The Australian office of film and literature classification explained its decision to ban the film by saying that the movie, which was due to screen at the festival this week, 'deals with matters of sex in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality'. Lost in all the commotion is the film itself: Beautifully performed (especially by Willem Dafoe as Jesus), impeccably shot and scored (Peter Gabriel's propulsive soundtrack is one for the ages), it's the work of a true believer in both movies and mankind.Ken Park, controversial director Larry Clark's latest foray into the sex lives of American minors, has been cut from the Sydney film festival as Australian censors have refused to issue it a certificate for exhibition. And some countries banned the film sight unseen (it still can't be shown in the Philippines or Singapore). One French fundamentalist group launched Molotov cocktails into a Paris theater, injuring several patrons. The Vatican and numerous Christians took vocal issue with the extended sequence in which Jesus imagines an alternate life for himself (sun-dappled sex scenes included) with the prostitute Mary Magdalene. But this reimagining of Nikos Kazantzakis' speculative novel about the Son of God's human fallibility easily ascends to the top of our countdown due to the sheer furor it inspired worldwide. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the 100 best movies of all timeĪn explosive tour de force from one of our greatest filmmakers, Martin Scorsese's long-gestating passion project shares elements with several films on our list: sex, violence, Jesus Christ. Written by Joshua Rothkopf, David Fear, Keith Uhlich & Andy Kryza

Close the door, turn out the lights and fire up the 50 most controversial movies of all time.

Ultimately, our list represents cinema at its cutting edge, often literally. No matter the content or quality, these films sent shockwaves through the cinematic landscape, leaving a sea of clutched pearls and exhausted censors in their wake. Films both deeply faithful and proudly blasphemous sit side by side thanks to their shared ability to spark religious outrage. You’ll find exploitation and horror, eroticism and perversion. Some of these films are Oscar-winning classics that broke boundaries. Many of the films on this list seem tame by today’s standards. or at least it was at the time, when cultural watchdogs raised alarms. They contain the most lurid sex scenes, the most gruesome violence, the foulest language. Stubbornly, they persist in our cultural memory – these are the films that feel like gauntlets to run. The most controversial movies of all time don’t go down easy. Looking for some light viewing? Look elsewhere.

Ken park movie sex