Joseph & Mary + Peter & The Redemption (aka The Apostle Peter: Redemption/both 2016/Cinedigm DVDs)

Picture: B-/C Sound: C Extras: D Telefilms: C+

Joseph & Mary

Joseph (Kevin Sorbo) and Mary are told by God they were to have a son and one day he will become King of the Jews, but when King Herod orders the death of all Jewish children, they must run and protect him until he one day becomes a man. However, Joseph and Mary's friend/rabbi Elijah's family was not so fortunate, Elijah becomes consumed with revenge and hatred and vows to avenge the death of his children. Upon meeting Joseph and Mary and their young son Jesus, will Jesus be able to teach Elijah to forgive those who have wronged him?

Joseph and Mary gave birth and raised Jesus, the man who would be one day King of the Jews (et al) and change the world. How they were able to raise him to become the savior for all their people? Jesus was blessed with the grace and wisdom beyond his years, he taught the people to turn their cheeks instead of fighting back, to forgive and love those who oppressed them. Elijah, a family friend and Rabbi, must look into his own heart and soul to decide if Jesus is telling the truth, to either follow God's will or to follow his own needs.

This was a biblical story of Jesus's parents, they story is about setting examples as parents of God. A parent's love for their child is unending and boundless, but more importantly a parent's duty is to raise, protect and help their child grow and mature. In the end, by following God's will would lead them to freedom, happiness, and their eventual salvation.

Peter and the Redemption

Peter (John Rhys-Davies) a disciple of Christ, denied Jesus Christ three times the night he was crucified. He spent the rest of his life atoning for his rejection of Christ. Even years after Jesus's death and resurrection, the Roman Emperor Nero continues to persecute and blame the Jews for everything wrong in throughout the Roman Empire. Wrongly imprisoned, even in jail, Peter continues to minister his faith and Christianity.

Roman Emperor Nero has ordered the imprisonment of all Christians and to be tortured and killed, but those who renounce Peter, his God and their faith will be set free. Peter is tended to by the maid Susanna, who is secretly a Christian. A Roman Soldier Martinian (who was in love with Susanna) must decide what to do when he discovers Susanna's secret. Through her he begins to see the errors of his ways and that he was killing innocent people and he eventually renounces Nero's way.

This was another Biblical story/film (the other very similar one here), it was about the story of Peter his suffering and his eventual redemption. He is tempted and tested under the pain of death to renounce his faith and God, but in the end, Peter was still able to forgive and pity for those who hate and tortured him. By giving up his life he finally proved was worthy of God and he was forgiven... simple or not.

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image and lossy Dolby Digital sound on both releases are weak and both have no extras.

- Ricky Chiang