When I was growing up, we don’t have cable television. So everytime Good Friday pops around, either we get static or Bible-themed movies on TV. Now that we have cable it’s a different viewing all together. Although I am counting my lucky stars for Project Runway, I kind of miss the movies of old during this season. I am going to list the movies that I would love to marathon this Good Friday. If you got anything to add, feel free to post them in the comments section.
1. Ten Commandments (1956)
Who did not grew up to this Cecil B. De Mille classic? This is one of the coolest scenes in that particular movie. I never grew tired watching Charleston Heston as Moses part the Red Sea.
2. Passion of the Christ (2004)
Sure this is the season where this part of Jesus’ life is shown nonstop but this is the most controversial version. I think this is one of the most violent depictions of the scourging and the crucifixion. Hmm, Mel Gibson sure loves his violence in his movies. Nevertheless, Jim Caviezel as JC sure got a lot of pain from it.
3. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Yes, this got to be in this list although it is rarely shown on network television. I got to JC Superstar late, around college, but I never turned my back from it since. What is good about this version is that it can still be watched even outside the Holy Week. This movie is so hot I am going to post two clips:
This is the song that I’ve been humming all morning so I got to post this. I love the subersive undertones in the exchange between Judas Iscariot and JC himself. For the first time, there is context for JI’s betrayal. And JC’s falsetto is pure hotness.
What I love about this song is that it shows Judas Iscariot’s displeasure about JC’s superstar status going in the way of their plans to liberate the people, i.e., Jews from the Romans. Something the Bible stories failed to mention. Notice the landscape in this scene. Fantastic.
4. Himala (1982)
The first Pinoy film in this list. Sure JC is not fron and center here but religion is. Isn’t that the whole point of Holy Week? Many Ate Guy fans know this scene by heart:
5. Tanging Yaman (2000)
Truth be told, when this movie came out I am sure churches from here to the end of the archipelago had this song in their repertoire. The movie also became a staple during Lent as it is an overall postive movie. Although I could not help but let out a snort to the deux ex machina ending to tie the loose ends of what could have been a decent movie. I still laugh when I see that ending.
I cannot find the scene though so let us compensate with the videoke version of the title song:
