Posted on 04/01/2026 8:06:52 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
A call came to my home one night in late June 2003: “Do you want to see The Passion?” Of course, I did. Everybody in Christendom did...
Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how the political fuss pretty much overwhelmed any discussion of the artistic merits of the movie. No one could have fathomed in that moment that Gibson would be the first victim of the cancel impulse, as his stunning and very personal movie about Jesus arguably destroyed his career, even as it made him the wealthiest man in Hollywood.
Few faith-based filmmakers have any idea what makes The Passion the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Evidence for this is in the spate of generally uneven, albeit earnest, Christian melodramas that have followed in its wake. There is nothing in the 21st-century library of Christian movies — evangelical or Catholic — that comes close to delivering what Gibson did in the work he told me was meant to be “less of a movie and more of the Stations of the Cross.”
Lessons from the film about what makes for great sacred cinema have largely gone unlearned. Lessons like, you don’t make a great work of art by watering down the more esoteric points of Scripture or theology, but rather by pushing them. Or that great sacred art is characterized by the mysteries it offers and not in earnest truisms. Or that showing the intersection of grace and sin is probably going to require R-rated truths, which Christian artists should always prefer to G-rated lies.
Finally, The Passion should have taught the Church of our era that great sacred art is first and foremost beautiful, but not necessarily pretty; it is profound not through didactic verbiage, but through imagery...
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
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There’s a Religion Forum. Use it.
This is about Hollywood, a major actor and director, and a major conservative issue about American media and our culture, and anti-conservative/Christian bias.
Of great interest to conservatives and political people for a lot of reasons.
I’ve never seen the movie. I prefer my own imagination.
Has it really been that long already? My goodness.
That was one of the best and most effective movies I have ever seen in my life. In fact, The Passion of Christ was so very effective to me. that I never wish to see it again. at least not in its entirety. As someone brought up Catholic, it was emotionally gutwrenching. I do not need to have that spiritual bell ring again. That’s my opinion.
To each his own.
“and anti-conservative/Christian bias.”
Little victim. Poor U.
If the Passion was the decline of Mel Gibson’s career ironically it could be said to be a catapult to Jim Caviezel’s career.
He delivered a performance that was more than up to the vision Gibson had.
That’s true.
Very perceptive.
It’s one of my personal favorites of all time.
Thanks for posting.
LOL, you must be a nasty drunk, the way you are posting on this thread.
Thank you!
A stunning movie. An unflinching depiction of the story as first told.
What’s your issue?
Why are you saying what you are saying?
What is driving your responses?
Who is Jesus Christ?
Was he a liar? A madman? Or something else?
I’m asking in good faith.
No he’s just an asshole, sober or drunk.
CC
It was a huge boost to Jim Caviezels career. however, it may also have become the ceiling to his career. Jim may have become typecast as a film version of Christ, in the same way as Chris Hemsworth became typecast as the actor who played Thor.
Tool….
I didn’t watch it because I didn’t want to see Jesus get tortured.
I aimz to please.🙏 😂
Such language so close to Easter.🐣 🤡
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