A Brilliant Conflict

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

a Biblical film. not great ambitions, few nice fight scene, basic line, a cast with exercise in this type of drama ( Hristo Shopov - new / old Pontius Pilat, Hristo Jivkov - ex - John in Passion of Crist, now Stefan ), Dolph Lundgren in skin of different kind of role, Max van Sydow, Enrico Lo Verso , F. Murray Abraham as solid pillars , Ornela Mutti like drop of scent and beautiful Monica Cruz - alter -ego of her sister and basic attraction of a movie who is not Quo Vadis, not Jesus of Nazareth but little exercise to recreate atmosphere of Church beginnings. so, it is just an exercise. not spectacular, not interesting, almost boring and predictable but decent at first sigh. crumbs of history - legend about Tiberius death -, pieces of innovation - the decree about Chistianity freedom -, authentic miracle of come back to life of Tabitha and the end - mixture of dust and faith. a drawing like so many others.

Well… at least the music was good. I had such hopes for this film but was quickly disappointed. It includes some well known, good actors mixed with some that they must have picked up off the street. The two primary lead actors (Daniele Liotti and Mónica Cruz) provide both visual appeal and good acting though better directing could have enhanced the final output. The directing and editing are so bad that I am convinced either their budget was seriously in deficit or they half-heartedly approached the project. So much good have been done with the storyline to show the aftermath of Christ's crucifixion that the #1 proof for the resurrection is that the disciples who scattered in fear suddenly became courageous and willing to speak the truth of having seen the risen Christ knowing that this admission would mean certain persecution, torture and death. Sadly, this movie only hints at the truth and instead brings in fiction that wasn't needed. The truth is incredible enough.The movie is weak, lacks conviction, and is a disappointment. The only true redeeming quality is the soundtrack.

The original movie, made in 1986 and starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, is a little-known gem of an intellectual thriller, with a plot that takes numerous unexpected twists.This "remake" (hardly that, since the title, basic premise, and name of the lead character are all that remain) is essentially a Sunday school movie made by hacks, full of pious posturing. It's pretty to look at, but utterly lacking in suspense, narrative drive, good acting, or just about anything else you might desire in a movie.I am beginning to think that any movie with Valerio Massimo Manfredi's name in the credits is going to be very, very bad.

I saw the brilliant original by Damiano Damiani (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093255/) about twenty years ago. This is not a remake. Compared to the original screenplay, the story in this film is a joke in the best tradition of Hollywood, and it utterly does not follow the original plot.This is a propaganda movie, a failed copy of the masterpiece by Damiano Damiani and a poor attempt to substitute real world values by thin air speculation and candy, pure Hollywood style. Nevertheless the movie has a value of its own, I have never seen Dolf Lundgren in a role like the one he took in this movie, and I could say that Monica Cruz play is not worse than her sister's, not to mention that Monica is somehow prettier than Penelope. It is a shame that Ornella Mutti did not participate in the original by her compatriot Damiano Damiani.