The Apocalypse

While banished to the island of Patmos, "St. John" (played by Richard Harris) receives visions from the Lord which results in his writing the "Book of Revelation". However, this is not a movie about "the Apocalypse". Rather, this film is more about his life on Patmos and his visions than anything else. I say this for several reasons. First, the event called "the Apocalypse" isn't constrained to just the "Book of Revelation". The fact is that much of what we know about this subject also comes from the "Book of Daniel" and the "Gospel of Matthew" along with various passages from other books in the Bible as well. Because of this, there were many passages about the Apocalypse which were left out of the film. Along with that, those passages that were included weren't explained well at all. Further, like so many other Biblical movies, there are some non-Biblical elements thrown in for dramatic effect. In this particular case it involves a beautiful Christian woman named "Irene" (Vittoria Belvedere) and a Roman spy by the name of "Valerius" (Benjamin Sadler). So basically, if you're looking for a film about the Apocalypse then it might be better to look elsewhere. However, thanks to a very fine performance by Richard Harris, this movie is still somewhat enjoyable all the same and can safely be recommended to anybody of any faith. That said, I rate it as slightly above average.

The Apocalypse is essentially two films. First it's a ground to earth story about corruption in high places and persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire during the days of the Emperor Domitian. Depending on the politics of the day until Constantine became a Christian, persecution waxed and waned in those first 200 or so years. Domitian like some of his predecessors has declared himself a god and doesn't like people around who aren't recognizing his deity. So it's round up the Christians like it was during Nero and slay them, sometimes for sport and amusement.

Sent to the Isle of Patmos where it is rumored that the last of the disciples of Jesus is living the Apostle John, is Benjamin Sadler who both finds John and finds true love with Christian girl Vittoria Belvedere. He also finds a lot of corruption and a great deal about himself.

The aged John is played by Richard Harris and he does it well, one of his better performances in his last years. The second part of the film are the fantasy sequences that become the basis for the Book of Revelation. Do not be watching this film if you are on any kind of pharmaceuticals.

The Apocalypse does have a preachy tone to it which might be off putting to many. Still it's not a bad work and should get more than church viewings.

Richard Harris's moving performance is the centerpiece of this film, in which members of the early church, struggling for faith and reassurance in the face of violent persecution, are searching for John the Beloved, last of the living apostles, who is "hiding in plain sight" on the prison island of Patmos. However, don't ignore some very good performances by several of the others. The visions of John are depicted judiciously, considering the CGI available in 2000 and the budget (that is, they don't scream "made-for-TV"); the montages do not try to show every detail but give a general idea of the visions. To watch this is a good adjunct to reading Revelation, to remind one that these fantastic visions came to a real person in a very chaotic time.

I will only write about one thing, since others have covered the excellent Richard Harris' performance: This was the first time we got a small idea of Revelation, thanks to good computerized special effects. I say a small idea, because the actual book of Revelation in the Bible contains what must be the ultimate in fantastically spectacular scenes-and a multitude of them at that. It is strange that no big production has ever attempted it. From all the existing films with titles referring to Apocalypse or Revelation, this is the best one by far. The others are no different than low budget-low interest movies, which don't even begin to reach the magnitude and magnificence of the book of Revelation.

It is 90 A. C. , world is mostly governed by the Roman Empire and its nasty emperor Domician (Bruce Payne). As the ruthless Domician praclaims himself only emperor of Heaven and Earth, carrying out a cruel pursuit against the Christians. Elderly John the Evangelist (Richard Harris) has withdrawn at a small village in Asia Minor, but it is attacked by the Romans who exact a bloody massacre. But John is only person to getaway, and he goes to Patmos island . Christians of Asia Minor think of John is dead and everyone is deeply worried about being chased by Emperor troops. As the kind Christians are eally chased and subsequently locked at a mines camp to work as slaves and tyrannically ruled by a corrupt Roman official named Corvus . Being extremely pursued, the Cristians and their religion can no longer exist. Then, the young girl Irene) Vittoria Belvedere) , believes John is still alive, in spite being held captive by the Romans . Irene is in love for a good-looking young called Valerius (Benjamin Sadler), who is really a Roman officer sent by Emperor Domician to Island of Patmos to find out if Apostle is still alive. While John has deep vision about weird happenings, as he saw as God sat on a throne and on the right hand has a book that was sealed with seven seals, being surrounded by some beasts-alike, the first was like a lion, the second beast as a calf, the third one has a face like a man, the fourth as a flying eagle .As he has vision of a final Apocalypse.

Religious an epic movie dealing about historical events concerning San Giovanni or St. John, regarding his hard existence in Patmos , where he was confined for 15 years, there he wrote down the Apocalypse Book, also called Book of Revelations that belongs to last book of the Bible . It depelops his life at the island of Patmos, where he received divine orders to write down the book of Apocalyse. There he wrote down this famous Bible book in which he described a peculiar vision of heaven with strange voices, thunderings, lightning, besides he prophetized world destruction, a complete apocalypse, it is shown by means of below average special effects and old visual effects . It is set during the rule of the Emperor Domician of the dynasty Flavia formed by Vespasian, Tito and Domician, and following dynasty Antoninos. Stars the veteran Richard Harris in one of his last films, he gives a decent acting but he is really aged. In fact, the film is well dedicated to this wonderful actor. Richard Harris is well accompanied by a good plethora of mostly Italian actors, such as : Vittoria Beldevere as the beautiful Irene, Benjamin Sadller as an undercover Roman officer named Valerius, Christian Kohlund as his father, Paolo Villaggio, Ian Duncan, Luca Ward, Loris Loddi, brief acting by Aaron Taylor Johnson, Bruce Payne as the cruel emperor Domician, among others.

It contains an evocative and colorful cinematography by series' usual, Giovanni Galasso. As well as sensitive and spiritual musical score by ordinary Marco Frisina in Ennio Morricone style. The motion picture was uneven but professionally directed by Raffaele Mertes in his customary style. He made other Biblical episodes as Apostle Thomas, Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Nazareth. Furthermore, Raffaele Mertes photographed these popular series about Biblic roles, such as : The Bible David, Jeremiah, Jesus, Salomon, Joseph, Samson and Dalilah, among others. Ratig : 6/10, acceptable and passable Biblical story that will appeal to religious people.