Luther
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.17 You Save: $7.81 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.11 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Luther
Movie Review: An Exciting, Intelligent, and Visually Beautiful Epic
Summary: 5 Stars
Eric Till's 2003 bio-pic "Luther," starring Joseph Fiennes as the title character, offers the epic-hungry viewer much of what he craves: big, big struggles: Man against God, Man against Man, Light against Darkness, discussed in an intelligent script set against a vividly rich and slightly exotic locale: late Medieval-Early Renaissance, Mitteleuropa.
Epic fans will be reminded of such favorites as David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia," "A Man for All Seasons," about St. Thomas More, and Mervyn LeRoy's "Quo Vadis."
Joseph Fiennes makes a perfect cinematic Luther. As I watched Fiennes / Luther writhing in violent struggle with a real or imaginary Satan, as I gazed into Fiennes' huge, exquisitely expressive eyes, I thought, "Hmm, who is he reminding me of?" At first I thought of his more famous older brother Ralph Fiennes, star of the somewhat-epic "The English Patient," but then I realized, no, no, Fiennes' Luther is reminding me very much of Peter O'Toole's Lawrence of Arabia, and that's a very good thing.
Like O'Toole, Fiennes is charismatic, fascinating, and highly watchable. Like O'Toole's Lawrence, Fiennes' Luther is a man who is like you and me and yet not, an average guy destined to a rarified calling. Like us, he is offended by hypocrisy, but, unlike us, his character demands that he take action. He behaves in ways that some find heroic, and that others find insanely risky. Thus, he is thrust out ahead of the crowd, and becomes, inevitably, alone.
Bruno Ganz is wonderful as Johann von Staupitz, Luther's confessor and mentor. Ganz's face looks like a handful of uncooked bread dough. He is one hundred percent convincing, whether depicting compassion, as he guides Luther, or agony, as he lets his protegee go. You wish you had your own Johann von Staupitz.
The great Sir Peter Ustinov appears here as Frederick the Wise, Ustinov's final theatrical film role. Frederick is a very wealthy ruler. He has collected a peerless museum of holy relics: this saint's arm, that saint's skull, etc. Luther preached against relics, and yet Frederick became Luther's protector. Ustinov portrays Frederick as an aging and yet still sly old fox - not as quick as he once might have been, but, if somewhat creaky, just as crafty. Film fans will compare this final role by Ustinov with one of his first, as a very different ruler, the Christian-murdering Nero, in 1951's "Quo Vadis."
Alfred Molina, playing the bad guy yet again, is superb in vivid scenes that depict exactly how the Catholic Church convinced the faithful to part with their money to build St. Peter's, the very St. Peter's in Rome that we are all familiar with today. Molina describes the tortures of hell that their loved ones are suffering; "Coin in the coffer rings; a soul from Purgatory springs," he says, in an actual quote from the character he is playing.
The conflicts these actors portray all seem very real and very immediate. It is clear that Luther is risking his own life, and the lives of thousands of others, with every word he speaks and writes. The viewer does get the sense that what is happening here is something that matters very much.
"Luther" is a feast for the eyes. It was filmed on 100 sets in 20 locations throughout Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, and all that is very visible, and beautifully photographed, onscreen. The costumes are especially rich. Late medieval-early renaissance velvets, pearls, ermines, and peasants' rags practically invite your hand to reach out and touch them.
"Luther" has its flaws. Joseph Fiennes' Luther is a sweetheart who wouldn't hurt a fly. The Luther who has come down to us in his own writings, however, is notoriously abrasive. Luther used much scatological language. The relation between his writing and the deaths of tens of thousands in the Peasants' War is addressed by the film, but not dwelled upon. Luther approved of the burning of witches. Much attention has been brought, lately, to Luther's intemperate words about Jews. That Luther is not depicted here.
There's a lot of history in "Luther," and some very big ideas are addressed. Is it always benign to question authority? How do people who have been oppressed behave when the lid is lifted? What are the dangers of freedom, and of a "Let's wipe the slate clean" mentality? One brief scene attempts to address all these questions: Luther's former teacher, a man who used to uphold Catholic doctrine, now suddenly converted to what he sees as Luther's cause, humiliates a young priest for wearing a crucifix, and recommends that churches be destroyed. Will the average viewer understand the import of such a brief scene exploring such huge issues?
Similarly, Luther's romance with a nun who escaped her convent in a herring barrel is given very short shrift. And, Luther was one crest on a wave, not the entire movement. Jan Hus, for example, deserves more prominent mention.
To fully address these themes, the movie could have easily been an hour longer. What is here is very good and very exciting, though. This film deserves a much wider audience than it is has had so far.
Movie Review: Luther is a great movie, with a great message.
Summary: 5 Stars
There is a message in the movie, Luther, that is timeless. And it is this: God's Gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ is not a device of men; and men have no right to manipulate, control, coerce, deceive and oppress the masses in the name of God and His Gospel. The church is not an institution of men; it is Christ's institution -- a supernatural entity that reveals a God of Love, not an earthly entity left in the hands of fallible and unscrupulous men to perpetrate cruelty. The truth that Luther fought for, taking on the most powerful institution in the world of his day, was the truth that God's message contained in the New Testament presents a God Who sent His Son to die for the sins of the world so that mankind could be free; and that gift is offered freely to all, simply by grace through faith. The poorest and humblest human being on the face of the earth has as much right to the gospel as the richest ruler, because it cannot be bought or sold; nor is it the possession of the few. It is the possession of all who receive it by faith.
I must admit that Martin Luther is one of my heroes. He sits on a pedastal in my heart just a step below the Apostle Paul -- two mere fallible men who turned the world upside down for the gospel. Luther must not be blamed for the atrocities that were committed in his name: including the peasant uprising of his day and perhaps even Hitler's monstrous evils centuries later. These evils were perpetrated by willful, ignorant men. Luther was a brilliant and courageous man of peace and of faith, who stood boldly for the Word of God, and who wanted only to overturn and reform the ecclesiastical heresies of his day. Oh, yes, he was human and sometimes said and did things he should not. Even though his critics are quick to speak of his flaws and controversial statements, they otherwise ignore the fact that we owe much of our freedoms today, political and religious, to this man, Martin Luther.
The movie itself is a beautiful portrayal of Luther's fight against religious tyranny. I was a little disappointed that they left out one of the most important scenes in his life. When preparing a lecture for one of his courses, he came across Romans 1:17, which says, "The just shall live by faith." Luther himself said that at that moment, the gospel opened up to him and he felt that he was "born again." It was after that turning point in his life that he began his fight against the errors of the Roman church.
Nevertheless, even though that particular moment in Luther's life is omitted, the movie does clearly set forth that it was Luther's personal faith in Christ and his reverence for the Word of God that set him on the course that could have so easily brought him to a martyr's death.
Joseph Fiennes gives a fine portrayal of Luther; and Peter Ustinov is outstanding as the German ruler Prince Frederick, who, by his intervention, kept Luther from burning at the stake at the hands of cruel clerics. The acting is excellent all around, and the 15th century costumes and settings are very well done.
"Luther" should be seen by everyone who is interested in history, church history and the gospel. It should be seen by those who adhere to freedom against any form of tyranny, be it governmental, institutional or personal. It should be seen by the ignorant to aid in their enlightenment; it should be seen by the wise, to reinforce their wisdom. It should be seen by Protestants, Catholics, atheists, agnostics and all others in between. Then all should ask themselves the question: Where today are those who will stand for Truth in the face of great adversity and persecution?
Movie Review: Packed with important Christian history
Summary: 5 Stars
As religious biographies set to film go, "Luther" is among the best. Few serious directors have taken on the topic of Christian history since "The Ten Commandments." After the movie better informed about Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Although important parts of Luther's life, positions and views are glazed over or ignored, it serves to incite curiosity about his 95 Theses and the Augsburg Confession.
The difficulty with a film portrayal of one of Christian history's more influential figures is that the historical Martin Luther could not be captured into a couple of hours. It is just a movie, and is not supposed to address complex eternal questions.
Protestant Christians will bristle at the brief look at Luther's theology, and the emphasis on the politics. What else could a filmmaker do? Already, such a film was destined for a short life in the theaters, and the fact is true: much of the issues surrounding Luther stemmed from his reaction to politics.
Roman Catholics might be upset by the anti-Catholic slant. I do not think the film was meant to put Catholicism in a bad light as much as it was meant to show what events and concerns caused Luther to react. The movie was aptly titled "Luther" and not "The Beginning of the Reformation" or "The Great Religious Revolt."
Indulgences have never been one of Catholicism's honorable or defensible provisions. There is no telling of Luther's story without examining the abuses of men looking to profit from the fear and guilt of illiterate believers. A modern Catholic will rightly note that personal Scripture among the laity is now encouraged by Rome, and be frustrated as he acknowledges indulgences are still part of the present Catholic theology.
Lutherans will find the movie intriguing, realizing Luther's battle against Rome begot their own denomination. Coming back to the origin of the Lutheran faith will be exciting and educational.
Joseph Fiennes is believable, albeit a little wooden. His Luther will remind viewers of Jeremy Irons' character in "The Mission." He is noble, calm and steadfast. Like Irons' priest, Luther faces great adversity through his desire to follow Jesus Christ.
Luther comes across as a noble would-be martyr. He shows godly courage, and a few levels of depth. What is not shown are his own imperfections and inconsistencies. If this is all you know about Martin Luther, then you only know one small, if not important, side of him. Like St. Peter, like Deitrch Bonhoeffer, Luther had clear imperfections, yet he still stood up for his beliefs.
When Luther writhes in angst against temptation and evil, he speaks angrily to Satan as would anyone to his most cursed enemy. Like C. S. Lewis' Wormwood in "The Screwtape Letters," we can taste the insidious, pervasive nature of Satan. The spiritual conflict endured by Luther is not the glamorized head-spinning of "The Exorcist," but shows that he was not merely fighting flesh and blood entities through academic arguments.
My recommendation of "Luther" is 100%. Sunday school, CCD and high school groups could watch it as fodder for discussion. This isn't for the "Adventures In Odyssey" or "Veggie Tales" crowd. My small group watched it, and discussed it comparing it with what we understood of Scripture. Could we stand as Luther stood for the defense of God's Word?
A solid companion to the movie is "Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther" by Roland Herbert Bainton. It is an excellent addition to church video libraries.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com
Movie Review: Excellent movie in all regards
Summary: 5 Stars
"Luther" is an excellent movie in all regards, showing the harshness of life in early 16th century Germany, and how the people had little choice but to obey their rulers and their church. Freedom of thought was not an issue in 1507-1530, the time span in Martin Luther's life covered in "Luther". Young actor Joseph Fiennes plays Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German monk and priest who began the Protestant Reformation in Germany.
The movie starts in 1505, with Martin Luther's experience of conversion during an intense thunderstorm. Believing he might die and terrified at the lightning and thunder about him, Luther prays to Saint Anne to save him, agreeing to become a monk if his life is spared. A student of law, Luther joins a monastery and becomes a monk, then a priest. With great intensity, he works hard, prays, offers confessions that go on for hours, and drives some of his fellow monks crazy with the zeal and intensity of his faith in God. But Luther is haunted by the issue of how a man is saved, and reads the Epistle of Romans, where his eyes are opened, that "the just shall live by faith." So, he concludes after years or prayer and turmoil, that man is saved by grace: by Christ's death and resurrection, which had happened 1500 years before Luther, and not by good works, or buying indulgences, a common practice of the Roman church in Germany to raise money for a new Cathedral in Rome.
Highlights of "Luther" : his first Mass as a priest, in 1507, where Luther is overwhelmed by the solemnity of consecrating the bread and wine, and under the pressure of the moment, bungles things, and offends his father, present at the Mass. Luther's father had his hopes set on Martin's career as a lawyer, to support him in his old age. Another highlight is Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the door of Wittenburg Church on October 31, 1517. These theses, or complaints, largely against the sale of indulgences by the Church as payment for people's sins, were printed in German and distributed to the mass public, without Luther's consent or prior knowledge.
Also prevalent are the Peasants' War of 1524-25, which led to the slaughter of some 50,000-100,000 peasants who had risen up against their leaders with the excitement of the new Reformation. These bloody scenes earned "Luther" a PG-13 rating, for violence.
There are also some peaceful, touching moments: Luther's introduction to his future wife, Katherine von Bora, a former nun, and their relationship.
The scenery is very beautiful, and the scenes of the Cardinals' conclave in Rome quite impressive. Peter Ustinov is terrific, as always, as Prince Frederick, who protects Luther and believes in his reforms of the church. Alfred Molina, Johann Tetzel, a Domician monk, turns in an almost sinister contribution in preaching to the crowds about their need to be saved by purchasing indulgences. He warns them of their impending doom: to suffer in hell if not buying enough indulgences to save their souls. This concept was rejected by the Reformers: Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and others.
I can't tell you everything about the movie, but it is very good. If you like history, or are a student of the Reformation or of Christianity, you will like this.
Movie Review: Lively, Accurate, And Informative
Summary: 5 Stars
During the course of postgraduate studies, I was given the assignment to analyse personal influences in the Luther film. This brief review arises from that assignment.
The most important early influence on Martin Luther was undoubtedly his father Hans. Hans was an ambitious, self-assertive peasant, who rose to the status of entrepreneur. It was his ambition to have Martin educated in law -- a career which was on the ascendancy at that time. As it happened, Martin's intellectual development was ultimately used by God to enable him to engage with crucial issues in the Church.
The most important spiritual influence on Martin Luther was his supervisor John von Staupitz. Von Staupitz listened well, and gave Martin crucial pointers at critical times. He further encouraged Martin to review his attitude towards God. He sponsored his career path, sometimes peresevering against Martin's own sense of unworthiness. Eventually, of necessity, he famously released Martin from his authority. Yet the love between them remained, and ultimately Von Staupitz referred to himself as Martin Luther's servant.
A crucial influence was of course the Elector Frederick. Although the two only had a personal meeting at a relatively late stage in the Reformation, Frederick observed events quietly from the sidelines, and afforded Martin crucial protection, without making himself too obvious. His abduction of Martin Luther was a famous turning point of the Reformation. Further influences, which are not to be underestimated, are the anonymous printers who recognised the importance of his 95 theses in particular, and the German nobility who "bought into" the Reformation, and carried it through to its completion.
Broadly speaking, I had the sense that those who exercised an influence on Luther's life had a profound and powerful impact on him in many ways. A central message of the film would be: the potential power of such influence is not to be underestimated. Further, the film showed that it matters that "incidental" people should take a stand -- provided that such a stand is supported by spiritual vision, and a recognition of genuinely important ideas.
Martin Luther was portrayed as a man who was mostly moderate in his demeanour -- a compassionate and well balanced man. Such moderation surely is difficult when one comes under great pressure, and many would-be Reformers of the past made the mistake of recklessness. Somewhat surprisingly, those who opposed him were depicted as reasonable and civil people, who were well educated and competent, albeit spiritually mistaken.
Finally, there was an extraordinary convergence in this film -- encompassing Martin Luther's call, his various promotions, the protection of Elector Frederick, the laws of the Holy Roman Empire, the vacillation of Pope Leo X, to name but a few examples. In this sense, the film imparted a sense of God's providence throughout, which might serve as a type, or "picture", for one's own life or ministry.