Jesus of Nazareth....?

[icebear]

i think i was born the year it was made. i found it on dvd at Amazon for a good used price. I think the last time i saw it, i was maybe 8 so i vaguely remember it.

should i buy a copy? Is it still good and is it biblically sound?


how long is it anyway?

[icebear]

s it on Netflix by chance?

[iSong6:3]

s it on Netflix by chance?

Nope.

I don't remember seeing the whole thing so I can't answer if it has problems or not.

[Accepted]

I have always loved "Jesus of Nazareth." It was made as a miniseries and so is longer and much more detailed than a movie, and many parts of it touch my heart very deeply for the Lord. It includes the Crucifixion and ends with a glimpse of the Ressurection.

Having said that, as with anything man-made, you'll have to test everything you see against Scripture and hold on to what is good (1Thess. 5:21). This miniseries was made by a Catholic and so of course be discerning. The only thing I remember outright (as it has been a few years) was the fact that the actors playing Jesus (at different ages) had startling blue eyes. So of course we would always say, "I doubt Jesus really had blue eyes!" Small things like that. It has a feeling of reverence throughout, and the actor who played Peter (James Farentino) did a wonderful job, as did Michael York as John the Baptist. Oh yes, I just remembered a scene that has made me tear up every time I saw it. Anne Bancroft plays Mary Magdalene, and there is a point where she goes from hoplessness to hope as she realizes that Jesus is the Messiah. Gets me every time.

So, I loved it, but always be discerning!

PS: I just ran back to add something -- As with anything Hollywood-made, I think there are some scenes where events are combined, or put in a different context, in order to make it flow. I remember using that as an opportunity to say to one of my sons, "Let's pause it, and look that up!" And we'd figure out exactly what really happened, and if the movie was correct or not. We made a sort of game about it! Okay, signing off again!

[Hootmon]

It has a feeling of reverence throughout,...

Most of the biblical films from that era do, and I dont remember any of them being flat out wrong.

[icebear]

thanks for the info, i got an "excellent" grade copy on DVD for under $10 including shipping

[IamHis]

If you like the older Biblical movies, I recommend 'The Ten Commandments'
with Charlton Heston. ( Cecile B. DeMille production 1956)
And 'The Bible: In the Beginning' 1966 with John Huston and George C. Scott.
The story of Noah in that movie is priceless, my favorite part.

[Carrie Grace]

was the fact that the actors playing Jesus (at different ages) had startling blue eyes.

Did you notice that the actor playing Jesus (Max Von Sydow?) never blinked? The director did that on purpose to make Jesus more intense and mesmerizing. You really don't realize it when you are watching, but are very captivated by his eyes.

I have watched this several times. I watched it with my parents (well, probably only my mom) when it was on originally as a mini series. I think it was on 4 nights, so it is probably about 6 -8 hours long. It used to run every year on A&E with commentary in between. I haven't seen it lately.

[Accepted]

Did you notice that the actor playing Jesus (Max Von Sydow?) never blinked? The director did that on purpose to make Jesus more intense and mesmerizing. You really don't realize it when you are watching, but are very captivated by his eyes.

I have watched this several times. I watched it with my parents (well, probably only my mom) when it was on originally as a mini series. I think it was on 4 nights, so it is probably about 6 -8 hours long. It used to run every year on A&E with commentary in between. I haven't seen it lately.

Hi Carrie Grace! It wasn't Max Von Sydow who played Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth. I think that was "The Greatest Story Ever Told." I don't know the name of the actor in Jesus of Nazareth, but I should have googled it before I replied to your post!

So, which film employed the no-blinking technique? That's interesting!

[Carrie Grace]

Hi Carrie Grace! It wasn't Max Von Sydow who played Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth. I think that was "The Greatest Story Ever Told." I don't know the name of the actor in Jesus of Nazareth, but I should have googled it before I replied to your post!

So, which film employed the no-blinking technique? That's interesting!

You are absolutely right! It was Robert Powell! And it was Franco Zeffirelli's film that employed that technique. And Robert Powell was the Jesus that never blinked. Hmmm. How apropos. The real Jesus doesn't *blink* now, either. Though, strangely, people keep implying that He would in today's more "progressive" and "scientific" world. They are in for a shocker after the Rapture. They think they can roll over our Lord as if He really is like the pseudo image they have of Him! But they are going to find out that the Lion of Judah does not blink!

[Accepted]

You are absolutely right! It was Robert Powell! And it was Franco Zeffirelli's film that employed that technique. And Robert Powell was the Jesus that never blinked. Hmmm. How apropos. The real Jesus doesn't *blink* now, either. Though, strangely, people keep implying that He would in today's more "progressive" and "scientific" world. They are in for a shocker after the Rapture. They think they can roll over our Lord as if He really is like the pseudo image they have of Him! But they are going to find out that the Lion of Judah does not blink!

So true. And, though I love this miniseries, I do feel like the portrayal of Jesus is that ever-so-slightly effeminate version of Jesus, which I am positive could not be the case. Maybe that's just my imagination?

[Seladen]

There are 2 scenes in this movie that really get me and they are the first time Jesus is preaching in a synagouge and casts out the demon. They way Robert Powell portrayed total control and authority in that scene was awesome. The 2nd one was when He raised Lazurus from the dead.