• Movies that show muslims/Islam in favourable light
    29 replies, posted
I'm not a muslim, but since our western media tends to portray them in unfavourable light, I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of movies where muslims and/or their faith is portrayed in a positive way. I know very few of them, so feel free to recommend some others too. The Message (1976): [URL]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074896/[/URL] [QUOTE]Handsomely-mounted historical epic concerns the birth of the Islamic faith and the story of the prophet Mohammed -- who, in accordance with the tenants of Islam, is never seen or heard (as this is offensive to certain islamic schools of thought). In Mecca in the 7th century, Mohammed is visited by a vision of the Angel Gabriel, who urges him to lead the people of Mecca to cast aside the 300 idols of Kaaba and instead worship the one true God. Speaking out against the corrupt political and military leaders who rule Mecca. With the help of his uncle, a brave warrior named Hamza (Anthony Quinn), Mohammed and his followers return to Mecca to liberate the city in the name of God. The Message (originally screened in the U.S. as Mohammed, Messenger of God) proved to be highly controversial during its production and initial release. Unfounded rumors had it that Mohammed would not only be depicted in the film, but that he was to be played by Charlton Heston or Peter O'Toole. This resulted in angry protests by Muslim extremists, until director Moustapha Akkad hired a staff of respected Islamic clerics as technical advisors. The Message was shot in two versions, one in English and one in Arabic (entitled Al-Ris-Alah), with different actors taking over some of the roles due to language requirements. [/QUOTE] Lion of the Desert (1981): [URL]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081059/[/URL] [QUOTE]This desert epic about a Libyan hero who helped his nation fend off an Italian invasion in 1929. Anthony Quinn stars as Omar Mukhtar, who organizes Libyan forces to hold off the encroaching Italian troops under General Rodolfo Graziana (Oliver Reed), who are trying to gain a foothold on Libyan soil under direct orders from the Italian dictator Mussolini (Rod Steiger). With the persistence of Mukhtar, the Libyans, battling the tanks and guns of the Italian army with their Bedouin troops on horseback, managed to hold off the Italians for twenty years, until Mukhtar was finally captured and executed. [/QUOTE] El Naser Salah El Dine (1963): [URL]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057357/[/URL] There is no DVD release of this one that I know of, but it can be found in several parts in youtube by the name "Saladin". [QUOTE]Saladin, ruler of the kingdoms surrounding the Latin state of Jerusalem, is brought to attack the Christians in the Holy Land by the sacking of a convoy of Muslim pilgrims, a group which included his sister. In a short campaign against odds, Jerusalem is taken and almost the entire Middle East is in Muslim hands. Crusade is called again in Europe, and the combined forces of the French king, German emperor, and English king form the 3rd Crusade, under the leadership of Richard the Lionheart of England. Although Accre is taken by the Crusaders, Saladin succeeds in preventing the recapture of Jerusalem, and in the end negotiations between himself and Richard (who Saladin admires as the only honorable leader) leave the Holy Land in Moslem hands.[/QUOTE] El Cid (1961): [URL]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054847/[/URL] While the islamic Moors are the enemy in this one, the Spanish muslims are portrayed in favourable light, not to mention that the most important theme of the film is the way Cid unites the christians and muslims of Spain against the moorish threat. This "friendship between different peoples" -theme is present in some of the other Samuel Bronston epics too. [QUOTE]Eleventh-century Spain is divided into Christian kingdoms and Moorish strongholds. The young Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar--dubbed El Cid by his followers--vows to see his country at peace, free from the invader. Vigorously brave and resourceful, the noble knight hates bloodshed and faces treason charges at court for the clemency shown to some emirs. His accuser, Gomez, father of his fiancée, Chimene, dies in the resulting duel. Chimene's avowed vengeance plot fails and Rodrigo is given her hand; the marriage is not consummated and she enters a convent. On Ferdinand's death, his kingdom is divided among his three children. Sancho challenges the decision and imprisons Alfonso, who is released by the Cid. The African war-lord, Ben Yssef, takes advantage of the quarrel by having Sancho assassinated. Alfonso now claims that throne, too, and exiles the Cid. Chimene realizes the nobility of her husband and joins him, but returns to the convent with their two children, when he goes into battle against Ben Yussef. The years pass, El Cid becomes a revered warrior, but refuses to aid Alfonso, preferring his own strategy. He lays siege to Valencia, catapulting food into its starving garrison; when the Valencians kill their evil ruler, Al Kadir, they offer the crown to the Cid. He sends it to Alfonso, who rushes, hysterically gratified, to his side. But the Cid has been hit by a stray arrow. Attended by Chimene, he hides the wound from his men and prepares a final bid to drive the Moors from Spain.[/QUOTE] Are there any others? They don't have to be epics though.
Does four lions count?
[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsieur_Ibrahim"]Monsieur Ibrahim[/URL], it's about an old muslim man that takes care of a jewish boy. Quite a moving story. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Monsieur_Ibrahim_poster.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=rosthouse;22022075][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsieur_Ibrahim"]Monsieur Ibrahim[/URL], it's about an old muslim man that takes care of a jewish boy. Quite a moving story. [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Monsieur_Ibrahim_poster.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] I know that I am twisted to see it like that but he looks like pedo.
The Kingdom. Kinda at least. They shoot Muslims but there's this good Muslim cop on the good guys' side.
Postal :buddy:
[QUOTE=Sh33p;22021940]Does four lions count?[/QUOTE] Kinda!
My Name Is Khan
I think the list of tv shows/movies that do show muslims in an evil light would dwarf this list. It's kind of something that the media and the people have to understand, sure they may be terrorists and sure they SAY that they're doing it in the name of religion, but religion becomes a false banner when plastered onto the face of obscenities. And it doesn't only apply to islam, it also applies to every other religion on earth. E.g: Atrocities committed in the crusades, Hitler's agenda :godwin: , Hinduism and their caste system (search "Daalits") etc.
[QUOTE=Splurgy;22022567]My Name Is Khan[/QUOTE] Isn't that a bollywood movie?
slumdog millionnaire not lmao
[QUOTE=Sh33p;22021940]Does four lions count?[/QUOTE] Hell yeah!
Persepolis
What about films that don't explicity throw a good muslim in your face, but don't neccesarily point out muslims as bad guys? For example, them just being a background character, the religion issue not truly being raised? There must be a fair few of them surely.
24 lol [editline]06:10PM[/editline] Anyways I think Days of Glory followed four North African soldiers in WWII. I think they were Muslim but I'm not completely sure.
United 93. oh FAVORABLE light
Kingdom of Heaven. Takes place during the crusades, makes them seem like pretty cool dudes. And most of the Christians are douchebags to boot.
Not really, only Guy of Lusignan and Raynald of Chatillon were douches. Raymond of Tiberias and King Baldwin IV were pretty awesome. Pretty much everybody in the movie was awesome, from both sides. Saladin was particularly badass though.
The South Park Movie, World Trade Center, True Lies
[QUOTE=markfu;22050759]24 lol[/QUOTE] 24 tends to be all "NO THE MUSLIMS ARE JUST PUPPETS FOR THE COMMIEEES" in fact wasn't there one season where they were supporting Muslims by having ridiculous Muslim internment camps and basically lampooning the treatment of Muslims?
Aladin.
Is Monsieur Ibrahim the movie where the boy earns enough money to go to the Hooker next door?
[IMG]http://www.lakeedge.org/files/MUNICHWSBASIC.jpg[/IMG]
What about the Lion of the desert?
[QUOTE=GerardV2;22055160]The South Park Movie, World Trade Center, True Lies[/QUOTE] stop being so funny
To be honest, there's plenty of mainstream movies that portray muslims in a favorable light, you just never took notice at the time. Also, our "western media" hasn't really ever demonized Muslims, just fundamentalist/extremist muslims. But also. 13th warrior. Seriously.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;22023581]Isn't that a bollywood movie?[/QUOTE] Yeah, it focuses on how 9/11 affected the American Muslim community (amoungst over things). Seriously, the film is like 4 different films smushed into one, although the ending is annoying "Obama is GOD!"
[QUOTE=G@merGeek;22058867][IMG]http://www.lakeedge.org/files/MUNICHWSBASIC.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Errrr. An attempt at bad taste humor perhaps? That whole movie is pretty much a poster film for Israelis stomping arab ass.
[QUOTE=GerardV2;22055160]The South Park Movie, World Trade Center, True Lies[/QUOTE] In True Lies they were all terrorists.
[QUOTE=Dirty_Ape;22066825]In True Lies they were all terrorists.[/QUOTE] Obviously didn't get the joke.
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