Product Details

• Actors: Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Massimo Ghini, Giuliana de Sio, Gottfried John, Nathalie Caldonazzo
• Directors: Elisabetta Marchetti, Raffaele Mertes
• Writers: Franco Bernini, Gareth Jones, Gianmario Pagano
• Producers: Ferdinand Dohna, Loretta Bernabei, Luca Bernabei
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Barnholtz Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 17, 2004
• Run Time: 375 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00015HX18
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,405 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Close to Jesus" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/22/2007

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who is Jesus?, March 5, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Close to Jesus (DVD)

I just received this DVD set a week ago and have not stopped watching it. Biblical scriptures and stories have been brought so much closer to home. A few acting scenes leave much to be desired but overall I think that this set is very good - but what I want to know is the name of the actor that plays Jesus in the stories of Mary, Judas, and Thomas. I think he does a phenomenal job and really the only thing that I don't like about this set is that the cast is not included in the credits. IF ANYONE KNOWS WHO PLAYED JESUS THEN PLEASE LEAVE A POSTING HERE. Thank you so much.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I liked it, but not biblical, March 31, 2006

By 

Deo Turner "Deo Turner" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close to Jesus (DVD)

I only watched the first episode on the 4 disc--Mary Magdalene. I know that I am re-studying the bible and as I was watching thie movie, it made logical sense why Mary slept with many men...when Jesus initially was there when she was about to be stoned for her adultery and later at the well, said you are married to 5 husbands (meaning intimate contact with men)...but this movie did not illustrate or show that and surprisingly showed her with the anointed oil, kissing his feet and washing it with her tears and wiping it with her hair...thought this was another woman with no name in the Bible...however it was well-written and brought tears to my eyes since women are mistreated and sometimes viewed as a prize or piece of meat as they explained in the movie (a man's possession and not to ever love them)....I enjoyed the acting (astounding and superb) and want to buy it and watch the other versions from the Public Library!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bible characters not given much attention in scripture, Historical accuracy questionable, but ver interesting!, June 2, 2010

By 

Edith Biggar (northeast of Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Close to Jesus (DVD)

I had viewed & taped off air, the program on Mary Magdelene, with commercials. I didn't even know there were more programs in, what I guess is best called a "mini-series". The title characters in this series are barely given notice in scripture. With Mary Magdelene, her identity has become s much legand, that we really don't know her. She has been a mixture of various unnamed women in the Gospels - the woman whoentered a house where Jesus was having supper & washed her feet with her tears & dried them with her hair, the woman posessed by demons, thewoman caught in adultry. Could Mary Magdelene have really been all of these women "rolled into one"? Yes, it's possible, but unlikely. In this series, she is portrayed as a wife, whose womb was barren. Her husband divorced her for this, plus, he had fallen in love with another woman. She enters a life with a Roman officer, and then becomes a servant of Herodian, the second wife of Herod. Then, she meets Jesus & becomes one of his followers.

Joseph of Nazareth, is of course, Jesus' earthly father, who with Mary raised Jesus. In scripture, he isn't even quoted as saying even one word. We know he betrothed Mary. Mary rceived the annoncement that she was going to give birth to the Messiah. She traveled and visied a relative, Elizabeth & stayed with her until after Elizabeth's baby was born. When she returned to Nazareth, she was definately pregnant. Joseph knew he was not the father of the baby in her womb. He was going to divorce her, until an angel spoke to him. Then, he took Mary & brought her to his home. She was ready to give birth & they went to Bethlehem to register for the census. She gave birth there. The magi visited Herod to ask where the King of the Jews was. Herod didn't know, but his scribe told him the new King of the Jews would be born in Bethlehem. The magi find the child & present their gifts. They don't return to Herod. Herod orders all babies of two years or younger be slaughteres. In this program, Herod is portrayed as being really vicious. Scripture dowsn't tell us when Joseph died. This program shows him dying shortly after he, Mary & Jesus return to Nazareth from a visit to Jerusalem for one Passover. Scripture is silent after that trip. We are told, at one point, that Jesus' mother, brothers & sisters are looking for him. Joseph is not mentioned. We think he had died at some point before. Since scripture is silent on Joseph, this entire program is conjecture, but very nteresting.

Judas is forever known as the man who "handed-over" Jesus to the Jewish Temple priests, for thirty pieces of silver. Why did Judas need this money? This program explains that a friend's father had been imprisioned & was scheduled for crucifixion in a few days. The daughter felt she could buy her father's release by bribing one of the Roman guards. In this program Judas is portrayed as coming from a rich family in Jerusalem, who renounced his affluence to follow Jesus. Jerusalem is "bulging" with all the pilgrims who have come to the city for Passover. Pontius Pilate is trying to do everything to keep the people in Jersalem "in line". Turns out, the man supposedly in prison isn't in prison at all. Pilate's guards capture Jesus in Gethsemene & Jeus is tried, flogged, crucified. Barnabas is released as a Passover pardon. Judas commits suicide when he realizes what he has done.

Thomas is remembered as the man who doubted that Jesus had been risen from the dead. He sees Jesus being carried to the tomb that Joseph of Armithea had volunteered. This entire show addresses the time period of just before the Last Supper to Jesus appearing twice to his apostles. Thomas is on a quest to find what happened to Jesus' body. He even crosses a desert to findthe Roman who crucified Jesus, because he is in a community of crazy people. In this program, a bit more supposed story of who Joseph of Armitheas is. It's possible his story is at least partially true. Thomas returns to the apostles after Jesus has appeared to them & doesn't believe they actually saw th "master". Jesus appears to them & summons Thomas to come & touch his wounds. he does & the apostles are shown leaving Jerusalem after the Passover celebrations.

Each episode is about 90 minutes. They don't need to be viewed in any sequence - each episode is an individual program. It was definately worth the time & money!