'Killing Jesus' Film Feedback: National Geographic Praised for Originality But Criticized for 'Butchering the Scriptures' [VIDEO] Jeannie Law Mar 30, 2015 11:16 AM EDT

Killing Jesus

National Geographic's televised event 'Killing Jesus' garnered tons of feedback, many christians claiming the film veered far from the biblical account of Jesus' life and others appreciating the films unique approach.

'Killing Jesus', was produced by Scott Free Productions and based on the New York Times best-selling book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. The TV event was reportedly going to dive deep inside the historical story of how Jesus' message and preaching led to his persecution and execution by a group of conspirators who saw him as a threat to their power.

Although many believed that the feature did provide insight to the historical aspects touched on in O'Reilly's book many were shocked at how far it was from the biblical history of Jesus' life and ministry.

Many Christians on social media shared their opinions on 'Killing Jesus'. "Acting-good directing-good portrayal of Roman and Jewish-govt-good," one wrote, but added, "Acknowledgement of scripture and accuracy-terrible."

Another added, "Not to scriptural to me from beginning!"

Someone else who previously advocated for the film wrote, "I changed it after maybe 3 to 5 minutes into the movie ...Then realize I had to text everyone I told to watch it. They butchered the Scriptures."

Not all reviews were negative, others on Twitter maintained that people should not be looking at it in a spiritual sense. " People are missing that the film is political and not just spiritual," some one stated.

"How sad that all these people are hating on #killingJesus I loved the movie. It really got to me," another supporter tweeted.

User Alberto Espinosa Sr mainatained, "#killingjesus seems to capture the political & social environment of the time. Historicly accurate from a secular, historical point of view."

BREATHEcast had the opportunity to catch the red carpet premiere on March 23 and watch the film in its entirety. Read our review of the film and book HERE.

See below what lead actor of 'Killing Jesus,' Haaz Sleiman said about his time of playing Jesus.

'Killing Jesus', was a three-hour television event that premiered on Palm Sunday, on National Geographic Channel in the United States, globally in 171 countries in 45 languages and in Spanish on Nat Geo Mundo. The film is the third collaboration between NGC, Scott Free and O'Reilly, whose first two projects together, Emmy-nominated 'Killing Kennedy' and 'Killing Lincoln' are respectively the two most-watched programs in the network's history.

Did you the see film? What were your thoughts?

Watch the trailer below:

