There are lots of good films to watch during Holy Week that can help bring to life Jesus’ final days before the crucifixion.You can go the humorous route with Life of Brian or even the bloody approach of Passion of the Christ.

My fave is Martin Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Jesus Christ. It’s not a great movie by any means, but there is enough symbolism and imagination that make it lots of fun. I don’t care for the ending, the piece that made it controversial when it was first released. The Brooklyn accents can also be a little goofy after a while. However, when you have twists like Jesus as the only Jewish carpenter who will build crosses for the Roman authorities to use against his own people, an amazing temptation in the desert scene (perfect circle included), lots of the human side of Jesus, and the best Palm Sunday movie scene ever, you have got a movie worth watching. I dig the Peter Gabriel soundtrack too.

I don’t believe movies give us a more clear picture than the gospels, but they can help us visualize Jesus’ life in new ways, bringing dynamism to our own readings and reflections.

What are your favorite Holy Week movies?