tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post2443456170002789639..comments2024-02-14T05:39:29.497-06:00Comments on HELL BURNS: MOVIES: "THE YOUNG MESSIAH"Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-1288958273052599322016-12-19T03:09:25.749-06:002016-12-19T03:09:25.749-06:00BTW, also judge things by their fruits. This film ...BTW, also judge things by their fruits. This film made me think more about Jesus, Mary and Joseph and to pray to God and to wonder that God would become man. Also, the part of Sean Bean reminded me of the power of God over a hardened, man-of-the-world like a Roman Centurion (or whatever his rank in the film is). If something encourages us to be more humble before God and to pray more to God, then - overall - this is more good than bad, and certainly the last thing the Devil wants us to be more humble before God and to pray more God, even if the thing that brought us to God may contain some heresy - but heresy of secondary detail / lesser impact to getting people to be more humble before God and to pray to God more. <br />EdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-81650374585529146482016-12-19T03:00:03.077-06:002016-12-19T03:00:03.077-06:00I really liked this film. You don't come to th...I really liked this film. You don't come to this film to learn about Catholic doctrine (go to the Catholic Catechism for that). But you come to this film to be inspired a bit more by the Jesus, Mary and Joseph holy family dynamic. <br />Yes, there is some heresy in this film. But that doesn't mean i cannot learn something about God from CS Lewis or the Good Samaritan - one a Protestant heretic and the other a heretic from a religious group at the time of Jesus. <br />Yes, we Catholics need to know our orthodox faith and be loyal to Church doctrine and avoid all scandal to the Church but at the same time, we need to distill the good from the good and the bad / not throw the baby out with the bathwater. <br />EdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-82766298156141476382016-06-22T11:01:42.898-05:002016-06-22T11:01:42.898-05:00A priest who teaches Christology in seminary told ...A priest who teaches Christology in seminary told me that--although Christ's human knowledge was mysterious--it's believed that by twelve years old (losing and finding in the Temple) Jesus knew exactly who He was and what His mission was.Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-31545789859965347802016-06-22T11:00:06.759-05:002016-06-22T11:00:06.759-05:00The filmmakers were painstaking to even adjust the...The filmmakers were painstaking to even adjust the theology in the book-to-screen adaptation.Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-80397169396854262182016-04-07T23:12:35.053-05:002016-04-07T23:12:35.053-05:00Haha I just read your "flower power" com...Haha I just read your "flower power" comment. I find so much joy here. More reviews please :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-45339496896671224722016-04-07T23:10:01.103-05:002016-04-07T23:10:01.103-05:00I couldnt help but reflect on the images of this g...I couldnt help but reflect on the images of this great film during the rosary, especially the finding in the temple. Great film. I take back what I said about the whiney stuff. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-89123360114969028272016-04-05T22:32:32.056-05:002016-04-05T22:32:32.056-05:00Hi Father,
Thanks for your thoughts here. CCC 473 ...Hi Father,<br />Thanks for your thoughts here. CCC 473 and 474 are even more to the point on this. But I think what's really going on in this film is the human knowledge of the 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD JESUS. I just added a few bold paragraphs under "OTHER STUFF" above. To my understanding of Church teaching (and consulting several theologians), the filmmakers were within faithful bounds of an orthodox imagination here. Also, I found the Catholic World Report article (quoting Thomas Aquinas) that I added above very helpful. <br />Thanks again!<br />Easter blessings,<br />Sr. Helena Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-2438375517837469282016-04-05T13:00:51.559-05:002016-04-05T13:00:51.559-05:00Hi Sr. Helena,
I just read your review of "T...Hi Sr. Helena,<br /><br />I just read your review of "The Young Messiah." I really liked the film too, but I also had some problems with it being Biblically and Theology accurate.<br /><br />You mention how the filmmakers really "did their homework..." It seems they missed some very important facts about Christ.<br /><br />Although the movie depicts a hypothetical year in the life of Christ, I am concerned that this story may lead believers down the wrong path of what is truth.<br /><br />There is no reliable record of Jesus ever performing a miracle in his youth. Those sources that say Jesus did perform miracles (i.e., raise a bird from the dead, are apocryphal.) <br /><br />The truth is, John 2:11 says the FIRST Miracle Jesus performed was at the Wedding of Cana. ["This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.] <br /><br />The movie has Jesus performing miracles throughout his youth... Not that Jesus didn't have the power to perform miracles, of course he did. He was always fully Divine which leads to another flaw (and a very serious one indeed) in the movie when it comes to theology.<br /><br />According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus always knew he was divine. The whole movie is about the people around Jesus not telling him he is divine (see CCC 472, 473, 474).<br /><br />Jesus had a command of Sacred Scripture. He would have known all about the hundreds of prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures about the coming of the Messiah and the Son of God into the world. And yet, he was "clueless" as to how he had these abilities? <br /><br />Jesus would have been the only Jewish boy born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:10). That should have been a dead give away.<br /><br />To say the filmmakers "really did their homework" suggests the viewer should believe the theology being put forth on the screen. To praise the movie for inaccurate interpretations of Jesus' miracles and divinity should also be avoided. God didn't suddenly develop amnesia just because he took human form. His Divinity never wavered from being omniscient and all powerful... <br /><br />Here's what the CCC says about Jesus always knowing he had "intimate and immediate knowledge" of God being his Father, thus making him divine: <br /><br />CCC 472 This human soul that the Son of God assumed is endowed with a true human knowledge. As such, this knowledge could not in itself be unlimited: it was exercised in the historical conditions of his existence in space and time. This is why the Son of God could, when he became man, "increase in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man", (Lk 2:52) and would even have to inquire for himself about what one in the human condition can learn only from experience. (Cf. Mk 6:38; 8:27; Jn 11:34; etc.) This corresponded to the reality of his voluntary emptying of himself, taking "the form of a slave". (Phil 2:7)<br /><br />I'll agree that the movie is very well acted and cinematically very attractive. But theological and Biblically, according to Catholic teaching which we are supposed to promote and uphold according to the Magisterium of the Church, the theology portrayed in the movie appears to be very off-base...<br /><br />in Christ,<br />Fr. Mark Matthias, Brooklyn DioceseAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06281808956223749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-63196240080181662352016-03-30T17:05:29.810-05:002016-03-30T17:05:29.810-05:00It really is the best. Sad day when this leaves th...It really is the best. Sad day when this leaves the theaters. Will see it once more before it leaves the big screen FOREVERAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-82068184443614685382016-03-21T13:58:52.475-05:002016-03-21T13:58:52.475-05:00I disagree with you Husky Fan. I live in Vegas and...I disagree with you Husky Fan. I live in Vegas and the theater was almost full 7 days past the opening date. "Where sin abounds grace does more" I felt inspired which is what I want from a movie. for example, i thought the revenant would be inspiring..won all kinds of things..yet, to me, it was a river ride in filth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-36802244947060832422016-03-21T13:54:13.911-05:002016-03-21T13:54:13.911-05:00It was that scene where the actor saw Satan and se...It was that scene where the actor saw Satan and seemed to cower behind joseph and mary..that kind of offended me. Oh and the dog scene..he was scared by a dog? They made him seem weak and vunerable..as Im writing this I rememkber the scene when he seemingly has a fever and encounters satan again and approaches him completely as one would expect jesus would. I suppose it was the directors way to say he "grew in grace" as you reminded us.<br /><br />Its a good movie. Ill probably try to take the girl down at the comic book store this time. I already have my line down "hey, want to go see the movie about the greatest super hero of all time?" <br />Wish me luckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-58584018970398784892016-03-19T22:37:11.405-05:002016-03-19T22:37:11.405-05:00I don't recall Jesus whining even once. :)I don't recall Jesus whining even once. :)Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-41157715148257074942016-03-19T22:32:41.618-05:002016-03-19T22:32:41.618-05:00I was amazed at how whiney they had Jesus be. I am...I was amazed at how whiney they had Jesus be. I am confident the Lord was meek and strong from birth.<br /><br />The actor who played the centurion was excellent. There is a scene where God speaks through James to comfort and teach Joseph and Mary when they are searching for Him, where Mary recognizes; that really touched me.<br />Worth the matinee, but look forward to Fathom Events original Ben Hur: much better historical fiction.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-63895613043054700492016-03-17T00:28:33.576-05:002016-03-17T00:28:33.576-05:00Most unfortunately, some apologists are calling th...Most unfortunately, some apologists are calling the film "heretical" because of a misunderstanding about the "human knowledge of Christ." They are actually falling into other heresies by saying the divinity of Jesus overwhelmed and obliterated the humanity of Jesus. But he was truly God and man. The child Jesus "grew in age, wisdom and grace." GREW. It was gradual. But no one is going to listen to me saying these things (and these apologists are ignoring the fact that several Cardinals endorsed the film). We are going to need some heavy-hitting theologian or Scripture scholar to say it.<br /><br />The adult Jesus knew much more than the Child Jesus IN HIS HUMANITY. In his divinity, Jesus knew everything, of course, but it's mysterious how this "hypostatic union" played out. Anne Rice and the filmmakers exercised "faithful imagination" here.Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-63028763407401897932016-03-16T22:18:54.045-05:002016-03-16T22:18:54.045-05:00I was excited to see this film, and encouraged by ...I was excited to see this film, and encouraged by many good reviews like yours! But then I also saw some reviews that saw Jesus' lack of knowledge of his divinity as heretical. To be honest, I disagree with the movie's (and the book)'s view of this; I believe Jesus knew he was God, at least from the very moment he could properly think. What is your take on this? I'm curious!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-9925552844670652542016-03-13T13:29:38.170-05:002016-03-13T13:29:38.170-05:00Of course the theater was nearly empty, people go ...Of course the theater was nearly empty, people go to the movies to be entertained. They can go to church if they want this stuff.Richard Colemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742484014996116339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-78858165997591420172016-03-13T10:36:16.398-05:002016-03-13T10:36:16.398-05:00Usually i can barely get to the end of even an Osc...Usually i can barely get to the end of even an Oscar nominated movie, but i could have enjoyed another hour of this movie, but my partner in crime fell asleep during the movie,, but that doesn't reflect on the movie.. he's more an Arnold Swatznager action packed guy. We went early hoping to avoid the long lines,, surprising there was none. Then i thought , oh great we're going walk into a packed theater and struggle to find a seat while every is gawking at us. But there was one person there. A few did trickle in eventually. I think the story got it right how it showed what it was probably like for a young Jesus.. even as a boy you can feel his power and love .. ,, Then you always got the one with hood on hiding in the shadows .... the dark angel. Well as usual most movie theaters are freezing cold.. so i dressed very warm layers and even my hoodie. I've already had to leave a movie because of such frigid temperature but only after complaining much and getting my money back. We had the back row and in the corner but as the movie ended ,, i had to take my hood off..... the interpration of the hood had just been portrayed pretty badly.. and although i wear a hat even when i work out,,i thought it best i take down the hood or my safety.. due to principalities....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-56922925440245234812016-03-12T10:26:29.484-06:002016-03-12T10:26:29.484-06:00I was riveted by "The Young zmeddiah" wh...I was riveted by "The Young zmeddiah" which I thought it was more intense than "Risen" but which I too enjoyed. The portrayal of Mary and Joseph was the best I have ever seen They conveyed all the emotions parents go through with their children, but in their case also the challenges they faced being the guardians of the Messiah. Sara Lazarro was perfectly cast as Mary. She was real as a young mother loving, caring, and protecting her son. In fact I found her more multi-dimensional than the actress that played Mary in'"Mary of Nazareth" Alissa Jung. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13000102134733759018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-87513341691346829212016-03-12T04:41:37.021-06:002016-03-12T04:41:37.021-06:00Just saw the film. It's charming, painting a p...Just saw the film. It's charming, painting a plausible "portrait" of a seven year-old Jesus. Not to everyone's taste, of course, but then neither was The Passion. However, I was disappointed to see that the theatre was nearly empty, and on opening night! (We went to the last show, 9:30PM).Victor Panliliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13228800201452003149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-15560566129881915432016-03-01T20:27:00.045-06:002016-03-01T20:27:00.045-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-35388677750048469052016-02-28T02:16:40.530-06:002016-02-28T02:16:40.530-06:00You will NOT be disappointed. :)You will NOT be disappointed. :)Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-55540509668570019822016-02-23T01:55:21.525-06:002016-02-23T01:55:21.525-06:00I have the novel by Anne Rice, it's a beautifu...I have the novel by Anne Rice, it's a beautiful read. Best Jesus movie ever? I hope you're right, sis. because we haven't been getting a good movie on Jesus since 'Passion'.Surit Dasguptahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12012816483954234470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-83216797691244823262016-02-17T13:12:05.823-06:002016-02-17T13:12:05.823-06:00When I wrote that Anne Rice is Catholic, I meant r...When I wrote that Anne Rice is Catholic, I meant raised Catholic and with Catholic sensibilities (I know about her reversion and then leaving the Church again). She actually saw this review and didn't correct me! :)Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-48863595281444625892016-02-17T11:15:29.457-06:002016-02-17T11:15:29.457-06:00Sister Helena, minor correction. At the time Ann ...Sister Helena, minor correction. At the time Ann Rice wrote the book, she was a Catholic revert. Since that time, she no longer considers herself Catholic. When will you review Risen?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11789157.post-85987706420021483602016-02-15T18:57:19.088-06:002016-02-15T18:57:19.088-06:00Yes! Risen is good. Young Messiah is OUTSTANDING. ...Yes! Risen is good. Young Messiah is OUTSTANDING. (I'm not allowed to release my "Risen" review till Feb. 19.)Sr. Helena Burns, fsphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196121481873845379noreply@blogger.com