The story of Jesus Christ is a powerful one of faith, rebellion, love, sin and redemption. Historically, it marks the birth of a religion at a time when it looked like the sun would never set on the Roman Empire. There have been quite a few representations of Jesus Christ in the movies, including Shakespearean director Franco Zeffirelli’s 1977 all-star mini-series, with Peter Ustinov as Herod, Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus and Anthony Quinn as Caiaphas. Here is a look at four rather different interpretations of Jesus’ life and work.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)Based on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera and Broadway production, the Norman Jewison directed
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Monty Python’sLife of Brian(1979)
In true Monty Python style,
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Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intensely personal portrayal of Jesus is based on Nikos Kazantzakis’s novel, The Last Temptation of Christ (1953). Starring Willem Dafoe as a very human Christ, besieged by doubts, fears and temptations, the deeply moving film also stars Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, Harvey Keitel as Judas and David Bowie as Pontius Pilate. The film addresses many themes common in Scorsese’s works, including guilt, sin, redemption and doppelgangers. Music, an integral part of Scorsese’s movies, is outstanding in The Last Temptation of Christ . Composed by Peter Gabriel, the soundtrack features artistes from around the globe, including L. Shankar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)Mel Gibson’s ultra-violent recreation of the last twelve hours of Christ’s life on earth is difficult to watch for its graphic torture scenes. Jim Caviezel plays Jesus and Monica Bellucci plays Mary Magdalene. The movie seems to miss the point of the Prince of Peace, by lovingly lingering on torn flesh and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. That the film is in Aramaic seems like a needless affectation.