The sci-fi film "3 Body Problem," which has been Netflix's hottest show since it launched on March 21, quickly rose to No 1 on Netflix's Top 10 TV shows However, it is now being pushed aside by a best-selling novel series and an off-topic show associated with "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and DB Weiss
The religious documentary series "Testament: the Story of Moses" is based on one of the most popular books of all time (the Bible, that is) and is narrated by "Game of Thrones" star Charles Dance
With the recent Easter and Passover festivals, it is no surprise that viewers were looking for religious content, and since "Testament" was just released on March 27, it would have had a prominent place among Netflix's latest offerings It clearly struck a chord with viewers, topping the charts ahead of popular series such as Guy Ritchie's "The Gentleman" and the latest season of "Is It Cake?"
"Testament," as its title suggests, tells the story of the biblical prophet Moses in three parts that chronicle the major events of his life Netflix touts the film as "revealing Moses' intensely personal quest for redemption and setting in motion some of the most moving and symbolic events in the Bible, Quran, and Torah" The documentary interweaves interviews with religious scholars and experts with reenactments by actor Avi Azoulay, who plays Moses
However, this is not Charlton Heston in the classic film The Ten Commandments The Testament is as much about the perspectives offered by the interviewees as it is about the reenactment of Moses leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and giving them the Ten Commandments It is a basic introduction to the life of Moses, one of the most famous figures in world religion, that strives to be as comprehensive as possible
Critics seem less interested in Testament: Critics seem less interested in Testament: The Story of Moses than Netflix viewers But those reviews were not particularly kind, giving the show only a 29 percent "rotten" rating
IndieWire's Ben Travers gave "Testament" a "C" grade, writing, "This three-part series that recreates the Old Testament with scripted 'reenactments' and talking-head interviews is not a dramatic masterpiece There are no added nuances, no fresh perspectives explored The Story is simply intended to spread the word of God through the world's most popular streaming service"
From a Jewish perspective, Daniel Saltzman of Solji at the Movies wrote, "'Testament': the Story of Moses is more drama than documentary, but may have too many flaws for a religious audience"
Decider's Joel Keller was more favorable, giving "Testament" a "Stream it" recommendation, noting that it is "one of the better 'docu-drama' series we've seen since this hybrid-style series came into vogue, largely because of its excellent acting, cohesive storytelling, and expert interviews that enliven the narrative rather than interrupt it" If that sounds appealing, you might want to join the ranks of Netflix users who helped propel "Testament" to the top of the service's popular TV series
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