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.

[Havoc]

I am still speachless. Mr Gibson has hit this one so far out of the park, they'll be looking for it on other planets.
I cannot begin to find words to thank this man for this.

The theater was silent through the whole thing save for the sounds of sniffles, low wails and moans. Not a word. People were dazed walking out they were so impacted by it.

You can't sit in view of this film and not be jolted to your core. God love you Mel, you deserve every honor that can be bestowed on a person for movie making. You didn't make a movie, you built us a glimpse into the most important hours in history. I cannot find the words I wish to say; but, great thanks are due. And I'll be uttering them under my breath endlessly.

[time4good]

I just got back - that was the only thing I did not get. No reference to any verse I could think of. It being Sin seems too generic - why as a baby?

[Aquinasfan]

I just heard a local (St. Louis) critic call the movie "pornographic in it's violence". She had no such condemnation for "Kill Bill" which she earlier praised. It goes to show that the "if it feels good, do it" crowd is going to do anything in their power to trivialize Christianity and anything that advances it.

Before seeing the movie, I recommend putting aside all of the comments by the critics regarding the violence and supposed anti-Semitism. Then again, that's not really necessary because 10 minutes into the movie you will have forgotten everything you have heard about the movie, it is so engaging.

The camera work gives you the feeling that you are there. You will be swept up in the events and the emotion.

I find it incomprehensible that someone could see this movie without being profoundly moved. This movie has shattered my stale mental images of the Passion.

[Hildy]

Just got back from seeing it. I have to say it was an extraordinary movie. You can't say you "enjoyed" it. It was a marvelous piece of moviemaking and riveting. I have two things to say. 1) I thought the violence in Braveheart was worse and 2) I do not think this movie is anti-semetic. The Romans sucked a hell of a lot more. This is their story. You can understand from a political stance why the Jewish leaders were so fearful of Christ. I think Gibson wanted to remind everyone in the best way he knows how, just how much Jesus died for our sins (of course, this is what I think he thinks). In a world sanitized and PC'd, he wanted to remind the religious of this world what it's really all about. And I think he succeeded.

[X-Servative]

As far as I know, the demon was mocking Mary and baby Jesus.

[diotima]

I just saw the movie and the woman sitting next to us was blind or almost blind. She had a cane and watched the whole movie with those really dark sunglasses on.

[Liz]

The entire anti-Passion exercise is to step all over Christians and their beliefs. What next? Bible burning?

[paulsy]

"why as a baby"

I didn't see it as a baby really; it was almost like a nome of some sort to me.

[Thinkin]

"I just got back - that was the only thing I did not get. No reference to any verse I could think of. It being Sin seems too generic - why as a baby?"

Perhaps as a taunt to Christ....perhaps to show us that evil DOES procreate and grow.

[paulsy]

"the demon was mocking Mary and baby Jesus."

that makes sense.

[Aquinasfan]

Anyone else see anyone walk out???

No. I think the level of violence was appropriate. I thought I had survived the beating scene emotionally when the guards appeared to be releasing Jesus, only to resume the flagellation again. That "broke" me, and a lot of people in the theater. If Mel hadn't gone that far, I wouldn't have been as deeply affected. My reaction was, "Oh God! Make it stop," which is the appropriate reaction to elicit from the audience. It was painful to watch, yet that small pain gave me the smallest insight into how difficult his beating must have been to endure, and shattered my preconceived notion of Jesus' scourging and crowning with thorns.

The movie has entirely changed my mental image of The Passion.

[Xenalyte]

So this film's supposed to "save the world" now? Is Gibson the Second Coming?

Um, Pappy was talking about Jesus's sacrifice being a strange way to save the world, not the film.

[melsec]

Hi Liz

Is the ressurection part of the film. If not I would like to ask Mr. Gibson why as the ressurection is the completion of the Passion not only the death and suffering. Without the ressurection the message of the passion is unclear or incomplete. It is God's YES to what Jesus did on the cross.

Blessings

Mel

[windchime]

"Who can tell me the meaning of the ugly baby in Satan's arms?"

Perhaps it was the bastardization...a sick parody..on 'Mother's Love'. The opposite of The Madonna and Child.

[Liz]

It is there---a brief moment at the very end. I believe by the Passion film, Mel wanted to do the last 12 hours of Christ's life. Hope the Resurrection is the sequel.

[formerDem]

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

Sometimes religious archetypes work in myth-sterious ways.

(sorry, couldn't resist);-}

[Xenalyte]

As a personal side note, I am also fearful of seeing this movie. That says a lot about the power of it.

I'm scared of it. I'm only about 40% wanting to see it right now.

[Aquinasfan]

It is easy to say "He suffered died and was buried, on the third day He rose again" This movie is intended to impress on us what is meant by "suffered". And even more profound: "This is My body which I have given up for you" Gibson wants us to really think about what that means.

That's exactly right. You won't be disappointed. Every Christian should see this film for this very reason. The words, "He suffered died and was buried," are forever changed in my mind.

[Aquinasfan]

My sister told me that the impact of the violence you see in the movie is miniscule compared to the imapct the movie leaves on your heart.

She's right.

Personally, I detest most movie violence, since it's usually senseless.

[Liz]

Could you please post your review from the other thread here? Thanks.