Adding things that may have happened but aren't specifically stated as having occured aren't “lies.” “
In the matter of the Bible, yes they are lies. Anyone could otherwise say damn near anything and cite the Bible as not refuting it. Ridiculous. The Bible says what it says as the word of God. Conjecture and lies blend here.
Mel was telling a story about Christ. He obviously had to include dialog and story elements that are not present in the Bible.
Do you take a similar attitude towards the movie Ten Commandments and other movies about bible stories? If so, it would make making a movie or writing a story about any biblical character quite impossible. Applying the same principle to history in general would make all historical fiction or history-based movies impossible.
I don’t think Mel ever claimed his movie is what happened. He told a story based on the Bible and to the best of his ability not contradicting it, but obviously expanding on many story elements.
Personally, I see nothing wrong with this.
I heartily agree, Tal. You give a limitless blank check to anyone who wants to re-fabricate the life of Jesus when you allow wanton speculation in. I’m actually against ANY dramatic presentation of the life of Jesus, because the temptation to inject personal false beliefs is just too unavoidable, as well as the impossibility to properly depict God Made Flesh.