Posted on 02/22/2016 2:18:43 PM PST by Kaslin
There have been innumerable films made about Jesus' last days on Earth but there have only been a few made about what came afterwards. Written by Paul Aiello and Kevin Reynolds, the new film Risen attempts to explore those days from the perspective of a tribune named Clavius, who serves as Pontius Pilate's right-hand man.
Played by Joseph Fiennes, Clavius is a stoic soldier who spends his days doing the bidding of Pilate (Peter Firth), the weak-kneed leader who recently sentenced Jesus Christ to death.
The first major task that Pilate gives Clavius in the feature is to ensure that Jesus (Cliff Curtis), who is known in the film by the Hebrew iteration Yeshua, is dead. In one of the film's most unsettling scenes of brutality, Clavius pokes a spear into Jesus' side and confirms his passing. It's only then that the body is removed from the scene for a proper burial.
That isn't enough for Caiaphas (Stephen Greif), the head priest. Because rumors have been circulating that Jesus could rise from the dead, Caiaphas demands that guards watch over Jesus' tomb to prevent the disciples from removing the body and arguing that Jesus has risen. Despite this security, Jesus' body does disappear leading Clavius -- alongside a brash apprentice named Lucius (Tom Felton) -- to search for the truth about the resurrection.
Told from the point of the non-believing Clavius, the feature takes a more nuanced look at the resurrection. Clavius is like a detective searching for clues about a missing body. He hunts down possible suspects including Mary Magdalene (MarÃa Botto) like a detective on Law & Order hunts down suspects. He brings apostles and possible witnesses into his office for interrogations.
In that way, the story brings a unique approach to the material -- one that enriches and embraces the Biblical text while expanding on it.
Director Kevin Reynolds accordingly does a strong job showing how Jesus' resurrection threatened so many public officials in 33 AD. "Without a corpse to prove him dead, we have a potential Messiah," Pilate states, agreeing with the Pharisees and high priests.
Reynolds also shows a few strong glimpses on how some people only realized Jesus' importance after the crucifixion. It's only when Jesus is on the cross that one of the soldiers -- who supervises the crucifixion -- notes painfully, "This man was innocent."
It's true that religious believers will have much to recommend about this film. From the emotional tone surrounding Jesus' death (his mother's crying in the background is heart-wrenching) to the depiction of the apostles -- who are clearly frightened of what happens next -- the story captures key elements of the Bible.
For non-believers though, this film is more than just a simplistic religious film about the followers of Christ. Its main character is a nonbeliever too. He doesn't believe in miracles or prophesies. He simply believes in what he sees for himself.
Admittedly, the ending does feature a predictable spiritual awakening but even that isn't handled as blatantly or flagrantly as we've seen in other pictures. Religious viewers will find satisfaction in the end here but the story itself is unique and thoughtful enough to merit the interest of nonbelievers.
When I first heard about the film, my first thought was that it was a unique take on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I saw the movie last week. I thought it was well done, in good taste and a movie Christians can go to without being disappointed.
I’d totally see this. :)
Planning to see this as soon as possible.
I saw this last night and highly recommend it. Unique perspective and exceptional production quality.
I liked it.
How is this different from the standard Newsweek article or TV show around Easter, which attempts to discredit the resurrection of Jesus?
The screenwriter should have picked "millstone around the neck" instead.
Wife and I saw it and it was worth it.
Historical fiction, but it’s definitely not boring or slow.
Very weak movie, Scripturally
not once did they mention Jesus died to save sinners or even mention sin as why Christ came in the first place
it was the phony JESUS IS LOVE mantra
Very weak, best to avoid.
Why would a movie, written in real time, before the NT was written invoke the ideas of his disciples? This movie depicts a timeframe that is the twilight between the new covenant for Christian-Gentiles who will forever take God as their own with new conditions. Heaven, being saved, all follow in Scripture of the NT only after his death. As to why he came, he simply came to bring everyone to worship God, whether they be lesser educated Jews, or the Gentile who was being given first hand the keys to worship the God of the Jews.
We went and saw it and I would say it was OK. The perspective of the movie is of a Roman soldier who is commanded to squelch the rabel by finding His body.
The man who played Jesus was also in the movie Training Day. I just couldn’t get past that.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193295/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t4
“...a movie Christians can go to without being...” in league with the devil. : )
That too...
that is so off base.
Jesus spoke more of hell han He did of heaven, He told us we are sinners and need a Savior, not once in this movie does the word sin get even mentioned, and especially leaves out any mention of sin, even the scene where the romans admit knowing mary
no where did Mary says she was forgiven of her sins, nor did any scene even speak of sin
none of what I typed has anything to do with any later letter, either, this movie is a feel good JESUS IS LOVE movie, but totally misses any Biblical chance to lead people to a Jesus that saves you from your sin.
First off I have not yet seen the movie so going with what I have read from others.
You said “Jesus spoke more of hell han He did of heaven.” i’m not so sure, but you may be right. I will say that the kingdom parables includes the idea that the idea of the kingdom - the kingdom of freedom, the kingdom of coming home from spiritual exile, the kingdom of wholeness - it is nothing but a mustard seed. a seed that is tiny but cherished and has the ability to find the smallest crack in a persons soul.
Maybe this movie is a seed, which, though planted in conflict, will find the smallest crack in the self and open hearing to understanding and seeing to perceiving. So, they may be healed.
Hopefully this is a view that may be worth consideration.
Because, I think, we do not comprehend God’s power and glory.
Blessings
I saw the movie last night on DirecTV movie channels. I caught it after it had already began. I liked it. It was not anti-Christian in my humble opinion. I loved that a nonbeliever was searching for answers about Yeshua. They should be today also.
Wife and I saw it when it was in theaters about four months ago. It was a very good movie, well cast, well acted and a good production all around. As with most stories based upon biblical events there were things that we could nit=pick about (why did they ....) and an item or two where we felt they did not understand scripture the way we understood scripture, but both of these were minor feeling compared to our overall satisfaction. A good B+ film.
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