Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 1, 2005
Metascore
35

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 12 out of 20

Critic Reviews

  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    30
    Granted, the smaller time frame makes it more difficult to chronicle an 80-some-odd-year life, but what emerges is a CliffsNotes version that fastidiously avoids crowd shots (presumably to keep costs down) and struggles to create drama with its worshipful tone.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    0
    I think I could have written a better script during the two hours it took me to watch "Have No Fear." I think you could, too, and I don't even know you.
  3. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    30
    All this feels dutiful and rote - the CliffsNotes version.
  5. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    10
    Turns the pope into a pious stick figure.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Sid Smith
    30
    The movie is more a series of biographical announcements than penetrating drama.
  7. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    25
    Stiflingly reverential, sadly superficial.
  8. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Ann Rodgers
    20
    Because the movie tries to cover too much ground, it will be incoherent for those who don't already know the story, and disappointing for those who do. Worse, it is off-key in its presentation of both minor and major passages of his life.
  9. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Charlie McCollum
    30
    Anything remotely resembling complexity and nuance has been sacrificed to cramming six decades of history into two hours of airtime, minus commercials.
  10. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    10
    Largely worthless.
  11. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    10
    Even though the life of the Polish pope... obviously is loaded with dramatic potential, the film seems listlessly uninterested in exploring it.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    30
    The accelerating pace of the movie runs roughshod over the drama.
  13. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    30
    It zips through 60-plus years of Wojtyla's life at a pace that manages to be both breakneck and boring.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Best TV Season of 2005
49
#49 Most Discussed TV Season of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 4 out of 13
  1. John
    Feb 7, 2006
    9
    This was as great as the cbs mini series if not better
  2. PaulW
    Dec 8, 2005
    8
    Kretschmann was marvelous. The show was hurried because of the one night format, but it was interesting drama. The directorial decisions of Kretschmann was marvelous. The show was hurried because of the one night format, but it was interesting drama. The directorial decisions of this movie made more sense than those of the CBS miniseries; Thank you ABC for a good effort. Are you selling the DVD?… Full Review »
  3. [Anonymous]
    Dec 4, 2005
    0
    probably one of the worst movies I've seen. I'm currently watching the cbs version of the popes life and it seems to be much better probably one of the worst movies I've seen. I'm currently watching the cbs version of the popes life and it seems to be much better made, better acting and more accurately desripting His forming years in Poland… Full Review »
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