[Mr. Silverback]

Hmmm...interesting approach. I wonder how they'll handle the end of the story, when Judas has already offed himself. Will they just end the story when he reaches the end of the rope, and trust us to know what happens on Day 3, or will we get the full blown Resurrection account?

As far as I'm concerned, if the Resurrection is presented in a manner faithful to the Scriptures, it can't be shown too many times.

[Mr. Silverback]

BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[redgolum]

Reminds me on an old Talyor Cardwell book.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Interesting.

[Ol' Sox]

ABC, huh?

No thanks...

[Redcoat LI]

Sean Penn as Judas?

[Eala]

A rather different review in World Magazine:

Passionless dialogue

by Andrew Coffin

On March 8, within two weeks of the release of The Passion of the Christ, ABC will air Judas, a made-for-TV movie about the disciple who betrayed Jesus. The latter film will not be served by its proximity to Mel Gibson's work. The effect is tempering: Those who hope the success of The Passion will produce more Hollywood movies examining the life of Christ should have second thoughts after watching the embarrassing Judas. Or, better yet, take the advice of WORLD and don't watch it.

If nothing else, Judas reveals Mel Gibson to be an artistic genius. The two films are a study in contrasts, but it's not worth dwelling on the comparison. Judas employs nearly every cliché that has become synonymous with bad biblical epics (and that Mr. Gibson sought to avoid), from bad hair to bad sets to really, really bad dialogue.

The movie purports to tell the back story of Judas, identified by ABC as "perhaps the most complex character in the Gospels." To do this, the script makes Judas central to almost every event in Christ's adult life. Judas wants an earthly king to overthrow the Romans, becoming a foil for Jesus, who has a more spiritual mission in mind.

Judas begins by stating that "the following film is an interpretative dramatization of Judas's relationship with Jesus." What exactly the film is interpreting is not clear, since it is most certainly not working from the Bible or accepted historic documents, except in rough outline.

Most of the dialogue hovers between the painfully funny and just plain painful. Judas first meets the Messiah after witnessing Jesus clearing the Temple of merchants. Judas, to Jesus, over a cup of wine: "You know, I have to tell you, I was very impressed with what you did at the Temple today." Jesus replies, somewhat chagrined and regretful, "Well, don't be. You know, I was trying to make a point and lost my temper. You can't change a man's heart by yelling at him, by humiliating him, by taking away his livelihood."

Later, Jesus asks Judas to handle His money, saying, "I'm no good with money. Whatever I have, I tend to lose." In another scene, Herod refers to John the Baptist as "a pain in the ass." It's enough to make one long for Aramaic.

The one interesting aspect of the production is that it works overtime to avoid the perceived anti-Semitism of a literal reading of the Gospels, creating a bizarre conspiracy scenario in which Pontius Pilate (Tim Matheson of Animal House fame) orchestrates the events leading up to the crucifixion in order to pin the blame for Christ's death on the Jews.

[lilylangtree]

According Jesus Christ, it would have been far better had Judas never been born. Tells a lot about Judas' character.

[ambrose]

interesting.

[Elsie]

Amen!

[CathyRyan]

I think I will spend the time trying to read the book first before I start with the what ifs.

[Spok]

I'm sure there's no metaphysical reason why ABC couldn't broadcast something of quality, but I just don't see it happening in my lifetime...

[kimmie7]

As far as I'm concerned, if the Resurrection is presented in a manner faithful to the Scriptures, it can't be shown too many times.

I heartily agree.

[stands2reason]

I've heard different things about this from different people...

The actor who plays Judas said icky liberal squishy stuff---

The director is a Freeper who says real, Bible-believing Christians wrote and produced it--

Another reviewer who just said it was "bad."

And now this account which makes it sound very interesting.

[cyncooper]

Ping to this article about your movie.

[cyncooper]

FYI, freeper "karnage" is the director of "Judas" and I pinged him to this article.

[SkyPilot]

I want to see ABC's Dianne Sawyer, or for that matter, NBC's Katie Couric, interview God:

"So Jesus, do you REALLY think that by dying on that cross and being torutured you proved ANYTHING?

[right way right]

Perhaps we will get the resurrection of Christ and then the account of Judas' death as it occured in the book ACTS.