The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: The Moment of Disillusionment
Review: The whole story seems to have been born in Kazantzakis' mind while delving into Jesus' most grievous utterance: "Father, Why hast thou forsaken me?" (The moment when Jesus became disillusioned, Nietzsche would say). As death approached nearer, however, Jesus said (perhaps a retraction), "It is accomplished."

One can only see or hear the contradiction of these statements, one can never know what passed through Jesus' mind in the end. Of course, the ecclesiastical people have various explanations to offer--but these explanations are at best speculations (who believes them?); and only Kanzantzakis can turn a speculation into an ingenious story.

One cannot but admire Martin Scorcese's movie; it is so masterful and artistic that one can still breathe the air and feel the heat of the sun, long after one has finished watching it. One cannot argue against the greatness of the film direction. But what of the story?

Nikos Kazantzakis has given us a version of Jesus Christ's story far more believable than the Gospel itself, expect perhaps for the miracles that his story still contains. Who else could tell us that Judas was the "strongest" of Jesus' disciples, but him? Christ commanded Judas to betray Him so that His crucifixion will be fulfilled, the story goes; not that Judas had sold Jesus to his persecutors for money (a shallow version)--which is all that the Gospel says. (Let it be said, en passant, that Dante was wrong when he put Judas in the lowest rung of Hell in The Divine Comedy.)

All of which makes the passion of Jesus MORE of a human drama, a struggle to comprehend and attain a destiny--despite of the yearnings of the mortal flesh.

The last temptation that Jesus had to overcome, Kazantzakis tells us, and I will believe him, was the call of the earthly life--the insipid joy of ordinary life, with wife, children--and not the wounds caused by the lashings of the Roman soldiers. Jesus had a destiny to fulfill, which was to hammer down the walls of hate, and to replace it with love. "I want to be the Messiah." He overcomes his last temptation at last, and then, it was accomplished.

I am filled with some sort of regret that Jesus had to reach for heaven in the end, He had to reach for immortality... Otherwise it would have been the ultimate human tragedy. What is more beautiful than to love, to love fiercely, even if death shall overcome us in the end?

The tragedy begins!




Rating:
Summary: Never saw either movie....
Review: Although I have never seen either movie, I find reading the reviews quite entertaining. The way you all attack each other is is imo not very "christ-like". I see no compassion, empathy, or forgiveness in any of you, therefore you are all guilty of being human, or is that human being? Keep trying. Namaste to you all...


Rating:
Summary: A profound artistic statement
Review: There are two things that I am going to say before I review this film.

1. I have been a believer my whole life. I have been a Christian proper for about half of it. I have also rejected the fake religiosity and vain piety that modern Churchianity has imposed upon faith and spirituality. It's this that removes the "magic" and power of the Bible and its message.
2. I am not going to compare this film to Mel Gibson's Passion. That would be unfair since both films are coming from two completely different, yet equally valid points of view.

The Last Temptation of Christ is, in my opinion, one of the greatest and most powerful religious films ever made. Its purpose was to use the story of Jesus and his victory over the world and over fallen humanity as a metaphor for man's struggle between the Spirit and the Flesh. The Christ we see in this movie is in essence Nikos Kazantzakis (the author of the original novel which this film is based upon), Paul Schrader (screenwriter) and Martin Scorcese (director). Each person infused a bit of themselves into this vision of Christ in an attempt to put themselves in His sandals, to experience the Passion, Glory and Horror of Christ's life, ministry and death for themselves and that way become closer to Him. They've created a modern parable for just about anyone with an open mind and an open heart; a "supreme model for the man who struggles" as Kazantzakis states in the introduction to his novel.

Yes, the Jesus we see in this film is quite insecure, confused and at times downright terrified. The point is, when God calls someone to accomplish such a seemingly impossible mission, who isn't scared to death? Who wouldn't rather live an average life in comfort than endure the emotional and physical torture of being God's sacrificial lamb? This film speculates "What if Jesus the carpenter had these feelings? If he was fully human as well as fully divine, who's to say that the carpenter wasn't terrified when he learned that he was in fact, the Christ?" The next point the film addresses is that while Jesus was tempted in every way... including sexual temptation (maybe the strongest kind), He never once gave in. Even at his weakest and most vulnerable point, bloody, thrashed beyond recognition and dying on the cross, when he experiences his "Last Temptation" - that of leading a normal human life (including marriage, work, child raising, etc) - he shakes off the temptation and shouts triumphantly, "It is accomplished!" And thank God it was!

I will point out that there are major historical and Biblical inaccuracies in the film. But then again, this film never claimed to be accurate. Its message and power isn't in its accuracy, but in its essence. It unfolds in a very dream-like and surreal way. However its grit and realism as far as locations, and details such as the actual crucifixion are more historically correct than most film versions.

Overall this is a profound expression of faith coming from film makers who based their work on a profound expression of faith by one of the greatest writers of modern literature we have. It continues to inspire me to do my best and follow God's calling despite my fears and insecurities. There was something Roger Ebert said about this film having the power to draw more people to Christ than any film before it. He may have been right. A couple suggestions: Read the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and read the Gospels.


Rating:
Summary: A Truely Passionate Passion
Review: After reading the most recent reviews of the "Last Temptation of Christ" I am struck by the banality of some and the ignorance of others. It occurs to me that many reviewers are either ignorant of the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, upon which this film is based, or are too shallow to grasp its intent or meaning. Neither Scorsese nor Kazantzakis purport to tell the "truth" of Jesus (a historical figure by ALL reputable scholarly accounts: see review below), but to pose a question that demands a creative response and touches upon the very depth of human experience. Indeed, Scorsese does not pretend to tell the "truth" as does Gibson's Passion of the Christ, based far less on the gospels and history as he claims and far more on the "visions" of an obscure 19th century woman, Anne Catherine Emmerich. Scorsese treats this question with intensity and artistry, avoiding the sugary piety and English accents of so many other films with Jesus as their central character. Willem Defoe offers a powerful portrayal of a very human Jesus, tortured within himself to a greater degree than the physical brutality of the Roman soldiers - much as rendered in the Gospel accounts of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Last Temptation of Christ is exploration, not exposition, and I find it deeply spiritual. It is an excellent film and worth every minute for those interested in the deeper philosophical and theological questions than those offered in Gibson's movie. And for those interested, I am a deeply committed Christian.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Let This Be Your Last Temptation...
Review: I first bought this movie at a flea market here in Polk County. A lady saw me buy it and told me I was going to HELL if I ever watched it. Well, I just couldn't wait to watch it then, but I couldn't figure out why was I going to HELL if I watched a movie about Jesus? I was releived to see that I didn't go to HELL the next day, and I had scene this movie. It was a wonderfully made, beautifully told story that wasn't sugar coated like most "religious" pictures are. At first I was a little disappointed because there was SOOOOO much hype about this movie, but then I watched it and listened to it and fell in love with the story and characters. Remember kids, this paved the way for "Passion of the Christ" to come to pass. Willem Dafoe is fantastic as Jesus. He is believable and carries the film very well. Wonderful all around. A must have. Criterion Edition (Actually the only edition) is loaded with special goodies and well worth the little extra it costs.

Rating:
Summary: Boring movie. Good artwork
Review: As a christian I'm not going into details on the mistakes of this movie. Not only is NOT based on the Gospels which are the TRUE accounts of the life of Jesus. But this movie is way wrong on portraying Jesus as how he was really. The movie however has great music but the script and the direction of a director like Scorsese are just plain dull. The only thing that can save the movie is the music from Peter Gabriel and that's about it. Mel Gibson at least was honest portraying Jesus. Scorsese was just mistaken and missguided for Kazakantis book.