Rating: Summary: Baloney And Cheese Review: A combination of Hollywood baloney and cheesey theatrics this is certainly one of the worst productions the gospels I have ever seen! Not only does it falter in the script in trying to make the gospels modern, but the scenes where Satan was alternately a beautiful woman and a mobster dressed in a nice suit was laughable to say the least! The acting was as lame as the as the special effects were weak with Jesus and Peter clearly not walking on water, but on something holding them a few inches beneath the waves! There are corny implausible scenes of Peter and Judas fighting making me wonder if this movie was intended as satire! If so it succeeded! If it was meant to be taken seriously it failed! Now mind you I'm an Italian-American. However in truth I must say the alternating British, American and Italian accents and the all too terrible sets gave this horrible flick a comic book quality! I dare say any non Christian wishing to convert would change his mind after seeing this movie! I have seen many bad versions of the gospels, but this is certainly among the worst!
Rating: Summary: This movie is a mockery! Review: This movie is probably one of television's biggest mistake! I watched this movie in disgust as Jesus was portrayed as an ungodly, normal human being. There were times in this movie where I felt that the disciples around Jesus were more sensible than he was, which was definately not the case. I thought the idea of the producers of this movie going to and adhering to all religious beliefs about Jesus Christ and implementing those ideas in this movie, was absurd. They simply needed to go to the Bible to catch the truth but since this typical Hollywood version played to the crowds of religious differences, they have missed the mark! There is another movie under the same exact name which was made in 1979 and follows the book of Luke exactly. Go to your nearest Bible Book Store and buy THAT one and skip the Hollywood mythological drull on this particular 2000 Jesus movie.
Rating: Summary: How on earth did anyone listen to him? Review: No, as a devout Christian, I certainly do not mean the real Jesus, but the silly, spineless version presented here. The acting - for example, in the characters of Jesus, Pontius Pilate, and Herod Antipas - was so dreadful and the characterization so weak that one of the most intense events of history was robbed of any impact.There is nothing offensive here (unless you are one who has a fundamental objection to the implication that a prostitute has had sex), though there are deviations from the gospel for reasons I cannot fathom. But, from an artistic and literary standpoint, this effort reminded me of a school project ... from a group of kids who were at their wit's end to be original. I for one well understood Judas's irritation. While the notion of Jesus's dancing, laughing, playing with children, and so forth has its charm, the acting was so dreadful that one wondered how those from a tradition that so valued wisdom and learning could have bothered with a man in his 30s who had the maturity of a child. About the only character in this tiresome flick who had any dramatic impact was the evil one - though even the excellent idea of Jesus's having been tempted in his humanity lost its strength because the response from him was depicted so poorly.
Rating: Summary: Who is He? Review: If I had never read about or known Jesus, this film would have given me the impression that Jesus was not God. The Jesus I read about in the Bible knew and followed the will of God. The man portrayed in the movie doubts God and has to be convinced to follow God's will, most notably by his mother. The ending of his romantic relationship with Mary illustrates that he had at one time disregarded God's will (thus sinning) and now chose to follow it. If Jesus sinned, He was not God. If He didn't sin, He was God. The Jesus I read about in the Bible not only knew who He was, but had a passion to share God's love with people, no matter the inconvenience to Himself. The man portrayed in the movie seems reluctant to say or do anything except when pushed to or when reacting in anger. Overall, I find little of the real Jesus as revealed in the Bible, in this movie. The temple reconstruction is magnificent, the dialoge well-crafted, but the Truth is not in it, and that's what really matters. Get to know the real Jesus by spending time in prayer and in the Bible. You'll find Him more real and more wonderful than you can imagine.
Rating: Summary: In Praise of "Jesus" Review: I've read a lot of the previous reviews of this wonderful TV mini-series and have to admit to some confusion. My purpose in viewing this DVD was to be entertained, and that's all I was looking for. I'm often confused by people who take offense to anything that doesn't fit into their "box". If I seek spiritual enlightenment, I'll read the Bible, the Analects of Confucius, The Tanakh, the Quran, or the Book of Mormon. I found it very easy to "suspend my disbelief" and find joy in Sisto's interpretation. ...So what is the purpose of a TV mini-series?...To make ratings and money. I mean, get serious!, the purpose is not to bring "unbelievers" to the true-faith. In this case, the project was sucessful in the extreme. I enjoyed Sisto's embrace of life, his laughter and dancing. Life was (and is) precious because it's to be embraced and enveloped, enjoyed, praised, not held up as some kind of icon to the impossible and improbable. While I (sincerely) enjoy Powell's "over the top", and way too serious (Jesus of Nazareth)...I believe there is a niche for a point of view other than the "average" or norm.... The DVD design is well-done and organized, the cinematography is exquisite, the cast is a sure-shot, and the DVD navigation a sure thing....although I have some sound problems early in the viewing (not sure if that's a problem with my system or the DVD)....If allowed only 3 DVDs to own, "Jesus" (the mini-series), (Zefferelli's) "Jesus of Nazareth" and "Walking With Dinosaurs" would be the hands-down winners..... Eric
Rating: Summary: Too human to be faithful Review: This film is very beautiful. Full of colors, movement, action, joy and emotion. It concentrates on only two years of Jesus's life, his last two years. Jesus is given some real human depth with a lot of laughing and smiling. Great care is taken to show the political games behind the wings : the Romans versus the priests, the rebellious fighters against the Romans, and Jesus in the middle of these intrigues. Poverty, hunger, violence, executions, tyranny, all the plagues of the Jews, and yet only three attitudes, three approaches : the priests want peace to save Israel, along with the King of Judea who wants to save his privileges and his power ; Barabbas and other jewish fighters who want a revolution (Judas is very well integrated in this approach) ; and Jesus who sees a long way beyond and wants to give humanity back its freedom, the freedom of choice, the possibility to choose between good and evil. This film also shows the temptations Jesus has to undergo, particularly the way his name will be used in vain in the twenty odd centuries after his death : inquisition, crusades, wars... And yet I feel a little bit unsatisfied because the teachings of Jesus are reduced to very short and light phrases : the accent is put too much on walking on the water, healing the sick and resurrecting Lazarus. The teachings are too shallow, and this gives to the whole film a strange meaning. We do not feel the real completely new approach of Jesus toward humanity and man's sufferings. It becomes in a way some kind of tale associated to an adventure. What is important in this man, in this son of God, is the whole vision of life, the deep truth he brought to human kind. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
Rating: Summary: Not the Jesus I know Review: Gee, I never envisioned Jesus as lazy. This guy mumbles through the dialog and seems annoyed that he is even in the movie. Do yourself a favor and rent or buy "Jesus of Nazareth." It is by far the best movie about the life of Christ I have ever seen. By the way, Jesus is my savior. I hope he is yours too!
Rating: Summary: The human face of God Review: As a Christian theologian I was most impresssed with this film. As a co-watcher said, "I know the end of the story and it's still compelling viewing." The Jesus protrayed here is truly the Jesus of the Epistle to the Hebrews, a man who learnt through suffering and obedience to the will of God. Yet he is a man full of joy and laughter-a man who sees others as they are, has compassion on their faults, yet above all, loves them as they are. My only disappointment was the downplaying of the role of Mary Magdalene and the stereotypical portrayal of her as a prostitute when this is not the biblical depiction. There she is a woman healed of 7 devils-perhaps psychological or physical illness and she plays a leading role in the proclamation of the resurrection. The film was informed by contemporary biblical scholarship, yet courageous enough to follow its own vision. It made me wish that theologians and biblical scholars might present such an engaging and provocative Jesus, with the power to touch the heart and create meaning for others.
Rating: Summary: Anti-Christ!!! Review: I am a Christian, so as a Christian I have to speak out against movies like this that destroy the real Jesus. I honestly thought this was going to be a good accurate film about the life of Jesus according to the Bible, but instead I saw a Jesus that the producers made up. After seeing a few minutes of it, I got upset, that this would be aired on television and non-Christians would get to see this FICTION that blasphemes the Son of God. I am suprised that believers of Christ would rate this movie with 5 stars as if it's so great, you so called believers out there better start reading your Bibles. If you non believers want to know the real Jesus, the Messiah, the King of Kings, and the Saviour, read the Bible (esp. the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). If you want to see a good movie of Jesus, I reccomend the "Jesus" film project or "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus Christ is not some guy who was talked into being the Messiah, who didn't know what was going on most of the time, and wanted to marry Mary sister of Lazarus, the real Jesus Christ is the member of the triune God (in other words, God) who spoke the whole universe into being. There is not suppose to be a Jesus for the new millenium, He never changes, from the beginning of time to the end of the age.
Rating: Summary: THE BEST EVER Review: This movie was one of the best Jesus movies I have ever seen. I knew during the first episode on TV when he laughed at the wedding in Cana. The Jesus I know was a human being who laughed, cried, and was confused at times, JUST LIKE ALL OF US. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a true-life depiction of Jesus. I just watched it again and am so impressed with the depiction of Jesus. Yes, he was a normal human being. He had feelings of love even sexual love. That is not a sin. God created human beings to love one another. Loving another person is not a sin. Please watch this movie to understand who the REAL Jesus of Nazareth was.
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