USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Stigmata is Panned On 1-800 Movie Line

Stigmata is Panned On 1-800 Movie Line

WASHINGTON (September 10, 1999) -- The 1-800-311-4CCC movie line reviews Stigmata for the week of September 10-16. Also included on the toll-free line is a review of The Happiest Millionaire, this week's suggested home video for family viewing.

The 800 movie review line is a project of the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC).

The September 10-16 list includes the following theater releases and their classifications according to moral suitability. Movies are evaluated according to artistic merit and moral suitability by the U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting.

A Dog of Flanders -- Because of stylized violence, some intense menace, an implied sexual encounter and a few cuss words, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. A Dog of Flanders is an engrossing version of the Ouida novel in which an orphaned 19th century Flemish boy, encouraged by local painter Jon Voight to become a great artist, gives up after losing a painting contest and is accused of arson, then faces death in a snow storm until a miracle gives him a second chance. The movie richly evokes the period in exploring the poor lad's problems and prospects, his love of his deceased mom and his yearning for his unknown father.
Dudley Do-Right -- Because of comic violence, much menace and assorted vulgarities, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Dudley Do-Right is a thin live-action comedy based on the TV cartoon series in which the hopelessly square Canadian Mountie of the title (played by Brendan Fraser) gets some help from his faithful horse in saving his dim sweetheart (Sarah Jessica Parker) from a villain (Alfred Molina) who's using a fake gold rush to fleece novice prospectors. There are more easy laughs than genuine humor in the corny dialogue, weak sight gags and frantic slapstick action.
Stigmata -- Because of its exploitative use of religion with an anti-Catholic flavor, frequent violence involving the stigmata and demonic attacks, a shadowy sexual encounter, occasional profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Stigmata is a schlocky horror tale in which a priest (played by Gabriel Bryne) sent by the Vatican to investigate reports of stigmata-like wounds on the wrists of Pittsburgh hairdresser Patricia Arquette turns to protecting her from demonic forces and a psychotic Cardinal behind a Vatican plot to suppress a supposed "lost Gospel" that would undermine the revelancy of the Catholic Church. The nonsensical plot juggles sexual innuendo as the priest is drawn to the young woman with violent scenes confusing the stigmata with demonic possession as well as the absurd conspiracy plot that a misleading epilogue suggests is truth rather than fiction.
Chill Factor -- Because of intermittent violence, profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. In Chill Factor, two strangers (played by Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich) are pursued by murderous terrorists and the law as they struggle to deliver a volatile chemical capable of killing millions to a safe destination. The formula buddy-action movie is run-of-the-mill escapist fare with over-the-top Gooding attempting to add a dash of humor.
The 13th Warrior -- Because of some gory battlefield violence with decapitations, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. The 13th Warrior is a chaotic tale of tenth-century Vikings who force a traveling Arab diplomat Antonio Banderas to fight with them against savage cannibals decimating one of their kingdoms. The constantly panning camera, murky visuals and often incomprehensible dialogue amount to a dark and dreary horror film.
Stir of Echoes -- Because of some violence, a shadowy sexual encounter, brief nudity and recurring profanity and rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Stir of Echoes is a ghost story in which a family man Kevin Bacon starts having violent hallucinations about a vanished teen and becomes obsessed with locating her body on his property. While Bacon's character is sympathetic the villains are obvious in this minimally suspenseful thriller.

The family video of the week is The Happiest Millionaire. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. The Happiest Millionaire is a musical biography of Anthony J. Drexel Biddle (played by Fred McMurray), an eccentric turn-of-the-century millionaire who kept alligators as pets, collected prizefighters and alternated physical fitness for his family with hymn-singing. Although overlong and musically undistinguished, it has all the usual Disney staples: some innocent romance, a sentimental view of family life and amusing animals.

The classifications are A-I - general patronage; A-II - adults and adolescents; A-III - adults; A-IV - adults, with reservations (an A-IV classification designates problematic films that, while not morally offensive in themselves, require caution and some analysis and explanation as a safeguard against wrong interpretations and false conclusions); O - morally offensive.

The movie reviews are produced by the U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) Office for Film and Broadcasting, which each week provides full length movie reviews, brief capsules and film classifications of new theater releases.

Reviewers include Henry Herx, Director, and Gerri Pare, Associate Director, of the Film and Broadcasting Office, which is funded by the CCC.

The capsule reviews are available on the World Wide Web. They can be found on two sites: http://www.usccb.org and http://www.CatholicDigest.org/stops/movies/index.html.

Full-length reviews of the above and other movies are available through America Online at the Catholic News Service site on AOL, and can be accessed by AOL members using the keyword, "CNS."