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Whither Frodo and Jesus?
Christianity Today ^ | 06/20/06 | Mark Moring

Posted on 06/21/2006 6:18:30 AM PDT by rhema

How could the American Film Institute have missed The Return of the King when picking its list of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time? And not a single movie about Jesus? What's up with THAT?

Last week, the American Film Institute posted its list of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time. It's a good list, especially with It's a Wonderful Life and To Kill a Mockingbird occupying the top two spots. Rocky, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Breaking Away are all in the top 10. Very nice.

But like all such lists, it's certainly open to criticism. My first gripe is specific enough: Where in the world is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? If that's not one of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time, then I'll be a hobbit's uncle.

If Gandalf doesn't inspire, then who does?

At first I thought the omission was because the film isn't "American." It was primarily made in New Zealand by a Kiwi director (Peter Jackson), and the AFI criteria state that qualifying films must have "significant creative and/or production elements from the United States." But then I checked the list of 300 nominees from which the AFI culled its winners, and the first LOTR film, The Fellowship of the Ring, is a nominee (though it didn't make the top 100).

So, evidently, the LOTR films were eligible after all—but The Return of the King didn't even make the list of nominees. So, the AFI doesn't even count it as one of the three hundred most inspiring films in history!

How could they have missed it?

Were they not inspired when Gandalf comforts a frightened Pippin during the siege of Minas Tirith, telling the young hobbit about a glorious heaven that

(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: christianmedia; lordoftherings; lotr; media; moviereview; movies; ringping; topten
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1 posted on 06/21/2006 6:18:33 AM PDT by rhema
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To: BibChr; Caleb1411

Ping


2 posted on 06/21/2006 6:18:56 AM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions, keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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To: 2Jedismom; 300winmag; Alkhin; Alouette; ambrose; Anitius Severinus Boethius; Anne of DC; artios; ...

Ring Ping!!

FrodoPlease support our Hobbit Hole Pocket knives for the troops project.

Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.

3 posted on 06/21/2006 6:21:39 AM PDT by ecurbh (Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
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To: rhema

There's some real clunker's on that list too: I would even argue with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD so highly rated. SCHLINDER'S LIST? Sure, it's 'inspiring' if you can make it through three hours of wanton slaughter, which I have been able to do just once. Then one of my personal favorite's COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER way down in the seventies.


4 posted on 06/21/2006 6:25:56 AM PDT by Rummyfan
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To: rhema

I don't agree with a lot of the films lsited. But Chariots of Fire did make it, even if it is 100. It was a great film. And I agree with the author here--The Lord of the Rings is a GREAT trilogy!


5 posted on 06/21/2006 6:28:24 AM PDT by twigs
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To: rhema
"I can handle things, I'm smart, not like everybody says. Not dumb, I'm smart, and I want respect!"

oh wait..it said FRODO in the headline....nevermind !
6 posted on 06/21/2006 6:39:33 AM PDT by stylin19a
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To: Rummyfan; twigs; ecurbh; rhema
Of course I agree with the author that LoTR should be there, and high on the list!

Many of the movies present are deeply depressing, perhaps dramatic and sad, but that's not necessarily my definition of ~inspirational~

Omission: The Ten Commandments
Another omission: SIGNS
7 posted on 06/21/2006 6:39:46 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: Rummyfan; twigs; ecurbh; rhema

OK - I just went back and looked again, and THELMA AND LOUISE, a pointless movie about two particularly stupid and annoying women, is on the list. Enough said.


8 posted on 06/21/2006 6:42:47 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: rhema

Hm; not sure what "Jesus movie" I'd nominate. Most of them, ah... aren't really good. Maybe The Gospel of John? or The Gospel of Matthew?


9 posted on 06/21/2006 6:45:00 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: HairOfTheDog

And "The Wizard of Oz"?? I guess we know what that's inspired...


10 posted on 06/21/2006 6:45:00 AM PDT by hunter112 (Total victory at home and in the Middle East!)
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To: rhema

I'm guessing, that not everyone thinks the same.


11 posted on 06/21/2006 6:48:50 AM PDT by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: hunter112

I don't have a problem with The Wizard of Oz... I know people who love it. I think the concept of giving people 'courage' or a 'heart' they think they don't have, and making them believe they do, is a good one. But the movie always bored me. ~shrugs~


12 posted on 06/21/2006 6:49:01 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
THELMA AND LOUISE

I despise that movie. Words can't describe what I think of it.

13 posted on 06/21/2006 6:49:22 AM PDT by twigs
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To: rhema
And not a single movie about Jesus?

Ben-Hur was very religiously themed and had a scene with Jesus. Not a movie ABOUT Jesus, no, but...

Also, The Ten Commandments made the list. At least it isn't an entirely Godless.

14 posted on 06/21/2006 6:49:39 AM PDT by pgyanke (Christ embraces sinners; liberals embrace the sin.)
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To: BibChr

Dogma?


15 posted on 06/21/2006 6:49:49 AM PDT by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: twigs

Me too! I wanted to see those women die. Far earlier than they did. Those women weren't rebels, they were just stupid! :~D


16 posted on 06/21/2006 6:50:41 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: ecurbh
Thanks for the ping!

I find this shocking but not suprising the way the world seems to be heading.

17 posted on 06/21/2006 6:53:14 AM PDT by Anne of DC (RUMMY FAN BIG BIG TIME!)
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To: stuartcr

Oh, stop.


18 posted on 06/21/2006 6:54:30 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: pgyanke

Ah - I had said Ten Commandments wasn't there... I missed it... at 79.


19 posted on 06/21/2006 6:55:25 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
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To: rhema

Chariots of Fire was #100. Way too low for that movie.


20 posted on 06/21/2006 6:55:50 AM PDT by Koblenz (Holland: a very tolerant country. Until someone shoots you on a public street in broad daylight...)
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