A new movie has come out this past weekend that is worth seeing. Risen, released in theaters Feb 19, is “the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman military tribune, and his aide, Lucius (Tom Felton), are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.”
Here is the trailer:
Several reviews have positively praised Risen:
“Risen: An Unpredictable Hollywood Detective Thriller” by Brian Godawa
A detective thriller about a Roman Tribune charged with the task of finding the body of Jesus Christ in order to stop an uprising after he is declared risen from the dead.
. . .
Risen is an honest and truthful portrayal of a skeptical mind approaching the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And it is a fantastic story. It is an authentic fresh take on the Gospel from the unique perspective of an unbeliever.
Great writing, unpredictable story, strong acting, truthful and honest portrayal. Riveting drama.
Wow. That is high praise from Brian Godawa, who is a screenwriter and very critical of Christian movies that come out that are cheesy or not true to the bible.
“3 Things I Liked about the Risen Movie” by Sean McDowell
Since the release of The Passion, faith-based films have been coming out from Hollywood at an increased rate. On the one hand, faith-based films are often cheesy and unrealistic. On the other hand, many lose the spirit of the original story and are utterly inaccurate (Noah, anyone?).
With a bit of hesitancy, my wife and I went to see Risen last night. All things considered, we were both pleasantly surprised!
“Film review: Risen” by Ed Morrissey
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Risen is a very good film. It has excellent production values, talent on both sides of the camera, and makes the most of a somewhat unconventional approach (at least these days) to Biblical filmmaking. And best of all, it works.
“Risen Bring New Life to Bible Movies” by Ryan Duncan
This tale of faith and redemption marks a new chapter for biblical epics. While not perfect, Risen still delivers one of the best portrayals of Christ’s death and resurrection to date, as we witness the events from the eyes of a pagan outsider. 4 out of 5.
I think this one should be on our shortlist to see.
Is Christianity True? 