Looks ghastly! This sort of thing might have gone over well in the 1950s, but I predict it will flop outside of a narrow niche market.
People who enjoy religious movies should go back to the real classics, such as "Quo Vadis," "The Ten Commandments," and "Ben Hur." Everything else in the genre is pretty poor.
This sounds and looks like one of those straight-to-VHS Christian movies, produced specifically for the already "saved." The Cinecittà sets look good, though.
I agree with Scott that the traditional Hollywood Biblical epics are more entertaining, since they sugercoat the religious story with lots of spectacle. My uncle used to catch every one of those at the cinema in the 1950's, since they, as he put it, "had lots of ladies and gratuitous violence".
I have watched many a Biblical movie down through the years. Some of the more recent ones have been somewhat disappointing, but the movie RISEN seems to be very interesting because it reminds me of a novel I read over 30 years ago about a Roman Soldier who is there at the crucifixion and thus through the Resurrection which he denies finds his true faith. My number one movie of all time is 1959's BEN HUR and I also have the silent version plus the silent version of KING OF KINGS.
Looks ghastly! This sort of thing might have gone over well in the 1950s, but I predict it will flop outside of a narrow niche market.
ReplyDeletePeople who enjoy religious movies should go back to the real classics, such as "Quo Vadis," "The Ten Commandments," and "Ben Hur." Everything else in the genre is pretty poor.
This sounds and looks like one of those straight-to-VHS Christian movies, produced specifically for the already "saved." The Cinecittà sets look good, though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Scott that the traditional Hollywood Biblical epics are more entertaining, since they sugercoat the religious story with lots of spectacle. My uncle used to catch every one of those at the cinema in the 1950's, since they, as he put it, "had lots of ladies and gratuitous violence".
We know that the boy is the SON OF GOD because HE"S the only one with a British accent.
ReplyDeleteI have watched many a Biblical movie down through the years. Some of the more recent ones have been somewhat disappointing, but the movie RISEN seems to be very interesting because it reminds me of a novel I read over 30 years ago about a Roman Soldier who is there at the crucifixion and thus through the Resurrection which he denies finds his true faith. My number one movie of all time is 1959's BEN HUR and I also have the silent version plus the silent version of KING OF KINGS.
ReplyDeleteThe silent versions of "The Ten Commandments," "King of Kings," and "Ben Hur" are well worth watching.
ReplyDelete