 |  | Good presentation of Pasolini's Gospel of Matthew |  |
The colorized, short version on the DVD as the main attraction is disappointing. The added color adds nothing to the movie and the dubbed English likewise. However, in the special matter also on the DVD is the original film, complete with Italian dialogue and English subtitles. It is also the complete original (although the editors refer to it as enhanced). It is an excellent example of Pasolini's work, spare, subtle, and very moving. The film has a primitive feeling about it that works very well with the subject.
August 29, 2008Purchased this after reading Thomas Merton's high praise of the film in one of his books.If Thomas Merton said it was great,then I knew I had to get it.I found the film to be dated and unremarkable.Worse yet,I couldn't help but be repeatedly drawn to the unibrow of the character who played Jesus.It really is weird and distracting,check it out.
July 23, 2008 | | It's about Jesus, so it's good, but... | |
I have to confess, I have not watched all of this, but that's because I found it un-interesting. There are sub-titles and acting, etc. that I didn't like. On the other hand, the DVD "The Gospel of John", which I bought at the same time, has suddenly become my favorite movie of all time.
April 25, 2008Yes, it's Easter, and some embedded cultural murmuring summons me to pull out this piece of early Pasolini for a re-run. It's lost none of its power during the four decades since I first saw it. If ever a film aspired to the condition of poetry, this is it. And its worth remarking that the black and white only intensifies the experience of being thrust into antiquity free of the laboured veils of Hollywood remakes of the Christ story. What a supreme remove this is from Pre-Raphaelite sweetness in imaging Jesus. Here is a man amidst men and women, the toothless, maimed and infirm. His fierce gaze is something to behold. His language cuts to the bone. The earth itself is addressed with boney fragility. Authenticity has been striven for by the likes of Mal Gibson, but this work is in a class of its own; casting, set locations, pacing, it has the lot. I agree with the brilliant account reviewer, J Clark from NY gives including his gripe about the score...where I first heard Blind Willie Johnson and Missa Luba, by the way! Why the choice of gospels, Matthew in preference to Mark, for instance, is another question that a more theologically inclined bod than me might explain. But, this remains my favourite Pasolini. I found my print in Baku, Azerjaiban, so it's Italian dubbed in Russian and has extraordinary clarity...a visual feast!
March 21, 2008Very austere and literal version of Matthew's gospel, from birth to death of Jesus. All speechs are direct from the Gospel. Jesus is rather serious here, the defender of the poor and sick against the rich and self-righteous. Lots of close-ups on Jesus's face. Brilliant use of music.
August 19, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
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