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The Passion of the Christ Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 3 Reviews)

watching anyone being tortured would be sad - jesus or not
People have told me, "Jesus went through so much pain in this movie," and they cried. But the point of the life of Jesus isn't how much torture he went through, and here is a simple fact: Watching anyone tortured for hours, be it either Jesus or a farmer or a slave who stole a loaf of bread, would make any normal person feel awful and cry. People have said, "It's so sad when Mary, the mother of Jesus, watched him being tortured. I felt so bad for her." Okay, but the point is, if we were watching ANY mother watch ANY person being tortured for two hours, we would be compelled to feel intense sympathy for them. So the movie misses the mark, as if Gibson is trying to say, "Look. See the pain Jesus had to go through? How awful, huh?" Well, sure, but that would be awful for anyone to go through. What if they made a movie in a very graphic way about someone being burned at the stake in the Middle Ages? Like the many witches that were killed. They could draw out the psychological and physical pain of someone being tied up at the stake, the crying, the tortured expressions, the flames licking at the feet, slow motion camera movements, the flesh bubbling up as the flames grow, the hair burning, the frantic movement of the body trying to writhe away from the heat and the flames. It's just silly, you could make a drawn out movie about anyone's death. There is nothing unique about an awful death. Jesus' death was awful, but so were many other deaths. Where's the thought in this movie, where's the spirituality, where's the teachings of Jesus?

A Picture Worth a Thousand Sermons
I've read that a prominent religious figure said that THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST could be the best evangelism tool in 2000 years.
While the 1977 mini-series JESUS OF NAZARETH is my favorite rendering of the life of Christ, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST is definitely the most vivid, disturbing version of his suffering and death.

Mel Gibson has made a bold, bloody and (yes) beautiful film that's obviously from his heart and soul. That a Hollywood actor would invest his own money and risk his career to tell this particular story--knowing the wrath that would follow--is truly worthy of all the praise the media is refusing to give him. He's been attacked by everyone from the New York Times to Howard Stern. Hollywood was also critical--until the box office numbers came out (the sudden praises of tinsel town types proves that $$$ is the god of Hollywood).
As far as the charges of anti-Semitism go, I'm always bewildered by anyone claiming to be a "Christian" who hates Jews. Mel Gibson said in his interview with Diane Sawyer that to be anti-Semitic is incompatible with true Christianity and a "sin." I heartily agree. Jesus was a Jew! I just don't get it.

I've been following the story of this film for well over a year and have read how most media people thought THE PASSION would be Mel's folly. When I'd heard that Mel was originally going to release the film in Aramaic and Latin without subtitles, I had to wonder myself.
But what I find so despicable in the media is, now that the film's a blockbuster, some journalists and talking heads (like Andy Rooney) are accusing Mel of making the film purely for profit! Unbelievable!

I saw the film opening weekend and I was amazed at the sold-out audience who saw it with me. I can't recall ever seeing a movie that stunned its audience and held it in such silence. My own gut was knotted up nearly the whole time. There have been films that led us to moments of tears and silence, but the introspection and tension of this film occured for nearly its entire running length.
I plan to see it again because, now that I've seen it once, I can watch the film again while meditating on what Christ did for us all. THE PASSION is a very unique experience for a believer.

Visually Stunning
Let me preface this by saying that I am not the most religious person out there. I actually went with the intention of being thoroughly disappointed and wanting my money back. HOWEVER, this is an artistic masterpiece. Regardless of your religious preferences, you should see this movie. Gibson relates the 12 hours leading to the death of Christ in a series of flashbacks, beatings, and stunning cinematography. His choice of doing this movie in Latin and Aramaic was correct; it would not be nearly as powerful if performed in English. The lead actor has little match with the intensity that his eyes convey. Gibson also adds nuances and flourishes to the story (the Satan character and the demons that hound Judas) that add so much to this movie.

A lot has been written concerning the anti-semitism this movie conveys, and I'd strongly recommend that you see the movie and reserve your opinions on that until you've actually seen the movie. I don't really blame the Jews for the crucifiction, and I think Gibson utilizes the mob as a tool of Satan, and that really shows in the movie. Also, the gore is definitely present, and you should not see this if you have a weak stomach. However, it is dispersed throughout the movie, and after that first horrible whipping, you don't notice it as much. I definitely think that everyone should see this once. I don't think it has much repeat viewing value, as I was thoroughly impressed with it, but like a Schindler's List, have no desire to see it again.

But definitely worth the price of admission. Definitely.

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