Waterworld Movie Analysis

Improved Essays
In the grand scheme of things, religion-themed films are probably my least favorite reviews to tackle. And, it’s not because I’m a non-believer or I don’t agree with the ideas placed in front of me. Quite simply, they often have an agenda and pander to a specific group of people (often Christians). Oh, and lets not forget that the endless debate between fact versus faith is unlikely to disappear any time soon – at least not until we see someone walking on water (which isn’t that impressive with entertainers like Criss Angel toying with our minds) or turning my shower water into wine (which I’d be perfectly fine with).

In essence, and sort like the people out there that read a novel and then complain about the film adaptation, Biblical events
…show more content…
Some of them – for better or worse – simply set out to entertain those willing to partake in the viewing experience. To that end, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a production can be enlightening, yet true to source material. And, that’s where Risen fits into the mold…

In Risen, directed by Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), Joseph Fiennes stars as Clavius – a prominent Roman Tribute under the direct command of Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth). Clavius has just been returned from battle and ordered to oversee the conclusion of several crucified executions – one of which happens to be the Jewish messiah, Yeshua aka Jesus Christ (Cliff Curtis).

With Yeshua dead on the cross, Clavius allows his followers to entomb the body. Yet, prior to his death, Yeshua had declared he would rise from the dead three days later. Fearful of such an event (and that Yeshua’s followers would steal the body and spread rumors that he’d risen from the dead), Pilate orders Clavius to post guards at the entrance of the
…show more content…
If you’re read The Bible or even seen a film or TV series depicting Pilate, you’re aware he’s the (reluctant) figure tasked with condemning Christ to death. But, this film is well past that moment, leaving Firth’s character little more to do than repetitively command that Jesus’ body be found.

Regardless, the true highlight of the film is not acting related, despite solid performances – from Fiennes, Firth, Tom Felton, and to an extent, even Cliff Curtis (of Fear the Walking Dead fame) as Jesus. Instead, this story opts to depict a story about the birth of faith for one specific man, instead. Said moment takes place when Fiennes’ character discovers Jesus alive and well in the company of his devoted followers – an event chronicled in the pages of Luke.

The major discrepancy here is not of the film’s inaccuracies when compared to scripture. Instead, it’s the completely fictional idea that a Roman soldier encounters these extremely pivotal moments at all – begging the question, why wasn’t Risen simply shot through the eyes of Luke, Matthew, or even Mary Magdalene? In turn, Risen is merely first person account from no one in

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    The movie Finding Nemo starts out with Marlin and his wife, who are both clownfish, talking about their future in the Great Barrier Reef which they have made their new home and their eggs. Soon a barracuda attacks their home and Marlin is left unconscious. When he is finally awaken, he realizes that his wife and their eggs are gone except one. When the little clownfish is born he names him Nemo. Nemo is born with his right fin smaller than his left because there was damage to his egg when the barracuda attacked his home.…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In their song, Resurrecting, Elevation Worship strives to communicate the narrative of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection and how it affects everyone who chooses to believe it to be true. Elevation Worship is the worship band at Elevation Church, a multi-campus church founded by Steven Furtick, in which hundreds of thousands of people attend on a weekly basis (Elevationchurch.org). The head pastor Steven Furtick helps write most of Elevation Worship’s music, including this one. This song strives to connect the dots between Jesus’ death and resurrection and believers today. This connection is what causes many people to believe in and follow Jesus today.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Video number twelve featured the 2006 feature film The Water is Wide. The movie was centered on a new teacher named Mr. Pat Conroy who found a job at the Beaumont, South Carolina school district to work at an island school called “Yamekraw Island”. Mr. Conroy was looking back at this particular experience periodically throughout the movie (however most of the movie is portrayed in the present tense). This island was home to many African American students who have never been to the mainland of the United States as was pointed out several times throughout the movie. When Mr. Conroy arrived, there was already another teacher who was teaching at the Yamekraw Island School and she also acted as the principal of the school.…

    • 1575 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Most have heard of Yeshua as man who became a Rabbi, came into conflict with the religious leaders of his day, and died on a cross as an atonement for the sins of the world. However, there is one side of Yeshua that is rarely talked about: his teachings beings considered as revolutionary. Many of the words that he said and the acts that he committed were considered to be unprecedented in his day. From only looking at the Synoptic Gospels, readers will not be able to fully comprehend or grasp how Yeshua’s teachings were indeed revolutionary.…

    • 2573 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Hero's Journey

    • 1252 Words
    • 6 Pages

    A myth is a story that holds some kind of significance in a culture, a story that addresses fundamental and difficult questions that we as human beings ask: who or what am I, where did I come from, why am I here, how should I live, what is the right thing to do, what is the universe, how did it all begin? Myths are stories that are told about great men and great women; about the forces of good and evil; about large and small animals; about natural thing as well creatures like giants, gods and other supernatural beings. The complete study of all these stories theire respective elements is called mythology. Now when people hear the term mythology they automatically think of the Greek version, more specifically their gods such as Zeus the top-god,…

    • 1252 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Gospel Synopsis

    • 1648 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Gospel according to Mark starts out with a man known as John the Baptist. John along with other townspeople went into the wilderness to repent their sins, and John baptizes everyone. During the baptisms, John told the townspeople that someone with greater power then him will be coming soon. Jesus then comes to the river to be baptized by John, and was recognized by the Holy Spirit of God as His son. After being baptized and being recognized, Jesus was sent into the wilderness for 40 days to be tested and tempted by satan.…

    • 1648 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    DeMille’s presents a black and white silent classic about the life of Jesus in King of Kings. DeMille’s silent black and white film tells the works of Christ in a way that it truly stands the test of time. There is significant details from scriptures in the Gospels included in the film. Often there were quotes from the bible with footnotes of chapter and verse. This film is produced in a way that makes it easier for the audience see the reverence to the Bible.…

    • 1567 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It takes the viewer on a dark path of deceit, violence, inhumane behavior displayed by the Roman soldiers, and cowardliness displayed by the Sanhedrin and the Roman Governor, Pilate. The lack of character and plot development left viewers with assumptions that were not accurate to the Gospel. The majority of the Jews in Jerusalem hailed Jesus as their Messiah. It was the Jewish leaders that feared the impact that Jesus could have over their people so they arrested and tried Jesus while they were asleep. Pilate, too, was a greedy, selfish emperor.…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Every heroic story is told from the Hero’s Journey. Jesus follows this same journey. The Hero’s Journey includes 9 different parts; the intro, the call to action, crossing the threshold, meeting the mentor, challenges, temptation, dark inner moments, final battle and the return home. Jesus has every one of these scenes happen when He was on earth. There is a bible verse for every scene in the Hero’s Journey.…

    • 1503 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    There are many faces of heroes, but the story of Jesus Christ is known as “the greatest story ever told”. The whole life of Jesus was his adventure; his life was for the life of others. Through his existence as a man the hero 's journey of Jesus Christ depicts the most self-sacrificing adventure know to literature by his humbleness, love, and resurrection. In the first stage of the hero 's journey is the departure stage showing the humbleness of Jesus.…

    • 1299 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Andreas continues his journey to Tiberias and finds out more about Jesus. Jesus is providing hope for many of the people. Andreas was searching for traces of Jesus through his travels through Galilee but “he found traces of his everywhere: Anecdotes and stories, traditions, and rumors”(124). Andreas saw Jesus as a risk but he didn 't want to report that to Metilius.…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Sexism In Religion

    • 2044 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The topic of this paper is about how sexism in almost all major religions affects today’s contemporary views. My paper will focus on Hinduism and Christianity in particular. Although both religions do show sexism, they also show equality or a high status for women. So why is our society today still indulged in sexist religious thoughts instead of analyzing all the information? This paper will discuss both the sexist and nonsexist views in the religions.…

    • 2044 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In The York Corpus Christi Play: The Crucifixion, Jesus speaks only two times in the three-hundred lines. The rest of the dialogue is between the four soldiers who are attempting to crucify him. There is an odd dark humor among the soldiers while they are crucifying Jesus. More interesting, however, is Jesus’ response to his crucifixion. The first time he speaks his words are directed at God only.…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Passion Of Christ Analysis

    • 2392 Words
    • 10 Pages

    For example the way he uses framing of each shot in the film, in the most serious moments the film rapidly cuts to reaction shots mainly shots showing women and children, during Christ most time of…

    • 2392 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Soul Surfer Movie Analysis

    • 1545 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The inspiring story of Bethany Hamilton, a young champion surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack, has hit the big screen. The biographical movie, ‘Soul Surfer’, is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, was released on April 8 in 2011, starring Anna Sophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid and Carrie Underwood. Director Sean McNamara explains that ‘Soul Surfer’ is all about "the feisty unwavering attitude of a girl who never stopped believing in herself, her family or in the sheer beauty and thrill of being alive." Although the film was based on her real life events, many viewers can’t help but wonder what is really fact or how much is just……

    • 1545 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays

Related Topics