Judas (2004)

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.

Heeeeeere's Johnny!

Okay, while not the world's most devout Christian, this reviewer received strict Lutheran scholastic instruction for 10 years, and you know what they say about your formative years. Let's sum this up quickly from the point of view of one of the alleged "target audience" members: This is the "Johnny Schaech show", not unlike every other movie he has too large a part in. One of the luckiest pretty boys in the recent crop of hot young actors, he's okay in supporting roles like That Thing You Do, simply because he can't act his way out of a wet paper bag with a gaping hole in it. He certainly proves that in this movie.

The writing of this film is a Biblical abomination, and the portrayal of Judas as having been against Christ all along isn't even close to the truth. I don't know what's more annoying; Jesus being portrayed as a pouting metro who looks like anyone shouting at him will make him cry like a five year-old, or Judas Johnny shouting orders at him all the time. My favorite part is when he tells Jesus he doesn't want to hear anymore about his Father, and he'd better do what he says. Hmm, that's really some great writing there. You're going to boss around a man you've seen heal lepers and raise the dead? I DID think it was funny when he was out stalling for time while Andrew was in a dead woman's tomb alone and raised her from the dead with the Lord's Prayer, though.

Yeah, there's another point of contention: Why do they show very few miracles, yet talk about them endlessly. This movie wouldn't make a convert of a fallen priest, much less someone who has never heard these stories before. I dislike highly when filmmakers mess with Bible stories to this degree, yet I love the Story of Ruth (The 1960 version with Elana Eden and Tom Tryon.), though most of it is pure fancy. Why? Because it is compatible with scripture.

In the meantime, if you love scowling, head shaking, and bad acting on a wide-scale level, the "Johnny Schaech show" is your dream come true. Somebody else here has already suggested the accurate, well-acted, phenominally directed, and truthful film, Jesus of Nazareth. It's long, but it is excellent. August 19, 2007

A Story of Judas and Jesus for Modern Time

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.
January 11, 2007

A very dangerous concept

Our review may be seen at http://www.mgr.org/JudasSin.html

The M+G+R Foundation March 2, 2006

It makes Martin Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, look like a trip to Sunday school

In all the uproar surrounding THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, ABC Television decided it might behoove them to try to cash in. So they created a little film named JUDAS. A film so vapid, a film so offensive, a film so pointless and contrived. It makes Martin Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, look like a trip to Sunday school.

Judas (Johnathon Schaech, That Thing You Do!) is a guy with vision. He sees the chief priests giving money to the Romans. These Romans crucified his father and Judas believes that it is time for the Jews in Jeruasalem to revolt. He believes that the one way to revolution is to find the Messiah. When he tags along with Jesus and his disciples, his life drastically changes.

Let's be honest, the Bible is rough to touch, with so many Catholic and Protestants ready to scream bloody murder if you muck it up. Writer Tom Fontana took it upon himself to do something interesting. He throws the biblical story out thw window and makes it all up. In the process he turns Jesus into a pansy, Pilate into a monster, and Judas into an idiot. Hey, wait a second, this is the movie the ADL wanted Mel Gibson to make.

This film makes Jesus admit He is wrong about His outrage in the temple, something that was justifible. You also watch as the story points are constantly taken out of context so that their original meaning is distorted. The gospels are pretty straightforward but it feels like the people involved think that extra meaning needs to be placed on events thus muddying any meaning at all. Your are left with a film that could have been called THE BUDDY CHRIST AND HIS PAL JUDAS and you mostly try to figure out why the priests and Romans want to get Jesus anyway.

Even with all the theological problems with the story, you may ask, does it work as a movie? NO. JUDAS does not make any sense. For instance, you watch Pontius Pilate plotting with the chief priests, only to make their lives more difficult by changing his mind and then washing his hands of it all. You watch as Judas betrays Jesus, not because he is a greedy guy, but because his mother died and he could not bring her back to life. Yes, you heard it here first. Writer Tom Fontana has stolen plot ideas from STAR WARS EPISODE II.

The other problem is that the last 20 minutes don't even involve the main character. Judas just sort of stands there, looks around, and then just hangs himself. Why does he hang himself. It seems like he's bored not upset.

The acting is okay and even the settings are fine. But this is a movie has a plot in overdrive. It makes logical leaps and breaks the most important rule of screenwriting. Show us the action. Do not tell us what is happening. Most of the major events in the film are not shown, they are discussed. We miss the beheading of John the Baptist, the Via Dolorosa, the scourging, and various miracles. But the characters like to talk endlessly about them.

On top of that, the film tries its damnedest to tell the story without offending anybody. The problem is you tell a Bible story out of context, especially one about Jesus, you wind up ticking off your intended audience. This film not only will offend its audience, but anyone else watching it will laugh. I found myself laughing a lot. The movie is that bad.

Please do not waste your time with JUDAS. It is not worth your time. If you have not already seen THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, why not see that instead? Why not rent JESUS OF NAZARETH, or even JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR? JUDAS is a waste of a fine evening.

1/2* (Out of 5) October 21, 2005

Awful acting!!

I found this film to be of a poor quality. The acting, particually that of Jesus was embarrasing and the plotline could have been more biblical and intriguing. I was very disapointed. Jesus was portrayed a bit too effeminately for my liking. March 15, 2005

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