Product Details

• Actors: Johnathon Schaech, Jonathan Scarfe, Tim Matheson, Fiona Glascott, Owen Teale
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002ERWTG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,606 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Judas" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

JUDAS recounts the story of the relationship between Jesus and the disciple who becomes infamous for betraying him. When Judas (Schaech) first meets Jesus, he is unsure what to make of this simple man whose words speak volumes. Upon getting to know him better, Judas decides to become one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and encourages Jesus to use his popularity to free the Jews. Jewish leaders later convince Judas of the greater good in betraying Jesus, and he decides to turn over his friend and leader to Caiaphus and Pontius Pilate who condemn Jesus to death.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "It's never too late", August 29, 2004

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Judas (DVD)

This film gives an "alternate possibility" for the eternal life of Judas, after he betrayed the Lord and hung himself on the tree, and though there are many scriptural inaccuracies, the film is always reverent in its portrayal of Jesus, and shows him as strong, and knowing His destiny. Jonathan Scarfe is appealing in the part, and in appearance is light-haired and somewhat like a Durer painting of Christ.
As Judas, Jonathon Schaech has a forceful personality and swarthy good looks, and gives us a Judas that above all wants temporal power, has little understanding of the true kingdom of God, and is hostile to anything that doesn't include the expulsion by force of the Romans out of Judea.

Pontius Pilate (Tim Matheson) is played as a weak bumbler whose greatest dread is being transferred to Albania because of his ineffectiveness. He also has trouble taking his paws off his skimpily clad wife, Claudia Procles. Claudia (Fiona Glascott in a high camp performance) is a bossy little wench with an annoying voice, and seems to know more about the laws and how to implement them than the men in charge, reminding me of the TV ads where the woman tells the idiot guys where it's at.
Others in the cast of note are Owen Teal as Flavius and Bob Gunton as Caiaphas.

Filmed in 2001, this sat on the shelf until the interest in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" spurred the executives at ABC Television to give this a chance, and it was aired in March of 2004.
Shot on location in Morocco, it has some nice cinematography by Michael Goi, and a lovely score by Bill Conti; the writing credits go to Executive Producer Tom Fontana (from the sharp and critically acclaimed series "Homicide: Life on the Streets"), and has some distinctly unbiblical language. It was directed by Charles Robert Carner on a very low budget ($ 5 million) and limited time (23 days), and all this considered, it is an entertaining, and occasionally moving film.
I have to confess that I didn't care for it much the first time I saw it, but subsequent viewings gave me more appreciation of it.
The message it imparts according to Paulist Productions is that "It's never too late to turn back to God".
Total running time is 120 minutes.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars THE PASSION OF JUDAS, October 7, 2004

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Judas (DVD)

Long considered the necessary scapegoat in the crucifixion of Christ, Judas Iscariot has remained a mystery in many ways. If he was "predestined" to be the one who betrays Jesus, why did it make sense for him to be the one? As portrayed in this movie, Judas was a militant, one who wanted power and glory in his quest to liberate the Jews from the Romans power. He was also jealous of Jesus' love for anyone else, and his despair as necessary as Jesus' execution.
Johnathon Schaech has the brooding sensitivity to adequately bring his role to life; Jonathan Scarfe as Jesus is a little too Scandinavian to be convincing in appearance, yet he delivers his lines earnestly and with religious fervor; Tim Matheson seems a little too "Hollywood" in his portrayal of Pilate.
Filmed in a brief time and on a shoestring budget, "Judas" received attention after the phenomenal success of "The Passion of the Christ." It is a more sanitized version of the story of Jesus, but its lack of strong graphic violence will make it a must for those who felt Gibson's Passion was too passionate.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story of Judas and Jesus for Modern Time, January 10, 2007

By 

Jeanie B. Snell "a movie enthusiast" (Lake Elmo, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Judas (DVD)

The film JUDAS has a well-written screenplay by Tom Fontana which weaves together the theme of Judas (Johnathon Schaech)as the voice of power and violence and Jesus (Jonathon Scarfe)of love and peace. The pacifist side of Jesus is often scorned in our day and many people are not ready to believe in a humble Jesus. It is unlikely in Biblical times that Judas could speak to a person of the high priest status, but such a talk would seem reasonable today. This is a story that fits our colloquial English and modern sensibilities.

The gospels don't fully explain why Judas betrays Jesus, so the imaginative tale of Judas' mother who needs a funeral, fills the gap. The music underscores the power of God in scenes such as, when Jesus pays a poor man's taxes and then asks Mathew, the tax collector, to follow Him. Background information is explained by the expanded role of Pilate's wife. Why Judas had to identify Jesus, was imagined to be because the centurion, named Flavius, could not identify Him because he had been arrested for refusing to capture Jesus. The film makes parts of the Bible come alive as for example, when the disciples gained the ability to go two-by-two to heal. This is often omitted from stories about Jesus because it is difficult to dramatize. Using low tech camera tricks instead of computer graphics, made the healing seem more real to me. Judas suggestion that the disciples pay for their ministry by highway robbery, adds poignancy to Jesus in the garden saying "Did you come with swords to capture me, as though I were a common thief?"

I found this story to be very inspiring. I hope it will be shown again on TV. It would be a good story for churches to show to their teenagers who strive to be like Jesus.