Rating: Summary: A very Artistic and Trippy film ... with a alternative edge! Review: I love this movie because it puts me in a very relaxing mood when I watch it. It reminds me of the ambient(Trip Hop Music) that I love so much. This movie has a very dark and gothic vibe too it which I feel is beautifully filmed. Patricia Arquette is one of the best at conveying quirky or unusual characters. For an hour and 47 mins, you are definitley in Frankie Page's world. I know that a lot of Christians will have a problem with the message that this film is trying to convey. And I think that is one of the reasons it didn't do as well as it should have. I love it because you rarely get a film that goes into a persons life style as this one did. "Very Brief Plot to this Story!" Frankie Page (Patricia Arquette)is a beautiful alternative female that is d'void of faith. She is extremley egotistical, and very spoiled to some extent. She is possessed by a preacher that died before he could convey the pages that were hidden in the Bible. So basically she recieves the Stigmata because the preacher she is possessed by had it, and she is his messenger. Basically a self proclaimed atheist, recieves a quick lesson that God does exist. Now the whole stigmata is a gift thing,I don't quite understand? Also I don't understand why a Preacher would possess a womans body and act in such a belligerent manner? But anyway, the Church doesn't want this secret out and will do anything to protect it, Including homocide! See Patricia in "Lost Highway -(Masterpiece) and Goodbye Lover" another interesting experience. The soundtrack is very trippy and I recommend it as well. It features Bjork and Massive Attack as well as other interesting artist. Also if you are looking for another movie that has the same feel try "Lost Souls" starring Wynonia Ryder but don't expect much. "Lost Souls" is just Beautifully filmed and has a good gothic theme/mood to it. But I warn you Lost Souls isn't nearly as superior in plot as this film". Arish
Rating: Summary: Do not try to categorize this movie Review: This movie is probably the most thought provoking movie I have seen in quite while. In this movie, we have a completely hedonistic, nihilistic Patricia Arquette who denies God, while Gabriel Byrne plays a scientist/priest who questions miracles and on some level questions his faith through his church, yet believes in God. The cast does an outstanding job, and there are some excellent religious points made in the movie. Gabriel Byrne has a brief speech where he explains how science and the "just happened" theory in regards to life appearing on this planet has contradictions. Then, in another scene, an ex-priest talks of what and where the true church is to be found. Which, by the way, is very much correct, according to the Gospels. The ending very much follows the religious theme of the movie and draws heavily from stories in the Bible where both doubters and unbelievers were given signs that convinces them of the existence of God. I rate it worth owning, because the movie is worth seeing more than once. Again, another movie that had lousy reviews, and once again, the reviews were wrong.
Rating: Summary: Great film - I would watch this again Review: Stigmata for me was intriguing and intensely watchable. I thought the acting was superb and the storyline as good as they get. Full of symbolism and clues along the way, Patricia Arquette is brilliant as the Stigmatic and Gabriel Byrne who plays the priest trying to save her, equally so. This film received mixed reviews in the UK, some of them not too flattering, I am just so glad that I watched it regardless. The soundtrack is wicked, so much so, I bought the CD. Some people have taken this film as an affront to religion, I did not see it that way at all, on the contrary, the wounds of Christ that were appearing on the character in the film sent a thousand and one messages out to the viewer. I have seen this film five times now and I know, that I will watch it again, thoroughly enjoyable with a very different storyline. Keep an eye open for the small text at the end of the film regarding the hidden gospel, because that really does make you think.
Rating: Summary: Hmmmm....... Review: The movie itself was very well done...but I see the message as being a bit misleading.I disagree with the entire Christian concept so...I couldn't stand to listen about how "god was blessing you with this incredible gift,the gift of the stigmata" the part that bothered me was how it was considered a gift....yeah?bleeding the "wounds of christ" untill it eventually kills you is a gift huh?yeah,your loved by "god" right? and when he's done with that,why doesant he "flood us all agian"???
Rating: Summary: Nag Hammadi library Review: Not a bad movie, it's based partly on the Naag Hammadi Library, a series of Gnostic Writings discovered in the 1940's. Is it the best horror movie around? Not really, but it's definately thought provoking. I suggest Mr. McCullough read "The Nag Hammadi Library in English" or Elain Pagels' "The Gnostic Gospels" or one of her other works. He lacks a basic understanding of the texts themselves.
Rating: Summary: Watch this with an open mind and take it all in Review: When I first saw the commercials back when Stigmata was released, I cringed at the thought of a "Next Exorcist". I avoided the film up until TBS finally broadcasted it earlier this year, and I was amazed by it. If you go into the movie believing it's the "Next Exorcist" plot-wise, you will be horribly disappointed. The only ties between the two movies are the use and discussion of religion, religious beliefs, and figures, and possession itself. The experiences of both Frankie Paige (Patricia Arquette) and the Exorcist's leading character, Reagan (Linda Blair) are drastically different. Whereas Reagan was possessed by a demonic spirit for cruel reasons of it's own, Frankie experiences an extremely different sort of possession. Frankie became possessed by the spirit of a recently deceased priest, Paolo Alameida. Father Alameida, along with two other priests, had been working together to translate a document found near the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem. The document is entirely in Aramaic - the language believed to be used during the time of Jesus. The three priests begin to believe that the words in this document are actually words spoken by the living Jesus Christ at the time of his last supper, telling his Disciples how to continue his church after his crucifixion. Once word began to spread in the Catholic church about the gospel (and how damaging it's content would be to the church itself), the three priests were discommunicated and exiled, with Father Alameida relocating to Bel Quinto, Brazil, where he would head a church, and eventually commit suicide before the translation was finished. After Frankie's mother (on vacation in Brazil at the time), sends her a rosary (that was actually stolen from the body of Father Alameida), Frankie begins experiencing wounds similar to those of Christ at the time of his crucifixion. After a priest witnesses Frankie receiving the wounds of the whip across her back in a subway, Father Andrew Kiernan (Gabriel Byrne) is sent to investigate the possible appearance of the stigmata, the wounds of Christ. As Andrew's time with Frankie grows, she continues receiving more and more wounds, and finds herself speaking and writing in languages she does not understand - Italian...and Aramaic. Andrew actively works to bring the meanings of the words Frankie is speaking and writing to light, thus strengthening the tension between Andrew and the Catholic church, most notably Cardinal Houseman (Jonathan Pryce), who originally exiled the three priests working on the translation. The movie shows the negative side of what happens when churches become dictatorships. As the meanings of the words spoken and written by Frankie, as well as the reasons behind (as well as who is responsible for) her possession become clearer to Andrew, the Catholic church tries harder and harder to silence Frankie and to continue making people believe that the church is continuing the faith as Christ wanted, regardless of whether or not a simple exorcism is done to cast out the spirit of Father Alameida to keep him from using Frankie to finish the translation...or by silencing Frankie herself. The movie is a chilling representation of fanaticism and explores hidden aspects of religion and of possession, separating it from the Exorcist and the like. Watch the film with an open mind and open eyes and enjoy what you find hidden below the surface.
Rating: Summary: This movie made my think! Review: I know this movie got bad reviews. But I think this movie is a great movie. Stigmata stars Pstricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, And Jonathan Pryce. This movie is about Frankie (Arquette) who does not beleive in god. And she does not go to church> she is taking a bath and all the sudden she has 2 holes on her wrists. She goes to the emergency room, and they think she tried to kill herself. Then she is in s subway. She gets whipped in the back. Now her bleedings come to the attention of Father Kiernan (Byrne). Now he has some weird moments with her. She then writes in a language that no one knows about except Father Kirnan. But he has to ask his friend to decode it. He wants to know what it says. But this messgae could destroy the church. Now he must try to have her and the message that she is trying to say! On my scale from 0-10 Stigmata is a Fascinating, Thrilling, Mind blowing 10. I MUST SAY THIS. THIS MOVIE IS RATED "R" FOR INTENSE VIOLENT SEQUENCES, LANGUAGE AND SEXUALITY. Have fun I know I did.
Rating: Summary: wow -it was beautiful Review: i was not expecting much when i finally decided to watch this movie. i actually watched it because billy corgan does the music, so that drew me. but it was so sweet. patricia arquette blew me away. she was beautiful at times and horrid at other times. one scene she wil really scare you. the only negatives for this movie are the intense demonic scenes and the scenes where patricia is crucified. they are pretty messed up but overpowered strongly by the story, filming strength, acting, and even billy corgan's music.
Rating: Summary: You MUST listen to the Director's comment track Review: This is a thought provoking and generally wonderful film. Yes, there are religious errors that a Catholic can easily spot, but the basic message that Christ should be found inside each individual person, not in buildings, is really valid and important. Anyone who thinks that their religion is to be found only in chruch buildings and not inside themselves really needs to seriously examine their own faith. The biggest fault to be encountered with "Stigmata" is that to really discover many of the subtleties and meanings in the film is that the view MUST listen to the director's comment track. The first or even second time viewing of the film not knowing the director's intent raises questions not easily answered. Example: many of the views of water and water drops and candle flames look like beautiful photography but whose meanings are muddled. The director points out that he was showing that the spirit of the priest who caused the stigmata was traveling through the elements - water, air and fire. The whole idea of the clensing fire at the climax of the film can be lost without hearing it on the director's track. It is also interesting that he explains the meaning of the ending on the theatrical ending of the film, but not on the alternate ending. The film takes on a much deeper meaning when a viewer is familiar with what the director wanted to convey. This is a real fault and the reason I had to give it 4 stars and not 5. After listening to the director's comments, the meaning of the film really becomes clear and the film much more important. Anyone who has only seen the VHS version sould really make a point of viewing and listening to the DVD extras.
Rating: Summary: Split a piece of wood, and I am there... Review: Maybe it's just me, but I loved this movie. I've been a big fan of Patricia Arquette's work for some time now, and actually have 2 copies of this film, on VHS and DVD. I think that the idea that a person could be overtaken by the spirit of a stigmatic priest in order to finish translating the Gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing. Certain aspects of this film touched on my ideas of my own faith, including the quote from the Gospel of St. Thomas. "Split a piece of wood and I am there. Lift a stone, and you will find Me."
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