Review by co-editor Carl Eastvold
courtesy NBC via hulu.com
MOVIE REVIEW
Starring: Fraser Ayers, Andrew Gower, Farzana Dua Elahe
Directors: Roma Downey, Mark Burnett
Genre: TV Mini-Series: Historical/Religious Drama
Setting: early A.D, Judea
Length: 44 minutes
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Another Bible based offering from Producers Roma Downey and Mark
Burnett, A.D. covers the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, but mainly aims, in following segments, at the biblical book
of the Acts of the Apostles and the first days of the Christian
Church.
After so many similar films, I was pleasantly surprised by the
first hour of filming which covered the crucifixion of Jesus and the
beginning of the resurrection. I have very little criticism
concerning the story line. The narrative is action oriented, and in
only a couple of spots was I able to get up and refill my coffee cup.
The film appears to follow the Holy Scriptures quite
closely. The power of the bible's story is well translated. This was
refreshing after movies like Noah - where it appears the only
biblical component was the name, "Noah," the ark, and the
animals.
This segment opens with the trial of Jesus and his
confrontation with Caiaphas, the High Priest, and the denial of Jesus
by the disciple Peter. The action moves right along and draws you in.
The Crucifixion sequences are bloody and gruesome - as one would
expect - though doubtless far less so than the reality.
I won't attempt to
follow the whole story, as many know it well enough, and it is
better you watch it yourself. The script can be found at the end of
the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the scripts to future
segments can be found in the book of Acts.
There were a
very few things about the first installment of A.D. which threw me,
slightly, so I might as well get them off my chest.
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| courtesy NBC via variety.com |
In
spite of the British accents, the acting and set were good enough to
draw me in, and deal with the story rather than being annoyed by the
actors.
The beginning of the resurrection, which is
near the end of the first installment was well done ( I can hardly
say believable about an event that is, in and of itself,
unbelievable), and the special effects were not overdone. I
especially liked the angel. No wings - he looked like a man of war -
just other-worldly enough to be believable as an angel, and abrupt
and scary enough to make the soldiers leaving their post seem like
the right thing to do.
The first
installment ends with the soldiers reporting to the High Priest. Next
week is the first appearance of the resurrected Jesus, and judging
by this week's episode, anyone who wants to see what the bible has to
say on the subject, can join me next Sunday night.
