EW's 25 Most Controversial Movies

[LovesHeels]

ytr

 

[Goodieluver]

1. Passion of the Christ (2004)

This is the most controversial movie of all time?? Pfft. I doubt it. Because it’s gory? Big deal. I’ve seen more gore in tons of other movies. As for the anti-Semitic charges, those came out because Mel Gibson’s dad is suspected of being a holocaust denier. Maybe the film is a bit controversial but calling it the most controversial of all time is stretching it.

It was controversial because it was the first graphic representation of the final days of christ, something never shown before at that magnitude. Also, Jewish leaders didnt want the movie before Gibsons dad because they were afraid it would brew anti-semetic feelings in the world. The same happened when a church began showing a realistic cross of Jesus, which was bloodied on the cross, some hailed it as a true representation, some saw it as blasphemey.

3. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

The ultimate Bush-bashing film. Typical Michael Moore (i.e. he spins everything his way) but he does get some points across that really hit nerves in the Bush camp.

Yeah i'll give this controversey only cuz there is so much misinformation you cannot have controversey

6. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Christians went berserk over a scene of Christ making love to Mary Magdalene, but taken in context, there’s really nothing controversial about it (the whole thing is the “last temptation” sent to Him by Satan as he hangs on the cross, hence the film’s title.) If anything, the scenes of Christ making crosses and helping the Romans crucify people early in the film were more controversial than the “love” scene.

Correct me if im wrong cuz its been a while since i seen this but i think the thing that pissed people off was jesus getting off the cross cuz an angel saying "You are not the messiah"

7. Birth of a Nation (1915)

Never saw this one, but I can see how it became a recruiting tool for the KKK.

Only heard of this epic, i dont know how its a KKK recruiter, isnt this epic based around the civil war?

13. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Too much has been said about this one already. Not a bad film, but not Ron Howard’s best.

Havent seen but not sure i want to, maybe i'll play the game to learn what the story\code is.

14. The Warriors (1979)

Controversial film about gang warfare. Saw it once, didn’t find it memorable.

I found this as a great movie, about the concept of gang solidarity, brotherhood and honor. I can see as a controversey for the 70s

15. Triumph of the Will (1935)

Chilling documentary about the Nazi party. Still haunting to this day.

This isnt a documentary, more a politikal nazi film which was very successful, to the point that American and British political advisors studied this film and molded their party films to mimic or use strategies from it.

 

[tickledorange]

Can't any movie be controversial in it's own way? Some of these movies were fun to watch, but I didn't really like some of them, just because they weren't that great.

 

[CitY of MicA]

Very interesting list, LH- thanx for posting it.

7. Birth of a Nation (1915)

Never saw this one, but I can see how it became a recruiting tool for the KKK.

Only heard of this epic, i dont know how its a KKK recruiter, isnt this epic based around the civil war?

Birth of a Nation was based on a play called "The Clansmen (twas the movie's original title)." In the film the Klan are portrayed as heros and protectors of whites against the 'black threat.' It showed the power of the film medium to rewrite history and is known to be obscenely racist. It is also known for it's wealth of technical innovations. The epitomy of a controversial film...

2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

The rape scene, the violence, and the controversial premise, which is certainly thought provoking, all would land this one on the list.

5. JFK (1991)

Nobody plays looser with facts than Oliver Stone...

Couldn't agree more, yet he insists on make 'historical' epics. If one chooses to be responsible, I think it's imperative that one either uses fictionalized names and characters, or tries to be as accurate as possible when portraying non-fictional characters. Alas, Mr. Stone could begin to fill up this list on his own with all the inaccuracies in his films.

12. The Deer Hunter (1978)

The Russian roulette scene raised a lot of eyebrows when it came out.

As per the problems with Mr. Stone's films, this particular scene supposedly had no historical basis. But personally, I see it as being far different, as I don't know that Cimino was trying to portray actual events in these scenes.

10. Baby Doll (1956)

Never saw it. Another one that got Christians riled up.

Interestingly enough, someone captured a scene from this film in the mainstream section. And that scene is the basis for the controversy as Eli Wallach seduces Carrol Baker, Karl Malden's teenage wife. It's something that would be adequately controversial if released today, too.

14. The Warriors (1979)

Really liked this film, myself, and hadn't remembered there being any controversy surounding it. Apparently it sparked some violence in theaters at the time of its release:

http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/warriors_100605.htm

19. Basic Instinct (1992)

Introduced Sharon Stone (and her crotch) to the world. Gays and lesbians protested it when it came out, but personally, I thought it was a mediocre thriller at best.

21. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Deemed too overly-violent by 1967 audiences.

Basic Instinct- someone dragged me to the theater when it came out. And it's remained one of my least favorite films of all time. What was with that ending? And Bonnie and Clyde- one of my absolute favorite films. Definitely a violent film- in fact, a landmark film in this respect, as it appears to have inspired so much of the violence that came after it in movies. To name but one subsequent scene, Francis Ford Coppola freely admits that the James Caan execution scene in the Godfather was drawn from Bonnie and Clyde (an obvious parralel when you think about it). I love the characters and their conflicts, the settings and the times, and almost everything else about this film. Great movie-making, in my opinion.


I wonder if there weren't some other violent films that might have made this list. I guess strong violence doesn't always provoke controversy...

 

[r4j20c67]

I thought the movie "Last House on the Left", should have been on the list, as well as "Behind the Green Door".

 

[jk666uk]

I thought the movie "Last House on the Left", should have been on the list, as well as "Behind the Green Door".

what last house on the left like is it as bad as they make out

 

[Feathery]

Some other considerations might have been:

"I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang", 1932 (Critical of the U.S. justice system, based on a real event).

"Gentleman's Agreement ", 1947 (Study of anti-semitism)

"Easy Rider", 1969 (60's drugs and sex road odyssey that started a new wave of personal independent films)

 

[MrMacphisto]

I would put Happiness (1998) on that list. That was just messed up.

As for the Aladdin thing, I'm surprised Muslims would be pissed off at a movie mentioning people's hands getting cut off. Countries that practice Islamic law often do this to thieves. Granted, some Muslims get pissed off about everything.

 

[r4j20c67]

what last house on the left like is it as bad as they make out

Compared to today's movie's, No.

But when It first came out it was one of the first slasher/horror movies that nothing was taboo. It delt with rape, lesbian rape, forced lesbianism , a guy getting his dick cut off, and if I'm not mistaken the girls were supposed to be 16 or 17 yrs old.

 

[CitY of MicA]

I wasn't aware of Last House on the Left being all that controversial- i.e. I'm not sure that it was a widely enough-viewed commodity to stir up a lot of controversy (you could be right- just might perspective). Peeping Tom and other films have had similar runs (in England, it was banned a weak after it was released) where they were not exposed to a wide enough audience to be really controversial. Before Last House came Night of the Living Dead, and after it Texas Chainsaw Massacre (believe there were riots in the theaters when it was first released)- both controversial for onscreen violence and gore. Off the top of my head, I didn't feel like there were many glaring omisions on the list with the exception of Psycho. Psycho was so shocking for the time due to the violence, scares, invasion of safe spaces, having the female lead done in half way through the film, etc. that it seems like a film that stirred up far more controversy than, say, Aladdin.