Amazing movie, even without the Bible

Rating: 10/10 (10 October 2009)

As a devout Christian I did appreciate the story taking place adjacent to the life of Christ and the interaction between him and the characters. But beyond the biblical adjacency, this film followed the classic story of a life uprooted by greed and ill-intentions (a-la 'Count of Monte Christo' or most Shakespeare plays) and the pursuit of revenge, and the consequences that follow. The story is bar-none on par with some of Shakespeare's finest and the great literary classics of our time.
The visuals, be they cheap compared to today's standards, are amazing. Sure some of them were miniatures, but many of them were on such a grand scale that seems to be lost in today's modern movies. It wasn't CG, it wasn't completely chock full of real-live locations, and yet it was so believable. This was a Fifty-year-old feast for the senses that hasn't gone bad after all this time. Aged like a fine wine, this film is all the more spectacular the more movies delve into the shock and awe factor of computers and wide shots, as a testament to what people could achieve over half a century ago.
This film, to make a bad joke, is one of Biblical proportions. The acting is spectacular. The visuals, wonderful. The story, excellent. This movie will stand the test of time, as one of the greatest stories ever told on the silver screen.