Top 3 Bible Movies and 1, (okay,a few )that I dream would be made.

Matt started this meme, and Joel tagged me.

1. One Night with the King

I will be honest; I enjoyed this film in spite of some of the complaints that the director’s took a few liberties to retell the story of Esther. I think they did a wonderful job of depicting the Babylonian empire and the uniqueness of Jewish monotheism in the context of a polytheist world.

2. The Nativity Story

I like the very close historical accuracy in portraying the fear that was perpetrated by the Roman empire in this movie as well as the scenes where the angel of YHWH talks to Elizabeth and Mary.  Did I mention that the Romans look really bad in this movie?

3. King David

I do not remember much about this movie, but what I do remember is its impact.  I saw this film on television a few years after it was in theaters.  That movie caused me to obsess over the life of all of Israel’s kings as I read my small brown King James bible as a third grader and perhaps is partially responsible for my deep love for the Hebrew Bible.

A few movies that I would like to see made before I die.

1. I would definitely stay up, no matter the circumstances the next morning, for the midnight showing of Ezekiel. Nick agrees, and he cannot wait for Chapter 4 to be reenacted!   I just would like to see the whole alien chariot scene with all the special effects in chapters 1,3, 10, and then in chapter 43 when the aliens return with that weird chariot again.  It would just be so awesome; can’t you see it? I think it would be also great to add a touch of irony if the first scene of the film was a group of enslaved Africans in the 19th century singing “Ezekiel saw the wheel” and then bam!, flash back to the days of Ezekiel and King Nebuchadnezzar. Would be a wonderful touch I think.

2. The producers of 300 get together and re-tell the story of Gideon, from Judges 6-10.  Gideon had an army of 300 soldiers and they defeated a host of thousands.  A tragic story, about the ambition of a man who rejected the monarchy at first, but obviously wanted to be king.

3. The story of the prophet Isaiah, with sequels for 2nd and 3rd Isaiah, needs to be told. Maybe the director and creator should choose to start with chapter 6 as the beginning scene where God commissions Isaiah; it would be interesting to see how the seraphim are portrayed.  Okay, I just want to see the special effects!

4. Nehemiah and Ezra need to have their stories told as well because they experienced exile and were able to return to Israel to rebuild it. Plus, I want to see the last chapter of Nehemiah played out where he just goes off on a tangent, pulling hair and cracking the skulls of foreigners.

Tag, you’re it:
Celucien, Mike Fox, and Rob Reid