How could they make a film about Jesus that ends with his death.
This must be the worst film about Jesus ever were he is not ressurected.
Agree. The sunset/rise (not sure which way it's going) can represent the resurrection.
And now that you bring it up, where was Mary-Jesus' mom?
AND...is it me or does anyone else wish there was a prequel about Jesus' birth, childhood and early years (what we know of it, with some liberty with what happens in between-within reason).
Not only that, but is it just me, or didn't anyone else notice that the cross silhouetted by the sunset is clearly empty? That's a clear symbol of the risen Christ. I remember a Christian friend of mine pointing out to me years ago that only Roman Catholics depict the cross with Jesus still hanging on it. The Protestant denominations use the empty cross.
Of course, when I was still a Catholic, I had non-Catholic Christians try to tell me I wasn't really a Christian. Doesn't matter any more, I converted to Judaism six years ago!
"If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me!"
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I think it actually IS depicted. At the very end after everyone has gotten on the bus (except Jesus/Ted Neely), we see a shot of the empty cross with the sun coming up. Then in the haze of the sun at the foot of the hill, we see a shepherd leading his sheep past. Now I have heard that this was a coincidence, that this shepherd just happened to do that at that point and they left it in, but I don't believe in coincidences in general....how likely is it that a shepherd would walk past with his flock right at that moment? To me that is an image of the resurrected Christ, whether intended or not, and I find it beautiful and eerie.
You might have to be aware that it's coming up as it's kind of subtle.
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By ending before the resurrection, the musical leaves the question of Jesus's divinity open. Godspell took the same approach.
shareI think it ended at the exactly right point. The composers weren't trying to push the Christian doctrine of Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
I think the theme was Jesus' choosing to sacrifice his life, though I guess other interpretations are available . I think that's a big enough theme.
I'm a Christian, BTW.
"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"
Way late but to the OP, you aught to learn history. Worst film ever about Jesus, that's laughable. I think Passion of the Christ is the worst film about Jesus- it uses so many gimmicks that drown out Jesus' actual message. At the end of the day isn't his message more important than using blood every single scene?
Why do so many Christians believe they have a monopoly of Jesus? I, myself, am Roman Catholic but hey I realize that all Abrahamic religions believe Jesus existed. This includes Judaism(man), Islam(prophet), and Christianity(messiah). If you understand the basic history of your religion then you would realize this film makes no clear stance on which belief it follows-whether he was man, messiah, or prophet. Therefore it wouldn't include the resurrection.
It is definitely more focused on his message which I think most Christians should enjoy more than any of his miracles or magic. We should be more in love with his message than his resurrection, that's what is the most important factor of Christ. Maybe learn your own history first?
If one looks at it from a historical point of view Jesus was "resurrected" in the sense that his message and his legacy lived on beyond his actual death. Those that had him crucified wanted to silence him but instead they only made him much more stronger.
Good point, and I forget it sometimes - like spending the last several years thinking on the level with my children or the CCD classes I have taught... sometimes we need to remember to go at it from an adult standpoint also.
shareI believe one of the keys to understanding the movie is in one of the opening lines by Judas:
"If you strip away the myth from the man."
This movie has basically done just that. We see him perform no miracles, and we do not see the resurrection. To a non-believer myth has indeed been separated from the historical Jesus (and I do believe that the Biblical stories are based on an actual man, though non-divine)
Meanwhile, a believer can merely assume that the next part of the story simply wasn't told. After all, not every biographical movie tells the entire story.
Brad
I'm going to disagree with some of this. I think Jesus ascends to heaven and that is why Judas gets to sing his great rock song (the title song). That's where Judas is. He's got questions. Jesus is wrapped in the white robes that he would have been in when buried. I also believe that a rock that Jesus would have been buried behind is moved away from the entrance. Please bare with my memory here. This movie upset me let alone a little kid. I go screen movies before I take my nieces.
Anyway; what drives me crazy isn't just that Neeley doesn't get on the bus, but that at the end they show a cross with someone obviously nailed to it. It's pretty far in the distance. Then I think the shepherd comes in. I have been going nuts trying to figure out if they really left Jesus (Neeley) nailed to a cross. I think that some of the actors getting on the bus look toward that direction.
I have no interest in theology, but from a strictly artistic point of view, ending with the crucifixion makes Jesus's suffering seem more significant. If we see that his death is only temporary (especially if he knows it will only be temporary), it tends to minimize the emotional impact of -- if not actually trivialize -- his sacrifice. Again, I'm just talking drama, not theology.
"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."
"You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die."