FR MOVIE REVUE: THE PASSION OF CHRIST (post your comments here)

2/24/04 | FR MOVIE REVIEWERS

[Liz]

All the world is waiting for the powerful message in Mel Gibson's ground-breaking film, The Passion of Christ.

Post here your own personal reactions after seeing the film set to open tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Passion has previewed in some areas.

Also post reviews and pertinent comments from your state and area's newspapers and publications.

[BushCountry]

You're very clear in believing that no non-Christian should have any opinion about this film.

Without getting in a shouting match, you actively seek out religious threads just to flaunt your "Godless Atheism". As if it were a "Badge of Courage". I am not deeply religious, but I cringed when you stuck your head in this thread for no other reason then to once again proclaim your Atheism (the cliff notes).

Again, this is a deeply inspiring movie for people of faith and those who need inspiration. Two many movies attack the Christian faith and portray them as lunatics. Hell, you have the news media doing that now. All I was asking, is that for you to let these threads be, wear your badge another day. Let the faithful enjoy this God-Inspired movie without interference.,p> This is a powerful movie that has moved the faithful and soon will inspired countless millions on a deeply religious level, which is something a "Godless Atheist" cannot comprehend. I don't understand it either, but I know not to stick my head where it don't belong.

[af_vet_1981]

As I stated, it was suggested as a posibility and just "my scarcely educated $.02". I don't care to debate the post with you. Have a nice day.

I see you are a fan of (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien)

"Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.

"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

"All of them at once," said Bilbo.

...

"Good morning!" he said at last. "We don’t want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water." By this he meant that the conversation was at an end.

"What a lot of things you do use Good morning for!" said Gandalf."Now you mean that you want to get rid of me, and that it won’t be good till I move off."

[af_vet_1981]

Particularly poignant was the scene when Jesus fell carrying the cross as Mary watched from the crowd. She flashed back to when Jesus was a toddler and fell down on the ground and as any good mother she ran to help, nurture and hold Jesus. The same as when he fell carrying the cross.....

Oh, that is heartrending ...

[MineralMan]

"Without getting in a shouting match, you actively seek out religious threads just to flaunt your "Godless Atheism". "

This is not a "religious thread." It is a discussion of a movie. The movie has a religious theme, but the thread is about the movie.

I gave an opinion about why I was not planning to see this film. Several people responded in kind, discussing why they were or were not planning to see the film.

Others questioned my sincerity. I am very sincere about this topic. I'm not making fun of anyone's religious beliefs; I'm discussing a film.

I am an atheist. That's my personal lack of belief only. I would never attempt to discourage anyone from their own beliefs, but I will explain my atheism or direct people to my profile, where I explain it.

Being an atheist is not a crime. It is just a personal lack of belief. My atheism is not the reason I am not planning at this time to skip this movie. I've studied all the major religions of the world because I am interested in the social reasons religions exist. To that end, I read a great deal of scripture and discussions of scripture. It's an interest of mine, and that's the reason I get involved in threads dealing with religion.

My tagline is there to make it clear that I am not a believer in any religion. I'm not masking anything, and folks are free to draw whatever conclusions they wish.

Again, I am not against any religion or any believer.

This is a thread about a movie.

[dirtboy]

ping

[af_vet_1981]

However, long after it was out of the public eye, published reports came out documenting that it did. These reports provided the details, all the way down to a specific church burned with congregation inside.

Let me know if you find a source for it.

As far as a church burning massacre, there is no record of one taking place during the Revolutionary War. The most famous case of such an event took place in Oradour, France on June 10, 1944. Nazi SS soldiers herded the town's entire population of women and children into the church and burned the church down. The men were taken to another town building and shot. The SS spent several hours carrying out their destruction of the town.

There may have been an empty church burned and perhaps this is where he derived his artistic license from.

[T.Smith]

No, I am not. This is as much of Tolkien as I have read.

That is a very cute and original way to insult me, BTW. But, your proddings not withstanding, I'm still not interested in a debate. My post was just me "thinking out loud". My convictions are not firm enough, nor my insights deep enough, for me to carry on about it.

Good day.

[BushCountry]

This is a thread about a movie.

You made my point, it is not about a movie! It is about a regilious event in a turbulent time for people of faith. That is why you don't belong, it is beyound your comprehension because of your conviction to "Godless Atheism".

I think this movie is a MIRACLE inspired by devine intervention, its appearance coming in the midst of our moral decline (gay marriage debate, etc...). This is coming from someone who is not strong in faith and has been touched by this movie without ever seeing it.

[Fishface]

I have only seen the ads for this film and already I am profoundly affected. It has forced me to examine my faith.
I will never look at a crucifix the same way again.

[af_vet_1981]

That is a very cute and original way to insult me, BTW.

Insult ?

I did not call you Lobelia, Otho, or Lotho of the Sackville-Baggins clan. That would be an insult. Being compared with Bilbo Baggins is an honor.

[MineralMan]

FR MOVIE REVUE: THE PASSION OF CHRIST (post your comments here)

Above is the title of the thread. It is a thread about a movie. The movie is about one aspect of the core beliefs of Christianity. If you remember, I said that the reason I wasn't planning to attend was because it covered just that single aspect. I did not say that people shouldn't go to it. I didn't say that it wasn't a powerful film. I said that I, personally, was not planning to attend.

The movie itself is not a miracle. It is a movie. It was created by a film-maker, not by any deity.

Even Christians disagree about the value of the film. For me, it's just a personal reason that I'm not going to see it. That's unusual for me, since I have seen every film I know of about Jesus. I've read dozens of books about Jesus and Christianity.

I'm just not planning to see this film, for the reasons I offered at the very beginning of this thread, which _is_ about the movie.

[SJackson]

However, long after it was out of the public eye, published reports came out documenting that it did. These reports provided the details, all the way down to a specific church burned with congregation inside.

There were a multitude of errors in the movie, not unusual, of which the Church burning was most prominent. If there was an incident, Mel clearly didn't know about, or he would have offered the explanation.

I be curious the hear the details of the incident.

[Robert Drobot]

"....the British burning the congregation in a church in the film "Patriot". Never happened!

Your source(s), please.

[XJarhead]

Mel could speak out and express his own opinions on those issues without directing his comments towards his father. In other words, Mel's father (and I'm horribly paraphrasing to make the point clear) says "I don't believe in the Holocaust." Mel says "I do believe in the Holocaust". I think that addresses your concern about being "silent".

What Mel doesn't have to do is say "I disagree with my father about the Holocaust". Anyone obviously can draw that conclusion because of the difference in their opinions, but Mel himself does not directly denigrate his father.

[SJackson]

This is a thread about a movie. You made my point, it is not about a movie! It is about a regilious event in a turbulent time for people of faith. That is why you don't belong, it is beyound your comprehension because of your conviction to "Godless Atheism".

I thought those were the people the film was destined to influence?

[T.Smith]

Not being a fan maybe it's over my head.

I actually interpreted it to mean that you thought I had "Kerry-fied" the verse. That perhaps you were accusing me of using the verse to mean whatever I wanted it to mean at whatever point I decided to use it. And, that you were further suggesting that, having been caught, I was refusing to clarify my meaning.

Did I read too much into it?

[MineralMan]

"I thought those were the people the film was destined to influence?"

Hmm..do you mean non-believers? If so, then I have to disagree. This film probably was not aimed at them. Since it presents only a small portion of the story of the Gospels, it doesn't seem to me to be that great a film for converting the unconverted.

The death of Jesus is just one part of the story. I know that the film does touch on the Resurrection briefly, but that's not it's focus.

I think Gibson intended the film to be one which would reinforce the beliefs of those who are already Christians. I'm sure it will have that effect on the Christians who attend.

Films like "The Greatest Story Ever Told," would seem to be a better overview for the non-Christian.

[Mudboy Slim]

Interesting to hear the comments from an atheist...even if you don't believe in the divinity of Jesus, you can still be astonished by the impact made by this one man...

"Here Was A Man"
(To be spoken--Johnny Cash-like--over a lonely keyboard version of "Joy to the World")

"Here was a man...a man who was born in a small village, the son of a peasant woman. He grew up in another small village. Until He reached the age of thirty, He worked as a carpenter; then, for three years, He was a travelling minister. But He never travelled more than two hundred miles from where He was born, and where He did go, He usually walked. He never held political office, He never wrote a book, He never bought a home, He never had a family, He never went to college, and He never set foot inside a big city, yet...here was a man.

Here was a man...though He never did one of those things that you usually associate with greatness, He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this World, except through the Divine Purpose that brought Him to this World.

While He was still a young man, the Tide of Popular Opinion turned against Him. Most of His FRiends ran away...one of them denied Him, one of them betrayed Him and turned Him over to his Enemies. Then, He went through the mockery of a Trial and was nailed to a Roman Cross between two thieves. And even while He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had in this World, and that was His robe, His Purple Robe. When He was dead, He was taken down from the cross and laid in a borrowed grave, provided by a compassionate FRiend.

More than Nineteen Centuries have come and gone, and today He's the Centerpiece of the Human Race, Our Leader, and the Column to Human Destiny. And I think I'm well within the mark when I say that All of the Armies that Ever Marched, All of the Navies that Ever Sailed, All of the Legislative Bodies that Ever Sat, and All of the Kings that Ever Reigned...All of Them Put Together have not affected the Life of Man on this Earth so Powerfully as that One Solitary Life...

Here was a man."

FReegards...MUD

[af_vet_1981]

I actually interpreted it to mean that you thought I had "Kerry-fied" the verse. That perhaps you were accusing me of using the verse to mean whatever I wanted it to mean at whatever point I decided to use it.

No. I think you sincerely offered your opinion on the verse and the reason for Mel's silence. I offered mine in return.

[T.Smith]

Then I apologize for jumping to conclusions. Maybe I'm just too accustomed to being down range.

Cheers.