Save your money for something good and enjoyable

best movie i've ever seen.

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Set in the year 33 we meet Mary of Magdala, or Mary Magdalene, struggling to find her purpose in life. She brings shame on her family by refusing an arranged marriage and by praying in a synagogue at a time of her choosing rather than the set time for women.Believing she is possessed by a devil for her rogue behaviour her family attempt to cast out her demons by nearly drowning her. During her recovery, she is introduced to a rabbi called Jesus who opens her eyes to the possibilities of a new Kingdom to come. Believing she has found her purpose Mary, against her family's wishes, joins Jesus and his apostles to help bring the word of God to the masses. Her arrival causes conflict within the group, particularly between Peter (an excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Judas, as Peter feels he's being pushed out and Jesus's impact won't be taken as seriously with a woman present.What follows are a lot of meaningful, lingering looks, long pauses and a lengthy build up to the last few days of Jesus of Nazareth's life on earth. The big events leading up to His crucifixion such as the last supper and the events in the Garden of Gethsemane are rushed and lack the emotional impact you would normally associate with them.Rooney Mara puts in a strong performance as Mary. Whether she's sympathetically tending to the sick and dying or being an early advocate for women's rights, she performs her role with gusto, but her character, sadly, takes a backseat to Jesus in the final third of the film. Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus is miscast in a role where he comes across as the love child of The Dude and Hagrid. Looking far more like 43 than 33, his American accent jars amongst the other more appropriate tongues and you can almost hear him muttering, "dude", at the end of his sentences.Director Garth Davis offers us an alternate take on Judas Iscariot, played brilliantly by Tahar Rahim. Desperately longing to be reunited with his dead family his reasons for betraying his Master, the one man who can apparently make this happen, are heart-breaking and understandable given the circumstances. Rahim's thoroughly engaging performance encourages sympathy rather than scorn.Mary Magdalene is an interesting film with some fine turns, but one that fails to deliver in its overly-long two hour run time.

I do not believe in the bible or organized religion. I watched this movie because I love period movies and Joaquin Phoenix. It was so subtle. It did not beat you over the head with blood and pain like Passion of the Christ did. It showed Jesus conflicted, sad, angry, and scared. He somberly walked to his final days. He accepted a woman despite protests. Though the dialogue was sparse, I felt it more profoundly than any church sermon I have ever sat through. I was moved to sobs several times, especially in today's political climate. The acting was perfect, the scenery breath taking and it was beautifully quiet movie, definitely worth the watch.

Yet another popular take of the story of Jesus and his followers, well put and with a slight feminist angle. But I wonder: why does nobody seem to have the interest and/or courage to put to film an alternative Jesus story -- think, for example, Gerald Messadie's classic book "The man Who Became God" which resonates later findings by researcher Holger Kersten. I would like very much to see a movie version of Messadie's account and I am quiet sure it would cause some stir -- something a quasi-traditionalist and complacent narrative such as "Mary Magdalene" fails to accomplish.

Well crafted effort to portray the 13th Apostle. The face of Christ reminded me of Rembrandt's great portrait.