Pacing, character flaws and crucifixion kill ‘Son of God’
This music video is better than any trailer.
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The biggest mistake that Son of God makes is the same one that most Christian religions make – it focuses on Christ’s crucifixion and excludes everything else. While the crucifixion and Christ’s sacrifice may be important, what is missing from the discussion of Christianity today is what Christians are supposed to emulate – His life. No one should have to emulate His death since He took care of that for everyone. The long drawn out crucifixion scene is brutal but probably a lot less brutal than some other film depictions of Christ’s sacrifice. |
People are still fascinated with His death and refuse to look at the example that He set for humanity. This film is no different. It feels like the film makers have compacted Christ's life and still dragged it out. Here He is not stoning the woman in slow motion. Here He is with loaves and fishes in slow motion. Here He is healing the lame in slow motion. Here He is eating the last supper in slow motion. Here He is turning over the money changers ' tables in slow motion. None of it was in slow motion (except the turning over of the tables), but it felt like it was.
“Open your eyes. This is a dangerous man,” says one character about Jesus. The audience doesn’t get to see that dangerous man. Instead, they get a milque toast slightly tan man who exhibits no feelings except anguish and the Kristen Stewart specialty of dull surprise – though in this case, there is no surprise. It is just plain dull.
In fact, there is so little character development that the movie company could have gotten away with filming paper dolls and using Ben Stein’s Bueller voice and probably saved bank on cast costs, models and CGI. Pontius Pilate is evil. Peter develops a little later in the film, but he is the hothead – or better said “lukewarm head.”
Thomas and Judas are portrayed as the stereotypes people already know and love or dislike depending on individual understanding of the Bible. Even Touch by an Angel’s Roma Downey turns in a tepid performance as the mother of Jesus, which may be due to the lack of character development.
The lone bright spot is Amber Rose Revah as Mary Magdalene, who goes everywhere Jesus goes in the beginning and disappears in the middle of the film only to hang out with Mom Mary at the end.
It must be hard to tell a story that has been around this long in a new way, but the Bible is so rich in language and nuance that every film should be able to add something. Careful study can even reveal the character of the people that are writing and being written about. They don’t just have to be actors standing in for cardboard cutouts.
I cannot tell you if the film is historically accurate; it does take liberties with the Biblical side of things, so that leads me to believe that the historical exactness could be questioned.
If you are a Christian, you will be better off reading the Gospels – pick The Gospel of John if you want something that should be akin to this movie. If you are a Mormon and worthy, go to the Temple. You will get so much more out of it than what you could get out of Son of God, and you won’t be half as bored.
“Open your eyes. This is a dangerous man,” says one character about Jesus. The audience doesn’t get to see that dangerous man. Instead, they get a milque toast slightly tan man who exhibits no feelings except anguish and the Kristen Stewart specialty of dull surprise – though in this case, there is no surprise. It is just plain dull.
In fact, there is so little character development that the movie company could have gotten away with filming paper dolls and using Ben Stein’s Bueller voice and probably saved bank on cast costs, models and CGI. Pontius Pilate is evil. Peter develops a little later in the film, but he is the hothead – or better said “lukewarm head.”
Thomas and Judas are portrayed as the stereotypes people already know and love or dislike depending on individual understanding of the Bible. Even Touch by an Angel’s Roma Downey turns in a tepid performance as the mother of Jesus, which may be due to the lack of character development.
The lone bright spot is Amber Rose Revah as Mary Magdalene, who goes everywhere Jesus goes in the beginning and disappears in the middle of the film only to hang out with Mom Mary at the end.
It must be hard to tell a story that has been around this long in a new way, but the Bible is so rich in language and nuance that every film should be able to add something. Careful study can even reveal the character of the people that are writing and being written about. They don’t just have to be actors standing in for cardboard cutouts.
I cannot tell you if the film is historically accurate; it does take liberties with the Biblical side of things, so that leads me to believe that the historical exactness could be questioned.
If you are a Christian, you will be better off reading the Gospels – pick The Gospel of John if you want something that should be akin to this movie. If you are a Mormon and worthy, go to the Temple. You will get so much more out of it than what you could get out of Son of God, and you won’t be half as bored.
Romney's Review on YouTube of the Son of God