Luther

This is a great movie that depicts the life and struggles of Martin Luther. It is educational and interesting, keeping your attention. The acting and scenery are very good. I highly recommend for people of any age, any religious persuasion. Luther had a major impact on western civilization as a whole and Christianity in particular. I believe the History Channel rated him 2nd only to Guttenberg as the most influential persons of the last 1000 years.

Two Hours and four minutes to depict twenty-five years; Facts are going to be distorted and timelines are going to be thrown off more then a movie that depicts a day or even one year. By the very scope of the movie snapshots about a man, his career, his cause, and the effect of one man is that can be shown. This movie is a depiction of the Reformation as pushed and formed through the actions of one man. Yes the movie depicts priest and monks as nearly illiterate, but that is not the main focus of the story or even a focal point as the cause of the Reformation. Some reviewers complain it does not depict Luther as Urban and coming from peasant stock. To a point this is true about Luther, but he was by far more educated then 90% of those entering the monastery. He studied the law and was to become a lawyer. This is why he was well positioned to become more educated then the vast majority of monks. This barely touched on. This movie chose to depict Martin Luther's struggle between man's sinfulness, his own guilt before God, the wrath of God, the Catholic Church teaching about Justification, and what he came to believe what the Bible taught. The movie starts with Luther running from lightning striking him, realizing God was chasing him, and promising to devout his life to Christ. Then there is a depiction of him struggling with his sin nature and God's judgment towards himself. With no explanation why Luther went to Rome nor depiction of those who went with him, the movie illustrates Luther trying to follow Catholic rules to diminish time in purgatory. The makers of the movie are clearly try to illustrate experience and dread about what was going on in God's church. Praying towards relics and crawling up hundreds of stairs to please God. Stairs. The evil in selling indulgences and even the concept of indulgences is well depicted. I think the deals well with the German and Roman political situation of the time. Maybe not enough about the selfish reasons why German princes did not want to follow a Roman central church, but again to do would have at least added 15 minutes to the movie or other parts diminish. Yes this movie is sympathetic to Martin Luther and the Reformation. I enjoyed the movie. I would recommend any Christian parent to oblige their teenager to watch this movie as a starting point in knowing Luther. To know God's will not out of councils or teachings of the church if it contradicts God's word

Martin Luther was stuck outdoors in a very severe lightning storm. He makes a pact to God that if he survives, he will dedicate his life to the Lord as a monk. While scrubbing the floors of what looks in what looks to be a terrible assignment, Luther gets the opportunity of a lifetime, to study at a leading European seminary. At this point, he has not even read the New Testament, which was only available in Latin, a language more than 99% of the public could not read.

Luther turns out to be a brilliant student and ends up a Professor of Theology at the college. His chair is paid for by the Roman Catholic Church. After a visit to Rome in the early 1520s, Luther is distraught at the corruption permeating from the city, including the sale of holy relics and indulgences with the promise of fewer years in purgatory. This trip prompts him to post the '95 Theses' a comprehensive list of abuses by officials in the Church. Important to note is that Luther was a devout Catholic, he only wanted to reform the Church--not start a new religion. Of course, one thing led to another and the German theologian finds himself at the seat of the Inquisition, which is known for excommunicating those displeased with the Church, and more than a few summary executions.

Joseph Fiennes does an outstanding job as Martin Luther, but he alone cannot carry the film. The editing is extremely choppy and supporting cast lacking. Dramatic dialogue is not properly frames and key events in history seem to be afterthoughts, often just a quick flash on the screen sans explanation.

I believe Martin Luther is a hero to both Protestant and Catholics, since he inspired that Protestant Reformation as well as the Catholic Counter-Reformation. It is disappointing that this film falls below the standards of more recent biopics Ray (Full Screen Edition) and Walk the Line (Full Screen Edition), which portrayed men who had far less influence on world history than Martin Luther. Watch if you like, but don't expect a film with the sureness Martin Luther displayed in posting his famous Theses.

But, it's a nice fantasy.
I enjoyed this version of the Luther story. Martin Luther was a complex character and I think Joseph Fiennes portrayed him in a way that shed some new light on him. He also may have softened some of the difficult realities about him. I don't believe Martin Luther could have perceived of the division his writings would create or the eventual bloodshed and spiritual battling. Perhaps those in power in Germany exploited the popularity of his writings for their own gain. Hindsight is never 20/20 and our current perspective about what the mindset was and what the influences were during Luther's lifetime are just so much conjecture. He left a mark on history, intentional or not, that caused brother to rise up against brother and we carry on with the divisions incurred in various ways today. I do recommend seeing it if you have an interest in Martin Luther, many of the scenes are beautifully portrayed. And the one with him mounting the steps of the cathedral on his knees has stayed in my mind a long time. I'm sorry that this film was so narrowly distributed.

This film is an entertaining and historically accurate depiction of Martin Luther, one of the major figures in the 1400-1500s. It doesn't answer questions, but presents his story in a compelling manor.

Even if the story were fiction, the film would be entertaining and compelling.