The Bible (2013) User Reviews

Compelling Narrative of the Old Testament, Yet There's Too Much Abridgment

[fongniur · 7/10 · 4 November 2013]

As a Christian who was born and raised in China, I find it fairly difficult to hold fast to my faith when the majority of people here still take Christianity as superstition or a series of fairy tales. So I was more than thrilled to have this opportunity to revisit these thought- provoking stories that could help to strengthen my faith in God.

The narrative style and visual effect on the first couple of episodes was stunning enough to draw me into the age of Genesis and Exodus.Both of the actors did an amazing job in conveying the steadfastness and faithfulness of Abraham and Moses. To top it off, from episode 6 onward, the depiction of Jesus Christ is the best I've ever seen compared to other titles with the similar theme. I was also glad to notice that the script includes some of the most memorable and inspiring verses like Psalms 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") and Matthew 5:3-10 (The Sermon on the Mount).

The drawback of this TV production is that it has neglected many great events in the Old Testament. For instance, the detail of some of the ancient prophets like Samuel, Nathan, and Jeremiah and one of my favorite stories --Jonah's disobedience to God's command. (In fact it left out the entire book of Jonah). I understand that due to its limited length and budget, it is impossible to include every detail, yet to look at the show in a bigger picture, I still feel that it's lacking something important. It most probably could be the omission of the Holy Spirit which makes every heart submit to the Lord and leads our way, proclaims the truth, and restores our lives. In other words, I think this production only explains 2/3 of the Trinity.

But in general, this is a very truthful rendering of the Bible and I would strongly recommend it to people who are still searching for God and those who wish to get an outline of important events in the Holy Bible.

The Bible Comes To Life

[zkonedog · 8/10 · 3 March 2017]

I got this gift as a Christmas present in 2013. It took me nearly half a year to get into. I had heard some middling reviews and wasn't overly impressed by the "Son of God" theater spin-off. When I finally gave it go, however, I discovered that each episode kept building and left me wanting more.

"The Bible" is pretty much split into two halves: The first half tells a number of Old Testament stories (Abraham, David, Daniel, Samson, etc.), while the second half transitions into the New Testament, telling of the ministry of Jesus Christ and his subsequent crucifixion/resurrection.

The first couple of episodes of this series are "just okay". I felt they made too big of a point to showcase the brutal violence of the Old Testament era. As such, I kind of dragged myself into those early episodes. They aren't terrible (I could still appreciate the stories being told), but just not entirely focused.

Once I was about 3-4 episodes in, however, the drama/stories/characters really started to pick up and I watched the final few episodes over the span of hours, not days. Whatever you do, PLEASE DO NOT compare this to "Son of God" that was patched-together and released into theaters to capitalize on the success of this show. "Son of God" isn't bad...just bland. "The Bible", on the other hand, is filled with emotion, especially during the "passion" scenes involving Jesus. It was that emotion that kept me watching.

In terms of accurateness, I had no problems with "The Bible". I'm not a huge biblical scholar, but I did attend Sunday School and thus know my basic bible stories (!). Besides a few tiny little nit- picks here and there, I found nothing major to criticize here.

Finally, "The Bible" can also serve as a great history of the Jewish religion. Creator/producer Mark Burnett does a great job of telling a coherent, structural history of the Jews, complete with narration to "fill in the gaps".

Overall, then, I feel "The Bible" to be one of the best Biblical works of film ever produced. Once you get through the first couple of episodes that focus a bit too much on the violence, you'll find yourself getting sucked into the history and emotion of the stories being told.

I like it!

[bestbuddy-15 · 8/10 · 30 March 2013]

Not being a Christian myself, but having read some biblical literature and having an interest in documentaries on Bible, I've always felt that to be able to see these stories in action is perhaps the best way to commit them to memory, and I believe the series excels in that. This is especially monumental for the younger generation who does not often give as much importance to religion as did our forefathers. The accuracy of any representation of Bible will be and has been questioned for authenticity and for not being true to the scriptures, but I think these claims need to be looked in the light of the fact that the 4 gospels in the New Testament bear so many differences among them too.. So what is true might merely by "our version" of truth. And we need to understand the spirit of the Bible, and realize that neither does it claim to serve as an answer nor as the actual representations of what must have happened. It just tries to bring a visual representation of the Holy Bible aimed at bringing people possible who are not as much aware of the scriptures as others and serve as a quick crash course on the Biblical times, if you must.. I am not a Christian, and by watching the series know more about Christianity than I even did .. I'm sure there are others like me, and if it helps people realize the true story or the greatness of God, I''d say any form should be welcome..

A truly Biblical Epic

[televisionseriesreviews · 9/10 · 19 January 2015]

The one thing I was instantly pleasantly surprised with when I watched the first episode of The Bible was the scale of this production, especially for a TV Mini-Series. Unlike most of its predecessors this classic story has been made into a Hollywood epic, both in terms of proportion and the style in which it has been filmed. The visual effects are very impressive and the score, composed by the brilliant Hans Zimmer is beautiful. Perhaps some might argue that it is more of an "entertainment" series rather than an "educational" one, but all the key points of the Bible have been respected.

It's well scripted and the actors did an excellent job in portraying very believable characters, and how great to see the beautiful Roma Downey play the part of Mary!

The Spirit of The Bible... indeed

[annie421 · 5 March 2013]

Whenever words like that splash before anything I always cringe with a tad bit of worry because it usually means "we've changed it and kept the title but still like it". Prince of Egypt way back in 1998 had the same disclaimer. While neither are 100% accurate descriptions of the Bible story that I grew up with, I genuinely believe that they kept the spirit of the Biblical story. However, I know that a generic review to get you to watch this or avoid it might not be the best thing so here goes

1. who Am I? I am an evangelical Christian, I believe that the Bible is God's word on earth and I believe that the whole thing is as relevant as today as it was back then. while it may not be a word for word account of things that happened day by day, I do believe that it holds its own as a historical document as well. If I had a choice in creating a TV docudrama of the Bible- I would make it 24 hours and give it a chance to breathe (but more on that later) I'm telling you who I am because my faith plays a part in my review and I want to, in full disclosure, let you know the bias behind my review.

2. The Pros. -The narrative structure is compelling. By having the pre credit sequence be Noah telling the creation story to his family on the boat, I thought it was a stroke of genius. -The acting. Noah was a Scottish actor which really fit, in my opinion. The actor portraying him had conviction, toughness and a hint of crazy that was all par with who the world saw Noah as.Then came the following big names like Abraham, Moses and Joshua. Both men (young and old) acted their butts off. The challenging thing about playing a Bible character is to portray the strength of faith and the weakness that we tend to feel when faced with such extraordinary characters. -There is a really subtle but awesome bit of foreshadowing with the scene between Abraham and the three visitors. If I think its going where its going, I give props to the creators for sticking true to that aspect of the passage. - The angels in Sodom and Gomorrah. While this part was very Hollywood, I honestly didn't care because I really think the phrase "spirit of the Bible" was true. - The narration- Keith David was an awesome choice. I can't explain it but something about his voice really fits with this version - They're adding bits of the Bible story that isn't often represented in film. (not that I've seen anyway). Its an interesting creative choice and I look forward to the next four weeks and what else they include.

3. THE CONS - While I applaud the film makers for some of the stuff they added, they are leaving out some really key stories. there are barely any mentions of Jacob or even Joseph. I get that not everything can fit, but I would have at least thought that they would have merited at least a montage. Plus, Moses' story is largely truncated and the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness , well that shaped the nation, more of it should have been added- if I speak from a purely Hollywood standpoint? To have more scenes with the actor portraying Moses. He was pretty awesome. But from a narrative standpoint? stuff that happened later on largely stemmed from their time in the desert.

So all in all, I think its a really well done production, because at the end of the day, if it gets people to pick up the book( or download the app) even if it is to argue with it, then it's fulfilling its great Commission.

Take the time to watch it- Unless you're a stickler for the details and can't get your head around the Samson is going to be black or that Jesus is going to be portrayed as the Roman "pretty version" or because you're favorite story isn't in it... well then that's on you. I for one enjoyed it and will continue to watch and see how God's story unfolds.

The Bible - Mini Series

[sallyannph · 9/10 · 31 March 2013]

I thought this was EXCELLENT!!!!! To be able to make the story of the bible in such a small amount of time allotted (5 parts) it was absolutely excellent! The special effects made it SO realistic,the story line loosely true to the "Word" (remember trying to keep a thread through all these stories and through the total bible "must" have been difficult at best). The actors who played these characters did a beautiful job. The only negative i can say is that it wasn't a longer series than it was. Thank you so much for the recounting of the Bible in this entertainment industry fashion and for creating this documentary.

A Mini for Some...Not All

[charlesldavisjr · 10/10 · 26 March 2013]

Dear practicing Jews, Xtians, & Muslims; Pointing out the inaccuracies of the show is pointless...anyone who cares knows Jesus wasn't white, or that ancient Semetic tribes spoke English(!) We know, we know.

Dear fellow atheists & the like; the miracles are at a minimum & really are no offense to us as it is the production & presentation that should move us.

I do not believe in god.

I do love Jesus of Nazareth. I live each day with the words of this Rabbi of Judea, only without all the hocus-pocus. I have seen every Biblical epic since the first Ben-Hur in the silent era. Even in my atheism they move me. Greatly. Read some Joseph Conrad to appreciate the STORY for what it is: The greatest mythology ever written. To believers & non-believers alike: let us just enjoy this great story without interjecting religion. Take the wisdom from these tales and leave the rest.

Do what Jesus of Nazareth suggested: Be nice to each other.

Good Drama only

[Sulla-2 · 6/10 · 22 December 2013]

I found it good drama and it was worth watching. The problem is that if you are familiar with the Bible, you are continually spotting errors and additions. The acting is good. I was impressed with the actor playing Jesus and I don't care that he was probably the wrong colour.

We have 10 episodes. The Old Testament takes up 5 episodes. Rather than trying to cover the entire testament is concentrates on selected stories and characters leaving out many who could have been mentioned. I was OK with this.

We then have 5 episodes of New Testament. I thought that there were too many scenes which were unnecessarily long, especially the cross carrying saga which seemed to go on for ages. More time could have been spent on the ministry stories. I was not happy with the many variations from the gospels and Acts. We didn't have a Saul of Tarsus, just a Paul of Tarsus.I liked the inclusion of Luke but not the omission of Barnabas.

The major fault was ...We are shown Jesus dying and being buried on a Friday. We then see Mary walking to the Tomb and flashed up on the screen we see the words THREE DAY LATER which would make it a Monday. The gospels specifically say that Jesus rose from the dead on the Third day, not three days later. I could not believe that they made such a mistake.

Great to spark interest in The Bible itself.

[Lastsunofkrypton · 8/10 · 2 April 2013]

Please disregard all my arrogant Christian brothers. They somehow feel that the Bible itself is a screenplay and thus should be treated as one. As a bible student for 23 years and possessing All Bible films ever made from silent films until today I can clearly say what is good and what is bad. This mniseries is fantastic to spark interest in the good Book. While the miniseries takes many dramatic licence, the emotion and heart of it is clearly felt. It makes no claim to authenticity yet many scenes actually feel more authentic and not forced to look holier than thou but instead makes you think how hard those times were and thus these people did not know they would be in the bible one day. Many may mention omissions of many storeys which it does skip,however it spends a great deal in Christ. Acting us excellent as well as the score. For my all my Christians brothers who criticise this series I say to you then what would you produce. Those word for word Visual Bible Videos "Matthew, Acts, John?" That although literal word for word and nothing more and honest, nevertheless are completely dull boring and without emotion whatsoever. Even I who know the bible and enjoy it have had a hard time getting through those videos and if i knew not the material with those productions i would turn it off. Sad but true. Those videos are for Christians and Christians alone. You say you want to reach people well with those videos Christianity would have never gotten of the ground per say. In 2004 every Christian complained about "The Passion of the Christ" including scenes not in the gospels or out of order yet it was so power full no one could not say they weren't moved and it reached to millions. This miniseries is great if you are curious about the Bible and and recommend it as a great start up tool. As I mentioned I have seen every film and have every film so I can say what is blasphemous or not. Please forgive my Christian arrogant brothers who act more like Pharisees all righteous and knowing. Times like this I love saying I am an Anti Christian,,,Christian. God bless and enjoy the series.

workmanlike distillation of the Bible

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 24 December 2014]

This 10-part History Channel miniseries is produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. They are the stories from the bible starting with God telling the childless Abraham to bring his wife Sarah and tribe to new lands yet revealed. The production is workmanlike in both the good and bad sense of the word. The product looks well-made if somewhat uninspired. There are no big name stars in the series. It may be both intentional as well as budgetary. The effects are as good as can be expected. The stories have been cleaned up a bit. The first glaring example is Lot who confronts the mob outside. "Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." I understand why that has to be cut out for modern ears. So this is not a word for word reproduction which is fine by me. The end result is that this is a reasonable distillation of the Bible. It has pace. It looks good. It doesn't shy away from the violence and the grittiness. It's a good watch for young people learning the Bible.

Could Have Been Great

[AngelHonesty · 4/10 · 5 January 2020]

Well put together and filmed, but very inaccurate; it also skips many important events in the bible. This show could have been amazing. It had heart and very well filmed, why couldn't they have made it a long series instead of a mini. It would have given them the time to hit all the stories in the bible and put in some accuracy. There are some extremely entertaining stories in the bible and it would have made a very good series.

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 9/10 · 13 July 2018]

This is one of those series that get hit from both sides.

It radicalizes and polarizes both sides on the political spectrum, and the religious spectrum and draws hatred from the fanatics on both sides.

If you read the reviews:

The far right uber-religious are crying about how Biblically inaccurate this is...and that means that they missed the "mini-series" part of production. Really, how are you going to make it accurate to the Bible and watchable for the general public?

I used to work in history and that was a HUGE pet peeve of mine. "Saving Private Ryan would have been good but this, this, and this were inaccurate and..." WHO CARES????!!!!!!!

Do you honestly want an entire two-hour episode of David sitting down writing Psalms? That's really not going to be entertaining. The same goes with long winded rehearsals of who begot whom, which are also guaranteed to put the public to sleep.

If you want a literal interpretation of the book...buy and read the book. Otherwise you will have a faithful depiction at best, but never a truly accurate one.

You can't even translate Harry Potter 100% accurately into a film and those novels are a lot less, well, Biblical. So, chill, take a seat, and be entertained.

The series might be made to educate, but it's education for entertainment as implied by the word "dramatization."

And moving across the alley you have far left fanatics yelling that both the book and this series should be banned. Yelling that they are harmful, that they are dangerous....

...and I guess they are forgetting that people said the exact same things about "Howl" when it was published, and if you live in America and have that view, you should be seriously ashamed of yourself.

There is something inherently wrong about censoring thought and speech. Chill, this is an AMERICAN production and over here, if you want to worship the stick you found in the parking lot last Tuesday...and then make a movie about it, that's your Constitutionally protected right as stated in the 1st Amendment.

If you have an issue with that, move someplace that censors thought, religion, and speech. The rest of us are perfectly happy that we won't get thrown in jail for not sharing the same views as whomever is in power at the moment.

So...if you think about it, if you really think about it, the Bible did a FANTASTIC job in dramatizing the Bible if it's getting it from both sides. The far left is not happy with it and the far right is not happy with it...and that generally means I'm going to be pretty happy with it.

And I was, as someone that spent most of his adult life working around history...well...is there a word that best explains salivating in nerd fueled bliss?

It was awesome. Like The Da Vinci Code (book not movie) the little chapters were just long enough to draw you in and short enough not to get dull. But, the historian in me absolutely loved how well it showed the the stories and people were inter-connected...and that is really an aspect of the Bible that you do NOT get when you go to church.

So you have a bunch of short interconnected stories that sort of turns the Bible into a "Pulp Fiction" styled miniseries and just sits really well for entertainment purposes.

For real entertainment purposes, spending more time on Judges, where you get the bulk of the nation building and the only real stories that you liked when your parents forced you at gunpoint to go to CCD as a child, would have been preferable.

Yeah Moses and Noah are OK, but really you want to hear more about Samson and the high adventure stories...the ones that you liked as a little kid because it read kind of like Robert E. Howard...But I guess focusing only on those stories wouldn't make The Bible as epic in scope as the miniseries became.

And, I feel because of that need to be more epic you had what so many other people complained about...

SAMURAI NINJA WARRIOR VR TROOPER ANGELS

And unlike the political and religious zealot complaints...the Samurai Angels were really a valid complaint. That just hurt to see.

I WOULD have given it 10 stars because it was super entertaining...but Ninja Warrior Angels. You can't suspend your disbelief enough not to do a spit-take when you see them.

They were so bad.

But fortunately they were also short lived.

So...don't turn it off when you see them. It's a good dramatization to sit back and watch, and the strongest part is honestly the length of the little chapters. It makes it perfect for viewing.

47 theological advisers NOT so "expert" !

[jameskcdn1 · 6/10 · 15 February 2014]

This most recent biblical film could have been so good... After "consulting 47 theological advisers (including Rick Warren, and one rabbi)"... how is it that so many things were not done correctly?

Yes, one wonders how any involved could have not consulted the Bible. To list all factual errors would be another mini-series, but I will say we KNOW what the key Bible coins look like -and they got them wrong. Some are so inexpensive it would have been less costly to use the real deal instead of a poor prop! in this area I give you a generous -1(disgraceful)! Like Judas, these advisers should seek to return their payment!

An All-powerful God who can't stop political correctness?

[sunjune · 2/10 · 21 April 2013]

My wife and I made it just fifteen minutes into Episode Two.

Seeing Sampson of the Bible portrayed by a black man with dreadlocks -- complete with a mother inexplicably decked out in African garb -- was too much for any reasonable viewer to be asked to overlook. We had already struggled to ignore the kung-fu master who turns up in Episode One to help slay the enemies of Israel.

Hollywood is hopelessly controlled by the maniacal political left and political correctness. Better to take a pass on this series and read a good book instead.

Perhaps the REAL Bible?

The Bible

[melpereira-636-695532 · 18 March 2013]

Surely we've collected enough archaeological evidence to portray these people the way they truly would have looked.

Why then is it that we continue to portray them via stereotypes we learned in Sunday school in the 1950s.

Whether we want to believe it or not, Jesus did NOT look like a modern-day version of Brad Pit with long hair and a beard. His mother Mary probably didn't have flawless white skin and the face of the Mona Lisa.

In 2013 we had a shot at presenting stories in the Bible from a far more scientific, more realistic approach...even using exactly what is in the Bible... but we cannot seem to remove our own personal prejudices.

The Bible review

[renegadeviking-271-528568 · 8/10 · 5 April 2021]

This program is an adaptation of bible stories that changed our world. It endeavors to stay true to the spirit of the book."

The Bible takes on the monumental task of trying to cover Genesis through Revelations in just ten hours. The first five hours cover the stories of the Old Testament while the second half covers of the New Testament. It is certainly not a comprehensive look at The Bible-with just five hours for each Testament, there's only so much they could fit in. It is more of a CliffsNotes version of The Bible, meant to get people more interested in the stories, and want to actually pick up the book and read more.

I am not a bible scholar, and can't really speak to whatever liberties were taken with the source material. But I do have a general knowledge of the characters and stories mentioned in the miniseries and think they were able to capture the spirit of the book.

The episodes are broken down as follows:

Episode 1 - In The Beginning We start off with the book of Genesis, with brief mentions of the creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah. The crux of the episode covers the story of Abraham, Sarah and Lot.

Episode 2 - Exodus Covers the book of Exodus, with Moses challenging Pharaoh and freeing the Israelites.

Episode 3 - Homeland It is 140 years later and the 12 tribes of Israel have spread out across the promised land. The Philistines pose the greatest threat to the Israelites, and they rely on local heroes, called Judges, to protect them. This episode tells the story of one of those judges, Samson.

Episode 4 - Kingdom It is a new era-the time of prophets and kings. This episode tells the story of the first king of Israel, Saul, his prophet Samuel, and the future king David.

Episode 5 - Survival The 21st king of Israel, Zedekiah, has betrayed the Babalonian King Nebuchanezzar. His prophet Jeremiah says that God wants him to surrender, but Zedekiah refuses and the temple is destroyed. There is new hope for the Israelites in Daniel, but as with the kings before him, he falls prey to sin and corruption.

Episode 6 - Hope This episode covers the Nativity, Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, Christ's temptation in the desert, and the start of Jesus' ministry with him teaching Peter how to fish.

Episode 7 - Mission Jesus travels across the land teaching about God's kingdom and performing miracles. However, this doesn't sit well with the Pharisees, the guardians of the Jewish faith.

Episode 8 - Betrayal The Pharisees are afraid Jesus and his increasing number of followers will disrupt their Passover celebration. Jesus holds his last supper and, sensing his upcoming fate, experiences agony in the garden. The Pharisees have Jesus arrested and put on trial for blasphemy and threatening to destroy the temple.

Episode 9 - Passion The Pharisees want Pilate to order Jesus' execution since their laws prohibit it. The public has a chance to decide Jesus' fate but ultimately call for his crucifixion in favor of pardoning murderer Barabbas.

Episode 10 - Courage Jesus rises from the dead, giving new hope to his disciples. While the disciples are hunted down, they continue to spread Jesus' ministry, and one-time non-believer Paul of Tarsus is baptized and joins their ranks.

In the first half of the series, we are introduced to new characters every episode. The series is tries to bridge the gaps between these characters via the narration, but the time period between each episode can be hundreds of years. Sometimes it felt like there was a lot that happened in that missing gap and it played out more like a series of sequels rather than one continuous story. Also, since these early episodes squeeze one or more character's entire life story into a single episode, they often move very quickly. There is a lot of information that is implied, or the viewer is expected to already have knowledge of. It left me wondering how easily someone who has never heard of these characters/stories would be able to follow these episodes.

The second half of the series concentrated on Jesus, so it had more of a single-story miniseries feel to it, giving us one long narrative. While it does still move quickly, I found the implied knowledge issue to be less evident since four episodes are devoted to the life of Jesus, where in the first half folks like Abraham, Moses, Saul and David got less than one each.

That said, I did enjoy the entire series. It looks beautiful and the score by Hans Zimmer is amazing. The first half of the series is more action-packed, with a spectacular battle scene every episode. These sequences held nothing back, and get quite gruesome at times-probably a benefit of being developed for History rather than a network television channel. So parents who were thinking this would be a good way to introduce some bible stories to their children may want to watch the series first to see if it may be too violent.

I found many of the stories in the first half of the season to be really interesting-I just wish they had had more time to explore those characters. (After seeing episode 4, I had the sudden urge to do a re-watch of the short-lived NBC series Kings.) Perhaps if they had split this series into two longer miniseries, one for each Testament, it would have worked better.

The second half was equally as gruesome and violent at times, but had more time to develop the characters of Jesus and his disciples. So it had more of a dramatic feel to it, and I felt more invested in these characters. My only complaint is that the final episode felt quite rushed as it tried to squeeze in everything from Jesus' resurrection through Revelations.

Overall, I think it's definitely worth checking out this miniseries-especially if you already have some knowledge of the biblical stories it references. While I didn't see any faces I recognized, I though the cast was exceptional, giving solid performances throughout the series. Add to that the high production value, and it is a satisfying viewing experience.

Soul Wrenching

[bug76 · 10/10 · 29 September 2013]

Never have I seen a show that has touched me so deeply as this epic mini-series. I'm all for it when 'The Bible' reaches new listeners, picks up those that have fallen, those who are lost or refreshes their faith when it has gone stale.

I was struggling this past year with many things. I am a person of faith but felt that even I had lost some of the fire in my soul. I was having trouble finding it again. I had faith. I just felt it was becoming 'stale'.

Then, I watched 'The Bible' when it first came out on the History Channel. I loved every minute of the stories from 'Genesis' to the book of 'Revelation'. I felt some of that fire returning. Diogo Morgado lit up the screen with his portrayal of Jesus Christ. I saw such passion on his face and love in his eyes every second he was on screen. But, what lifted my spirits and renewed every ounce of faith I had in me was when I saw the interview of Diogo on Youtube. With so much warmth and conviction, he teared up as he talked about how he was haunted by the Crucifixion scene. I know Diogo is a very talented actor but he seemed completely genuine and humbled by going through this experience. He did shine when he talked about his role. It was evident on his face.

But, can we please drop the #HotJesus now?(I never jumped on that bandwagon). It feels sacrilegious to me. He gets asked about that hash-tag in every interview and I know he's being nice but I can tell it makes him a little uncomfortable. I like #SexyDiogo, however. I like #LovingJesus or #MercifulJesus. But not #HotJesus. This beautiful story isn't about how sexy people think Jesus(Morgado) is but what He came here to do for us. Matthew 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remissions of sins." That's the message this whole series is trying to convey. Jesus gives his heart freely and loves unconditionally. He sacrificed so that we may live.

Darwin Shawn, as the disciple, Peter, did a fantastic job embracing the role of Jesus' favorite follower. He truly let the Lord work through him and was so convincing in his role that I wanted to be there in that moment with him; with them all. Roma Downey was excellent as Mary. To watch her help her son pick up his cross, knowing what was in store for him was heart breaking. We get to see suffering on different levels and in various ways. We suffer through the eyes of another--'suffering by proxy'.

Since I've already watched it on t.v., I'm leaving a review now. Though, I will be getting the DVD for my birthday next month! :) Diogo Morgado said he would be happy if this series even touched one soul. No, you have touched millions with your gifts. Never let them die or become corrupted by the monsters of the industry. Your role has renewed my spirit. He was perfect for this role as Jesus Christ. He seems down to earth and humble. He wanted to play the Jesus he knew. In Matthew 11:29---"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto you souls." No one could portray Jesus so humbly as Diogo has so beautifully done. Who better to play the part than one who is kind, warm and also humble? Example: When asked if he was 'famous' in Portugal, he said, "I'm known there." A perfect answer. He didn't say 'I'm a famous actor/model'. It does one no good to think too highly of him/herself. It's better to let others praise your work than to praise yourself.

I highly recommend this series to any and all who are looking for more; for those who are tired of what they are watching on t.v. and in movies; for those who have seen enough violence and depravity to last two lifetimes; for those seeking the positive to overshadow all the negative we endure in this world.

Diogo didn't have say a word or even move. I've never seen an actor convey everything they had in them as Diogo did portraying Jesus. I knew exactly what he was 'saying' just by looking in his eyes. Diogo is extremely blessed and gifted when all he needs to do is show his eyes and you just know. The eyes are the windows to the soul. It seems Diogo really is a sweet person if the saying is true.

Watch my video that is dedicated to this series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzJ01VFKWas

Loved it hope to see more on the History of the Bible in the future.

[asrkb · 9/10 · 26 March 2013]

I thought it was the best I have seen in a long while. It did make you want to come back for day two and three and four and now I am really excited for the last one. They did not have time with 10 hours plus commercials to add all the detail some in other reviews would like but I think it was enough. A few small mistakes But so far nothing that should hurt ones salvation. Just trying to open up the Bible to the viewers. I do think for the time restraints they did a pretty good job. Believe on Him and search the scriptures... I think the last one of this series will be the most important to get the message right as accurately as possible. I am sure it will be brilliantly done.

The Bible

[mitchell5954 · 7/10 · 1 January 2014]

The Bible TV series, for the most part, is a very enjoyable experience that should be seen whether you believe in God and the Bible or not. I can definitely say that as a standalone piece it is very well put together. The story is well done and draws you in. The cast is good for the most part with some exceptions which I will point out. However, it does have issues. As an adaption it is lacking in many places. It does a good job at adapting some stories while others leave much to me desired.

The effects for the series are amazing especially given the lower budget for this series. Each episode looks movie quality. It truly feels like you have stepped back in time to the time of ancient Israel. The cast is quite good. Most of the actors fit their character well. Some casting choices are great. The casting of Moses was great. The casting of Jesus is excellent. The Jesus in this is probably my favorite Jesus put to film. Keith David was th perfect choice to narrate this. He has one of the best voices ever. However, there are some poor casting choices in my opinion. For example the two people playing Mary and Joseph I did not think fit very well. This series is also a decent history lesson on Israel. The story of how Israel was founded and the many hardships the people had to endure in those times was fascinating and kept my interest.

However, here is where the problems with the series come in. First of all it is way too short. Ten episodes are nowhere near enough to completely adapt something as insanely long as the Bible. As a result the series feels extremely rushed in places. Some stories are told very accurately and are given a lot of time while others are just very skimmed over or just briefly told to us in narration. For example the story of Adam and Eve up to the story of Noah and the Ark was told in just a few minutes. Other stories I like from the Bible were left out entirely liked Jonah and the fish, or Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. It was probably mostly to do with budget constraints.

However, it was probably also due to the fact that they wanted to tell a continuous story. The Bible itself is not really continuous. The show mainly covers the story of Abraham to the death and resurrection of Jesus, but many stories are left out or skimmed through. This series really only covers stories relating to Israel itself like its foundation under Abraham and all the hardships it has faced since then like from the Egyptians, Philistines, Romans, etc. This feel just as much like a history lesson on the country of Israel as much as it is a story of God and his many followers. I cannot be sure but maybe that is what they were going for which is why many stories were left out. Many stories of the Bible do not really relate to Israel itself or at least not directly.

Overall, as an adaptation, The Bible TV series does leave room for improvement. However, as a standalone piece it is a very enjoyable watch. Whether you believe in the teachings of the Bible or not I still think you should see this. Whether you believe it or not I still think it is a good story that you can get into.

The best interpretation of Jesus Christ in the history of cinema with Diogo Morgado

[bcnkor · 10/10 · 3 February 2022]

Also remember the millions of people who have died and continue to die in history, because of power and religions, be it Christian, Muslim, Egyptian, Hindu, Japanese, etc... And even in the 21st century no one has seen to a God...

Thanks to his great interpretation of Diogo Morgado, he has not brought one of the best series on the life of Jesus Christ. Where this role is tailored and physical for him. This series would not have been the same with another actor.

Good enough - but the advert by one of the sponsors is cringe-making!

[karenwebb23 · 7/10 · 14 December 2013]

I am a Christian, but I must admit I often find these sorts of series not to my taste. That said, I feel that it is well done and while it is impossible to cover the whole of the bible what I have seen so far is true to the word and spirit of the scriptures.

The bit I cannot stand is the advert by one of the sponsors - 'What's in the Bible' used by channel 5 here in the UK. Its obviously aimed at children (the advert that is) but the programme goes out at 9pm. The advert is so awful, its embarrassing to be associated with it - its about 35 years outdated, voiced terribly and badly illustrated. I cringe when I see it, as I'm afraid if I weren't a Christian the advert alone would put me off! So please ignore that - Christians are contemporary people, not all of us are elderly spinsters or small children!

bringing us together for all the wrong reasons

[thomblackburn89 · 3/10 · 18 March 2013]

Christians won't like it because it misrepresents the bible and glorifies the violence without giving credence to the allegories for having a lesson.

Atheists won't like it because at the end of every allegory some character simplifies their situation as "because god, that's why."

Critics won't like it because the editing is horribly disjointed and condensed without giving any time for character development, and the acting is over-done to the point of making viewers uncomfortable.

In a way, it is bringing us all together because it is so poorly done that it becomes our common enemy.

3/10

Great, only wish they would have done more

[ZJFox43 · 8/10 · 31 March 2013]

Being about the Bible, I don't want to spoil the end. (Joke.) But, I must say this was very well done aside from a few inaccuracies. This is to be expected seeing as it is a mini-series rather than a gigantic series.

Now, the only complaint I would have is the actual crucification of Jesus. Many believe it was a cross (though it was a stake if you do the research into it) and since it is a minor matter and to be expected that should be no matter here. But, the nail in the hand instead of wrist is still happening even knowing the truth behind it.

Aside from that little fact, the show was great. I do hope it opens up people to reading the Bible and to their God. The show portrayed things in a very good way, aside from a few things with Jesus and after Jesus.

If you have not read the Bible read Luke then read Acts. Though, you can always start with this show for a start. I do recommend it as a start before reading or to those who know the Bible.

I will say, as a Jehovah's Witness I really expected to be even more disappointed with the portrayal of Jesus, I didn't expect God's name to be used since it may offend some or confuse even more but a few lines not from the Bible got me but that in itself did is not a problem, only implying Jesus as God without Biblical support. But, overall, I liked it.

Good, but flawed. Many wasted opportunities.

[a_limit · 6/10 · 28 December 2013]

While it was definitely an enjoyable series, it seems that too much creative licence was involved in its production. But at the same time I do not think that the intent of the series was to remain completely true to the source material. If one is familiar with the Bible, one will notice unnecessary inaccuracies, an incorrect sequence of events and things which are just not in the Bible at all. It also feels as if the producers had toned it down so as not to offend anyone. They excluded some of the most important theological material. The 10 commandments are given to Moses and yet they are not read for those unfamiliar with them, this was a grave mistake for without the Law we do not become aware of our sin. They also failed to mention the golden calf. In regards to Jesus, they should have taken advantage of the opportunity and included Jesus' sermon on the mount. They also did not seem to express important points, such as when Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life." They did not continue with "No one comes to the father except through me." From a Christian perspective, this is very wrong theologically, Christ IS the ONLY way. This would have been a great way to share the Gospel with the lost, but it feels like they wasted great opportunities and just when they were getting to important stuff they sort of stopped and fell flat. While the selection of events within the series was satisfactory, they certainly could have included more material. All in all, I do not think that I would recommend this to the lost. While it does give a decent overview of the events of the Bible, much important material is absent and as a result I feel as if this series could possibly create false converts and certainly misinform people.

Writing, writing, writing . . .

[newsound · 1/10 · 7 March 2015]

I finally had a chance to watch "The Bible" and was amazed at the poorly-written, almost laughable script. While the cinematography, acting and SFX are professional and believable, the script IS NOT. If you were to take a Sunday school class of 8 to 12 year-olds and ask them to write a script for a series based on the Bible, this would be the result. I was amazed to read that the producers consulted "a wide range of pastors and academics." Really? Maybe the only way to tell such a beloved story is to be simplistic and shallow. But, since these stories have all been done many times before, I would have hoped for something a little more sophisticated. And whoever it was that said narration is the sign of a poorly-written script was absolutely right about this one.