MovieChat Forums > The Great Raid (2005) Discussion > Interesting scene (about religion)

Interesting scene (about religion)

posted 16 years ago by Vilnius
13 replies | jump to latest

I liked the movie for what it was, a classic style war movie like they made in the sixties. What I found interesting though was the difference between the US cut and the European cut. I saw the US version several weeks before the European screening I attended and there is a scene in it, right before they start the operation where the company leader says that he doesn't want non religious men on his mission. The whole scene which was rather lenghty isn't there in the European version. Does anybody know why?

[–] Sage4041 16 years ago

I'm not sure if it's the case for this particular movie, but American releases and European releases are often very different. Example: The most recently released Pride and Prejudice movie. The American version has an entire scene or so more than the European version.

[–] guer0071 15 years ago

Maybe to cut out the 'crusader image' some Europeans might have of Americans? There are some out there who feel the current war is about religion, sad, but many believe more ridiculous lies.

[–] onetreehill_lvr128 15 years ago

Oh how some are quick to believe such obvious lies...

[–] Englandizer 15 years ago

Because modern Europe seems to have a hatred for it, as the de-facto religion the soldiers would have been Christian.
Modern Europe seems to be brainwashed into despising anything Christian.

[–] WARLORD1863 15 years ago

the flaw with that suggestion is that the scene speaks against "non-religious", not "non-Christian".

I don't know why it was cut, perhaps for time purposes (as this scene was not crucial to the plot). But I'm sure there's nothing sinister behind it, and no basis for anti-christian sentiment.

[–] Black_Dahlia 15 years ago

Is not modern Europe overwhelmingly Christian?

[–] kronos251 14 years ago

Is not modern Europe overwhelmingly Christian?

That is what's contradictory about it.

"Rommel...you magnificent bastard, I read your book!"
-- PATTON

[–] pauzhaan 12 years ago

Modern Europe, especially the northern countries, are overwhelmingly secular.

[–] Boreas74 12 years ago

I thought the "No atheists" scene struck a discordant note. Imagine if he'd said "I don't want any Presbyterians on this mission".

These men were fighting for freedom and the American constitution yet their commander is making bigoted statements and ignoring the right to free conscience of his men right before a dangerous mission.

As groups like militaryatheists.org and militaryreligiousfreedom.org show there are lots of atheists in the US military (and in foxholes) now and then.

Some Americans might not understand but anti-atheist bigotry is as unacceptable as racism or homophobia in Europe. The scene may have been removed because the film makers wanted to preserve the image of the commander as a "good guy".

From watching American media it seems like there is a blind spot when it comes to this kind of bigotry in the US.

He feared and hated me. I merely wanted him dead -- Gus Haynes, The Wire

[–] naiasf-1 11 years ago

As unacceptable as racism and homophobia may be in Europe, we must not forget that it is freedom of opinion which is the basis of democracy. Cutting a scene from a movie and then what ...a chapter from a book...a whole book...where is the ending in this? I can not imagine that such sensoring promotes modern european values.

Even though I did notice this scene, I just thought that it was probably part of the true facts of this non fictional character of the film. I valued it therefore as such and that's all.How can we expect to get any sense of a historical truth through art if we always trim it to our political correctness?!

[–] Boreas74 11 years ago

I agree completely that films, books etc. shouldn't be censored. Artists (and everyone else) should be free to produce or write whatever they see fit.

But I doubt this was a case of censorship, I think it was a decision by the film makers. I was merely speculating on the reason why they might have made that decision.

I wasn't offended or anything like that by the scene I just thought it was odd and out of place. Perhaps as you say it was based on something an historical character actually said at the time. In which case I don't see why they removed it in some versions.

Perhaps as someone else said it was just a pacing/time issue.

He feared and hated me. I merely wanted him dead -- Gus Haynes, The Wire

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] haggar 9 years ago

I thought the "No atheists" scene struck a discordant note.

I agree. I liked the movie overall, but that scene really bothered me. I live in Northern Europe, and that kind of sh#t is not appreciated over here. Have your religion, don't have a religion, we don't care - just keep the damn thing to yourself.