In answer to your question, I would say yes, especially (and perhaps for myself, only) if the adaptations are honest to the Scripture by the way of themes and perspective. I don't mind if there's a little bit of artistic license to make the story more suitable for film, but, what I do mind is if they don't handle the themes and the lessons from the story rightly and correctly. I think it's key, especially in stories that have potential to be over PG in material. It's a bit hard to explain, but my biggest concern I suppose is that the filmmakers will see content such as in stories of David and Bathsheba and what happened between them when they first met, and include it in the story but not show that what they did was wrong, that the Bible showed it was wrong, and that God thought it was wrong. Does that make any sense? I think it's really important that the film makers get it right in that sense. Whether they do or not I can't say, I haven't seen many films based on Bible stories of that sort.

I don't really have a problem with Bible stories adapted into film (it can be a powerful way of showing others some of the stories in the Bible and perhaps get them interested in the actual Bible), although I think I can imagine why some people might be hesitant about it.

While I have seen a few movies on the life of Jesus, none of them really stick out in my mind as especially well done or amazing. If another movie was made though, I have to say Viggo Mortensen would be my top choice to play Jesus. He pretty much is exactly how I picture Jesus while reading the Bible. Something about his face, eyes, just looks...king-like, without having to have all the splendor, and sort of kind but firm.

Oh, interesting thread.

I don't have any problem with people making films of the Bible as long as they're faithful to the source material. It's annoying when they can't do the story justice because of budget and whatnot, though.

We have a ton of Jesus movies (in various languages ) around the house and I can never keep them straight, but some were pretty good. The Nest animated videos aren't bad either. My favourite adaptation is The Passion...I didn't enjoy it exactly, but it hit me hard, and it has some really beautiful pieces too. There's just enough flashbacks and asides to keep the gore from becoming unbearable. Second is The Prince of Egypt, except for how it downplays God's role in it and makes it all When You Believe In Yourself, Anything Is Possible

The Ten Commandments was the first film I ever watched! I remember being five and AMAZED by the parting of the Red Sea

Alyosha: The Nest animation ones are simply fantastic! Okay, I grew up on those ones too. My favourite is The Miracle of Love one, it really really touches me every time I see it. And the title song for it is beautiful too.

I grew up watching the Nest videos, Veggietales, and Beginner's Bible. I see nothing wrong with making BIble stories into movies my problem is when they Hollywood-ize them. That's been done too many times.

The first Bible story I've seen on film was an animated episode of Kingdom Chumms. They did an encouter of David and Goliath. We actually still have it recorded on VHS, along with a Mary Martin stage play of Peter Pan. That was a long time ago. The next one I recall was 10 Commandments. One interesting thing that people always tend to forget about Moses was that he stuttered. Charlton Heston did a great job, but there were quite a few things about his character that were off. Moses was an angry person, not just when he killed the Egyptian, and he was quite stubborn as well. He made five excuses at the Burning Bush not to go. He only went when he ran out.

We talked about this in the video game thread, but the problem with the Bible and media adaptation is that the Bible usually doesn't give enough details to really warrant full plot lines. To focus on one story required embellishment. To combine several together often costs a common theme. To combine a bunch (like the story of David) has so much, a lot has to be cut out. It can be done, but it needs to be done right, with a solid Christian writer, the funds to do it properly, and a cast/crew that has the heart to make it work.

I've seen a quite few of these; the ones that stick out the most to me as being the best are Prince of Egypt, The Passion of the Christ, the Jesus Movie that Liberty Hoffman mentioned, and The Last Temptation of Christ. All 3 of the films about Jesus' life take very different approaches and all succeed in my opinion.

I personally don't have a problem with Bible stories being translated to film. I feel like in many cases they aren't necessarily the best of movies, which is unfortunate. One Night with the King and Joseph: King of Dreams are two that I recall thinking really fell flat.

I haven't seen most of the films on the list. Actually, I've seen the Prince of Egypt and that is it. I've seen bits and pieces of some of the Veggie Tales and all of the one about Moses. We have a Hannah Barabara (sp?) Easter video but I haven't watched it in years. I don't have a problem with adapting the Bible to film as long as it is done accurately. I tend to be a purist for books being made into movies, but I go into overdrive on Biblical stories. I might be getting a bit of topic but I want to know what other people think and all of my attempts in the Christianity thread have been ignored. It does relate to movies.
I was subbing in a four year old preschool room and the children were learning about Moses. The teacher told them that the pharaoh didn’t like little boys and wished they would go away. Then she proceeded to show them the beginning of the Prince of Egypt. It is rated PG and rather violent at times. I sat there fuming because I felt it was inappropriate to show little kids. I know if I had watched it at that age I would have been scared and perhaps crying. On the other hand, I was also mad that she didn’t tell them that pharaoh killed little boys. I don’t believe in sugar coating the Bible either. Then one Sunday, we watched the Veggie Tales version of Moses at Sunday school (3yr olds – 2nd graders). While it was more appropriate for that age group, I had problems with it too. It soften the story by just having the babies float away on the river, not to mentioned set the story in the old west. I have problems with both of those videos because they stray from the Bible Stories. To try to keep this thread mostly on subject, should Bible movies for children be sugar coated or soften (i.e. babies floating away instead of being killed)? On the other hand, is it right to show the violence to little children (like in my example with the Prince of Egypt)? Personally, I think it is wrong to soften the story and to expose the children to violence. I think it would be better to say that the boys were killed but not actually show it. Thoughts?

If another movie was made though, I have to say Viggo Mortensen would be my top choice to play Jesus. He pretty much is exactly how I picture Jesus while reading the Bible. Something about his face, eyes, just looks...king-like, without having to have all the splendor, and sort of kind but firm.

I think he would do a good job too. He did a good job with Aragorn and that is a similar type role.

Patterwig's Pal, your questions are good ones! I like Veggie tales personally, but my friend had a good point when she said that she was concerned that sometimes their versions are the only versions of the Bible stories some children see or with which they come in contact. That certainly is a valid concern, I believe.

In answer to your second question though, I think one of the best places to start with content such as that is to have it come directly from the Bible and not from anybody's (even if it's a "made for kids" feature) interpretation of it by way of videos or films until the children are mature enough to understand what's happening, and more me, preferably after they know the story well. Read them the story, don't gloss over it but don't go into extra details on those certain areas. Just read it to them straight like it says in the Bible. My Mom has been doing Bible lessons with my siblings and I since we were pre-kindergarten age, so we've "known" about Moses and the incident with Pharaoh and etc since we were very young, but it was as we grew older (when I say older, I mean at the ages of 7/8/9 etc) that we began to have some of the details filled in. That is much the same with many of the other stories in the Bible where the content may not be the best for younger children- we read the story originally, but it was only as we grew more mature and were at the right age to actually understand not just "it", but why "it" was wrong, that my parents began telling us more. (I hope that helps, I realize after typing it that it wasn't a direct reply to your questions. ) I guess, in a more direct reply to your answer, I think it's not good to show younger children violence, even if it is from part of a Bible story. Thankfully, though, we do still have the Bible from which to teach young children the stories, and I think it's key to start there, above all.

Anyway. I hope that helps...

I have seen most of the Veggie Tales videos, Ten Commandments, (the first one), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus (1979), and I grew up watching Superbook on Saturday mornings.

Do you think the Bible should be adapted for the screen?

Depends on how it is done. I think parts of the Bible could be done wonderfully on the screen, especially the stories of Joseph, David, and Ruth. But only if it is true to the source material. I know some things would need a bit of fleshing out to make sense on the screen, but I think it can be done without changing what is in the Bible. The Ten Commandments is an awesome film, but Cecil B. DeMille did take a few liberties with the story. I don't know if the Bible should or should not, but if the film is made right, I think it could be a great way to introduce people to the Bible. In this day and age, staring at a screen comes more easily than staring at a page (unfortunately).

should Bible movies for children be sugar coated or soften (i.e. babies floating away instead of being killed)? On the other hand, is it right to show the violence to little children (like in my example with the Prince of Egypt)?

Good question! I think babies floating away instead of being killed is taking it a bit too far. There are ways to show that sort of thing without actually showing it. I do not think the stories should be sugar coated for kids, but they can be softened a bit. I think in the case of Moses, mentioning that babies were being killed would be enough, just don't actually show babies being killed (I sound really morbid). I knew there was violence in the Bible when I was four, but I didn't grasp all of it. Much like how several little things escaped my notice in Peter Pan when I was seven, but I noticed them when I was fourteen. I guess my conclusion is violence can be in a kid movie, but it doesn't have to be shown. It actually happened, and that's important to know, but it doesn't have to be dwelt on.

I also watched Dreamworks' Prince of Egypt and Joseph King of Dreams. Even though there was some artistic license I did enjoy them- I even cry sometimes .

^^ I used to watch those all the time when I was little. they are well done, but I have 'grown out' of them now that I'm older.