"Son of God" (2014) movie review - Revision history

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	:: "Torture porn."		:: "Torture porn."

	:: "The moviemakers fabricate miracles for us to believe in â€” as though cinematic sleight of hand should be taken as proof of ~~Christâ€™s~~ holiness."		:: "The moviemakers fabricate miracles for us to believe in â€” as though cinematic sleight of hand should be taken as proof of Christ's holiness."

	:; Daniel Eagan, [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/major-releases/e3i237d3029d255a7579e9e9abb0b4ca2ef "Son of God."]		:; Daniel Eagan, [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/major-releases/e3i237d3029d255a7579e9e9abb0b4ca2ef "Son of God."]
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	:: ''[Normal path: from movie theaters to TV; this reverses direction, starting life as part of a TV series and now entering the theaters as a movie.]''		:: ''[Normal path: from movie theaters to TV; this reverses direction, starting life as part of a TV series and now entering the theaters as a movie.]''

	:: The most effective parts of Son Of God are the ones that serve the mission of ''The History Channel'', placing ~~Jesusâ€™~~ mission in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities. ~~Theyâ€™re~~ too brief, however, and the ~~filmâ€™s~~ not much more effective when it comes to conveying what ~~Christianityâ€™s~~ about, either. The first recital of The ~~Lordâ€™s~~ Prayer gets cut off before it endsâ€”one of the many moments when Son Of God feels designed to cut to commercialâ€”and a sermon plays out in the background while some disciples chatter with skeptical rabbis in the foreground. Anyone wanting to learn something about Jesus would be better off looking elsewhere.		:: The most effective parts of Son Of God are the ones that serve the mission of ''The History Channel'', placing Jesus' mission in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities. They're too brief, however, and the film's not much more effective when it comes to conveying what Christianity's about, either. The first recital of The Lord's Prayer gets cut off before it endsâ€”one of the many moments when Son Of God feels designed to cut to commercialâ€”and a sermon plays out in the background while some disciples chatter with skeptical rabbis in the foreground. Anyone wanting to learn something about Jesus would be better off looking elsewhere.

	:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.		:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.
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	:; [http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/jesus-returns-to-the-big-screen-in-son-of-god/ Peter Chattaway, "Jesus Returns to the Big Screen in ''Son of God.''"]		:; [http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/jesus-returns-to-the-big-screen-in-son-of-god/ Peter Chattaway, "Jesus Returns to the Big Screen in ''Son of God.''"]

	::''Son of God'' works as a pop illustration of certain Bible stories, but ~~itâ€™s~~ not exactly life-changing in and of itself.		::''Son of God'' works as a pop illustration of certain Bible stories, but it's not exactly life-changing in and of itself.

	== Comments ==		== Comments ==
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	:; Did Jesus drink of His own blood before giving the cup to His disciples?		:; Did Jesus drink of His own blood before giving the cup to His disciples?

	:: This is a classic Protestant argument against transubstantiation: if the wine had become Jesus' blood, Jesus would not have drunk from the cup with His disciples. The idea that Jesus shared in drinking the wine may come from Mark: "they all drank from it" [http://origin.usccb.org/bible/mark/14:22 (Mk 14:23).] The next verse in Mark is used to support this theory: "Mark says that Jesus said this is my blood first and then said he ~~wouldnâ€™t~~ drink it again until the kingdom" <ref>[http://www.romancatholicism.co.uk/mass.html "Mass is against Christianity."]</ref>		:: This is a classic Protestant argument against transubstantiation: if the wine had become Jesus' blood, Jesus would not have drunk from the cup with His disciples. The idea that Jesus shared in drinking the wine may come from Mark: "they all drank from it" [http://origin.usccb.org/bible/mark/14:22 (Mk 14:23).] The next verse in Mark is used to support this theory: "Mark says that Jesus said this is my blood first and then said he wouldn't drink it again until the kingdom" <ref>[http://www.romancatholicism.co.uk/mass.html "Mass is against Christianity."]</ref>

	:; No mention of forgiveness of sin in the consecration?		:; No mention of forgiveness of sin in the consecration?

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Links

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	* [[Movies]].		* [[Movies]].

	[[Category:~~Movies~~\|Son of God]]		[[Category:Reviews\|Son of God]]

Mxmsj at 01:14, 12 March 2014

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	:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.		:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.

	:; Peter Chattaway, "Jesus Returns to the Big Screen in ''Son of God.''"]		:; [http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/jesus-returns-to-the-big-screen-in-son-of-god/ Peter Chattaway, "Jesus Returns to the Big Screen in ''Son of God.''"]

	::''Son of God'' works as a pop illustration of certain Bible stories, but itâ€™s not exactly life-changing in and of itself.		::''Son of God'' works as a pop illustration of certain Bible stories, but itâ€™s not exactly life-changing in and of itself.

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Comments

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	:: No. The ''kind'' of salvation the Messiah would bring was military, political, and economic freedom from Roman rule.		:: No. The ''kind'' of salvation the Messiah would bring was military, political, and economic freedom from Roman rule.

			:; In the movie, Jesus calls Simon "Peter" when they first meet. Wasn't it some time after Simon became a disciple of Jesus that Jesus gave him the name "Peter"?

			:: Yes. Jesus gave Simon a new name that means "Rock" when Simon said that he and the other disciples believed that Jesus was [[Christ\|"the Christ."]]

	:; Did Jesus go to Jerusalem to "speak the message to the heart of power"?		:; Did Jesus go to Jerusalem to "speak the message to the heart of power"?

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	== Links ==		== Links ==
			* [[Movies]].

	[[Category:Movies\|Son of God]]		[[Category:Movies\|Son of God]]

Mxmsj at 19:09, 10 March 2014

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	[[File:Son-of-God-poster.jpg\|thumb]]		[[File:Son-of-God-poster.jpg\|thumb]]
	* 24% fresh at [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/son_of_god_2014/ ''Rotten Tomatoes.'']		* 24% fresh at [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/son_of_god_2014/ ''Rotten Tomatoes.'']
	* 6.8/10 at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3210686/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ''IMDB.'']		* 5.4/10 at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3210686/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ''IMDB.'']

	: Visually beautiful: casting, costumes, cityscapes, and landscapes. Diogo Morgado as Jesus.		: Visually beautiful: casting, costumes, cityscapes, and landscapes. Diogo Morgado as Jesus.

Mxmsj at 18:40, 10 March 2014

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			[[File:Son-of-God-poster.jpg\|thumb]]
	* 24% fresh at [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/son_of_god_2014/ ''Rotten Tomatoes.'']		* 24% fresh at [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/son_of_god_2014/ ''Rotten Tomatoes.'']
	* 6.8/10 at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3210686/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ''IMDB.'']		* 6.8/10 at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3210686/?ref_=nv_sr_1 ''IMDB.'']

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	== Links ==		== Links ==

	[[Category:Movies]]		[[Category:Movies\|Son of God]]

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	:; Why is there no theophany after Jesus is baptized by John?		:; Why is there no theophany after Jesus is baptized by John?

	:: This bothers me very much. The movie shows the baptism (full immersion--Protestant-style) in several flashbacks; none of them go beyond the immersion itself. There is no descent of the Holy Spirit nor a voice from Heaven affirming Jesus' sonship.		:: This bothers me very much. The movie shows the baptism (full immersion — Protestant-style) in several flashbacks; none of them go beyond the immersion itself. There is no descent of the Holy Spirit nor a voice from Heaven affirming Jesus' sonship.

	:; Are Savior and Messiah interchangeable terms?		:; Are Savior and Messiah interchangeable terms?
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	:; Why did the authors change the dialogue between Jesus, Mary, and John?		:; Why did the authors change the dialogue between Jesus, Mary, and John?

	:: I don't know. This baffles me. Instead of "woman, behold your son" and "behold your mother," the script has Jesus say, "Mother, behold your son" and "John, behold your mother." This is unfortunate. Mary is also called "woman" in her dialogue with Jesus at Cana. I believe Jesus meant something by referring to Mary this way--the new Eve who works with the new Adam to recreate the human race.		:: I don't know. This baffles me. Instead of "woman, behold your son" and "behold your mother," the script has Jesus say, "Mother, behold your son" and "John, behold your mother." This is unfortunate. Mary is also called "woman" in her dialogue with Jesus at Cana. I believe Jesus meant something by referring to Mary this way — the new Eve who works with the new Adam to recreate the human race.

	:; Would Mary have washed the body of Jesus in preparation for burial?		:; Would Mary have washed the body of Jesus in preparation for burial?
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	:; Was Peter the first of the apostles to believe in the resurrection?		:; Was Peter the first of the apostles to believe in the resurrection?

	:: In the movie, yes. In the Gospel of John, no. In the gospel of Luke, Peter probably is the first apostle to see Jesus--but there is no claim that seeing the linens in the empty tomb gave him faith prior to seeing Jesus in person.		:: In the movie, yes. In the Gospel of John, no. In the gospel of Luke, Peter probably is the first apostle to see Jesus — but there is no claim that seeing the linens in the empty tomb gave him faith prior to seeing Jesus in person.

	:; Did Peter celebrate the Eucharist before meeting the risen Jesus?		:; Did Peter celebrate the Eucharist before meeting the risen Jesus?
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	:; Were there women among the 12 apostles?		:; Were there women among the 12 apostles?

	:: This is what the Ascension scene suggests. The dialogue makes it clear that both men and women are present. After Jesus ascends, Peter says, "We have work to do." The next scene shows twelve people descending from the mountain--both men and women.		:: This is what the Ascension scene suggests. The dialogue makes it clear that both men and women are present. After Jesus ascends, Peter says, "We have work to do." The next scene shows twelve people descending from the mountain — both men and women.

	:; Do the producers of the movie believe in the divinity of Jesus?		:; Do the producers of the movie believe in the divinity of Jesus?

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	:: "Torture porn."		:: "Torture porn."

	:: "The moviemakers fabricate miracles for us to believe in ~~â€”~~ as though cinematic sleight of hand should be taken as proof of Christ's holiness."		:: "The moviemakers fabricate miracles for us to believe in — as though cinematic sleight of hand should be taken as proof of Christ's holiness."

	:; Daniel Eagan, [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/major-releases/e3i237d3029d255a7579e9e9abb0b4ca2ef "Son of God."]		:; Daniel Eagan, [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/major-releases/e3i237d3029d255a7579e9e9abb0b4ca2ef "Son of God."]
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	:: Follows the gospel of John. Three-year ministry.		:: Follows the gospel of John. Three-year ministry.

	:: Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey (who also plays Mary, the mother of Jesus), the creative force behind the hit TV series "Touched by an Angel," deserve credit for their sincere, heartfelt approach to the material. Within reason, they are entitled to their own interpretation of ~~scriptureâ€”even~~ if the preponderance of Mary's close-ups threatens to turn this into a vanity project.		:: Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey (who also plays Mary, the mother of Jesus), the creative force behind the hit TV series "Touched by an Angel," deserve credit for their sincere, heartfelt approach to the material. Within reason, they are entitled to their own interpretation of scripture — even if the preponderance of Mary's close-ups threatens to turn this into a vanity project.

	:: Strictly on a moviemaking level, this is routine stuff, poorly paced, weirdly structured, indifferently acted. The story deserves better.		:: Strictly on a moviemaking level, this is routine stuff, poorly paced, weirdly structured, indifferently acted. The story deserves better.

	:: Viewers will either resent or prefer Son of God's easygoing, watered-down message. The hard parts of what the scriptural Christ ~~preachedâ€”love~~ your enemies, believe in the unknowable, abandon all earthly things, live a life of ~~sacrificeâ€”are~~ largely missing here.		:: Viewers will either resent or prefer Son of God's easygoing, watered-down message. The hard parts of what the scriptural Christ preached — love your enemies, believe in the unknowable, abandon all earthly things, live a life of sacrifice — are largely missing here.

	:; Keith Phipps, [http://thedissolve.com/reviews/598-son-of-god/ "Son of God."]		:; Keith Phipps, [http://thedissolve.com/reviews/598-son-of-god/ "Son of God."]
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	:: ''[Normal path: from movie theaters to TV; this reverses direction, starting life as part of a TV series and now entering the theaters as a movie.]''		:: ''[Normal path: from movie theaters to TV; this reverses direction, starting life as part of a TV series and now entering the theaters as a movie.]''

	:: The most effective parts of Son Of God are the ones that serve the mission of ''The History Channel'', placing Jesus' mission in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities. They're too brief, however, and the film's not much more effective when it comes to conveying what Christianity's about, either. The first recital of The Lord's Prayer gets cut off before it ~~endsâ€”one~~ of the many moments when Son Of God feels designed to cut to ~~commercialâ€”and~~ a sermon plays out in the background while some disciples chatter with skeptical rabbis in the foreground. Anyone wanting to learn something about Jesus would be better off looking elsewhere.		:: The most effective parts of Son Of God are the ones that serve the mission of ''The History Channel'', placing Jesus' mission in the midst of an ongoing conflict between the Roman Empire and Jewish authorities. They're too brief, however, and the film's not much more effective when it comes to conveying what Christianity's about, either. The first recital of The Lord's Prayer gets cut off before it ends — one of the many moments when Son Of God feels designed to cut to commercial — and a sermon plays out in the background while some disciples chatter with skeptical rabbis in the foreground. Anyone wanting to learn something about Jesus would be better off looking elsewhere.

	:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.		:: ''The Bible'' played to great ratings on TV, hence this repackaging. If ''Son Of God'' finds a similar audience in theaters it will say more about the absence of better, more thoughtful religious films than its own virtues.