Review of Risen (2016) by Victor B — 06 Mar 2016

This was a really good movie. It stayed true to biblical history for the most part while taking just enough poetic license to make it interesting to watch. Joseph Fiennes was perfect for the part. He really knows who to capture that Sincere but Confused look that was necessary to pull off the part of a battle hardened roman soldier that has just enough heart left in him to allow himself to question what he thinks he knows to be true.

Unlike biblical fiction movies of the past (Ben Hur, The Robe, etc.), Risen was not over "Hollywoodized" (my own word here), with lots of glamorous pomp, flare and romance that has nothing to do with the story. Risen is a simple movie, that sticks to the basics and does not get distracted with a hundred different story lines. The set is very good and looks very much like we would imagine it to look back in those days.

There are a few things this movie could have done better. The pace is pretty slow for a modern audience use to fast action thrillers.

For those who hate all things related to Jesus and the Bible, I am sure there will be nothing but criticism for this movie. To those people I say this, if you don't like the story of Jesus, then don't go watch a movie about him or a movie based on the Bible for that matter. The Bible says what it says. You don't have to believe it or agree with it, but if you are going to make a movie about the subject, you need to respect it, and not try to perverted it with your own twisted way of thinking. I don't go watch horror movies because I don't like them, and I don't write reviews about them either. If you don't like Bible movies, don't go see them, and certainly don't write reviews about them.