Episodes
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Lamentations of Judas (2020)
An Angolan cast bring to life the story of Jesus and his betrayal amongst the dilapidated buildings & surrounding grasslands of Pomfret, South Africa. The cast are veterans of the Angolan Civil War who reflect on their role in the conflict and issues of betrayal, rejection & free will. (Dir…
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The Nativity Story (2006)
Just in time for the start of the Christmas period my latest podcast is looking at one of the more recent films about Jesus - 2006's The Nativity Story. (Director - Catherine Hardwicke) (Cast:Keisha Castle-Hughes - Mary, Oscar Isaac - Joseph, Hiam Abbass - Anna, Shaun Toub - Joaquim, Ciarán Hinds…
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Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
September's podcast is looking at what is arguably one of the best in the genre - Monty Python's Life of Brian (Director - Terry Jones) (Cast: Ken Colley - Jesus, Sue Jones-Davies - Judith, Rest of Cast - Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam).
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Jesus (1979)
It's claimed that Jesus is the most watched film on the planet even though it has no special effects or star actors and is frequently criticised by reviewers. It's also one of the few films to be based on a single gospel rather than all four. (Directors - John Krish and Peter Sykes) (Cast: Brian...
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Godspell (1973)
After a month's absence I'm back looking at Godspell based on the hit musical Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It's one of the more heavily criticised Jesus films as it has not dated at all well, but the musical still remains possible and it's attempts to reinvigorate Jesus's teaching…
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The Passion (2008)
The Passion is a BBC1 drama that aired this Easter in the UK and will be shown in the States next Easter on HBO. The UK broadcast was stripped over 4 episodes between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, though the HBO version might be over 3 or even 6 nights instead. Being a TV drama the series should...
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Son of Man 2006
Mark Dornford-May's Jezile (Son of Man) is the first of two films about Jesus being released next month, so seeing as this is the one that I have seen, I'm going to look discuss it this month and the BBC's The Passion next month. (Director: Mark Dornford-May) (Cast:Andile Kosi - Jesus, Pauline...
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Gospel of John 2003
The first Jesus films podcast of the year, on the Visual Bible's The Gospel of John, arrives late, and with the odd bit of distortion that I've not been able to fix! Apologies to regulars I'll try and get it sorted and re-post. I comment on both versions of the film the recent 2 hours cut as well...
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The Passion of the Christ (2004)
This month I'm looking at Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ which became one of the most controversial, and successful films of all time when it was released in 2004. Back then it was the film that everyone seemed to have an opinion on, and its success has paved the way for a score of films...
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The King of Kings (1927)
This month I'm looking at Cecil B. DeMille's silent classic The King of Kings (1927). The recent Criterion Collection DVD release for this film included both the widely seen 1928 version of this film and the original, longer 1927 cut. (Director: Cecil B. DeMille) (Cast:H.B. Warner... Jesus, the...
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Jesus (1999)
Jesus (1999) is one of the latest Jesus films being released only 8 years ago. It first aired on CBS in America and Sky in the UK, but has been broadcast many times since in a number of different countries. Whilst unmistakably set in the 1st Century it takes a very modern approach to the story....
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Life and Passion of Jesus Christ
The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1905) is the earliest Jesus film that is widely available today (although the exact release date of the DVD version of this film is not entirely clear). The film is a million miles away from today's slick movie making, yet there's something very genuine about...
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Last Temptation of Christ
Martin Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ caused uproar when it was first released and even today it's still primarily discussed in those terms. But as it nears its twentieth anniversary it's about time that the film started to be discussed on the basis of its artistic merits. (Director: Martin...
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King of Kings
This month I'm looking at King of Kings (1961) directed by Nicholas Ray. Despite it's flaws it's one of my top ten Jesus Films, (although perhaps the least defensible selection) mainly down to some great visuals. (Director: Nicholas Ray) (Cast:Jeffrey Hunter... Jesus, Siobhan McKenna... Mary…
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Il Messia
This month I'm looking at Il Messia a less well known Jesus film by the great Italian director Roberto Rossellini. Next month (June 2007) the film will receive a rare theatrical screening at the National Film Theatre in London as part of the BFI's Rossellini Retrospective. (Director: Roberto...
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The Miracle Maker
This month I'm discussing the Russian-Welsh animated Jesus film The Miracle Maker. Released in 1999 it's the most recent film I've discussed so far, and whilst, surprisingly, it's still not that well known, the list of those who admire it is certainly growing. (Directors: Derek W. Hayes…
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Jesus Christ, Superstar
This month I'm speaking on Jesus Christ, Superstar, Norman Jewison's 1973 film based on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera. Jesus was played by Ted Neeley. (Director: Norman Jewison) (Ted Neeley... Jesus Christ, Carl Anderson... Judas Iscariot, Yvonne Elliman... Mary Magdalene, Barry...
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Jesus of Montreal
This month I'm discussing Denis Arcand's Jésus de Montréal (Jesus of Montreal). The film tells the story of an actor who gets the role of Jesus in a play, and begins to find his real life becoming more and more like the one he is portraying. (Director: Denys Arcand) (Cast: Lothaire...
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The Greatest Story Ever Told
After a month off for Christmas (!), this month I'm looking at George Stevens's The Greatest Story Ever Told. Whilst the film did poorly at the book office, there's much to appreciate in the film despite its flaws. (Director: George Stevens) (Cast: Max von Sydow...Jesus , Michael Anderson...
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Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo
This month I'm looking at Pier Paolo Pasolini's classic film Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo (The Gospel According to St. Matthew), which is probably the film that most critics consider the best of all Jesus films. (Written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini)(Cast - Enrique Irazoqui...Christ…
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