On K List of Movie Reviews
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King of Kings (1961)
Rate:
6
Viewed:
3/25
3/25:
I wonder how many films there are that tell the exact same story about Jesus Christ's life, from birth to
resurrection, just like King of Kings.
That being said, what's the point? Is it only because they are easy moneymakers? Anyway,
King of Kings is an okay epic that stays, more or less, faithful to the Bible. If there are
complaints about this or that not being accurate, it's because the gospels conflict each other many times.
The following two passages is an example:
Matthew 27:11-14 says, "Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, 'Are you the
king of the Jews?' 'You have said so,' Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders,
he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, 'Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?' But
Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor."
Yet John 18:33-37 says, "Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, 'Are you the king
of the Jews?' 'Is that your own idea,' Jesus asked, 'or did others talk to you about me?' 'Am I a Jew?' Pilate
replied. 'Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?' Jesus said, 'My
kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.
But now my kingdom is from another place.' 'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You say that
I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on
the side of truth listens to me.'"
The cast is fine, but the makeup job is horrible all the way through. Anyone can see it plainly on Jeffrey
Hunter's face. On the other hand, the writing either passes muster or puts me to sleep. It's been up and
down a lot. Harder to bear is the epic taking three hours to sit through. At least, it doesn't try to fool me
with supernatural events.
All in all, there's probably a better version out there than King of Kings, but why do I have to
explore them all when one will suffice?