Jesus Film Critique
Grading Protocol
Last page update: 27 March 2007

Proper Format

  1. The complete and accurate Chicago Manual of Style version bibliographic reference (including author, title, publication information, and page references) should be listed at the top of the first page of the review, followed by the reviewer's name and the date the review was written.
  2. The document should be compiled in html or xml format and submitted electronically to the course web or via email to the instructor.
  3. A print copy also should be submitted to the instructor.
  5 Bibliographic reference is complete; correctly follows Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is complete; html or xml file submitted electronically; print copies have correct header and pagination
  4 Bibliographic reference is complete; correctly follows Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is complete; doc or wpd file (with correct header and page enumeration) submitted electronically; print copies have correct header and pagination
  3 Bibliographic reference is complete; correctly follows Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is complete; submitted in print form with correct header and pagination
  2 Bibliographic reference is incomplete or does not correctly follow Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is complete; doc or wpd file (with correct header and page enumeration) submitted electronically
  1 Bibliographic reference is incomplete or does not correctly follow Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is complete; submitted in print form
  0 Bibliographic reference is incomplete or does not correctly follow Chicago Manual of Style; reviewer's information is incomplete; submitted in print form

Part One: Synopsis & Sketch of Main Features

  1. What is the overall narrative structure or plot of the film? What do you think is the key idea about Jesus that the producer was trying to convey in this film?
  2. How would you characterize the producer's selection of which "moments" in the life of Jesus to include (or exclude) from this film?
  3. What kind of Jesus is portrayed in this film (e.g., personality, character traits, interests)?
  4. Who are the other leading roles, and how are these characters related to Jesus?
  5. On which of the NT gospels does this screenplay rely the most?  In what scenes do you see evidence of this?
  5 Clear, succinct, and accurate synopsis of the plot, selection, characterization, and gospel base to the film
  4 Clear and accurate synopsis of the plot, selection, characterization, and gospel base to the film
  3 Weak synopsis of the plot, selection, characterization, and gospel base to the film
  2 Synopsis of the film omits one of the following: plot, selection, characterization, or gospel base
  1 Synopsis of the film omits two of the following: lot, selection, characterization, or gospel base
  0 Inaccurate synopsis of film, or synopsis lacking all required elements

Part Two: Evidence & Illustrations

  1. What are the primary differences you see between this screenplay and the story of Jesus we get from the canonical gospels? What scenes provide key examples of these differences?
  2. What one or two scenes do you see as central to understanding the producer's portrayal of Jesus?
  3. What are one or two techniques that you found particularly effective in conveying the producer's message of Jesus?
  5 Succinct and accurate assessment of the main differences between the screenplay and the canonical story of Jesus; 3–5 "film clips" illustrating the key elements of the producer's understanding of Jesus
  4 Good but wordy assessment of the main differences between the screenplay and the canonical story of Jesus; 2–3 "film clips" illustrating the key elements of the producer's understanding of Jesus
  3 Accurate but wordy assessment of the main differences between the screenplay and the canonical story of Jesus; 1–2 "film clips" illustrating the key elements of the producer's understanding of Jesus
  2 Diffuse assessment of the main differences between the screenplay and the canonical story of Jesus; 1–2 "film clips" illustrating the key elements of the producer's understanding of Jesus
  1 Barebones assessment of the main differences between the screenplay and the canonical story of Jesus; no "film clips" illustrating the key elements of the producer's understanding of Jesus
  0 Inaccurate report of the main arguments and/or evidence used; no "quotable quotes" illustrating the author's key arguments

Part Three: Critical Evaluation

  1. What was the producer's fundamental message about Jesus in this film?  Are you convinced?
  2. What differences do you see between your reading of the pertinent Gospel texts and the way the film producer has interpreted them? Are these differences of method or content or both?
  3. If you were producing your own "life of Jesus" movie, which "moments" of Jesus' life would you be sure to include? How would your selection compare and contrast with the program for this film?
  4. What do you see as the three most important contributions of this film to understanding Jesus of Nazareth, and what do you see as its limitations?
  5. What two questions would you like to discuss in class concerning this film?
  5 Clear, succinct, and interesting responses to all five of these questions
  4 Clear and interesting responses to four of these five questions
  3 Clear responses to three of these five questions
  2 Vague responses to 3–5 of these questions
  1 Vague responses to 1–2 of these questions
  0 No responses to these questions, or responses based on significant factual or methodological errors

Composition: Grammar, punctuation, spelling, Syntax

  1. Does the essay follow the standard tri-partite format for a critique?
  2. Is the essay written in clear, direct, inclusive, and formal English?
  3. Are the sentences free of grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and syntactical errors?
  5 Perfect work
  4 One grammatical, punctuation, spelling, or syntactical errors
  3 Two or three grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and syntactical errors OR one instance of exclusive language
  2 Two or three grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and syntactical errors AND one or two instances of exclusive language
  1 Four grammatical, spelling, or syntactical errors OR several punctuation mistakes and three grammatical, spelling, or syntactical errors OR several punctuation mistakes AND two or three instances of exclusive language
  0 Essay does not follow the standard tri-partite format for a critique OR essay has more than four grammatical, punctuation, spelling, and syntactical errors OR essay has more than four instances of exclusive language
  
Total Points (of 25)
– less points for late submission
  
Net Points