The Message (30th Anniversary Edition)
by Moustapha Akkad
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Johnny Sekka, Michael Ansara, Michael ForestDirector: Moustapha Akkad
Producer: Harold Buck
Producer: Mohammad Sanousi
Writer: A.B. Jawdat El-Sahhar
Writer: A.B. Rahman El-Sharkawi
Writer: H.A.L. Craig
Writer: Mohammad Ali Maher
Writer: Tewfik El-Hakim
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Arabic (Original Language), Unknown; English (Original Language), Unknown
Format: Color, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 177 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-11-01
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Movie Reviews of The Message (30th Anniversary Edition)
Movie Review: Classy Islamic Propaganda
Summary: 4 Stars
Its too bad the noble sentiments expressed in this homage to early Islam are not practised universally by its more radical followers today. At its inception Islam was enlightend and forgiving. What happaned to that outlook? Over time the ideas of Mohammad became entrenched and corrupted, much as with Christianity.
The Middle East never expereinced anything like the Scientific Revolution of the West which inspired the Reniassance. Free, independent thought are not conducive to state operated theocratic governments. This is what Islam is. The religion is both government and state. There is no seperation between the two. History has shown that religious regimes tend to be conservetive in their development.
Islam was great in the 6th - 10th centuries. In the 21st century with its failure to evolve, and with its innate fear of change, it is a dead weight around the neck of nearly every Middle Eastern country.
This film is a great achievement, and although a homage to early Islam one can see why the religion had such appeal to those dusty Arabs of the dessert. The battle scenes are first-rate and show how intense and intimate these small skirmishes were in early Islam. Anyone interested in Middle Ages warfare should find these scenes worthwhile. I would say its one of the highlights of the entire film which can be a bit slow at times.
The extra feature showing the behind scenes efforts is quite extensive and illustates how carefully the director wanted to film this project. The fact that he had two movies - one in English, the other in Arabic, is quite unique.
Perhaps followers today can learn something from watching this older film and perhaps attempt to regain something of the enlightenment that seems lacking in their faith today.
Summary of The Message (30th Anniversary Edition)
Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 11/01/2005 Run time: 220 minutes Rating: PgProducer-director Moustapha Akkad made a true labor of love out of The Message, which seeks nothing less than to tell the story of the origins of Islam. Originally released in the U.S. as Mohammad, Messenger of God, the film has the appeal of most biblical epics: persecuted true believers, a revolutionary prophet scorned by the powers-that-be, and the miraculous triumph of faith. It also has the cheesiness of many biblical epics, with nose-flaring performances and awkward dialogue, but the whole mish-mash is generally entertaining (and informative for those unversed in the "origin stories" of Islam). Akkad had one major hurdle; he couldn't portray the person or voice of Mohammad himself, as such things are traditionally forbidden in Islam. To say the least, this presents an interesting narrative challenge. Akkad tackles it by having characters address the camera-as-Mohammad, or having disciples step out of Mohammad's tent to repeat what the prophet has just said. It's a weird device, but the surprising thing is how often you forget about it. Akkad is aided by some topnotch technicians, including cameraman Jack Hildyard (The Bridge on the River Kwai) and composer Maurice Jarre (whose score was Oscar-nominated); Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, and Michael Ansara lead the cast.
Also included in the two-disc set is the Arabic-language version of the film, which was shot at the same time with different actors. (It comes without English subtitles.) It runs about 20 minutes longer than the English version; Akkad explains, in a helpful 44-minute making-of documentary, that Arab styles of storytelling (including pacing) and acting are quite different than in the West. Akkad would also make Lion of the Desert and executive-produce the Halloween pictures. He died in the November 2005 terrorist bombings in Jordan. --Robert Horton
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