Finally a Pilate.... - A.D. The Bible Continues (2015) Discussion

[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Yup.

Refreshing, huh?

I got kind of sick of the weakling Pilate in various dramas.

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[–] thesnowleopard 10 years ago

I know I was heartily sick of it. The historical Pilate was a complete bastard.

Interesting their choice of actor for Caiaphas. He's actually fairly sympathetic, which would make sense. The real-life Pharisees were stuck between a rock and a hard place when it came to the Romans.

Innsmouth Free Press http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Yup.

I'm surprised how sympathetic Caiaphas is too. I don't mind, it's an interesting approach to the man. But I'm glad it's not just me who finds him so -- I was wondering if my affection for the actor, whom I've seen in various costume dramas, was tainting my perspective on Caiaphas. :D

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[–] Strausszek 10 years ago

Telly Savalas nailed that raw, hard-edged, brutal quality in The Greatest Story Ever Told (where Pilate plays a larger part than he does in the Gospels - he is aware of Jesus as a troublemaking preacher early on).

You are a lunatic, Sir, and you're going to end up on the Russian front. I have a car waiting.

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[–] diderikmg 10 years ago

I thought Anthony Zerbe was great as Pilate in the original A.D.

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Is that the one with Anthony Andrews as Caligula?

Tried to track down a copy to watch it, but my library system only had it on VHS! =P

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[–] diderikmg 10 years ago

Yep! That`s the one. But Andrews whos was brilliant as usual played Nero not Caligula, that was John McEnery who was excellent as the tyrant.
I rented this on VHS some 20 years ago and bought the nine hours DVD-set five years ago I think.
There was some great actors on that show like Andrews and Zerbe, James Mason, Richard Kiley, Colleen Dewhurst, Ava Gardner, Susan Sarandon, Ian Mc Shane, John Houseman...the list is long!

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Ahh, okay. My mistake.

I think the entire series is up on YouTube, but that's a long time to sit in front of a computer screen. I'll have to try it at some point.

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[–] bardmore 10 years ago

The 1985 AD miniseries was quite well written and often moving. I find this enactment to be rather plodding and turgid. The whole look of it seems like the sanitation department just came through to give it a good cleaning. Anyone whao has been to the Middle East knows that it is arid and dusty for the most part, but this productiuon has a decided Disneyfied feel about it. Everything looks so antiseptic and pristine. Caiaphas' residence looks like it came out of Architectural Digest; Herodias looks like she just stepped away from a Maybelline counter, and Peter definitely seems to be on Ecstasy. And why does Pilate always speak in a half-voice? Much of the dialogue is stilted and bombastic, with occasional misguided attempts to sound contemporary, or hip! A colossal disappointment, and blindly over-rated by many?and this coming from one who has loved biblical/historical dramas since he was a kid. It might indeed require a Zefferelli and Burgess team to make it work.

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[–] diderikmg 10 years ago

Spot on!

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[–] friendofthebard 10 years ago

Peter definitely seems to be on Ecstasy.

The New Testament is pretty clear about Peter's impetuous nature. His hair probably didn't look that good, though.

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[–] bardmore 10 years ago

Well, his faith is probably so great that he is blessed with good hair days

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[–] friendofthebard 10 years ago

Well, his faith is probably so great that he is blessed with good hair days

Heh, heh. Here's an even better 'hair blessing': "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12: 6-7)

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[–] AngryNegroMan 10 years ago

This pilate is still not mean

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[–] lewisfindley-05520 10 years ago

Episode 4 should be WELL APPROVED by the Roman Catholic. ISIS. Moslem , atheist , etc critics of this masterpiece....also killing Jesus .same groups of critics targeting movies made by different political philosophies...I want 10 Jews (or ten ISIS Islamic Zionists) crucified until I find the one who tried to assassinate me. Then I murder him myself

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Though this particular event is made up, it's accurate to the real Pilate, in terms of character. He DID have 12 Jews killed in the temple on the eve of the Sabbath once, which made the temple unclean and "merged the blood of the insurrectionists with the blood of their sacrifices."

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[–] friendofthebard 10 years ago

He DID have 12 Jews killed in the temple on the eve of the Sabbath once . . . .

Interesting. Could you please post a source for this info? Is this what Luke refers to in 13:1? I find some online passages from Josephus about Pilate, but none about this incident.

Thanks.

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

I believe I did read it in Josephus. It's been awhile since I did my research on Pilate -- I'll have to go back and look through my notes to find a direct source.

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[–] friendofthebard 10 years ago

Thanks so much!

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[–] KatharineFanatic 10 years ago

Haven't forgotten about this.

I no longer have my notes (tragically... I can't find them), and searching through The Entire Works of Josephus on my Kindle is a pill. I found ONE reference this morning about the tie-in to scripture, but it attributed the reference to Pilate's men beating protesters of the aqueducts (which he used temple funds to build), and I'm PRETTY SURE there's another reference, a more specific one, about him ordering 12 men executed inside the temple grounds. So, I'll keep looking.

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[–] lancer165 9 years ago

When it realised that the manufacture of the soon to become Christian faith was carried out within the Roman Empire it can be seen that it was necessary to dilute or sterilise the Roman involvement. It was also a good idea to portray the leaders of the Jews as the real culprits for the capture,trial and eventual execution. The conspiracy involved here was as good as any thought up by modern authors.

I do watch a great deal of biblical inspired stories. I cannot suggest that they are or are not accurate. But as many are not convinced about the whole story anyway what does that matter.

When we are being taught ethics and how to live a moral life the truth and accuracy is of less importance.

Mind you surely Michael Palin's Pilate must have been enjoyed even by not so radical or fundamental Christians.

It is only in relatively modern times the Vatican has shown any relaxation in its teachings that Christ was effectively allowed to be killed by the Jews. It was after all this faith that was intended to be discarded and put in the garbage bin. Think of Jews having to convert and of the Inquisition that had an effect on them also. Roman rule was brutal. In some areas very brutal.

Yes in 'life of Brian' they tortured some dissidents by making them write as punishment Romans Go Home 100 times. and we find that 'Brian' is not the Messiah but a 'very naughty boy'.

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[–] ssalaunjr 9 years ago

When it realised that the manufacture of the soon to become Christian faith was carried out within the Roman Empire it can be seen that it was necessary to dilute or sterilise the Roman involvement. It was also a good idea to portray the leaders of the Jews as the real culprits for the capture,trial and eventual execution. The conspiracy involved here was as good as any thought up by modern authors.

Actually, there was NO "dilution" nor "steriization" of the Roman involvement in the arrest, trial & crucifixion of Jesus. The Romans simply did what they HAD to do, i.e. put down any rebels, especially would-be Messiahs claiming to be kings. That was a direct threat to Roman rule & had to be dealt with severely. Given the waTy the Jewish leaders portrayed Jesus to Pilate, he really had very little choice, BUT to have Him crucified.

It is only in relatively modern times the Vatican has shown any relaxation in its teachings that Christ was effectively allowed to be killed by the Jews. It was after all this faith that was intended to be discarded and put in the garbage bin. Think of Jews having to convert and of the Inquisition that had an effect on them also. Roman rule was brutal. In some areas very brutal.

You should really try reading the 4 gospels some day! If you do, you will find the Jewish LEADERS (Scribes, Pharisees & Sadducees) were plotting & scheming against the life of Jesus for MOST of His active ministry! That is because Jesus exposed their hypocrisy in His preaching, and hypocrites just HATE for their hypocrisy to be exposed & condemned! They were the ones that PAID Judas to betray Jesus, arrested & tried Him by night ILLEGALLY, and after He resurrected, they paid the guards to lie. Yes, there were SOME Pharisees who did get saved, especially after Pentecost, Saul/Paul being the most notable, byt for the most part, they remained enemies of Christ, and refused to convert.

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