User Reviews

While, I do applaud this production for being Biblically accurate, there were parts of it that has little to nothing to do with Jesus. Why on earth, was it telling Old Testaments stories about Moses and Abraham? Why was it, wasting time, talking about Christian social reformers and their works in the community? This film felt more like a doctrinarian, than a documentary in the way, it's being told. Yes, this program was supposed to be been designed specifically to help people with no previous knowledge of Jesus to have a better understanding of who he is, but this film barely scratch the surface. You would think that a made-for-TV documentary titled, "So, who was Jesus?" would go into deep detail about the man, but sadly, this documentary does not. Most of the information that the film feeds its audience, is just, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine type of religious education. This type of education is normally designed for children with no knowledge of Jesus, not well-rounded adults. Shot in Israel, using a very limited budget. The production had actor, Russell Boulter in historic locations, narrating and provides information about the man, in a down-to-earth, no nonsense style, through three parts. Those parts are 'His Story Had a Long Preparation', 'His Birth and Life', and last, 'The Meaning of It All'. I kinda like Russell Boulter's smooth delivery, but there were some odd moments with him, that was kinda out-there, to the point, that it was a bit laughable. One of the best, oddly done shots, was "This is where Jesus grew up", sequence with the Marlboro Sign, behind him. Another funny moment in the film is when Russell Boulter was walking, through a marketplace, talking about Jesus's betrayal by the Jews to the camera in front of him. In the background, the Israelites shoppers look very annoyed, with him, because first off, he's blocking their way and second off, bringing up a sensitive subject in a public area. Priceless. It does get funnier, when, some of the background extras look straight at the camera, as if they were confused, on what is being filmed. Another laugh out loud moment is Boulter interviewing random English people, on the street, and asking them, who Jesus is. I like some of the replies, such as a few individuals calling Jesus, some ancient bloke. What a hilarious dumb answer. At least, it's better than the one lady that, didn't know, who Jesus was. I really don't get, how certain people, don't know, who Jesus is. Even if you're totally not into religion, it's hard, living in a Western Civilization society, and not heard, the story of Jesus, at least, once. The movie get even funnier, when Boulter brings up the weird Jesus's wine story and comment on it, by saying that Jesus turn water into wine, because he hated to see a good party, spoiled. Wow- what a misused of supernatural powers. One thing, I didn't like, about the film, is how judgmental, toward ancient religions. Boulter bad mouth ancient religion, as if they were ignorant and barbarian, because the people used to pray, upon, a God or Goddess that they fear. Not only that, but they would sacrifice people and animals to those Gods, for a good harvest, next summer. Then, later in the film, he would defend early Hebrews, by saying that the way, they sacrifice animals, for God, was better than the way, they slaughter lambs at a slaughterhouse. He then, defend God, by saying he wasn't anger at the early Jews for their mistakes, but disappointed in them, when they fail to repent for their sins. What a hypocrite! The dramatization of biblical scenes were alright, but it's bit jarring, seeing Jesus eating fishes, after being resurrect from the dead or Jesus running away from an angry mob, like a coward. The movie has a lot of interesting extra features that were somewhat better than the film, such as Theologian, Paul Blackham answers 20 questions about the Christian faith, a dramatic story called, 'No Mercy', that tells the story of ex-UK mobster, Brian Russ, and what is it like to believe in Jesus, where modern day, Christians talk about their lives. Some copies of the movie also come a with the So, who is this Jesus? Magazine, but it's rare. My version didn't. Directed by Crawford Telfer, the film still provides a pretty semi-good accurate overview of most of the major biblical events of the New Testaments, with a 48 minutes runtime, but the way, it was delivered, made it seem like the film was dumbing the complexity of the man's life, into simple understanding regurgitate bullet points. Its borderline, insulting, the intelligent of its viewers. I wish the movie had more things to say about the man, then the simple Sunday school preachy spill that the film was delivering us. Overall: It made for one compelling viewing, despite its overly simplistic and erroneous nature. While, I don't recommended watching this dated documentary. It's still entertaining if you do, because of the film accidentally over the top silly moments.