Just bought the Last Temptation Criterion Collection DVD and was fascinated in finding out that STING was going to play Pontius Pilate. Can anyone tell me why Marty was considering Sting back in 1983? And then, in '88, why was Bowie chosen. Maybe someone can shed some light?
Am I here to fuckin' amuse you?
After "King Of Comedy", "Last Temptation" was set to be Scorsese's follow up. During that preproduction Sting came in and tested for the part and was cast as Pontius Pilate with Aidan Quinn set as Jesus. But then things fell apart financially (also because of protests) and the project was cancelled until after the success of "Color Of Money".
God (no pun intended), that was a quick reply--em...do you know why Sting auditioned for the part or if Scorsese knew him?
According to:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmoviepostersetc.safeshopper.com%2Fimages%2Fbj1d3b0t.jpg&hash=b4ae0d6e87ea7d7b63a1ce00b74bfbc0dd0e9a6e)
Sting: To start, I'd always wanted to work with Scorsese, and the Kazantzakis novel was one of my favorites. I thought the script was staggeringly good, in comparison with what you normally are asked to read. I think Pilate is one of the most interesting villians consigned to hell. Pilate wasn't just the straightforward, two-dimentional villian, the guy who just washes his hands. He was a complex human being.
Sting goes on about his fascination with Pilate. Pick up the book if you can find it. It's a great read.
I actually just made an order on amazon for every..and I mean EVERY Scorsese book out there...I recently read Scorsese on Scorsese..great stuff....yeah I'm gettin' that book too you just recommended. Thanks. I'm just off Michael Mann buzz and now into Scorsese again...
i just rented the Criterion disc the other day. i watched/listened to the commentary this morning.
this movie brings up a very interesting question on the duality of Christ.
for 8 million bucks, this film looks really great.
at first i didn't recognize Bowie at all, i thought he did really well.
i would have liked to have seen a documentary on the times (88) that the film came out. maybe clips of reactions, debates, etc. Scorsese had a lot of guts to put this film out. it's scary to think that he had to have bodyguards for a while afterwards.
i have a little complaint with the soundtrack. i don't like it when Scorsese puts poppy stuff right in the middle of films (he did this in Gangs as well). i'm referring to the music that plays as Jesus enters Jerusalem and the Roman soldiers surround him. when music like that, that deviates from the feel of the time period and even the rest of the soundtrack, comes on it really takes me out of it for a bit.
Last Temptation of Christ, i'm not afraid to say the full title. as richard kelly must also agree, i think it's one of the most significant scorsese films, in expressing a deliberately skewed view of "our saviour" it ends up being the most important film on the duality of man and the gap between Son and Father. luvit more than, well it must have a special place in scorsese's heart as well as any free thinking catholic.
I'm trying to persuade a friend of mine to watch The Last Temptation of Christ but he won't because he doesn't AGREE with making a film about God even though his favourite film is The Mission (which has many deep, spiritual under-tones). I explained to him that the film is anti-God, it's just a wise film that asks questions and doesn't presume anything--and I made him read the booklet that comes with the Criterion DVD which is like a review of the film. Still won't watch it. He wants to be a filmmaker and I've told him that this is SCORSESE!! one of the best we'll ever see, you have to watch for the direction, the cinematography and the performances (especially of Willem Dafoe) which is one the best of all time. Anyone have any ideas how I can persuade him to watch it? Anybody have a review that I can send him so it'll persuade him to watch it???HELP!!!!
Quote from: finlayrI'm trying to persuade a friend of mine to watch The Last Temptation of Christ but he won't because he doesn't AGREE with making a film about God even though his favourite film is The Mission (which has many deep, spiritual under-tones). I explained to him that the film is anti-God, it's just a wise film that asks questions and doesn't presume anything--and I made him read the booklet that comes with the Criterion DVD which is like a review of the film. Still won't watch it. He wants to be a filmmaker and I've told him that this is SCORSESE!! one of the best we'll ever see, you have to watch for the direction, the cinematography and the performances (especially of Willem Dafoe) which is one the best of all time. Anyone have any ideas how I can persuade him to watch it? Anybody have a review that I can send him so it'll persuade him to watch it???HELP!!!!
tell him "yeah, nevermind. DONT watch last temptation. ever. promise me youll never see it. i thought i could trick you, but as i can see, you are far too smart for that. promise me youll never watch that movie. promise!"
Well, add something about the devil being craftier than he thinks, and soon enough he'll get 'em. Then run away laughing while doing cartwheels of evil
I did some cartwheels of evil last night and hurt my back.
Sucks!
My friend actually IS a cartwheel.. I talk to cartwheels, I have no human friends...
keep off datura.
btw, trem great sig.
Quote from: finlayrI explained to him that the film is anti-God.
Um. :(
I have a question about the "Last Temptation" DVD on Criterion. I already own the film on VHS, but I would like to buy the DVD of it. But the DVD is so expensive and costs about $40. Is it really so good and worth getting to spend that kind of money or should I just keep it on VHS?
shh... keep it down! you'll get murdered talking like that around here! criterion collection are the ONLY DVDS worth having! just ask anybody here. i mean, i'd much rather have a movie i dont really want because criterion put it out than a movie i actually like with no extras. wouldnt you? :?
Yeah, I just wanted to make sure. 40 dollars is not cheap for a DVD, but it looks like it's really worth having particularly because it's from Criterion.
Correction. I mean to say "the film is NOT anti-God"
Who's your Auntie? Is she God?
What's your last name? ''Up and down in the water''?
FILMCRITIC, THIS IS A WEB SITE FOR YOU: http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=HVD000172
:(
Quote from: finlayrI'm trying to persuade a friend of mine to watch The Last Temptation of Christ but he won't because he doesn't AGREE with making a film about God even though his favourite film is The Mission (which has many deep, spiritual under-tones). I explained to him that the film is anti-God, it's just a wise film that asks questions and doesn't presume anything--and I made him read the booklet that comes with the Criterion DVD which is like a review of the film. Still won't watch it. He wants to be a filmmaker and I've told him that this is SCORSESE!! one of the best we'll ever see, you have to watch for the direction, the cinematography and the performances (especially of Willem Dafoe) which is one the best of all time. Anyone have any ideas how I can persuade him to watch it? Anybody have a review that I can send him so it'll persuade him to watch it???HELP!!!!
I have friends like this. It fucking depresses me to no end, as this film is most probably the best of its kind. Damn. Hit that fucker over the head and make him watch it!
Quote from: ShanghaiOrangeFILMCRITIC, THIS IS A WEB SITE FOR YOU: http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemID=HVD000172
:(
i got that beat. http://www.dvdplanet.com/search_quick.asp?keywords=last+temptation+of+christ
i use www.alldvdprices.com to get the lowest price online.
http://www.digitalsofa.com/partners/alldvdprices/ShowTitle.asp?id=0001011984-0006
Thanks for both of the links. I'll take advantage of one of them. :lol:
DVD Planet charges S & H. Deep Discount DVD doesn't. The two prices would come out about equal. :(
actually with mine, he saves 29 cents. :wink:
That's also how much I get in commision if I persuade people to buy DVDs from deepdiscountdvd.com. :(
Just kidding. :(
I guess you win. :roll:
Mexico gets delayed 'Temptation'
MEXICO CITY -- For the first time, moviegoers in this predominantly Catholic nation will have the opportunity to see "The Last Temptation of Christ" on the big screen, with the film falling on the same March release date of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." Martin Scorsese's "Temptation," under distributor United International Pictures, will hit theaters nationwide March 26 with 71 copies, while the 20th Century Fox-distributed "Passion" will bow in Mexico the same day with more than 300 prints. UIP spokesman Pascual Hernandez said Monday that it "is strictly a coincidence" that the two films share a common release date. According to a UIP press statement, the Catholic Church in Mexico has pressured government censors to ban the screening of the controversial "Temptation" since 1988.
Quote from: MacGuffinUIP spokesman Pascual Hernandez said Monday that it "is strictly a coincidence" that the two films share a common release date.
yes, pure coincidence that the film will open 16 years late on the same day as another controversial film about christs last days. pure coincidence...
I need to see this movie. It's been on my netflix list for quite sometime and it's still on short wait.
Bill O' Reilly was bitching about this, in support of the Passion, yesterday.
What a douchebag. :(
Well, I'm not surprised. This is the same guy who also called Kill Bill the most violent movie ever made.
Quote from: themodernage02Quote from: MacGuffinUIP spokesman Pascual Hernandez said Monday that it "is strictly a coincidence" that the two films share a common release date.
yes, pure coincidence that the film will open 16 years late on the same day as another controversial film about christs last days. pure coincidence...
The Lord works in mysterious ways...
(someone had to say it)
So I just saw this and it was really good, i mean really good. Very moving and the film retains a documentary feel. Dafoe is spectacular. This movie makes me like Passion even less.
spoillers
>i just saw this last night.......i enjoyed but io wasn t fully understood what the controvesrsy was about....was it:
> marty s portrayal of Christ as a human (with human desires [i.e. lust, self-doubting, rages of violence, etc..]..which would/may disturb some people b/c Christ is peerfect and doesn t have faults)...i guessing that was it ..........and /or it might have been the part in the film whne Christ is tempted and goes down off from the cross and has a 'vision' of having a normal family w/ magelene...[also, the sex scenes]........that could aslo be a huge part of the controversy.....but what people may not understand is that the whole 'tempted' scenes was suppose to be interpretted as satan tring to persuade Christ from doing his duty to save mankind by giving Him this vision w/ magelene et al.........but Christ overcomes/powers satan and dies for us......is that it?.......
>it was very powerful film i thought......especially the 'it is accomplidhed"........but i ll be honest, this film didn t have the emotional/trembling/in tears that The Passion of the Christ gave me....... but i also think that its b/c The Passion is so violent.....while Temptation is more lyrical at times....or sweeping epic like.......philosophical.....etc...[basically its a different tone altogether]......i 'enjoyed' both of these film alot......on a side note i like to see more Christian-oriented cinema w/ great productiuon values and talent behind it.......but this film is great......and Walrus.....if you re reading this go buy this criterion......over schizopolis.......
Quote from: NEON MERCURY>i just saw this last night.......i enjoyed but io wasn t fully understood what the controvesrsy was about....was it:
> marty s portrayal of Christ as a human (with human desires [i.e. lust, self-doubting, rages of violence, etc..]..which would/may disturb some people b/c Christ is peerfect and doesn t have faults.
yeah, people dont mind seeing christ brutally beaten to death, but he cant have a girlfriend.
That's probably because one happened and the other didn't.
Quote from: SoNowThenThat's probably because one happened and the other didn't.
what are u talking about, it didn't really happen in Last Temptation either. the only ppl who would be bothered by the last act of Temptation are f*cking idiots who don't understand anything about
a) movies - there were even disclaimers all over the place, right at the beginning of LToC it says the story is not based on the gospels. it is so infuriatingly ridiculous to see Jesus fans get mad over that point, their only defense is "it wasn't like that at all" so what the FFFFF?? the movie isn't pretending it was, it is treating the subject like an adult would treat the idea of guilt and redemption which leads me to...
b) jesus. - spiritual redemption was what Jesus was about, agreed? so if one is bothered by LToC's approach they are rejecting the idea that spirituality can be explored. how else can one show an internal conflict a HUMAN has, other than externalizing it? it is perfect about that, some lines are wack and the delivery is not always as effective as it could be, but at least LToC is portraying a worthy aspect of Jesus and Christianity, something much closer to core beliefs than seeing a mutilated body walk the streets.
the irony is that SCORSESE would be the one expected to milk the violence, with his body of work. but he didn't, cos his violence has always had a point, and more importantly cos he knows what's what.
Quote from: PubrickQuote from: SoNowThenThat's probably because one happened and the other didn't.
what are u talking about, it didn't really happen in Last Temptation either.
Did I say it did? I was just responding to mod.
Jeez. Did you forget this is one of my favorite movies?
Quote from: SoNowThenDid I say it did? I was just responding to mod.
yeah so what's wrong with my response, i was also replying to the fictional christians who think it did, cos that's what u were explaining right? u were responding for "the ppl" that mod was talking about.
Nah, I can't stand the thought of those pricks picketing this movie and shutting it down. Fuck them.
It's just that I also can't stand the in-vogue statement people make about how Chrisitians get-off on violence but hate love. So yeah, it was a fact that people were gonna be a little more concerned with him having a kid with a woman than they would be of him getting flogged for an hour. Hell, I was pretty freaked out when I watched the movie for the first time, until it got to the end and presented, as you said, one of the most beautiful examples of spiritual redemption of humanity.
So yeah, I agree with everything you said in your post. Just don't direct it at me, like I was guilty of it. :wink:
Quote from: SoNowThenNah, I can't stand the thought of those pricks picketing this movie and shutting it down. Fuck them.
It's just that I also can't stand the in-vogue statement people make about how Chrisitians get-off on violence but hate love. So yeah, it was a fact that people were gonna be a little more concerned with him having a kid with a woman than they would be of him getting flogged for an hour. Hell, I was pretty freaked out when I watched the movie for the first time, until it got to the end and presented, as you said, one of the most beautiful examples of spiritual redemption of humanity.
So yeah, I agree with everything you said in your post. Just don't direct it at me, like I was guilty of it. :wink:
I find that it's very voguish amongst Christians to reject any questioning of their belief system or any statement revealing their self-contradictions or hypocrisy by conveniently dismissing them as "in-vogue."
Kinda vageuly reminds me in the slightest way of some guy around here who used to try to argue people and discredit them by claiming they were "just trying to be cool." I'll disagree with people 'til the cows come home, but I'll usually give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the idea of their believing in what they say.
It's a bit too easy and also a bit too low to say that questioning the sort of violence in
Passion is just a trendy stance, is what I'm saying. Argue with it, please, but don't just be lazy and say it's "in vogue" to have that opinion, implying that only your opinion has any thought or conviction behind it. If you don't feel like supporting your disagreement, or you just don't have time, there's no need to say anything until you do. This board and all these threads will still be here.
Modernage, in regards to your earlier comment and my reply:
I am truly and deeply sorry if any tone or word choice in my comments were received negatively by you, or implicated hostility towards you in any way. Certainly this was not my intent. I was under the assumption (rightly or wrongly) that you were simply riffing off the currently repeated comments born of the majority of the negative reviews of the film The Passion Of The Christ. In light of those comments, and in relation to the widespread negative reaction to the prior film The Last Temptation Of Christ, I felt my post would shed some light as to why it may have been that certain groups would be more easily accepting of one film as opposed to another. This was neither a judgement call on the films, nor on your intelligence as an individual, but what I believed to be a light and concise comment to illuminate things.
Again, I am sincerely sorry for any trauma this may have caused you, and certainly do apologize from the bottom of my heart. Should my apology still be found wanting, I would surely be open to discuss funding of pre-scheduled therapy sessions to help overcome this accidental emotional assault.
umm, no issue here.
OK, so I rented this last night. I was enthralled pretty quickly...
I loved the portrayal how it doesn't say he WAS, but presupposes he was human so we could relate to his decisions, and perhaps gain insight on his sacrifice. I'm not sure about Martin's religious affiliation, but he really showed an empathetic view of Jesus (which heavily contrasts to the type of empathy seen in the Passion). I also really loved the portrayal of Judas.
Now, onto the part that really pissed me off. Since I rented it, I should've known better, but I hoped it would play smoothly.
----SPOILERS----
I pop it in, and it's going fine.... until he draws the circle and sits in it. The snake shows up, goes away, fine. The lion shows up, goes away, fine. The fire shows up, and it skips completely that entire scene. I'm pretty pissed, suffice it to say. The movie continues and I hoped that was the only part it would skip at, as it seemed important.
But no. The scene where he's about to be cruficfied starts skipping and skips all until the "guardian angel" shows up. I know that the scene wasn't too important, but it was a pretty emotional scene and then BOOM... skips.
God damn it.
just buy a new copy and you won't have that problem.
Quote from: ewardjust buy a new copy and you won't have that problem.
I didn't buy it, I rented it.
i know. so just BUY the movie instead, and it won't skip on you.
Quote from: ewardi know. so just BUY the movie instead, and it won't skip on you.
What makes you think I possibly liked that blasphemous piece of shit?
haha. i didn't realise u were a church-going, God-fearing, freak.
Quote from: WalrusQuote from: ewardi know. so just BUY the movie instead, and it won't skip on you.
What makes you think I possibly liked that blasphemous piece of shit?
well, i always thought you were smart.
Neutral Vice President: Your Neutralness, it's a beige alert.
Neutral President: If I don't survive, tell my wife "Hello."