Overall Rating
 Awesome: 49.23%
Worth A Look: 27.69%
Average: 6.15%
Pretty Bad: 4.62%
Total Crap: 12.31%
3 reviews, 47 user ratings
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| Last Temptation of Christ, The |
by the Grinch
"A film that focuses on the humanity of Jesus - Imagine that!"
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I don't know why the Christian fundamentalists got their priestly panties in such a bunch over this. If anything, Martin Scorsese's powerful 1988 film did more to reinforce the internal battle that Christ must've faced, and ironically, probably inadvertantly drew more people to Christianity than years of brainwashing and annoying pamphlets combined.I actually remember when this movie was released. I was a kid, and my dad was working for Universal Studios at the time. For about two weeks during this film's short stint at the box office, my dad would come home with stories of picket lines and daily bomb threats to the studio. If you ask me, sounds like the modern day pharisees couldn't handle the possibility that Christ was made more attainable to everyone by being portrayed as a person, a HUMAN BEING, who didn't just KNOW that his pappy was the G-meister, and that daddy would make everything a-ok and clean up this awful mess.
I put this movie out of my mind. I was kind of afraid to watch it, thinking it would be a snoozer, until recently I was listening to Peter Gabriel's "Passion"-the excellent soundtrack for the film, and felt like I was only seeing certain parts of a whole. Man, best decision I've made since I cancelled my cable!
This Jesus had internal conflict like all of us, he was the ultimate "doubting thomas", he had natural desires, he was in love with a prostitute, he had unhealthy thoughts, he had lustful fantasies, he was a carpenter - but in a nice twist, he was a carpenter who made crucifixes for the Romans, and felt constant guilt about his profession. To quote Scorsese "When this Jesus walks into a room, he doesn't glow in the dark." In no way was the Christ figure ever demeaned, disrespected, or dishonored...he was a man suffering great spiritual conflict. And I think this is what pissed so many jeezusfreaks off, the fact that this film took Christ off of the proverbial pedestal that so many people put him on, and made him a man with a human side and a spiritual side, a figure for everyone, for everybody. There's a scene in the film that's absolutely right on in this regard...after Jesus turns badass and busts up all the money changers' tables in the temple, he looks up at the pharisees and shouts "You think God is only for you?! God is not an Israelite!"
The factor that I feel sets it apart from so many other biblical and spiritually inspired films is its obviously low budget. One thing that always pissed me off with movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and 'King of Kings' was that they had this pompous look of an unlimited budget and much fanfare. These films are the golden chalice to Last Temptation's humble wooden grail. Jesus's robes don't look like they were pressed yesterday in a chinese laundry...they're dirty, rugged, and worn. The Romans don't all look like they're playing hackysack in Judea...their armor is rusted and dusty, even Pontius Pilate looks like he'd rather be in a vomitorium back in Rome. Satan isn't so obvious in his appearances to Christ...his offers and appearances seem humble, and truly are decieving, and there's no symphony or Mick Jagger rock tunes when he appears. And the crucifixion isn't played up to be the event of the millenium, there's no shafts of light booming down from heaven, there's no pep talks from Jehovah, there's no cherubs farting in the Romans' faces, Jesus appears to be just another poor schmuck hung out to be ridiculed and punished by the elements.
The movie is like a brilliantly crafted parable, and I'm almost compelled to read the Nikos Kazantzakis novel upon which it's based. I can't say that there was ever a moment in the film that wasn't well thought out and completely necessary. It's a bit bleak, but I don't think there was much comic relief in Roman-occupied Judea other than laughing at Pilate's toga, and I'm sure that was only a one or two time joke.Scorsese set out to make a personal and spiritual film, and I think he made a brilliant decision to adapt Kazantzakis's novel. Last Temptation will undoubtedly stand the test of time, and will always be a much needed slap in the face to all the self-righteous zealots who use Christ and faith in a sick struggle for power over others, instead of for power over themselves.
 del.icio.us 
link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=3416&reviewer=156
originally posted: 12/03/99 20:50:40
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USA
23-Sep-1988 (R)
UK
N/A
Australia
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