Two Biblical movies and a TV show

Carmen at in the open space tagged me with a Bible Movie Meme started by Matt at Broadcast Depth. It asks you to name your three favorite “Bible movies” and one that you would like to see made. Like her, I’m taking some liberties with the directions (we share at least one favorite). My colleague Ken Morefield has posted his (cautious) favorites as well.

1. Ben Hur—OK, maybe not really a Bible movie, but since it’s subtitled “a tale of the Christ,” I think it qualifies. Defines the term “over-the-top Hollywood epic”—well, after Lawrence of Arabia—and also embodies Biblical values of grace, healing, rebirth, and forgiveness. Plus, chariot race. It’s extreme, but also somehow irresistible. Sort of like Gone with the Wind, but that is more of a guilty pleasure.

2. Kings—not a movie, but this 13-episode TV revision of the story of Saul and David from 1 Samuel brought us some of the most intriguing treatment of religion, faith, and contemporary culture in recent years. Shiloh—which looks a lot like a somewhat futuristic New York—is the newly rebuilt capital of the kingdom of Gilboa, with “Silas” (Saul) as its divinely appointed king. Of course it was too too good to last. Well, maybe not TOO good—at times the sort-of Shakespearean style writing falls between high and low stools, but Ian McShane as King Silas usually makes it work somehow anyway. There’s plenty of material left in 1 & 2 Samuel to have kept this combination spiritual family drama/battle adventure going for a while.

3. The Gospel of John—It may not be the most artistic gospel film ever, but I was particularly taken with Henry Ian Cusick’s charming and compelling Jesus (and that was before I’d seen the actor in anything else, such as Lost). The low-key but generally authentic settings put more emphasis on the text, and one is struck by Jesus repeated statements, “I am telling you the truth.”

Arg…I had to edit this post in a major way twice as I was distracted and hastily stopped after #3.

So really, a movie based on the Bible that I would like to see made? That’s a difficult one, but what immediately came to mind was the Anglo-Saxon poem “Judith,” based on the apocryphal book of Judith. For one thing, it has plenty of battle action; and secondly, it has the wise, beautiful, courageous, and wily Judith. And a beheading. On the other hand, it is kind of talky. But the book is always better than the movie.

On writing and reading great literature

Check out this guy Scott W. Kay on some factors that may be preventing evangelical Christians from producing great literature, including lack of imagination, shaky grounding in theology, and lack of exposure to great literature of all kinds. He cites Flannery O’Connor and Camille Paglia—strange companions, indeed! John Piper responds to the same Touchstone article that set Kay off, exploring how fiction and art are “true and valuable.”

Speaking of reading great literature, Ken Morefield is up to chapter three in Jane Austen’s Emma. The less said about his reaction to the Austen-bio-fiction film Becoming Jane, however, the better!

Why “Dreadful” Harry Potter is a good thing

It depends on what you mean by “dreadful”! Paul Spears explains why Harry Potter is dreadful and vulgar and that’s a good thing. It’s all in Chesterton, says Spears:

So much of what is considered important and thought provoking in sophisticate literary circles is really just a veneer over truly despicable ideas….

It is good that Harry Potter is dreadful and vulgar. It appeals to those of humanity who, according to Chesterton, “have never doubted and never will doubt that courage is splendid, that fidelity is noble, that distressed ladies should be rescued, and vanquished enemies spared.”

Made my day! Now I’m off to see Stardust—which I hope will be similarly “dreadful” in a good way.

Things you can do with an English Major (continuing series)

Become Robin Swicord and write and direct plays and films, such as Little Women and two forthcoming projects related to the works of Jane Austen.

Ms. Swicord began writing and making short films when she was at Florida State University, studying English literature and Theater.

The book on which Swicord’s next movie is based, The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler, is a pretty good read, too. Who knows how the movie will turn out, but the cast looks good.

Thursday things

I’m catching up on work this week after a long weekend on Edisto Island with my in-laws. We enjoyed visiting (including an afternoon with my dad, who drove down from Summerville) and typical beach activities. On the way home, my husband and I and his sister’s family stopped to see the Edisto Island Serpentarium, just in time for the snake show and the alligator feeding. Fun AND educational. We recommend it—at least for those who don’t mind reptiles.

My dad brought a DVD preserving a film made in the mid-70’s (we think) which shows my grandfather’s mobile eye clinics in India. My grandfather died in the late 80’s, but the mobile eye service is still in use in India. What a joy to see him and my grandmother again in this movie—not to mention some footage of my 25-years-younger father. We’ll treasure this bit of family history!

The Arthurian Legends course has left the foundational medieval texts and is moving into the modern era this week, starting with Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.

Early July random book recs

Thanks again to my book-a-day calendar, as well as the local county library, this week I’m pleased to recommend:

Black Robe, by Brian Moore—the store of a 17th century Jesuit missionary venturing into deepest, darkest Canada. Made into an equally compelling film, directed by Bruce Beresford.

Always interested in a good mystery. The Mourning Sexton, by Michael Baron, is a “legal thriller…set in the world of Orthodox Judaism.” Described as delving into “themes like sin, redemption and justice…complicated, gripping and intelligent.” Who can resist that?

This one is for my nephew about to start his sophomore year at the Naval Academy—To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World, by Arthur Herman. My brother-in-law and his dad might enjoy it as well.

The book I’m actually reading right now was on best-seller lists a few years ago: The Bonesetter’s Daughter, by Amy Tan. She has a way of making individual and particular cultural experiences universal.

Brief ode to the “Galaxy”

The Galaxy Theater, that is. This closest independent movie theater to where we live is still a good 40 minute drive on most days, but with six screens, they can offer so much more variety than other indie theaters in the area, including South Asian  (Bollywood) films and special events such as chats with directors.

The other day I met a friend for a matinee, and when I pulled my ticket stub out of my pocket, I discovered that the theater also helps prompt after-the-movie discussion. Printed on the ticket stub: “On [date] at [time] I saw Waitress and it changed how I felt about _________ “  Now, I can’t say that this particular film changed my views on anything, though it did make me hungry, because a lot of delicious pies are either baked or described. Flip the ticket over, and behold!–it becomes a 10% off coupon at two Indian restaurants and an Indian grocery.

Beat that, gigantic 20-screen multiplex.