The Attack of the Creeping Immorality

[edwest2]

I recently watched some favorite 1950s and early 1960s science fiction movies. And something I want to point out to my brothers and sisters in Christ is their references to God.

In The Day the Earth Stood Still, the entirely human appearing alien is killed. He is then brought back to life in a device designed for that purpose in his spaceship. A woman who helped him asks if his robot servant has the power over life and death. He replies that that power is reserved for the Almighty.

In Forbidden Planet, the captain of the earth ship remarks about a beautiful alien world, “The Lord sure makes beautiful planets.”

In Robinson Crusoe on Mars, a lonely stranded astronaut meets a completely human alien slave. He tries talking to him but receives no reply. He tells him he prayed for a companion. Later, this alien man does speak and does know about God. In a moment of despair, he tells the earth man, “God not forget.”

In 1934, the Catholic Legion of Decency began to combat immorality in movies. This letter explains the motivation:

ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P12MIRAN.HTM

The Legion was more strict than the current Bishops’ council but when it closed its doors in 1973, that’s when things slowly began to go downhill, first in movies, then television and finally, in the 1990s, radio.

For those who wonder, why are things the way they are in media today? This is the biggest reason. The guest you once welcomed into your home has mutated into a pimp and prostitute with foul mouths and anti-God commentary.

In 1986, musician Frank Zappa appeared on the TV program Crossfire. He was well dressed in a suit and tie but he was very concerned about censorship in music. He stated there was nothing pornographic in music. “They’re just words.” Obviously, the words Mr. Zappa was using to explain himself didn’t have any meaning either, but he didn’t act that way. He was very firm. “They’re just words!”

Recently, so-called comedian Lewis Black said “there is no such thing as bad language.” Apparently, all those words your mother and father told you were bad are now - poof - magically not bad.

Persevere in the truth, my brothers and sisters. Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour.

The devil has devoured too many who are now slaves to sin. Repent and turn away.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Highwayhound]

Good points Ed.

I will have to take a look at the link when I have more time.

 

[Mimi]

2 Timothy 4:3-5
For the time will come when they will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ear they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings and will turn away from the truth and wander into myths.

> "They're just words." Obviously, the words Mr. Zappa was using to explain himself didn't have any meaning either, but he didn't act that way. He was very firm. "They're just words!"

> Recently, so-called comedian Lewis Black said "there is no such thing as bad language." Apparently, all those words your mother and father told you were bad are now - poof - magically not bad.






A friend of one of my adult sons brought a movie that she thought would be fun for us to watch together, Baby Mama. Let me explain that she's not Catholic yet, but wants to be.
I write this to illustrate just how far the culture has sunk into dehumanizing sexuality and how accepting people are about just about anything.

The acting was good, the story moved along at a good pace and was even humorous at times, but the plot line involved just about every deadly sin in the Good Book. Lust & baby envy-- (main character, a single career woman desires to have a child, but isn't "good" with men, or no men she knows are suitable.; she's told her uterus is the wrong shape so she cannot conceive). She hires a woman to be a surrogate, but this woman is only in it for the money as she's married to a guy who can't hold a job (greed, envy). The whole insemination scene from my point of view as a serious Catholic is just so -- eeew! Babies are a thing to have as a status symbol and object of desire.

But some good did come out of it. The friend who brought in the movie learned about "selective reduction" as the abortions are called when multiple embryos implant, and the couple decide they don't want that many. Also, that many embryos are frozen and also discarded/killed for varying reasons. When you really think about it, there is a lot of sin involved in IVF and AI.

I talked with a priest briefly after a mtg recently (not my pastor) and he told me of a family in his parish who had done IVF -- I wondered why they didn't know it was wrong. Probably he'd never mentioned it in a homily. Too many folks in the pews just do not take the time to know their faith. It's sad.

I would recommend you watch Baby Mama for yourself just to get a dose of popular culture, but keep the kiddies away.

God bless,
Mimi

 

[colliric]

I think the best film of that particular Genre was the 50s “War Of The Worlds”. It was scripted and produced by Cecil B. Demille, who intended to direct it, but sadly passed away. It bears his touches anyhow and discarded some of the negative elements of Welles’ novel in favor of Demilles pro-life(is how it would be described if it were made today) “reimagination”. The film ends with the characters huddling inside a Catholic Church in the final act, as the aliens attack and then die from the bacteria. The last shot is of the tollling of the church’s bells(and as per his “Religious film” style, a choral “Alleluia”) as the last line of the novel is narrated(with emphasis on the line “God’s green earth”).

The Priest character of the story is now A Catholic Priest(and not protestant as per the original story) and in Demille’s vision, the priest(who still dies) goes out in the proverbial “Blaze of Glory” as he pleads with the Aliens for peace.

Compair this reimagined version of the original story with the modernised remake. They are leagues apart in their presentation of the story. Don’t get me wrong, Spielberg is also a great filmmaker, but his vision on War of the Worlds was somewhat Cold and isolated. It was his vision of the story, But I think Demille’s was more filmically inspiring.

 

[colliric]

I think the best film of that particular Genre was the 50s “War Of The Worlds”. It was scripted and produced by Cecil B. Demille, who intended to direct it, but sadly passed away. It bears his touches anyhow and discarded some of the negative elements of Welles’ novel in favor of Demilles pro-life(is how it would be described if it were made today) “reimagination”. The film ends with the characters huddling inside a Catholic Church in the final act, as the aliens attack and then die from the bacteria. The last shot is of the tollling of the church’s bells(and as per his “Religious film” style, a choral “Alleluia”) as the last line of the novel is narrated(with emphasis on the line “God’s green earth”).

The Priest character of the story is now A Catholic Priest(and not protestant as per the original story) and in Demille’s vision, the priest(who still dies) goes out in the proverbial “Blaze of Glory” as he pleads with the Aliens for peace.

Compair this reimagined version of the original story with the modernised remake. They are leagues apart in their presentation of the story. Don’t get me wrong, Spielberg is also a great filmmaker, but his vision on War of the Worlds was somewhat Cold and isolated. It was his vision of the story, But I think Demille’s was more filmically inspiring.

Sorry I made a mistake in this post, Demille did not produce the film, but he did have a say over how it was written, and pushed the project through at Paramount.

libertyfilmfestival.com/libertas/?p=1143

Also it’s on the “making of” special on the DVD.