. Hey! Potsie has to eat too!

The Deluge: starring Lew Ayres (Noah) and Eve Plumb (Jan of Brady Bunch fame).
Commentary: Portraying the daughter-in-law of Noah sold into slavery prior to the flood it looked like fair skinned Jan needed some Coppertone. It should said that Miss Plumb took another Noah "role" in the biblical comedy "And God Spoke." She played Noah's wife this time. Will review "And God Spoke" soon. The sons of Noah beardless? Maybe there was a mange epidemic among the young ship builders, but Ayres gives a good performance. Prediction: In 10-15 years, Eve Plumb will be playing Noah's Mother.

The Tower of Babel: starring Ron Palillo (Horshack of Welcome Back Kotter) and Erin Moran (Joanie from Happy Days).
Commentary: The two main characters (Palillo and Moran) hatch a plot to stop the building of the famed tower. Half way through this episode I was tempted to lift my hand for a question….oooh! oooh! ooh! Who wrote this script Mr. Kotter? Hail Amathar!

Abraham's Sacrifice: starring Gene Barry (Abraham, with a really bad wig and beard), Ed Ames and Ross Martin (Wild, Wild West).
Commentary: This episode starts with the accidental killing of an enemies son by Abraham, is this in the Bible? Hmm? And continues on with the plot of Hagar and her uncle (Martin) first trying rescue Ishmael, a very passive (toward Isaac) but precocious Ishmael (weird) and then attempting to supersede Abrahams desire that Isaac be the inheritor over his older brother. The episode ends with the sacrifice scenes. Again I ask you. Is this the Bible? Barry gives a good perfomance but he should've grown the beard himself.

Sodom and Gomorrah: starring Ed Ames (Lot) and Gene Barry (Abraham).
Commentary: Lot splits with Abraham and moves toward Sodom, gets captured, freed and eventually rises to some degree of leadership in Sodom. Lot eventually meets up with glowing angels and they shoot laser beams. Wow, that's neat! Sodom is destroyed and Lots wife turns into "BEST YET Salt" but I'm not sure if she's iodized (iodine treated description on BEST YET products).

Jacob's Challenge: starring Barry Williams, June Lockhart (Lost in Space and Lassie), Peter Fox and Stephen Elliot.
Commentary: to Brady Bunch theme = Here's the story, of a man named Barry, who couldn't get a job to save his life. Well he got this one. The Eldest Brady kid plays Jacob, a momma's boy who can't shoot a bow but his athletic brother can, eventually deceives his blind father into thinking he's the elder twin (Esau played by Fox) and flees. At the conclusion God encourages Jacob but warns him of future difficulties, perhaps referring to the short lived Brady variety series with the fake Jan.

Joseph in Egypt: starring Sam Bottoms ( a fair haired Joseph with a beard in Egypt? He looks a little like Bob Larson, former radio demonologist out of Denver), Sorrell Brooke (Dukes of Hazzard), Walter Brooke, Bernie Kopell (Doc from Love Boat, Get Smart) and John Larrouquette (Night Court).
Commentary: The episode chronicles Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers (Larrouquette is a really tall Hebrew. The only brother of the 12 that had a beard looked very confused and perhaps on mood altering chemicals), bought by Potipher (Kopell: a hen pecked, smarmy official) and eventually becomes 2nd in command of Egypt. Good perfomance by Walter Brooke.

Moses: starring John Marley (Moses with a bad beard), Joseph Campanella (One Day at a Time) and Frank Gorshin (Riddler, Batman TV series).
Commentary: The show opens with Moses going to Sinai "struggling" and I mean struggling to get up that Arizona bluff (I don't think Marley was that young at the time this was filmed) almost gets crushed by paper mache rocks, encounters the burning bush minus the sheep (Exodus 3:1), confronts Pharaoh (Campanella) with his brother Aaron (in the Ten Commandments, the former actor is replaced by Richard Mulligan of Empty Nest, Soap fame), doles out the 10 plagues with Hebrew slave/skeptic (Gorshin) as his tormentor. Good performances by Campanella and first Aaron.