(Perspectives) On the Passion of the Christ

Mark Goodacre's New Testament Gateway Blog notes that Paula Fredriksen has re-issued the book she edited on Mel Gibson's Jesus film Perspectives on the Passion of the Christ. The re-issue has a shorterr title as well, simply On the Passion of the Christ. I note that Goodacre in his brief commments on the original book, as well as the reviewer he cites both found that book lacked, um, perspectives, so I can't help chuckling at the title change.

It's one book on The Passion of the Christ that I've not read yet, although, in my defence, there are a lot of them. Goodacre's lists this one and two of the more scholarly ones that I have read. Eric Thurman has added 3 more, (none of which I have read), but you only have to look at this Amazon page to see just how many there are. I'm sure only a fraction of the 1142 listed relate to the film, but, off the top of my head, I can't think of another film that has been written about to anything like this extent.

Matt

Welcome to the Bible Films Blog

This is something I've been mulling over for a while, and I've decided the New Year is as good as time as any, particularly as my 2 month kitchen building project is finally over. I plan to post some decent content before really going public, so if you've just stumbled across this then please accept my apologies, and come back soon.

Index of Jesus Films

There are links here for each film for Blog Posts, Articles / Film reviews of mine elsewhere, and any other particularly useful information. If you're trying to find every post that mentions a particular film, please use Blogger's search function, putting the name of a desired film in quotes, or use Google putting "site:biblefilms.blogspot.com" after the word or phrase you are searching for.

Scripture Citation Guide for the Gospels
Mexican Jesus Films
Nativity Films
Lucifer, Movie Star

(1898) The Passion Play
Blog post 1

(1898) The Life of Christ / La vie de Christ
Blog post 1 blog post 2

(c.1900) The Death of Christ / La Mort du Christ
Blog post 1Blog post 2

(1905) The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ
Blog post 1Blog post 2

(1912) From the Manger to the Cross
Scene Guide, Review, Blog post 1

(1915) Son of Man

(1916) Christus
Scene Guide

(1916) Intolerance
Blog post 1

(1916) Jesus of Nazareth
Blog post 1, Scene Guide

(1927) The King of Kings
Scene Guide

(1928) Jesus of Nazareth

(1935) Golgotha
Review, Scene Guide

(1951) The Living Christ Series
Intro., Episodes 1-3, Episodes 4-7, Episodes 8-10, Episodes 11 & 12, Overview, Spoofs,

(1952) Living Bible: Jesus the Christ
Intro., Episode 1
- UK version - Episodes 1&2, Episodes 3&4, Episodes 5&6, Episodes 7&8, Episodes 9&10, Episodes 11&12,
Blog post 1

(1952) I Beheld his Glory
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog Post 3.

(1954) Day of Triumph
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog Post 3.

(1961) King of Kings
Review, Scene Guide, Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(1962) RoGoPaG (La Ricotta)
Blog post 1

(1964) Gospel According to St. Matthew (Il vangelo secondo Matteo) Podcast, Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(1965) The Greatest Story Ever Told
Podcast

(1969) Son of Man
Blog post, Brief review

(1973) Jesus Christ Superstar
Podcast, External Article (Mark Goodacre), Blog post 1, Blog post 3

(1973) The Gospel Road
Blog post 1, Review, Scene Guide, Comparison with Gospel of Thomas

(1973) Godspell
Blog post 1 Scene Guide

(1975) The Messiah (Il Messia)
Blog post 1

(1977) Jesus of Nazareth
Blog post 1, Blog Post 2, Podcast Review

(1978) The Nativity
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,

(1978) Dayasagar (a.k.a. Karunamayudu)
Blog post, Review, Scene Guide

(1979) Jesus
Review, Scene Guide, Blog post

(1979) Life of Brian
Blog post 1, blog post 2,

(1979) Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,

(1980) The Day Christ Died

(1982) Cammina, Cammina,(Keep Walking)
Review,

(1985) Hail Mary (Je vous salue Marie)
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(1988) The Last Temptation of Christ
Review, Scene Guide, Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, External Article

(1988) The Seventh Sign

(1989) Jesus of Montreal (Jesu de Montreal Podcast,

(1993) Lamb of God

(1996) Visual Bible: Matthew

(1999) Jesus
Review, Scene Guide

(1999) The Miracle Maker
Review, Scene Guide, Blog post 1,

(1999) Mary the Mother of Jesus

(1999) Book of Life
Blog post 1

(1999) The Revolutionary

(1999) Jesus Christ Superstar - Stage Version

(2000) Close to Jesus:
- Joseph of Nazareth - Review, Scene Guide, Blog post
- Mary Magdalene - review
- Thomas
- Judas

(2001) The Cross
Review, Scene Guide, Director Interview

(2001) The Messiah (Mesih)
Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(2002) Inquisition

(2003) The Gospel of John

Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(2004) The Passion of the Christ
Preview article, Review, Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(2004) Judas
Review

(2005) Mary
Review, Scene Guide
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3
> Bad Lieutenant blog post
> Odyssey in Rome blog post

(2006) Son of Man
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, Blog post 5, Blog Post 6, Blog Post 7, Blog Post 8, Blog Post 9, Review, Scene Guide,

(2006) Manchester Passion
Review

(2006) Color of the Cross
Review, Scene Guide,
Blog Post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, Blog post 5, Blog post 6, Blog post 7, Blog post 8,

(2006) The Nativity Story
CENTRAL PAGE, Review, Book Review Scene Guide,
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, Blog post 5, Blog post 6, Blog post 7, Blog post 8,
Nativity News vol.1, Nativity News vol.2, Nativity News vol.3, Nativity News vol.4, Nativity News vol.5, Nativity News vol.6, Nativity News vol.7, Nativity News vol.8, Nativity News vol.9, Nativity News vol.10, Nativity News vol.11, Nativity News vol.12, Nativity News vol.13, Nativity News vol.14, Nativity News vol.15, Nativity News vol.16, Nativity News vol.17, Nativity News vol.18, Nativity News vol.19, Nativity News vol. 20,

(2006) The Inquiry
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,

(2007) Friends and Heroes
Review, Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(2008) Risen: The Story of the First Easter
Blog post 1,

(2008) The Passion (BBC)
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,

(2009) The Resurrection
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(2009) Christ the Lord
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3

(200?) Gospel According to John
Blog post 1

(200?) Christ the Man
Blog post 1

(200?) John the Baptist
Blog post 1

Last updated 1st April 2007

Index of Other New Testament Films

Here are are links for my blog posts, articles and film reviews hosted elsewhere, and any other particularly usful information. At the top of the page there is a grey bar which contains Blogger's "search" function. Please use this if you want an exhaustive list of posts that mention a particular film, putting the name of that film in quote marks.

General discussion of New Testament Films
The Jerusalem Council in Acts and Galatians
The Versions of The Last Days of Pompeii

(1902) Quo Vadis

(1907) Ben Hur
Blog post

(1912) Quo Vadis

(1925) Quo Vadis

(1925) Ben Hur
Blog post

(1932) The Sign of the Cross

(1935) Last Days of Pompeii
Blog post 1,

(1951) Quo Vadis

(1953) The Robe

(1953) Salome

(1955) The Prodigal
Blog post 1,

(1958) The Living Bible: The Acts of the Apostles
Episodes 1 and 2
Episodes 3 and 4
Blog post 1

(1959) Ben Hur

(1961) Barabbas

(1969) Atti Degli Apostoli (Acts of the Apostles)
Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(1981) Peter and Paul
Blog post 1

(1988) A.D.
Blog post 1

(1997) Visual Bible: Acts
Blog post 1

(2000) Paul the Apostle
Blog post 1

(2000) Close to Jesus:
- Joseph of Nazareth - Review, Scene Guide, Blog post
- Mary Magdalene - review
- Thomas
- Judas

(2002) The Apocalypse
My review

(2004) Paul the Emissary
Blog post 1

(2006) The Inquiry
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,

(2007) Friends and Heroes
Review, Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(2008) Rabbi Paul: The Movie
Blog post

(2008) Myriam, Mother of the Christ

Blog post 1

Last updated 1st April 2007

Index of Old Testament / Hebrew Bible Films

Here are links for each film for Blog Posts, Articles / Film reviews of mine elsewhere, and any other particularly useful information. Please use Blogger's search function, putting the name of a desired film in quotes, to find all posts that mention a particular film.

Overview of Genesis Films
Overview of Samson Films
Overview of Ruth Films
Overview of Esther Films

(1903) Moses in the Bullrushes

(1903) Samson and Delilah

(1905) Daniel in the Lion's Den

(1908) David and Goliath

(1909) Life of Moses

(1909) Noah's Ark

(1909) Saul and David

(1910) Esther and Mordecai
Blog post

(1910) The Marriage of Esther
Blog post

(1911) David et Saul (David and Saul)
Blog post 1, Blog Post 2

(1913) La Mort de Saül(The Death of Saul)
Blog post 1, Blog Post 2

(1916) Intolerance

(1919) The Undertow
Blog post

(1922) Sodom and Gomorrah [Queen of Sin]

(1923) The Ten Commandments
Blog post

(1929) Noah's Ark

(1936) The Green Pastures
Blog post/review

(1948) Queen Esther
Blog post

(1949) Samson and Delilah
Scene Guide

(1951) David and Bathsheba
Blog post, Scene Guide, Review

(1956) The Ten Commandments
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Spoof


(1958) The Living Bible
Abraham, Man of Faith
Gideon, The Liberator
Ruth, A Faithful Woman
Elijah, A Fearless Prophet

(1959) Solomon and Sheba

(1959) David and Goliath

(1960) Esther and the King
Scene Guide, Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(1960) The Story of Ruth
Review, Scene Guide,
Blog post

(1966) The Bible. In the Beginning
Blog post 1

(1974) Moses and Aaron [Moses und Aron]
Blog post 1, Blog post 2

(1975) Moses [the Lawgiver]

(1978-79) Greatest Heroes of the Bible

(1980) Wholly Moses

(1984) Samson and Delilah
Review

(1985) King David
Blog post 1

(1986) Esther
Blog post

(1986) Genesis

(1992) Golem, l'esprit de l'exil (Golem, Spirit of the Exile)
Blog post

(1993) Abraham
Blog post 1, Review, Scene Guide

(1994) Jacob

(1994-98) Testament: Bible in Animation
Blog post on Ruth
Review of Elijah
Review of Jonah

(1995) Joseph

(1995) Moses
Scene Guide - part 1, Scene Guide - part 2

(1996) Samson and Delilah
Scene Guide

(1997) David
Review, Scene Guide

(1997) Solomon
Review, Scene Guide

(1998) Genesis

(1998) Jeremiah

(1998) The Prince of Egypt

(1999) Esther
Blog post

(1999) Noah's Ark

(1999) La Genèse

(2000) In the Begining

(2000) Joseph - King of Dreams

(2005) The Ten Commandments - The Musical
Blog post

(2006) The Ten Commandments
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Part 1 scene guide, Part 2 scene guide,
Review

(2006) One Night with the King
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, Blog post 5, Blog post 6, Blog post 7, Scene Guide, Review

(2007) The Ten
Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3, Blog post 4, Blog post 5, Blog post 6, Blog post 7,

(2007) Friends and Heroes
Review, Blog post 1, Blog post 2, Blog post 3,

(2007) Margate Exodus
Blog post 1

(2007) The Ten Commandments (Animated)
Blog post 1

(2008) David
Blog post 1, Blog post 2,


Last updated 1st April 2007

The Nativity Story - Central Page

My Review for this film is here.

There have been so many posts on The Nativity Story that I thought it would be worth putting links to all my posts on it, plus any other relevant ones, all in one place.

Internal Links
New Film On Nativity In Works
Hardwicke In Negotiations To Direct The Nativity
Writer Mike Rich On The Nativity
Keisha Castle Hughes To Play Mary In The Nativity
Script Review For The Nativity
Nativity Name Change
Lords of Dogtown
Scene Analysis
Similarities with Joseph of Nazareth

Nativity News vol.1 - Nativity Blog, central page, CT article
Nativity News vol.2 - Official Website, First Featurette, Teaser trailer,Time article.
Nativity News vol.3 - Thirteen review
Nativity News vol.4 - Photo Book
Nativity News vol.5 - Second Featurette
Nativity News vol.6 - CT interview with Mike Rich
Nativity News vol.7 - Interview with Mychael Danna
Nativity News vol.8 - EW Interview Hardwicke, Haertland Debut, Sacred Songs CD
Nativity News vol.9 - Interview with Alex Siddig, second nativity blog
Nativity News vol.10 - Theatrical Trailer, Third Featurette, Novelisation, DVD Documentary
Nativity News vol.11 - "Resources" website, Castle Hughes pregnant.
Nativity News vol.12 - Pauline Press books, Outreach screenings, PG rating.
Nativity News vol.13 - Pastor Screening, Outreach materials.
Nativity News vol.14 - Poster, numerous interviews and overviews
Nativity News vol.15 - Premiere, early reviews,Newsweek, clips
Nativity News vol.16 - Hughes pregnant? Time, Variety an LA Times articles, Isacc interview
Nativity News vol.17 - Reviews
Nativity News vol.18 - Reviews box office blame
Nativity News vol.19 - DVD release
Nativity News vol. 20 - Special Edition DVD, Chattaway comentary, CT post mortem

External Links
Official Website
IMDB Page
Nativity Blog
Another Nativity Blog


Cast and Crew
Shohreh Aghdashloo .... Elizabeth
Hiam Abbass .... Anna - mother of Mary
Keisha Castle-Hughes .... Mary
Eriq Ebouaney .... Balthasar
Ciarán Hinds .... King Herod
Oscar Isaac .... Joseph
Mary Matilyn Mouser .... Child (voice)
Matt Patresi .... Roman Soldier
Ted Rusoff .... Old Shepherd
Gabriele Scharnitzky .... Shyla Yvonne Sciò
Alexander Siddig .... Gabriel
Shaun Toub .... Joaquim
Tim Van Rellim .... Jerusalem Soldier #1
Shelby Young .... Naomi (voice)
Lynnanne Zager .... Voice (uncredited)

Director .... Catherine Hardwicke
Writer .... Mike Rich
Producers .... Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey
Original .... Mychael Danna
Cinematography .... Elliot Davis

Reviews
Entertainment Weekly
Slant
Variety
filmcritic.com
Hollywood Reporter
Shadows on the Wall
IGN.com
CNN
Los Angeles Times [Kenneth Turan]
Washington Post
New York Times
San Francisco Chronicle [Mick LaSalle]
The New York Times
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Boston Globe
Decent Films - faith on film [Steven D. Greydanus]
Eric D. Snider
Christianity Today [Peter T. Chattaway]
Christianity Today [David Neff]
Looking Closer [Jeffrey Overstreet]
Darrel Manson
Frederica Mathewes-Green

LAST UPDATED ON 7th DECEMBER 2006.

Old Posts on The Passion of the Christ

I'm writing this in Feb 2007, rather than the date shown, but I've chosen that date to reflect that fact that the articles it links to were written before this blog came into existence.

Now that Blogger has given me the chance to use labels, it made sense to have a The Passion of the Christ label, but as my main wrting on this film is held elsewhere that would't be able to be picked up by the labeller.

So I wrote a fairly lengthy preview piece on the film at the end of 2003 which looked at the history of Jesus films and how Gibson's film fitted into that. That got published at Open Heaven sometime later (once the enw website was released). I then wrote a review when the film came out. So here are the links:

• A New Passion
• Film Review: The Passion of the Christ