Risen | What to Watch

Joseph Fiennes plays a Roman tribune in 1st-century Judea trying to find a missing body - Christ's

Joseph Fiennes plays a Roman tribune in 1st-century Judea trying to find a missing body - Christ's.

Retelling the story of the Resurrection as if it were CSI: Jerusalem is an ingenious notion, but this biblical epic, directed and co-written by Kevin Reynolds of Waterworld notoriety, suffers from a weak script and some irritating performances (in particular, the pair of soldiers guarding Christ's empty tomb).

Still, it improves as it goes on, with Fiennes' dogged Clavius following orders from his boss Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth), quizzing witnesses and hunting down leads in the immediate aftermath of the Crucifixion.

Maori actor Cliff Curtis makes a striking Yeshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus), the Spanish and Maltese locations are impressive and Fiennes convinces us of his character's journey from battle-weary sceptic to spiritual convert.