Though the film ends on a surprising and genuinely magical note, it takes its own sweet time getting there; some viewers will have lost patience before the denouement arrives.
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
This historical fantasy is too ambitious for its own good, but contains some striking imagery and likable performances.
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The more I think about Simon Magus, the less I'm sure what it's trying to say.
May be reasonably diverting, but the story never matches the movie's fantastic visual imagination.
40
Film.comRobert Horton
Film.comRobert Horton
The brainchild of English director Ben Hopkins, who takes his time getting going. Too much time, really, as the first hour passes rather antsily, without quite achieving forward motion.
38
New York PostJonathan Foreman
New York PostJonathan Foreman
Boring and irritating, and also mildly offensive in its ignorant depiction of both Judaism and Catholicism.