Movie Pagans *sigh*

[Vinga]

I was having a conversation with my husband today about wicca and paganism. He is neither, but moderately interested because of me. I said something (can't even remember what I said), and he replied (jokingly) something about wiccans and pagans performing human and animal sacrifices. I told him that although I knew he was joking I still didn't find it funny because that is such a real and common misconception. And he said 'you know why people think that? It's because of that movie with Chevy Chase and (can't remember who...Billy Crystal?)...where they infiltrate some pagan ritual where they all wear big goatskin leggings and are about to sacrifice a woman into some big pool with a giant snake.'
I know which movie he was talking about, but I can't remember the name of it, anyone know? Anyway, I realized that he is probably right (to a certain degree :p ) and it made me even more offended. This movie was supposed to be funny, but you don't see them making these kinds of 'jokes' about any of the other 'main stream' religions. I mean we all roll our eyes at 'The Craft', 'Charmed' and 'Buffy', but at least the misconceptions of those movies have inspired many who didn't know wicca or paganism before to educate themselves and become true wiccans/pagans. The movie my hubby was talking about did nothing but ridicule pagans, portraying us as devil worshipping, human sacrificing, rednecks in stupid outfits.
HELLO!! This is the year 2001 (ok the movie was probably from the 80ies but they still show it on TV every now and again), with all the 'politically correctness' towards every other minority in the society, one can't help but wonder what makes wiccans/pagans still fair game?

[richardcranium]

The name of the movie was DRAGNET. It stared Dan Ackroyd and Tom Hanks. If you have ever seen the movie DOGMA you could see that it make fun of "main stream" religions to a certain extent but not to the same degree that pagans are made fun of in other movies.

[Vinga]

Originally posted by richardcranium
The name of the movie was DRAGNET. It stared Dan Ackroyd and Tom Hanks.

That's it! Thanx!


If you have ever seen the movie DOGMA you could see that it make fun of "main stream" religions to a certain extent but not to the same degree that pagans are made fun of in other movies.

I saw Dogma, must say I didn't like it (my friend even fell asleep in the theatre). Was more weird than funny (was it supposed to be funny?) and the only good thing about the movie was Alanis Morissette at the end. Still Dogma although a fictional story, was about 'real' Christian concepts, 2 angels thrown out of heaven (going berserk, but still..;) ). I know there was an outrage by the Christian and Catholic society when this movie came out, and many people wanted it taken off the cinema...probably because it suggested God is female 8O.

[richardcranium]

DOGMA was made by the same guys that did MALLRATS and CLERKS and a few others. The thing I liked the most about it was the way they tried to fill in the holes of that religion. Like saying Jesus was black, and god was a woman, and the 13th apostle. I am not suprised at all that christians around the world were mad.

[Vinga]

Originally posted by richardcranium
I am not suprised at all that christians around the world were mad.

I agree, which brings me back to my original point, that it's not ok to question and poke fun at mainstream religion, but wicca and paganism is fair game. I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to argue (it's 6:30am and I haven't slept yet, I'm really starting to look like my avatar ;) ), but what I'm saying is that when the Christian community was outraged over DOGMA, it was considered 'valid', probably because it hasn't really been done before (unless you count Monty Pythons 'Life Of Brian'). Movies making fun of pagans and witches is getting so old that no one even raises an eyebrow anymore.

[Kaylara]

If no one raised an eye, would the movie makers still be making those kinds of movies?

Kaylara

(As for Dogma, I live about a half hour from that church that they wind up in, and can go to the comic book store that "Jay and Silent Bob" run. I loved that movie, and also like Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mall Rats, etc.)

[Lilu]

Monty Python was also very good at making fun of mainstream religion - particularly Catholicism... if we all remember the song "Every sperm is sacred..." *grin*

And I LOVED Dogma. What a great movie that was... hehe

I seem to remember some other shows that make fun of mainstream religion, but I can't think of them at the moment...

*goes off pondering*

Ciao!
Lilu

[Lilu]

Ooops! Sorry Vinga, I missed your mention of Monty Python... hehehehe. Well now it's been said twice! haha

Lilu

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by richardcranium
DOGMA was made by the same guys that did MALLRATS and CLERKS and a few others.

He goes by Silent Bob. :D

[Kaylara]

Kevin Smith is Silent Bob's real name, and Jay's real name is Jason Mews. :) And Jay is not acting in those movies, he really is like that in real life. Traz used to hang out in the area (Leonardo, Red Bank, the Atlantic Highlands.) and knows these guys. He also explained to me what "snoochie Bootchies" means... In the Atlantic Highlands, NJ it's was the teenagers code word for drugs. A lot of the highlands's kids were getting busted for a while there, and their phones were being tapped, and so "snoochie bootchies" was born. ;)


Kaylara

[Sephiroth]

i laughted all the way through dogma. but the most wen the cardnel fell from the sky and went spat on the ground.

[Kaylara]

Ummm....
Sweetie, you have some issues.

Kaylara

[Earth Walker]

Pagan Flicks?....made by strange directors and actors in
Hollyweird. :D 8O


Why fear ye the Dak Queen, oh men?
She is your renewer.
--Dion Fortune

[Sephiroth]

for all the christians that are on this site as members and guest im sorry that thing about the priest was too harsh for me to say and for that i hope u can forgive me

[DarkWitch]

I spotted them in Scream three but you have to look for them they appear toward the beinging of the movie. I enjoyed Dogma.




Keeper of the Darkenedwoods,
DarkWitch

[idusty88]

Ahhhhh! Monty Python! I knew there was a reason you guys are the best!

And now for something completely different...
"What makes you think she is a witch?"
http://www.mwscomp.com/movies/grail/grail-05.htm

[loopy]

How 'bout some opinions on some other TV/Movie Witches?

Practical Magic -- Sandra Bullock fluff stuff. :) Fun movie though. Despite the whole raising-the-boyfriend-from-the-dead crud, I thought it was relatively enjoyable. I'm a Sandra Bullock fan, but that's not why I like it. :) The ending where the neighborhood women came together to raise energy to banish the negative spirit was nice. Especially since they were all the socialites who were prejudiced against the family. That was kind of showing how even they were drawn to magick, like it was some part of them that they'd long repressed/forgotten.

As I remember, the book had no actual physical magic, right? I read it a while ago, I can't remember exactly. I liked them both.

Sabrina, Charmed, Buffy-- I'm a Buffy fan, so I might be going easy on them, but I like how Willow has incorporated Goddesses into her spells. Of course, it's sci-fi, so they had to float her at an enemy with completely black eyes, but whatever. :) Sabrina--not my favorite show, fluff, I'm not against it though. Charmed--nice attempt, when they do try. But when they try to be 'real' as opposed to all sci-fi'd out, they mess it up. Using 'scrying' when they mean 'dowsing' and the like. And I don't think they've ever had a male witch--only warlocks who try to kill them. Take it or leave it. I think the good thing about these shows being mainstream is that people get a positive perception of witchcraft and feminine power. The negative thing is that it makes an impact on so many impressionable minds who think that they'll be able to freeze time, instead of depicting what Witchcraft and Paganism truly is.

[Earth Walker]

Where's my agent? :D :bigredgri 8O

[loopy]

Originally posted by Mystique

Where's my agent? :D :bigredgri 8O

? :D Sorry--I get confused easily when I'm going on no sleep in 24 hours. :D

[Earth Walker]

Why don't some of the Pagan community write a screenplay
that shows, really shows, what it means to be a Witch,
or be a consultant, etc, instead of having to watch the
hilarious, comedic shows put out by Hollyweird mainstream?


I oughta be in pictures. hehehe :D

[loopy]

Ah, I get it now. :D :D Thanks.

That'd be interesting. I've actually thought about what a true to life Witch movie would be like. If some of the more experienced Pagans and writers would want to give it a give, I'd definitely read it. :D I could spellcheck or something. :D :D

[Dria El]

Originally posted by Mystique
Why don't some of the Pagan community write a screenplay
that shows, really shows, what it means to be a Witch,
or be a consultant, etc, instead of having to watch the
hilarious, comedic shows put out by Hollyweird mainstream?


I oughta be in pictures. hehehe :D

I've been suggesting the same thing for awhile now. No one seems to want to do it though. <shrugs> I'm not a writer so I'm definitely out. What I thought might be interesting is a PBS special or documentary on a Pagan/Wiccan. Sort of like, 'A Year in the life of...' kinda thing.

Just a suggestion...

Dria El

[Rævyn Cigány]

Originally posted by Sephiroth
i laughted all the way through dogma. but the most wen the cardnel fell from the sky and went spat on the ground.

Wasn't that the thirteeth apostle that did that? Oh now I remember....yeah....Bartleby dropped him....right....actually I can probably safely say that Dogma is one of my favourite movies...I am NOT into Christian bashing by any means, but they succesfully buried the Catholic church and made it funny:

Quote:

"I think God is dead"
"Sign of a true Catholic." (this is said by a Jewish lady! lolololol)

And just for those who aren't in the know, Angels play just as big a part in pagan traditions as they do in Christian ones...I have, I think, close to twenty pages of Angel names and ranks, etc, in my BOS...quite an impressive coderie we have looking over us ;)

BB

Rae )0(

[Xois]

truth of witches in films--

I bought a movie called Drawing down the moon...while it does accuratly (almost) portray witches and what they do, it had only so so acting and writing

IT was good though...

[idusty88]

Yeah, I'm interested in getting a copy of "Drawing Down the Moon" sometime soon. See it at: http://www.drawingdownthemoon.com/ . Sounds pretty good.
Years ago (maybe ten or more) I remember renting pagan type videos from a local new age shop. There were some Scott Cunningham ones covering stuff like herbs and their uses, as well as one with Raymond Buckland and some made by Llewellyn publishing. Anybody know a good place to find and buy such things?

[Faery-Wings]

And just for those who aren't in the know, Angels play just as big a part in pagan traditions as they do in Christian ones...I have, I think, close to twenty pages of Angel names and ranks, etc, in my BOS...quite an impressive coderie we have looking over us

I had been wondering about this myself. Seems like every time something is weighing in my thoughts, someone posts here about it :p

I have always believed in angels as spirit protectors. I would love to know more about how they fit into Paganism. So far, your post is the first I have read about it in this light. Would you mind sharing some of your info or letting me know where you found some of it?

Thanks for your help, as always!!

Chris
:)

[Rævyn Cigány]

Originally posted by chryssi1


I had been wondering about this myself. Seems like every time something is weighing in my thoughts, someone posts here about it :p

I have always believed in angels as spirit protectors. I would love to know more about how they fit into Paganism. So far, your post is the first I have read about it in this light. Would you mind sharing some of your info or letting me know where you found some of it?

Thanks for your help, as always!!

Chris
:)

Sure! I can see what I can find in my BOS (note: I have to FIND my BOS first...it has picked this time to hide on me!) and I'll try to post a little bit about angels every day, if you would like....

BB
Rae )0(

[Rævyn Cigány]

Originally posted by Dria El


I've been suggesting the same thing for awhile now. No one seems to want to do it though. <shrugs> I'm not a writer so I'm definitely out. What I thought might be interesting is a PBS special or documentary on a Pagan/Wiccan. Sort of like, 'A Year in the life of...' kinda thing.

Just a suggestion...

Dria El



I'm in! I'm IN! I'M IN!!! Sign me up! Where do I go to sign up!? ehehehehehehe

BB

Rae )0(

[LadyTrinity]

*blush* hehe

[IvyCeltress]

Well there was the Wicker Man. I thought the pagans were portrayed mostly positively except for the ending. I hope I'm not spoiling or anything but I thought the thing in Celtic religion was a voluntary sacrifice not just any person they can get.