For those who have seen it, what did you think?

I always enjoy films about history, recognizing of course that events are added/changed to fit a 2 hour film. My biggest letdown was that the movie didn't portrayed Luther's conversion when he first understood the gospel of justification by faith alone. The movie almost seemed more like a political revolution than anything else. Did I miss something? Or was I expecting too much?

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Kim
Baptist
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Greenville, SC

Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Psalm 86:11

Depending on who's reciting the history, you're going to get a different focus. A socialist secular movie-maker is going to ignore deep religious conviction and reduce any event into some sort of social revolution or change. While it may have been this or appeared like this, this doesn't mean it was the CAUSE of what happened; something they seem to not understand or care to.

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Andrew DeShazo, Deacon
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
"Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing." -Titus 3:13
http://foolish-wisdom.blogspot.com/

No, you didn't. I really don't like the new Luther movie very much - it was, to me, too 'prettified', and lacked much of the really interesting parts of Luther's story, that the old classic version catches (though sometimes clumsily). We own the old version - couldn't imagine buying the new one.

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://semperubi.rtrc.net

"Many men, after a long conversion, see more of the workings of sin in their hearts than ever they did before or at their first conversion. Now, such men have not an increase of sin, but an increase of illumination and light" (Christopher Love)

My biggest annoyance with the new movie was their silly attempt to make a modern feminist out of Katie.

Otherwise, I thought it did a tolerable job in introducing Luther in his place and time. Peter Ustinov was great as the Elector. I liked the part where the "protest" was presented to the Emperor. That was bold, where these princes all present their necks.

So, I think the new movie has more good than bad, overall.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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I own both versions. The 1953 film did a much better job with the theological conflict.

The elector's "protest" is one of the highlights of the new movie.

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Soli Deo Gloria

John Schultz
Member, Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Germantown, TN

"The reason why we worship God in a slight way is because we do not see God in His glory"
Jeremiah Burroughs

I have seen both and pretty much agree with the above comments. I like the earlier version much better.

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

I really like the new one. I haven't seen the old one though and I should. I really like how they portrayed Luther. After reading Bondage of the Will I think that the actor was pitch perfect in portraying Luther's wit, his fear of God, and his fights with his flesh and the devil.

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Traci
Lynnwood OPC
Psalm 52:8-9
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

I too thought they did a good job with Luther's passion and wit. And I did enjoy the movie. I just felt like the movie was more about his passion and wit than his theology. I guess I'm being picky.

No question, I think, that Joseph Fiennes did a good job. I also really liked Alfred Molina's Tetsel.

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Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church

Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

I have to admit I slightly prefer the 1950s version to the newer one.

I found myself laughing outloud at the scene of Johann Tetzel selling indulgences "brother...do you have a coin for the Lord?" between that and the part feature the monks setting at the table ready to take their money just screamed TBN.

I also do like that the newer one did seem to show the sad state that the Roman church had put the laity in through its superstitious innovations (such as when Luther went to Rome).

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Steven Bittle
Postulant
Christ's Ambassadors' Anglican Church (CANA)
Reformed Episcopal Church
OKC, OK

"Doctrine is not an affair of the the tongue, but of the life" - John Calvin