It’s hard to tell a story about Jesus Christ that actually follows The Bible and fits into a single movie without making it feel like a greatest hits compilation.

The newly released animated film 'The King of Kings,' directed by Seong-ho Jang and narrated through the lens of Charles Dickens, aims to retell the life of Jesus Christ for a younger audience. While the film attempts to engage children with a fast-paced summary of the New Testament, it also raises significant questions regarding the depth of its storytelling. Notably absent are critical narratives such as the Sermon on the Mount and the portrayal of influential characters like Mary Magdalene. Instead, the film opts for a 'greatest hits' approach, satisfying the audience with familiar moments but missing the theological nuances that define Jesus' teachings. The use of Kenneth Branagh as Dickens and Oscar Isaac as the voice of Jesus adds a star-studded element to the production, yet the portrayal of Jesus lacks emotional depth, reducing the character to mere plot devices rather than a fully realized figure. This sentiment resonates with the critique that the film adopts a style that is more focused on visual effects than on delivering profound messages inherent in the biblical texts. Furthermore, the film's ending, featuring children urging viewers to financially support the studio while Jesus preaches the importance of faith and humility, creates an uncomfortable juxtaposition, challenging the film’s credibility and the sincerity of its messages. Ultimately, while 'The King of Kings' meets a simplistic narrative need for child audiences, it risks falling short in conveying the essential moral and spiritual tenets of the Christianity it seeks to represent. This dissonance may contribute to a watered-down version of biblical storytelling that can alienate more serious viewers. In summary, while the film possesses certain creative merits and makes attempts at engaging its intended audience, it presents a cautionary tale about balancing entertainment with fidelity to the source material, especially when it involves retelling sacred narratives. The reliance on spectacle over substance makes it difficult to fully appreciate the story it aims to tell, leading to a mixed reception that some may interpret as a failure to honor the complexity of the biblical narratives.