Rating: 
Summary: God meets girl
Review: I loved this movie. Arquette has the perfect face for an actress: expressive and intelligent without being hollywoodean. She uses her face and gaze as a precision knife. Great body too. I suppose I am a fan.The movie is about the mysterious in our life. Stigmata (the wounds of Christ inflicted on very spiritual persons) must be one of the more colorful elements of Christian mythology, and it is fascinating to see them realized within the modern world. Our heroine, Frankie, gets the wounds even though she is unreligious and quite earthly - but she is honest. How does an honest person react to the sacred, to the otherworldly, to a mysterious and overwhelming visit by God? Think of it. It is just a very interesting idea and this movie makes it justice. There are two other themes in the story: a scientist priest who falls out of love with the church and into love with Frankie, and a (quite fictitious) gospel of Christ and the Vatican's efforts to suppress it. There is also a demonic thread in the story which I personally found off-key. All of these themes are joined into a well crafted movie with intelligent use of color, music and Christian symbols aplenty (streams of water, drops of blood, pigeons, fire). I found the movie to be immensely viewable. The DVD includes the director's commentaries, a very worthwhile addition.
Rating: 
Summary: An Average Suspenese-Drama that Tries To Matter!
Review: 'Stigmata' shouldn't be billed as a 'thriller' and much less as a 'horror' film. It is more like a modern melodrama with a heavy dose of religious subject matter, nice performances and some nice editing but unfortunately not much more. The subject matter is sure to stir up some controversy but that could easily be done be reading the basic ideas in a book, a film is made to entertain and deliver something whether it's tears, laughs or scares. While not a very bad film, 'Stigmata' just doesn't score in any cinematic genre, it tries to swing violently between them but never scores. Patricia Arquette, as always, fails to make an impression but gets the job done well enough. Gabriel Byrne gives the best performance in the cast and decided to play it mellow, which is a good thing and we never get weary of his character. The main problem here is that explores subjects it couldn't possibly tackle. Basically, it stirs up some intriguing and controversial ideas but leaves you wanting. And also the filmmakers added some blood and violence near the end so the audience would get their moneys worth but ended up bringing the film down. It also has a heavy dose of 'The Exorcist' on the 'scary scenes'. And also the ending is dull and unsatisfying. It ultimately feels like a half-baked idea made into a movie. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 5!
Rating:
Summary: A new twist on an old story
Review: Playing on a field I tend to dislike, Stigmata created something so intense and honest I just had to love. It grabs your hand and guides you through a labirynth of what is "faith", "passion" and "power", bringing you from fun to amazement, and then to that cold place where you realize that "If it would happen, it could be this way". After that, it goes back through "power", "faith" and "passion". It's just guidance, but you will follow it as it is so natural, in fact you will enjoy the tour even though it will take you to a place where you feel hope is lost. In the end, after having shaken you awake, it will show a positive way out. This film plays at two levels: the first one is the comedy and tragedy of the two main characters, each locked in it's own world, Frankie is agnostic/atheist (it never becomes clear) and totaly resents the intrusion, Father Andrew is just trying to qualify Frankie's "problem" and keeps going against an answer he never expected to find. Underneath, you will find a second level, where it points an extreemely acusing finger at a church that may have become a reason in itself by ignoring some of the basic principles that created it. By far the best movie I've ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Truy Entertaining with a Wonderful Message!
Review: Ok, all I can say is "WOW! " This movie was really something, and yes, I am a Catholic. I heard about the mixed emotions regarding this movie, and I can see why. But getting past that is a truly inspiring and incredibly intelligent movie. Gabriel Byrne gives one of his finest performances as Father Kiernan, a scientist/priest who investigates various "miracles." He has the compassion of a priest and the intensity of a scientist. No other person could have really mastered this role like he did. Patricia Arquette was also fantastic as the scared and atheistic woman inflicted with the stigmata. This movie is filmed differently than anything else I have ever seen. It focuses on every detail, and really enhances the film. The DVD extras are wonderful, especially the video and alternate ending. The message in this movie is so profound for any believer in God, whether you are a fan of this movie or not. "The Kingdom of God is in us. Split a piece of wood and I am there. Lift a stone and you will find me." I recommend this movie to all, for it encompasses great acting, awesome cinematography, and a profound message.
Rating:
Summary: great!strong!we needed it
Review: stigmata is a impressive film that really scares. it's about a demoniac possession... everyone surely remember the exorcist but i would like to say that stigmata is even better! in fact the performance of the actors is perfect but the best part of the movie are the special effects...did u see the moment of the exorcism? good plot,original scenes,strong effects... there are no boring moments and all could be surely true...nothing is fantastic here! i think it is why i was so scared...........
Rating: 
Summary: I need some more coffee
Review: My taste in action movies doesn't go very much beyond the Care Bears, but on this occasion I thought I would go and take a walk on the wild side. Wrong number. I remember actually watching a string some wacky B-grade movies some years ago at Warwick University - some SF festival. Shouts of "focus! were rather frequent (I don't know what was happening up at projection) but in this movie you can imagine what those kids would be shouting now... (not focus) SCRIPT! er... pauses for breath CASTING! And so on. What is in doubt in this movie is a list so long I have other things to do. Like the Theology, which is central, or supposedly central, is far out that you might as well use the Beano as a rough guide as what to expect. The Bible doesn't say zippedee doo da about the wounds of Jesus, except that Jesus did bear them, and died in that way, and if you belive in him you can go to heaven. That's it really, everything else belongs in the fantasy genre. After a bit of this stuff I was honestly almost expecting Al Johnsen to pop up and sing "Mammy", or something equally bizzarre. I suppose this keeps the economy going somewhat... I shouldn't be too harsh... Its is kinda entertaining, of course.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Oh! The real meaning of this movie
Review: You know the routine: Bad cop, Good cop. For over 30 years the movie industry has been stretching the limits to graphically portray evil. Now western viewers are weary of evil and are ready to cheer when good wins, but we have developed a taste for violence and horror, just so long as there's a 'nice' ending, something to cause us to cheer, or to bring a happy tear to our eye. Well, watch out folks, the real trouble is just beginning. It won't be in the form of overt evil; it will now be in the form of heartwarming good. Here's what's up and what role this movie plays in it: The message of this movie has to do with the validity of the word of God and changes that are coming with power. It is a weapon designed to attack Christianity and reintroduce an ancient heresy. But first a note on the stigmatics: Non-Catholics will reject the concept of the stigmata. Jesus took our pain with Him on the cross, why would He inflict such gross mutilations on anyone for spiritual reasons. I'm not an expert on Catholic spirituality, but what I've heard is that stigmatics have hearts consecrated to the Lord and out of their profound communion with Him, they begin to share in the fellowship of His sufferings. That's a real Biblical concept ignored by most modern western Christians who are mostly "blessing-hungry." Whether you accept the stigmatic experience as legitimate or not, the question arises, why do the movie makers want to create a story about it? The answer is actually found in the messages that scroll across the screen at the end of the movie. They mention some ancient documents that were found in the desert in recent years and which the church "suppressed." More on that in a moment. You've read the story line already. It turns out that the girl is speaking and writing in Aramaic, an ancient language spoken by Jesus. In fact, it is the lost Gospel of Thomas. The dead priest was working on the manuscript and now his spirit, in the company of obviously demonic persona, are trying to express themselves through the girl to get the message out One thing I am really pleased about in this movie is that the text of the gospel of Thomas was delivered by a demon. That was one commitment to truth on the part of the movie makers. This movie does not stand in isolation. It is part of an emerging family of "spiritual" movies including "The Green Mile" and especially "The Matrix." <
Rating:
Summary: Just another vatican basher . . .
Review: "Stigmata" is the story of an athiest woman, Frankie (Patricia Arquette), who recieves the mystical stigmata while possessed by a spirit that bears truth of a new and possibly world-changing scripture. As she experiences the pains and agonies of Christ's wounds and sorrows, she is investigated by a scientist/detective/priest (Gabriel Byrne) on behalf of Rome. In an effort to prove the authenticity of Frankie's miracle, the source and truth of its messenger is realized, and that's when all hell breaks loose. Amidst scenes of fire and fury, The Vatican, represented by a powerful and unsavory cardinal (Rupert Wainwright), attempts to burn the truth by sending both Frankie and her priest to early graves. Though the film is for the most part entertaining and even somewhat informative, it is nothing new, nor original. The overall message of the film, that the Vatican is willing to do anything to hide the "truth" and protect it own position of power, is one of the most overdone and, frankly, uninspired themes in American Cinema. As with most such films, the uninformed viewer will be appalled at the gall of the Church's hierarchy, and will direct hate and disgust towards the dealings of Catholicism. To the informed and unbiased viewer, however, the film will stand as simply another statement against organized religion. Either way, the film promotes individual discretion over spiritual communion, which is liberating to some, but misguided and lonely for many many others. The movie is worth seeing if one is hoping to spark a religious debate . . . it could be be good for a class of some sort. If not, then the movie is nothing more than an uninformed, terribly unfair portrayal of Catholicism and the Vatican, as has been done numerous times before. Relationships in the movie are often unrealistic, and actions are portrayed in very incriminating ways. Comparing "Stigmata" to "The Exorcist" is ludicrous, because the former is so negative and the latter so positive. "Stigmata" does copy some scenes of possession, but its message is one of distrust. "The Exorcist" is the opposite, in which spirituality and the Church wins over evil. If one wishes to see the good in Catholicism, "The Exorcist" is the ultimate. Instead of opinion, "The Exorcist" is driven by fact, and therefore a more reliable source for religious convicition. "Stigmata" is entertaining, but far far insuperior to its more realistic and accurate predecessor.
Rating: 
Summary: brilliant concept
Review: Wow. Even for being a non-Christian/Catholic, the premise behind 'Stigmata' is riveting. Take a cornerstone philosophic idea on theism and expand it broad enough to cover almost any religion, and you have the concept portrayed in this movie. A must-see for anyone interested in the multiple paths to God.
Rating:
Summary: STYLISH NOTHINGNESS
Review: This trifle portends to be one of those spiritual razzle-dazzla thrillers on the order of The Exorcist, but fails to deliver the single most important ingredient: an engaging,coherent story. Instead, realizing the vacuum this movie truly is, the filmmakers-turned-stylists layer gauzy MTV-effect on top of effect. The movie exists in some kind of altered state, and is mind-numbing after the first fifteen minutes. Enough with the dripping water, already, and the badly reconstructed demon-personality moments; this movie is a crashing bore; but for the obvious artistic talent of the set designer, who creates a mood, and the pumped-up video-style score, this movie would get no stars from me. Endless, uninvolving and empty of any character development that pulls you in; there are no real scares and the distorted plot provides you with no shocks or enjoyable surprises. One of the worst movies to tackle the subject of spiritual horror/suspense -- buy The Exorcist instead.
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