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.

[Ronzo]

Just got back from seeing "The Passion" about an hour ago...some thoughts...

Most sobering film I've ever seen. It was like watching the stations of the cross come to life right before your eyes....absolutely overwhelming....

The theater I went to was PACKED. Every seat was sold.

While watching, all I could thing was "he chose to go through with this! It was his choice!!!! He didn't have to do it, but he wanted to!!! Oh my, we are truly not worthy...

Some of the violence was overdone, but then the whole point of crucifixion in Roman times was to humilate the person, NOT just kill him... As a matter of fact, no one wore a loin cloth around their private parts when crucified...they hung you up to die BUTT NAKED... Thankfully, Mel did not go to that level of realism...

Still, he CHOSE to go through with this! Unbelievable! He knew this was going to happen, and allowed to.

The Love of God for man - in that he allowed us to torture and kill Him - he could have wiped us all off this planet. Why allow your own people to torture and kill you? What's the point? It could only be to prove His love for us...it's the only thing that makes sense.

My life is totally changed after seeing this....

[wimpycat]

Though it may sound odd, I wondered if at some time all of us haven't had a little of Peter and even Judas in us at some time or another. Peter in that we run or shy away from from publicly acknowledging Him regardless of the cost to us. Judas in that we betray Him in our actions/words towards others. Maybe even some of the "religious order" in us in that we accuse or judge others with our prideful theology. I don't know, maybe I am internalizing something in myself.

That's what the critics missed. That's what I saw. I just got back about an hour ago from seeing the film. It's the universality of humanity, and inhumanity. We see ourselves, or people we know, in every one of the "players", if you will. Simon of Cyrene is far and away the one (besides Jesus, Mary and Mary Magdalene) I liked the most. Not that I'm like him. But there are Simons of Cyrene everywhere. Although he was obviously known to the apostles by the time the Gospels were written, it's certainly within the realm of educated speculation that they knew him only after this happened. Mel Gibson has him as just some guy, probably in town for the Passover, who was picked at random to carry the cross, and who is very reluctant to "get involved". He doesn't want to do it. He's safe in his own little world. But he does get involved. He has mercy. He has pity.

[patriciaruth]

The meaning of the baby in Satan's arms?

Satan is mocking Christ by mocking all the Madonna and Child portraits.

[SoDak]

I saw it tonight with a friend. Neither of us could even talk about it afterwards, and we spent the car time across the city discussing weather and traffic lights until I dropped her off. I don't know how she feels, and I really don't know yet what I took from it either. I'm amazed, numb, sorrowful, and kind of elated. It was better than what I could imagine. I nearly lost it when Jesus talks to his mother and tells her he makes things new. Maybe I did, I don't remember, but I'll never forget the image.

[California74]

I haven't seen the movie yet, but my mom just came home from seeing it about an hour and a half ago.

She was white as a ghost and shaking like a leaf. She was abosultely stunned - shocked- by the movie. We just got finished with a long, spiritual talk and I finally got her calmed down.

She also said she thought through the movie- "He did this for me. I am not worthy!"

She said she couldn't see it again. She will be reliving it in her head for the rest of her life.

She also mentioned that there was loud applause when the movie was over and that no one left the theatre until after the credits rolled.

[Tench_Coxe]

Thanks. Yes, some of the scenes were reminescent of Carvaggio. I had one other small quibble. When mary is holding Jesus after he is taken down, there was a little too much 'acting' to resemble the Pieta. The look on Mary's face, however, was haunting.

Also, I think the portrayal of Satan's role was excellent, and captured the nature of evil rather well.

[hope]

Mel Gibson allowed this film to be done precisely the way it should have been...He has captured in complete detail the sacrifice for sin. It was extremely difficult at times watching the scourging...I have sat through many sermons about the crucifixion of Christ, so it was everything I expected it would be, and yet it was extremely compelling. I was completely shaken at times, even after 2 hours of leaving the theater I still feel this way...

I was glad it was done with subtitles. It allowed me to comprehend each moment of Jesus' sacrifice and how every detail was of such great significance...even down to the part where the Roman Soldier was not allowed by God to break a bone in His body... John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.

The critics cannot comprehend any of this, therefore their opinions are moot.

[PleaseNoMore]

I agree. I want to add that I did not expect this film to be so "personal" thus my feeling that what I experienced may have been "odd".

[Ronzo]

"He did this for me. I am not worthy!"

After seeing this film, I no longer have the right to complain about anything for the rest of my life...

Here in McHenry County, Illinois, you could have heard a pin drop after the film was over. Not a sound. Everyone seemed to be sitting in stunned silence.

Not a boring second in the whole two+ hours. Starts off with a bang, and keeps on going. Thankfully, they don't overdo the violent scences. Just when you think you can't watch, there will be a flashback to better times.

No wonder Jesus died so quickly after they nailed him to the cross. From what I understand, it was not unusual for someone to last as long as THREE DAYS or more!

Talk about cruel and unusual punishment...

I can't thank Mel enough for making this film.

And I'm still not worthy. Not one little bit...

[wimpycat]

Yep, I'm with you. The crow (or was it a raven?) was a little bit much. They could have done without it entirely, or just had it sit there.

Did you notice how the Romans were obviously spooked by the storm? Romans were superstitious about that sort of thing.

I think he could have made Pilate's character flatter, or else he could have made Caiaphas' character a little rounder. That and the thing with the crow are the only things I would have changed about the movie, really.

[Gunder]

I just came back from seeing the movie. I'm a 29-year-old Midwestern guy and I was moved to tears several times during the film. Mel Gibson is an amazing director. The music was stirring, the performances were powerful.

Go see this movie, people! Let's shatter box office records. Yes, it's incredibly violent, but I'm so glad Mel Gibson didn't sanitize this movie.

[Gunder]

I don't believe Mel had creative control over "The Patriot." He certainly didn't direct the movie. Granted, an actor of his caliber could probably insist on a change.

[wimpycat]

Did you hear that one Roman say "let's make music" before they started beating Jesus? My husband doesn't speak Latin, but Spanish is his first language, and he said the Roman said that, even though it wasn't subtitled.

[Gunder]

I would strongly recommend you see this movie in the theaters. Not only is it a gripping and moving experience... I want Gibson's production company to make HUGE box office bucks off this baby. :-)

[LtKerst]

Mr. atheist, you got it wrong. the movie shows the most important part of Jesus life! His innocent death for your sins and his saving resurection. this of course is hard for you, because your heart is cold.
I suggest you pray to God and ask him to open your heart, then go and see the movie. (Did you know that the word of God says that if you ask god to reveal himself to you he will?). dont' wait too long, because every one lives forever....in one of 2 places.

[Gunder]

It was packed at the theater I went to, as well... and I saw it at a distant suburb of Minneapolis.

One thing I really loved about this movie was the depiction of Satan. It's easy to think of Satan as some kind of grotesque, monster-like creature. This version of Satan is cold, but also seductively beautiful.

SUCH a great film.

[hope]

I thought maybe he (satan) was doing the in your face that he was a loving father to his child and trying to portray Father God as letting His only Son be reviled and killed. satan didn't have a clue until the last breath of Jesus what the plan of salvation was and how he was doomed..I particularly enjoyed the part of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane's where he stepped on the head of that snake...

[patriciaruth]

I have begun to believe that Revelations is written in code so Satan will not know how he will be undone.

[Texas2step]

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.

Read the title again, MM. It's a thread about FReeper Reviews of the movie.

Since you have not seen it, and have verbally committed to not seeing it. What exactly was the purpose of your posting to the thread if not to "flaunt" your atheism? I would call it a cry for help, but I know better. :-)

[patriciaruth]

he stepped on the head of that snake...

Another example of Mel's anti-reptilian bias...