"All my tears in this movie were shed in empathy for those who loved Jesus, and in gratitude for those who are shown attempting to be kind to him. I was moved by Pilate's wife, who knows what is right and tries to do the one small thing that is possible for her. I was moved by Mary's love for her son. I was moved by the epiphany that came to the reluctant cross-bearer, Simon of Cyrene; by the shame and empathy discovered by one of the soldiers -- the one required to pierce Jesus' body with a spear, but who can hardly bear to do it in front of his mother. The woman who brings him water to drink at one of the stations of the cross; Pilate himself, caught in a terrible political situation where he has no good choice, but chooses his career over his integrity and makes the futile, empty gesture of washing his hands; the "good thief" (Francesco Cabras) who is promised paradise on the cross -- it was goodness, or the yearning for goodness, that brought tears to my eyes. And this is not a movie about despair. Though by no means did Gibson even attempt to show the story of the resurrection, we get a glimpse of a whole, perfect, uninjured body rising from the shroud."
Can't wait to go see this...MUD
"Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, the expected Democratic nominee for governor in 2005, echoed the Warner administration but used even tougher terms, apparently inspired by the motion pic- ture, "The Passion of the Christ." "Ever since Pontius Pilate allowed the crowd to make the hard decision," Kaine declared, "people who are afraid to lead have often used popular referenda to avoid their responsibilities."
Kaine's an inconsequential twirp...I look forward to working against him in '05...MUD