One of my all time favorites.

It is a performances centric movie

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

=== spoilers!!I actually did not like this movie. Besides being a miniseries and feeling very long, it presented the son of God like a stupid bloke from Manchester who barely knows what he is doing, unless a divine "download" comes. He performs a few miracles for no real reason, then he does what his girlfriend thought.I am not religious and actually the idea of a world without religion (however weird that sounds for humans) seems a very good idea. But if God did exist and did come on Earth, I would like him to stay. I mean, what the hell (pun intended), at least he can stay for a few laughs and a beer then go home and leave us alone. God dying (or ceasing to exist or whatever) makes no sense once you know he is there.I also did not like the choice of actors. Christopher Eccleston is a good actor and I enjoy his movies, but he had no "godly" charisma in this film. And the girlfriend... could have picked a decent looking girl. The TV feel also took the rest of the edge off.So, if you are in the mood for a Manchester based son of god TV movie with a nietzschean ending, watch this film. As a side note: "God is dead" is found in 126000 pages on google. "God lives" is in 143000. So I guess that settles it :))

Maybe only British television could have got away with something like this, or would have been likely to try.Christopher Eccleston gives us a rousing performance as Stephen Baxter, an ordinary "bloke" from the north of England who, having disappeared on bleak moorland for 40 days and 40 nights, turns up again, claiming to be the Son of God.Nothing new about that, you might say - plenty of people have claimed that. The difference is that, in Stephen's case, the claim is true and he gives the human race five days to come up with a "Third Testament" or face Judgment Day and possible oblivion. To make sure he gets the world's attention, he throws in a couple of miracles for good measure.The portrayed response of those around Stephen - friends, foes and in between - is plausible and interesting. I particularly liked Peter Wright as Len Chadwick, the sympathetic policeman placed in charge of protecting Stephen, and Lesley Sharp who, as always, turns in a strong and wholly credible performance as Stephen's nearly girlfriend.Good music punctuates an intelligent and witty script that sometimes strays towards the cheesy, but usually veers away. The special effects are adequate, but nothing more, though the actual photography is spectacular at times.I wasn't totally sold on the conclusion - it seemed, somehow, a bit of a letdown, even a copout, but maybe that was inevitable, given the buildup.The DVD version is divided irritatingly, but that detracts little from the impact of this gripping, mature drama. Strongly recommended.Rating: 8/10.

The film tells you to be aware and conscientious. It also destroys any and all things, the Bible claims to be true. To people like me the first episode was interesting and the second was disastrous. It has been called "blasphemy", and it is, if you are a believer. It is sad to hear, that many people think of it as a good sequel to the Bible. However, the film shows you a lot of things and subjects, that can be interpreted as a filmic version of the "Revelation". Some of us think, that such things are not to be abused. One good thing about the film is, that it strongly encourages ethical awareness and makes you consider your actions twice. The director just seems to forget, that some people act that way already solely based on the fact, that they believe and love as prescribed in the Bible... Why attempt to change that, unless you be the Devil yourself?

I have to say that I found this TV drama to be enormously good - such an original, inventive screenplay. I began watching with my finger poised about the channel-change button, half expecting something very conventional - the jesus wannabe is a looney (but there there is some (un)subtle suggestion toward the end that he might be a little more than that) - or or a final sequence in which jesus karate-chops demons and departs, granting us another two thousand years, but pleading that we try harder at being good. Instead something entirely unexpected - and challenging - is served up. So good to see that some people who write TV screenplays are not only thinking, but want to make us think too. It's also marvellously well acted.