Although the movie ratings verge between the hysterical 1 (probably by people who haven't seen it) and 8-10 (by people who have probably seen it stoned) the ultimate 4-5 rating is actually spot on. The film ia a very average, rather short spoof comedy that's also being let down by the subtitles (I speak Portuguese). You won't ROTFL but you might chuckle at a few scenes and .. erm that's it. Oh and for those who scream 'would they dare satirize other religions', yes there's a sequence where they do and rather savagely at that.
132 Reviews
Critics are the pot calling the kettle black
kmhowie25 December 2019
First of all, this is a lousy movie. But I suspect that most of the people here that are trashing it have not actually seen it. They are just being told by the bigots in their pulpits and in the right-wing publications they read that it is something they should rail against. These people deserve the same level of disrespect that they regularly direct at those whose lifestyle is different from their own.
Mediocre slapstuck
rkpolley_sgr11 January 2020
The funniest, and least overdone bits were actually jabs at mohammad, buddha, shiva, and the scientology alien. The comments about how lgbt people would be outraged if we were mocked this way were funny. Orlando was an over the top gay stereotype. So what? The whole thing was intended to be silly. Some of it worked and some fell flat. Grt over it
Unfunny film
kingcasey_iii25 September 2020
A very unfunny film. Perhaps the humor was lots in the translation. But an unfunny bland film where Jesus is tempted by a gay companion he met while doing his spiritual preperation for becoming the messiah. He questions his mission that the Father has set for him., as he ponders another life path while bringing his boyfriend "Orlando" home for this 30th Brithday Party (Christmas).
The most sickening thing I've seen
iamadoorandawindow19 December 2020
Not special. Not as offensive as it is portrayed by critics either
TournelHenry27 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's an average comedy movie in terms of how funny it is. And unlike what the angry religious critics seem to paint, It's not all blasphemous and aggressively offensive like say South Park. Mostly light friendly jokes. The homosexuality of the character Jesus Kristos is barely emphasized.
There's also a scene that pokes fun at other religious characters thus demonstrating no targeted disrespect towards Christianity alone.
It's well written to be easily understood and enjoyed by a non-Brazilian audience with subtitles.
In summary, it's not special. It's not bad either. Just okay.
Just plain awful
samburton-6701218 December 2019
The Last Hangover was better
rayc9918 December 2019
Not the best film but by far not the worst. There was the odd laugh but there could have been more. The previous movie The Last Hangover was far better for laughs. It's a pity people take things like this so serious, that's what causes the problems and the hate in this world. See it for what it all is: a piece of film making, a made up story!
Funny show
mattde-0575020 December 2019
Total Disrespect and Not cool!!!
ladberg-yori17 December 2019
This lack of respect is absolutely unnecessary. There are a million other things you can make fun of if you are as creative as you claim but you chose the easy one. The christian faith. Please make a movie making fun of Islam and Mohammed while you are at it and let's see how creative you really are or if you all will live long enough to find out.
It's funny!
nlxl12 December 2019
The reviews so far have not been very informative - having been written either by Christians considering it blasphemous or by people rejecting Christianity and, therefore, enjoying it.. The truth, as I would like to show, lies in between.
As a Christian and also a Christian theologian, I say that there is nothing blasphemous in this movie. It's a satire and sometimes maybe a little bit over the top. If you enjoy "Life of Brian", you will also enjoy "The First Temptation of Christ".
It chronicles just a short instance in the life of Jesus - coming back from his 40 days in the desert before leaving for Galilee. It's a short movie that only lasts as long as a TV episode, 45 minutes.
What the movie achieves is pointing out those things that cannot be explained with reason, but only be believed, the things that the Bible doesn't give answers to and the like - and sometimes gives them its own answer that can be critical of current church practice.
As a Christian, if you're not already reflecting on your faith, this movie is a chance to do so. It doesn't take anything away from your faith.
I hope there will be a sequel! Jesus' story is not over yet.
As a Christian and also a Christian theologian, I say that there is nothing blasphemous in this movie. It's a satire and sometimes maybe a little bit over the top. If you enjoy "Life of Brian", you will also enjoy "The First Temptation of Christ".
It chronicles just a short instance in the life of Jesus - coming back from his 40 days in the desert before leaving for Galilee. It's a short movie that only lasts as long as a TV episode, 45 minutes.
What the movie achieves is pointing out those things that cannot be explained with reason, but only be believed, the things that the Bible doesn't give answers to and the like - and sometimes gives them its own answer that can be critical of current church practice.
As a Christian, if you're not already reflecting on your faith, this movie is a chance to do so. It doesn't take anything away from your faith.
I hope there will be a sequel! Jesus' story is not over yet.
Low-hanging fruit
itseasymusik12 January 2020
A very calculated controversy to trigger Christians and get attention. I'm not even religious, but this is just disrespectful. The movie itself isn't even that good or funny. If you want smart comedy about Religion, watch Monthy Python.
Would Netflix greenlight a parody of Mohammed? Would Netflix greenlight a parody of the LGBT culture?
As long as i don't see that happen, it's clear that there's some kind of agenda at play. Hypocrisy at its best.
Would Netflix greenlight a parody of Mohammed? Would Netflix greenlight a parody of the LGBT culture?
As long as i don't see that happen, it's clear that there's some kind of agenda at play. Hypocrisy at its best.
So that's what all the fuss was about?
Prophet897 January 2022
Frankly, I expected more, I am into controversial and offensive humor and that was just mediocre. Also come on with chickenin' out with Allah - if you don't have the gut to piss off some muslims, then don't do offensive religion-parody content like that. I was meaning to write here a challenge for the creators, to next time make some fun of Mahomet if they really want to earn respect, but after seeing this to the end, I know they don't have the gut.
Disrespectful
icenash9914 December 2019
As someone who doesn't even adhere to faith of any sort, this movie is garbage. Shows the total hypocrisy of the left. They would never make a movie like this parodying Islam though. Just plain disrespectful and disgusting
Playful and offensive religious art
JakobKarboe14 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Sometimes the shining beauty of the divine can be to intimidating. This film was just what I needed after feeling useless and humiliated by my own behavior. I first thought of this film as a parody, and the creators might have been synical atheists, but they anyway created for me an artwork where I could see my religious ideal in a more playfull and fun style. Many of the other Jesus films are so heavy and serious, and I don't think the truth is only for those who take life so seriously. If you are somewhat orthodox in your perspective, this film can be offensive, but with a playful attitude and with understanding of the atheist perspective, this is a absurd fun film with livefull acting and some clever narrative choice.
One thing I would point out which made me wonder ln the creators own perspective is how one of the main characters play blasmehy song on the keyboard, and this is later found to be Satan. To actually be unsure if the creators are believers or not, I find to be very nice so that I don't have to feel like I'm getting spoon fed with and ideology, its so Godd*mn annoying when a film knows what itself is about and is just trying to make you change your mind on a chase. I was somewhat high viewing this so my last interpretation might be off.
One thing I would point out which made me wonder ln the creators own perspective is how one of the main characters play blasmehy song on the keyboard, and this is later found to be Satan. To actually be unsure if the creators are believers or not, I find to be very nice so that I don't have to feel like I'm getting spoon fed with and ideology, its so Godd*mn annoying when a film knows what itself is about and is just trying to make you change your mind on a chase. I was somewhat high viewing this so my last interpretation might be off.
So much hate towards Christianity
lukecon-6343615 September 2020
Why do people always have to make films like this? There is no reason to mock any religion, whether you agree with it or not. I completely disagree with Netflix's promotion of this film, which by the way is filled with sacrilege towards Christianity, particularly in its depiction of Jesus Christ.
Why do people have such a hate that they even have to make films like this? Don't even bother to watch or support this blasphemy directed at Christianity.
Thankfully there is freedom of expression
Gromerando16 December 2019
Above all this movie is a satire, but deep within the satire there are some very valid points to ponder about. If viewers could get over their own bias they might actually enjoy the movie. At the end the movie is about the fight of good versus evil, it is very goofy and full of Brazilian humor, give it a chance...
A "no go" for me.
guitaristjisaacescobar17 December 2019
A Laugh Riot!!
garrykanter14 December 2019
DISGUSTING. An absolutely abhorrent insult.
shamit7616 December 2019
Will not be watching this on Netflix. A slap in the face of any devoted Christian out there.
How this was allowed to be produced is beyond me. Is nothing respected anymore?
The producers should hang their heads in shame.
Would Netflix allow a production that depicts revered figures within the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist faiths as they have this one?
How this was allowed to be produced is beyond me. Is nothing respected anymore?
The producers should hang their heads in shame.
Would Netflix allow a production that depicts revered figures within the Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist faiths as they have this one?
honestly boring as hell
blueeyedtexan-0739216 December 2019
I laughed once....
bettinahooper9 January 2020
Then realized the joke was unintended.
What a hackneyed, stereotyping, unfunny slog this was to watch. I went in expecting at minimum, a vaguely sophomoric homage to MPython and instead found a Keystone Kops movie written by the Keystone Kops; a movie meant to provoke with not a single 'idea'.
How do you do that? How does anyone set out to make a movie specifically designed to upset the Christian apple cart Armed with only a child's knowledge of Roman Catholic dogma and a rubber chicken? How does Netflix agree to showcase such an abysmal experience?
Don't even bother with this one- watch 'Dogma' instead; it's provoking, subversive, jam packed with ideas and so funny, it bears watching over and over because laughing makes you miss so much of it's clever, dogmatic ideas.
What a hackneyed, stereotyping, unfunny slog this was to watch. I went in expecting at minimum, a vaguely sophomoric homage to MPython and instead found a Keystone Kops movie written by the Keystone Kops; a movie meant to provoke with not a single 'idea'.
How do you do that? How does anyone set out to make a movie specifically designed to upset the Christian apple cart Armed with only a child's knowledge of Roman Catholic dogma and a rubber chicken? How does Netflix agree to showcase such an abysmal experience?
Don't even bother with this one- watch 'Dogma' instead; it's provoking, subversive, jam packed with ideas and so funny, it bears watching over and over because laughing makes you miss so much of it's clever, dogmatic ideas.
Sickening
pauldavies-4982416 December 2019
Funny in so many ways
tim-powell-472-26468015 December 2019
It is a shame people let their beliefs get in the way of their sense of humor. This was fun and funny. It is likely the negative reviews are from those who never watched but were offended by the concept. There are plenty of laughs in this story.
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