What Other Critics Are Saying (about the "Passion of the Christ")

Newsday ^ | February 24, 2004 | staff

[DentsRun]

Here's a sampling of what some movie critics think about Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

"Relentlessly savage, "The Passion" plays like the Gospel according to the Marquis de Sade." -- David Ansen, Newsweek

"A surprisingly violent narrative ... One of the cruelest movies in the history of cinema. ... a sickening death trip" -- David Denby, the New Yorker

"the audience profile for The Passion of the Christ is true believers with cast-iron stomachs... a religious splatter-art film" -- Richard Corliss, Time

"The bloodiest story ever told..." -- Peter Rainer, New York

"It's a very great film. It's the only religious film I've seen with the exception of "The Gospel According to Matthew" by Pasolini, that really seems to deal directly with what happened instead of with all kinds of sentimental eyes, cleaned up, post card versions of it." -- Roger Ebert, on his syndicated TV show "Ebert & Roeper"

[DentsRun]

"Four of the five reviwers absolutely hated it". That's not what they said.

The first four reviewers one way or the other thought the "The Passion of the Christ" was appalling. I summarized their views by saying they "hated it." What? You think they don't hate it?

[wardaddy]

Thanks...I'm glad I'm not alone with my feelings on this.

[wardaddy]

At 18 points, he's at least 3-4 years old I'd guess. Pretty mature.

Deer are funny....very bright and with acute senses but lazy. They always take the path of the least resistance.

[Annie03]

A perfectly spot-on observation. This movie is soooo anti-everything they stand for.

[Tempest]

"Are you saying that someone who won't go see a movie, a MOVIE mind you, is not a good Christian? That's absurd."

If the issue were just about a movie the answer would be simple. But since the issue is about a cultural war where the left have obtained a deftness a swaying those whom wish to serve God's will and in deny those whom would seek to honor a glorify God. Going to see this movie is more than just an act of patronizing a work of art or going to seek entertainment. But it's a statement that cast aside the cynicism and machination prescribed by satan and the left. It's an afront to the agenda setters that would have us turn away from the acknowledgement that God is not a candy coated diety where everything is hunky doory. But that he was willing to give his only son to us so that we may be forgiven for our sins and that the price of that forgiveness was much heavier than what most people realize.

So you may take pride in your knowledge of what sacrafice Jesus made. But then again perhaps you take too much pride and are under the impression that everyone else understands the way that you presume to understand.

[narses]

"Those afraid of this film fear a Christian revival of sorts, may sweep our country."

It will, it will.

[Tempest]

I wasn't quite sure what his point was either. Then I got a little curious.


"DestroytheDemocrats
Since Jan 30, 2004"

[flashbunny]

As soon as I saw this article I did a little searching for reviews by the people condeming the violence in 'Passion'. I wrote the following up and put it on my website so people can see the hypocrisy of these critics.

Movie Critics have a sudden disdain for violent movies

Newsday has released some early reviews of Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ." Apparently violence in movies is now seen as a bad thing. Let's take a look at some excerpts from the article. For fun, let's compare the critics' views on violence in cinema between what appears is 'Passion' to the uber-violent Quentin Tarrantino flick 'Kill Bill, Vol. 1".

"Relentlessly savage, "The Passion" plays like the Gospel according to the Marquis de Sade." -- David Ansen, Newsweek

"Let’s talk about the violence. Now, I had no problem with the violence—it’s all so stylized. But there’s a lot of blood in the movie. There’s a whole motif of spraying, spurting blood."

"People get their arms hacked off and their heads hacked off. It’s borderline comedy—I mean, it’s a form of slapstick at times."

David Ansen., Talking to Quentin Tarrantino about his movie, 'Kill Bill, Vol. 1'

"the audience profile for The Passion of the Christ is true believers with cast-iron stomachs... a religious splatter-art film" -- Richard Corliss, Time

"These are gory production numbers, immediate but also abstract...Even the arcs of blood have the propulsion of crimson choreography."

"This bride (Uma Thurman) believes that, if revenge is a dish best served cold, she'll gorge on it at an all-you-can-eat sushi bar. Like an Iron Chef, she dices and slices her husband's killers, and anyone who works for them, in scenes of balletic carnography."

Richard Corliss, Time Magazine - Review for 'Kill Bill, Vol. 1' - Number 7 on his best of 2003 list.

"The bloodiest story ever told..." -- Peter Rainer, New York

Heads are severed, arms lopped off, geysers of red spray the screen. And yet it’s all in (perverse) good fun - Peter Rainer's review of 'Kill Bill, Vol. 1' -

Now the lone exception here is David Denby of the New Yorker. He didn't like Kill Bill. His review didn't condemn the violence, he just didn't think it was a very good movie, and the violence wasn't really mentioned in the review. So I had to think of another movie with a lot of violence in it that he might have reviewed. I found one.

"A surprisingly violent narrative ... One of the cruelest movies in the history of cinema. ... a sickening death trip" -- David Denby, the New Yorker (His review of 'Passion')

One man still standing searches for his severed arm, picks it up as if it were a log, and wanders around with it aimlessly . . . Before you have watched more than a few minutes of this -- and the sequence goes on for perhaps twenty minutes in all -- you know that it is one of the greatest, most appalling things ever done in movies." David Denby's review of Saving Private Ryan, which he called "Savage yet exhilarating".

Now Saving Private Ryan is quite a different movie than 'Kill Bill'. But it's actually a lot closer to The Passion Of The Christ in its use of violence. Violence is shown in a shocking manner to illustrate what people have gone through, so we can better understand their experience. The director of Saving Private Ryan felt it was necessary for the audience to see the violence to show the horrors of war. David Denby agreed. The director of The Passion Of The Christ thought it was necessary to see the violence to show the horrors of the that event. David Denby thinks it's 'one of the cruelest movies in the history of cinema'.

Now, the real question: Do you think all these movie critics, and the others that will undoubtedly pan the violence in 'Passion' have made a permanent conversion to condemning violence in movies? Or do you think that when 'Kill Bill Vol. 2' comes out, they'll be raving about how cool it was every time Uma Thurman lopped off someone's head with a katana???

[Radioactive]

The reviewers and the people who are attacking this movie have one goal......

They are attacking Christianity.

They are attacking the idea that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

I'll bet these people who hate the idea that this movie was even made are either athiests or Caboloic Jews.

They hate Christianity and what it stands for, and these attacks are to be expected...for it was Jesus himself that said that..."Those who follow me will be hated."

The same hate for God is behind the Sodomites attempt to redefine marrage.

Marrage was given to us by God using God's law...natural law......and these people pushing for Sodomite marrage are telling us all that we must accept their definition of marrage...not God's law on marrage.

They hate God and want to expell him from everyone using this mythical seperation of church & state.

It's time for all Christians to stand up to these haters of God and tell them we WILL Never accept their version of anything that goes against what we know to be the real truth.

[Radioactive]

And oh yeah..............Maybe Mel Gibson was really put on this earth to make this movie....which will probably go down as the most viewed movie of all time.

[Radioactive]

And oh yeah to my Oh yeah--------

I forgot to mention that when hollywood put out garbage like "Chain saw Masacre" or pornography.......we were told by the movers & shakers that movies have no affect.

We were told that it's rediculous to think that any movie could affect anyone.

Now these very same people are saying that viewing this movie could insite hatred of the Jews.It will cause ANTI SEMITISM. I find it insulting and a lot of nerve for these people to insinuate that I or any other Christian would want to hate or harm anyone else for just seeing a movie.

[beckett]

Harold O.J. Brown of the Howard Center for the Family, Religion and Society said some years back that he finds a "similarity between the way the Roman authorities charged Christians of that era with odium humani generis -- 'hatred of the human race' --and the way the political and media establishment charge the Christians with creating a 'climate of hate.'"

Today on one of the entertainment shows the little twit who plays the raunchy Mom on Malcolm in the Middle made almost exactly this charge, saying Gibson was "promoting hate" with his film.

[Salamander]

"Lois" said that?
Rats...that's one of my favorite shows.
I'm sure gonna miss it.

[NYCVirago]

It's a very great film. It's the only religious film I've seen with the exception of "The Gospel According to Matthew" by Pasolini, that really seems to deal directly with what happened instead of with all kinds of sentimental eyes, cleaned up, post card versions of it." -- Roger Ebert, on his syndicated TV show "Ebert & Roeper"

I'll have to give Ebert props for being consistent here -- the bolded remarks are what the libs usually respond with when somebody finds an artwork offensive.

[NYCVirago]

In fairness, Denby found "Kill Bill" tiresome, but lauded the brutality of "Saving Private Ryan", although he thought the "patriotic" beginning and ending (the scenes of the older Ryan at the cemetary) should have been left out.

He probably wanted the movie to get done quicker so he could get back to his internet porn addiction (he wrote about that obsession in his autobiography, but even that tidbit wasn't enough to make his book a bestseller!)

[tal hajus]

Don't forget "The Evil Dead" part I. That was a real bloodfest.

[Ethan_Allen]

"Frankly I'm tired of the "mooney-eyed" Jesus of the Hollywood film industry. It's time to see HOW IT REALLY HAPPENED, according to the Gospels."

To All:

I knew I had seen this before a couple of years ago, but couldn't remember where. It is the trial and crucifixion written by David Terasaka, M.D. I don't know if it has been posted. I found it by accident this morning while doing a little research on Amos 4:1 [ Radioactive, you may find this one interesting: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Amo/4/1.html ]

MEDICAL ASPECTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST
David Terasaka, M.D.
http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/terasaka/crucify.html

[Ethan_Allen]

Forgot to mention Psalm 22


Psa 22:1 [[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?.....

http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Psa/Psa022.html

[Ethan_Allen]

"The reviewers and the people who are attacking this movie have one goal......
They are attacking Christianity."

"The same hate for God is behind the Sodomites attempt to redefine marrage.

Marrage was given to us by God using God's law...natural law......and these people pushing for Sodomite marrage are telling us all that we must accept their definition of marrage...not God's law on marrage."


Hopefully the Sodomites and all the anti-Christs have met their Waterloo. They like to excuse themselves with the 'kinder, gentler' Jesus, but they are walking on dangerous ground. It's not my place to judge THEM, but I sure don't like them foisting their sins on the whole country.

2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ++++ http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/2Jo/1/7.html

1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jo 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Hbr 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Hbr/13/8.html

Jesus in three persons:

Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. +++ http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Jhn/8/58.html

Jhn 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

It was JESUS who destroyed Sodom:

Genesis - Chapter 18

Gen 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Gen 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Gen 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:....

Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Gen 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Gen 18:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.....

Gen 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Gen 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein?.....

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.

Gen 18:33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gen/Gen018.html#20

One of the three 'Men', of course was Jesus, who went on His way to see if He could find ten righteous souls in Sodom.

Jhn 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Jhn/1/18.html

Exd 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] God Almighty, BUT BY MY NAME JEHOVAH WAS I NOT KNOW TO THEM.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Exd/6/3.html

Exd 23:21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for MY NAME IS IN HIM. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Exd/23/21.html

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Mat/1/21.html

Greek for 2424
Pronunciation Guide
Iesous {ee-ay-sooce'}

TDNT Reference Root Word
TDNT - 3:284,360 of Hebrew origin 03091
Part of Speech
n pr m
Outline of Biblical Usage

JESUS = "JEHOVAH IS SALVATION"

1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate

2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ

3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses' successor (Ac. 7:45, Heb. 4:8)

4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Lu. 3:29)

5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col. 4:11)

Isa 9:6 For UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, THE MIGHT GOD, The EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace.

JESUS IS GOD http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch4.htm

What's left to say?

Luk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Luk/Luk003.html#4

[I wonder if that's where the term 'straight' vs gay came from?? Just noticed that.]

[Ethan_Allen]

Jesus in three persons:

should have said it like this:

Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. +++ http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Jhn/8/58.html

Jhn 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.