The production on the whole was a little weak. I supported the intent, and I’m glad I saw it though. The Christ in the movie seemed to me like a younger Brad Pitt reading his lines the way Johnny Depp would do; dreamy and languid. He spoke not in lines of dialog, but in parables and riddles and rhetorical flourishes. To me, he smiled too much for most of the film. I suppose that was meant to be an otherworldly; beatific smile of one who is not disturbed by the wriggles of the earthbound. The first quarter of the film seemed rather disjointed in areas. The areas of clarity in the first half of the film served as a tutorial or refresher about some of the stories from The Old Testament. That was probably a good idea, since many people are growing up these days unchurched, unfamiliar with Genesis and other books. After a while, I accepted the film for what it could offer; an updated Passion Play, done with respect and sincerity. It did not ‘throw me out of my seat’ the way Passion of Christ” by Mel Gibson did, but the direction and the intent were wholly different. I don’t mind having a break from Mel’s extreme depictions of violence anyway. This was a sweet movie for those who already believe and wish to see the stories played out in a colorful and elaborate manner. The Portugese actor did a good job in the title role, staying true to the proposed form. The man who played Peter, might have made an interesting Jesus himself, with his more bold delivery and purposeful actions. This actor may have seemed too robust, too physically centered vs appearing as one ruled by the spirit, which comes closer to the popular concept .
Nice writing.