It is rare for Hollywood to come out with a Bible-based motion picture that touches the hearts of viewers like “Son of God” does in every scene. This 2014 film is a compelling journey for viewers from every background, and its superior acting and musical score further add to its epic feel. The PG-13 historical drama follows the life of Jesus of Nazareth from his birth all the way to his crucifixion and resurrection. Based on the successful TV series “The Bible,” this film tells an important story in a way that is thoroughly entertaining
The movie begins with the disciple John’s voice narrating, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John continues to narrate the film, which covers the events in the Gospel of John surrounding Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Audiences watch as Jesus transforms from a baby in a manger to a powerful spiritual leader. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, calls forth his 12 disciples, feeds a multitude, raises his friend Lazarus from the dead and preaches the Beatitudes on the mount. The film covers all of the major events in the ministry of Jesus, but it also spends a great deal of time detailing his death.
The film pays special attention to Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the public waved palm fronds, and the story then becomes darker. Audiences see the Last Supper during which Jesus announces that one of his disciples would betray him, and they see Jesus praying fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. Judas then fulfills the words of Jesus as he brings a group of Roman guards to arrest him. Jesus is brought before Pilate, and he admits to believing that he is the Son of God. Viewers then must face the brutal scenes during which Jesus is beaten and crucified, but their spirits are lifted when they see the scenes of the Resurrection and the Great Commission.
“Son of God” is an inspirational biopic that is geared toward Christians and non-Christians alike. It attempts to tweak the story to add more drama and interest, and some of the dialog is shortened or altered for the sake of brevity. This film is not for movie-goers who are looking for a Biblically accurate film with straight-from-text dialog and a perfectly followed storyline. This film strays from the Gospel of John on a number of occasions, but the underlying message and important plot points are never altered.
The cinematography is nothing ground-breaking, but the filming locations are visually stunning. The characters and places in the film have a genuine feel, and it is clear that director Christopher Spencer went to great lengths to deviate from the Sunday School Bible characters, opting for gritty, emotional characters who feel real to the audience.
The musical score was created by the award-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who also worked on soundtracks for films like “The Lion King,” “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.” The soundtrack features orchestral music and heavy drum beats mixed with choir pieces to create an epic atmosphere fitting for such a large-scale film.
One aspect that truly sets “Son of God” apart from other Biblical films is its superior acting. Brazilian actor Diogo Morgado stuns audiences with an excellent portrayal of a friendly, mild-mannered Jesus. However, the actor also portrays emotional, painful scenes with the perfect amount of passion to create a believable performance. Sebastian Knapp is convincing as Jesus’ disciple John, narrating every event with fervor and heartfelt emotion.
Although this is a great film with many strengths, it also has a few flaws. Some of the characters were misrepresented, such as a ruthless, bloodthirsty Pilate instead of the guilty man portrayed in the Bible. Also, despite the filmmakers’ attempt to tighten up the dialog for the sake of the film, some of it stills feels long-winded. Much of the film is slow-moving, so it is not a good choice for those looking for an action-packed adventure. Despite these shortcomings, the film is still inspiring and entertaining enough to make it a must-watch Biblical motion picture.
