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VHS : Luther (2003)

  
: Luther (2003)
See Larger Image 		Luther (2003)
starring: Joseph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Peter Ustinov, Alfred Molina, Jonathan Firth
directed by: Eric Till

List Price: $39.99
Price: $4.99
You Save: $35.00 (88%)
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Used Price: $4.87
Collectible Price: $39.99
Third Party New Price: $4.99

Amazon.com Details:
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 0027616906526
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: November 30, 2004
Running Time: 123 minutes
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Sales Rank: 3359



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Editorial Review:

Description:
Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) stars as Martin Luther, the brilliant man of God whose defiant actions changed the world, in this epic, ravishingly beautiful (The New York Times)film that traces Luther's extraordinary and exhilarating quest for the people's liberation. Regional princes and the powerful Church wield a fast, firm and merciless grip on 16th-century Germany. But when Martin Luther issues a shocking challenge to their authority, the people declare him their new leaderand hero. Even when threatened with violent death, Luther refuses to back down, sparkinga bloody revolution that shakes the entire continent to its core.

Amazon.com:
Like The Passion of the Christ, Luther is the story of a spiritual leader, German monk Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes), in opposition to the religious orthodoxy of the time (in his case, the 1500s). His goal--to bring God to the people and to take money, fear, and shame out of the equation--made him a reformer to some, a heretic to others. Released around the same time as Mel Gibson's blockbuster, it failed to attract the same degree of attention--or controversy. Granted, it's a different film, but not radically so. Directed by Eric Till (Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace), Luther isn't always easy to follow or as emotionally involving as it could be. That said, it's a fascinating story and Fiennes receives solid support from Alfred Molina (Frida), Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire), and the late Sir Peter Ustinov (Spartacus), in his final film role, as Frederick the Wise. --Kathleen C. Fennessy



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Incredible
I avoided this movie when it was in the theaters. Finally a friend rented it and I reluctantly watched it. I was so moved and captivated by it I bought it!


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Excellent!
This is an excellent film about the beginnings of Protestantism. It is well acted and respectful of the history involved. It does not sugar coat Luther or the factions involved with his movement. Some might view it as anti-Catholic, but the actions of the Catholic Church at the time merely reflect the way things were at the time. This is a great historical drama and should be of interest to those who are not particularly religious. From what I can gather, its is quite accurate historically. As a footnote, this is the last major motion picture to feature Sir Peter Ustinov. As always, he gives a gem of a performance. Highly recommended.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Excellent movie
This movie is awesome. I really learned a lot about what happened in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Though it's likely not the most accurate movie, but that is to be expected with any movie.


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - Admire Luther but admire truth more
Of course, one would expect a biographical sketch to be favorable to its object. And so it is that this one is favorable to Dr. Martin Luther. However, at times it is so slanted as to be historically inaccurate and theologically dishonest. There was much praiseworthy in Dr. Luther insofar as he sought truth. Would that more of his biographers would seeking truth as seriously.

For instance, this film implies very strongly (as have many Protestants) that Luther's German translation of the New Testament was the first of its kind. It was not. There were previous and better German translations before Luther. And the primary reason the Church opposed Luther's translation was not because it was a German translation - but because it was a very poor translation slanted to justify his own theological presuppositions. As an example, Luther insisted on adding the word "alone," as in "faith alone" where it did not appear in any of the manuscripts for Romans 3:28.

Misrepresentation of the Church and her authority in favor of a stubborn and arrogant insistence that personal interpretation is justified by scripture is another slant. We are encouraged to lift our heads high in Luther's response that he will only be "convinced from sacred scripture" yet never reminded that Luther defined "sacred scripture" as only those portions of scripture that supported his theological assertions - putting the cart before the horse as it were. Not only did his followers reject the Deuterocanonical books (see Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible) but Luther himself notoriously questioned the canonicity of James (see the RSV translation of James 2:24 for a hint why). His true vision was not "scripture alone" but "Luther alone," leading us to wonder if perhaps the film might be as easily titled, "The Man Who Would be Pope."

Admirers of Luther may enjoy this film but depth of understanding will lead us elsewhere for a better biographical study and a deeper understanding of the
Reformation. Rather than rejoicing at the rupture of the Church and the disintegration of the "one holy catholic and apostolic" body, we should be praying for a return to unity in truth. A more balanced treatment of the Reformation in general and Martin Luther in particular can be found in The Reformation (The Story of Civilization VI).



Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - uninspired
This film avoids all real controversy. It is more of a hagiography than a drama. Some of the arguments prevented are well acted and the historical mood is reproduced artistically.