(SPOILER WARNING!!! This article does contain spoilers, if you haven’t seen the movie, just see the first paragraph to be informed without spoilers!!!)

Son of God can be a same old retelling of the story of Jesus. Even though there were some scenes that were not Biblical and the first half of the movie seemed rushed, the final scene of Jesus’ crucifixion and death always gives you a powerful sense of emotion of God’s ultimate sacrifice for us. 3 Star out of 5.

There has been many, many movies about the life of Jesus. Some very good ones, and some very bad ones. I have to say, making a movie of Jesus Christ is not easy, because there are many stories that may too much for one movie. Maybe making into a trilogy makes more sense, but it’s not easy. When you make a movie about Jesus, or anything in the Bible, you are bound to be behind a lot of criticism and controversy. As for this movie, they definitely play it safe with the story of Jesus. Nothing wrong with that, but it can be boring for some people. Not for me, cuz I always enjoyed Bible movies for what it is, unless it is completely out of the canonization of the story. To me this movie had no controversy, maybe a few criticism, but nothing for the people to be outraged about. I will start with what I didn’t like, to the so-so, to the good.

What I didn’t like is that there were some scenes that were not Biblical. Most notably for me was the scene where they were about to stone a prostitute women. That women was suppose to be Mary Magdalene. In fact, it was suppose to be the first time Mary Magdalene and Jesus met, but in the movie they met a time before that, so they put a random women in place. Also some of the quotes in the movie were a little off. Maybe they tried to make it modern, but something you can’t misquote is the words of Jesus that’s in the Bible. I also felt that the beginning of the movie was rushed along during Jesus time as a teacher and a healer. It didn’t really gave you time to think and soak in His words during that scenario. Instead, you have to keep up with the movie for it’s next scene. The movie did leave out some scenes, as in every Jesus movie. However, leaving out Jesus’ baptism with John the Baptist is a powerful story in the Bible is odd to say the least. They did show it in a quick flash, when Jesus found out about John the Baptist’s death, but I thought this is important in Jesus life in the symbolism of Jesus starting his mission and setting an example of what we as Christians have to do to start our mission.

The so-so of the movie. Diogo Morgado playing Jesus has it’s ups and down. You do feel the actor’s love and compassion portraying as Jesus and did speak well when teaching his stories. However, I didn’t feel enough passion in him, especially in the scene where he is flipping tables over in the Temple of Jerusalem. I didn’t sense anger or passion in a scene where Biblically speaking, Jesus was angry and filled with rage. Also, I’m getting tired of movies putting Jesus as a skinny handsome model, no offense to Morgado, but Jesus grew up as a carpenter so you know he is a big and strong person growing up. How else can he stay alive while being brutally beaten by the Roman guards at the end of His life. Also, there wasn’t enough character development for a lot of characters in the movie, like Mary Magdalene, Thomas, and even John in some circumstances. They did for Peter, Pilate, Caiaphas, and even Matthew, but those were just the few people in a story with lots of characters. Also I thought it was weird how Jesus’s mother, Mary, still looked young to be a mother of a 33 year old. Maybe it’s just me.

What I liked in the movie. One scene where it is not Biblical, but it worked, was the scene of Matthew as a tax collector deciding to follow Jesus. in the Bible, Jesus just went to Matthew and said, “Follow Me,” and Matthew dropped everything and followed. In the movie, Jesus made a speech about forgiving all people, and you see Matthew’s face with a sense of remorse and pain. Then Jesus told him that you are forgiven, and Matthew decided to follow him. It’s a rare case where you can add a little bit, and it works. Preachers do it all the time. There were some cool scenes in this movie like the first 5 minutes of the movie showing most stories in the Old Testament of the Bible in highlights. Thought that was an excellent start to the movie. Also the scene where Jesus was walking on water during a storm, and Peter coming out walking then sinking because of his faith. The action on that scene was tremendous. I liked how they showed the tension and different of opinions between Pilate, Caiaphas, and Nicodemus. Pilate was like the big bully taking advantage of Jerusalem showing his savagery, yet he didn’t believe Jesus did anything wrong. Interesting contrast of views for a powerful man. You have Caiaphas who doesn’t believe Jesus is the Son of God which is blasphemy, and didn’t want the Passover celebration to be shut down by Rome, cuz he believed Jesus will start a riot against Rome which was the complete opposite of what Jesus is trying to do. Then you have Nicodemus who pretty much believed that Jesus is the Son of God. It is a interesting triangle of opinions to watch, but Caiaphas pretty much manipulated his way of killing Jesus. That leads to the greatest and powerful scene of all that really made the movie decent enough. The crucifixion and death of Jesus wasn’t as bloody in The Passion of the Christ, but it was certainly powerful. To me as a Christian, any scene about the death of Jesus, and god’s ultimate sacrifice can give you the chills no matter how the scene is produced. As it’s says in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that so whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. ” God made it happen, and Jesus endured all the brutality for us to have a chance of eternal life. We were meant to die, and nothing else. But Jesus dying on that cross is the ultimate symbol of hope for us until he comes again. All we have to do is say yes, and carry on His mission on Earth. I loved how they made the scars in Jesus’ hands. Something i look forward in seeing when I finally meet Him.

Overall, the movie was decent enough for all people to watch. If it wasn’t for the powerful scene at the end, this movie would’ve been in the lame department. Thank goodness it is not. I do believe there will be a great Jesus movie, it’s just a matter of when. Until then, this is what we got in remembrance of God’s ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Rating 3 out of 5 Stars.