April 02, 2007 Pretty Good Video Rentals

I saw this 3-and-a-half hour movie this weekend and it was pretty good. It suffered from the voice-over talent which lacked nuance and at times seemed to be read from a teleprompter, but was pretty close to Scripture. The decided Catholic slant was not obtrusive in the end. For an Italian file about St. Peter it was pretty much devoid of Mariology and other distractions.

St Peter role prompts death threat.

Monday October 31, 2005 A message on a website linked to al-Qaida has threatened death to the veteran Egyptian actor Omar Sharif after he played St Peter in an Italian TV film.

In remarks widely reported in Italy earlier this month, the 73-year old actor, a convert to Islam, said he had "seemed to hear voices" during the filming of St Peter, a two-part mini-series shown last week. Sharif was quoted as saying: "Playing Peter was so important for me that even now I can only speak about it with difficulty. It will be difficult for me to play other roles from now on."

The Italian news agency Adnkronos International said that a message on a web forum used in the past by al-Qaida had a link to a site carrying the threat. "Omar Sharif has stated that he has embraced the crusader idolatry," it said. "He is a crusader who is offending Islam and Muslims and receiving applause from the Italian people. I give you this advice, brothers, you must kill him."

Also saw A Prairie Home Companion

...and I think the movie extras such as the commentary and the website are more interesting than the movie itself. Don't get me wrong- I am a fan, an the movie is easy on the eyes and ears. Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin can command a stage. I could have done without Woody Harrelson's sophomoric humor. I could have done without the angel of death thread. But overall the movie was a fun distraction, and rightfully showcased many of the radio cast playing themselves. The incorportion of fictional characters such as Guy Noir was an added bonus. Kevin Kline IS the Guy.