European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday August 11, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 7 film critics find last temptation of Christ awful and at least 40 minutes too Long Universal City Calif. A film critics gave a lukewarm reception tuesday to the last temptation of Christ a new interpretation of the life of Jesus that has been denounced unseen by some christians and has raise counter charges that some of the criticism is anti semitic. The film depicts Jesus As a troubled guilt Ridden Man Uncertain of his destiny and tempted to resist what christians believe is his divinity. Film critics who viewed the movie Ina Universal studios screening room including Michael Medved of sneak pre views Charles Champlin of the los an Geles times and Bob Thomas of the associated press said they were unimpressed Overall. An intellectual exercise of the what if variety Thomas said. At times moving often overwrought and at least 40 minutes too  it s the height of irony that this level of controversy could be generated by a movie this awful said Medved. I can understand Why the religious groups would be offended As would the Public by this  the 2 a hour movie describes Jesus career leading to the crucifixion. Then during his agony on the Cross he sees a Little girl. She says she s his Guardia Nangel sent by god who does t want him to die in pain. She removes him from the Cross an takes him to Mary Magdalene who tends his wounds. He lives out his life As Aman first marrying Mary Magdalene and then another woman after her death. As an old Man dying he is visited by his disciples. Judas reveals the Angel to be satan Calls Jesus a weakling and Tell Shim that god wanted him to die on the Cross and that he should do As god in tended. The last scene is Jesus smiling death on the Cross. The movie carries an r rating but less for sex than for Gore although there Are shots of bodies naked from the Waist Upin River scenes with John the Baptist Mary Magdalene plying her Trade As prostitute and the scene that has most outraged theological opponents Jesus having sex with Mary Magdalene. At the Start of the movie is a notice saying that it was based on greek author Nikos Kazantzakis 1955 novel thelast temptation of Christ and not on the gospels. Protestant fundamentalists not Blythe Rev. Donald Wildmon a United methodist minister who Heads the Amer ican family association in Tupelo miss., and the Rev. Jerry Falwell have been campaigning against the movie. Their protests have escalated since uni Versal pictures rejected pleas to destroy the film or sell it to them for destruction. Universal responded by accusing pro testers of censorship and moving up the release Date from sept. 23 to Friday. As the critics watched tuesday 150christian protesters none of whom had seen the film rallied on another part of the massive studio lot to castigate uni Versal and its Parent company Mca  held a mock crucifixion with a bloodied Jesus screaming in agony As Aman portraying Mca chairman Lew Wasserman nailed him to a 10-Footcross. Critics of the protesters have accuse some of verging into anti jewish attacks. The . Catholic conference said tuesday that it is urging the nation s 53 million catholics not to see the film. Spokesman Richard Hirsch called it a a Grade muddle headed  the $6.5 million movie was directed by Martin Scorsese taxi Driver and raging Bull and stars Willem Dafoe platoon As Jesus Barbara Hershey Hannah and her Sisters As mar Magdalene and Rocker David Bowie As Pontius Pilate. Id switch results in parents letting another teen die Decatur ind. A parents ended life support for a teen Ager they believed was their daughter after authorities mistakenly identified her As another teen Ager killed in the same car crash. The error was discovered sunday by a Friend during viewing hours at a funeral Home. Both sets of parents had spent time with the bodies and not realized the mistake. Wendy Liby 18, was killed Friday night when pickup truck struck the car in which she and Kristine Bailer 17, were Riding. Bailer suffered massive head injuries in the Accident. Officials mistakenly identified Liby As Bailer who later died when Liby s parents believing she was their daughter decided to have her removed from life sup port systems. It s just a bad mix up that started right from the first said Ralph Bailer Kristine s father. " officials did t get a positive id on either girl. It s neglect on someone s part. I Don t know what s going to  after Friday s Accident Liby s parents kept a Vigil with Bailer for several hours. They decided saturday to allow her to die and made arrangements to donate her organs Bailer said monday. Authorities had trouble identifying the bodies be cause of a Lack of documentation and extensive injuries to both girls faces said Adams county sheriff Kerry Uhrick. Further confusing authorities was Liby s ring engraved with the initials k.b., which were her Mother initials before marriage Uhrick said. The girls also had similar facial features Bailer said. On sunday a Friend of both girls told funeral Home employees she did not think the body being viewed was Bailer s. Mark Jahn of the Zwick Sefton & Jahn funeral Home said employees then examined the second body also at the funeral Home. They found a class ring engraved  victims Wendy Liby left and Kristine Bailer. A officials never showed the bodies to parents for identification. Instead each girl s family was shown a body and told it was their daughter said Deputy Coro Ner Gayle armes. Members of the family Are not Good  Are too emotional said Allen county Coroner or. Phillip e. O Shaughnessy. It s not As easy As you think it May be especially when there s a lot  the Coroner s office and sheriffs department Are investigating the mix up armes said. The procedure we followed Friday was the procedure that has always been followed she said. Both funerals were held tuesday. Mayor denies reported hint on Deal with Rowan by the Washington Post Washington mayor Marion Barry emphatically denied tuesday that hand his Legal counsel hinted to the son of Carl t. Rowan that charges of possessing an unregistered gun would not be filed if the elder Rowan would Stop criticizing Barry in his nationally syndicated column. Or. Herbert of Reid nor myself would never in our lifetimes base our judicial discretion on any political considerations Barry said tuesday at an Impromptu news conference after a rib Bon cutting at Mayfair mansions apart ment Complex. It s idiocy to even Sug Gest that anybody in my administration would want to Trade leniency for  for a positive  reached at a meeting of presidents of historically Black colleges in Hilton head s.c., tuesday Reid said he was flabbergasted about the allegations. It s a diversionary tactic and it s successful he said. They the Rowan fam ily were Able to divert the attention from whether or not he had a gun to How the City s being run and whether there s corruption in the  in a column in its aug. 8 Issue the weekly Trade publication Legal times re ported that unidentified sources sympathetic to Rowan charged that Reid the mayor s counsel and confidant hinted of a Deal under which City officials would treat Rowan gently. The column which claimed that an overture to Cut Adeal was made by Reid to Carl t. Rowan jr., did not name any people who substantiated the allegations. But tuesday the younger Rowan said he was prepared to testify that in separate Tele phone conversations Barry and Reid hinted that City officials would treat his father with leniency in Exchange for columns and commentary favourable to the mayor. Tuesday s charges and counter charges were the latest in a series of controversies that have surrounded Rowan since june 14 when the 62-year-old columnist fired a .22 Caliper handgun at an intruder who had been taking a late night swim in his backyard Pool the intruder was wounded in the wrist. Rowan said the gun belonged to his son Carl jr., a former Fri agent who has since said that he was told he did not have to Register the gun under the District s gun control Law because he was a Law enforcement  has said that he Felt threatened when he discovered 18-year-old Benja min n. Smith of Chevy Chase md., out Side the sliding Glass doors of his North West Home that night and fired at him to protect himself. The . Attorney s of fice has agreed to drop charges against Smith and a companion Laura a. Bach Man 19, of Bethesda the office declined to press assault charges against Rowan and instead sent therase to the City s office of corporation coun Sel. After a six week review the office file charges of Possession of an unregistered fun and unregistered ammunition in  court on july 27. Rowan has pleaded not guilty to both counts