In Depth:
The Many Cinematic Faces of Jesus
With
the overwhelming about of publicity and controversy that Mel Gibson's
The
Passion of the Christ has been receiving, I felt that
it would be appropriate to highlight other cinematic representations
of Christ that have been made throughout the years. Jesus is possibly
the most controversial figure in the history of the world, and
very talented filmmakers have not shied away from giving their
own personal interpretation of his life and ministry. Indeed,
films about Christ have existed since the birth of moving pictures,
and Gibson's film is just one of countless cinematic adaptations
of the gospels.
The
public and media attention given to Mel Gibson’s recent
film proves that Jesus is just as popular and curious to moviegoers
as he has ever been, and I hope that this list will point viewers
interested in seeing other film incarnations of Christ in the
right direction.
With
these reviews, I will offer unbiased, in-depth discussions of
films that I feel best demonstrate the many different viewpoints
that filmmakers have taken on the person and teachings of Christ.
While it would be impossible to cover all of the films concerning
Christ, this list is an attempt to select the highlights of the
bunch—those that seem to have stood the test of time and/or
offer unique interpretations of his life, death, and resurrection.
Happy reading/'viewing.
1912: From
the Manger to the Cross
1935: Golgotha
1964: The
Gospel According to St. Matthew
1965: The
Greatest Story Ever Told
1973: Jesus
Christ Superstar
1973: Godspell
1975: The
Messiah
1977: Jesus
of Nazareth
1979: Jesus
1979: Life
of Brian
1988: The
Last Temptation of Christ
1988: The
Seventh Sign
1990: The
Judas Project
1994: Miracle
Man
1994: The
Second Greatest Story Ever Told
1998: Dark
City
2004: The
Passion of the Christ
Additional
Christ/Christ-Themed Films
Recommended reading:
Imagining the Divine:
Jesus and Christ-Like Figures in Film, by Lloyd Baugh. Published
by Sheed & Ward, in Kansas City, MO. 1997.
Celluloid
Savior: Jesus in the Movies
