Paul: Apostle of Christ Movie Review.

[Bible Highlighter]

Paul: Apostle of Christ Movie Review.

There really is not much to say about this film. Not much happened. The movie was very slow from beginning to end. Most of the movie is about Paul in prison. Yes, I realize Paul was in prison. But we never get to see any of the good parts of Paul's life. We are stuck in a prison the whole movie and seeing Christians complain about death and bickering amongst themselves. We see a Roman sacrifice to his gods several times, but we never get to see how these gods are futile in this film. I am very interested in Scripture and Paul's life (in how it is really presented), but this film bored me. It did not offer a way to Jesus exactly either. Where was the gospel in this film? Paul was all about preaching the gospel. Yes, he hinted at the gospel, but he did not boldly proclaim it. It was a sad movie about death and it was not about the gospel. It had a short lesson on New Testament Pacifism. While it is good we follow Christ's teaching on pacifism, that is not the gospel. I did not have high expectations for this film, and I thought it would be a little better. But it was actually worse than I envisioned (From seeing the trailer).

The best part of the movie for me was Paul's talk with the Roman emperor (Who was in charge of the prison). Paul talked about how eternal life is like an ocean and our life and everyone in it is like water that slips through our hands.

Anyways, I give this movie an F because it fails to out what it is supposed to do. Preach the gospel. That is what Paul's life was all about. I did not see the gospel in this movie, but I seen hopelessness and death. That is what it showed me. Lots of sad music went along with this, as well. It is a very grim movie. It felt sad. That is not the picture of Christianity I had in mind. We are to have joy and hope and love and the fruits of the Spirit. The early church was on fire for the Lord. I see this movie as speaking against that. I would not recommend this film to anyone under any circumstance or reason. In my opinion, it paints a different picture of Christianity that is not true. Sadness and death. While Christians were persecuted and they did die, that was not the sum total of their life alone.

Do not see this movie. It is really bad.
It is not even worth seeing on DVD. Unless you want to feel sad, and hopeless, and grim. Don't see it. Really bad film.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

If it contains no car chases and crashes,no explosions ,no juvenile cheap sex jokes,it will go straight to video faster than Trump chasing a porn star

 

[Kenny'sID]

That's too bad, I recall being disappointing with the movie "Noah".

It'd be good to have a passion for these stories/the bible before taking on such an endeavor, and many don't.

 

[paul1149]

I could be wrong about the movie, but the trailer did nothing for me, I'm sorry to say.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I could be wrong about the movie, but the trailer did nothing for me, I'm sorry to say.

The movie was worse than the trailer - IMO.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

If it contains no car chases and crashes,no explosions ,no juvenile cheap sex jokes,it will go straight to video faster than Trump chasing a porn star

Well, I was hoping it would be better. We always need more Christian movies to lead people to Christ. I don't see this film as doing this all that much. The message was not the gospel but death and sadness. There were hints of the gospel, but Paul did not boldly proclaim hints of the gospel. He clearly spoke of Christ, his death, and his resurrection to all for salvation. I was expecting to see Paul talking at different locations and bring light and life into people's lives. But that didn't happen. It was showing Christianity as something that was doomed or sad (Which is not true).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

That's too bad, I recall being disappointing with the movie "Noah".

It'd be good to have a passion for these stories/the bible before taking on such an endeavor, and many don't.

It's not as bad as Noah, but it fails in many ways to capture the life of Paul in any way. The Bible mini series does a waaaay better job on capturing the life of Paul than this film. I was expecting something like that in this film, but they failed to deliver (Unfortunately).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I will pray another movie comes out that represents the life of the Apostle Paul better. After seeing this film, it makes me want to get back into script writing again. I would love to write a script for this movie. The title of the film would have to be different and the trailer would have to show action and excitement to say that this is not the same kind of Paul story that was told in the film that is currently in the box office.

 

[FenderTL5]

I saw it last night.
My critique:
The movie was tediously slow moving. However, most religious movies are. The movie was dark; not in the ominous kinda' way (although there was quite a bit of that), but in that most of the movie was shot in low light/shadows.
I like Caviezel, but he's a 'one note' actor. He does that restrained emotion, everything under his breath thing really well.. he does it throughout this movie just as he has done in everything I've seen him in.

Unlike the OP, I think the movie accomplished what it set out to do and that was tell how Paul's story was initially written down and then was to spread. It could have just as easily been titled "Luke writes the Acts of the Apostles.." since that was the center point of the movie.
Unlike many, I don't think an evangelistic appeal is necessary for a religious movie. In fact, often that kind of message seems to get pushed/inserted and is often more awkward and ineffective than just telling the story.
I give the movie a B. I didn't regret seeing it, but waiting for it on Netflix would've been just as satisfying. imho, ymmv

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I saw it last night.
My critique:
The movie was tediously slow moving. However, most religious movies are. The movie was dark; not in the ominous kinda' way (although there was quite a bit of that), but in that most of the movie was shot in low light/shadows.
I like Caviezel, but he's a 'one note' actor. He does that restrained emotion, everything under his breath thing really well.. he does it throughout this movie just as he has done in everything I've seen him in.

Unlike the OP, I think the movie accomplished what it set out to do and that was tell how Paul's story was initially written down and then was to spread. It could have just as easily been titled "Luke writes the Acts of the Apostles.." since that was the center point of the movie.
Unlike many, I don't think an evangelistic appeal is necessary for a religious movie. In fact, often that kind of message seems to get pushed/inserted and is often more awkward and ineffective than just telling the story.
I give the movie a B. I didn't regret seeing it, but waiting for it on Netflix would've been just as satisfying. imho, ymmv

Movies are subjective to the viewer and their interests or likes. For me: If a Christian movie does not have a positive Christian theme or message, it is useless garbage. Paul: the Apostle of Christ film had an anti-Christian theme IMO in that it made it appear that Christianity was just about death and suffering. We did not see the more important emotional positive side of Christianity involving a changed life of being happy and joyful. The characters did not seem happy or joyful in the Lord but they seemed sad and broken.

To just show how Acts was written could be shown in a documentary or a short video if that is all the movie was set out to do. Just reporting on how Acts came to be is not movie worthy material in itself alone. I can film a movie about kids jumping over the fence, but if I do show their lives in any way that connects to a story that stirs our soul or emotions, it is useless. Movies are supposed to entertain us and move us emotionally. The movie had very little emotion, and what little emotion it did have, it was focused on sadness and loss.

In fact, just yesterday, I was looking over the story of Paul, and I was coming up with some script ideas that would successfully tell the life story of Paul. His life was the gospel. This gospel compelled him because of the joy, forgiveness, peace, love, and goodness that Jesus brought into his life. Paul’s story should be an emotional story of change (From him doing serious wrong towards believers to him miraculously changing by the power of God to love them instead).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Script secrets is a good website to analyze what makes a good script.

http://www.scriptsecrets.net/

For a good script is the foundation of where a good movie starts or begins.

 

[FenderTL5]

- Patheos, scene by scene overview of the movie Paul the Apostle, with clips and references.
Loads of SPOILERS - do not click if you want to see it spoiler free -

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Patheos is a non-partisan online media company providing information and commentary from various religious and nonreligious perspectives. There is only one perspective and that is the Christian perspective. So I disagree with the concept of such a website. I also disagree with Patheo's favorable review of the Apostle Paul film, as well. The recent Samson movie was waaay better and it was only average or an okay film. But at least Samson was entertaining (even though it had it's problems). A movie should at least entertain you and not bore you. Men who are sad while quoting Scripture does not make for a good Christian movie. That is not the Christian experience or way of life. They totally missed the concept of what Christianity is supposed to be about with the Apostle Paul film. Then again, I disagree with the director's previous choice to make a Pro-Catholic Mary film because I am not Catholic. This explains why I did not like this recent Apostle Paul film.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Like 99% of Christians don't know the story.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I suppose the one good thing out of the Apostle Paul movie is that is encouraging me to write a script for the Apostle Paul story.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Like 99% of Christians don't know the story.

The point of these movies is to be an outreach for unbelievers - IMO.
While Christians may enjoy them, I believe some of them (like myself) see them as evangelism tools to reach people for Christ.

 

[Steve Petersen]

The point of these movies is to be an outreach for unbelievers - IMO.
While Christians may enjoy them, I believe some of them (like myself) see them as evangelism tools to reach people for Christ.

Yeah, like an unbeliever is interested in this guy at all.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Yeah, like an unbeliever is interested in this guy at all.

Right. So you are saying it is impossible?
Do you think no unbeliever has ever watched a Christian movie before?
What do you think happens at local churches?

Anyways, you underestimate the power of a Christian movie can have on a person.

According to the Los Angeles Christian Examiner: – Thousands of teens nationwide have accepted Christ after watching "Woodlawn," the football-themed faith-based film.

A village in the Philippines embraces Christianity after hearing the Gospel, viewing the 'Passion of The Christ' film.