Starring: Anthony Hopkins Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Vision Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 01, 2002 Running Time: 194 minutes Theatrical Release Date: April 12, 1981
Description: This epic network television mini-series brings to life the precarious existence of early Christianity. The new movement is beset by violent opposition from without and constant turmoil from within. Two key leaders emerge--Peter and Paul--who struggle to keep the faith alive. This dramatic presentation follows the pair, together and separately, through three epochal decades. Included are the stoning of Stephen, the road to Damascus, their encounter in Jerusalem, their conflicts over how the word of Christ should be spread. Paul’s travels to Asia Minor and Greece, Peter and Paul’s clashes over Jewish law, and Peter’s decision to follow in Paul’s courageous footsteps. The drama concludes in Rome in approximately A.D. 64 with the beheading of Paul and the crucifixion of Peter under Emperor Nero.
SPECIAL FEATURES: -Spanish Language track with or without English subtitles -Closed captioning in English -Biographical information on leading actors -Chapter titles provided for easy scene access
superb video This is a wonderful film, superbly written and very well acted. It gives an idea of what it may have been like for the leaders of the early church, including the politics involved. I highly recommend it.
Peter and Paul We had this movie on VHS and wanted to update to DVD to be able to share with our Youth Group. It is an excellent review of the lives of two very important saints who helped establish Christianity among the Jewish people and the Gentiles.
Well Worth Seeing, But Slightly Misses the Mark Pluses:
I agree with other reviewers that the portrayal of Paul by Anthony Hopkins is an excellent performance. He shows Paul as a real man, fiery, energetic, passionate, yet with a love of God and man, deep, introspective. Eddie Albert was great as Porcius Festus, governor of Judea. Julian Fellowes played a good Nero as well--jealous,fearful, yet not wholly demented. In general the acting was good or better.
The visuals were excellent (filmed in Greece), including Roman and Greek/Jew customs, palaces, Sea of Galilee, countryside, etc. The screenplay had many pluses including character development, tension, etc. The writers cleverly pull in famous quotes from Paul's epistles, and put it into his thoughts while writing, and his preaching.
Also we learn about the early divisions in the church.
Minuses:
The movement is too slow. Too much time is spent on minor characters like Mark and to a lesser degree Barnabas. Too much dwelling on antagonism between Jewish leaders and Paul over circumcision and the Law.
Not enough "great scenes": Pentecost is left out. Miracles are almost nonexistent. We see "see" Paul's encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus but we hear nothing at all! We don't experience Paul at sea, where he encountered a storm of two weeks that cost the ship and nearly all the lives. When he does end up in Malta, the are no miracles (except the implied miracle where a viper bite does not harm Paul) nor do we hear of the conversion of Publius, the chief of the island.
We see Nero but not Paul's trial before him which costs his life. (The book of Acts does not include this, but this movie has many conjectural scenes not in Acts, including Nero visiting Peter in prison; this scene could have been a climax.)
Conclusion:
A good movie that could have been great. Good acting. Slow, but it has its moments. Many wonderful biblical quotes. The movie does help you to understand Paul and his times better. It is well worth seeing!
A well-done, reasonably accurate portrayal of Peter and Paul's ministries This is a great movie and probably about as accurate a rendering of the actual events as can be expected. The bulk of the story is drawn from the book of Acts and from Paul's letters. Some of the content (e.g. the deaths of Paul and Peter, as well as Peter's time spent in Rome) comes from sources outside the New Testament, though I couldn't tell you where.
There are some departures from the Acts narratives, but none that I would consider significant. Most are done, I think, to bring consistency to Paul's message. The whole bit where James declares "no restrictions" for Gentile converts during the Jerusalem meeting is a good example. Certainly Acts portrays the sequence of events here rather differently. Yet Paul's letters convey his total commitment to a theology where God's grace is completely sufficient. And this understanding of Paul becomes really evident during this section of the movie.
The parts are all well acted, particularly by Anthony Hopkins. It's a long movie -- 3 hours. But definitely worth watching from beginning to end.
Absolutely Inspiring I have studied the Bible all of my life and have been inspired by many preachers, Sunday School Teachers, but Peter and Paul DVD was as good as any teaching I have received from Others. Of course It helps to be ready and prepared to understand this Presentation in the movie. I recommend this movie to any age group and would be an excellent tool in teaching Sunday School and even in College and High School. Hurdrey-Angus Jordan
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