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Check your local video store for some of these other high-quality
films about the life of Jesus:
- The Gospel According to St. Matthew
Pier Paolo Pasolini's black-and-white film featuring
a fiery Christ in conflict with the authorities is faithful
to its source.
- Jesus of Montreal
Actually a "Jesus transfigured" film, this
provocative work by French-Canadian Denys Arcand tells
the story of an actor who writes and stars in an iconoclastic
play about Jesus, earning the displeasure of the priest
who
commissioned him.
- Jesus of Nazareth
At over six hours, this NBC miniseries includes a great
many episodes from the four Gospels and especially shows
Jesus
as a consummate storyteller.
- Jesus: the Miniseries
This film about a peacemaker Jesus, which aired on CBS,
inserts much fictional material—such as a scene
in which Jesus argues with Barabbas about violence and
nonviolence
and a scene in Gethsemane in which Satan tempts Jesus
to forsake the cross.
- The Miracle Maker
This is a wonderful retelling of the story of Jesus through
the eyes of the young daughter of Jairus. The artistry
of claymation makes it appealing to adults as well
as children (and yes, the crucifixion is shown, though
not in gory
detail).
- The Gospel of John
This beautifully filmed version of the complete text of the
Gospel of John from the American Bible Society's
Today's English Version has been showing in theaters
this year. The 3-disk DVD set will be a marvelous aid
for those studying this Gospel. The third disk includes
short
features providing historical and theological background,
as well as the usual "making of the film" features.
For information go to www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com.
- Judas
The disciple who betrayed Jesus shares equal billing with
his Master in
this brand-new film airing on ABC-TV March 8, 2004. See Ed
McNulty's review at
www.visualparables.net/free/judas.html.
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In interviews actor James
Caviezel, who portrays Jesus, has alluded to his experiences
of spiritual awakening before and during the filming of The
Passion of the Christ. Apparently, even though the young
man grew up Catholic and still attends Mass regularly, Presbyterians
have contributed to his growth as a Christian.
When the young Caviezel
was a student and basketball player at the University of
Washington in the late 1980s he was ministered to by Rod
Handley, a staff
member at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Wash.,
which had a strong outreach to student athletes. According
to David Hackett, executive director of Presbyterian
Frontier Fellowship, Caviezel also attended the church's Tuesday
night fellowship group for students, called The Inn. In an
e-mail
passed on by Hackett, Handley reports on a recent conversation
with Caviezel, in which the actor asked Christians to pray
for Mel Gibson and others involved in making The Passion. |
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James Caviezel portraying Jesus in a scene
from The
Passion of The Christ. © 2003
Icon Distribution Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Newmarket Films
release. Photo credit by Philippe Antonello |
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Caviezel is the talented actor who played
Pvt. Witt in Terrence Malik's philosophical World War II film
The Thin Red Line. Interestingly, in that film his character
searches for light and meaning amidst the violence and chaos
of war. He engages in a spiritual battle with his cynical sergeant,
eventually becoming a Christ figure as he sacrifices his life
so two of his comrades can escape from the pursuing Japanese.
Caviezel's performance in The Passion suggests
he would have made an authoritative, compassionate Christ had
the film included more of Jesus' early ministry. What stands
out (amid the violence) in this film's Jesus is his incredible
endurance and refusal to give in to the desire to call down
vengeance upon his tormentors. |
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