The "Saved" Controversy

[erpowers]

On the Saturday version of the Today Show there was a debate about the movie "Saved". Some evangicals have said the movie bashes christians. The Today Show allowed the director of the movie and a writer of a catholic magazine to talk about the movie. At one point the writer of the catholic magazine said that we would never see a movie like this about muslims. I beg to differ in that in just about every movie that deals with terrorists the terrorists are a group of angry muslims who think of American as infidels.

Also, from what I have seen of the movie so far it seems to me to have a good lesson for some people who call themselves christians. Each year the Republican party preaches about morality, but acts in a different way. Republicans claim to be in love with Jesus and filled with God's love, but the spew nothing but hate. In addition, many of the people that are loved by Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, and Pat Robertson are extremely immoral. For instance, people like Ann Coulter and Newt Gingrich have been allowed to speak at the Christian Coalition's Road to Victory Conference(s). Also, people like Joe Scarbrough have gotten 100% FV ratings even though the did not practice the family values they claimed.

So maybe what the evangicals need to do is watch the movie and look within themselves and see what needs to be changed.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. The movie questions the radical Christians!

Of course the KKKristian Right isn't going to like this. Because it makes them look bad, which they are.

[SouthALdem]

4. I agree!

The Christian Right is neither!!

[DenverDem]

2. fundigelicals can't take any critisizm of their "holiness"

"God said it, I believe it, that settles it."

Hypocritical, hate motivated satanists. They are the believers in the anti-Christ.

The cultural pendulum must swing back toward sanity and these medieval ignorants need to be demonized for the sickness they are.

[tjwash]

13. I hate that saying, it's just wrong on so many levels.

"God" didn't say it, unless they are hearing voices in their head, and we have medication for that now. Lets assume, however, they mean the Bible, which, as good a book as it is, was actually written by men, and translated, and retranslated, and retranslated, by those who had a specific axe to grind. Besides, when a fundamentalist pulls that one out, it's usually for something specific like abortion, premarital sex, smoking, and many other so-called "sins" that are never even mentioned in the Bible at all, and are in actuality unclear verses that are severely taken out of context to begin with.

[debm55]

3. Saved

I know this is a generalization but Republicans are the some of the most unChrist like folks I have met. Compare the Reagan years with the Beatitutes. Republican talk a good talk, but their actions speak volumes.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi debm55!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Perky]

5. Generally speaking...amen

As a personal friend of many on the religious right... I would suggest that is not so much about them being immoral as it is really about naked political power.

I used to think that the rpublican evangelical communityu was formed out of a need to protect christianity from becoming irelevant. SOmtheing I always found amusing since the Bible Foretells precisely that.. It is as if they were fighting the plan of Gog in the name of God.

Which incidently is precislely what Jesus Railed against ther Pharisees for.


Now.. While I don't think they are immoral I think they are spiritually bankrupt, having lost sight of the bigger picture...Now I just think they hac their head up their butts.

[DenverDem]

12. What is more immoral than to use faux religiosity to gain political power.

anti-Christ defined.

[sadiesworld]

6. I heard that the movie was fairly scathing (& funny) through

most of it, but ended with platitudes sure to appeal to fundies. But, of course, ANY criticism is heresy to these folks.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

7. I Actually Really Loved This Movie

It was simple and cute, and really funny in parts. Both Jena Malone and Mandy Moore did a really good job, and for once I actually didn't want to smack Macauley Culkin. :D

DTH

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. Here's a Really Interesting Interview with Christian Teens About the Movie

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2622884

DTH

[PurityOfEssence]

8. It's a GREAT MOVIE

It's almost this decade's "Dazed and Confused", and I don't say that lightly, since I love that movie. It's not an anti-religious movie in toto, and anyone who says so has some serious issues. Yes, it skewers the fundies--brilliantly, I might add--but the characters have heart, and even the wicked ones are decent sorts under it all. The spot-on performances and sprightly script are an absolute joy.

Mandy Moore's performance is as pitch-perfect as pretty much any I've ever seen; her timing and deft flourishes are stunning, and she just lights up the screen. My jaw was on the floor; I never thought she had it in her, but she's obviously a first-rate actor. Martin Donovan is right on the money and warmly sincere, even in his troubled moments. Macauley Culkin, Eva Amurri (the knockout and devilishly perfect real-life daughter of Susan Sarandon), Mary Louise Parker, Jenna Malone and Patrick Fugit are all wonderful, and the moments of performance are shockingly good.

People who slag anything without seeing it are idiots. There is absolutely NO argument for passing judgment on something about which one knows nothing. It's like all the furore over "The Last Temptation of Christ": it was a deeply religious movie, but because it dared to question, it was roundly condemned; Blockbuster refused to carry it at the time, even though the people deciding hadn't seen it.

Go out and see this movie; it's a joyous little exercise with a heart of gold, and like the best light comedies, it has more true value to mankind than what Preston Sturges called "deep-dish movies".

This could also be a great healing movie, because even believers with a scrap of humor will enjoy it. I encourage you all to go out right now and have a good time; you'll be amazed.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Enjoyed it quite a bit

I liked it. I first heard about it a while ago because I've been a big R.E.M. fan for over 20 years, so my ears perk up when they mention Stipe's name. It was good- I saw it at the Metreon in San Francisco, and it seemed to me there was a big, full crowd that was pretty enthused to see some (fairly lighthearted) jokes made at some normally sacred cows, i.e. the whole self-righteous Fundamentalist culture. For a socially liberal Taoist/secular humanist like myself, who nevertheless does respect what I consider some of the core messages of trueChristianity- i.e. Judge not, love your neighbor, that kind of thing- I thought it was a little bit of preaching to the choir, and the end was a bit sappy. But well done nonetheless. The only real complaint I had about it was that I thought it engaged in some thoroughly unneeded glamorization of cigarette smoking as something the "bad" kids did. I wrote a little more extensively about it on my Blog if anyone's interested. Still, overall, a good movie, and one that needed to be made IMHO.

[proud patriot]

9. I saw the preview and totally started cracking up

Re: girl throws bible at another girl growling "I'm
filled with Christ love"

Bawahahahahahahahahaha!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

10. That Scene Was the Best!

"This is not a weapon!"

DTH

[Zinfandel]

15. Can't wait to see the movie "Saved" it's a kick ass movie-what I've read.

http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/2004/05/052806.html

[Warren DeMontague]

17. Best line in the movie-

"There's only one reason good christian girls go down to the planned parenthood"

"She's planting a pipe bomb?"


Oh yeah, and... Susan Sarandon's daughter-- smokin'. If I was 10 or 15 years younger...

[Auntie Bush]

18. Deleted by self