Rating: 
Summary: A visual masterpiece!
Review: Pasolini's film opens with a startlingly simple shot that holds within it a startling revelation; a young woman's face framed by an arch of dark hair, almost like an architectural construct, seemingly supporting the weight of the world and still behind her another arch, only this one is made of stone. Then a man, perhaps twenty years her senior is shown, staring, behind him stone ruins. Then again the young woman, only this time her face fills the entire frame. A face that is immediately recognizable even though we've never seen it before. A soft face, delicate mouth, and dark eyes that are plaintive, innocent and yet knowing. And now the face of the man fills the screen - a face filled with confusion, disappointment, pain and anger. No words are spoken and none are necessary. We understand the conversation; Joseph's young betrothed is with child and he has never lain with her. So powerful is this opening scene that pages of dialog could have been written and still have failed to convey the full meaning. Though Pasolini utilizes the Book of Matthew as his script, he employs the use of facial close-ups to tell his story. Faces etched with lines like poetry written across the barren, rugged and unforgiving landscape of ancient Palestine. Every face a different interpretation of an experience, and every experience gives us greater understanding. The isolation of individual experience to connect us to an inner voice - our own? God?
Rating: 
Summary: Problematic transfer
Review: Pasolini's naturalistic adaptation of "Matthew" may be the best ever made on the life of Jesus. (This gospel is considered the preachiest of the four, and proves a strange choice for cinema.)Alas, the transfer on this DVD isn't worth a recommendation. Considerable flicker and film artifacts make the picture a real eye-stabber; the soundtrack is frequently muffled, and the musical cues are garbled. As with most Italian films of the time, sound is "post-synch" (which is to say it's dubbed in). The dubbing is no worse than you'd find in a Fellini film, but no better. The sole extra is a European TV documentary from the early '70s. It's in pretty deplorable condition, and is featured on all the "Pasolini series" DVDs. On the whole, a great film, well worth seeing -- but not a good DVD. I'll give it three stars and hope Criterion puts out a better edition soon.
Rating:
Summary: Problematic transfer
Review: Pasolini's naturalistic adaptation of "Matthew" may be the best ever made on the life of Jesus. (This gospel is considered the preachiest of the four, and proves a strange choice for cinema.) Alas, the transfer on this DVD isn't worth a recommendation. Considerable flicker and film artifacts make the picture a real eye-stabber; the soundtrack is frequently muffled, and the musical cues are garbled. As with most Italian films of the time, sound is "post-synch" (which is to say it's dubbed in). The dubbing is no worse than you'd find in a Fellini film, but no better. The sole extra is a European TV documentary from the early '70s. It's in pretty deplorable condition, and is featured on all the "Pasolini series" DVDs. On the whole, a great film, well worth seeing -- but not a good DVD. I'll give it three stars and hope Criterion puts out a better edition soon.
Rating:
Summary: Problematic transfer
Review: Pasolini's naturalistic adaptation of "Matthew" may be the best ever made on the life of Jesus. (This gospel is considered the preachiest of the four, and proves a strange choice for cinema.) Alas, the transfer on this DVD isn't worth a recommendation. Considerable flicker and film artifacts make the picture a real eye-stabber; the soundtrack is frequently muffled, and the musical cues are garbled. As with most Italian films of the time, sound is "post-synch" (which is to say it's dubbed in). The dubbing is no worse than you'd find in a Fellini film, but no better. The sole extra is a European TV documentary from the early '70s. It's in pretty deplorable condition, and is featured on all the "Pasolini series" DVDs. On the whole, a great film, well worth seeing -- but not a good DVD. I'll give it three stars and hope Criterion puts out a better edition soon.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Movie Experience - But Revert Back To Subtitles!
Review: Pasolini's THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW is by far his best ever work and probably the greatest movie on the life of Jesus ever made. I have this movie on VHS with English subtitles and this will be the one I stick with. Dubbing this movie into English was a big mistake. However, this is still a wonderful movie in it's simplicity. The cast is superb as are the locations and imagery.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie Experience - But Revert Back To Subtitles!
Review: Pasolini's THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW is by far his best ever work and probably the greatest movie on the life of Jesus ever made. I have this movie on VHS with English subtitles and this will be the one I stick with. Dubbing this movie into English was a big mistake. However, this is still a wonderful movie in it's simplicity. The cast is superb as are the locations and imagery.
Rating:
Summary: probably the greatest film ever on this subject
Review: pasolini, unlike mr. gibson, was not a christian and never converted.
what we have here is an artist's honest reaction to the gospel of matthew upon encountering it.
an honest reaction without pre-concieved notions that lead to a truly magnificent work of art.
the film should be watched by all who think they've got jesus nailed down.
the low budget actually adds to the frankness of the film.
i mean, would christ really have wanted anyone to spend 30 million dollars on a movie about his torture?
let's face jesus was POOR and kudos must go to this filmmaker for an inspiring masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: A Simple and Smart Portrayal of Jesus
Review: Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew is brilliant. The black and White footage, soundtrack, and sometimes lack thereof produces a sobering experience. This film is not afraid to tell the story with gentleness, respect, and with mystery.
Pasolini's strength is he is not afraid to be quite and not burden certain moments with background music (something missing by many of today's top filmmakers. Yet, when music is need, he inserts it at the right moment for the correct effect. The black and white film also adds to the film; it says this is "real history" and at the same time, it is "mystery history." The person playing Jesus dos not over act, and plays with a humility that is respectful. The Last Supper is probably one of the least successful scenes shot in this film. The crucifixion scene is well done, but like most films about Jesus the Christ, the resurrection scenes are under done. Watch with the lights off and but when your wide awake, and listen the most intently when there is no background music or dialogue.
Rating:
Summary: Superb and unvarnished!
Review: Seminarians,biblical scholars and all true film buffs must see and own this non-Hollywood version. This film is more factual than anything previously filmed on the events recorded in scripture. You won't see the flashy stylized costumes of Ben Hur, King of Kings, Greatest Story Ever Told, The Robe and other better know accounts. You will see what it was like to live in that climate, at that time in history and under those circumstances. Its as close to "being there" as film can get.The importance of this film can not be over emphasized. It ranks up there with Citizen Kane and other selected gems of cinematic history. A genuine masterpiece. Best format=digital of course.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent film, poor transfer
Review: Surprise, surprise. Waterbearer has produced yet another poor quality Pasolini DVD. While this disc admittedly isn't as bad as their release of, say, Porcile, it's nowhere near the treatment this film deserves. As with the other Waterberer Pasolini DVD's, this one features burned-in subtitles that are really difficult to read, no chapter stops, and the same 30-minute documentary. I understand that there is a superior Region 2 release of this film, but I don't have a region-free player so I can't really verify that information. This is a fantastic film, and deserves better treatment. For now, however, this is all we've got.
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