Who's your favorite film Jesus?

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With a bevy of Christ-themed films about to run again on TV in celebration of Easter, which to you has the best depiction of Jesus?
 
I really like the Gospel of John movie. I felt the actor portrayed Jesus very well. That’s my opinion, anyways. It was released in 2003.

It’s one of those movies that can be viewed online, but I’m not sure if it’s actually a copyright violation. Amazon Prime carries it in their library.
 
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I’ve always liked Robert Powell in the Jesus of Nazareth miniseries by Franco Zeffirelli. Didn’t like the way they tried to make him look like some sappy painting, but I enjoyed his acting and “take” on things.
 
For me it was the passion with Jim Calviezel. It was so hard hitting and that was the point in my life when I really Really realized just what Christ went through for us, and to think, he went through so much more than that film even showed.
 
I really like Jeremy Sisto’s Jesus in the TV movie Jesus. I watch it every Lent.
 
I will have to watch that sometime. I think I tried to watch it once and it seemed strange to me. I forget how.

I think cinematography and acting styles of a certain time period are a factor in peoples likes and dislikes for film much of the time. Also, we have a certain preconceived notion in our own heads of what Jesus would actually be like.
 
caviziel learned & spoke aramaic for “the passion”

i heard him speak aramaic on ray arroyo’s show

he gets my vote…
 
JamalChristophr said:
we have a certain preconceived notion in our own heads of what Jesus would actually be like.
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Yes, we do. But not all such notions are equal. Some are certainly closer to the “original” Jesus than others. There is a gradation, as it were. Any careful reading of the gospel makes it quite clear that Jesus was hardly the “mellow” or even the calm type, yet more than a few films depict him as such. The film I recommended does not, which is perhaps one reason why some experience it, understandably, as a somewhat strange version of Jesus.

Btw, Jesus Christ Superstar (the film, not so much the musical) deserves mention too. In spite of its modern trappings and its theatrical style, it’s actually very powerful and isn’t afraid to depict the story in all its grimness.
 
I agree with you about Jesus Christ Superstar. For me, it’s one of the most effective Gospel-based movies ever made, right up there with Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth. Several of the individual performances are outstanding, and not only Ted Neeley as Jesus. Barry Dennen was unforgettable as Pontius Pilate, as was Carl Anderson as Judas.
 
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I watched Risen recently and it is what it is, but I thought it was pretty good and I was sort of struck by the casting for Jesus. The actor is Maori, but he makes a more convincing Middle Eastern dude than most of the other castings I’ve seen for Jesus.
 
🔼 This. Me too. And I think it’s the only film about the NT that has the agreement of the Vatican. They also listed the Gospels it was based upon. Robert Powell two votes.
 
There is something very haunting about the Ben Hur depiction of Jesus.
He doesn’t speak, but all He has to do is look at the soldier who didn’t want to give the prisoners water and he backed down…
 
I liked the way Jesus was portrayed in the recent Mary of Magdela movie
 
I rather like how Jesus is portrayed in the “Kingdom Without Frontiers” series. The animation’s not the best, but I’m a big fan of low-key, soothing Jesus. He’s so magnetic, and yet so normal.

 
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He does a great job, he’s a more introverted Jesus than we see in most movies. Rooney Mara is great as Mary too, also kind of shy and introverted but dedicated and loving. We dont know that much about her so a lot of the movie is made up so to say, but i thought it was convincing of how the relation between Jesus and Mary of Magdela could have been
 
We’re watching The Greatest Story Ever Told with our kids this week (a bit each evening). Something about Max von Sydow as Christ… In some ways, what a weird choice. Ming the Merciless as Christ. But I love his portrayal. There’s a kindness and warmth about him and this film has my vote for favorite.

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Sadly, Jeffrey Hunter does zero for me as Jesus in King of Kings, though I do like Orson Welles’ narration.
 
This was my absolute favorite growing up. My parents would host a viewing every Holy Week.
 
Robert Powell, then Jim Caviezel.
(My husband likes Jeffery Hunter. Too California looking. I don’t care for that movie so much. Too much Herod and Salome, and not enough Jesus. I do think the music score is amazing though. )
 
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