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The quintessential dramatization of the life of Jesus Franco Zeffirelli's miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" is based upon Anthony Burgess's novel "Man of Nazareth." In advertisements taken out before the miniseries was aired, Zeffirelli promised his work would present the "human" face of Jesus. Religious groups protested, as they seem to always do, but Zeffirelli's miniseries is not only accurate (for the most part) but deeply reverent and emotional. The performances are first-rate. Robert Powell played Jesus with a sensitivity and strength former actors failed to bring, making his Son of Man seem loving, accessible, and yet full of the sense of social justice that permeates the Gospel accounts of Christ. Olivia Hussey, fresh from "Romeo and Juliet," is a heartbreaking Mary, so young she appears more like Jesus's sister than his mother. So many great actors appear and give stellar performances that it's like a "Who's Who" of 1970s stars--James Earl Jones, Anthony Quinn, Anne Bancroft (who is glorious as Mary Magdalene!), Laurence Olivier (whose Nicodemus is like a lamb, so earnest and gentle), Ernest Borgnine and Stacy Keach (who plays his role without too much scenery-chewing). There are actors I've never seen since whose performances I've never forgotten. And there are scenes of white-hot intensity that grab hold and sink in. There are a few quibbles. One is that the children picked to play Jesus at 3 and 13 are blond, while Powell has dark hair. Another is that Nicodemus comes to visit Jesus in late afternoon, not at night. A final one is that Jesus is nailed to the cross by his hands, when such a move would have resulted in the nails ripping through his palms and sending him flopping face-forward. But when the rest of the film is incredibly detailed and accurate, with nary an anachronism in speech or dress, what are a few missed details? I urge people to buy this on DVD. The quality is pristine, without any skips or pixilation, and if any movie deserves to be seen at its very best, this one does. But whether you buy it on VHS or DVD, this is the best version of the story of Jesus that exists. Nothing has surpassed it, and I doubt anything will in future.