The Revolutionary--Epic Version

A much better entry than the abridged The Revolutionary (VL-7/97), which--at 48 minutes--left out several key episodes in the life of Christ, the full The Revolutionary--Epic Version at twice the length, tells a far more coherent version of the greatest story ever told. John Kay Steele, as Christ, does a creditable job, imbuing the Son of God with a righteous fury as he overturns the tables of the moneylenders in the temple or a sense of heartfelt compassion when healing the blind, with equal ease and authority. Unfortunately, his fellow thespians are not always as surefooted or compelling and all--Steele included--are somewhat undone by the format. Shot in HDTV, the production has the flat look of TV soaps, a quality which makes the stirring musical crescendos sprinkled throughout the film seem rather absurd (music that would have worked just fine when paired with the richness of film imagery). Still, given the comprehensiveness of the treatment, the popularity of the subject, and the affordable price, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)