The revision of the History Channel's five-episode film, The Bible, premiers this weekend as Son of God -- the movie. Featuring the Portuguese actor, Diogo Morgado, as a winsome and empathic Jesus, producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey can be commended in their endeavor to create a compelling narrative for the silver screen. If the miniseries, which less than a year ago garnered an estimated 68 million viewers within just over a month, is any forecaster of the movie's success, look out, movie theaters, during the run up to Easter 2014! As Jesus in the movie invites his disciples to help him "change the world," the question is whether the film might do the same.
When compared with some of the leading Jesus films over the last half century, one might ask whether this film stacks up to some of the previous greats. When compared with Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964), Son of God also moves along with a sense of missional urgency, despite pushback from religious leaders. When compared with Christian George Stevens' The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Son of God also shows a good deal of realism regarding the antsy political situation under Roman occupation. When compared with Franco Zeffirelli's miniseries, Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Son of God does a pretty good job of getting most of the elements in Jesus' ministry covered within just over two hours instead of six, and both films feature Mary the mother of Jesus in endearing ways.
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