Movie Screening Stirs Many Emotions

“Son of God,” a major motion picture produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, is based on the highly successful miniseries, “The Bible,” which aired on the History Channel. The miniseries garnered the highest cable television series audience in 2013.  AARP offered a February Life Reimagined VIP screening of the movie in Washington, DC.

Rev. Dr. Kendrick Curry, senior pastor at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. and a member of AARP D.C.’s Executive Council, attended the movie screening and introduced a panel discussion with producers Burnett and Downey along with AARP Ambassador James “JB” Brown.

Following the screening, Rev. Dr. Kendrick Curry described the film as, “Wonderful, awesome and magnificent!  It touched my very soul and will help folks gain an understanding of who Jesus was and what his message and mission were.”

JB, host of “The NFL Today,” “Inside the NFL” and a CBS network news anchor, emceed the panel and said, “It touched my heart enough that there was a lady in front of me who was tearing up on the crucifixion scene. At the end of the movie I let her know that she wasn’t the only one who was tearing up.”

“Son of God” features segments from “The Bible” miniseries plus deleted scenes and additional footage not featured in the 10-hour telecast.  The movie explores the life of Jesus Christ from his birth, through his teachings, his crucifixion and his ultimate resurrection. The story is told with the scope and scale of an action epic, combining powerful performances, exotic locales, and visual effects.

“Son of God” is the first major biblical drama since “The Passion of the Christ” nearly 10 years ago.  The project was conceived by Burnett, producer of many prime-time reality shows, and Downey of “Touched by An Angel” fame who also plays Mary in the film.  Burnett explained that “a story larger than life needs to be experienced larger than life – on the big screen.”

“Seeing it on the big screen in that manner really reminded me just how dramatic and powerful the story is.  And yet as dramatic as it is, it’s real. The scripture demands to be seen and visualized.  It’s very richly displayed.  It just draws you into the story and it makes you want to know more about this man, the son of God,” said Rev. Karen Curry, wife of Rev. Dr. Kendrick Curry.

When asked if the movie would increase interest in the story of Christ, Rev. Dr. Kendrick Curry said, “I believe not only just for those that are in the theater but for those that are in households and those in the neighborhoods. They will want to come to see it and have the discussion which will change, I believe, the world.”

The film opens in theaters nationwide February 28.

(Article by AARP DC volunteer Rocci Fisch)