Watch Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle is a 2000 epic biblical drama film that depicts the life of Paul, one of the most influential figures in Christian history. The film is set during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the first century A.D., and tells the story of Paul's transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and his subsequent travels and teachings across the Roman Empire.

The movie is beautifully shot with stunning, breathtaking landscapes that really capture the essence of the times, and bring the viewer closer to the emotions being portrayed. The cinematography is stunning and the film is encompassing of scenes from different parts of the world, including Europe and Africa, which make it a must-see for anyone interested in biblical times.

Johannes Brandrup stars as Paul, delivering a remarkable performance that brings a human side to a character that is often merely portrayed as a caricature. Brandrup captures the essence of Paul's struggle between his old life and new life as a Christian, as he travels the world spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thomas Lockyer delivers an excellent portrayal of the Roman Governor Festus, who is responsible for Paul's trial in Caesarea. Lockyer captures the essence of the character's duty to Rome and his own rationalization of Paul's message.

Barbora Bobulova plays Lydia, a merchant of purple dyes from Philippi as a strong female character. Lydia becomes one of Paul's disciples after hearing of the gospel from him. Bobulova plays Lydia as a multifaceted character, who's strong but vulnerable in some ways.

The film portrays Paul's life in stages, starting with his persecution of Christians, and then his conversion on the road to Damascus. The movie depicts Paul's travels across the Roman Empire, preaching and teaching, his imprisonment and trial in Jerusalem, and ultimately, his tragic death in Rome.

Throughout the movie, we see fewer miracles and more of a focus on human struggle and belief, as we see Paul dependent on prayer and conversation with Jesus to help him make tough decisions. It is a powerful reminder to viewers that faith is not a supernatural solution, but rather a profound choice of personal beliefs and values.

The film uses biblical scripture as a basis for the story, but it does not follow the same narrative at all points. This move helps the story to translate better to an audience that would not necessarily know the Bible's intricacies. The film frequently emphasizes references to the Letters of Paul and contextualizes the time period that the letters were written. The movie tries to make sense from the various contradictions that may exist within the letters and creates a coherent storyline.

The movie does an exceptional job of creating a connection between the viewer and the characters by depicting their emotional struggles and personal sacrifices. It reveals Paul's intellectual force of challenging Jewish traditions to allow non-Jews to become Christians. The film presents the various sects during the time and the continuous struggle to keep their relevance.

The movie's direction is intentionally slow-paced in the beginning, building the dramatic tension effectively before progressively picking up the pace as Paul's life becomes more complicated. The film displays man's bravery in the face of skepticism, the most powerful force in ancient times.

Overall, Paul the Apostle is a remarkably well-made film that realistically portrays the life and teachings of one of the most influential figures in Christian history. It is a great watch for anyone interested in biblical stories, history, and Christian beliefs, and for those passionate about filmmaking. The acting, storyline, and direction are all top-notch, making it a movie that is suitable for people of all ages.

Paul the Apostle is a 2004 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.