The Conflict |  | Director: Jack Gold
Actors: Cyril Cusack, Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Golden, Trevor Howard, Tom Jordan
Studio: Mac Filmworks
Category: DVD
This item is no longer available
Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 249704
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
UPC: 879431000176
EAN: 0879431000176
ASIN: B000LC52DM
Theatrical Release Date: 1973
Release Date: January 23, 2007
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
 Very poor quality January 12, 2010
Jay Holder
Though very inexpensive, the cost of postage makes this DVD a poor choice, when you could purchse it at WalMart for just a dollar with a much better picture.
 This is the version to buy January 3, 2010
Graham Kelder (Cambridge, MA USA)
For anyone out there looking for a fairly clean copy of this movie -- variously titled "Catholics" and "The Conflict" -- the slim case, digitally remastered version by Digiview is the one to buy. The sound was crisp and free of the annoying pops and distortions heard on other DVD versions of this film. The picture, while not exactly up to high def standards, was the best I've ever seen of this film. The movie itself -- based on Brian Moore's book "Catholics" -- is a parable about the confrontation between tradiiton and modernity in the Roman Catholic Church after Vatican II. The twist is that in this film, which was produced prior to the John Paul II-Ratzinger counter-reformation, the Vatican representative (Sheen) is the progressive seeking to deal with a traditionalist "rebellion" by Irish monks who are celebrating the mass in Latin again for the people. Strong performances by Martin Sheen and Trevor Howard. This is one of my favorite films of all time, and it's nice to have a pretty clean and enjoyable copy of it available on DVD!
Depressing, But Interesting March 26, 2009
Bradley Headstone (New York)
This is a depressing, but still interesting movie that explores some of the results of Vatican II. Whether you are totally behind Vatican II and feel that the mass should be done in English, or you belong to that break off church that refused to acknowledge Vatican II, and does the mass in Latin (and facing away from the people) to this day, you should find the movie interesting.
Amongst other things, we see that changes and progressions are inevitable, but we also wonder if they should tear people from their foundations and traumatize them. Trevor Howard puts it quite well when he says: "Yesterday's orthodoxy is today's heresy."
Basically, Martin Sheen is a priest sent from Rome to convince an Irish church that stubbornly holds onto the Latin Mass to 'get with today's program.' It is also interesting that while Martin Sheen is a priest, he carries the aura of an FBI agent. (If I may be permitted a personal remark, I almost expected him to pull out an FBI badge.)
Trevor Howard is the leader of the Pre Vatican II stronghold. And he defends his position with careful elegance. Though we do get the impression that he is hiding something. Michael Gambon and Cyril Cusack (in their small roles) offer interesting defenses for their stronghold.
I don't want to ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, but while one turnout of the movie is predictable, there are interesting surprises that unfold.
One word of warning: If you are having struggles with your faith, you should probably avoid this movie.
 Interesting, but I really don't get it. August 16, 2007
J. Michael (Now Born)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Perhaps I'd understand it better with an additional viewing, but I don't find this movie important enough to motivate me to that action. There are enough real dramas and battles in the real, present-day Church to keep one's attention for 100 years. However, I would very much like to one day discover the intent of this curious movie.
After a fictional "Vatican IV" further revolutionizes the Church, Martin Sheen (playing an ultra-modern, Marxist-type priest) is sent to remotest Ireland to bring a group of Traditionalist monks into line with the new de-Catholicized Catholic church. The monks are understandably resistant, and there are some interesting exchanges between the revolutionary and the traditionalists, but the Abbot, who privately admits to a lack of faith, eventually orders them to submit to Rome, rather than defy the abomination of desolation. What exactly is the point of this movie? Is it a modernist message, that the Church must acquiesce to the zeitgeist in order to survive and be relevant? Is it a traditionalist message, that the true Faith would thrive were it not undermined by its leaders? Or is there any message at all? Beats me.
conflict March 21, 2007
Patricia Bossert (Philadelphia)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This film is based on a book titled Catholics. I purchased an
old copy at a flea market and tried to purchase a new one for years. It was out of print. The book has been republished recently with an updated forward. I was surprised to find that years ago it had been made into a movie, The Conflict. Although it might be a little outdated, it is very thought provoking and beautifully done. To be watched or read as inspiration not entertainment.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 17
|
|
|
