Reactions to the Akeidah as Rotten Tomatoes reviews, a thread:
🍅=fresh
✳️=rotten
⭐️=audience review
🍅=fresh
✳️=rotten
⭐️=audience review
Avraham Avinu
Be’er Sheva
🍅 16 Nisan 2003
While “Akeidah” goes a bit too hard on the melodrama, ultimately it is a significant theological accomplishment that will leave viewers with questions they will never be able to answer.
Original score: A-
Be’er Sheva
🍅 16 Nisan 2003
While “Akeidah” goes a bit too hard on the melodrama, ultimately it is a significant theological accomplishment that will leave viewers with questions they will never be able to answer.
Original score: A-
Yitzchak
Be’er Sheva
[Not available for comment. Will be back in about 3 years]
Be’er Sheva
[Not available for comment. Will be back in about 3 years]
Mamre
Hebron
✳️ 17 Nisan 2003
The writing choices, uninspired performance by Isaac, and the trite ending confirmed my original hunch: “Akeidah” is a waste of Abraham’s talent. I just hope it doesn’t lay waste to an otherwise excellent career.
Hebron
✳️ 17 Nisan 2003
The writing choices, uninspired performance by Isaac, and the trite ending confirmed my original hunch: “Akeidah” is a waste of Abraham’s talent. I just hope it doesn’t lay waste to an otherwise excellent career.
Efron the Hittite ⭐️
3779 y ago
he had me in the first half, ngl. but what the hell happened at the end there? Y no child sacrifice? What kind of “god” is this? def not one i can get down with. weirdos.
3779 y ago
he had me in the first half, ngl. but what the hell happened at the end there? Y no child sacrifice? What kind of “god” is this? def not one i can get down with. weirdos.
R. Yose b. Zimra
The Talmud Bavli
🍅 14 Marheshvan 4011
Look, it’s a great story. But it doesn’t really flow from the last movie. What if—hear me out here—God only did this to make a point to Satan that Abe is a good egg after all? Now THAT would be cool.
The Talmud Bavli
🍅 14 Marheshvan 4011
Look, it’s a great story. But it doesn’t really flow from the last movie. What if—hear me out here—God only did this to make a point to Satan that Abe is a good egg after all? Now THAT would be cool.
R. Shimon b. Abba
The Talmud Bavli
🍅 7 Tevet 4019
If the earlier tests didn’t convince you that Avraham was the real deal, you will reconsider. A classic performance from the best method actor of this generation.
(Full review on Sanhedrin 89b)
The Talmud Bavli
🍅 7 Tevet 4019
If the earlier tests didn’t convince you that Avraham was the real deal, you will reconsider. A classic performance from the best method actor of this generation.
(Full review on Sanhedrin 89b)
R. Oshaya
Bereishis Rabbah
✳️ 24 Tishri 3962
BOOOORING. Where’s the raging river that washes Avraham away? Where the angels that blind Isaac with their tears? The anime version is gonna be soooo much better (I’m working on it).
Bereishis Rabbah
✳️ 24 Tishri 3962
BOOOORING. Where’s the raging river that washes Avraham away? Where the angels that blind Isaac with their tears? The anime version is gonna be soooo much better (I’m working on it).
Pseudo-Philo ⭐️⭐️⭐️
c. 1900 y ago
It was ok, I guess. Probably would’ve been better if the Director wasn’t so obviously trying to make Avraham relevant again in Heavenwood. The angels are right: the man is past his prime.
c. 1900 y ago
It was ok, I guess. Probably would’ve been better if the Director wasn’t so obviously trying to make Avraham relevant again in Heavenwood. The angels are right: the man is past his prime.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
🍅 c. 700 CE
The real interesting subplot here is between Isaac and Ishmael, but because the film is so fixated on Abraham, we are only left wondering what could have been.
🍅 c. 700 CE
The real interesting subplot here is between Isaac and Ishmael, but because the film is so fixated on Abraham, we are only left wondering what could have been.
R. Saadia Gaon
Tafsir Rasag
🍅 October 17, 931
Imagine having so much faith that you know God will resurrect your only son even if you kill him against God’s will. That’s how compelling Avraham’s performance is here.
Tafsir Rasag
🍅 October 17, 931
Imagine having so much faith that you know God will resurrect your only son even if you kill him against God’s will. That’s how compelling Avraham’s performance is here.
Rashbam
✳️
What is the point of this ridiculous movie? The only reasonable possibility is that the director was punishing Avraham by making him act in this film. At least there’s no stupid special effects or incest like in the last one.
✳️
What is the point of this ridiculous movie? The only reasonable possibility is that the director was punishing Avraham by making him act in this film. At least there’s no stupid special effects or incest like in the last one.
Rambam
Moreh Nevukhim 3:24
⭐️TOP CRITIC
🍅 November 3, 1190
Abraham’s performance is so gripping, so heart-wrenchingly authentic that it should make you want to sacrifice everything for God. And frankly, that’s the whole point.
Moreh Nevukhim 3:24
⭐️TOP CRITIC
🍅 November 3, 1190
Abraham’s performance is so gripping, so heart-wrenchingly authentic that it should make you want to sacrifice everything for God. And frankly, that’s the whole point.
Ralbag
🍅 August 21, 1339
Abraham’s convincing portrayal of uncompromising Divine justice, a feat unprecedented in cinematic history, is the most audacious moment of the Director’s career. And ultimately, it is the most important.
🍅 August 21, 1339
Abraham’s convincing portrayal of uncompromising Divine justice, a feat unprecedented in cinematic history, is the most audacious moment of the Director’s career. And ultimately, it is the most important.
R. Isaac Luria
⭐️TOP CRITIC
✳️ March 2, 1567
This film almost makes up for the box-office disaster that was “Cain vs. Abel”, but ultimately falls short.
⭐️TOP CRITIC
✳️ March 2, 1567
This film almost makes up for the box-office disaster that was “Cain vs. Abel”, but ultimately falls short.
R. Isaiah Horowitz
Shnei Luchot HaBrit
🍅 January 9, 1613
With this performance, Abraham—the High Priest of Biblical drama— enters the Holy of Holies, and emerges unscathed.
Shnei Luchot HaBrit
🍅 January 9, 1613
With this performance, Abraham—the High Priest of Biblical drama— enters the Holy of Holies, and emerges unscathed.
R. Elimelech of Lizensk
Noam Elimelech
🍅 December 28, 1760
We all know how this story ends before it even starts. Even Abraham. What he shows us is there’s meaning in living as if anything can happen, as if the Director can change the script at any moment.
Noam Elimelech
🍅 December 28, 1760
We all know how this story ends before it even starts. Even Abraham. What he shows us is there’s meaning in living as if anything can happen, as if the Director can change the script at any moment.
Immanuel Kant
Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason
✳️ February 19, 1793
Perhaps the Director should have chosen me for the role. Because Abraham failed to understand the categorical imperative, and violated the idea of morality that I invented.
Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason
✳️ February 19, 1793
Perhaps the Director should have chosen me for the role. Because Abraham failed to understand the categorical imperative, and violated the idea of morality that I invented.
Søren Kierkegaard
Fear and Trembling
⭐️TOP CRITIC
🍅
Nothing about this knight of faith’s performance is an act. It is the teleological suspension of the ethical in all its glory. Your rabbi will probably quote me on that. And anyhow, you can’t spell Kierkegaard without Akeda!
Fear and Trembling
⭐️TOP CRITIC
🍅
Nothing about this knight of faith’s performance is an act. It is the teleological suspension of the ethical in all its glory. Your rabbi will probably quote me on that. And anyhow, you can’t spell Kierkegaard without Akeda!
R. Mordechai Yosef Leiner
Mei Hashiloach
🍅 July 8, 1848
Ultimately, this is a film not about the certainty of the Divine word, but the uncertainty of our interpretation of it. The heroism of Abraham is that he embraces that uncertainty.
Mei Hashiloach
🍅 July 8, 1848
Ultimately, this is a film not about the certainty of the Divine word, but the uncertainty of our interpretation of it. The heroism of Abraham is that he embraces that uncertainty.
R. Avraham Yitzchak Kook
🍅 June 4, 1923
Abraham had to truly lose himself for this role. And yet that is precisely why this film is the pinnacle of his career.
🍅 June 4, 1923
Abraham had to truly lose himself for this role. And yet that is precisely why this film is the pinnacle of his career.
R. Klonimus Kalman Shapira
Warsaw
✳️ 1940
“Akeda” is a story about God asking too much of human beings. It is not Abraham who is the hero of this story, but Sarah, whose death is a protest against needless suffering, and Isaac, who sacrifices himself to spare his descendants.
Warsaw
✳️ 1940
“Akeda” is a story about God asking too much of human beings. It is not Abraham who is the hero of this story, but Sarah, whose death is a protest against needless suffering, and Isaac, who sacrifices himself to spare his descendants.
Martin Buber
On the Suspension of the Ethical
🍅 1957
Abraham’s challenge was not to heed the Divine command. It was to understand that a Director who loved him would never allow him to act in a horror film.
On the Suspension of the Ethical
🍅 1957
Abraham’s challenge was not to heed the Divine command. It was to understand that a Director who loved him would never allow him to act in a horror film.
Prof. Yeshayahu Lebowitz
Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State
🍅 1991
What Kierkegaard said.
Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State
🍅 1991
What Kierkegaard said.
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
On Repentance
🍅
Also what Kierkegaard said. But like also religious catharsis and stuff.
On Repentance
🍅
Also what Kierkegaard said. But like also religious catharsis and stuff.
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