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. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    60
    The movie races so quickly through the milestones of his career... that some of the most powerful moments in his papacy are underplayed.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Timothy Guanatilaka
    58
    This heart-tugger suffers from efficiency. [2 Dec 2005, p.74]
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  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    50
    Partially because of its more cursory treatment of the Pope's life, the show seems less preachy and more emotional than the CBS effort, and more appropriate.
  5. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    50
    Fear plays like an illustrated Life of the Saints on fast-forward. Blink and you can miss decades.
  6. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    40
    In the end, both [CBS' and ABC's Pope] movies stick to what viewers can agree on (commies and Nazis, bad; love, good), while skipping much of the Pope's sometimes polarizing tenure as a leader.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    40
    This depiction of John Paul II as half human, half saint -- though hardly unexpected and possibly even warranted -- leaves us with a character that is less dimensional and less relatable and, consequently, less interesting.

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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