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.

[ought-six]

Hollywood is indeed venomously anti-Christian, and especially anti-Catholic. You can count the Catholics in Hollywood on one hand, and even they are reluctant to practice their faith.

[MizRiz9]

I too needed time to think and yes to breath after I saw the movie yesterday afternoon.

I agree with what you have said. But, I am still wrestling with the whole good v. evil thing in regard to the High Priests. Weren't the priests doing what they were required to do? Priests were the ones ordained by God to carry out blood sacrifices. Jesus had to died, there wasn't an alternative.

I believe we keep thinking about the death of Jesus as a murder rather than the sacrifice it was and had to be.

[Rainmist]

I think that, being a mother myself, it is going to be hard for me not to bawl as I watch the Blessed Mother's grief at the torture and death of her Son. I want to go alone to see it.

[Aquinasfan]

Actually, He does.

Not that He wills it. He wants all men to be saved. But if people reject Him, He will honor their decision.

[MomwithHope]

This thread is going to be alive for a long, long time.
Will be seeing the movie Sunday, just wanted to share a thought I had a few weeks ago.
I had heard that this movie is as close to the gospels as possible. I had also read Mel's comments that he was compelled to make this movie. I had also read about grace filled and almost miraculous moments that occurred while filming took place, and that Mass was offered every day. So my thought was this film may be a big way in which the gospel is preached to all the nations, which has been foretold before the end comes. This movie will make it all over the world. God has permitted this movie to be made and could be an answer to our prayers.

[NordP]

I think you should go as an experiment...to confirm your stance against Christ in your beliefs. Then, report back to us, what affect, if any, the film had on you. I'd be interested to hear about your experience.

[MizRiz9]

Absolutely correct ought-six. I just posted a message along the same lines #522.

[Aquinasfan]

my question to anyone is if they know is what happened to Mary after the resurrection of Jesus? where did she go? how long did she live? there is no mention of her it's like she disappeared into thin air? anybody know?

There are a couple of ancient churches claiming to be the place of Mary's Dormition (the place of Mary's "falling asleep"). 3/4 of Christianity, Catholic and Orthodox, believe that Mary was assumed into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.

Certainly, it is strange that there is no tomb of Mary, especially considering the importance of relics to the early Church.

Papal Reflections on Mary's Dormition

Vatican (CWN)-- Continuing his regular weekly meditations on the Virgin Mary at his Wednesday audience today, Pope John Paul II (bio - news) addressed the question of whether Mary ever experienced death.

Reflecting on the dogma of the Assumption, promulgated by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the Pope noted that the Second Vatican Council repeated the formula used in that formal definition of the dogma, without directly addressing the question of whether or not the Mother of God died. The Gospels, too, are silent on the issue. However, the thesis that the Blessed Virgin was exempt from death was not a major factor in the tradition of the Church until the 17th century.

The fathers of the Church, the Pope observed, were generally united in their opinion that "the mother is not superior to the Son." Since Jesus died, then, they accepted the premise that Mary died as well. Since she was associated with the sacrifice of Jesus, she "took a part in his suffering and death for the redemption of the world." And in order to participate in the Resurrection as well, "Mary must have taken part in his death." The opinions that suggest that Mary could not have died of natural causes are not based on a firm foundation, the Holy Father continue. He suggested instead that the death of the Virgin was a matter of "spiritual maturation." For that reason, her death is often called "the dormition"-- a peaceful process. The Pope recalled that some Church fathers, including St. Francis de Sales, depict that death as "an event of love," through which Mary is reunited with her Son and "enters with him into immortality."

Having experienced the death which all humans face, the Pope continued, Mary is better equipped for her "spiritual maternity" of the human race. And she is particularly suited to help those who are facing their own moment of truth. The question of Mary's death has real importance for the Christian understanding of death, John Paul said. He observed that the Orthodox churches do not speak of either death or assumption, but consistently refer to the "dormition" of the "Mother of God." That title-- "Mother of God," or "Theotokos"-- is the traditional title of the Virgin Mary, which has been maintained by the Eastern churches. By using it himself, the Pope gave another demonstration his interest in advancing Christian unity, and reaching out to the Eastern churches.

[philosofy123]

Orthodox Jews are warning their followers not to go see this movie, because it may cause them to convert to Christianity.

[NordP]

We saw one of E & R --don't know which is which--but the younger one, on Hannity & Colmes, and he said the phrase, "no gratuitous violence."

My husband turned to me and said, "That's EXACTLY what I was waiting to hear someone say."

[Godfollow]

Fancy that, an atheist telling a movie director of a Christian topic he didn't include enough of the gospel story... huh...

[The Mayor]

So my thought was this film may be a big way in which the gospel is preached to all the nations, which has been foretold before the end comes. This movie will make it all over the world. God has permitted this movie to be made and could be an answer to our prayers.

We can Hope and Pray that it is the root cause of the Spiritual Awakening.
My wife and I feel that this movie is a gift that Mel Gibson has given us all and it was/is only through the Power of Christ that it has come out.

We need to ignore all the stupid hype, the fear of antisemitism and follow our beliefs that it is only through the Shed Blood of Christ Jesus that we are Saved by Grace.

I also have heard about the miraculous moments, a blind man was able to see, some healings on the set and the actor who played The Christ was struck by lightening in the Garden of Gethsemane

[ought-six]

I haven't seen the movie (we are going Sunday). But the story of the crucifixion has always moved me, even though I am a "lapsed" Catholic. My favorite -- and to me, the most meaningful -- dialogue in the story has always been the exchange between Jesus and the good thief. The good thief accepts the fact that he was a sinner, and is willing to accept his fate as punishment. But he also knows Jesus was an innocent, and it disturbs the good thief that Jesus is being punished so. And then the good thief knows, he knows who Jesus is, and why He is there suffering such terrible punishment; and he turns to Jesus and asks Him to remember him in heaven. And Jesus, through His pain, turns to him and says: "This day you will be with Me in paradise!" I always lose it at that point. I can't help it. I wonder if that exchange is in the movie.

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

"being a mother myself, it's going to be hard for me not to bawl as I watch the Blessed Mother's grief..."

Yes, you will cry. I sure did. But I read somewhere that in this film the figure of Mary acts as a mirror for the audience, reflecting our feelings and reactions as though she was a proxy for all of us at the crucifixion. Watch her through the film, and it will be easier to stand, while still very difficult.

Here's a well-written review that I agree with, by Jody Dean who is the CBS News anchor in Dallas, TX.
http://www.religiontoday.com/faith/1242963.html

[philosofy123]

It is the duty of all Christians to see this movie, perhaps more than once. If this movie grossed more than any movie in the history of this planet, the Hollywood copy cats will learn that the majority Christians in this country deserve respect, and they will not going to be intimidated.

[BSunday]

the actor who played The Christ was struck by lightening in the Garden of Gethsemane

Somehow, that just doesn't sound like a good sign. (Sorry couldnt resist)

[time4good]

Agreed. I see it as He honors(keeps) His Word and follows through with the Just wages of their decision that He has declared He will enforce.

AppyPappy, in that respect, actually He does.

[TxBec]

I agree, except the part about "even his mother hesitates"

[twntaipan]

I have not seen the movie yet, but given all the hysteria from leftists (and Jews, whom I can understand it somewhat) that this is really an anti-Semitic piece of work, I have to ask if pograms have broken out on the first full day of this film's release.

I have read lots of different stories with quotes from viewers of different religious persuasions (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, atheist, agnostic), and the statements are fairly predictable--the Christians like it the most (with a few dissenters), the Jewish viewers the least (with some dissenters) and atheists almost not-at-all.

But I yet to see a single quote from someone who says, "Yep, makes me want to take it out on the Jews." If anything, the Christians are going to great lengths to affirm that they are not anti-Semitic, especially the more conservative Christians.

Seems like the ADL would do well to realize that Christians in the USA are the friends of Israel and Jews. It is leftists and irreligious Europe that are the true anti-Semites.

[MizRiz9]

Read Irving Stone's the Agony and the Ecstasy just to get a feel as to what the Medici contributed to the Renaissance.

Caravaggio was something, his sacrifice of Isaac is outstanding. His Doubting Thomas putting his fingers in the wound of Jesus is almost as powerful as the Passion movie.