La Bible : Abraham

This is an engaging movie, however, it is not among the best Biblical adaptations. It does well in holding true to scripture with some'creative license' for areas that are vague.

The film really brings us to a greater place of understanding the reality of what took place back then. As I stated in another review of a Biblical film - One of the mysteries of the Bible is in the manner which people spoke and communicated in various scenarios. Did the person express agitation or anger when he/she said this/that? Or were they always full of patience and grace? Were they serious in appearance, or did they smile often? Each movie and play we view that is an adaptation is a creation of another persons thought of how things were possibly said and done. The creator of this film made most things believable.

I really appreciated how this film made Hagar's story prominent. Rather than thinking of her as merely a disobedient servant, or a jealous, conniving woman, we come to understand the depths of the role and status that she had to endure in this life. Slaves at that time were rarely allowed to marry or have children at all. Their owners were their lives. She got just a taste of what it would be like to have a husband and a family - a life. A film that can bring the life out of an ancient book is worth paying attention to. I would recommend this.

At last, someone who knows and loves the Bible stories and tells them with accuracy and feeling. I have seen most of the movies from this series and have found that all of them were moving and at least 80% accurate. It has caused me to look the stories up again to refresh my memory. Richard Harris was a master of his art and brings Abraham to life as no other could have done. I recommend this movie both to those who have read these stories and know them by heart as well as to those who are just finding them for the first time. This movie and in fact all of those in this series bring about a thirst to know more and to find out more about God.

Back in the 1990s, TNT did a series of adaptations of Old Testament stories. This was the first one, and despite some slight flaws, it was a decent start.

Abraham adapts the Genesis story of an elderly man who is promised at the age of 75 that he will one day have a son. We further see the faithfulness that he endures for over 25 years, in which he waits for that child, even though he also gains a child from one of his servants.

Abraham is played by Richard Harris, who was Dumbledore in the first Harry Potter movie. He displays great talent as the Father of Many Nations. (This isn't his first Genesis film either, he played Cain in The Bible: In The Beginning- one of my Top 10 favorite Biblical movies.)

His co-star, Barbara Hershey, does a great job as Sarah- 5 years after playing Mary Magdelene in the controversial Scorsese movie, The Last Temptation of Christ.

The other actors aren't as famous as them, but did fine in their roles too. The cinematography is also well done for a TV movie.

My biggest concern with Biblical films is if they are accurate to the story. With the exception of Last Temptation, I don't really care for Biblical films that change the story- as it is a sin to add or take away from the text. (Deuteronomy 4:2.)

Abraham takes many events from Genesis and follows them well, and many scenes were done accurately- such as the near sacrifice of Issac and Abraham pleading to spare Sodom and Gommarah should any righteous people be in the cities.

This applies to most of the movie. However, some scenes were added and expanded on for context and runtime. Some of it made sense- in one scene, Abraham fears that a king will kill him to take Sarah as his own wife, so he lies and says that she is his sister.

The movie expands on Sarah living in the king's palace for a while, and I understand that for a movie, but it went on a little longer than it really needed to.

The movie also opens with some hardship that Abraham went through with a ruler, and that's not very Biblical, or at least not enough to spend 10 or so minutes on.

These additions are also a little annoying because the movie goes on for a few minutes past 3 hours, and without them the movie could have been closer to 2 hours. Still, for what is accurate, it's worth sitting through to get to the actual Scriptural parts.

If you enjoy Biblical movies like I do, I would suggest seeing this one. Its screenplay is not perfect, but it has enough accuracy for me to recommend it. On the whole, Abraham is a faithful adaptation of a man who was faithful to God.

Acting was superb and the accuracy of the story went along well with the Bible. Best of all the story was quite interesting even the filler that the director used with artistic license. Special effects could have been better but the story made up for it. It's 3.5 hours but well worth the time to watch it. Has the true spirit of Jehovah in the movie. A very inspirational movie. Acting was superb and the accuracy of the story went along well with the Bible. Best of all the story was quite interesting even the filler that the director used with artistic license. Special effects could have been better but the story made up for it. It's 3.5 hours but well worth the time to watch it. Has the true spirit of Jehovah in the movie. A very inspirational movie.

This little TV movie was a masterpiece. It's one of Richard Harris' most brilliant roles as he seems to become Abraham. The movie takes us on a journey from Abraham's initial trek to an unknown land, to the birth of Ishmael and Isaac. Barbara Hershey couldn't have been better as Sarah. The portrayal of the Egyptian pharaoh, the voice of God that speaks to Abraham -- all the way to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra and the close call with Isaac -- all were done with taste and sensitivity. As some have pointed out, the special effects often looked like overlays, but it didn't adversely affect the power of the film.

The movie covers a lot of ground and while it is long the time goes by quickly because the acting was so beautifully realized. Harris' portrayal of Abraham truly is emotional and realistic. The cast and crew handled the topic with sensitivity and like so many other religious films, this one stays focused on the story and shuns proselytizing, goopy music or silly dialog. This film does not suffer from any of those common problems. I'd highly recommend this film. Well worth the experience.