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.

[missyme]

Thank You I did not know that..So she died shortly after the resurrection? and her death would of been in Judea? or am I off base?

[Indiana Jones]

We saw 'The Passion of the Christ' last night; nothing will ever appear the same because of it.

To say it is 'life changing' seems insufficient. I felt physically, emotionally and most importantly, SPIRITUALLY altered afterwards. The enormity of what God did to His son for us, for ME creates a spiritual earthquake that is perceptible in your heart. What many of us have heard about for as long as we can remember becomes a commonly shared visceral experience. The extremes of good and evil, love and hate, saved and unsaved remove political correctness and moral relativism with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. The choices made and the consequences are unequivocal - this isn't a matter of 'grays' or even black and white but rather eternal darkness and damnation and heavenly light and eternal life.

On the surface, the film is full of seeming contradictions - but the horrific gut wrenching brutality and ultimate sacrifice do not cancel each other out - the SACRIFICE was exacted in such an unimaginable way to help us understand what we cannot - how great is His love for us that He would lay himself down for our sins.

Does God want you to see the movie? That is between you and Him. Of this I'm certain - Satan doesn't want you to see it - and if the movie's value can be measured by the prince of darkness' deceptions ('it is anti-Semitic' when it is ANTI-EVIL) and distractions ('woman dies of heart attack during the movie'), then it truly is an invaluable experience.

See the movie but don't stop there...read and reread the book. And take time apart and in stillness to let The Divine Author speak to your heart as He longs to...

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

May God work through each of us - as imperfect as we are - to achieve His Divine Will.

[shhrubbery!]

Maybe some of Gibson's movies have gratuitous violence in them, but I think this is an exception.

The violence shown isn't gratuitous: it is necessary.

I see this as an antidote to the poisonous, peace-nik, sentimentalized 'Christianity' imposed on the culture by main line 'Christian' churches -- churches that are CINO: Christian in name only.

Joan Brown Campbell and the National Council of Churches epitomize this leftist bunch.

I've heard some of these churches are going so far as to remove crucifixes from their sanctuaries.

They do this because they want to de-emphasise Christ's suffering and sacrifice --AND THE SINFUL NATURE OF MAN.

They supplant that message entirely with the supposed "all-inclusive" message of Christ's love for "all" -- implying, of course, that there is no such thing as sin, and that Jesus would have approved of homosexual 'marriage' and pedophiles.

[AppyPappy]

I don't believe it is God's desire for us to perish. God works overtime trying to bring us into covenant with Him. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. God sends his Prophets to preach the Good News and workers to tend the Flock.

The Bible says 'Seek God while he may be found'. I think that puts the burden on us to meet God before we perish. I personally believe that perishing is a deliberate act on our part. That's why babies don't go to Hell.

This movie may serve as a wake-up call for a lot of people who are sitting on the fence. Remember, the fence belongs to Satan too.

[af_vet_1981]

But, but, but, I thought you believed he wasn't anti-Semtic already?

No, I don't think he is. I don't want to think he is. I want to take him at his word so I do. Many people think he is. They do not want to take him at his word.

I know his father Hutton is. I think Mel was raised in that home so he had to hear it time and again. I want to hear Hutton repent and be healed of his sin. I want to hear Mel separate himself from his father Hutton's sinful views publicly and without dissembling. I want to know if the movie has any effect on him in that regard. I know both Hitler and Himmler viewed the Passion Play at Ober Ammergau and it did not have that effect on them. They wanted to preserve it as a weapon against the Jews.

I am watching to see how the movie affects people, here on FR, in my neighborhood, throughout the world.

[The Mayor]

I wouldn't play the part of Christ..

[Just mythoughts]

"I want to hear Hutton repent and be healed of his sin. I want to hear Mel separate himself from his father Hutton's sinful views publicly and without dissembling."

Where is it written that ignorance is a sin?

[Liz]

Gratuitous violence to make money for a buncha Hollywarped creeps is one thing.

The Passion's explicitness is meant to convey something much larger.

Unfortunately, Hollyweirdos intellectual curiosity does not stretch that far.

[commish]

OK this is now the third version of Caviezal being struck by lighting. Which one is the truth?

You have heard it was in the Garden, most of the news stories say it was during filming of the seromon on the mount, and in the MAKING OF special Caviezal says he was struck while hanging on the cross.

I will tend to believe it was while he was on the cross, since that is when Caviezal says it happened, and since he is the one who was struck he should know.

I thought it was amusing that when asked what his reaction was, Caviezal says, "I took it as a sign I needed to act better." ;-)

[philosofy123]

Mel Gibson believes in the old fashion Christianity. This movie gives us a flavor of the essence of God suffering and salvation of mankind.

It is our duty, as Christians to assure protection of Mel from his Hollywood destructors. This will only happen by assuring him a very big profit. The profit will help both ways, one way to give him ammunition to produce more good family movies, and second, to provide an example of our market power for other Hollywood producers to follow the example of Mel in producing Christian friendly movies.

[af_vet_1981]

"I want to hear Hutton repent and be healed of his sin. I want to hear Mel separate himself from his father Hutton's sinful views publicly and without dissembling." Where is it written that ignorance is a sin?

Have you read what Hutton Gibson wrote or said ?
It is not simply ignorance. The Nazis were not simply ignorant from their propaganda.

Call it Holocaust Denial. Call it Antisemitism. Call it the doctrine of Balaam. It is an intense and virulent hatred of the Jewish people. It is a disease people catch and hold on to every day. It should be condemned by any genuine Christian. People can repent. People can be healed. Someone has to intervene. Who better than a son who has the courage to make a movie about The Passion ?

He stood up to the world. Can he stand up to his father ?

[Liz]

Good points. But let's be warned.

It was posted earlier that those charging anti-Semitism might make sure acts of violence against Jews occur so that Christans will be blamed and the film discredited.

So be careful. It might be a good idea to notify authorities in areas where Christians congregate to see the film.

[philosofy123]

A protestant minister said on TV last night that this movie was a Catholic gift to the protestants. Protestants never spent much effort on articulating Christ passion, while Catholics have always made a great deal about Good Friday, and the passion. As a matter of fact old Christians denominations like the orthodox call Good Friday Passion Friday, and churches in the Middle East like the Coptic church calls it SAD FRIDAY!

[Liz]

Thanks for the arty comments. Somebody gave me an old copy of Stone's work. I will definitely read it.

[Just mythoughts]

"Call it the doctrine of Balaam."

You compare Hutton to Balaam.....????????

What are we told about Balaam?


I am not a Catholic. However, I have read the OLD and the NEW and find no where anything that points to Hutton but ignorance.

Hutton is a silly old man.

Now what is laid out in the WHOLE of the Bible from that Garden of Eden on points to Christ, His first advent and His RETURN.

How interesting when one reads about the deeds and actions of the House of Israel and the House of Judah, got both of them sent in captivity.

There has been a whole lot of rewriting of history done by ones with a far greater impact than a silly old ignorant man. THAT IS WRITTEN!

People who keep pointing to Hutton being the sinner of all sinners are going to loose their credibility. Especially when they sit back and willingly ignore "SIN" to permeate this nation. What we have here is selective OUTRAGE.

What about Sodom and Gomorrah? Can you compare that to "words" of an old man.

Christ did tell us that prior to His return that it would be as in the days of Noah, so we have not seen anything yet, you could call this Sodom and Gomorrah replay just the preview of what is about to get dumped down here among "flesh".

[time4good]

Thanks AppyPappy for your clarification. I agree with what you have said.

[Liz]

Caravaggio's Doubting Thomas.

John 20

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life

[Liz]

What many of us have heard about for as long as we can remember becomes a commonly shared visceral experience.

Amen. The life we share because of Him, is far, far greater than the trivialities that divide us.

[af_vet_1981]

You compare Hutton to Balaam.....????????

Yes, I compare the doctrine of Hutton to the doctrine of Balaam. Perhaps his son has a role to play in warning him if he finds the courage and conviction after watching his own movie. I'm waiting to see what effect the movie has on him.

[The Mayor]

I thought it was amusing that when asked what his reaction was, Caviezal says, "I took it as a sign I needed to act better." ;-)

Well that is the version that I would agree with, I don't remember where I heard the other, but I have read so much and seen so much on this movie my senses are dulled..