Customer Reviews

The Gospel of John - Visual Bible

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like the film title said, "It's a faithful presentation of the Gospel by John. Word by Word!!! No kidding. It's like someone reading the entire book of John to you in a film with cast and everything in 3 hours. This is the ministry edition. I haven't seen the regular edition (under 2 hours), I guess much was cut to reduce it to under 2 hours.)
This is by far the best gospel film; bible based, I've ever seen. It out did Ten Commandments (not exactly to word). It is also far better than the other two "visual bible" series--Matthew and Acts.
The other 2 has problem in quality. (save it for another review).
This one, has features on the DVD when a little sign comes on, you can click on it and look at the historical background information of what that scene or the particular statement means in the historical context.
Extremely educational and very good for bible study classes.
At first, I didn't like the cast starring Jesus. But as the film (it's not a movie, in my opinion) progresses, I grew to like him and think he did a wonderful job portraying Jesus in this gospel.
The director did a wonderful job blending the Biblical text with the different scenes and it just seems so smooth--all of the transitions. It doesn't tell you like the other two films in the series, verse by verse. It's a streamlined, smooth presentation of the entire gospel.
I've seen it twice already in one week. (I rented it from Netflix first, then I decided to buy a copy for myself because it is so good.)
I think if I watch it once per month, it will help me memorize the book of John much better.
The DVD sold at Amazon is above list price ($22), then it lowered to $19.99 (sometimes). CBD is selling at $14.99 but I bought it at Amazon because I get free shipping with Prime membership.
Buy this DVD. It's good for all ages.
It is good also for elders at home or disabled, just have the movie play continuously, it will let them listen to the word of God all day long.
Everyone who watches this film will be blessed.

I must say "The Gospel of John" brings the Bible to new life. The acting is superb and Henry Ian Cusick does a fantastic job of portraying Jesus Christ. The entire gospel including the Passion of Jesus is acted out so beautifully. In my opinion, the movie is the most biblically acurate portrayal of John's gospel. Furthermore, the music in the film is beautifully orchestrated by composer Jeff Danna. I have the CD soundtrack from the film and play it often. The music is very original. Also the soundtrack is moving and exciting in parts and serene and peaceful in other parts of the film. I love music and the music helps me get more out of the movie. I have read the Gospel of John in my Bible and after watching the movie, this book of the bible makes so much more sense and is so easy to understand. There is the 3-hour original word-for-word version and then there is the 2-hour highlight version. In my opinion, watching the movie will move you closer to Christ. The 2 hour highlight version is great for people who dont want to sit through the full 3 hour version. Im very much a visual person and seeing something that relates to or depicts something I have read solidifies what I have read in my mind. The Gospel of John is my favorite book of the Bible because to me, its the easiest to understand. However, seeing the movie "The Gospel of John" brings this book of the Bible to new life. The movie is based on the American Bible Society's Good News Bible. However, you can still follow along in any version of the Bible you might have. The movie is narrated by Christopher Plummer and he does and excellent job. I have been a Christian since 1993 and my walk and relationship with Jesus Christ is always moved to a higher level each time I view "The Gospel of John". God Bless!

This is a faithful representation of the Gospel of St. John - word for word. The best that I have seen... And, the casting for this movie is exceptional. I have watched this repeatly over the last few years and given as a gift to many whom I knew would appreciate it. It is also an excellent study aid for children. Worth every cent.

Truely an amazing and impressive performance by Henry Ian Cusick! He plays the best Jesus I've ever seen. This is the longer "ministry" version, as it is a verse by verse recount of the book of John. Wonderful and inspiring!

This powerful depiction of the Gospel of John follows the Good News Version of the Bible word for word, which happens to be surprisingly like the faithful translation of the English Standard Version. The casting and acting are so well done and flow so naturally with the script and narration by Christopher Plummer, that John's testimony comes wondrously alive. The portrayal of Jesus by Henry Ian Cusick is masterful, sensitive, and realistic--passionate but not overly 'dramatic', sensitive but not weak--always displaying the appropriate strength of character expected of the Messiah, the Son of God.

Besides the faithful portrayal of the Gospel, the DVD 2-disc set has very useful features including scene selection by Chapter and Verse, footnotes (when this feature is turned on), and maps. There is not only the three-hour full theatrical version, but a 2-hour version, which along with the helpful study tools, make this epic film-set powerful for group study, yet perfect for personal and rewarding immersion in the Word. For those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, it is a dynamic faith-builder.

I teach religion at a Catholic prep school, and I often use video clips in class. I have lots of films I like for teaching the Hebrew Bible, but I've had a hard time finding New Testament films I like. This one is great!

This movie is based on the "Good News Bible" and is very faithful to the biblical text. The production values are good, and the acting is generally good. I especially like the portrayal of Jesus by Henry Ian Cusick, who played Desmond in the TV series "Lost," and my students get a kick out of seeing him in this role.

The DVD set includes the full three-hour version of the film and also an edited-down two-hour version.

A warning: This film has been incorporated into the "Visual Bible" series, but the other two films in the series, "Acts" and "Matthew," have nothing else in common with this one. They are poorly acted and poorly directed.

I am an official Jesus movie junkie and I cannot believe that I missed this film completely until just last week. It is amazingly good; I was really expecting to dislike it. Cusick is superb; he gives John's Jesus a warmth and humanity than can sometimes escape us when we look at the naked text of that Gospel. There are plenty of flaws, as there are in most Bible movies, but if it's Jesus you're after, this is a fabulous film. It does total justice to his courage, to his ability to provoke simply by being who he is, to his generous, life-changing love. I have already purchased a copy of the DVD for one friend and have lent my own to another. And the film score: DO NOT MISS IT. Positively ravishing!

ADDITION: I completely agree with Kim Boykin's view that the other Visual Bible films are really poor...I only saw "Matthew" and it was embarrassingly bad. Couldn't even get through it. "John" is as good as that one is bad. By the way, Kim, if you are the same Kim Boykin who wrote "Zen for Christians,"----I love that book very much :)

One of my favorite Bible movies. I watch it repeatedly. For anyone in doubt of the divinity of Jesus Christ, this is the movie to watch. John's unique view of Christ and who he really is and where he really comes from is what makes this movie portrayal one of the most important movies in my video library. Beautifuly performed and presented.

I have never seen a more powerful movie than the gospel of john. Amazing, powerful, and truly gods word.

FINALLY! A representation of a strong, courageous Jesus someone would actually follow! Henry Ian Cusick, FINALLY gets the Jesus of the Bible right, real & balanced, and the kind of Man/God-Man that you could imagine someone would follow or die for.

Almost every attempt that Hollywood has tried gets Jesus Christ completely wrong & unbelievable. Henry Ian Cusick, however, must have studied Jesus well, and/or been very vary carefully directed to get this portrayal right. Only someone with intense courage could stand up to the religious hypocrites of Jesus' day and gotten right in their faces, yet still showed that he could care for them as people who mattered to God. Cusak does EXACTLY this. His courage in this film is what is described in all the written Gospels, and is so different than the Dreamy, Mysticical, and the androgynous Jesus in films like "King of Kings", "The Greatest Story Ever Told", or even the embarrassingly two-dimensional Jesus of "Jesus Christ Superstar" or "Last Temptation of Christ". Christopher Plummer's magnificent baritone voice adds weight and Dignity. And Jeff Danna's music is mysterious, captivating, and it captures the mystery, awe and a true Middle Eastern colouring. Astonishingly well filmed.

I used to think that the only film about Jesus that even came CLOSE to the Jesus described in the Bible was "Jesus of Nazareth". Even so, with that film, Franco Zefferelli got it only "half-way" right; because Jesus still seems, at times other-worldly, and not capable of every HUMAN emotion; or of laughter! (Which is the whole point of the Gospels...Jesus, though God, was also a Man, capable of feeling joy, laughter, anger, sorrow and fear.) Zefferelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" was a breakthrough in showing honest, believable followers of Jesus Christ, and a magnificent, courageous Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Still though, I felt even that film did not show the courage & bravery & sheer magnetism that Jesus must have had to make someone give up his or her life as a fisherman, prostitute or tax-collector. In "The Gospel of John", even Pilate is believable, and sees that Jesus had something about him brave enough, and honest enough to strike fear & doubt in someone who was a cynical ruler, who almost does the right thing. But in the end, believably, he tries to save his own skin.

This film is as good as it gets. Buy this, or at least rent it. I'm sure and you'll actually believe someone like Jesus existed. And you'll soon forget all the pale, blonde/blue-eyed Messiahs of Hollywood & Sunday school paintings.