Barabbas

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Buy This Item Barabbas by Sony Pictures  Available from Amazon  $8.99  on 8-26-2008     Starring Anthony Quinn in the title role, <I>Barabbas</I> was released in 1961 in the midst of a wave of widescreen epics based on biblical characters. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to <I>Ben-Hur</I>), is an unusually intelligent one. Further assets are the imaginative, sparingly orchestrated score by Mario Nascimbene and a handsome production design by art director Mario Chiari that is so rewarding to the eye in Aldo Tonti's often dazzling cinematography. <p> Many scenes, such as Christ's crucifixion, are shot and staged like tableaux in a style reminiscent of the great masters of art. And director Richard Fleischer surpasses anything Ridley Scott achieved years later in <I>Gladiator</I>: he fills the huge arena--a vast Roman amphitheatre--with a gladiatorial school of hand-to-hand combat, a parade of elephants, and a den of lions, and then caps his production with a riveting and thrillingly mounted duel between Jack Palance, careering round the circumference of the arena in his chariot, and Barabbas dodging him on foot. <I>--Adrian Edwards</I> Reader Reviews "Barabbas" is not a bad movie if you are watching it simply for the entertainment value. Anthony Quinn is very good and so are his co-stars. The script drags somewhat, with the second part being more interesting than the first. However, if you are wanting to look at this film in the sense of whether it portrays the message of Christianity well, then this movie is less than average. It portrays early Christians well, but the problem is with the portrayal of Barabbas. There is no complexity in the character of Barabbas, he simply "goes with the flow." There is never true repentence on his part, never a true understanding of the meaning of Christ and Christianity. It is simply not a film you would want to show your children if you want them to have a deeper understanding of their faith. For great classical gladiatoral action, this is a great movie (Jack Palance is wonderful), but it fails in portraying any deeper spiritual message.

Barabbas Available from Amazon Price: $8.99 Updated on 8-26-2008.

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