Revival is the retelling of the Christian Gospels of Jesus in an energetic and uplifting production.  The movie is directed by Danny Green and written by Harry Lennix. Told in part through musical numbers, stage production, film set pieces and special effects- this movie is no doubt is a unique experience.  Think Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

We start with the resurrection which I found to be an interesting choice.  We then move through the highlights of the history of Jesus and focus on everything from his baptism to crucifixion.  The crucifixion is done fairly quickly without much gore which I found pleasing.  The handling of both Judas and Pontius Pilate were pleasant surprises.  Both personas were given added depth beyond just cogs in the wheel of Jesus’ end.  This handling of them added extra texture to a well tread narrative.

Throughout the almost two hour run time of Revival we get to know what Jesus stood for and how he invoked anger in the Jewish leaders of his day.  In fact, we get to see a lot of the discussions behind closed doors about Jesus which is yet another aspect of this movie that allows for more layers.  Small touches like this, help make Revival a very thorough retelling of the accounts written about in the Bible. 

The story of Jesus is nothing new to film.  It is a tale that has been retold in countless mediums.  What Revival brings to the table is an interesting amalgamation of various aspects.  Besides the already mentioned nuisances to the characters responsible for Jesus’ demise we are all treated to various interesting visual aspects.  For instance, although most of the story is set in the ancient near east with appropriate costumes and set pieces there are other times that the events unfold in the present complete with modern attire and landmarks.  There is also a ghost angle that is used which I found especially intriguing.  I actually found myself wishing they did more with it.  In addition, they have enthusiastic musical and dance numbers weaved into dramatic conversations.  So, the narrative vacillates between straight film and Broadway musical.  I found the performances heartfelt and passionate, as well.  Stand outs were Mali Music’s Jesus and Harry Lennix’s Pilate. It is because of the genuine conduct of the actors and the intriguing turns of this retelling that my attention was piqued.  

For those out there who have no interest in Christian stories this will most likely not give you anything new to change your mind.  No daring new ground is broken in Revival.  Despite all the interesting turns they take this is your basic story of the Christian faith.  Likewise, any who don’t want to mix their spiritual beliefs with their entertainment will want to steer clear of this movie.  However, those who find retellings of the Gospels thought provoking or fascinating might want to check this one out.  There are enough dashes of various elements to make the result a refreshing retelling of the teachings of Jesus.  The very faithful and those curious about Jesus’ teachings will also benefit from watching Revival.  It is a celebration of Christian beliefs.  Within that celebration much of the main teachings of Jesus are put forth in a very accessible way.  Mali Music’s rendition gives a human and approachable quality to Jesus while also exuding what the man was said to stand for in his life and teachings.

RORSCHACH RATING:

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