Martin Luther

Rating:
Summary: Early film on Luther
Review: Simple and low-budget by today's standards, this black and white film still has its charms and a great deal of nostalgia for anyone who saw it in sunday school in the last few decades. Thomas Tappert (translator of the Book of Concord for Fortress Press) was a consultant for the film. Niall MacGinnis has some facial resemblance to Luther and plays him sounding a bit like Anthony Hopkins. I was surprised to hear his British accent at first but MacGinnis ends up being convincing. Much of the film follows a historical/chronological progression pattern ("a" happened, then "b," then "c," etc.) and is sometimes too intent on being a pious history lesson rather than a fascinating drama. It could have spent more time on the more human aspects of Luther - his love of music and family, his personal spiritual struggle which led to his insights, etc. You can almost see the producers making sure that the script ensured years of rentals from churches and sunday schools. I'm not complaining too much, though. I am Lutheran and love having a filmed life of one of my heroes on dvd. I have a feeling that this may make the rounds of sunday schools again now that it is on dvd. And that is just fine with me.

Rating:
Summary: A Lutheran-Produced View of Luther, Not Quite Luther
Review: The movie itself is entertaining, in that black-and-white, scratched-and-uneven, documentary film sense. A Christian nee Bergonian would be pleased, but then shouldn't such a one have put away movies altogether? However, reading Luther's writings makes any fiction about his life seem a simplification (and fiction this is, despite attempts to validate it with declarations of historical accuracy).

It's what you might imagine from the Lutherans, Luther being the runner-up to Christ in their estimation, if not higher. If you watch it too many times you might form a false impression of Luther. READ HIS BOOKS INSTEAD!

Words are for believers; images for heretics.



Rating:
Summary: The Classic
Review: This is the classic black and white movie on Luther's life, shown in nearly every Lutheran church basement! It takes the viewer from Luther's entry into the monastery to around 1530, when the Augsburg Confession was presented to the Emperor. For many years, this was the best film on Luther. Unlike Luther (1973, with Stacy Keach) which showed only Luther's struggles, this movie shows his triumphs and successes, and the support he had from others.
This DVD has several good features. Several languages are supported, Spanish, German, Korean, and a few others. Unfortunately, the film was not digitally remastered-- but the picture quality is still not that bad. An interesting documentary is included on how the movie was made and the reaction when it was shown. It also includes a slideshow of Luther sites.
This movie can't compare with the new movie (Luther, 2003 with Joseph Fiennes) as far as presentation is concerned. Yet it is still inspiring, and a faithful presentation of Luther's life.