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Last Temptation of Christ

The book Last Temptation of Christ was made into the movie Last Temptation of Christ.

Which one did you like better, the book or the movie?  There are 3 votes for the book, and 4 votes for the movie.

Book details for Last Temptation of Christ

Last Temptation of Christ was written by Nikos Kazantzakis. The book was published in 1960 by Touchstone. More information on the book is available on Amazon.com.

 

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Movie details for Last Temptation of Christ

The movie was released in 1988 and directed by Martin Scorsese, who also directed GoodFellas (1990) and Casino (1995). Last Temptation of Christ was produced by Criterion. More information on the movie is available on Amazon.com.

Actors on this movie include Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Paul Greco, Steve Shill, Verna Bloom, Barbara Hershey, Roberts Blossom, Barry Miller, Gary Basaraba, Irvin Kershner, Victor Argo, Michael Been, Paul Herman, John Lurie, Leo Burmester, Andre Gregory, Peggy Gormley, Randy Danson, Robert Spafford and Doris von Thury.

 

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It isn't difficult to imagine why this 1988 retelling of the Crucifixion story was picketed vociferously upon release--this Jesus bears little resemblance to the classical Christ, who was not, upon careful review of the Gospels, ever reported to have h... Read More
It isn't difficult to imagine why this 1988 retelling of the Crucifixion story was picketed vociferously upon release--this Jesus bears little resemblance to the classical Christ, who was not, upon careful review of the Gospels, ever reported to have had sex with Barbara Hershey. Heavily informed by Gnostic reinterpretations of the Passion, The Last Temptation of Christ (based rather strictly on Nikos Kazantzakis's novel of the same name) is surely worth seeing for the controversy and blasphemous content alone, but it's difficult to find in skittish chain video stores. But the "last temptation" of the title is nothing overtly naughty--rather, it's the seduction of the commonplace; the desire to forgo following a "calling" in exchange for domestic security. Willem Dafoe interprets Jesus as spacy, indecisive, and none too charismatic (though maybe that's just Dafoe himself), but his Sermon on the Mount is radiant with visionary fire; a bit less successful is method actor Harvey Keitel, who gives the internally conflicted Judas a noticeable Brooklyn accent, and doesn't bring much imagination to a role that demands a revisionist's approach. Despite director Martin Scorsese's penchant for stupid camera tricks, much of the desert footage is simply breathtaking, even on small screen. Ultimately, Last Temptation is not much more historically illuminating than Monty Python's Life of Brian, but hey, if it's authenticity you're after, try Gibbon's. --Miles Bethany