Review of The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) by Brittani E — 15 Jun 2009

Jesus Christ's name has been used as a profane epithet, a call to arms, a source of praise and worship, and a world of love and beauty. Though there is no true proof of Christ's existence, his teachings live on to inspire his followers. But if he actually did exist, there is a strong possibility that he was a flesh and blood man experiencing guilt, fear, anger, hope, love, and, yes, even sexual longing. He would experience all that we experience as human beings.

THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST explores this idea through the realm of a tragedy. For if he truly was God, then would that not deny him all the humanity that he loved? And if he was fully man, then would that lend more than a twinge of doubt to his teachings, being that they are coming from an imperfect being? During the final moments of this film, Christ gives in to a temptation, a vision of a normal life where he would find happiness with love, engaging in sex, fathering children, and gaining money from work he enjoys doing. Was he not as entitled to a life like that as he was chosen to die for the sins of mankind?