Author Topic: The movie called The Conflict (Read 1236 times)

Dawn · « **on:** January 01, 2007, 11:37:44 AM »

Have any of you seen this movie staring Martin Sheen, as what else, but a young handsome modernistic priest with good hair. He is sent by the Vatican to stop some monks on a remote island from saying the true Mass. I know that it was originally meant to sway people in the early 70's to be hop and hop on the "rainbow happy church" bus but to me the movie does just the opposite. It has some really good lines delivered by the "old-fogey" monks who resist the NewChurch and its demonic changes.

clare · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2007, 02:25:22 PM »

Dawn's description of the plot rang a bell.

I haven't seen the film, but I am aware of a book (which I haven't read either!) called "Catholics" by Brian Moore.

The film is based on that.

Clare.

Dawn · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2007, 03:16:45 PM »

Clare is correct. I heard that it came on t.v. in the 70's. Someone on FE said that if there is a dollar store nearby they are currently selling copies for 50 Cents. I ordered mine from Amazon for only $6.00 about three years ago.
Trinity, you would have to see this movie. My conclusion is that the young modern priest does not leave the island without having a little wake-up call. He rips up the official docuмents from the Vatican, throughs them to the wind and climbs in his helicopter to leave visibly shaken and touched by these monks. The abbott of the monks really gives Martin the business, however we learn that he has doubts about his faith and is unable to even pray. At the last seen he is with the other monks in the chapel praying the Our Father and crying. Seems that thinking about what the Mass means and what they newvatican is changing it to woke him up. The other monks young and old are a real bunch like we need now. They are manly men who believe and will fight if needed to defend the Church from these maruaders. They mademe think of how it must have been for Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the bishops he consecrated. Standing in defiance backed by the truth looking like saints of old next to these cardboard priests with their moussed hairdo.

CampeadorShin · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2007, 06:20:58 PM »

I think it was intended as a joke trin.

Dawn · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2007, 07:56:20 PM »

Good Grief no. I was not joking, Someone posted it on AngelQueen to let us all know. That is where that person found them and bought some for gifts.
I got mine on Amazon for only $4.00
Yup, still there anyhow
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-0263253-3608945?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=The+Conflict&Go.x=15&Go.y=13&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

Sorry about the dollar store being sold out. Check it out on Amazon though.

gilbertgea · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2007, 10:13:42 PM »

I own a copy of 'Conflict'. It was very good all the way until the end, when the chief defender of the traditional Catholic Mass revealed his motives to have been questionable. I cannot remember his exact motives (I think he said he somehow lost the Faith, etc.), but I remember being left with the impression that it really undermined the whole message of the movie (probably intentionally) by making the traditional Catholic leader appear insincere or dishonest.

Now, if you want a movie with a strong traditional Catholic message that will knock your socks off, get yourself a copy of 'A Man For All Seasons.' It's about St. Thomas More. At the end of the movie, after his trial, he gives a speech that I found to be, frankly, amazing.

Matthew · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2007, 11:26:52 PM »

Yes, exactly. The ending is where the catch is.

It doesn't matter how many "good lines" they throw in for this or that character -- if the real "good guys" are portrayed as bad in the end, it vitiates everything they did during the whole movie.

It's all about how characters are portrayed. I wouldn't mind a character like Jodie Foster in "Contact" in a movie -- as long as she were portrayed as a pathetic atheist, unhappy, in need of conversion, etc. -- but the movie Contact portrays her (career woman, promiscuous, atheist) as a role model.

You can portray a thief all you want -- as a bad guy. NOT as the protagonist of a movie, or at least not in a favorable light!

Oh, and by the way, welcome, Gilbert!

Matthew

gilbertgea · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2007, 10:50:35 AM »

'Oh, and by the way, welcome, Gilbert!'

Thanks, Matthew! And thank you for the kind invitation!

Dawn · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2007, 11:12:27 AM »

The Abbott was not the chief defender. The other brother monks were. The abbott was being severly tested and in the end, due to the reaction of his monks saying they would die to defend the True Faith, he was questioning himself. He never prayed and was standing in front of the crucifix crying and pleading. Martin Sheens character doubts himself, throws away the papers that the Vatican had given him and you can see the respect that he has for these men. The only persons who come of never wavering are the monks who stood strong and fought this Vatican representative. They said they would not give up the True Faith and the True Mass without a fight.
I know that Hollyweird wanted it to come off the other way but it does not. The two against the Faith are the two that are unsure of their doubt. Those firmly rooted in the Faith never even blink.

gilbertgea · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2007, 11:40:24 AM »

'The Abbott was not the chief defender. The other brother monks were.'

I dont remember everything exactly, but if the Abbot was *not* the chief defender, then he *should have been*.

'The abbott was being severly tested and in the end, due to the reaction of his monks saying they would die to defend the True Faith, he was questioning himself.'

Which undermined the whole fact of his resistance to the Vatican representative (Martin Sheen's character). Why did he stand up for a Faith in which he was questioning himself? Why, for that matter, was he an Abbot?

'He never prayed and was standing in front of the crucifix crying and pleading.'

Not very inspiring leadership, as I recall.

'Martin Sheens character doubts himself, throws away the papers that the Vatican had given him and you can see the respect that he has for these men.'

Again, I cant remember everything exactly. I dont recall him throwing away the papers. Maybe I'll watch it again.

'The only persons who come of never wavering are the monks who stood strong and fought this Vatican representative. They said they would not give up the True Faith and the True Mass without a fight.'

Yes, they did. But, I was left with the impression that the Abbot had ordered them to obey (the order to stop saying the Traditional Mass) and, in the end, they did.

'I know that Hollyweird wanted it to come off the other way but it does not. The two against the Faith are the two that are unsure of their doubt. Those firmly rooted in the Faith never even blink.'

Again, until the end when it appears that they capitulate. As I said, I might watch it again and see if I can see what you appear to have seen.

Dawn · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2007, 02:49:41 PM »

True, the Abbott says they will obey, they say never, then end up in the Church praying. The Abbott questioned his faith, and said he never prayed. In the end in front of the Cross he prays and then cries. They could be tears of repentance, or tears that He is asking God to help his lack of faith.
Go ahead and watch it again.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2007, 08:37:59 PM »

Quote from: gilbertgea

Now, if you want a movie with a strong traditional Catholic message that will knock your socks off, get yourself a copy of 'A Man For All Seasons.' It's about St. Thomas More. At the end of the movie, after his trial, he gives a speech that I found to be, frankly, amazing.

Great movie! Thanks for the recommendation! We watched this a few nights ago and enjoyed it very much.

clare · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2007, 11:01:31 AM »

Anyone seen Satan Never Sleeps?

It's set in China, and it's about the Communists, and a couple of priests who resist them.

It stars William Holden.

I think that's the film where there's a nice moment near midnight when the two priests want a whiskey.

They each look at their watches to see what the time is. One is closer to midnight than the other. So they go with the other, and have a whiskey!

Clare.