Legend of 1900, The (1998)

Why is this film rated R? Sex? Violence? Language? Well, sex or violence are not included in this film. Language, though, is. It is sad when a good film is brought to the brink of "not-watchableness" due to language! There are obscenities and there are blasphemies, though they are non-sexual in nature. If you see this film on DVD or video, and you are bothered by the language, then don't watch it unless it is first "cleaned up." Though not as much as "We Were Soldiers" (reviewed earlier), it is too much for a film like this.

Barring language, this is a great movie.

This film, monickered as a fable, is about a person who was born and died on a ship, never taking a voyage onto the land. Like I said, it is a fable that you and I could learn from, but let me tell you what I received from this.

1900 (which is a person's name due to 1900 was the year that he was born aboard that ship), on the ocean, is like Christianity. Here me out. Medusa Motion Pictures, who released the film, must have as many strands of snake-like hair going as many myriad directions as you could go to explain what this film is about. I chose a Christian approach. Maybe you will choose another. The absolutely marvelous piano playing that 1900 does stands out among those land-lubbers who only thought they could play the piano but couldn't. More on this later.

Max (he is another main character) had eyes that darted this way and that way, a condition known as ocular nystagmus. Although he always saw correctly, I couldn't help but be fixed on his eyes. At first, this bothered me that the director should know better than to hire an actor who had eyes like that. But then I thought, it is part of the fable to have him almost disabled due to that. 1900 would make a good friend out of him. 1900 was known for his piano playing, and Max was known for his trumpet playing. One talent, one superb gift the two of them had!

Oh, the rollicking, rolling piano scene 30 minutes into the film is as a hilariously great time at piano playing as there can be! It is the scene where 1900 finally introduces himself to Max who is wobbling on his feet due to a storm at the beginning of the film. The rollicking piano scene is one which will live in Hollywood memory! A Christian (1900) standing firm amid the billowy waves that the world goes through, is such that only God can allow. God is the creator of the ocean, an immense, all-encompassing sea of doubt if you don't look at it through Christ's eyes.

The Tarantella, a lively Italian folk song supposedly played to help cure a woman biten by the poisonous tarantula, took 1900 just seconds to master, and then you ain't heard nothing yet! The sound coming out of that piano must have been played by four hands, yet 1900 only has two. Another highlight of the film that Christians can so impress the masses (passengers). Read the verse that, in the Old Testament, the world looks up to Israel due to their keeping God's laws.

"I think a lot of land people must be wondering 'why,'" says 1900. He doesn't ask why due to his already knowing! He is only aboard that ship. A ship that he stands firm on. His answers are already there on the ocean, though he took awhile to learn them (and still learns them). Why? The land, a metaphor for the world system, as a wicked, vile place that you would have to sink into. Rather we Christian's must waft on the ocean, learning what goes on on land by the passengers. You are either a land person, or an ocean person. Which one are you?

The piano duel, played by 1900 and Jelly Roll Morton, is another tour-de-force. 1900 wonders what a duel is? Ignorant of how a duel is played, he starts off playing almost like a fool -- a good fool though. Then, after Morton plays another number, he plays exactly how Morton played. 1900 never understanding what a duel is? It is like a Christian dueling it out with an agnostic or a atheist, never understanding what the discussion is all about, but leaving the atheist dead in his tracks because the Word of God stepped on him! 1900, like Morton before him, started of with a cigarette, but didn't light it as Morton did. He played jazz like it had never been played before, and when finished, 1900 took the cigarette a lit it on the strings of the piano. Morton could not have gotten off that ship fast enough! The things of man don't hold a candle to God's ways!

That leaves the score, played by Ennio Morricone. Like his score for Cinema Paradiso (another film by the same director), it holds awe! Most notably is the love song played by 1900. An unrequited, almost love story, about 1900 and a girl he met on the voyage. Well, you have to see the film to know what I'm talking about. Morricone is absolutely my favorite composer of all time.

Now, after WWII, the ship is about to be dynamited, and 1900 is aboard it. He said that the land's people is so many keys waiting to be played, a thousand keys, it is "God's keys" for he could not play it. He was given 88 keys, plus the piece of music had a beginning and an end. He could never play the keys God had be given! Amen for, though I have 88 keys, God says play them well. God doesn't expect you to play the thousands of keys! That is His job.

He died thinking that the mass of land, "one woman, one house" is all for naught. Heaven isn't made of such things as that. Oh that we all should see that, in Heaven, we all are glorifying Christ, not marrying, not a business deal, but Him who is above all thought. When we set our eyes on Christ, everything else will come into focus as we study God's Word.

It is a fable. A fable you turn into a picture that you want. I was able to make it into a Christian film. What do you turn this fable into?

Sister Act (1992)

I am not a Roman Catholic so I do not believe that Mary, the biological mother of Jesus, is any more holy than other followers of Christ. There are, I think, two songs that the Sisters sing that say Mary is the Mother of God. She is the mother of Jesus in His human form, but still she is sinful, though holy in the Lord. The Trinity, and only the Trinity, can receive any glory from us. They are quite good songs, but they would be better if their focus was about some other aspect of our Faith, rather than a Romanist point of view!

Furthermore, I enjoy a more traditional song service like Martin Luther, Isaac Watts, etc.. Check out The Trinity Hymnal (http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Hymns/hymns_th.htm). That is a worship service that beats them all into the ground! There are a couple of them in this film of the more traditional type, though.

So, not being a Romanist, and being fond of traditional music, do I find that I like this film?

First of all, Sister Mary Clarence (played by Whoopie Goldberg) finds Christ by the end of the film. How do I know this? Look at her attitude before, in the beginning of the movie, and compare that with how she is at the end of the story. Cursing then, not cursing now. Not liking the church, then liking the church. Rubbing shoulders with the "big-wigs-wanna-be's" in Reno, and placing her trust in the "most obscure" church. Quite a change, huh? Somewhere in the convent, Sister Clarence found Christ.

Second, the Mother Superior thought she might do well in the choir with a completely awful sound! Yet, she managed to "convert" that same choir into a glorious choir that even the Pope could enjoy. [1] Yes, the music got jazzy, plus there were a couple of numbers that were taken from the "secular" world [2] and turned them into jazzy songs for Jesus. Am I turning off jazzy hymns when I like traditional songs of the Faith? The traditional is number one, but jazz or even rock I like, number two and three (see Petra, http://www.mp3.com/petra/artists/1993/summary.html).

We are all Christians, whether we be Romanists, Presbyterians, Baptists or whatever you are (save JW's or Mormons), we believe in Christ's atoning death and He rose again and sits at the right hand of God. Read the Apostles Creed, the oldest creed in existence, and you will see that we, all of these different denominations, are truly, and most assuredly, are Christians! We all like different types of music, too, but that shouldn't separate us either. We need to get into deeper theology to say whether Mary aught to be revered as the Mother of God, whether we need an earthly Pope, or whether the Arminians have anything at all to say to Calvinists (they don't, but I shall leave that to another post!), but underneath it all is the fact that we are Christians because of Christ.

We have plenty to talk about in the deeper theological issues, but several people in this world don't want to hear that. When will it get thru to people that we have Satan to battle in our fight against Humanism, Islam, Hindus or Buddhists. We need to form a front against all that set themselves against Christ!

But I really like this film because Sister Mary Clarence finally knows what she needs to do; lead the choir and dramatically raise the quality of the music is quite good, all under Christ her King!


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[1] I don't see the Pope in Scripture. I know Peter had been given the Keys to the Kingdom and they, the Romanists, see that he was the first Pope. Without getting into a deep theological discussion (read Loraine Boettner's book Roman Catholicism, among many others), no Protestant will ever say that they believe in a earthly Pope (a heavenly Pope, meaning father, is God).

[2] Is it "secular" to have some song saying that someone loves somebody without reference to Christ? Once someone accepts Christ as his personal Savior, is it wrong to commit to love your wife (or husband)? Why not write a song about it. But is that not secular? I think it is in Isaiah when we all accept Christ, every nook and cranny of our lives are to be marked Holy unto our God. We Christians should lead all of our lives holy as God is Holy! Thus the word "secular" becomes "sacred." I honor my wife by writing music (or whatever else) for her and thus honor God for all we do is holy to the Lord!

Babettes Feast (1987)

It had sat on my shelf, only taking it down two times and watching it. I think it was four years ago when I got "Babette's Feast," when I had my stroke. Anyway, I watched it again. Did I think it was worth the time? Or did I suspect that it would be another four years until I watch it again? When I finished the film, where did it go on my shelf? Did it go where ever I put it? Or perhaps the section I have placed for my Christian films? What slot do I put it in?

I watched it in english, with the subtitles turned off. I must do that when I have the option to turn it off or on. I love foreign films, and I used to watch it with the language of the films, only getting english in the subtitles. Now I had my stroke, with my brain acting up, I find this ideal.

What I liked about the film was it's Christian over-pinnings. The minister had two daughters, and when he died, the two women took it upon themselves to serve some soup to each one of the old men, for now they were old too. I think it is Lutheran. The film was Danish.

Before long, the two ladies had a visitor from France. Her name was Babette. Her past was never gone into until near the end of the film. She worked for the two ladies, serving up the same soup because that is the way its done, the two ladies said. Babette worked for them 14 plus years.

Babbette won a lottery ticket (Babette didn't buy it, it was purchased for her in France every years), and gave the feast to the small congregation the was dwindling because they where getting old, and there wasn't new blood in the assembly. She gave a feast fit for a king, because she was the premier chef in all of France. The two ladies, while she was preparing it thought that it was a witches brew, for she brought in some birds, a turtle an even a selection of wine. When one of the ladies presented that to the congregation, they all agreed that they will eat the meal, but they won't say anything about the meal, focusing on the weather and like manner.

After the meal you should have seen the assembly. Joyous beyond believe, and about half-way through the meal began to enjoy it so much that they began to talk of the meal. Everything was focused on Christ, which I thought was a Godsend to the heathen. Even the congregation, who was quarreling more and more, gave up that night and began to praise each other. Oh that communion's would be that way! One day it shall!

"Babette's Feast" won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

"The Passion," "Luther" (2004), and "Babette's Feast" fill my top three films. It is that good!

The Hulk (2003)

What if the Hulk had not been given a reason to loose his temper? Would he be "sane;" one given to scientific work? What made him loose his temper?

What made him loose his temper was the corruption and vileness he saw in this world. From his own fathers attempt to "create," to the foul meaness of the fathers nemesis, through the reprehensible thug that runs Atheon, all vileness. And what do I mean by that vileness? Everyone of the ruthless gang flew in the face of God, disobeying the Bible and the commandments that He delivered to us in Scripture such as the proper role of science, the military, or even of a nation!

The Hulk then is sombody to look up to, to admire, not to hold some derision for. I wish everyone of us Christians would be just as angry as the Hulk when we see the Bible coming under dirision by those who set themselves up as diety be it state or national governments or businesses or, shall I say it, PEOPLE. We need to say "we have had enough."

The "Hulk-Christians" will never pass away because we are keep by God through His Son Jesus, just as the end of the movie indicates. We conquer sin and death through Jesus Christ!

Someday that will come to pass!

The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Alexandre Dumas wrote "The Three Musketeers," and "The Count of Monte Cristo" ("The Count..." which I own, part of my top ten collection, and I will write a blog on it too), but he also wrote "The Man in the Iron Mask."

Dumas sets the adventure where the Four Musketeers are quite a bit older than they were in "The Three Musketeers."

Athos (one of the King's musketeers) looses his son only to regain a new one in the brother of the new king, the Man in the Iron Mask. As for myself now, I have two sons, both of which I would die for. What Athos went through was, several years ago, quite beyond me; but now that I have sons, I can get a glimpse of what he's going thru. It is just like God the Father agonizing for His son, Jesus; more so because He is sinless and the pureness of His love is boundless.

The new King of France is starving his people and pursuing an un-godly war. He should have been properly deposed of and a newer King replace him. That is not only the command of the musketeers, but of God in His Word.

Why do the armies of Christ war on each other? I mean, you have Romanists on one side of the fence, and the Protestants on the other. Did it ever occur to talk it out before such bloodshed happened? (I am really foggy on my history here).

I am a Protestant, but are we not struck with the fact that we were born in Christ. We are the same when the Resurrection occurs. Where did you and I go wrong?

The mask, when worn, and stuck up in a prison cell is like wandering in our sin; in a depraved way we ask only to be removed from the prison, but the mask we leave on; either liberals or conservatives, Muslims and, yes, supposed christians, do not realize that it is even on! Oh, the mask we all should wear until we take it off in Jesus' name!

Breathe the fresh air of the gospel, for it leads you back to the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Study the laws, the commandments, discuss them with others, and then make a rule. The mask of making laws as a human, without any recourse to God and His Word, is so reprehensible, so Satanic. We must all have the mask taken off us by the Holy Spirit, to once again see what sinful, human creatures we are, and flee to Christ. He will represent us to God the Father and say, "they are believers because I paid for their sins."

Lilies of the Field (1963)

A Baptist getting along with Roman Catholic Church (1)! Yep! Why? Why would Sidney Poitier playing Homer Smith, a Baptist, do all of this work for Nuns? Are Romanists bad? Do they worship Mary, the mother of Jesus, and perform Transubstantiation during the Eucharist? For the most part, yes, they do all of that. So Baptists are safe, right?

In recent days (like mid-1800's) there arose some Baptists who espoused a doctrine called Arminianism. As I am a Calvinist (like C. H. Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher during the late-1800's) I find that doing Salvation by yourself or with a little help from God is not much different that worshiping Mary. Either Mary or yourself, will not earn your Salvation; only God can do this, no one else.

Now I am afraid that I have stepped on a few toes. So be it. Remember, I am a Reformation Calvinist, I can say such things if I want to with Scripture to back me up. If you have a "doctrines of demons" (I Timothy 4:1, NKJV) as your belief, take advantage of the Internet to read more (2), and see that you don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to calling God, Father! When you can honestly say that, you are on your way to a more glorious Christian life than you can ever imagine. I did it because I WAS a Arminian, Dispensational Baptist. Why don't you?

But a Baptist doing work for Romanists? We all, Baptists, Romanists, Presbyterians, Methodists and whatever you happen to be are all centered on one thing and one thing only: Jesus Christ (3). Christ, despite the differences which separate us, will use us to bring us together, one day. All are united in Christ, are we not?

I think this film is wonderfully inspiring comedy.


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(1) "Catholic" means "universal," thus I am a catholic Presbyterain, my parents are catholic Baptists. "Catholic" is in the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed to name a few. So to keep "catholic" a Roman Church thing is wrong, don't you agree?

(2) www.chalcedon.edu, www.americanvision.org, www.ligonier.org, www.reformed.org.

(3) Muslims, Hinduists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and all their ilk are not centered on Christ.

Cromwell (1970)

I own this film. Am I glad I did own this film?

I read (before my stroke) a biography of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England. It was a rather thick book, but I was accustomed to reading such works as those that interested me. This one did! When I finished reading the work, I was amazed that the movie was so accurate. Of course, it all had to be compressed into a 145 minute time slot.

Richard Harris played Oliver Cromwell, and now he should be turning over in his grave to have played a man devoted to God. The actor played a man that was the bringer-in of a republic, if only for a short time when he died.

Alec Guinness did a marvellous job portraying Charles I. His stuttering made it almost worth the price, if such would be given because I own the DVD! If I recall, he even looks like Charles I. I wish Charles I had given over to Cromwell and been the king that Cromwell (and I) wanted.

Now in a nation like ours, would there be but a Cromwell that stood for things. We now stand for a UN army that holds sway over our army that once stood for God, Family and Republic. I know, I know, the UN army hasn't taken control of our army, but isn't that the way through, to take control a little at a time? The President has not done a thing about it. He doesn't do a thing because his nation is so messed up with abortion, illegal immigrants and such as that, that he had better wake up or he shall go down the hole of doomed leaders of our country. I can say that for I didn't vote for him, but a third party that stands for what Cromwell stood for.

Timothy Dalton plays the kings nephew. Everybody did a fantastic job portraying the part. Ken Hughes, the director did a good job. He also did Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang a couple of years before!

So am I glad I own the films? Absolutely! It stand almost alone as the most God honoring film that has ever come from the port of Hollywood.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

I can’t help it, I love this film. I wish that I had it! I checked this film out at the library. I think four hours or more I have spent viewing the directors profile, the making of the film, cartoons, newsreel, a whole host of things to watch. Yes, I want this film!

Of course it was a flop when it came out, but since has made it one of the all time great motion pictures. Back then, one of them is the fact that no one made such a downer film! I mean, Bogart gets killed at the end. “I thought Bogart lived,” says the old timer.

Bogart plays Dobbs, a downed fellow who gets up a two men to go gold prospecting. Once gold is found, Dobbs gets more suspicious of the other two. Of course, the two of them don’t have anything to hide. Dobbs is more and more consumed with greed which eventually kills him.

The greed of gold prospecting is enough for anybody to think twice about leaving it lying around. What would you or I do? Maim or even kill for it? Horde it to ourselves? Give it away?

What greed strikes me? I mean, I have a stroke and can’t get a job so what covetousness sometimes befalls me? DVD’s? Household chores? Spendings the right amount of time with my sons, with my wife? These are all governed by the Bible, by God’s Word (yes, DVD’s included, just translate that by attending a play or some other fun, despite what benefit comes out of it).

Say, what makes me think greed is a bad thing, as some people think. Sure, we have laws against it, but “they are written by men,” right? Men change their minds, right?

I think I, for one, would rather keep God’s Law, not men’s.

What do you get greedy about? Work? Family? Capitalism? Some charity or even a church? What about giving work a rest and taking a respite?

Greed is a part of everyone. You don’t have greed? Then the pride of life is your greed. Dobbs got killed, but the other two when on, never greedy as far as gold was concerned. What are you, Dobbs, or his compatriots?

Yes, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” is quite a good film, wouldn’t you say?

"Band of Brothers", Steven Speilberg, a Jew

Some people are really irrate over Speilberg, saying that not only do they not go to his films but, in several particular cases, any Jew should be castrated and the Jews would die off. Is this the Christian view as a few suppose?

Let me start by saying that Hollywood, during the pre-ratings day, released the films based upon a Christian worldview, subject to a ratings board that was Roman Catholic but still had their finger on the pulse of the people; they still knew that we were Protestants. Do you know the producers, most of them? They were Jews! Jews that made a buck from the protestant cinema going public. Why?

Micheal Medved, a radio talk show host, is a Jew, yet he gives "The Passion of Christ" high marks (http://www.eyeonentertainment.net/id1.html). (I wish to write a blog on that.) I heard on a show of his that we, a Christian Nation, had given them the freedoms that they so desired. They would not trounce our freedoms in the founding of this nation. That is why.

Christians have couched the Jews, one day hoping to lead them to Christ. Romans 10:1 says "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel (the Jews) is that they may be saved," (NKJV) and that after the Resurrection! Read chapter 10 and 11. Paul, the writer of Romans, was a Jew. Even Jesus Christ was a Jew. Our Savior wanted to get back to basics, restoring our love for God.

The Ten Commandments and all of the laws which extend from them, all written in the Word of God, the Bible, does NOT say "kill the Jews!" Maybe some works written in recent days say that, but not Scripture! I mean, Hitler a Christian? Come on now! Hitler was against Christianity, choosing to go into the occult.

I must, yet again, stop the post by these people. God's Law does not say kill the Jews. It says that for murderers. Did the Jews have Christ crucified? Yes. So did the Romans, so did all of us. Christ died for the world, not a select group of malcontents, which I am closing the access to the blog.

Remember, Jesus came first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. The book of Romans in the Bible was writen after the Ressurection and Ascension. God had Paul write "has God cast away His people?" (Romans 11:1) the Jews of which Paul was one? "Certainly not!" concludes that verse.

Again, He died for the world, not the world minus Jews!

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

I've seen it. My family saw it. Twice we saw it on opening day this December 22nd. Do I think it is good? Would it be included on the website if it weren't good? We all as a family finally agreed on something which has to do with movies: get the DVD! That is the reason I am writing this because nothing is here except DVD's I own (with one exception: Amistad).

When, at the beginning of the movie -- and the tin-type of the opera house is marvellous itself -- they begin raising the chandleer, the full orchestra in one low tune says it all. I got goose bumps, and I am not kidding!

The Director is derided for spending too much time with decorating the set and not enough time directing the actors. Both, in my humble opinion, are well directed. What if he spent alot of time on the set decor. I mean, it's about an opera! Opera's are rich looking, so why can the film look any different?

The Phantom is dreadful as far as singing, or so it seems. After all, I think he is the Angel of Music, and teaches Christine. Christine is one marvellous vocal talent, so why not the Phantom? Could the scar tissue have anything to do with it? Christine's was the voice, and he the talent that gave that voice the aria that it deserved, no matter where his voice happened to be. Gerard Butler as the Phantom turned into a good performance.

The story line follows such movies like Lon Chaney, Sr. in the silent version. The Phantom was much like The Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick. They suffered from a misunderstanding that the public gave them during the Victorian Era. The public thought, I suppose, that they were jokes that God had created. The Phantom was caged in his early days, and you could see him at a price! Like Merrick, it was good to have someone come along that had a proper view of them and thus, a proper view of God.

God placed these people here to test us, to see if we should help them or harm them. I, for one, choose to help them.

That is the way The Phantom of the Opera ends, with hope for the underlings.

The Mission (1986)

"The Mission" is truly remarkable! I have seen it before and I must have it. Contrary to the email that I saw on Amazon.com, it is filled such hope when the children at the very end of the film go out and start a new village, to take the Word of Christ and raise a family by it. It is interesting how Jeremy Irons did not get followed but DeNiro's character did. The Jesuits, following Irons, and suffering from a lack of true Biblical knowledge (love and might aren't to polar opposites, instead God is a God of love and God of wrath) and sadly did not see a better day coming, even if it takes many, many years to do it!

Funny how the ones who represent Spain and Portugal, along with the priest who sentenced the work of God to cease, are like the three mousekateers. I say "mouse" because they are rats, scurrying about, eating what they may, all the while storing up the wrath of God.

DeNiro died a patriot's death. The little boy, who took the boat with all those children, knew this.

I really want this film, both discs (as the two disc edition comes with). I saw this film many times on VHS, which means it was cropped significantly (1.85:1 instead of the standard TVs version of 1.33:1).