Risen: Mini Movie Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

At the end of this month, March 27th, Easter will be celebrated.  Most people will think about bunnies.  Chocolate and Peeps.  When I was a kid I couldn't wait to get out the dies and dip eggs to create different patterns.  The true meaning of Easter, the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, was celebrated, but my mind was on pastels and baskets.  Now when I walk the aisles at the supermarket and see bunny merchandise I smile, but look away.  Maybe it's an age thing. Or maybe it's because I love thinking about our Savior and his great sacrifice.  For his love and great gift to us all.

But along with Easter toys there always seems to be Christian movies that are released this time of year. There are so many movies and television shows about the crucifixion of Christ, and most of them are from a singular perspective.

Risen, a new movie by Kevin Reynolds, is a movie that begins with the crucifixion, only we see it from the other side.  We see the events from the New Testament unfold through the eyes of a Roman, sent to oversee the death and burial within a tomb of Yeshua, Jehovah.

We follow Clavius, played by Joseph Fiennes, as he watches and investigates the claims and prophesies of the Messiah.  Claims that Yeshua will actually rise from the dead.  But if he doesn't actually rise from the dead, who then is behind this deception?  Mary Magdalene?  His disciples?

We watch Clavius practice his own faith as he guides a young Roman named Lucius, played by Tom Felton.  And we watch Clavius question the faith of the remaining deciples of Christ.  Can a man really rise from the dead?  Can a God really walk among and associate with man?  Are miracles possible?

I really appropriate this new take on the crucifixion story.  The Romans were gentiles; are we not gentiles?  They truly did not know what they were doing when Christ/Yeshua/Jehovah was crucified.

And what does that mean for us?  We who are not watchers of Christ's miracles.  Can we not see, and yet believe?  There's a blessing in believing without seeing.  It does take great faith, but the Holy Ghost bears witness to Christ's divinity, and for me that is enough.  I know and believe Christ is risen.

But even the disciples were amazed and awed, being first witnesses to Christ's resurrection, and I love how gently this was portrayed in Risen.

Risen is a beautiful movie.  A beautiful movie that I can easily watch any time of the year.

Rated PG-13 for Biblical violence including some disturbing images.