Jennifer Burk

I took our seven and nine year old daughters to see the King of Kings in the theater, during their Easter Break. I expected this to be a good movie based on the production and cast, but it was even more compelling and more moving than I could have expected. The movie was relatable- both from the standpoint of a father sharing the story of Jesus with his young and spirited son - and from the depiction of the story itself. We were all riveted, and by the time Jesus carries the cross, his suffering and sacrifice deeply moved us all. You can feel his agony and the weight of sacrifice he made for humankind, and the forgiveness he offered. There is also a lot of depth to the characters in the film, and the tendency to doubt is well portrayed as a natural, but not insurmountable tendency. Jesus’ story is also told in a way that weaves the “why” into his actions, leading to very coherent telling overall. Ultimately, I left the theater with an inspired, more centered perspective, and a deeper understanding of our faith. The movie has stayed with me since. My daughters loved it, too, and my seven year old later shared that she cried at the end. I would definitely see this movie again.

This was a brilliant film, and it was so relatable. A must see.

Our three year old loves this movie, but she’s the only one. The plot is convoluted and hard to believe, the characters are paper thin, and the effects are obviously very fake. They also dig at the President in the movie at least three times, three different ways, which is just bizarre for a kid’s movie. Despite my long ago teen aged crush on Christian Slater, I can’t wait until our daughter moves on from this one.