The Netflix Bible
Retelling the Old Testament
I discovered a large number of biblical videos after I was given a Netflix subscription. And I also discovered that a few of them are actually fairly good, enabling the viewer to empathize with those ancient now well-known characters.
The films in the list below are dramatic depictions of the Old Testament account from Abraham through Jeremiah that I have found particularly worthwhile for various reasons. They are suitable for audiences of all religious persuasions since they simply present the biblical story as the Bible presents itself.
Although these are low budget operations, they are better than average religious films because they actually offer genuine interpretative insights into the meaning of the biblical text. They may legitimately be seen as literary interpretations of the Bible and not just as attempts to make the stories fit our biases or preconceptions.
The biggest drawback of this series is the length of these films. They are not action-packed, and therefore will not appeal to those with short attention spans. But for the most part they are not tedious either; they just demand thoughtful attention. If the time commitment is a problem for you, try the last one, Jeremiah, which is one of the best and also one of the shortest on this list.
The descriptions of these films are from the Netfilx website. I suppose these videos are also available from other services such as Blockbuster; but I have discovered them through Netflix.
Abraham (1994, 187 minutes)
“This engrossing dramatization of the life of Abraham (Richard Harris), the most tested servant of God and the father of Judaism, spans from the patriarch’s quest for the Promised Land to the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. Barbara Hershey costars as Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Vittorio Gassman and Maximilian Schell are also featured in this award-winning installment from TNT’s “greatest stories of the Bible” series directed by Joseph Sargent.”
Jacob (1994, 94 minutes)
“In this inspiring tale from the biblical book of Genesis, young shepherd Jacob (Matthew Modine) falls in love with and wants to marry pretty Rachel (Lara Flynn Boyle), the daughter of his Uncle Laban (Giancarlo Giannini). Lacking a dowry, Jacob toils seven years as his uncle’s indentured servant to win Rachel’s hand — only to have the calculating Laban dupe him into another seven years of labor. Irene Papas portrays Jacob’s iron-willed mother.”
Joseph (1995, 145 minutes)
“As the Bible says, Joseph (Paul Mercurio) was cast into a pit by his jealous brothers and pled for mercy, but the brothers turned a deaf ear and sold their youngest sibling into slavery in Egypt. There, Joseph used his gift for divining dreams to become Pharaoh’s most trusted aide, saving Egypt from seven years of famine. When his brothers traveled to Egypt in search of food, they ran straight into … a forgiving Joseph! Ben Kingsley and Martin Landau co-star.”
Moses (1996, 182 minutes)
“An ordinary man is called upon by God to do the impossible in this lovingly told production of the Old Testament story. When the Pharaoh of Egypt begins to tighten the noose on his Jewish slaves, Moses (Ben Kingsley) leads them to freedom. Philip Stone, Anthony Higgins, Anton Lesser and Anita Zagaria are featured in this award-winning installment from TNT’s “greatest stories of the Bible” series directed by Roger Young.”
Samson and Delilah (1996, 180 minutes)
“Dennis Hopper and Diana Rigg star as the biblical Samson and his nefarious lady-in-waiting, Delilah, in this retelling of the age-old story. Gifted with enormous strengths that also leave him vulnerable to the selfishness of others, Samson soon learns what kind of person Delilah truly is. He must prove himself a hero during his darkest hours by avoiding Delilah’s wily ways once and for all and staying true to his God-fearing spirit.”
David (1997, 182 minutes)
“The saga of David (Nathaniel Parker), a shepherd boy who grew to be king of Israel, comes to life in this epic production originally broadcast on TNT, part of a series of tales from the Old and New Testament. From his legendary battle with the Philistine giant Goliath to his struggles with King Saul (Jonathan Pryce) — and his love for a forbidden woman (Sheryl Lee) — David’s life is full of unforgettable dramas. Leonard Nimoy also co-stars.”
Solomon (1997, 172 minutes)
“King Solomon’s ascent — from mama’s boy to a sovereign famous for his wisdom and international coalitions — is recounted in this two-part, made-for-TV movie. Part 1 depicts the rivalry between Solomon (Ben Cross) and his half-brother, while Part 2 explores the notion that Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Vivica A. Fox) shared more than just a political partnership. The script interleaves background information to provide a historical framework.”
Jeremiah (1998, 96 minutes)
“Jeremiah tells the story of the prophet who abandons his family, and also the woman he loves, in order to relay God’s message in Jerusalem. Although his warning about the destruction of the Holy City results in him being branded as a traitor and persecuted, he continues fearlessly with his mission. His prophecy comes true and he is forced to experience first hand how Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians and how the inhabitants are taken as prisoners to Babylon.”
