The Message (30th Anniversary Edition)
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Features
• Color
• NTSC
In Theaters : 1976
DVD Release : 01 November, 2005 |
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The Message (30th Anniversary Edition) description
Producer-director Moustapha Akkad made a true labor of love out of The Message, which seeks nothing less than to tell the story of the origins of Islam. Originally released in the U.S. as Mohammad, Messenger of God, the film has the appeal of most biblical epics: persecuted true believers, a revolutionary prophet scorned by the powers-that-be, and the miraculous triumph of faith. It also has the cheesiness of many biblical epics, with nose-flaring performances and awkward dialogue, but the whole mish-mash is generally entertaining (and informative for those unversed in the "origin stories" of Islam). Akkad had one major hurdle; he couldn't portray the person or voice of Mohammad himself, as such things are traditionally forbidden in Islam. To say the least, this presents an interesting narrative challenge. Akkad tackles it by having characters address the camera-as-Mohammad, or having disciples step out of Mohammad's tent to repeat what the prophet has just said. It's a weird device, but the surprising thing is how often you forget about it. Akkad is aided by some topnotch technicians, including cameraman Jack Hildyard (The Bridge on the River Kwai) and composer Maurice Jarre (whose score was Oscar-nominated); Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, and Michael Ansara lead the cast. Also included in the two-disc set is the Arabic-language version of the film, which was shot at the same time with different actors. (It comes without English subtitles.) It runs about 20 minutes longer than the English version; Akkad explains, in a helpful 44-minute making-of documentary, that Arab styles of storytelling (including pacing) and acting are quite different than in the West. Akkad would also make Lion of the Desert and executive-produce the Halloween pictures. He died in the November 2005 terrorist bombings in Jordan. --Robert Horton |
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The Message (30th Anniversary Edition) Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Brilliant introduction to Islam's message and the life of the Prophet
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I saw this movie when it was first released on Christmas day in the mid-70's. I own a copy of the video and will be buying the DVD before my video disintegrates! I have to disagree with a lot of the negative reviews posted here. Islam does not permit the portrayal of the face of the Prophet (the movie also chooses not to show the faces of Ali and Abu-Bakr, the first Imam/fourth Caliph and the first Caliph, respectively), so the person who compares this film to Harvey is demonstrating a complete lack of understanding about something that is of great importance to Muslims. I wish someone would make a film about Jesus that had the sense of reverence not to try to portray someone sent by God. I think the way this aspect is handled is one of the most intelligent things about the movie. Zaid and Hamzah are frequently viewpoint characters, and the viewer (as an artistic and religious choice) is left to intuit Muhammad's words. It must have been an incredible artistic challenge.
I agree some elements are omitted (eg, the Battle of the Trench). Akkad did not have the amount of time Peter Jackson had to present Lord of the Rings; to do a dramatic presentation in less than three hours, you have to leave something out. I am not a Muslim but object to the suggestions that this is a whitewashed job. Scholars like Martin Lings and Hassan Balyuzi present a picture quite consonant with this one. I love the way you feel the thrill of the early Muslims (who, like Christ's early followers, were drawn from the poor and meek) when someone appears with a freshly dictated surah of the Holy Qur'an, and the sense of tension when they know they must be very circumspect about the fact that they are even meeting. I love the depiction of Bilal chanting the first addhan. I love the emphasis on the message of peace and the brotherhood of man and on the spiritual discipline so central to this revelation. I'm in the USA, and I am appalled that for many of my countrymen, Islam is a religion that tells people to fly planes into public buildings. Islam's central message is not unlike that of Jesus. I agree a little historical reading (say the history section of Pickthall's The Meaning of the Glorious Koran) would not be misplaced, but I think for Westerners, this is an excellent introduction. It also gives some context for study of the Qur'an itself --- a tough read for any raised on the more linear text of a book like the Bible, but the true miracle of the Islamic revelation. |
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The Message (30th Anniversary Edition) dvd movie.