Benny Hansen Movies

In 1927, Adrian Palmberg (Lars Simonsen) faces a severe emotional crisis when his wife and child are killed in a fire. Distraught, Palmberg angrily announces that there is no God and proclaims himself immortal. He exiles himself to a basement before being declared insane and confined to a mental institution, where he does frequent verbal battle with a psychiatrist before finally coming to terms with both God and mortality after turning 100 years old. Featuring exceptional black-and-white cinematography by Harald Paalgard, Manden som ikke ville do (aka The Man Who Would Live Forever) was the directorial debut from Torben Skjodt Jensen and was screened at the 1999 Gothenburg Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Shortly after his 1970 success with the film Stille Dage i Clichy (Quiet Days in Clichy), director Jens-Jorgen Thorsen started trying to get Jesus Vender Tilbage (The Return) made. For the next twenty years, he kept at it when the money was available but had to cope not only with shortages of money, but an legal ban on the film in his native country of Denmark which was not revoked until 1990. In the face of these obstacles, he has put together a smoothly professional-looking film which seems to be intended to offend the religious sensibilities of a great many people. This satirical drama follows Jesus' career after he returns to earth to save it from environmental pollution. After a little exploration, he decides that Paris suits him just fine as a base of operations. When he gets entangled with a group of terrorists attempting to hijack a plane, he gets into serious trouble with the authorities, but one compensation for his troubles is that Jesus, the still-virgin Demiurge, finally gets to sample feminine carnal delights, which are offered to him by a lovely hijacker (Atlanta). When the authorities capture the hijackers, they assume that Jesus is their leader, and he is condemned to death. However, somehow the Pope (a despicable child molester) and Billy Graham (a bewildered fool) hear of his presence on the planet, and they scheme for his release, in return for a few miraculous favors. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This is a good animated feature with lots of action that's suitable for older youngsters and adults. Valhalla, where the gods live and the souls of dead warriors are enshrined, is filled with powerful spirits like the supreme Odin (voice of Mark Jones) who is the creator of the cosmos and the god of war and death. Thor (voice of Stephen Thorne), the god of Thunder, is there too. He is also connected to war and rain, as well as the English word "Thursday" (Thor's day). Back in ancient times, humanity was divided between allegiance to Thor and allegiance to his enemy Loke. These two rivals follow a rainbow bridge from Valhalla to the land of the Giants, where grungy, Maurice Sendak-type monsters bash each other around. Battles and trickery ensue, involving human and godly characters in a struggle for supremacy. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi