A Review of Reformation Resources: Some Movies

by Doug Smith 490 years ago this month, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany (October 31, 1517). The purpose of this series of posts is to point you to resources about the Protestant Reformation. We have considered books, music, and websites. This final post mentions a few movies.

Movies

• The recent MGM Film, Luther (2003), is an exciting, fast-paced production. It is well done, but the movie unfortunately omits the key doctrine of justification by faith alone. This could be a helpful resource if used in conjunction with other tools so that the doctrine at the heart of the Reformation is not ignored. Some violent scenes in this PG-13 movie may be inappropriate for young children. 2 hours, 4 minutes.

• Martin Luther (1955) (click here for a deluxe edition, or here for a bargain) is a classic film that explores Luther's doctrinal issues with more depth than the 2003 MGM treatment. It may seem a bit dated, but it is a good treatment of Luther that sets his life in its historical context. 1 hour, 45 minutes.

• Martin Luther (2002) is a PBS Empires documentary with interviews with scholars and some dramatized scenes from Luther's life. 1 hour, 50 minutes.

• In Where Luther Walked, author Roland Bainton gives viewers a historic tour of important sites. 30 minutes.

To order these films, check out www.Christianbook.com or www.amazon.com.