Luther
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Movie Reviews of Luther
Movie Review: One of the Best Movies I Have Ever Seen
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is spectacular.
Many historical films are bad - either gross (Alexander the Great), unintentionally ridiculous (Nostradamus), or boring (Julius Caesar).
In this film, Martin Luther comes alive. It shows his younger years when he was a sincere but rather niave monk who accepted without question the dictates of the church, including the papal indulgences. It paints a vivid, beautiful picture of how he gradually saw the corruption in the church, and set out to inform the pope of this with his famous 95 thesis posted to the Wittenburg church door. Only when he realized the highest echelons of the church were in the corruption did he began his courageous fight against the corruption, which led to the sweeping changes of the reformation. The scene where the 95 theses are posted on the church door is stunning, and the scene near the end where the German princes offer to be beheaded rather than sacrifice their beliefs is incredibly moving.
This film shows Luther in a very human, flesh and blood light by bluntly portraying his growth and development, his courage in the face of excommunication and threat of death, his physical illnesses, his guilt and depression over the peasant revolt, and his severe depression over these things. His marriage to Kate is drawn in a touching, moving manner. The portrayal of his weaknesses as well as his strengths makes him even more admirable, and makes the viewer realize how tremendously he suffered, and sacrificed, for his God.
The acting is superb. Fiennes is incredible - he makes a strong yet very human Luther. Alfred Molina is believable and adds some humor as the seller of indulgences, and Ulrich, Luther's spiritual father (can't remember the name) and in fact all of the secondary roles were also very well portrayed. Sir Peter Ustinov was stunning in his last great role, as Frederick the Wise.
I do not think this film was "anti-Catholic" any more than "The Crucible" is "anti-protestant". Instead, this film shows that when religious organizations get too tied in with politics, as the Catholic Church did in the 1500s, the politics inevitably introduce corruption into the religious organization. This is a lesson which modern-day Protestants would be very wise to heed.
My only wish is that "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" would have been played in the final credits.
I would strongly recommend this film.
Movie Review: Not About Academic Freedom, Not About Religious Tolerance
Summary: 5 Stars
Two Hours and four minutes to depict twenty-five years; Facts are going to be distorted and timelines are going to be thrown off more then a movie that depicts a day or even one year. By the very scope of the movie snapshots about a man, his career, his cause, and the effect of one man is that can be shown. This movie is a depiction of the Reformation as pushed and formed through the actions of one man. Yes the movie depicts priest and monks as nearly illiterate, but that is not the main focus of the story or even a focal point as the cause of the Reformation. Some reviewers complain it does not depict Luther as Urban and coming from peasant stock. To a point this is true about Luther, but he was by far more educated then 90% of those entering the monastery. He studied the law and was to become a lawyer. This is why he was well positioned to become more educated then the vast majority of monks. This barely touched on. This movie chose to depict Martin Luther's struggle between man's sinfulness, his own guilt before God, the wrath of God, the Catholic Church teaching about Justification, and what he came to believe what the Bible taught. The movie starts with Luther running from lightning striking him, realizing God was chasing him, and promising to devout his life to Christ. Then there is a depiction of him struggling with his sin nature and God's judgment towards himself. With no explanation why Luther went to Rome nor depiction of those who went with him, the movie illustrates Luther trying to follow Catholic rules to diminish time in purgatory. The makers of the movie are clearly try to illustrate experience and dread about what was going on in God's church. Praying towards relics and crawling up hundreds of stairs to please God. Stairs. The evil in selling indulgences and even the concept of indulgences is well depicted. I think the deals well with the German and Roman political situation of the time. Maybe not enough about the selfish reasons why German princes did not want to follow a Roman central church, but again to do would have at least added 15 minutes to the movie or other parts diminish. Yes this movie is sympathetic to Martin Luther and the Reformation. I enjoyed the movie. I would recommend any Christian parent to oblige their teenager to watch this movie as a starting point in knowing Luther. To know God's will not out of councils or teachings of the church if it contradicts God's wordMovie Review: the power of faith and conscience
Summary: 5 Stars
As in "A Man for All Seasons", the struggle of faith and conscience makes for riveting viewing, and this is a brilliant depiction of the 16th century, and the life of Martin Luther, whose ideas were deemed heretical and sparked untold violence. Joseph Fiennes is excellent as Luther, and convincingly gives us a portrait of a man who grew in his faith as it was challenged, and became the power that changed the Christian world, and who translated the Bible into language that could be understood by the people, when most (including many of the clergy) were ignorant of scripture.
There are some other terrific performances, notably Sir Peter Ustinov, in his last film, as Frederick the Wise, and Bruno Ganz in a sensitive, moving portrayal of Johann von Staupitz, the abbot who was Luther's counselor. Also excellent is Jochen Horst as Andreas Karlstadt, who had a radical approach to the Reformation, and was responsible for much of the violence that occurred.
The costuming and sets are remarkable in their feel and look of the era, and the score by Richard Harvey is dramatic and wonderful.
With an intelligent script, well paced direction by Eric Till, and beautiful cinematography (shot on location in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic) by Robert Fraisse, this film is immensely thought-provoking as well as entertaining, and will be of interest to anyone who enjoys films on Christianity.
It certainly should not be viewed as anti-Catholic, but like the Spanish Inquisition, as a telling of one of the dark periods of its history, and amnesia of the past doesn't in any way help the present, and can be a safeguard for the future.
The Special Features include interviews with Joseph Fiennes, Sir Peter Ustinov, Claire Cox, and Alfred Molina, and though they are interesting, it's too bad they broke their comments up into little sections.
Total running time is 124 minutes.
Movie Review: Beautiful, eloquent, brilliant film with a perfect cast!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was impressed watching this film how extremely well made it is, and how beautifully shot a lot of the scenes were. One gets a feeling while watching it that we're back in the 1500s, witnessing events for ourselves. I really don't know about any of the controversy surrounding this film, as I only discovered it on DVD recently. I watched, curious to know about Martin Luther, since I know so little about him, and how the Protestant Reformation came into being.
Joseph Fiennes is perfect in his performance as Martin Luther. At times, he can be studiously serious, while at others, playful and funny, as well as stone cold defiant and stubborn. We see glimpses of his self-berating abuse, his boldness in questioning certain religious practices (particularly the selling of indulgences), and his refusal to recant his 95 Theses. My favorite scene is when he is giving a lecture, poking fun at all the believers who buy religious relics that were claimed to be from Christ's time, and how the indulgences bought will save relatives from the eternal torments of hell. In that scene, he speaks in an interesting manner, quite amusing and one can't help but laugh along with him.
This film is exactly how to make a historical film (in contrast to the dismally dark "King Arthur" with its focus on battle scenes at the expense of plot and dialogue). If only more films would be made of this caliber, of historical topics (a film about Galileo, anyone?) that are just as relevant today. This film sets the bar quite high because it is simply brilliant and beautifully done. Remarkable! Churches especially should encourage members to see this film, and discuss in Sunday School issues of today and how they relate to what Martin Luther did (being able to see what's truly relevant from what is merely church dogma meant to control people instead of actually help people). Highly recommended.
Movie Review: The Beginning of Wisdom
Summary: 5 Stars
It is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom". This movie conveys Dr. Martin Luther as being a man passionately consumed with it, and yet in his younger days, somewhat lacking knowledge. This is seen in how he attempts to challenge the adversary on his own terms on several occasions. That didn't last long. As he grows to be an accomplished theologian and Reformer, his life is evidenced as one of loving God and caring for the poor. Hannah and Greta, amalgamations of Luther's relationships with the peasants of Erfurt and Wittenberg characterize the deep nature of the poverty of his time. As his passionate concern for them is played out, it becomes evident that he values his ministry to the poor even more so than his pursuit of high theological studies. This can be seen as he shoes his associates on in one scene, when Hannah who has a need approaches him. His rewards, his influences on nobility, even his trials and threat of death and his eventual marriage and family all show how an omnipotent God rules in the life of a believer and grants great victories to one who submits to Him. Watch as the hands of Elector Frederick the Wise (Sir Peter Ustinov) shake with nervous anticipation as he reaches for the complimentary copy of Luther's German Bible when Dr. Luther hands it to him.
Psalms 111:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (KJV)
Proverbs 29:7-8 - A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath. (RSV)
Mark 10:21 - And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." (KJV)