Another was the infamous scourging. As awful as it was, it was necessary to show in the way it was -- it's the only representation of his suffering on screen that even approaches the fact, and it more than approaches it, it captures it quite effectively. My gut wrenched when the Roman used the bone scourge and yanked it from his side. There was a physical sensation just watching it.
The flashbacks get a lot of attention because they are so important in giving the viewer both context and a physical break for a few seconds from what Christ is experiencing, portrayed so realistically in front of your eyes. The only obvious tear-jerker was with the child Jesus falling juxtaposed with him falling while carrying the cross. I thought that was tad over the top -- but those breaks in the action were absolutely necessary to the viewers ability to get a brief respite from what they were seeing.
The portrayals of the major points of decision are perfect: Jesus facing Satan in the garden; Jesus condemning himself before the Pharisees (the most critical point of all -- and done beautifully); and strangely enough Pilate's point of decision where he, seemingly against his will, succumbed to the world system -- politics -- and did what he was pre-ordained to do; Peter's denials; and Judas' making his decision for 30 pieces of silver and then attempting to backtrack later when his great and unforgivable sin became apparent to him (that was especially good as well -- particularly the aspect of him being turned over to Satan, for he KNEW Christ and yet betrayed him for money). Those decision points were fantastic -- set up and delivered perfectly.
The pathos of how no one really wanted to get involved yet when they did against their own will -- like the man who was forced to help Jesus carry the cross -- they were profoundly affected, changed, by the experience. I can never think anything but admiringly about Mel Gibson after seeing this. Both his art and his soul are of the highest calibre.