Recensioni degli utenti

As a Christian who was born and raised in China, I find it fairly difficult to hold fast to my faith when the majority of people here still take Christianity as superstition or a series of fairy tales. So I was more than thrilled to have this opportunity to revisit these thought- provoking stories that could help to strengthen my faith in God.

The narrative style and visual effect on the first couple of episodes was stunning enough to draw me into the age of Genesis and Exodus.Both of the actors did an amazing job in conveying the steadfastness and faithfulness of Abraham and Moses. To top it off, from episode 6 onward, the depiction of Jesus Christ is the best I've ever seen compared to other titles with the similar theme. I was also glad to notice that the script includes some of the most memorable and inspiring verses like Psalms 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") and Matthew 5:3-10 (The Sermon on the Mount).

The drawback of this TV production is that it has neglected many great events in the Old Testament. For instance, the detail of some of the ancient prophets like Samuel, Nathan, and Jeremiah and one of my favorite stories --Jonah's disobedience to God's command. (In fact it left out the entire book of Jonah). I understand that due to its limited length and budget, it is impossible to include every detail, yet to look at the show in a bigger picture, I still feel that it's lacking something important. It most probably could be the omission of the Holy Spirit which makes every heart submit to the Lord and leads our way, proclaims the truth, and restores our lives. In other words, I think this production only explains 2/3 of the Trinity.

But in general, this is a very truthful rendering of the Bible and I would strongly recommend it to people who are still searching for God and those who wish to get an outline of important events in the Holy Bible.

I got this gift as a Christmas present in 2013. It took me nearly half a year to get into. I had heard some middling reviews and wasn't overly impressed by the "Son of God" theater spin-off. When I finally gave it go, however, I discovered that each episode kept building and left me wanting more.

"The Bible" is pretty much split into two halves: The first half tells a number of Old Testament stories (Abraham, David, Daniel, Samson, etc.), while the second half transitions into the New Testament, telling of the ministry of Jesus Christ and his subsequent crucifixion/resurrection.

The first couple of episodes of this series are "just okay". I felt they made too big of a point to showcase the brutal violence of the Old Testament era. As such, I kind of dragged myself into those early episodes. They aren't terrible (I could still appreciate the stories being told), but just not entirely focused.

Once I was about 3-4 episodes in, however, the drama/stories/characters really started to pick up and I watched the final few episodes over the span of hours, not days. Whatever you do, PLEASE DO NOT compare this to "Son of God" that was patched-together and released into theaters to capitalize on the success of this show. "Son of God" isn't bad...just bland. "The Bible", on the other hand, is filled with emotion, especially during the "passion" scenes involving Jesus. It was that emotion that kept me watching.

In terms of accurateness, I had no problems with "The Bible". I'm not a huge biblical scholar, but I did attend Sunday School and thus know my basic bible stories (!). Besides a few tiny little nit- picks here and there, I found nothing major to criticize here.

Finally, "The Bible" can also serve as a great history of the Jewish religion. Creator/producer Mark Burnett does a great job of telling a coherent, structural history of the Jews, complete with narration to "fill in the gaps".

Overall, then, I feel "The Bible" to be one of the best Biblical works of film ever produced. Once you get through the first couple of episodes that focus a bit too much on the violence, you'll find yourself getting sucked into the history and emotion of the stories being told.

Not being a Christian myself, but having read some biblical literature and having an interest in documentaries on Bible, I've always felt that to be able to see these stories in action is perhaps the best way to commit them to memory, and I believe the series excels in that. This is especially monumental for the younger generation who does not often give as much importance to religion as did our forefathers. The accuracy of any representation of Bible will be and has been questioned for authenticity and for not being true to the scriptures, but I think these claims need to be looked in the light of the fact that the 4 gospels in the New Testament bear so many differences among them too.. So what is true might merely by "our version" of truth. And we need to understand the spirit of the Bible, and realize that neither does it claim to serve as an answer nor as the actual representations of what must have happened. It just tries to bring a visual representation of the Holy Bible aimed at bringing people possible who are not as much aware of the scriptures as others and serve as a quick crash course on the Biblical times, if you must.. I am not a Christian, and by watching the series know more about Christianity than I even did .. I'm sure there are others like me, and if it helps people realize the true story or the greatness of God, I''d say any form should be welcome..

The one thing I was instantly pleasantly surprised with when I watched the first episode of The Bible was the scale of this production, especially for a TV Mini-Series. Unlike most of its predecessors this classic story has been made into a Hollywood epic, both in terms of proportion and the style in which it has been filmed. The visual effects are very impressive and the score, composed by the brilliant Hans Zimmer is beautiful. Perhaps some might argue that it is more of an "entertainment" series rather than an "educational" one, but all the key points of the Bible have been respected.

It's well scripted and the actors did an excellent job in portraying very believable characters, and how great to see the beautiful Roma Downey play the part of Mary!

I thought this was EXCELLENT!!!!! To be able to make the story of the bible in such a small amount of time allotted (5 parts) it was absolutely excellent! The special effects made it SO realistic,the story line loosely true to the "Word" (remember trying to keep a thread through all these stories and through the total bible "must" have been difficult at best). The actors who played these characters did a beautiful job. The only negative i can say is that it wasn't a longer series than it was. Thank you so much for the recounting of the Bible in this entertainment industry fashion and for creating this documentary.

This is one of those series that get hit from both sides.

It radicalizes and polarizes both sides on the political spectrum, and the religious spectrum and draws hatred from the fanatics on both sides.

If you read the reviews:

The far right uber-religious are crying about how Biblically inaccurate this is...and that means that they missed the "mini-series" part of production. Really, how are you going to make it accurate to the Bible and watchable for the general public?

I used to work in history and that was a HUGE pet peeve of mine. "Saving Private Ryan would have been good but this, this, and this were inaccurate and..." WHO CARES????!!!!!!!

Do you honestly want an entire two-hour episode of David sitting down writing Psalms? That's really not going to be entertaining. The same goes with long winded rehearsals of who begot whom, which are also guaranteed to put the public to sleep.

If you want a literal interpretation of the book...buy and read the book. Otherwise you will have a faithful depiction at best, but never a truly accurate one.

You can't even translate Harry Potter 100% accurately into a film and those novels are a lot less, well, Biblical. So, chill, take a seat, and be entertained.

The series might be made to educate, but it's education for entertainment as implied by the word "dramatization."

And moving across the alley you have far left fanatics yelling that both the book and this series should be banned. Yelling that they are harmful, that they are dangerous....

...and I guess they are forgetting that people said the exact same things about "Howl" when it was published, and if you live in America and have that view, you should be seriously ashamed of yourself.

There is something inherently wrong about censoring thought and speech. Chill, this is an AMERICAN production and over here, if you want to worship the stick you found in the parking lot last Tuesday...and then make a movie about it, that's your Constitutionally protected right as stated in the 1st Amendment.

If you have an issue with that, move someplace that censors thought, religion, and speech. The rest of us are perfectly happy that we won't get thrown in jail for not sharing the same views as whomever is in power at the moment.

So...if you think about it, if you really think about it, the Bible did a FANTASTIC job in dramatizing the Bible if it's getting it from both sides. The far left is not happy with it and the far right is not happy with it...and that generally means I'm going to be pretty happy with it.

And I was, as someone that spent most of his adult life working around history...well...is there a word that best explains salivating in nerd fueled bliss?

It was awesome. Like The Da Vinci Code (book not movie) the little chapters were just long enough to draw you in and short enough not to get dull. But, the historian in me absolutely loved how well it showed the the stories and people were inter-connected...and that is really an aspect of the Bible that you do NOT get when you go to church.

So you have a bunch of short interconnected stories that sort of turns the Bible into a "Pulp Fiction" styled miniseries and just sits really well for entertainment purposes.

For real entertainment purposes, spending more time on Judges, where you get the bulk of the nation building and the only real stories that you liked when your parents forced you at gunpoint to go to CCD as a child, would have been preferable.

Yeah Moses and Noah are OK, but really you want to hear more about Samson and the high adventure stories...the ones that you liked as a little kid because it read kind of like Robert E. Howard...But I guess focusing only on those stories wouldn't make The Bible as epic in scope as the miniseries became.

And, I feel because of that need to be more epic you had what so many other people complained about...

SAMURAI NINJA WARRIOR VR TROOPER ANGELS

And unlike the political and religious zealot complaints...the Samurai Angels were really a valid complaint. That just hurt to see.

I WOULD have given it 10 stars because it was super entertaining...but Ninja Warrior Angels. You can't suspend your disbelief enough not to do a spit-take when you see them.

They were so bad.

But fortunately they were also short lived.

So...don't turn it off when you see them. It's a good dramatization to sit back and watch, and the strongest part is honestly the length of the little chapters. It makes it perfect for viewing.

I found it good drama and it was worth watching. The problem is that if you are familiar with the Bible, you are continually spotting errors and additions. The acting is good. I was impressed with the actor playing Jesus and I don't care that he was probably the wrong colour.

We have 10 episodes. The Old Testament takes up 5 episodes. Rather than trying to cover the entire testament is concentrates on selected stories and characters leaving out many who could have been mentioned. I was OK with this.

We then have 5 episodes of New Testament. I thought that there were too many scenes which were unnecessarily long, especially the cross carrying saga which seemed to go on for ages. More time could have been spent on the ministry stories. I was not happy with the many variations from the gospels and Acts. We didn't have a Saul of Tarsus, just a Paul of Tarsus.I liked the inclusion of Luke but not the omission of Barnabas.

The major fault was ...We are shown Jesus dying and being buried on a Friday. We then see Mary walking to the Tomb and flashed up on the screen we see the words THREE DAY LATER which would make it a Monday. The gospels specifically say that Jesus rose from the dead on the Third day, not three days later. I could not believe that they made such a mistake.

Dear practicing Jews, Xtians, & Muslims; Pointing out the inaccuracies of the show is pointless...anyone who cares knows Jesus wasn't white, or that ancient Semetic tribes spoke English(!) We know, we know.

Dear fellow atheists & the like; the miracles are at a minimum & really are no offense to us as it is the production & presentation that should move us.

I do not believe in god.

I do love Jesus of Nazareth. I live each day with the words of this Rabbi of Judea, only without all the hocus-pocus. I have seen every Biblical epic since the first Ben-Hur in the silent era. Even in my atheism they move me. Greatly. Read some Joseph Conrad to appreciate the STORY for what it is: The greatest mythology ever written. To believers & non-believers alike: let us just enjoy this great story without interjecting religion. Take the wisdom from these tales and leave the rest.

Do what Jesus of Nazareth suggested: Be nice to each other.

This 10-part History Channel miniseries is produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. They are the stories from the bible starting with God telling the childless Abraham to bring his wife Sarah and tribe to new lands yet revealed. The production is workmanlike in both the good and bad sense of the word. The product looks well-made if somewhat uninspired. There are no big name stars in the series. It may be both intentional as well as budgetary. The effects are as good as can be expected. The stories have been cleaned up a bit. The first glaring example is Lot who confronts the mob outside. "Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." I understand why that has to be cut out for modern ears. So this is not a word for word reproduction which is fine by me. The end result is that this is a reasonable distillation of the Bible. It has pace. It looks good. It doesn't shy away from the violence and the grittiness. It's a good watch for young people learning the Bible.

Well put together and filmed, but very inaccurate; it also skips many important events in the bible. This show could have been amazing. It had heart and very well filmed, why couldn't they have made it a long series instead of a mini. It would have given them the time to hit all the stories in the bible and put in some accuracy. There are some extremely entertaining stories in the bible and it would have made a very good series.

This most recent biblical film could have been so good... After "consulting 47 theological advisers (including Rick Warren, and one rabbi)"... how is it that so many things were not done correctly?

Yes, one wonders how any involved could have not consulted the Bible. To list all factual errors would be another mini-series, but I will say we KNOW what the key Bible coins look like -and they got them wrong. Some are so inexpensive it would have been less costly to use the real deal instead of a poor prop! in this area I give you a generous -1(disgraceful)! Like Judas, these advisers should seek to return their payment!

Christians won't like it because it misrepresents the bible and glorifies the violence without giving credence to the allegories for having a lesson.

Atheists won't like it because at the end of every allegory some character simplifies their situation as "because god, that's why."

Critics won't like it because the editing is horribly disjointed and condensed without giving any time for character development, and the acting is over-done to the point of making viewers uncomfortable.

In a way, it is bringing us all together because it is so poorly done that it becomes our common enemy.

3/10

Please disregard all my arrogant Christian brothers. They somehow feel that the Bible itself is a screenplay and thus should be treated as one. As a bible student for 23 years and possessing All Bible films ever made from silent films until today I can clearly say what is good and what is bad. This mniseries is fantastic to spark interest in the good Book. While the miniseries takes many dramatic licence, the emotion and heart of it is clearly felt. It makes no claim to authenticity yet many scenes actually feel more authentic and not forced to look holier than thou but instead makes you think how hard those times were and thus these people did not know they would be in the bible one day. Many may mention omissions of many storeys which it does skip,however it spends a great deal in Christ. Acting us excellent as well as the score. For my all my Christians brothers who criticise this series I say to you then what would you produce. Those word for word Visual Bible Videos "Matthew, Acts, John?" That although literal word for word and nothing more and honest, nevertheless are completely dull boring and without emotion whatsoever. Even I who know the bible and enjoy it have had a hard time getting through those videos and if i knew not the material with those productions i would turn it off. Sad but true. Those videos are for Christians and Christians alone. You say you want to reach people well with those videos Christianity would have never gotten of the ground per say. In 2004 every Christian complained about "The Passion of the Christ" including scenes not in the gospels or out of order yet it was so power full no one could not say they weren't moved and it reached to millions. This miniseries is great if you are curious about the Bible and and recommend it as a great start up tool. As I mentioned I have seen every film and have every film so I can say what is blasphemous or not. Please forgive my Christian arrogant brothers who act more like Pharisees all righteous and knowing. Times like this I love saying I am an Anti Christian,,,Christian. God bless and enjoy the series.

Never have I seen a show that has touched me so deeply as this epic mini-series. I'm all for it when 'The Bible' reaches new listeners, picks up those that have fallen, those who are lost or refreshes their faith when it has gone stale.

I was struggling this past year with many things. I am a person of faith but felt that even I had lost some of the fire in my soul. I was having trouble finding it again. I had faith. I just felt it was becoming 'stale'.

Then, I watched 'The Bible' when it first came out on the History Channel. I loved every minute of the stories from 'Genesis' to the book of 'Revelation'. I felt some of that fire returning. Diogo Morgado lit up the screen with his portrayal of Jesus Christ. I saw such passion on his face and love in his eyes every second he was on screen. But, what lifted my spirits and renewed every ounce of faith I had in me was when I saw the interview of Diogo on Youtube. With so much warmth and conviction, he teared up as he talked about how he was haunted by the Crucifixion scene. I know Diogo is a very talented actor but he seemed completely genuine and humbled by going through this experience. He did shine when he talked about his role. It was evident on his face.

But, can we please drop the #HotJesus now?(I never jumped on that bandwagon). It feels sacrilegious to me. He gets asked about that hash-tag in every interview and I know he's being nice but I can tell it makes him a little uncomfortable. I like #SexyDiogo, however. I like #LovingJesus or #MercifulJesus. But not #HotJesus. This beautiful story isn't about how sexy people think Jesus(Morgado) is but what He came here to do for us. Matthew 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remissions of sins." That's the message this whole series is trying to convey. Jesus gives his heart freely and loves unconditionally. He sacrificed so that we may live.

Darwin Shawn, as the disciple, Peter, did a fantastic job embracing the role of Jesus' favorite follower. He truly let the Lord work through him and was so convincing in his role that I wanted to be there in that moment with him; with them all. Roma Downey was excellent as Mary. To watch her help her son pick up his cross, knowing what was in store for him was heart breaking. We get to see suffering on different levels and in various ways. We suffer through the eyes of another--'suffering by proxy'.

Since I've already watched it on t.v., I'm leaving a review now. Though, I will be getting the DVD for my birthday next month! :) Diogo Morgado said he would be happy if this series even touched one soul. No, you have touched millions with your gifts. Never let them die or become corrupted by the monsters of the industry. Your role has renewed my spirit. He was perfect for this role as Jesus Christ. He seems down to earth and humble. He wanted to play the Jesus he knew. In Matthew 11:29---"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto you souls." No one could portray Jesus so humbly as Diogo has so beautifully done. Who better to play the part than one who is kind, warm and also humble? Example: When asked if he was 'famous' in Portugal, he said, "I'm known there." A perfect answer. He didn't say 'I'm a famous actor/model'. It does one no good to think too highly of him/herself. It's better to let others praise your work than to praise yourself.

I highly recommend this series to any and all who are looking for more; for those who are tired of what they are watching on t.v. and in movies; for those who have seen enough violence and depravity to last two lifetimes; for those seeking the positive to overshadow all the negative we endure in this world.

Diogo didn't have say a word or even move. I've never seen an actor convey everything they had in them as Diogo did portraying Jesus. I knew exactly what he was 'saying' just by looking in his eyes. Diogo is extremely blessed and gifted when all he needs to do is show his eyes and you just know. The eyes are the windows to the soul. It seems Diogo really is a sweet person if the saying is true.

Watch my video that is dedicated to this series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzJ01VFKWas

I thought it was the best I have seen in a long while. It did make you want to come back for day two and three and four and now I am really excited for the last one. They did not have time with 10 hours plus commercials to add all the detail some in other reviews would like but I think it was enough. A few small mistakes But so far nothing that should hurt ones salvation. Just trying to open up the Bible to the viewers. I do think for the time restraints they did a pretty good job. Believe on Him and search the scriptures... I think the last one of this series will be the most important to get the message right as accurately as possible. I am sure it will be brilliantly done.

I don't know if producers were trying not to offend anybody or whatever, but in a 10 hour movie (I watched all episodes in one binge), they couldn't spare ONE minute during Jesus baptism for God's "validation?" (this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased). For posters that call series too short, if you wanted EVERY 'important" incident, the series would be 100 hours long at least, which is way too long for most. As a poster pointed out , the word God is almost never mentioned! Basically this is a Readers Digest version of the Bible. Strangely, for an American-made film, many actors had distinctly British accent.

Being about the Bible, I don't want to spoil the end. (Joke.) But, I must say this was very well done aside from a few inaccuracies. This is to be expected seeing as it is a mini-series rather than a gigantic series.

Now, the only complaint I would have is the actual crucification of Jesus. Many believe it was a cross (though it was a stake if you do the research into it) and since it is a minor matter and to be expected that should be no matter here. But, the nail in the hand instead of wrist is still happening even knowing the truth behind it.

Aside from that little fact, the show was great. I do hope it opens up people to reading the Bible and to their God. The show portrayed things in a very good way, aside from a few things with Jesus and after Jesus.

If you have not read the Bible read Luke then read Acts. Though, you can always start with this show for a start. I do recommend it as a start before reading or to those who know the Bible.

I will say, as a Jehovah's Witness I really expected to be even more disappointed with the portrayal of Jesus, I didn't expect God's name to be used since it may offend some or confuse even more but a few lines not from the Bible got me but that in itself did is not a problem, only implying Jesus as God without Biblical support. But, overall, I liked it.

My wife and I made it just fifteen minutes into Episode Two.

Seeing Sampson of the Bible portrayed by a black man with dreadlocks -- complete with a mother inexplicably decked out in African garb -- was too much for any reasonable viewer to be asked to overlook. We had already struggled to ignore the kung-fu master who turns up in Episode One to help slay the enemies of Israel.

Hollywood is hopelessly controlled by the maniacal political left and political correctness. Better to take a pass on this series and read a good book instead.

Perhaps the REAL Bible?

While the film brings to life the stories written in the Bible. I wonder why the creators of this film goes out of their way to make the man Jesus, born of the lineage of King David, begotten in the Middle East, caucasian! Is this act wilful or ignorance? However the acting is good. Scenes seem very realistic. The scene the resurrection of Lazarus though was not as moving as the actual reading of the scripture, from the Bible. The power of the scene should have been Jesus weeping, then rising from his grief, calling to his friend from outside the tomb, and those present, in total amazement, as Lazarus walk out of the tomb holding the cloths which bond him.

I am enjoying this series as my mother and I are catching them, but we are both amused at the 'whitewashing' of the bible. Consider the stories below. I'm not going to mention the 'episode'. If you're watching the series you'll find it yourself. I'm only mentioning the bible passages.

Daniel 6 - Daniel in the lions den. After Daniel is 'saved' from the lions, king Cyrus throws his accuser into the lions den. What actually happens is recorded in the bible in Daniel 6:24 (NIV):

"At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones."

I guess Hollywood thought that throwing innocent women and children alive into be eaten by lions wouldn't play well in Topeka. However, that is what the bible recorded. Score 1 for the establishment.

Genesis 19 - Two angels come into Sodom and are taken into Lot's house for protection. The men from the town beat on the doors demanding that Lot bring the strangers out. Lot comes out to confront the crowd with the angels close behind. They blind the crowd then go all ninja turtle and kick some butt. What actually happened is recorded in the bible in Genesis 19:6-8

"Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, 'No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.'"

I guess Hollywood didn't think that it would play well in the bible belt to see a man offer his virgin daughters to a crowd to be raped.

Joshua 6 - The Israelites march around the city for seven days then blow their horns. The walls fall and they rush in to take the city in a glorious victory for God. What they forgot is recorded in the bible in Joshua 6:21

"They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys."

That's right. Genocide. Hermann Göring style mass murder. Everything and everybody was killed; mothers, children, pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, infants, grandmothers.

Exodus 12 - God strikes down the firstborn son (it's good to be a girl huh!) of all of of Egypt in order to get the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. In Exodus 12:29,30 the bible says;

"At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead."

In Matthew 2:16 we read "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."

The incident in Matthew is called the 'slaughter of the innocents'. The incident in Exodus is called a glorious victory by God. Yes, yes yes! I know that this last one was not misrepresented by Hollywood! I just had to put it in because it is so hypocritical I wanted to have fun with it!

All this stuff is right there in the Old Testament (except the slaughter of the innocents of course). Look it up. The next time someone wants to quote you something out of the OT ask them if they mean the same OT that glorifies genocide, gleefully accepts giving young women to crowds to be gang raped, and rejoices over throwing women and children into dens of wild animals to be eaten alive.

The series is decent drama. But don't think you're learning anything from the bible out of it!

By the way, I'm a follower of the message of Jesus the Carpenter; aka, The Man; aka, The Son of God. But I just really dislike associating myself with 'Christians'. Jesus save us! From your followers!

Elisheba Ruth http://elishebaruth.blogspot.com/