The Exorcist (1973)

When young Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) falls prey to demonic possession, her actress mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks out the help of a priest (Jason Miller) who is in the midst of a crisis of faith.

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I absolutely cannot understand the "satanic panic" that some evangelicals had upon this film's initial release. The way Billy Graham railed against it you'd think this was some sort of satanic recruitment piece. Had he actually seen the film, he would have quickly realized that only a real "sick puppy" could find anything attractive about the horrors depicted in this film. If anything, it is a pro-faith film.

Though the narrative jumps around and we follow many different characters over the course of its rather brisk two-hour running time, the central one is Father Damian Karras and his struggles with his faith. This is the key to the film. Without that element, this film would be nothing more than an excellent showcase for directing, make up, effects, cinematography, editing and sound design. With it, this film becomes a harrowing exploration of the war between good and evil that rages inside each and everyone one of us. With it, this film becomes a classic.

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

This film was suggested by my little sister (Hi Dri!), and despite the fact that I already wrote about a Moses movie recently, I thought I’d give this one a write-up too!

The plot is your standard Moses story: Hebrew baby sent adrift in a basket is discovered by Egyptian queen, and is raised believing he is an Egyptian prince. Eventually he learns his true heritage, leaves home to start a new life, receives a message from the God of his people to return to Egypt to free the slaves. You know the rest.

The thing that really makes this movie for me is the relationship between Moses (Val Kilmer) and Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). In The Ten Commandments (1956), for example, they HATE each other from the start. It’s enjoyable to watch in it’s own right (for campy reasons, mostly), but it doesn’t really makes Moses’s return to free the slaves seem like a dilemma for him in any way. In The Prince of Egypt, they were raised as brothers and genuinely love each other. The relationship makes it much harder for Moses to go against his brother by following through on his mission. When Rameses turns on Moses, we can see how hurt they both are. It’s really well done.

With an all-star voice cast (Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart, Steve Martin and Martin Short, among others), gorgeous animation and great songs, this film is not to be dismissed as just a “children’s movie." Give it a chance!

Dogma (1999)

A woman working in an abortion clinic (Linda Fiorentino) discovers that she is descended from the same lineage as Jesus Christ and it's up to her to save the world from total annihilation.

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During my sophomore year of high school, we had to read a book called "Sophie's World". It's about a young girl who receives anonymous messages in her mailbox which lead to her learning about numerous famous philosophers. A pretty brilliant way to teach kids philosophy, couch it within the context of a mystery narrative. Like they say: A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. Interestingly enough, the film Dogma was also released that same year. Though the finished film leaves much to be desired visually, the screenplay is a work of genius. Like "Sophie's World" it is able to take a lot of complex/thought provoking ideas and make them palatable by inserting them into an interesting narrative - filled with dick and fart jokes. The perfect movie for an hormonal high school kid with big questions.

The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)

A very human take on the life of Christ (Willem Dafoe) as he comes to terms with his destiny.

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Growing up in Little Italy, young Martin Scorsese found himself caught between two worlds. On one side there was The Church and on the other side there was The Street. This conflict was the focus of many of his early films such as Who's That Knocking At My Door and Mean Streets. Scorsese aspired to a pious life and even pursued the idea of becoming a priest, yet as the saying goes: The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. The Last Temptation Of Christ is a unique film in that it chooses to grapple with the idea that Jesus likely faced that same conflict. It's right there in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” He knows what must be done, but deep down he also yearns to live a normal human life. Without this conflict the film would simply be a story about a Super Human who always said and did the right things. With this conflict, it becomes an inspiring story about overcoming your inner demons in order to do what needs to be done. Personally I prefer the latter.

The Ten Commandments is Hilarious (or, Thou Shalt Laugh Endlessly at Edward G. Robinson)

I actually enjoy this movie, and have seen it many many times. It's colorful, over-the-top, has some impressive-for-the-time special effects....and it's kind of hilarious. I can't help it! This overblown spectacle gets me giggling every time! Here are the five main reasons why I just can't keep it together...

5. 1950s Hollywood's version of Egypt...the big sets, blue-screens, glamorous slave girls and even more glamorous Egyptians, the acting. This is serious drama, people!

4. Everybody saying "Moses" twice. Seriously. "MOSES MOSES!" The entire movie.

3. The verbal bitchslaps, mainly between Anne Baxter and Yul Brynner as Nefretiri and Rameses.

Nefretiri: I could never love you.
Rameses: Does that matter? You will be my wife. You will come to me whenever I call you, and I will enjoy that very much. Whether you enjoy it or not is your own affair. But I think you will...

Ouch!

2. Moses' hair once he "sees" God.













The higher the hair, the closer to God....right?

1. The funniest thing ever: Vincent Price in this getup.


AHAHAHA I can't! As soon as he opens his mouth I go into stitches every time!
Oh, and here's an amusing faux-trailer for the film.


Watch out for the plagues!