The life story of Jesus is told with more fidelity to story, continuity, and good "cinema" than gospel (which is fine with me). An entirely fictional Roman named Lucius is invented (and eventually converted), and Barabbas and Judas are made into revolutionaries, apparently in order to give Judas some "character motivation" (30 pieces of silver are never mentioned). Looking into this more closely, you can see that the real reason Barabbas and Judas were made into revolutionaries is to explain away the Jews' choice of Barabbas as the prisoner exempted from crucifixion -- Lucius tells him "Your followers yelled the loudest", thus ridding American Christians of a very sticky point.
Still, Hunter is very good as Jesus and the film manages to convey the spirit of Jesus' teachings (not too easy a task for a movie). The Herod and Salome sequence is very nicely handled.
Still, Hunter is very good as Jesus and the film manages to convey the spirit of Jesus' teachings (not too easy a task for a movie). The Herod and Salome sequence is very nicely handled.