Saturday, January 19, 2013

Recent articles on Unam Sanctam!

It's been awhile since I have posted some articles from the new site; Christmas and New Year were very busy for me. But I have been able to put together a few things; the article on the anti-Catholicism in the Salem Witch Trials I find to be particularly interesting.

What is Faith?
Anti-Catholicism in the Salem Witch Trials
Viators Seeking Perfection
Collusion of Big Government and Big Business
Basic Structure of Liturgical Music
John Paul II Admits 1984 Consecration Invalid
Eskil of Stranagas (obscure saint)
Fursey of Lagny (obscure saint)

Movie Reviews:
Three Reviews of the Hobbit
Les Miserables
This is 40
Life of Pi
Red Dawn
A Walk to Remember

By the way, since the launch of the new site in Fall of 2012, my collection of free, downloadable RCIA lessons has been downloaded over 1,400 times. Thank you! Please help support this site in support of Tradition by posting links to articles on your own sites and spreading the word anyway you can.

Blessings and grace!

5 comments:

Giganigga5000: Destroyer of Worlds said...

I disliked some of your latest reviews.

As for Life of Pi, all of its talk about God equals syncretism, and in the end they say outright that God is nothing but a pretty story to believe in to cope. The most Catholic person in that film is the father, with his speech about reason.

The second is the Owls film. Three tiaras, really? Are we only judging "Catholicism" in the film? If that is the case, I am not interested in arguing. But if we're talking about the film generally, it's just a rehash of old themes we've seen before. It's insanely cliché and boring. C'mon.

Don't become like the conservative Catholics who are like dogs, gratefully licking and kissing the boots of film makers for the sake of the tiniest crumbs (that is, what they call "Catholic theme" or "spirit", or just "goodness). Gross.

This is the kinda stuff that makes people look down on us.

Boniface said...

I believe the Life of Pi review did state what you are saying - that the most Catholic character in the film was ironically the Father who states that one can't believe in everything.

The films are not reviewed simply on "Catholic" criteria; they are judged by cinematography, acting, plot, etc. Please see the article on how they are rated.Just because a film rehashes an old plot doesn't make it boring; it depends on how it is rehashed. Many people say there are only really twenty-some plot lines in theater/literature and every story is a variation. What makes a film good is when it takes a traditional plot line/problem and brings it out in a way that strikes home.

Also, in case you did not know, there are four different people writing the reviews; each one varies obviously.

If you don't like the reviews, please write some on your own an submit them. As long as they are written according to the guidelines, I will publish them.

Boniface said...

The Life of Pi review says:

"The variability makes Life of Pi even more thought provoking, but one must be wary of the belief that all religions lead to the same God, and that "faith" will saturate our lives with meaning regardless of the faith's validity or the object towards which it is directed. Pi certainly embraces Catholicism, but not the Catholicism of the saints and apostles, as he never apparently lets go of his syncretist attachment to other religions. This concept permeates the film. Catholicism, however, dismisses these ideas altogether, proclaiming that there is no way to the Father but through the Son, and that without the resurrection of Christ, we are pitiable more than any."

The syncretist problems in the film were most certainly addressed.

Giganigga5000 etc said...

My problem was mostly with the final rating.

Quote: "it depends on how it is rehashed."
That's why I said cliché right after.

No one would read my reviews. I'm far too puritan and bitter. I think it's because I am a Northern European convert from atheism.

And thank you for still taking the time to reply (twice) and find a quote from the review.

Boniface said...

No problem! Ratings, of course, are the subjective decision of a review. but keep in mind that our reviews are in increments of .5, so a 2/3 is really only a 66% rating. Here is what the site says constitutes a 2/3:

"Two Tiaras: The film is better than most others, perhaps worthy of belonging to a personal collection, but suffers from several deficiencies that are more than just incidental. Worldview is ambiguous or somewhat relativist. Choice of actors alright but nothing special. Cinematography is normal. Plot is standard Hollywood and most likely predictable. Main characters may be fleshed out, but probably most of the supporting cast is one dimensional. May be one or two seriously objectionable scenes (ex: extramarital sex put forward as a positive). Overall, the film is still entertaining despite its deficiencies, but is not really a great example of a morally uplifting or solidly Catholic film (Examples: Back to the Future, Gladiator).