Savage's Review of 'The Passion'

A must for every Christian and Jew; every rebel, independent, iconoclast who has felt the blunt steel of rejection, isolation, humiliation, or castigation.

As for portraying Jews in a negative light - a resounding NO! That is, for rational educated people. There is always the fear that bigots will use this film as they might use any pretext to advance their hateful agenda. The wild card question is: How will radical Muslims use this film? Will they seek to turn Christians against Jews?

During the trial of Jesus, two ancient Hebrew Judges who loudly claim the hearing biased are boldly thrown from the court. The biased judges do not want to hear the opinion that Jesus is innocent of the charges against him.

The loyal and traitorous. For everyone who has craved a portrait of living biblical history, there has never been a more accurate portrayal.

The Judas-tree scene alone is worth the price of admission. Both for its dramatic content as for its moral imperative.

For every parent wanting to instill moral values in a child, The Passion can be a good teacher.

But we mustn't run from the most pregnant question. Some Jewish organizations have legitimate fears that this remarkable work of art might instigate hatred against the Jewish people. We cannot predict what demented bigots might do nor should we permit them to dictate the terms of our civilization and its artistic creations.

How is it that the most vile films imaginable are being made with little or no protest from the very same organizations attacking Gibson's artistic creation. Murder, Rape, Drug Usage - all standard fair in a theater near you. No protest about these vile works from these organizations who object to what appears to be 100% biblically correct.

Following the screening of his controversial film, Mr. Gibson asked me what I thought of it. I said, "Of course there are going to be those who are going to look to blame the Jewish people, but it is the Romans who flay Jesus nearly to death and who actually crucify him." I added, "Mel, what are people going to do, stop eating pasta!" There was then much laughter all around the boardroom. But I repeat, are people to stop eating Italian food because of Pontius Pilate and the Roman sadists? It would be foolish to think so.

I understand your fear, but I think it's one peculiar to the post Alan-Alda-Sensitive-New-Age-Guy era.

No, I assure you it is not. I detest sweaters, would feed quiche to my cat, and would happily throw Alan Alda out on his wrinkled liberal keister if he ever made the grave mistake of setting foot anywhere near my home. My trepidation is an entirely justifiable fear of allowing a 5 year old to view cinematically-dramatized violence against a person he is just beginning to learn about, and his having screaming nightmares about crucifixion as a result. In my opinion, he is not quite ready to see a man's limbs broken with a hammer and nails being driven through his body parts.

Do I believe it really happened? Sure do, every word. Does that make a realistic depiction of it any less shocking to a young child? No. People go to the bathroom every day too, and I surely wouldn't allow him to see depictions of defecation or urination in my home.

If his mother wants to take him to see the movie, then that's her call. He's already asking intelligent questions about this great man who did all those wonderful things a long time ago, and who continues to protect him even today. But I wouldn't presume to expose him to the horrible (if simulated) violence of crucifixion - not yet.

My parents were understanding enough to allow me to remain a child until I was of an age when I could understand what being an adult meant, and I intend to grant the same gift to this child if I can.

My trepidation is an entirely justifiable fear of allowing a 5 year old to view cinematically-dramatized violence against a person he is just beginning to learn about, and his having screaming nightmares about crucifixion as a result. In my opinion, he is not quite ready to see a man's limbs broken with a hammer and nails being driven through his body parts.

A touring life size replica of the Hebrew's tabernacle and its attendant sacrifices passed through here a few years ago. The guide told us that a child was usually asked to cut the throat of the lamb offering. In rural settings children would de-head chickens, gut goats, and watch public executions. A child needs to know at some point that his/her body is subject to death, and that Jesus died that death for all of us. Believe me, I understand the dillemna. I have six children myself. I just wonder if we're too squeamish sometimes.

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