Jesus

I am glad that someone has finally portrayed Jesus as a man and not as an angelic Superman. This is a Jesus that I could follow. A Jesus that joked with his friends and yet they knew He was more than just a man. A Jesus who could fall into temptation and yet knew he had a higher calling. I'm sure that some will be upset with Sisto's Jesus as being TOO modern, but he portrayed Him as a Christ for all the ages. I wish that more biblical movies would have their characters as human beings and not cardboard cut-outs.

Forget Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ". "Jesus", the television mini-series first aired in 1999, and reprised (the second half only) in March 2004, offers a more comprehensive view of Jesus' ministry, mission, death and resurrection. It provides a better understanding of the reason for His death -- not so much the result of political infighting between Romans and Jews, as Jesus' acceptance of His Father's will that humanity should be redeemed by one deed, one life of perfect obedience and love.

Sure, there are some historical improbabilities in the mini-series. For one thing, Pilate (Gary Oldman) and Herod are shown as being on good terms with each other. The Gospels tell us they did not become friends until the day Jesus died. The calling of the apostles looks amusingly as if Jesus is choosing up sides for a game of scrub, followed by a group hug.

But the crucifixion scene is accurate in its detail, yet not as excruciating (I use the term deliberately because it is derived from the Latin noun "crux" or cross) as Gibson's gorefest.

There are also some other very nice touches. Chief among them is Jesus' temptation by Satan, played by Jeroen Krabbe, attired as a 21st-century corporate executive. Satan tries to convince Jesus (Jeremy Sisto) that His sacrifice will be in vain because humanity will use religion to perpetrate acts of hatred such as the Crusades. He suggests that, with a wave of His hand, Jesus can make humans and life on earth perfect. But that would mean denying people freedom of choice. Jesus resists the temptation, believing in the power of love freely chosen.

Debra Messing ("Will and Grace") turns in a very creditable performance as Mary Magdalene. So does Jacqueline Bisset as Mary, the mother of Jesus. The raising of Lazarus is a very powerful scene, and Jesus' own resurrection goes beyond the empty tomb to its effect on the apostles -- something Gibson fails to show.

"Jesus", the TV miniseries, succeeds where Gibson's movie fails -- by showing less passion, and more compassion.

Expensively mounted Biblical production with all star-cast and spectacularly filmed in North Africa ; 2000 years ago one man changed the world forever. A colorful version of Jesus Christ's life with a true international all-star-epic treatment and being marvellously shot . This highly regarded epic deals with a dramatic recreation of the life of Jesus Christ from his childhood , evangelization , Crucifixion , Resurrection , through the Ascention . Concerning about the wonderful life, work and death of Jesus as we know it from the Bible. Interesting retelling at the life and teachings of Christ (Jeremy Sisto) from a political , historical and religious view point . The film includes all of the major events referred to in the New Testament with descriptive Biblical passages ; his birth in Bethlehem , his existence in desert tempted by Satan (Jeroen Krabbe) , there Jesus knows he has a destiny to fulfill ; his subsequent baptism by John the Baptist (David O'Hara) ; his relation to Joseph (Armin Mueller-Stahl) , Mary (Jacqueline Bisset ) and Mary Magdalene (Debra Messing), the miracle of the Canaan wedding in which Jesus asks to have the amphora filled with water and transforms it into wine , the miracles as cripples walking , blind men seeing , Lazarus resurrection ; the fishes and the loaves ; his relationship to 12 apostles and so on . As his followers disciples are already slowly beginning to gather around Jesus . Through miracles , Jesus succeeds in allaying the doubts of Simon the Fisher called Peter (Luca Zingaretti) and even those of Thomas, the skeptic , and later on , Matthew (Sebastian Knapp) the tax collector who becomes a follower of Jesus, despite the other disciples' mistrust. Jesus Christ's journey from Galilee to Golgotha is portrayed here in thought-provoking as well as original treatment , icluding contemporary scenes . The film also adds other characters and known episodes as the baptism carried out by John , when a glowing dove appears and a voice calls Jesus by name and Herod Antipas (Luca Barbareschi) , successor to Herod the Great and John the Baptist's (David O'Hara) beheading as Salome's (Pession) price for dancing for Herod . Along the way Jesus is betrayed and detained and being sent back and forth between Caiphas (Christian Kohlund), Pontius Pilate (Gary Oldman) and Herod in a cruel farce, being brutally whipped all the while, his disciples hide in fear .

Breathtaking story set in Christ times with emphasis in lavish costumes and crowds . This is an impressive story of the life of Jesus Christ from his birth in Bethlehem by means of flashbacks , to his baptism, ministry, Crucifixion , death, resurrection, and subsequent ascension . Filmed on a relatively grand scale , being efficiently directed by Roger Young . However , not completely reverential at some Biblical characters such as Judas Iscariote , Pontius Pilate and Barrabbas portraying the man less a thief than as a political revolutionary . And a strange appearance by Satan dressed in modern clothes who shows Jesus retreated in desert all the unhappiness that his teachings will one day bring to humanity and offers him in exchange real, unlimited power over the Earth. Life of Christ is intelligently told , including glowing cinematography , an attractive visual style , memorable soundtrack by Patrick Williams and excellent cast giving larger-than-life interpretation . Good-looking Jeremy Sisto in exactly the right role , he gives a dedicated effort at the character , his acting has power , nobility , subtlety , though extreme sympathy . However , the crucifixion scene was really criticized and audience was offended for its lack of authenticity and unrealistic , there shows up a rare man not dressed as a Roman who nails Jesus to the cross. It also received awful critiques due to Jeremy Sisto's youthful, , in fact , in the film he was 25 years old when he played 33 year-old Jesus . Fine support cast , such as : Gary Oldman as Pontius Pilate , Claudio Amendola as the Zeolet leader Barabbas , Luca Zingaretti as Peter , David O'Hara as John The Baptist , Thomas Lockyer as Judas Iscariot , Sebastian Knapp as Matthew , Ian Duncan as John and Sean Harris as Thomas , among others .

This greatest story of all time results to be a long epic , mostly Italian , being shot in big scope and glimmer color by De Luxe , well photographed by Raffaele Mertes , filmed on usual location in Ouarzazate, Morocco , adding an evocative and moving musical score by Patrick Williams . The motion picture financed by Lube Lux Vide/Betafilm , British Sky Broadcasting , in association with RAI and was professionally directed by Roger Young . Roger is a good craftsman usually shooting films for television, and pilots. Later he moved on to mini-series, which has been the joy of his career, winning two more DGA awards, and working all over the world . He shot various episodes of the prestigious ¨Bible series¨ , such as : Joseph , Moses , Paulus of Tarso , Salomon and Barrabbas .

¨Jesus¨ is the yardstick by which all Jesus movies are to be measure . Other pictures dealing with his divine presence are the following ones : ¨King of Kings¨ (released in 1927) , first silent version by Cecil B. DeMille with H.B. Wagner ; ¨King of Kings¨1961 by Nicholas Ray with Jeffrey Hunter , Robert Ryan , Hurd Hatfield , Rip Torn , Harry Guardino , Carmen Sevilla , ¨The greatest story ever told¨ (1965) by George Stevens with Max Von Sidow , Charlton Heston , Jose Ferrer , Sidney Poitier , Claude Rains ; ¨Gospel according to Matthew¨ by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus ; ¨Jesus Christ Superstar¨(1977) by Norman Jewison with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson ; ¨Jesus de Nazareth¨(1977) by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell , Olivia Hussey , James Mason , Laurence Olivier , Anne Brancfort , Fernando Rey ; ¨Last temptation of Christ¨ by Martin Scorsese with Willem Dafoe , David Bowie , Harvey Keitel , Ian Holm , Harry Dean Staton ; and ¨The Passion of the Christ¨ (2004) by Mel Gibson with James Cazievel , Maia Morgenstern and Monica Belucci .

Seeing Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" made me want to re-watch this CBS Mini-series. What a compassionate, loving movie! Jeremy Sisto was excellent in the title role. This film was helped greatly by good music and costumes and excellent F/X. The most difficult thing about "Jesus" is it's flawed script and dumbed-down dialogue. Thats OK, it more than makes up for it. Sisto's Jesus is so human, so full of love and compassion. Debra Messing was an fine choice for Mary Magdalene and Jaqueline Bisset a surprisingly effective Mary.

They take lots of chances. Jesus is shown as the perfect priest, telling Mary of Bethany that his "life is not my own" and loving everyone as His Mother, sister and brother. What a beautiful message! The final hour of the film is the the best part, The brutal crucification and the playing of "Pie Jesu" over Jesus' burial moved me to tears. The resurrected Christ is shown joyful and smiling!!!!! This finally is Jesus, who could find joy in clear skies and still waters, who tell his apostles, in a brilliantly done "upper room" that he is "with them always". In other films they act like the story is over after Easter Sunday. In "Jesus" we know it is just beginning. Highly recommended.

I saw the first part of this mini-series a few years back when it was on. My wife and I rented it a few weeks back because I remembered wanting to see the rest of it. What a wonderful movie! I have a Seminary Degree and am the pastor of the church and I have ordered a copy of the DVD to use with the Youth Group of the church I am serving. Finally, we see Jesus as he most likely was. He isn't the stiff character we have seen in other installments of the Gospel story. Those who call this movie blasphemy must not have read too many pages of the Gospel. Jesus was considered an undisciplined by many people including his mother (Matthew 12:46-50). Of course, we all know today that an undisciplined person would not have been able to bear the cross, not to mention sacrificing Himself for others.

Christ offers us new life, and this mini-series offers new life to a colorful, wonderful, and historical story about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Was there some creative license involved in this production? No doubt there was. But the basic story was the same. Christ was born, he lived and taught and healed. He faced execution for crimes He did not commit and He left the tomb three days later alive. That is the story we get here.

All of you critics of this mini-series relax. It could have been a whole lot worse.