Film adaptations of the Bible in a comical manner are few and far between, but one such movie will hit theaters on Friday.
Year One, directed by Harold Ramis, features two Stone Age men (Jack Black and Michael Cera) who leave their homes and travel into the Old Testament biblical world,
according to an article on CNN.Ramis believes that
Year One is a unique kind of film that our generation hasn't seen much of before.
"No one had done this film for our generation," Ramis told CNN. It's like, you know, when
Animal House [which Ramis co-wrote] came out, there were college films. Every generation had college films, but our generation didn't have one yet, and I don't know that our generation - this young, new generation of kids has a, you know, a sandal epic yet, and this is the one. This is for them."
As a leading actor in the film, Jack Black is excited to take part in a portrayal of the Bible in a humorous light.
"That was the fun of this thing," he said. "It's like, we are going to have some fun with the Bible; you don't see it very often. It hasn't really been done since
Monty Python days.
Life of Brian."
Ramis also follows up with this
Monty Python comparison.
"I told people that I wanted to do for the Old Testament what
Monty Python did for the Gospels," he said. "Which is just to kind of take a funny look and project a contemporary sensibility back to these treasured myths of Western civilization.
Of course, any portrayal of Scripture in a less than reverent light receives its share of criticism.
The 1979 comedy
Life of Brian, the 1988 film
The Last Temptation of Christ, and even
The Passion of the Christ, a film many of us can remember, have been attacked by many.
Ramis defends his purpose in making this film, stating that he did not at all intend to belittle or make fun of Christianity.
"It wasn't so much to attack any particular religion," he added. "I figure all religions are good. They all make sense on paper; it's just the exploitation of religion that's been a problem, by ... people using religion to justify war, or to justify government or, you know, 'God made me do it.'"
Despite the negative reviews this film is bound to receive, some early reviews have been unexpectedly positive. The film was even received warmly in its Sodom shooting location, Sibley, Louisiana, in the heart of the Bible belt.
Would you go to see Year One? Do you approve or disapprove of films that portray the Bible in a comical light?
Comments (33)
I cannot wait to see this film.
Comedy, I think, is sometimes the best way to get a message across, it's just when it gets obscene or cheesy that it's useless.
I wonder if Year One will stay good, or become useless...
No-- as with most movies I will not be going to see it. With a film director that makes statements such as "...contemporary sensibility back to these treasured myths of Western civilization" and "'It wasn't so much to attack any particular religion,' he added. 'I figure all religions are good. They all make sense on paper; it's just the exploitation of religion that's been a problem'", I do not expect it to be in any way, shape, or form beneficial to the Faith, the Body of Christ, or the spreading of Gods (true) word. I would, actually, expect it to do the opposite. I'm sure I will hear someone quote a line from this movie as if it were from the Bible itself.
It looks funny, but rottentomatoes only gave it a 20%...
i believe his name is MICHAEL cera, not john cera.
but anyway, i totally plan on watching this movie. it seems fun and i find many of michael cera's roles to be super super endearing in an awkward way. who knows if there will be offensive humor in it, but it will definitely be interesting to see how they weave in comedy in these Biblically-based stories.
It looks funny. I really am not a fan of Jack Black but I <3 Michael Cera. It's probably just one of those dumb but funny movies. I hope nobody takes it too seriously.
I'm excited to watch this movie. Can't wait.
Do I approve or disapprove films that portray the Bible in a comical light? Depends. There's a difference between really mocking one's faith and presenting a topic in a comedic light.
@sjj1004@xanga - I'm sorry for the mistake
I just had it corrected.
See, I'm a semi-reluctant Jack Black fan. He cracks me up! I can't help it! He makes me laugh and makes me enjoy movies I would otherwise hate.
This one, I'd try it out after other people have seen it and I could get a better feel for what they crack jokes about. If it seems too crass, I'll avoid it. But I'd like to give it a shot. Meh, I usually wait for the library to get this stuff anyway... :p
I like movies, what can I say.
~Victoria
I'd watch it, although I have my doubts about whether or not it'll be that funny. Not being able to have a sense of humor or interact with someone's ideas about our faith is a liability imo.
It looks good to me. I don't understand why people would be offended.
ive yet to see a bybul film that wuz the leest bit worth watchin wether komic or sirius
Humor is a curious thing. Almost always, laughter is the result of something that has occurred out of the norm and at the expense of someone or something.
I've got nothing against Jack Black; I thought he was great in King Kong. I've got nothing against low brow humor; I love Waterboy and Night at the Museum. I've got nothing against the making of this film, but Christ is too precious to me to watch Him as the object of low brow humor.
I didn't know that the movie makes fun of the bible. I would be interested to know in what capacity the movie does this.
I don't think we should make fun of the Jews.
I've been thinking about that. It does seem funny, but I think I'll end up skipping this feature film.
i really want to see this!
I would see it. I don't think it's going to be offensive. I'm going to wait until it comes out on video though. Tickets are so expensive now! Plus someone told me that it was really bad, and so I'm taking the safe route.
Heck yes I'm going to see it and HECK YES! I approve of comical Bible movies.
Christians need a sense of humor sometimes... and sometimes we need people to think we have one, too.
God has a sense of humor too. Just look at Britney Spears...
I think that anything that has worth should be made fun of.
I don't really care about the religious aspect of the movie. I wouldn't watch it because it looks like one of those cheap scary/epic movies that have stupid over-the-top humor.
Saw it earlier, it was effing hilarious. Jack Black and Michael Cera play off each other perfectly, Black's over-the-top craziness makes Chris Farley look like Philip Seymour Hoffman. Michael Cera delivers the awkward, slightly-effeminate uncomfortableness better than he ever has, in my opinion. Though it perhaps ran a little long towards the end, with the plot sortof taking over the great characters.. It was still a riot and nearly nonstop laughter. Make sure you see this with friends, you will be laughing about this for hours.. in fact i'm hoping days.
I saw it opening night, It was damn funny too. I wouldn't really say they were making fun of the bible, but more or less a humorous satire of the book of Genesis. If you think that this movie is derogatory towards Jesus and Christianity, you're a square and personally I think Jesus would think the same thing.
I saw it last night and it was hysterical. I laughed almost the entire time.
They should've made a movie with Jack Black and Michael Cera sooner.