Brother Cadfael series

[kenofken]

I’m not a “serious Catholic” unless “serious apostate” fits on that spectrum, but I count Cadfael as one of the best series of all time and one that portrays the Church in a pretty positive light, at least at the ground level of the main characters. Derek Jacobi is a first rate actor and brings a depth of character to every work he’s ever done. It seems like a reasonably accurate portrayal of the times, and a lot of those times were not pretty, inside and out of the Church. Was Cadfael himself typical of the times? Probably not. He verges on Renaissance or even Enlightenment era sympathies and rationalism, but that’s the whole point of the story.

 

[John_Grudzien]

Loved the series on PBS so much my wife and I bought the dvd set and watch it at least once a year, an episode a day at dinner time, til we’ve gone through them all…Derek Jacobi is one marvelous actor and have enjoyed him for many years in many roles…remember “I Claudius”?

 

[surfinpure]

I read at least half a dozen of the books, some of which I enjoyed quite a bit, while others seemed unoriginal and quickly lost my interest. They are clean reading and fairly innocuous, although Cadfael does have a mild rebellious streak and on occasion they will appear to question Church teaching or undermine Church authority. For that reason alone I’m not sure I’d give them to my kids.

 

[KevinAK]

Didn’t that movie make the Church look pretty…what’s the word…well, not good, to say the least? I hadn’t seen it, but heard negative reviews on (but I did want to see it, love Sean Connery!)

Haven’t seen the movie, but I don’t recall anything negative in the novel. It is very hard to read though since several lengthy sections are in latin w/no translation.

 

[surfinpure]

Didn’t that movie make the Church look pretty…what’s the word…well, not good, to say the least? I hadn’t seen it, but heard negative reviews on (but I did want to see it, love Sean Connery!)

I would avoid the movie The Name of the Rose at all costs; it contains a very pornographic scene.

 

[MrsNoahMoerbeek]

I would avoid the movie The Name of the Rose at all costs; it contains a very pornographic scene.

Thanks for the warning, will do!

 

[Victorious]

I liked Brother Cadfael. Although there were some evil churchmen in the stories here and there, as a whole they portrayed a monk as a sympathetic character, and especially as a man, not only of faith, but also of learning and science.

 

[blackrobe]

Read them all, saw the films, enjoyed them very much. I believe one’s appreciation of them is enhanced by a little knowledge of the historical events referenced. There’s also a book called The Cadfael Companion which has a lot of background on the herbal lore and such.

AMDG
jsa

 

[bkovacs]

I would avoid the movie The Name of the Rose at all costs; it contains a very pornographic scene.

Well I could also say to avoid the Brother Cadfael video series as well. Derek Jacobi, who plays Br. Cadfael, is a professed homosexual and is not Catholic, or a Christian at all for that matter in real life. Get the books if you want.

 

[surfinpure]

Well I could also say to avoid the Brother Cadfael video series as well. Derek Jacobi, who plays Br. Cadfael, is a professed homosexual and is not Catholic, or a Christian at all for that matter in real life. Get the books if you want.

Well, so is Ian McKellan, who plays Gandalf, but I love the LOTR. Same goes for Stephen Fry, but I love Jeeves and Wooster!

Watching an actor who’s homosexual play a holy character is quite different from watching porn, don’t you think? I hardly see how Jacobi’s private life could be a temptation on screen.

 

[Victorious]

Well I could also say to avoid the Brother Cadfael video series as well. Derek Jacobi, who plays Br. Cadfael, is a professed homosexual and is not Catholic, or a Christian at all for that matter in real life.

How would I know that from watching Br. Cadfael? Or I, Claudius? Or anything else Derek Jacobi has done?

Derek Jacobi is one of my favorite actors, and I pray for his conversion.

 

[Timothysis]

Watching an actor who’s homosexual play a holy character is quite different from watching porn, don’t you think? I hardly see how Jacobi’s private life could be a temptation on screen.

The scene in The Name of the Rose is not porn, per se, though it is a bit heavy for those whose taste run toward the conservative. You must keep in mind that the Name of the Rose was directed by a Frenchman and European tastes are more free (gads, I hate to use the word liberal, though it does fit in this sense) with depictions of nudity and sex.

I would say that it is definitely not a scene that children need see. Actually, the movie is not meant for children, either. Other than that, though, it is an excellent movie and an even better book. Try the book; I’m sure you’ll like it.

 

[surfinpure]

The scene in The Name of the Rose is not porn, per se, though it is a bit heavy for those whose taste run toward the conservative. You must keep in mind that the Name of the Rose was directed by a Frenchman and European tastes are more free (gads, I hate to use the word liberal, though it does fit in this sense) with depictions of nudity and sex.

I would say that it is definitely not a scene that children need see. Actually, the movie is not meant for children, either. Other than that, though, it is an excellent movie and an even better book. Try the book; I’m sure you’ll like it.

I have read the book and did enjoy it, and the emphasis was much less on the illicit romance and more on the mystery. Umberto Eco is clearly a very gifted author.

Still have to disagree about the sex scene, though. When it comes down to nude sex, whether or not it’s “real porn” is splitting hairs, IMHO. Call it being “conservative,” but I submit that no man who’s trying to remain chaste - American, European, Chinese, Tanzanian, *whatever *- needs to see this. I personally wouldn’t even have it under my roof.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Oh wow. Didn’t expect that sort of answer. Are the books really that dull?

I enjoyed the Brother Cadfael books and the PBS series. I have read better than half of them. The author did excellent research and historically both in terms of politics and abbey life they are pretty much on target. Reading them led me to look into the Benedictine Oblate program for lay people.