Bottom Line: This movie is…..INTENSE. HUMBLING. WONDERFUL.
I was one of the blessed few who were able to see a screening of this movie on Tuesday night and I have waited two days to write my review because I’m having trouble putting my thoughts into words.
I love Jesus. This movie tells the story about the Man in whom my entire faith is built upon. Watching the biblical Gospel revealed to me on a gigantic movie screen was emotional, mesmerizing, thrilling, inspiring… I could go on. My 6th grader saw it with me and even today (two days later) he was discussing the movie with me on the way to school. Son of God made an impression on him. I am thankful for this movie if for no other reason than for Walt to have experienced it with me.
Here’s what I think you’ll want to know about the movie:
- The actors and the stories are the same as the ones from The Bible Series that aired on the History Channel last year. It seems as if the producers simply wanted to highlight this period of The Bible Television Series on the big screen and open up the movie to the larger audiences that want to see major motion pictures.
- The scenery (filmed in Morocco) is breathtaking and seeing it BIGGER THAN LIFE SIZE really helps you to imagine yourself right there with the apostles!
- Several have asked me: “How intense was the crucifixion?” It was definitely intense (but I’m sure nothing like experiencing it LIVE 2000 years ago)…but not as hard to watch as the same scenes from 2004’s The Passion of the Christ. A fellow viewer wrote to me and said: “Although the crucifixion was very emotional – the movie did a great job showing why we Christians feel hopeful even in the middle of the emotion and sadness of his death” I couldn’t have said it better so I won’t try.
- I don’t think the movie will win any awards for editing or acting….it really is basically just a re-edit of scenes from the Bible TV Series. It seems to me that the purpose in creating the movie was more or less to inspire and move the audience spiritually and not to win an Oscar.
I personally loved the movie. It is a passionate, compelling, and reverent interpretation of the biblical Gospel that is suited for family viewing….but remember it is PG-13 because of the crucifixion.
On a much lighter note…..As I was leaving a baseball game to attend the screening, one of my girlfriends (who happens to be Jewish) said to me…”I want to see that movie too! Have you seen how good looking the guy who plays Jesus is?” Interesting tid-bit for Marcy and others who think this “Jesus actor” is “hot”….The Portuguese actor who plays Jesus is Diogo Morgado and he was selected as one of GQ’s Men of the Year!