were celtic reconstructionist offended by the Wicker man movie?

Question

It links the pagans in that film to the celtic religion if you listen to it. I am not pagan but i am just wondering if you are a bit offended

both versions and by offended i dont mean like people are making speechs in a public place i mean as is offened like "Oh that was a bit offencive"

Answer 1

I am a Pagan, and the Wicker Man was one of my favorite movies -- the original with Christopher Lee. For us, it's a comedy. It's like Rocky Horror for Druids! Seriously, take that film to any ADF, OBOD, or Keltria gathering, and every song becomes a sing-along.

I was, however, offended by the remake with Nicholas Cage -- not because it made Pagans look bad, but because it was such a crappy remake that entirely missed the point of the original, which to me was such a beautiful and special film.

Rent the original. It's a lot better, a lot more fun, it's full of bawdy ballads and naked girls jumping over fires, and it's a lot edgier. It could even be considered openly anti-Christian, though I think of it more as a protest against fundamentalist thinking and the theocratic leanings of some governments. They've taken the caricature of the obnoxious Born Again trying to control everyone and force his religion on everyone, and, well, I don't want to ruin the end for you, but this is the point that is completely missed in the remake. Not once does Nicholas Cage say, "This is a Christian Nation!" In the original, the inhabitants of Summer Isle are so much easier to identify with than Sargent Howie, the obnoxious Christian cop.

Get the Original. Great film. I watch it every Beltane.

Answer 2

The original is considered a classic, but I have to admit, I JUST saw it after wanting to for a long time and Blech! Who thought it would be a good idea to make a drop dead serious horror musical!!!!??? It's one of maybe 5 cases that I think the remake was better. There were elements of the original I liked better: tricking the sacrifice into wearing the fool costume (a bear? come on!), and I loved the juxtaposition of extremely devout Christianity to extreme devout serious nutcase religion: it shows the futility of both. The new one had a lot of great elements like the twist that it was his daughter. (come on did that really surprise anybody?) It was an interesting addition. The framing of the inherent damage of sexism BOTH ways was interesting... But yes, it sucked.

Answer 3

No, most Pagans love the original movie.

Answer 4

I haven't seen either version, but I've not heard anything from the CR community that points towards anyone being offended. And, trust me, when we're offended, we've got no bones about letting people know. ::laughs::

Answer 5

Heh, no, we don't have a Vatican to throw fits over things like that. If people are happy persisting in their ignorance, I say let them. Evangelism in any form just pisses people off. One has to want to explore neo-Paganism further and shake off any erroneous beliefs, not be told what to think by some more people.

Answer 6

Which version? I have the one with Britt Eklund as the maiden priestess, but I have not seen the newer one. Not offended, but I think it was kind of ambiguous.

Answer 7

I don't know. I've never seen the original or the remake. I'm not much of a movie or television watcher, but when I do I prefer documentaries. (I know....I'm a bit boring that way...)

Answer 8

You can go to this site : http://www.yamour.net/
and click "online movies" under the site's name
& Have a look