Claymation Jesus from Wales may not sound like a promising idea, but this Greatest Story Ever Told iteration gets closer to the mark than many a Passion Project. Trimmed down, it assumes basic familiarity with the story, often switching from a pleasingly artisanal Stop-Motion technique to vividly colored hand-drawn animation for moments of crisis and during flashbacks; easily transitioning between the styles by not sweating over æsthetic clashes. And what an unusually human Jesus we get. Nothing comparable since Max Von Sydow took on the role in George Stevens’ otherwise regrettable GSET/’65. Here, it's Ralph Fiennes in the part, backed by an All-Star vocal cast, with much of the story told a bit from the side in smartly chosen P.O.V. angles. (The main one dealing with a deathly ill girl, cured & befriended by Jesus). And a huge character list differentiated enough so that it’s all easy to follow, the story simplified, but not dumbed-down. As usual, Pilate’s part in things feels whitewashed, as if he bribed some ancient journalist to alter his notebook, and the filmmakers (directors Derek Hayes & Stanislav Sokolov; script Murray Watts) bypass the stickier narrative points via ellipses (heck, so does The New Testament!), the resurrection elements always a tough sell. But this is remarkably successful. And not only as entry level/Intro 101 fodder. There’s real charm in the execution (those miniature cities especially winning) and for the most part, it's thankfully shy on solemnity.
DOUBLE-BILL: Boomers will recall 1960s Claymation from GUMBY and the modern Christian parables (Lutheran Division) of DAVEY AND GOLIATH. Perhaps too dorky for current age appropriate viewers, but great nostalgia.
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