Most controversial movies of all time

[Collier11]

Some NSFW images, you are forewarned


http://www.filmsite.org/controversialfilms1.html

[Crucifax Autumn]

Last Temptation is the one I'll never understand. To me it was the most powerful representation of Christ ever. I just don't get why Christians, Catholics more specifically, but the whole gang followed them on this one.

To me there is something so much more inspiring about a man who had the choice and had to overcome all the temptations and promises Satan had to offer. If he'd not had the choice and was just pre-wired to follow through with his "mission" and didn't have a human side and yet still gave the ultimate sacrifice for mankind he'd just be a silly and meaningless footnote to me. Instead, he could have taken Satan up on it and walked away and been happy and never have given Mel Gibson the chance to make a torture porn film that makes Hostel look like a Care Bears movie.

Instead, in Scorsese's vision of his life he chose freely to do something he knew would be painful rather than living a happy life with the woman he loved and had a family like those he saw all around him. He questioned his father, asked WHY he had to make such a sacrifice and in the end, still chose the noble and "Christian" thing to do in a spock-like "Needs of the many" way.

To me, this was the most inspiring version of Christ ever put on film. He wasn't Super Jesus the almighty, but a PERSON I could identify with and respect...a person worthy of awe and deserving of the love and faith that most other portrayals seem to imply is demanded rather than earned. I'm not really even a Christian in my adult life, but this image is the one that makes me respect, understand, and admire the inspiration of an entire religion. When I saw this movie in the theater I was riveted and inspired, not mad like the supposed Christians that somehow managed to miss the point of this and then years later creamed themselves over PAssion of the Christ. I prefer to know what happened to him and respect it all the more for the fact that he may have had a choice in the matter rather than use it as an irrational excuse to hate Jews.

There is no better portrayal of the man in all the rest of filmdom and I think if "real" Christians watch it from the perspective I do they can't help but have their faith enhanced rather than diminished like the Pope seemed to fear at the time. Super Jesus is boring. Human Christ is amazing.

[King Crimson]

big fan of the Kazantzakis book: Last Temptation of Christ. and a big fan of Kazantzakis in general. Zorba, Freedom or Death, Report to Greco.

[Crucifax Autumn]

I never read the book or any of the others, but if the movie managed to get my generally anti-religious azz to be absolutely in awe of Christ and the book is as well-done I should probably check it out.

[Collier11]

Last Temptation is the one I'll never understand. To me it was the most powerful representation of Christ ever. I just don't get why Christians, Catholics more specifically, but the whole gang followed them on this one.

To me there is something so much more inspiring about a man who had the choice and had to overcome all the temptations and promises Satan had to offer. If he'd not had the choice and was just pre-wired to follow through with his "mission" and didn't have a human side and yet still gave the ultimate sacrifice for mankind he'd just be a silly and meaningless footnote to me. Instead, he could have taken Satan up on it and walked away and been happy and never have given Mel Gibson the chance to make a torture porn film that makes Hostel look like a Care Bears movie.

Instead, in Scorsese's vision of his life he chose freely to do something he knew would be painful rather than living a happy life with the woman he loved and had a family like those he saw all around him. He questioned his father, asked WHY he had to make such a sacrifice and in the end, still chose the noble and "Christian" thing to do in a spock-like "Needs of the many" way.

To me, this was the most inspiring version of Christ ever put on film. He wasn't Super Jesus the almighty, but a PERSON I could identify with and respect...a person worthy of awe and deserving of the love and faith that most other portrayals seem to imply is demanded rather than earned. I'm not really even a Christian in my adult life, but this image is the one that makes me respect, understand, and admire the inspiration of an entire religion. When I saw this movie in the theater I was riveted and inspired, not mad like the supposed Christians that somehow managed to miss the point of this and then years later creamed themselves over PAssion of the Christ. I prefer to know what happened to him and respect it all the more for the fact that he may have had a choice in the matter rather than use it as an irrational excuse to hate Jews.

There is no better portrayal of the man in all the rest of filmdom and I think if "real" Christians watch it from the perspective I do they can't help but have their faith enhanced rather than diminished like the Pope seemed to fear at the time. Super Jesus is boring. Human Christ is amazing.

Thats who he was bro, he was completely human and had all of the same pitfalls in front of him as we do, he just didnt sin like we do

[sooneron]

Blue Velvet- awesomeness!

[MojoRisen]

I agree with that, Ned Beatty in his Tidy Wighty's after squeling like a pig scared me for life. Was the Exorcist on there?

[sooneron]

Yes it's on there, I also thought Suspiria would make the cut. Rocky Horror was also pretty controversial when it came out.
Basic Instinct is just plain crap.

[C&CDean]

When I first saw this the two flicks that came to my mind were Caligula and The Exorcist. They both made it.

[OhU1]

Good post Crucifax. Regarding "Super Jesus" there was a film that came out in the 80's about Jesus, I don't remember the name of it, the movie was an extremely popular movie with church groups back then. Anyway, the actor that played Jesus NEVER blinked. I didn't notice until someone pointed that out to me. Supposedly the director felt that an unblinking Jesus with his "otherworldly stare" would seem more divine and inspiring of awe.

[nighttrain12]

Brokeback Mountain. Cowboys should NOT be doing that stuff to each other! Ben Johnson, Hopalong Casady, and Roy Rogers are still spinning in their graves because of that movie!

[hellogoodbye]

A lot depends on the era the film was produced. Remember Gates of Hell? Or, The Warriors... a little corny now, but at the time - combustive!

[picasso]

Can't believe Deliverance didn't make that list.

You got a purdy mouf.

[Ardmore_Sooner]

Birth of a Nation

Is that one on there? I didn't look at the link.

[Chuck Bao]

Birth of a Nation

Is that one on there? I didn't look at the link.

Yeah, Birth of a Nation is on the list.

The only movie that my dad wouldn't let the family watch was Jesus Christ Superstar. I guess he thought it would turn us into a bunch of hippies. The Dirty Harry movies were much more wholesome family entertainment. ;)

[Leroy Lizard]

The down-blouse of Jasmine could wind up getting some viewers in trouble.

[Leroy Lizard]

Brokeback Mountain. Cowboys should NOT be doing that stuff to each other! Ben Johnson, Hopalong Casady, and Roy Rogers are still spinning in their graves because of that movie!

Just wait until they come out with "The Brokeback 500."

NASCAR is no long manly, so I guess that won't be so controversial.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Thats who he was bro, he was completely human and had all of the same pitfalls in front of him as we do, he just didnt sin like we do

I know...So why were Christians lined up outside the theaters protesting the movie for showing that!

[Leroy Lizard]

He was the son of God. To cast him as a horndog was going to be controversial for obvious reasons.

[Crucifax Autumn]

But to cast him as a man who wants to settle down, have a family, and raise kids...Not so bad an image. If it is bad I'll pack my **** right now and leave these money-leaching sumbitches to fend for themselves! lol

[Scott D]

quite a few films on there that I expected.

usually when a movie is considered controversial, it's because it in some way 'contests' things that are considered 'basic tenants' of faith (insert the faith here).

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Speaking of 'Last Temptation'...

Is the outcry any different than the backlash of Jew hate from 'The Passion'?

[picasso]

A Clockwork Orange, yes.

Dogma, meh.

Freaks!!!!

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

"On the Beach" was an attention getter, back in '59 or '60.

[fadada1]

interesting link - didn't read all of it yet. saw "the last temptation" for the first time just a year or so ago. very interesting, imo. controversial for hard-line christians and the vatican... yes. controversial for someone with an open mind... no. very thought provoking.

i got a similar reaction from the dan brown books.

[soonerinabilene]

aladdin makes the list, and showgirls does not? you couldnt see showgirls within 150 miles of abilene when it came out.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Hollyweird delights in jacking with the Christians, and it's acceptable to the media, so WHY NOT?

[Collier11]

aladdin makes the list, and showgirls does not? you couldnt see showgirls within 150 miles of abilene when it came out.

Funny story, when that movie came out I think I was 16 and I went to the movie store to rent The 5th Element and when I got home Showgirls was in the movie case, AWESOME!

[setem]

Can't believe Deliverance didn't make that list.

This!

[IronHorseSooner]

aladdin makes the list, and showgirls does not? you couldnt see showgirls within 150 miles of abilene when it came out.

Aladdin was controversial due to the negative portrayal of Middle Easterners.

[Crucifax Autumn]

And I'm sure there were some of the obligatory Disney subliminal penises around that movie too!

[Hot Rod]

What? No Kazaam?!

[Scott D]

What? No Kazaam?!


aladdin makes the list, and showgirls does not? you couldnt see showgirls within 150 miles of abilene when it came out.

This was a list of controversial movies, not god awful movies.

[Scott D]

also, considering some of the NC-17 type films on this list, I'm surprised that "Henry and June" isn't on the list since it was "officially" the first NC-17 film to hit theaters after the rating was added.

p.s. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover is a very very good movie. The nice subtlety of using the same room for many scenes but changing the lighting color to convey the mood of the setting was a brilliant move.

[the_ouskull]

Without glossing the link, let me guess at some of these:

(I don't mind looking like an idiot after seeing the link and reading the thread. I'm used to it, in fact...)

- Birth of a Nation
- Caligula
- Deliverance
- Dogma
- Kids
- The Last House on the Left (the old one, not the newer one)
- Lolita
- Natural Born Killers

Okay, I KINDA cheated, I looked through my DVD's. (Except for "Birth of a Nation," 'cause, seriously... and Lolita, 'cause, seriously...)

the_ouskull