This dramatization depicts the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see all the teachings and miracles brought to life in this fantastic mini-series, which sweeps through all the drama of his time on Earth from the beginning of the Nativity to his death on the cross and return to the living. I adore this series for countless reasons. This mini-series manages to portray such a real, detailed and visually stunning depiction of the world during the time of Jesus' life. I have to say that this is hands down the best adaptation that I've ever seen of his life according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels. Every single element of this series feels tangible and alive, from the lived-in world seen through the landscapes, towns and civilians to the mannerisms and lifestyles of the people. Everything looks and feels historically accurate, being done so extremely well through the beautiful cinematography and superb acting from all involved. It is practically like reading the Bible but instead visually seeing these events coming to life. This mini-series had quite a big budget not often seen with a television-made project of the time and more like that of a film, which I feel can easily be seen by the grand scale of each scene throughout. I found it quite interesting watching the entire life of Jesus play out before our eyes but what surprised me on my first viewing was how it started right from the beginning at his birth through a brief telling of the Nativity. Having seen so many films based on the Nativity and associating it with Christmas, it made its inclusion feel quite unexpected (since I, and many others, regard this as Easter-time viewing) but it of course makes total sense to be here especially as it gets us familiar with some of the other characters like Mary who would be prominent to the story later on as well. I really enjoyed this version as it set everything in motion however if you want a more in-depth telling then look at the countless other movies especially The Nativity Story (2006), which is one of my favourites. We then get some sequences of Jesus as a child slowly growing up under the Jewish population and teachings. Jesus is magnificently played by Robert Powell whose performance is undoubtedly the highlight of the series. He looks exactly like how I would picture him and it was funny reading the behind-the-scenes about how every time he exited his dressing room in costume, the foul language the crew was using would suddenly stop, which I find hilarious. I love every scene with Jesus, especially each sequence where he gains a new disciple. The friendship and joy they share are so contagious, it causes me to smile, for example, when he asks them to join him and we see how truly happy each is. Seeing each iconic and memorable miracle brought to life was so fascinating and felt so wondrous. From healing the paralyzed man to feeding the five thousand or bringing Lazarus back from the dead, each is an exciting and astonishing occurrence that is just as renowned here as they are in the Bible. Furthermore, scenes where Jesus preaches are just as entertaining and momentous. The telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son is a great example and is beautifully performed by Powell. Of course, anyone who knows the story of Jesus will be aware of what is to come with his betrayal, capture, prosecution, torture and death on the cross. This series, whilst having some very serious moments and horrifying details nothing compares to the dwindling feel of this whole sequence, which is certainly upsetting and hard to witness. I was near tears because of the performances of the other actors, especially Mary's reaction, which is bound to have anyone watching choked up. However, we also know that he rises again after 3 days, which is a ceremonious event to lift the ending's darker tone, even if the best part is left as a deleted scene and abruptly ends with little time spent on his resurrection. Overall, I can say with hand on heart, this is definitive viewing of Jesus' life that is a must-see for not only its accuracy but also its devotion to making a respectful depiction. I would highly recommend checking this mini-series out if you can, especially this Easter time.
Seasons & Episodes: 1 Season - 4 Episodes (6h 22m)
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