The Apostle Peter: Redemption

Peter: The Redemption(2016)is obviously a faith based film. It is a slightly fictionalized version during the latter years of the Apostle Peter's life. When Nero blamed the Christians for burning Rome. The blanks were filled in to make an interesting film that kept within the framework of biblical accounts.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the quality of actors involved in this. Peter is played by John Rhys-Davies who brings a powerful level of earnestness in his portrayal. Stephen Baldwin has become a staple in faith films for quite a few years. In this role, Baldwin plays evil emperor Nero with an unhinged fervor that works. A surprising addition was that of the lovely Bobbie Phillips, who was a television staple in the nineties. Phillips plays empress Poppaea with a complicated subtlety that makes her character one of the film's most intriguing. The crucial balancing act she carries between the relationships and self preservation in the film are meticulously conveyed.

This film weaves in a fictional tale of a young servant girl, played well by newcomer Brittany Bristow and her witness to a young guard played by Steve Byers. Byers also turns in a sincere and solid understated performance.

Without a large Hollywood budget, this is not the epic look of MGM's 1951 multi Academy Award nominated Nero tale. However, the story by John Patus, direction by Leif Bristow and solid performances come together for a good and quite powerful story of faith.

Indeed, a modest film. Far to be a bad one for fine message, for effort of John Rhys - Davies to explore , in proper manner, the traits defining the portrait of Saint Peter, for romance between. Susanna and Martinian , for try of Stephen Baldwin to collect the legacy of previews Nero , the result being not exactly impressive but familiar.

A film for believers, like so many other Christian movies, noble intentioned but far to convince.

The good point - the wise way of Saint Peter to define his faith , covering the denial and to support the Christian. In same measure, the work as Poppaea of Bobie Phillips as a sort of spice for a boring , in good measure, story , or the nice idealism of Martinian , not bad portrayed by Steve Byers.

The basic regret- Stephen Baldwin is reduced at comfortable sketch of old portraits of Nero and the script seems can not offer more for him.

Full of cliches, unrealistic, childish and poor, The Apostle Peter is only occasion for actors to wear the clothes of their characters.

In short, a modest version of Quo Vadis.

Although the scenery is well adapted and the costumes are correct, there are details in exteriors, in furniture, in individual appearances that denote fiction. But what bothers me the most, in my opinion, is the affected, overacted, flawed and appalling performance of Stephen Baldwin, a character who prints an unpleasant profile, a dirty look and a lack of expressiveness notoriously used to disguise his poor histrionic gifts. The character fails to take off in his role, and by his appearance could well be a servant of the own Neron. The physical type does not adapt and the haircut is strange -to be a Roman is not to make a hem of hair glued to the forehead-, those lines of beard or is not well known that have nothing to do with the character and the static and empty faces (empty, without return to the audience), the body completely still with the arms fallen to the sides, the tone badly affected of the voice, they provoke nothing more than to be seeing permanently to Baldwin acting lousy and never to Nero, and this effect is transferred to the rest of the actors, to which one begins to look at his performance and never sees the character. A pity, taking everything to make a great production. The casting was not right and gives the impression that actors were hired for their low cachet rather than for their talent and bearing. I'll try to see her again.

I wanted this to be a really good movie, if not bordering on excellence. I have the deepest respect for John Rhys-Davies and Stephen Baldwin and have followed both of their careers for a long time. The world needs quality movies with a sound Judeo- Christian message. While the content of the script may relay a historical account, the directing leaves this movie flat. Rhys-Davies is okay with his portrayal of an aged and tempered Peter, however the character of Nero is flat and one-dimensional. If anyone has studied the psychology of Nero, he was a total whack job. However, Steven Baldwin is locked into a flat and monotone portrayal. It leaves the film unengaging when in reality it should be electrifying. There should be multi-dimensional emotions portrayed because of the situations scripted. Yet, love scenes, betrayals, devisiveness and malcontent are all portrayed in a very flat tone. The only portrayal that gives depth is that of Poppaea. The interjection of scripture is touching in regards to I Corinthians 13, but it isn't enough to carry the theme of the movie. I really had hoped for more, but i am disappointed. Nonetheless, for a historical account of the times this would suffice.

Despite the title, most of the movie focuses on the love interest between a Roman soldier and a slave in Nero's household - in other words, the same plot as in Quo Vadis.

Unfortunately, that leads to a lot of comparisons between the two movies and this one falls flat each time. Baldwin's Nero is wooden, one dimensional - the polar opposite of Peter Ustinov's brilliant portrayal of an unhinged Caesar. The Roman soldiers are not convincing as soldiers who had conquered much of Europe and the Middle; Susanna, as the young slave girl is OK but never comes across as someone with the strength of character to challenge a centurion. The only interesting character is Caesar's wife, Poppaea.

Watch it if you must - and then watch Quo Vadis and see what this movie could have been.