Risen (2016)

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Truth and fiction combined to make a powerful statement of faith

Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) is a Roman military Tribune in 33 AD Judea. He puts down a rebellion by Barabbas. After the latest crucifixion, rumors spread that a man named Yeshua (Cliff Curtis) is set to rise again. Pilate (Peter Firth) assigns Clavius and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) the task of investigating the impossible tale.It's always nice to take a different spin on familiar iconic stories. This is one of the most iconic. It starts with Barabbas as a heroic rebel leader. While that's part of Biblical tradition, I like more the other interpretation of him as a lowly murderous bandit. It just makes the injustice of the pardon greater. The heroic version irked me while watching this. There are bits of good biblical yarn. It's not anything earth shattering. It's a nice and easy religious film.

While the story line is admittedly fictional, it is a very smart way of showing the vested interests of the different groups involved in the crucifixion. It shows really clearly why it would not make sense for anyone (jewish leaders, romans and especially for the disciples) to steal Jesus' body.

It trims away most of what the Bible says, apart from the matter of the Resurrection that obviously has to be there.All of the early followers of Jesus were Jewish. There was a big row later on, when Paul wanted to admit as full Christians people who would not live by Jewish law, including being circumcised.Clavius could not possibly have been accepted the way he is.It is nicely done. Unlike "The Passion of the Christ", it is not obsessed with suffering and death.Like all modern versions except Passolini's, it totally ignores the radical anti-privilege message that is unambiguously there. I suppose Hollywood would not care to fund a film that would tell them they were sinners.Also nothing about chastity: also not fashionable.If you want to believe in Jesus, which I do not, then you make yourself ridiculous if you ignore the bits that don't suit you.