Maria, Mãe de Jesus

Hard to know what to make of this. I'm inclined to say overall I didn't like it, but only because it doesn't sit right with me. Production wise its an earnest enough little affair, obviously trying to give Mary a bit more of the limelight here, in fact Pernilla August is downright excellent, just the right blend of strength and humility - she simply doesn't look like the mother of Jesus!

Christian Bale emotes and gives us a hands-on Jesus, but the "know wot I mean" Brit accents (for me at least) totally sink it, Michael Mears as John the Baptist especially. OK so Robert Ryan's accent in KING OF KINGS was no closer the mark, but he had the presence to carry it off! Another problem, associating Christian Bale forever as Patrick Bateman in AMERICAN PSYCHO, the idea of him, of all people playing Jesus just doesn't cut it with me.

OK KING OF KINGS was syrupy, Hollywoodesque, whatever you want to believe, but in the minds of little children throughout the world (and mine too if the truth be told), Jeffrey Hunter will be there waiting patiently for us in Heaven with outstretched arms, not Christopher Bale or any one of the other two dozen or so actors have taken up the cross in the name of acting.

This movie was brilliantly made and delivered a profound message. I thought Pernilla August did a wonderful job of displaying emotions and being able to get an audience to empathize with her. Christian Bale's representation of Jesus was passionate and compelling. He did an excellent job of portraying Jesus in His later years and helping give viewers insight on what He went through. I enjoyed the idea of this movie putting emphasis on the relationship of Mary and Jesus, showing that even the most powerful person of all time remembers His mother and to love and care for her the way she did from the moment He was born. This movie was definitely unique and I hope to see more that are as great as this.

Although I do have a 1/4 hebrew heritage, and practice the gaialic religion, I believe I can give this movie a fair review. I have read the christain bible, and the facts were confused. If I think about it, I think this was a rushed production made in order to beat out CBS' mini series Jesus release date. The acting was extremely weird, especially on the behalf of Bale, who I know can do better, and I never felt anything coming from this production, and I forgot that it was a based on event movie, by the second half. So overall, I don't think there is really anything to recomend, not even for extreme believers in the christain faith, or Baleheads of any kind.

When I watched it, I was filled with expectancy of a well-written and well-acted movie. The movie was well acted. The actors and actresses did a good job, especially Christian Bale. But the movie itself struck an ill-placed chord in me. The producers and directors made this movie the Hollywood way. There were many things that wasn't right, that didn't come from the scriptures. They could've followed the biblical story of Jesus and Mary and Joseph better. That's just my opinion.

This was a good idea, but I had problems with the execution. I felt this movie sacrificed more than it gained. Because it limited itself to what Mary experienced firsthand, it omitted huge chunks of the story of Jesus (like, for example, the Last Supper). If it had really developed Mary's character, that would have been a decent trade, but she comes a cross as a stock character whose words and actions are predictable and unremarkable.

This could have been a good movie, but they didn't take the trouble to do it right.