I love this movie so much

Very disappointing...

Fantastic!

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Goods: 1. Willem Dafoe as a cracked-out Jesus 2. Judas the Bro 3. Cool plot twist 4. Good first act or two, as well as the final act 5. Bangin' Peter Gabriel score 6. Rad imagery 7. Some parts still make no sense to me at all, but in a good way 8. Made me think a bunchNot So Goods: 1. Boring middle parts that lost my attention 2. "Biblical filler" can be tiresome if you're already well familiar, despite a few twists thrown around

'The Last Temptation of Christ' is an exceptionally interesting film in the context of Christianity and morality. It famously received widespread criticism for being blasphemous. From a certain standpoint, it is blasphemous because instead of focusing of Christ's divinity, it uses Jesus as a metaphor for man and a representative of the human condition. I can understand why some Christians might have objections with this portrayal. But as a non- Christian myself, I found myself utterly engaged and enraptured by this exploration of Jesus' humanity.The gospels give us the idea that although Christ was presented with a lot of worldly temptations and even though he did have a moment of doubt, he did in the end manage to wholeheartedly turn his back on them. But this film and the book it is based on paints a more complicated picture. Here it is proposed that Christ found it really difficult to turn his back on the normal, peaceful life. We see Jesus tied down and tortured by the idea of predeterminism. It is shown in the beginning that Jesus subconsciously is making crosses for Romans to make God hate him so that he leaves him alone. His yearning for a life as a husband and live with a wife like Magdalene or the sisters of Bethany continued to exist throughout his short life. The film proposes the idea that even after the crucifixion, Christ had this moment of fantasy wish-fulfilment of a different life, almost like a parallel universe where he turns his back on God and lives like a normal man.Another essential element of Christ's character in this film is his constant and relentless search for his role and purpose on Earth and what God wants from him. He constantly seeks out and looks for signs and metaphors to understand God's will. He is constantly asking questions and pleading God to give him a sign and tell him what to do. This again grounds the mystique of Christ and makes him human. He is just like all of us(in a little more heightened way). Even he is for the most part very unsure about his life, his purpose and his future on Earth.The representation of Judas in this film is fascinating. Conventional ideas and interpretations paint Judas as the guy who betrays Jesus. As a matter of fact, the name Judas itself has become synonymous with betrayal. However in this film, Judas' character is far more complicated and layered compared to the traitor that we generally visualise when thinking of him. At the beginning of the film, Judas comes across like the guy who is far more sure of himself and his ideas and views than Jesus and he also shows a lot of initiative in marching a revolt against the Romans. He also shows true belief in Jesus' ideas and views once Jesus decides to become a preacher. The 'betrayal' that Judas indulges in has everything to do the idea of predeterminism and nothing to do with his evilness. Judas gets successfully persuaded by Jesus himself to execute the betrayal as that betrayal itself was going to be the catalyst that will lead to Jesus' crucifixion and hence the saving of man's soul. So this film paints a morally upstanding picture of Judas who has to become evil because of his predetermined role in the bigger universal law set by God. This actually makes Judas comparable to the character of Mr. Glass in 'Unbreakable' in the way that the both eventually sacrifice their free will to uphold their predetermined fates even if that means becoming a symbol of evil. Judas is a hero in the film in the bigger picture and an essential cog in the wheel for the saving of man's soul.From a technical standpoint, I don't think this is a perfect film. I think there are a few moments and scenes that are executed a bit too clumsily due to Scorsese's overindulgence with the jump cut to a rapid tracking shot. He perfected this technique later on with 'Goodfellas', but here those moments seem a little unpolished. Having said that I think the crucifixion is brilliantly handled both visually and tonally. The acting is brilliant from everyone concerned. Barbara Hershey and Harvey Keitel bring gravitas to the roles of Mary Magdalene respectively. Willem Dafoe as Jesus brilliantly embodies the kind of Jesus that this particular interpretation wants him to be. Instead of the all-knowing, charming, overly kind godly Jesus that we get in many other interpretations, here Dafoe gives off a sense of uncertainty, a sense of fragility, a sense of humanity that works perfectly for the film.In a nutshell, I think the purpose of 'The Last Temptation of Christ', the film and the book blasphemous as it could be, is to ground the mystique of Christ and show him as a flawed human being with similar fears, concerns and vulnerabilities like us. But at the same time in showing him eventually overcoming these doubts and weaknesses, the film ends up being a unique portrayal of Jesus which is both accessible as well as inspirational even to a non-Christian, non-religious film- buff like me. Technically it is a bit clumsy at times because of some of the visual choices, but Scorsese and Schrader's treatment of the themes, the overall message and the brilliant performances make it easy for me to recommend 'The Last Temptation of Christ' wholeheartedly.

The best part of the movie is reading the reviews of the religious people. Right, there is blasphemy in copious amounts, but it's not the kind you see in that famous church scene in the Exorcist. It comes from asking oneself the question: "how would a regular man pay the part of Jesus"? That's probably one of the most important parts of the movie.The scene with John the Baptist raises another question. "How would one know if a religious movement comes from God, or not." And, to me, at least the whole scene was quite disturbing, especially the crazed girl fans John had.Another point that is made in the movie is that Jesus doesn't need to be godly, or resurrect. His story, in the hands of the right sociopaths, will find its way. We are left wondering if it really matters if Jesus existed and died at the cross and if his life really had that kind of impact on world history, or is it just that we use him as an excuse for everything we do.My favorite part of the movie is the scene when Jesus enters Jerusalem. I think it's probably the music. All in all, I think is an OK movie, except for a few issues with pacing.

The Last Temptation of Christ is one of Scorsese's defining masterpieces, sitting in the ranks alongside Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver; it is an epic, highly evocative, narrative of the controversial and, at times, incredible life of Jesus Christ: his rise and fall. If looking at Scorsese's career in retrospective, it is unlikely that the film would be considered one of Scorsese's most enduring and recognizable features. However, whether through absolute innovation or audacious originality, it is an unrivaled spectacle.William Dafoe plays the title figure of Jesus, a troubled man lost in his inner conflicts, who is torn between his desire and the knowledge than God has a plan for him. As the film progresses Jesus leaves his life of labor, moving from place to place, preaching and gathering a group of followers- his original disciples. He performs miracles: healing a blind man, converting water to wine and raising Lazarus from the dead. I found Dafoe's portrayal of the son of God extraordinary. His speeches are riveting and incredibly moving; it is a performance full of tenderness, rage and love.There is a point, perhaps a third of the way through, when Jesus walks into the desert- out into the vast bareness- in the hope of speaking to God. He draws a circle around himself, in the dirt and sand, and sits there waiting. There is nothing: for a long, long time he just sits there waiting. At this point, the film subverts itself into a surreal nightmare. Jesus is visited by: a talking snake (with the voice of a woman), a lion, a fire- that seems to burn from an invisible source, and an apple tree. It is a metaphor for the Devil, what he represents, and is unlike anything I have ever seen before. We are watching the turmoil of Jesus's mind projected out around him, like some bizarre circus parade. It is only through experiencing 'evil' that we can truly understand and appreciate what the concept of 'good' means, a concept that Jesus comes to understand and evolve.The film's ending is an extraordinary rendering of pain and the inevitable descent of man. Jesus wades through the streets of Jerusalem, amongst jeering crowds, bearing a crown of thorns, a cross over his back. The camera glides through the action, enhanced by Scorsese's quintessential use of slow motion and music. It is horrific to watch yet utterly compelling. Nothing is hidden away, or censored, as we watch his hands nailed into the cross and the blood trailing down his forehead. The portrait of suffering and injustice is complete.The Last Temptation of Christ is an incredible film. The tragic story of Christ's life and his transformation of faith are beautifully visualized. The temptation in the title is of a normal life: where he can live, love and become a father. Yet he can never achieve that ideal- he is the Son of God. As Victor Hugo once said: 'Our lives dream the Utopia. Our deaths achieve the ideal.' Only through death can Jesus rise and become the testament to his own religion.Scorsese's picture is a masterpiece and a powerful odyssey into existence.