The 10 Greatest Movie Messiahs

This weekend, He suffered for all our sins. So who's the best cine-Jesus?

 
1. Jesus Jeffrey Hunter

King Of Kings (Nicholas Ray, 1961)

Before Jesus: John Wayne's pretty-boy sidekick in classic Western The Searchers (1956).
Jesus: 'I was a teenage Jesus', anyone? Hunter was 34 when the film came out but despite handling the role with a grim solemnity, the eternally boyish star still looks like he should be handing out popcorn at a drive-in rather than doling out loaves and fishes.
After Jesus: Was the first Captain of the Starship Enterprise in the original Star Trek pilot. Died young from the after-effects of a stroke in 1969.
If He was an Easter Egg, He'd be: Nestles Milky Bar... blandly sweet and white. One for the kids...

2. Jesus Jim Caviezel

The Passion Of The Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004)

Before Jesus: Razor-cheekboned rising star of flicks like Ride With The Devil (1999), The Thin Red Line (1998) and The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002).
Jesus: Calm, peaceful bringer of love and charity? Erm, not really. Committed Catholic Caviezel – who once refused to do love scenes because they conflicted with his faith - is the battered and bloody torture victim en route to crucifixion. More ordeal than performance.
After Jesus: Career's gone a bit quiet with only half a dozen movies on his CV since Passion. He is going to be playing another tortured innocent, though - in the remake of classic TV show The Prisoner.
If He was an Easter Egg, He'd be: A bag of Cadbury's Mini-eggs... those razor-sharp crunchy coatings can really make you wince.

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