I had somewhat mixed opinions about this film the first time I watched it: For starters, I got the impression Willem Dafoe was miscast, being completely different of the idea I had of Jesus Christ.
In retrospect, I guess I completely missed the point of the movie, which was to give a take a different approach from all the previous, far more reverent film adaptations of the Gospel, focused on the divine side of Jesus, while in this version focused in his human side instead, struggling with his role as the Messiah, being so filled with doubt that at moments almost seems to be a madman.
Even today, I can see why the movie was so controversial, often going with many beliefs commonly accepted by many christians all around the world (From subtle things, such as the Virgin Mary herself doubting about "the voices" Jesus keeps hearing at the beginning, to far more shocking elements, such as the infamous Mary Magdalene love scene)
It was such a different perspective I had some trouble to merely consider it during my youth. After all this time, I still think there is a certain haunting elements which makes me understand perfectly well why so many people find it to be so blasphemous even today.
Particularly how reasonable the devil sounds at moments (Specially during the "last temptation" scene, in contrast with the inscrutable nature of God, so indifferent and distant which at moments it almost feels like He was completely absent in this story.
It might not be as gratuitous as Mel Gibson's overrated gorefest, but I think this might be the bleakest Jesus movie of all time, with him struggling alone with the devil in cruel world, with the strong possibility of God only existing inside his own mind.
Very haunting, but quite memorable nonetheless.
In retrospect, I guess I completely missed the point of the movie, which was to give a take a different approach from all the previous, far more reverent film adaptations of the Gospel, focused on the divine side of Jesus, while in this version focused in his human side instead, struggling with his role as the Messiah, being so filled with doubt that at moments almost seems to be a madman.
Even today, I can see why the movie was so controversial, often going with many beliefs commonly accepted by many christians all around the world (From subtle things, such as the Virgin Mary herself doubting about "the voices" Jesus keeps hearing at the beginning, to far more shocking elements, such as the infamous Mary Magdalene love scene)
It was such a different perspective I had some trouble to merely consider it during my youth. After all this time, I still think there is a certain haunting elements which makes me understand perfectly well why so many people find it to be so blasphemous even today.
Particularly how reasonable the devil sounds at moments (Specially during the "last temptation" scene, in contrast with the inscrutable nature of God, so indifferent and distant which at moments it almost feels like He was completely absent in this story.
It might not be as gratuitous as Mel Gibson's overrated gorefest, but I think this might be the bleakest Jesus movie of all time, with him struggling alone with the devil in cruel world, with the strong possibility of God only existing inside his own mind.
Very haunting, but quite memorable nonetheless.