…especially if the book is in the Bible. Especially if it’s one of the Gospels. Especially if it’s not one of the first three Gospels. But we won’t name names.
I know a lot of people who love this movie and it moves their heart. Somehow I’m not picking up on that same feeling. I watched the movie for the second time ever tonight, expecting to like it better than I did the first time I saw it. If so many people are that excited about it, maybe I just missed something the first time around?
Apparently not.
There are a couple of sweet spots in it, but overall, I find myself more bugged than heartwarmed. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with the movie, and they stay super accurate to the text — which I definitely appreciate — I have never managed to get into it. Maybe I’m too critical. Maybe I don’t love the Word enough. Maybe I’m too much of a writer and am planning in my head how I would have done it (as if I know anything at all about making movies). Maybe it’s just that He is so infinitely awesome, that any movie which tries to capture that is bound to look a little lame in comparison.
Quite probably I just need to get a grip. And waking up later than 12:15pm probably won’t hurt either.
Although I will say that “Jesus wept” does not equal “Jesus’ eyes watered,” which is what happened in the film. Two tears. Oh well…
Meditations by Night 
Ian Barker
February 28, 2007 at 8:46 pm
We are watching the movie that shall not be named for our John commentary. You are right, it is not as good as the book. But I have a suspicion that I would enjoy it a lot more if I was able to watch it alone. It’s almost too personal to watch it with other people. I do appreciate the fact that He smiles and gets angry.
Amanda Beattie
February 28, 2007 at 9:00 pm
This is true. Good points.
Emily Mea
February 28, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Any adaptation of a book is hard, but I personally wouldn’t even want to attempt doing an adaptation of the Bible… I gotta give the writers on that one kudos.
Kacie
March 1, 2007 at 1:21 am
honestly, because i like being honest (though my tendency is just to be overtly brash, which often results in sin), i have yet to find a biblical movie that i can sit through and not think bad things (i.e. “I don’t quite remember that in the word…”, “Erhm, yeah, because the Savior of the world really does have to have incredible pecks…”, “Hey, can John the Baptist please look a little more like a lunatic? No? Oh, okay… unfair request…My bad.”, etc.–see “cynicism”-def.: no good).
yep. it’s got to be hard, i’m sure. however, i’ve never understood why movie people can make everything else with a storyline look absolutely stunning. the Bible has everything they could ever ask for in a script–romance, heroes, bloody battles, sex scandals, compelling ideas…
perhaps we should take cues from miss charity bates and start praying for movie makers to write and produce biblical movies that actually win Christians hearts instead of cause them to cringe. i’m in–anybody with me?
Amanda Beattie
March 1, 2007 at 1:37 am
Sounds like a great prayer point to me…
retroman
March 1, 2007 at 6:46 am
Question: (and this is the litmus test for me)
In the aforementioned, unnamed movie, does the actor representing our Lord speak with a British accent?
If the answer is “no”, I will need to watch the movie before I dismiss the movie! CBB
LilyRose
March 1, 2007 at 11:37 am
This isn’t a actually a response to this particular post, just wanted to say I appreciated your comment on urbansemiotic’s post “Jesus Found Dead..” and followed it over to your blog here. Nice and practical and well-thought out. 🙂
Amanda Beattie
March 1, 2007 at 1:17 pm
@ retroman: Hey, we’re not naming names. But I’m guessing you don’t need to watch another movie.
@ LilyRose: Thank you very much. I appreciate your comment. 🙂
jonathancombrink
March 1, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Amanda you are awesome! thanks for your spirit lead message on my blog.
i truly do enjoy your blog and it encourages me so much.
I agree with in regards to the ‘unnamed movie’ – it is so hard to watch something like that in public and i feel almost sacrilegious eating popcorn watching it!
However this movie added so much personality to Jesus’ exchange with the Samaritan women – it is so sweet