I’m stuck
between having nothing to say and too much to say about Son of God. I have
nothing to say about the film itself, which is an inoffensive and entirely
unnecessary Sunday-school adaptation of Jesus’ greatest hits from the Bible. I
have too much to say about the production (or post-production, as that is all
that was needed for this film’s creation), the producers, the marketing
campaign, and the backlash from many prior to even seeing the film. I just
don’t know how any of what I have to say is relevant, and I don’t want to talk
about the film itself for fear that it will be half as dull as the actual
experience of watching it.
Let’s start with
the production, because I really doubt that any plot description is necessary
beyond the title. This is not an original film. It is a new edit with
additional footage inserted, but this has primarily all been seen in the
previously aired History Channel mini-series, “The Bible.” Producer Mark
Burnett (best known for reality television, such as “Survivor” and “The
Apprentice”) has simply edited the footage into film form and served it up
cinematically, trying to fool us like the lunch-lady sneaking leftover
hamburger into the next day’s lasagna. We all know that this is leftovers, and
that’s when it begins to feel more like a grab for additional cash than
anything sincerely spiritual.
This leads me to
the marketing campaign. Either the producers are sincere in their faith and
desire to spread God’s word through previously used material, or they are
actually just using their religion as a reliable market to peddle refurbished sub-par
entertainment. The fact that there were large chunks of tickets sold through
churches sickens me a bit, and the only redemption of this film is including
the scene of Jesus overturning tables selling on the steps of a house of
worship, so that I can imagine the church leaders who pushed the sale of these
tickets squirming in their own hypocrisy as they watched it. But I’m sure there
are also many people who willingly bought tickets and enjoyed the serving of
bland re-heated entertainment. I just wasn’t buying the cool-aid. Say what you
will about Mel Gibson’s version, The
Passion of the Christ, but he made it with all odds against him and nobody
believing it would be a success. Son of God arrives with the expectations of
business, an air of entitlement rather than the passion and faith required for
Gibson’s film.
The Blu-ray
release includes an assortment of propaganda-filled featurettes. It isn’t
necessarily that they are forcing religion onto the viewer, however, as much as
they try and make a selling point for the many reasons Son of God is actually a
better film than it appears. This is a film made to preach to the choir, but
the featurettes and the film itself come off forced and uninspired.
Entertainment Value:
4/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 4.5/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
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