Customer Reviews

The Judas Project

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

"What was that?" That was the question I couldn't help asking myself after watching this film. I liked the premise of trying to portray the events of Jesus' life in a modern setting because I thought that it might make Jesus' sacrifice for us more understandable and relevant to younger audiences (His sacrifice obviously has been, is, and will be relevant to all generations, but a majority of today's youth seem to have little understanding for anything that doesn't have to do with the 'here and now'). Unfortunately, this film failed in almost every respect.

If I hadn't read the movie description first, then I might only have had a vague notion that this was a retelling of Jesus' life until the time of Jesse's betrayal and execution. Part of me wants to watch the film again to see if I can pick up more of the contemporized events of Jesus' life, but a greater part of me says that I shouldn't waste my time by watching this again, because it certainly won't be the effective evangelistic tool that I (and probably the filmmakers) thought it could be.

It's a low-budget film and the acting is poor, as previous reviewers have already stated. These would be acceptable shortcomings if the story weren't so muddled. The unacceptable shortcomings are that there is little here that truly tells people what Jesus did and that what is contained in the movie is almost incomprehensible (and uninterestingly presented).

It's unfortunate that most Christian filmmakers have to cope with low budgets (which means no A-list actors most of the time), but a story can still be interestingly and effectively presented ("Flywheel" is an excellent example of a low-budget Christian movie with less-than-stellar acting but a great, evangelistic story). If you want a "What might have happened if Jesus had come to earth in our time?" movie, then watch "Joshua." It's hardly a perfect film either, but it is a far better film than this one and, at the very least, it's comprehensible.

I wish I could find something positive to say about this film, but it would be sinful not to warn others about it. I watched this film with some friends and felt compelled to apologize to them afterword. It's difficult to find the right words to describe how unbelievably bad it is. The acting is atrocious, the photography is horrible, the script is non existent and the ending brings a movie that is already painful to sit through to an excruiatingly, tortuous finish, like a slow painful death. It would be hell to be forced to watch this one again.

I had high hopes for this movie, as I have often wondered that if I lived in a contemporary time with Jesus, would I have believed Him? However, this movie was pretty terrible. It quoted a lot of Scripture, which was pretty accurate, but it lacked direction and just seemed weird. The cover of the DVD was misleading also, showing "Jesus" in blue jeans with helicopters hovering about in front of a city skyline. The whole movie looks like it was filmed in the 1980s and takes place in a Cape-Cod type setting. I ended up forwarding through most of it, watching the miracles and then the crucifixion. The end was weird too, with no showing of the Resurrection, etc. I'm just glad this was a bargain bin purchase...

"End Times" or "What if Jesus Lived Today" - These seem to be the only 2 ideas that some modern christian writers and producers can come up with. This is the worst movie I think I've ever seen - poor dialogue, cheesy effects, bad music and worse editing (check out the sweat stain on the police officer's armpit as he takes a swing at Peter). It should be an embarrassment to any follower of Christ serious about having a rational dialogue with the world they live in. The only redeeming value in this movie were the laughs I had (there's a strange sort of humor that exists only in things that aren't supposed to be funny). But if you're looking for that kind of humor, better go with "American Movie."

I was unlucky enough to see this in the theater in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s.

I walked out halfway through it because it is so incredibly bad.

Do NOT waste one second of your time.

If you want to know about Jesus, go to the "Bibles" section of amazon and buy a King James Bible and read that.

Okay...speaking as a Christian and one of the biggest supporters of fresh and innovative ways to relay the message to modern contemporary society, I cringed from the opening to the conclusion of this film. Not that the idea wasn't an awesome one(Jesus' 1st coming being today instead of 2,000 years ago), it was just so lacking and predictable in the acting and plotting departments.If you're interested in a more potent visualization of what things may've been like if Jesus' had never come until our time...I strongly recommend JOSHUA(Jesus "returns" to reconcile Catholics w/t Protestants in a small town and ultimately reinterates His true, salvific purpose in a meeting with the Pope) and HERO: THE ROCK OPERA (a musical, set in a near yet alternate future in which Jesus story is retold in contemporary context only in N.Y., the Roman Empire evolved into I.C.O.N., no churches save the Temple, etc).

The acting in this film was stiff, as other reviewers have noted. Peter seldom spoke, and seemed befuddled, rather than like the hothead Scriptures describe him as. John the beloved had a rather silly smile, and said even less. Judas was the most interesting character, and perhaps offered the best acting of the cast. Another clumsy aspect was the mixture of modern setting and verbage with some cagey, King-Jamish sounding lines. Jesse's modernized gospel occasionally took on a psychobabble character, such as when he said that it's not just life, but the quality of life that matters

The tempo was somewhat disjointed. It would meander, then rush, then plod. Thus, what should have been an interesting story, sometimes became laborious to watch.

Finally, the plot-line was decent, though uneven. It roughly followed the New Testament accounts, but of necessity, only hit some highlights.

Bottom-line: The Judas Project was a great idea that was rather poorly executed. I note that both Amazon and another site I frequent for rentals, only gave this movie an overall two-stars. This time, the crowd was quite accurate. Two stars for a movie that did not waste my time, but did not entertain or deeply engage me, either.

This movie should not be let out into the public. This is not an accurate description of what what happen today, even. The graphics are horrible, and the dialogue is worse. The only thing i liked about this movie was when the big fireball came out of the sky and killed thisone dude.
but in all seriosness, all i can say about this movie is....
kill me, kill me now

This is the worst movie I have ever seen. Other reviewers mention what happens in the end of the movie. How did they make it to the end? This is one of two movies I have walked out of the theatre during. What were they trying to do in this movie? What was the point? I don't know. I mean, Jesus Christ Superstar and Gospell already covered most of the territory in the film 20 years before this was released. In any case, bad writing, bad acting, bad special effects. One thing I learned in this movie: "You could lose your SOOOUUUULLLL, for thirty pieces of silver!" What a great song. Why doesn't Amazon have the soundtrack to this movie? Now that would be entertaining. There is some humor/camp merit to this film, but not enough to sit through more than 20 minutes.

I love this movie. I bought the movie in both VHS and DVD formats. I've watched it over 20 times except the parts of the crucifixion.
It is the only movie I've ever watched more than twice. I personally believe it brings the message that God is trying to convey to mankind that He is love and loves us. You can see that love in this movie. I love the words that Jesse speaks to the prositutes (kindness), Judas (understanding), the religious man (exposure to the religious spirit's destructive ways) and the power he exhibits through his love. All I can say is WOW and that I wish everyone could see it. There is much more behind this movie than what you know.